Dates: June 13-14, 2018 | Register here
Prices: starting from EUR 1695,-
Location: Barcelona, Spain

Global DIY Summit 2018

The Global DIY Summit is the world’s leading event for retailers and manufacturers from the home improvement and garden centre industry.

It is a unique opportunity to exchange views on current and future developments within the global market with the industry’s leading players.

The Summit is being jointly hosted by the two leading European DIY professional organisations, EDRA (European DIY-Retail Association) and fediyma (European Federation of DIY Manufacturers), and the first global representation of interest of DIY trade, ghin (Global Home Improvement Network).

DIY Next – Reinventing our Industry

The main congress theme is DIY Next – Reinventing our Industry. The difficulty for the industry’s leaders is that they cannot afford to focus on just one aspect of disruption. Manufacturers and retailers have to navigate three revolutions at once: a geographic, a demographic and a technological.

The expectation of the arrival, by 2030, of a billion new consumers in China and 500 million in India, the change in the consumer behavior due to the rise of the Millennial consumers group, and the global penetration of mobile phones are the main factors of global volatility and will remain the main concerns for many market leaders. With social, economic, technological and environmental change continuing and accelerating companies will need to be agile to survive.

The view that the best way to survive disruption is to lead it is increasingly being accepted by many established manufacturers and retailers. There is a balance to be struck, but many companies are changing their strategies, structures, and business models.

Take advantage of this unique opportunity to embrace disruption and reshape the future of your business.

Main topics

What’s next in the world of home improvement?

The world has drastically changed in the past years! How does the future of home improvement look like?

• Global Economic and Political Overview

The World Bank forecasts a fragile recovery of the global economy, as it expects that growth will strengthen to 2,7 percent in 2017. However, prospects remain clouded by elevated policy uncertainties, including election outcomes, the direction of Brexit negotiations, and financial sector fragilities.

Policy changes in the United States, the single largest destination of Euro Area exports, also remain a source of uncertainty. A renowned global consultancy will present a comprehensive overview of the key facts of the actual global political and economic scene.

• Challenges for a New Kind of Cooperation – Facing the Future Together

Many manufacturers and retailers are facing the future, and trying to shape it, rather than denying it, but is the industry doing enough? Do the boardrooms understand the urgency and the scale of the demographic changes that are already remaking the industry?

Manufacturers and retailers are closely working together to develop a new ways to generate growth within the market. Get inspired by the industry’s leaders and discover a new era on how to develop a new business model of cooperation.

• The DIY Next Generation – Disrupting our Industry

Many of the major players have decided that the best way to compete with start-ups is to invest in their own. Many of the big global companies are looking to disrupt themselves and have set up venture arms to help them think and operate differently.

Even large, global companies can disrupt markets if they are agile, build the right networks and dare to innovate. You don’t have to be a startup to think like one.

• Market Update – Latest Industry Figures

Driven by the changing consumers and purchases channels, organizations in the DIY industry are investing in exploring their customer journeys. During this session we show customer journey analytics which can help you to take decisions based on the changing orientation of the consumer.

As a second topic, we will also present an update on what Brexit means for international retailers in the home improvement sector and for organizations that supply the UK retail industry with both goods and services. [Read more]

• Home Improvement around the World

Our congress brings together top DIY managers from over 50 countries worldwide. The development of our industry varies from country to country. You will be taken on a journey around the planet and shown the most successful strategies. Discover new trends and concepts that could become a benchmark and growth accelerator for your own business.

Interested in attending the Global DIY Summit 2018? Register your participation by following  and taking the suggested steps.

For more , check our  section and subscribe to our weekly newsletters

The post Global DIY Summit 2018: The Networking Event for the Home Improvement Industry appeared first on AlphaGamma.

Source

https://www.alphagamma.eu/opportunities/global-diy-summit-2018/

I’m back with another kitchen renovation progress update! If you’re new here, you can read about the start of our kitchen plans .  As a reminder, I am working with and she has been amazing to work with. You can see some of our design selections so far in . Here is how our kitchen currently looks:

Let’s dive on it from where we picked up last!

This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

Here’s a rough sketch drew out with the cabinet layout before transferring it to an official rendering. You can see we’ll be doing an x-detail on the sides of the island and then solid x-doors in the small upper top cabinets.

Here are a few renderings of the updates we’ll be making to the space. There were a few software limitations with our designer’s software, so a few things are slightly different than they appear here. We ultimately decided to get new appliances, after hearing so much feedback from you guys on designing around our ten year old appliances. So, we will be adding a full 36″ duel fuel range (the design below shows a cooktop). One of the things we are most excited about is a counter-depth fridge. Ours currently sticks out by nearly a foot from the counter. Because we’ll be losing depth, the one we are getting is nearly a foot taller than our current one.

The taller fridge will require an update to our upper cabinets over the fridge. As we started talking with the cabinet door maker, he ultimately decided it would only be about $1,000 more for him to build all new cabinets and island from scratch than it would be to modify our existing cabinets.

One minor issue we ran into, is that because we want a 2″ mitered edge on our countertops, one slab of quartz wasn’t going to be big enough for our currently island size (since we’ll be taking it all down to one level). So, although our island will be slightly less deep than our current one, we can actually make it longer to accommodate wider drawers and an extra cabinet. This will also help add a few extra inches between our bar stools and living room chairs (it’s so tight currently). Another thing to note: we’ll be going with a single basin sink – we just haven’t finalized “the one”

Because we’ll now be doing fully custom cabinets, we can maximize space as much as possible, even though we’ll actually be removing quite a bit of cabinets. We actually save over a foot on the side with the ovens because we’ll no longer have to have a stock trim kit, so we’ll free up a lot of space there. We’ll also be adding upper cabinets on either side of the range that aren’t currently there now. If you look at the current photo, you’ll notice the lowers are all doors in our current kitchen, which hasn’t been super functional over the years. So, now we’ll be adding in more drawers and faux drawer fronts (the two drawers next to the refrigerator will actually be our garbage bin and recycle bin and the entire unit will pull out).

These next two renderings give you a better view of the pantry cabinets. We’ve ultimately decided our pantry will never be beautifully organized, so we’d rather hide everything. I was actually going to leave the upper portion open shelving, but Kurtis wants it all behind doors since he knows how organized we both are To the left, we’re having a tall storage cabinet that will store our cleaning supplies like the Swiffer, hardwood vacuum, etc. along with other cleaning supplies we store in the pantry. The countertop will serve as a prep area, particularly for Kurtis who likes to leave out the stuff he uses every day (magic bullet, waffle maker, oatmeal container, etc.). This way, he can leave it out but the kitchen will still look clean!

Here’s a view of the cabinets looking into the pantry from the door. We’ll also be adding a 3’x3′ window to the pantry (on the right side solid wall) to add some natural light and not make it feel so much like a closet. The drawing below also shows the layout for the cabinets under the window in the kitchen. We’ll also be adding a beverage refrigerator on the left of the drawers.

Today the cabinet maker is coming over to finalize a few things before getting started (hopefully within the next week)! It’s starting to get real!

Additional Island Color Inspiration

In my last , I expressed my frustration with actually finding the names of colors I like for the island. Pinterest is a never-ending loop of bad links at times and Google images just tends to throw me back into that look. But, I appreciate all the great suggestions you gave me and have since had better luck.

Since the island will be lowered to all one level and with the walls in surrounding areas and main cabinets being white, I feel like we can be a bit more adventurous on the island color. I keep flipping between wanting a bluish French gray color (having a harder time finding examples of this that aren’t too gray) and a muddy blue green color. It’s a decision I have to finalize in the next day or two, so pressure is on! Here are a few more island color inspiration photos I found and loved! You can click any of the images for more details on colors and design. I still haven’t found “the one” yet so it may be a last minute decision. Always a great thing

Other random inspiration & design elements

I like this cabinet color, but was also really drawn to the drawers around the range. Ours will be a full range, but the side drawers will be similar. We’re planning one drawer for spices and the other for utensils, much like how this photo is set up. You can see these sketched into Erica’s design plans above.

Kitchen Accessories

The post Kitchen Renovation Progress appeared first on Life On Virginia Street.

Source

https://lifeonvirginiastreet.com/2018/06/kitchen-renovation-progress/

When considering all of the changes you can make in a renovation, how does play into the plan? For Becky Morrison, new lights topped her list when she tackled the redesign of her master bathroom.

“The lights were the first selection I made for this space,” Becky says. “They were the inspiration. Our vacation home is a classic ranch built in 1957, and I wanted the bathroom to have a fun, retro feel.” 

Located in the historic Old Northeast section of St. Petersburg, Florida, the home serves as a retreat for Becky’s family of five who live in Indianapolis. The remodel included transforming a former closed-off, eat-in kitchen (shown above) into a beautiful master suite.

Becky, an interior designer, chose the Kao Wall Sconce as her inspiration for the new bathroom. She customized these compact, vintage-style wall sconces with a creamy Jadite finish.

“I felt the color of the Kao was the perfect fit,” she notes. “Everything else we incorporated into this design was chosen to keep the space feeling simple, clean, and bright.”

The Kao Wall Sconce is inspired by the lighting fixtures created by Pass & Seymour’s Alabax Division. First popular in the 1950s, this wall lighting is made from solid porcelain ceramic and can be customized with one of 28 different finish colors.

“Color selection was important to me,” Becky explains. “I wanted the clean lines of a contemporary space but with a connection to the 1950s since this home is in an historic neighborhood. I felt the Jadite color used throughout the home’s design helped achieve this.”

Becky handles mostly residential design through her firm Lynn & Campbell. The renovations were completed by Popa Construction in St. Pete.

“I often use Barn Light Electric products in my designs because I love sourcing within the U.S.,” Becky says. “I love the vintage pop of of color, and the vibrant finish is beautiful!”

Photos courtesy of Lynn & Campbell

Source

https://blog.barnlightelectric.com/pros-corner-wall-sconces-kick-off-bathroom-renovation/

Source

http://neuer.monoberlin.co/home-improvement-estimate-form/

Source

http://www.fitwarriors.com/fitness/the-biggest-mistake-i-made-in-my-kitchen-renovation-faiths-kitchen-renovation/

Summer is quickly approaching, and with it comes the inevitable sweltering heat and harsh sunlight. You may think that running your air conditioner all summer long is the quick and easy solution to keeping cool, but that’s bound to make your energy bills skyrocket. Of course, if you have the budget, there are a number of home improvement projects and renovations intended to improve both sustainability and efficiency when it comes to your home’s HVAC system. Here are just a few home improvement ideas that can lower your energy costs.

Window Replacements

Most homeowners know to keep their windows closed when the air conditioning is on, but not many know just how much cool air can be lost through your home’s windows, even if they’re completely closed. It can be difficult to determine whether or not your windows truly need replaced, but if they’re more than 10 to 15 years old, upgrading to a newer and more sustainable model can make a major difference in energy savings, not to mention the overall value of your home. Florida has the highest number of interior design firms in the U.S. (1,536), but regardless of where you live, don’t hesitate to find a company that will take the time to help you explore all of your energy-saving and eco-friendly options.

Storm Doors

If you don’t have the budget to upgrade your home’s windows, consider making a smaller but still impactful improvement by installing a storm door. Not only can storm doors protect you in the event of a weather emergency, but they’re energy-efficient as well. This makes them beneficial for all homes, even those already equipped with energy-efficient front or side doors. Most importantly, they’re relatively affordable considering their energy savings potential. It’s typically best to get a storm door made of aluminum, one of the four most commonly used metals in the construction industry.

“Storm doors typically have low-emissivity glass or a protective coating that can help reduce energy loss by up to 50%, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Most storm doors last between 25 and 50 years and can cost as little as $75,” writes Dawn Jamison on Quicken Loans.

ICF Walls

If you have the budget for a larger renovation project, ICF (Insulated Concrete Form) walls can yield significant energy savings. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, ICF walls can save homeowners 20% to 25% on annual heating and cooling costs. They’re essentially hollow blocks made of foam-like material that are filled with a concrete mixture and installed around your home’s foundation for extra insulation.

“When completed, ICF walls provide a solid monolithic structure. The material offers a variety of benefits for residential, commercial, medical, educational, and multistory construction. The continuous insulation, thermal mass of the concrete, and airtight envelope all combine to offer energy efficiency in warm and cold climates,” writes Murray Snider on ConstructionCanada.

As with storm doors, ICFs offer weather protection as well, but to a much higher degree. ICFs are fire-resistant and can withstand even tornadoes and hurricanes.

Programmable Thermostat

Finally, installing a programmable thermostat is the best way to truly optimize your home’s energy use. No more blasting the air conditioner all day long just to make sure the house is cool when you come home from work; with a programmable thermostat, you can set the specific hours and temperature preferences for your home. This means you can turn your system off when you leave your home and make sure it’s cold and refreshing when you return — definitely a worthwhile investment.

Ultimately, the U.S. is the second largest construction market in the world, with a market share of 10%, and there are countless home improvement projects that boost home energy efficiency. If you’re still uncertain, don’t hesitate to reach out to a professional to conduct a complete home energy audit.

The post Lower Your Energy Costs With These 4 Smart and Sustainable Home Improvement Ideas appeared first on The Staten Island family.

Source

https://www.thestatenislandfamily.com/lower-your-energy-costs-with-these-4-smart-and-sustainable-home-improvement-ideas/