(ARA) - Whether you’re planning to sell your home in the near future and need some way to set it apart from all the others on the market, or just want to improve its curb appeal for your family’s own enjoyment, now is a great time to start planning your improvements. Things are slower in the remodeling industry during the winter, so you’re sure to find some great deals!

A good place to start is by taking a long, hard look at the outside of your home. If you find your house kind of plain looking, think about how you can dress it up.

Among the projects you may want to consider: painting the exterior, replacing the front door, adding shutters around the windows, updating the landscaping and resurfacing the driveway. Any of these improvements will make a dramatic improvement, but if you really want to make a statement, one that will set your home apart from all the others on the block, consider replacing your chimney caps (the covers that keep rain, snow and unwanted pests out of your home) with designer chimney pots.

What is a chimney pot? A decorative architectural element that increases the fireplace ventilation and protects a chimney from the elements.

Chimney pots have been used throughout the world since the 13th century, a time when fireplaces were important both for cooking and as a heat source. In homes large and small, chimney pots were an important addition because the taller the chimney, the better the draft, and the more efficient the fireplace. Later they became a design element and even a status symbol among those who owned fine homes.

Among the shapes available are chimney pots that imitate chess pieces, octagonal columns, and those shaped like gun or cannon barrels. “Historically, they were crafted from clay because the material was abundantly available, but clay adds tremendous weight to the top of a chimney and is cumbersome to install. I knew there had to be a better way,” says architect Jack Arnold. In 1998 he designed a line of copper chimney pots that add the height needed to draw smoke out of the flue without adding the additional weight to the roof.

The Jack Arnold European Copper collection features three designs resembling chess pieces that come in seven different sizes and two colors, new penny or patina finish. They are UL listed and designed to withstand extreme heat and cold and hurricane level winds. They are also flexible enough to hold up in earthquake-prone areas. Available for existing and new construction, each piece is uniquely suited for both masonry and pre-engineered fireplace systems.

For more information about Jack Arnold European Copper chimney pots, log on to www.europeancopperchimneypots.com  or call (800) 391-0014.