No doubt about it.  White is one of the hardest colors to choose.

That's because white is highly reflective and what surrounds it can impact how it looks.  So can the time of day, the time of year, and the lighting.

And then there's this:  white isn't a single color but a range of shades with a variety of undertones.  Benjamin Moore has over 150 shades of white!

So how do you find a "neutral" white, one that has a nice balance of warm and cool tones without being slightly pinkish, yellowish, bluish, or greenish?

“Energy efficient” has described homes for years.  But how could you determine what “energy efficient” really meant, much less how much savings it could mean to you? Thanks to the Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Index, energy efficiency is now measurable. 

Much like calculating MPG in a car, HERS is a nationally recognized system that analyzes energy performance in new homes or homes that undergo complete renovations.  Lower scores mean higher efficiency and greater savings.

On an ordinary day in the 1880's, a Shelbyville, Ohio woman took some dirty dishes and made history.  Josephine Garis Cochran was the first person to build a working dish-washing machine, succeeding where others had failed.

Born in 1839, Josephine married a successful merchant in 1858.  They entertained frequently, and Josephine grew frustrated that her fine china was chipping.  Believing that the cause was harsh handling by those who washed it, she began washing the dishes herself but soon thought there must be a better way to avoid the drudgery of manual washing.

Gray continues to be the most popular color in homes, but the cooler tones are waning in popularity as being a bit too sterile, while the warmer tones are gaining favor.

These are hues that blend earth tones with gray to create an inviting neutral that works well in any space.

If you're considering going "greige" on your walls but aren't sure how to choose from the hundreds of colors, Benjamin Moore has some great advice along with some lovely colors.  

Cable rail is equally at home on at outdoor deck or on interior stairs where it creates a stunning design element. Posts and caps can vary to add additional interest.

In this example, our clients paired painted posts and cap, white walls, and lightly whitewashed white oak floors to achieve the light, airy look they wanted.

Especially in contemporary architecture - where clean, simple lines are fundamental - cable rail is a versatile alternative to wood.  And it never needs painting!

- Betsy de Parry, VP, Sales and Marketing,

At Ann Arbor Builders, we're celebrating more than the start of the new year.  We're celebrating our 50th anniversary!  And we can't help reminiscing about how far we've come in all these years.

Says owner Alex de Parry, "We've certainly seen trends in housing change, but more importantly, we think back with great appreciation on all the wonderful people who have helped us to grow."

Not just the title of a racy novel, 50 (or more) shades of gray – from the palest silver to the darkest charcoal - have been popular over the last several years. 

But finding just the right shade can be a challenge because the undertones can make grays cool or warm, and a color that looks gray on a paint chip can be tinged with purple or blue when applied to a wall.  Too, natural light influences how a shade looks.

Today, kitchen backplashes no longer simply protect walls from splatters and spills.  The seemingly endless array of eye-catching materials have turned them into focal points. 

What if you don’t want switches and plugs to interrupt it?

The solution is under cabinet power strips.  The result?  A seamless backsplash.