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Mirth 11 1977 For economy and style . . . Improvements are the logical solution Finding that they are virtually priced out of the mar­ ket for new and larger homes, American homeowners are turning to remodeling as the logical and most work­ able solution to their shelter needs. There is no shortage of funds available for home improvements and homeowners are investing it in room additions, siding, roofing, flooring, plumbing, heating, air-conditioning -- and with the continuing concern about energy supplies and costs -- many homeowners are investing substantial amounts of money in insulation. Record-breaking home improvements According to the National Home Improvement Coun- - eil, Americans spent a record breaking $30 billion in i976, as compared with $26.6 billion in 1975. Window blinds are both decorative, protective Homeowners last year added well over four mil­ lion rooms, the equivalent of 700,000 new six-room homes, while builders raised only 870,000 new one-family homes. The addition of new liv­ ing quarters accounted for $1 of every $5 of the home-care investment, ac­ cording to the Census Bureau. Half the money spent on remodeling and maintenance went into do- it-yourself projects. . This increased activity among do-it-yourselfers is confirmed by a study by Frost & Sullivan which finds that within the last year or two more than half of all building mate­ rials for home renovation were purchased directly by homeowners rather than by contractors. Even so, the National Home Improvement Coun­ cil cautions would-be do- it-yourselfers to get some sound advice before tack­ ling larger projects, espe­ cially plumbing and elec­ trical work. A homeowner contem­ plating a home improve­ ment project usually asks the question: How much do improvements increase the value of your home? It varies according to the improvement, but in few cases should you expect the sales value of your house to rise dollar for dollar with the money spent for remodeling. The value of a house will rise most -- perhaps by 60 to 75 percent of improvement cost -- for a new kitchen or bathroom and heating/air-condition­ ing system. A fourth bedroom or new family room are also desirable features home buyers look for in houses and therefore the features they pay the most for. -Other improvements, while not increasing the value of the house sub­ stantially, will aid in speed­ ing up the sale time. The Council urges homeowners who are about to select a contractor in their community to con­ sider a member of the National Home Improve­ ment Council who displays the NHIC Membership Some prophets are without honor unless they toot their own horns. Seal in his advertising. His membership means that he is a reputable, well- established professional contractor who subscribes to the Council's Code of Ethics. Tailored, traditional or whimsical window treat­ ments are of major im­ portance to room decor. Too often, windows are overdone with yards of ex­ pensive fabric, or under­ done* in a plain white shade. Neither very prac­ tical in the sense that the windows are blocked or covered, so sunlight and heat are either streaming into-the room, or are shut out completely along with the view. Adjustable slatted blinds have long been accepted as the most practical and functional of all interior window coverings. Now with the advent of the easy-care Levolor Rivi­ e r a a luminum b l inds which come in more than 100 decorator colors, you can select just the right amount of daylight and still prevent heat gain and loss through your home's windows. It's a fact that a great deal of heating fuel is wasted when heat rays, like light, pass through glass windows. Hence, the heat from your home can escape in winter, just as the sun's heat penetrates the glass in summer. The reflective aluminum slats of the Riviera blinds can reduce this waste considerably. Dressing up the windows with these blinds alone is an easy task. As further adornment the window can be framed with a simple plywood structure. This frame could be covered with any of a variety of fabrics, papers, paints, or even mirror tiles. The decorative covering PAGE 37 may be as elaborate or simple as your room re­ quires. Padding may be added for a softer look, or the material can be applied directly to the wood with glue or staples. Regardless of the dec­ orative theme, you can be sure there will be a Riviera color to complement it. You might want to add a hinged ledge with a cushion which will provide a window seat and some storage space. Fo r i n s t ruc t ions on building the frame and other ideas on decorating with Riviera blinds, write to: "Window Magic," P.O. Box 323, Radio City Sta­ tion-, New York, N. Y. 10019. • • • • Mankind is divided into two classes-the get­ ters and the givers. * • * * Justice is the goal, and not necessarily the prod­ uct, of our courts. 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