FORECAST:

Homeowner's insurance rates for southeastern coastal states could rise 25% this fall, the largest jump in a decade, due to hurricane claims, says Claire Wilkinson of the Insurance Information Institute.

Super (Re)models
After a decade of increasing spending on remodeling, you'd think homeowners would have run out of things to update. No chance. We spent $200 billion last year on home renovations up 12% from 2003 and the biggest increase since 1996. Here's the latest in what contractors are pushing that will also add value to your home:

• Dinner for two.

  In a new twist on the open-kitchen movement, this year's trend is to accommodate couples who cook together. That means additional counter space, second sinks and wider passageways for multiple cooks, says Randy Hanna, principal architect at Hanna, Gabriel, Wells in San Diego. But resist the temptation to remove an island to free up more space; they make the kitchen more social.

• Turning inside out.

  The basic porch is pass homeowners are fusing indoor and outdoor space with fully covered porches, cupolas and arbors, wooden structures covered by open rafters. The drawback? A cupola can cost $5,000, and arbors can cost as much as $10,000 or more.

• The great outdoors.

  Paved patios with fireplaces are hot, but they're full-on construction jobs that can run up to $20,000. Decks, too, are getting more elaborate, with gazebos and other enclosed spaces, says David Orr, a vice president at Pulte Homes.

• A place to hang.

  Some homeowners are creating special "hang out" nooks for teens. But these won't add much to a home's value, says Allyson Bernard, a vice president for the National Association of Real Estate Brokers. One way around that: Make sure the room is accessible via a main hallway, so it could be converted into an office or media room.