Better utilizing their space was top of mind for March and her husband who both run their own businesses from home. With a need for two in-home workspaces, a desire for better outdoor living space, and the knowledge gained from living in the home for 10 years, they were able to make the most of their home’s footprint and improve on some of its less-desirable characteristics.

Here’s what they prioritized:

• Improving energy efficiency through structural upgrades, like adding installation and installing new E-Series Windows and Patio Doors.
• Creating a quieter environment for sleeping and relaxing by moving their primary and guest bedrooms up to a new second story.
• Developing a strong connection to nature by multiplying their outdoor spaces with a second-story balcony and a backyard kitchen.

Because March and her husband were undertaking a major remodel, they had the opportunity to change where rooms were located.

“I firmly believe that human beings need light to be happy and comfortable, but it's also a battle to understand how to use it properly,” said March. “Too much light can be just as much of a problem as not enough.”

To make sure she got it right, March thought about the angle of the sun at the time when each room is most heavily used. Here’s how she made the most of her home’s east-west orientation:

• The primary bedroom faces west, so they “don’t fight the light” in the morning but instead can open their curtains to “beautiful, filtered, indirect light.”
• Their breakfast room faces east so they’re basking in “delicious sunbeams” while they drink their coffee in the morning.
• Their living room also faces east so there’s no glare when they watch TV at the end of the day.

Because they live in a hot and sunny climate, March also took steps to manage heat gain. Dual-pane E-Series windows with low-emissivity glass help reflect light away, and mechanized drapes, and a mechanized awning on the west side of the home further help moderate temperature.

Takeaway: A happy home stars natural light, which has been shown to improve mood, boost energy, and promote sleep.*** As you develop a layout, ask yourself if the rooms are in the right places, and talk to your architect or designer about “daylighting” (i.e., planning windows to maximize natural light and energy efficiency).

March didn’t just use windows and doors to bring in natural light, she was able to leverage these openings for other “healthy home” purposes as well.

Here’s what her new windows and doors do:

• Frame views: “There’s green outside every window,” March said, who described this decision as calculated. Her choice of black windows furthers the effect by truly “framing” each view.
• Bring in fresh air: Keeping a lot of the original openings on the first floor helped to promote cross ventilation, because the home was planned at a time when people relied on natural ventilation.
• Muffle outside noise: New dual-pane windows help muffle the noise from the neighbors, traffic, and even pouring rain — “it just doesn’t transfer in at all,” March said.
• Create easy outdoor connections: A MultiGlide™ Door opens an entire wall extending March’s bedroom out onto the balcony, while French doors make an easy connection between her indoor and outdoor kitchens.