4 Tricks to Modernizing Your Home
If you have an old house, you might think you have to bring it down and build a modern one, but this isn’t the case. According to home remodeling architects, you don’t have to build a new modern house as you can always make a few touches to your old house and give it a modern look. Which are some of these things that you can do? Here they are: Make your home more open and airy It goes without saying that most modern houses adopt the open floor plan that makes the house appear spacious and airier. How can you make your old house more spacious without knocking down the walls? You can get rid of the bigger, bulkier pieces of furniture in your house and replace them with smaller units. It’s common for some people to be attached to some pieces. For example, you might be attached to your wall cabinet. If this is your current situation, consider painting the piece of furniture a color that matches the house’s color. You can also paint it a warm off-white color that helps it disappear into the room. If you have no bulky piece you can get rid of, use mirrors to create the illusion of space. Strategically place mirrors on opposite windows to reflect light into the room, making it appear more open. Of course, you want to use high-quality mirrors with quality frames. Add new lighting to your home. Sometimes giving your home a modern look is as simple as adding new lighting. If your current house is small and dark, you can give it a new look by simply installing new lights. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to go about it. One of these ways is installing table lamps and floor lamps. You can also strategically place a few tall floor lamps in the house’s dark corners and watch how the house comes to life. Layer the lighting with lamps on the side tables to create a cozy and welcoming vibe. If your budget allows it and you are feeling adventurous, replace all your old ceiling fixtures with new and modern masterpieces. Add an outdoor space. The outdoor space transforms the look of the house and provides you with more space to use. You are lucky to have a large compound to play around with, but if you don’t have one, you will need to work with a designer and find strategic areas you can use to your advantage. After putting up the extra space, make it as comfortable as possible by adding rugs, comfortable outdoor chairs, throw cushions, and other comfort-heightening accessories. If you want to give your outdoor space a fancy appeal, put down brick pavers or flagstones, then layer them with outdoor rugs, chairs, and other items. You can also go all the way out and make the area an excellent outdoor escape by installing a large pergola, draping the sides of the area with privacy curtains, adding some music, or even installing an outdoor heater. For the best outcome, work with an experienced professional who knows what they are doing. Add/replace the […]
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House Remodelng DIY Tips
Being a DIY enthusiast saves you money and you get to improve your skill level. While this is the case, you have to be cautious and avoid making costly mistakes. To help you out, here are valuable DIY tips you should consider: Think through everything Since they are experts and have handled the project a couple of times, home remodeling architects think through every project before they start it. In fact, they always first make drawings of the projects so that they can see how it will look once complete. Unfortunately, DIY enthusiasts often don’t think through their projects. A classic example is when you add a peninsula in your kitchen. While the kitchen will look better and you have additional space, it narrows the kitchen space to the extent that you can’t remove the fridge. To do it you have to lift the fridge entirely up and over the extension. To avoid making such a mistake, always take your time and always think ahead of the project. It’s always recommended you measure once, measure twice, and one final time before you start your project. Always think through every possible scenario before you change the layout of every room. It will even be better if you can hire a professional and have them help you with the measuring and determining the final look of your space. Don’t go with the cheapest option Since you are looking to save money, it’s easy to get caught wanting to only use cheap materials or install cheap appliances. As much as this will save you some money, it often ends up being too expensive and you should avoid doing it. For example, if your kitchen is in a dilapidated state and you would want to replace the parts, go with the highest quality ones. They might be expensive but they will be worth it. While this is the case, it doesn’t mean you should spend all your money on appliances and materials. The right way to go about it is to take your time and research. Visit a couple of stores and see what is available. Of course, you should buy from a reputable store selling high quality materials at a small price. Use the right tools The tools you use significantly influence the results you get and how well you complete your project. So, as a rule of thumb, use high quality tools that you will have an easier time using and will give you the results you are after. Seek specialty advice from experts Even if you are a DIY expert, you will have areas where you will need the services of experts. For example, if you need to make electrical connections, you will need the services of electricians. To get the most from your project you should only work with experienced contractors that know what they are doing. The same way you shouldn’t blindly buy the remodeling materials you shouldn’t hire any contractor you come across. The right way to go about it is to take your time and hire an experienced contractor. Many people go online and hire the first […]
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What Are Some Good Tips To Consider When Remodeling A House?
Are you thinking about remodeling your house? There are plenty of tips to consider to get it right. What are some tips to consider when remodeling a house? Here they are as given by home remodeling architects: Know your why Why are you remodeling the house in the first place? This is important as it determines how you will go about the remodeling and the materials you will use. Most homeowners remodel their houses for two primary reasons: to improve the home’s look and to sell it. If you are remodeling for selling, you should pay attention to the parts of the house that add the most value. These are often the bathroom and kitchen area. You also should focus on turning the basement, attic, and other unusable areas into usable spaces. As a rule of thumb, when you are remodeling the house to sell, avoid high-end materials such as granite and marble as chances are you won’t recoup your investments. To be on the safe side, go with beautiful but cheaper materials. On the other hand, if you are remodeling the house to improve its looks to be comfortable and proud of your living situation, there is no limit to what you can do with it. As long as you are happy with the remodel, go with it. Have a budget The last thing you should do is start your remodeling project without a budget and say that you want to see the amount of money that the project will consume. This is wrong. Before you even begin your project, you should know the amount of money you should expect to spend on the various renovation costs such as labor, building materials, decorative finishes, building permits, and so on. If this is the first time you are doing it, get help from an experienced professional and come up with a budget. To avoid surprises later, have a 10% reserve of your budget for unexpected expenses that might arise later. Do your research Once you know about the materials you want and the amount of money to spend on each, begin your research. Right off the bat, get in touch with several experienced renovation contractors in your area and request estimates. This way, you get to compare the prices charged by the contractors. Of course, you should settle with the contractor providing the best service at the least cost. The other thing you should do is visit your local material stores and see what is available. Compare the prices from the different stores and settle on the one that makes the most sense to you. Work with experienced contractors. Your remodeling project will look as good as the contractors you hire, so ensure that you hire good contractors. As a rule of thumb, ensure that the contractors have at least three years of house remodeling experience. They also should be members of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) and be in good standing with the Better Business Bureau. There are plenty of ways to find the ideal contractor to work with. One way is doing a Google search […]
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4 Common Home Improvements That Do Nothing For Your Home’s Value
When looking to sell a house, most people try to renovate them to increase the house’s value as much as possible. While many renovation tricks deliver the results, home remodeling architects observe that some don’t add value. To help you out, here are home improvements that don’t add value: Extensive professional landscaping As much as a professionally done landscape will be pleasing to look at, it won’t bring back the huge bucks you are expecting. If you have to remodel your landscape, do it because you love the look, not because you are expecting to recoup your investment, as you won’t. So, don’t break your bank installing ponds, pools, or other landscaping features. Unless you love a landscaping feature, stick to the basics. Clear the debris from your yard and trim the lawn. Keep the passageways clear, then invite potential buyers in. Upgrading your appliances If your house is old, chances are the appliances are also old, and when you are looking to sell the house, it might seem logical to upgrade the appliances to make the house more appealing. While this is great, you should be cautious about how you go about it, as you might spend too much money making the upgrades such that you fail to recoup your investment. You can go ahead and replace the old, damaged, or malfunctioning appliances such as old refrigerators, but if the units are still in top working condition, there is no point in replacing them. If you have an issue with the appliances not matching your home, consider ordering new door and face panels instead of replacing the units, as this is much cheaper. Undertaking high-end bathroom remodels Bathroom remodels bring back 87-93% of the investment, so they are a wise way of adding value to your house, but you should be cautious about how you go about it. As a rule of thumb, never install high-end units such as high-end countertops or appliances as you won’t get back your money. Excellent ways to upgrade your bathroom include: adding new paint to brighten the room and re-grouting the bathtub. A new mirror and a few light fixtures will also go a long way towards improving the bathroom look. To reiterate, it’s okay to remodel your bathroom, but don’t go overboard as you won’t recoup the investment. Adding a new room It’s not a doubt that larger houses sell at higher prices than small ones. For example, a four-bedroom house will sell higher than a three-bedroom house. While this is the case, it makes sense to add another room to your home, so you sell it at a higher price, right? Wrong! While adding a new room will make your house more attractive, in most cases you spend more money in the addition than you get back. To be on the safe side, avoid adding another room, and instead, renovate what you have. For example, convert the attic or basement to a bedroom instead of putting up another bedroom. You won’t spend much on the conversion, and you will make the house more attractive to potential buyers, hence your home will […]
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Where to Spend Money on Home Renovations
When remodeling your house for sale, you should know that not all renovations will give you a return, so you should be cautious where you put your money. Are you wondering where to spend money on home renovations, so you get the best returns? Here are some of the best places as given by home remodeling architects: Kitchen The kitchen is the center of the house, and most buyers base their house-buying decisions on how the kitchen looks. This means that spending money on kitchen remodeling is an excellent move as you are bound to recoup your investment. Some of the remodeling you should do to your kitchen include: replacing the worn-out appliances, installing new countertops, re-flooring, repainting, and other tasks that will improve the look and functionality of the room. When remodeling the kitchen, take caution of the materials you use. While they should be attractive and add value to the room, they shouldn’t be too premium to put off potential buyers that you get an offer that is too low that it’s not worth it. Work with experienced contractors and renovate the kitchen using materials and appliances that you are guaranteed of getting a return. Bathroom The bathroom also plays a massive role in influencing a homeowner’s buying decision. When it’s clean and well maintained, homeowners will be interested in it, but if dirty and worn out, no one will be interested in it, or you will receive a ridiculous offer. Some of the worthwhile renovations you can make include: replacing the lights, re-flooring, toilets, bathtubs, and adding paint or wallpapers. Like with the kitchen, avoid installing costly materials, as you most likely won’t recoup your investment. Heating and cooling appliances There is nothing as off-putting as showing a house to a client when it’s too hot or cold. To create a good impression, install heating and cooling appliances that you can easily control. Most homeowners are concerned about the maintenance of their appliances so pay attention to the efficiency of the heating and cooling units you install. Some of the excellent units you can go with include: modern wood burner, heat pump, air conditioner, or central heating system. Of course, avoid high-end appliances or inefficient appliances that will be too expensive to keep running. Lighting No homebuyer will be interested in a dark den, so you should invest in your house’s lighting. As mentioned, homeowners are concerned about the house’s efficiency, so don’t just install traditional lights—concentrate on as much natural light as possible. When renovating, ensure that your home’s design takes into account how the sun moves across your property and place the windows and glazing in such a way that they suit your location and climate. Although, you should concentrate on allowing in as much natural light as possible, invest in high-quality decorative pendant light in an area of maximum exposure, such as the dining room. Floor The floor significantly affects the house’s look, so if it’s worn out, you should give it a touch. The cool thing is there are plenty of floor materials you can go with, including timber, carpet, tiles, and many […]
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How Do I Plan A Home Remodeling Project?
If you are having a home remodeling project, you need a plan. Are you wondering how do I plan a home remodeling project? There are several ways to go about it. Here is one of the best ones as given by architects builders: Have a vision How do you want your home to look once the project is complete? You need to think about this. A good way to go about it is to make a list of the must-have features. For example, if remodeling the kitchen, you can put a kitchen island as a must-have. You also should come up with blueprints and sketches of the finished project. Will you be doing the project yourself or hiring a professional? You need to think about this and divide the project into DIY steps and the steps that will require a professional. As you are coming up with a plan, think about the local zoning regulations and permits and ensure that your neighborhood is zoned for your remodel. While at it, find out whether you need a permit for your project. While different jurisdictions have different rules, most areas will require you to have a permit if your project involves changing the structure of the house or the use of a room. Find out the necessary permits you need but don’t hurry to apply for them—wait until you have hired a team and built a project timeline. Set a project budget Once you have the project’s vision, the next thing to do is to come up with the budget and financing. Of course, your budget should include all the projected expenses, including the miscellaneous. A great way to develop a project is to go through each goal and set a realistic estimate for it. For example, if you are planning on installing new kitchen cabinets, think about the materials you need, the paint, labor costs, and any other costs involved. The unique thing is that if you have been thinking about remodeling your home for a while, you most likely have a figure in mind of the projected expenses. To come up with better estimates, work with experienced professionals. Build your team Who do you need to complete your project? You should begin putting them together. Many homeowners go online and hire the first company that pops up in the search results. Don’t do this, as you often end up hiring the wrong professional. The right thing to do is to take your time and research the different companies in your area. You should then schedule meetings with them and settle on the best one after interviewing three or more contractors. Some of the things you should look out for when hiring include: Years of experience: You want a professional that has been in business for five or more years. This way, you are sure they know what they are doing, so they have a high chance of delivering an exemplary project. Licenses: Of course, the contractor should be licensed to work in your area. References: You should request the references that the contractor has worked with before. And don’t stop […]
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How Often Should You Remodel Your Home?
Are you wondering, how often should you remodel your home? While the time you do it depends on the condition of your property, architects builders agree that you should do it at least every 15-20 years. You should note that this recommendation isn’t set in stone, and you can always do it earlier or later than this. You should consider renovating your house if: The tiles are getting detached Detached tiles are an eyesore, a tripping hazard, and significantly reduce a home’s resale value. Even if you had professionally installed the tiles, it comes a time when you have to replace them due to wear off. In most cases, the most affected rooms are usually the bathroom and kitchen, often due to the large amounts of water there. You can replace the loose tiles using similar tiles to those that were originally there or install completely new ones. As you are placing the new tiles, pay attention to the room’s theme and maintain it. The paint has chipped. Who said you have to bring down the entire house to say that you are having a renovation project? Sometimes the renovation project is as simple as repainting your walls. The beauty is that doing the repainting work is simple and cheap. If you don’t want or don’t have the money to hire a technician, you can always paint the house yourself or with the help of your family members. The roof is leaking To keep your house in top shape, you must ensure that the roof is in good condition. Most roofing systems are known to last for decades, but they rot and get old sooner than expected due to harsh weather elements. Depending on the materials used in roofing, you can have leaking problems. If your roof is leaking, it’s time to renovate your house. If your house is old, chances are you can’t find the exact materials you had used in roofing, so you have to use modern materials. While this is the case, like when installing the tiles, be cautious of the house theme and design. The last thing you want is to install a roof that doesn’t agree with the house’s theme. You have outgrown your house. If you have a new family member such as a child or elderly relative living with you, the chances are that the house has become smaller. For everyone to be comfortable, you need to make some renovations. You can knock down a wall to make room for an additional bedroom or build an addition. Your house feels old. Do you enter your house and feel like you are in the 60s? It might be time to invest in a new house. When you are doing the renovation, avoid the trending house designs and plans as it’s a matter of time before the fad fades off and you start feeling that your house needs to catch up. The right thing to do is to work with experienced professionals that will help you choose a design that looks good and will still be good in the coming decades. You have money for […]
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6 Home Renovation Ideas on a Budget
Every homeowner would want to hire the best home remodeling architects and give their home a complete overhaul, but there is the issue of money. You might not have enough. While this is the case, does it mean you should give up on your dream of a better-looking house? Absolutely not! Even if you have limited funds, you can do several renovations and give your house a new look. To help you out, 6 home renovation ideas on a budget: Install full-length curtains Full-length curtains are usually 0.5mm longer than normal curtains, and they are beautiful and more elegant looking. The cool thing is when you use the right color and install them properly, they create a fantastic and positive atmosphere that makes your home feel and look new. For a great look, go for quality, unique curtains with an inviting color. You can also transform the look of your sofa or chair using slipcovers. Toss a few new, cheap throw pillows on the furniture, and you have a completely fresh look. For the dining room and kitchen, place a new tablecloth. If you are crafty, get a few cheap fabric remnants from the craft store and make new pillows and window treatments. Rearrange the furniture Did you know a simple act as rearranging the furniture can completely change your house’s look and feel? Since you don’t have a lot of money, you can’t afford to hire an interior designer, but you can afford a few home design magazines. Go through the magazines and make use of the brilliant ideas you come across. You can also borrow your creative niece or cousin on a lazy Sunday and ask them to help you come up with creative furniture arrangement ideas. Refresh your rooms with paint Sometimes all your washed-out walls want is a burst of new color and the beauty is that paint doesn’t cost much. You also don’t have to hire a professional to do the work. Simply watch a few videos, and you will transform your home. Paint all the dull-looking areas both outside and inside the house. The only trick you have to pay attention to is to ensure that you choose the right color for the different rooms. Restore the old tiles If your house tiles are old, ugly, and losing their functionality, it’s time to restore them. Head to your local stores and buy new, modern tiles and install them. When you are in the stores, bargain and get the best deal possible. This calls for you to avoid stores in the upmarket. You also should avoid rare tiles. When it comes to installation, you can take time and learn installation techniques, but you can hire a professional to help with the installation if you have some money left. Replace your area rug Sometimes your house might be looking old and out of condition simply because the area rug is worn out. To revamp the house, get a new rug. When buying the new rug, pay attention to the textures and finishes and ensure they match the house’s design. You should note that certain rugs such […]
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Home Remodel: Tips On How To Remodel Your Small Kitchen
When you have a small kitchen, you are always looking for ways to improve its look and functionality. According to home remodel contractors, kitchens are usually very expensive to remodel on a square foot basis. The cool thing is that when you have a small kitchen, you have an easy time remodeling it. You also spend less doing it. To help you out, here are some of the tips that you should consider when giving your kitchen a makeover. Find areas to scale down Many homeowners rush to getting new appliances, but this doesn’t have to be the case. Before you do anything, you should look at your kitchen and identify whether there are any areas in which you can scale down. For example, if you have big double sinks or farmhouse sinks, they are most likely taking up a lot of your space. In such a scenario, you should remove one of the sinks and install a smaller one. You need to think about the people that are living in the house. If you are living alone or only with your partner, what is the point of having a large dishwasher or fridge? You should look out for items that you don’t regularly use such as canned goods or appliances and get rid of them. Consider your priorities We have different priorities when it comes to our kitchens. Some people give priority to the look of the surfaces while others are more concerned with the storage spaces. You should put your effort on the appliances and features that are of interest to you. If you like a lot of storage space, you should have a lot of cabinets in place. On the other hand, if the look of the surfaces is important, you should go with high-quality countertop surfaces. Work at making the kitchen look bigger When you have a small kitchen, your aim should be to make it look as big as possible. The cool thing is that there are many ways in which you can do it. One of the ways is using large floor tiles. You also should consider using lighter colors. You should use lighter colors on the floor, surfaces, and on any other surfaces of your interest. Conclusion These are some of the things you should consider when you are looking to renovate your small kitchen. For you to have an easy time doing it, work with a reputable home addition builder DC.
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Architects’ Builders: Things You Should And Shouldn’t Do When Remodeling Your House For Sale
When you are looking to remodel your house for selling, you want to remodel it in such a way that you increase its value so that you can sell it at a higher price. To help you out, here are the things you should and shouldn’t do when renovating your house as given by architects’ builders: Things you should do The first thing you should do is to look at the profit potential of the remodeling project that you are looking to undertake. As rule of thumb, you should never do anything that you won’t get much from it. Two of the areas that you should pay close attention to are the bathroom and kitchen. When it comes to the bathroom, you should install a new floor. If the fixtures are old, consider replacing them. You also should consider giving the cabinets some attention. If they are still in intact condition, you shouldn’t replace them—simply repair and repaint them. When it comes to the kitchen, the look of the kitchen countertops comes in handy. You can install new countertop surfaces if the current ones are worn out, or you can simply repair them. When it comes to the appliances, consider replacing them if they are old. Things to avoid when renovating your house It’s a no-brainer that you shouldn’t spend more than you are going to get. For you to avoid spending a lot of money on a house that doesn’t have a lot of value, you should hire a professional to help you in valuing the house before you start the project. Once you have the value of the house, you should work with your home remodeling expert who will help you choose the simple projects that won’t cost much but will greatly improve the look of the house. Another thing you should avoid doing is to give attention to areas such as the media room, offices, basements, theaters, back decks, attic remodels, and others that don’t have a good resale value. Lighting is crucial to the look of the house; therefore, you should never remove it. Even if it looks bad, you should leave it in place. Remember that bad lighting is better than no lighting. Conclusion These are some of the things that you should and shouldn’t do when you are renovating your house for resale. For you to get the most from the project, work with reputable home remodeling architects DC.
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