From Concept to Construction ™

Common Home Renovating Mistakes You Need to Avoid

June 19, 2019

Home renovation can be an expensive affair depending on how complicated the project will be. Finding home remodeling architects can also take time especially if you don’t have connections to rely on. More so, a home renovation project can also take some to finish and would need some personal adjustments along the way. But despite all of the hassles and hard work, seeing the end results will all be worth it. Unless you are knowledgeable and experienced in this field, you can hire home additions builders with your home renovation project. For one thing, a home remodel should be handled only by professionals especially if it’s a major home improvement project. However, the entire project won’t start without you. You, the homeowner, and the contractors should collaborate to ensure that everything goes well as smoothly as possible. Home renovation mistakes are also common, but you can choose not to commit them. Common home renovation mistakes Here are some of the most common home renovation mistakes you should avoid: Focusing only on the aesthetic value One major reason for a home improvement project is to give your home or a part of your home a fresher look. This is regardless whether you are planning to change the floor tiles, add a kitchen countertop, or update your living room furniture. However, this should not only be your goal. Instead, you should also check whether there is a need for repair works. Otherwise, you may end up tearing up your newly-renovated area because you did not repair or replace a leaky pipe underneath. It is also a good idea to plan a home improvement project to upgrade into high-quality materials instead of simply adding to a room’s aesthetic appeal. Choosing a cheap contractor Looking for an affordable home additions contractors can help you save money. However, you should be careful in choosing a home addition builder. For one thing, a cheaper contractor does not always mean high-quality workmanship. Some contractors may offer cheaper quotes – at the expense of the materials used and the overall work quality. A reliable and trustworthy contractor should provide a detailed quote containing the materials that will be used. Likewise, it should indicate the estimated lead time, installation costs, waste management plan, and other important aspects of the home improvement project. Underestimating your budget Setting a budget is important when planning for a major home renovation project. In budgeting, you should also consider setting aside for contingencies. Home addition companies and other home improvement experts recommend adding at least 15 percent of your budget for emergency expenses. Doing too much at once Some homeowners want to accomplish tasks all at once. Apparently, they want to utilize the time and resources they have at that time. However, it can cause stress to the homeowner. That is why it is important to focus only on one project at a time, and then move on to the other one when the first one is already done. Should you go DIY or hire a professional? On one hand, you can choose to DIY your home improvement project, albeit with certain conditions. You […]

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Situations When You Should Hire A Home Remodel Professional

April 14, 2019

When you are considering remodeling your house, you can do the work by yourself or hire a home remodel professional. While you save money when you do the job by yourself, it’s always wise that you hire a professional to help you out: When to hire a remodeling expert There are many situations when you should hire the expert. Some of these situations include: When you don’t have the motivation: Let no one lie to you that the home remodeling project is easy—it’s usually cumbersome, and you need a lot of motivation to pick up the sledgehammer or any other working tool. If you feel that you don’t have the motivation to do the hard work, it’s time to hire an expert to help you out. You don’t mind strangers in your house: Many homeowners opt to remodel their houses as they don’t want to lose control of their homes. If you don’t mind having handymen in your home for a few days, you should go ahead and hire the professionals. You don’t have the necessary skills: A home remodeling project doesn’t only require you to buy a sledgehammer and knock down a wall—you need the skills needed to bring down a wall and erect a new one. When you don’t have the time: In addition to the project requiring you to have the necessary skills, you also need to have enough time to do it. If you are a career person and busy, you should hire a professional who will handle the project while you go on with your work. Tip to consider when remodeling your house The first tip is to ensure that you hire a professional to help you with the work. Before you enter into a contract with the home addition builder ensure that he/she is certified and experienced enough to handle the project at hand. If you are reconstructing the house for resale, you should avoid spending more than you can recoup. For you to tell whether the project is worth it, you should hire an expert home evaluator who will help you with the evaluation. When you are doing the remodeling, you should avoid replacing all of the appliances. The best way out is to repair them. Conclusion This is what you need to know about home remodeling and when you should hire home addition companies DC. For you to get the most from the additions companies, ensure that you work with the most experienced ones.

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Every Bathroom Should Have These

March 30, 2019

For those who are having their own condo for the first and those who’ve been living in one for many years now condo remodeling is one the main projects, you’ve wanted to achieve. Maybe others have been doing a makeover to their nook whenever necessary or just to add a little spice into their private haven. The Bathroom Does Spark Joy Because the bathroom is the most intimate room in every home, sometimes it is also the least glamorous and stylish. There are homes that use a common bathroom where guests use it too. Moreover, if your new pad has a common bathroom, which you have to share with everyone, make sure that it is stocked with the important bathroom necessities that can be accessible to anyone. The Essentials Your Loo Should Have (It’s A Must) SHOWER CURTAIN AND LINER. If you happen to have an unattractive tub or shower – which you should do something about – use a dark plain or a colorful curtain that is also easy to move during instances where you have to hide or cover that space. But if your shower is something you can be proud of, a sheer curtain is enough to allow some illumination into the shower area. TOOTHBRUSH HOLDER. You can always make use of cute glasses or mugs as your toothbrush holder or better yet, shop for a more chic holder that is attractive enough to add a little glam to your toilet. If you are using an electric toothbrush look for a holder that is big enough to handle its bulkiness. TRASH CAN. This very important toilet item can be simple or trendy. When some bathroom uses an open trash can, it’s better to have the one that flips its cover to conceal all the unpleasant bathroom waste. DURABLE BATH MAT. For safety reasons, choose the non-slip bathroom mats that are sturdy but lavish.  This will benefit your unattractive toilet floor, or you can get a bigger mat or small mat size to be able to cover a bigger portion of your bathroom flooring. CLEANING SUPPLIES There are so many effective cleaning tools in the market, you just have to choose the ones that you need, the one that is convenient, and the ones that are easy to keep. INNOVATIVE STORAGE ITEMS. You can find these in bath stores, but you can also use mini bookshelves, bedside tables, baskets, and stock boxes for keeping all your essentials organized. Just make sure they will not occupy too much of your bathroom space. HOOKS. You can use over-the-door hooks or wall hooks depending on your creativity and availability of wall space. BATH TOWELS. You are free to choose the color and designs of your bath towels. But if you wanted a towel that matches everything, the white bath towels are your perfect choice.  Just make sure that you choose an absorbing one. LONG-LASTING FRAGRANT SOAP. Your bath soap is different from the hand soap should be placed near your bathroom sink for everybody’s use. ILLUMINATION.  Having a great lighting system in your bathroom should be one of the things that […]

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The Importance Of Having A Foyer

March 20, 2019

The job of every home addition design experts and contractors is to transform any visually unpleasant or unpleasing space or room into an area worth coming home again too. And their job also includes the foyer. PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR FOYER The foyer area of your home is like a butler that introduces the house to your guests and is the first one who welcomes them. It is basically the first part of a home that you will see the moment you set your foot inside. It is also the are that can make a big impression to your guests. So if your foyer is not that attractive, then your guests will be expecting the same with the rest of the house. THE FOYER CONNECTS THE HOUSE TO YOUR GUESTS Over time, the foyer becomes similar to a hallway, entryway, or an entrance hall. So in a nutshell, the foyer is where your guests are being entertained first. Whether it’s a house or an apartment, foyers are usually spacious with plenty of room for additional furniture or accessories. This means that you’ll have to be making some tough decisions and choices when it comes to decorating this portion of your nook. You have to be certain about the main function of your foyer will be, think about your lifestyle, and think about the style you wanted for the foyer area. GIVE YOUR FOYER A NEW LIFE Storage The foyer needs storage considering the items that need to be stored like hats, coats, shoes, bags, accessories, and a lot more. With a proper storage system, you can keep all the items kept in a well-organized manner. Décor Options You can decorate your foyer with either a carpet or an area rug, wall art or a side table, and other decorative accessories of different shapes and sizes. This includes vases and lighting designs. It’s much better to put an attractive carpet or a rug that will automatically get your guests attention as they enter your house. Tables A round table or a console table will add glam to your foyer. You can have them placed either against the wall or in a corner of the area. Put a vase, scented candles or other aromatic and scented pieces that your guests will find attractive and pleasing. Walls Never take the walls for granted. You can hang either frames, artwork or some DIY wall décor pieces that you can easily find in the store or online. Lighting Of course, the most important of all home decors – lights. A chandelier will look perfect on high ceilings as well as pendant lights. While sconces can be easily mounted or attached on the foyer walls to add illumination and style altogether. Mirrors Using a large mirror can really showcase a foyer. By placing it on the wall, it will reflect either the living area or any room that is adjacent to its view. The mirror has always been a glamorous piece of accessory that can turn any foyer into an amazing indoor focal point. Seats A bench or any stylish living room chair can be a […]

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Choosing The Right Vanity Mirror Size

March 10, 2019

During the final touches of any home addition design, many would agree that the most overlooked items are the mirror or the bathroom vanity mirror. Technically, the moment you look at it, you tend to see a reflection of everything else around you before you even see the actual mirror itself. Though treated that way sometimes, a great looking mirror is one of the most important components in any room, most especially in the bathroom. When it comes to its style, size, and shape, you will never run out of choices and here are some tips that you can use to be able to take home the best mirror perfect for your vanity area. How To Choose A Vanity Mirror Sizing Your Mirror There are two things that you should look into when choosing the size of your ideal mirror: Proportion and Function. To achieve a balanced look in your bathroom, visualize the size of your mirror based on your vanity space. Ideally, your vanity mirror should not be bigger or wider than the space itself. The easiest and safest way to pick one is by choosing a mirror that is almost as wide as the space you wanted it to be placed. Some opt for a custom-sized mirror because you won’t find a pre-made vanity mirror that will exactly fit the width of your bathroom vanity area. The perfect functional vanity mirror should only reach at least 30 centimeters over and under your eye line or whoever will be using the bathroom.  Hence, the more height you apply, the better, because it can provide a wider viewing angle and space. Single vs. Multiple Bathroom Sinks If you have a bigger bathroom designed to cater more people, you have to have a wider and spacious vanity area, even more, if you have multiple sinks. This leaves you with the option of either using multiple mirrors or just a single vanity mirror that is wide enough to service the entire room. You can have multiple skinny and tall mirror if you wanted to give the bathroom a bit of an upright view. With this, you have to consider the height, especially if you have a high ceiling. Although, you still have the option of using one large vanity mirror you’re okay seeing more of your bathroom’s opposite walls. Also, you are free to use multiple mirrors even when you only have one sink. In fact, when you place a mirror at the center of the sink and then add another mirror symmetrical to your center mirror, it actually balances the look of the room even more. Consider A Bathroom Appeal Sconces Having sconces in between a vanity area is one of the reasons why smaller mirrors are being chosen and installed. Technically, you can install vanity lights anywhere within your bathroom nook, but having them beside the mirror provides more light for the face which is more functional and convenient. Wall-to-Wall Mirrors If you prefer to use a more stylish approach in sizing your vanity mirror, ignore the size of the vanity and instead use mirrors as wall accents. This will […]

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The Advantages and Disadvantages Of A Full Carpet Flooring

February 28, 2019

Part of any home remodel checklists are the floor and its covering, like whether you would settle with a bare flooring or you’ll go with an area rug or a full carpet. But if you are after a soft floor covering that will make your feet at ease while walking, then what you need is a full carpet flooring. Although, you just don’t choose a carpet without considering a lot of things. Like the patterns and colors are a factor that can affect the way your house looks, as well as your furniture and decorations. Consider the PROS and CONS of CARPETS, based on what YOU NEED. In picking a carpet as your textile floor covering, you have to know which carpet can truly provide you with more advantages than disadvantages. Every carpet characteristic can greatly affect the way you see and need it. Carpeting can be good and bad depending on the various contributing factors in the environment. With the information that this section provides about the benefits and flaws of a carpeted floor covering, you can finally decide which floor covering is best for your home. The PROS Carpets are quite Carpets are great sound absorber. They can reduce any noise by contributing to the sound insulation of your home. This kind of element is perfect for those who are working from home, residents of an apartment, and those with large families. So if you are the noisy type of person, a fully carpeted floor can save you from any neighbor complaints. The softer the floor the softer the fall If you have little humans around expect that falling is what they do best – for now. At their age, toddlers can’t control themselves, but fall and topple most of the time. So with carpets around, especially on your stairwells, you will not worry about your little ones getting hurt. Smart move there. Of course, carpet maintenance should not be the least of your priority. Carpets keep you warm With the stubborn winter season, having a soft, warm carpet around your nook with a nice fireplace, you will definitely tell yourself that the cold will never bother you. Homes with full carpeting as their floor cover get to have a satisfying insulated space every time winter season comes. Carpets are replaceable Of course, carpets wear and tear over a long period of time. And you don’t want to have an old-looking décor sit around your nook, right? With the whole nine yards of shades, designs, and patterns, carpets are an instant game changer when it comes to the overall look of your house. With proper care and maintenance, you can always lengthen the life of your carpets and other floor covering. Carpets keep you on your feet Carpets happen to always be in tempo with friction, which means that you’re able to keep your balance while walking on your soft carpeted floor. Especially if you have toddlers and elders in the house, they are safer with soft undersole floorings whenever they walk. This also minimizes the risk of accidents and injuries. It’s fairly cheap! This is definitely the […]

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The Living Room Decoration Essentials

February 20, 2019

Every living room is a focal point. In fact, even affordable home additions can make a room classy and elegant. If you are just about to start decorating your home, the first area that you should pay attention to is the living room. Putting all the pieces you’ve shopped for your living room can be overwhelming and instead of giving the room a harmonious and inviting appeal, it might turn out the other way around. TIME TO STYLE YOUR LIVING ROOM When decorating your living room, you have to consider the shades of paint you will be having in on your walls, the kind of furniture that already have and what other furnishings you need, and how to style and decorate the entire room. However, you cannot start with your project without finding out what your accessorizing taste is. If you’re having a hard time, you can scout and look into living room photos to help and give you an idea. Knowing this will initially give you the drive to properly and decisively choose the paint colors, furniture, floor covering, window coverings, accessories, and other stuff that you wanted to place in your living room area. THE TIPS ON HOW TO NAIL A LIVING ROOM DECORATING PROJECT The Furniture One common dilemma of most homeowners is how to arrange and style their living room furnishings. The most typical style is by pushing the sofa against the wall followed by the chairs against the other wall and that just basically it. Easy-peasy. Yet, the best way to achieve a living room that will really stand out is by planning on how to arrange your furniture. One important thing to consider is which part of the room should be the focal point, which area seems inviting as a conversation area, and the traffic flow in the living room. The Area Rugs and Floor Coverings Area rugs and other floor coverings are considered to be one of the ornamental items that are so overwhelming to place in any room, particularly in the living room. The benefits of using one can really be overflowing, but before you purchase it simply because you find it perfect for your living room, make sure that you know by heart how to pick an area rug. Knowing the size of an area rug is the most important rule.  Placing a small-sized floor covering in your living room can make the entire space a bit jumbled so knowing first the size of the room and how your furniture is arranged should always be considered. All your furnishings should be on top of the area rug with at least a 10-to-20 inches of bare floor separating the wall of the room and the area rug. Wall Art Don’t you find an empty wall somewhat incomplete? It is! You don’t have to crowd your wall with décors and frames, but placing some art pieces on it is very important. It doesn’t have to be all expensive masterpieces or paintings just to present an inviting and close-knit look. The perception of one about art can differ from how the other sees it, therefore, […]

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The Art Of Mixing Outdoor Furnitures

February 10, 2019

Having a wide-ranging combination of home furniture and accessories when doing an indoor and outdoor remodeling is making a big hit nowadays and doing this to your backyard patio is going to be really awesome, don’t you think? Mix Items With Style There’s a whole lot of outdoor fire pits, rugs, dining tables, coffee tables and comfortable seating that can help you curb the pale and usual outdoor furniture made from brick-and-mortar materials. Incorporating your old patio furnishings with some latest outdoor garden collection is also a great way to give your backyard hang out a fresh look. This can enable you to add more pieces to accommodate more people or your growing family. Showcase Your Creativity Have you ever walked into a furniture shop and have spotted an awesome doorbuster offer for a set of furnishings, but you are having second thoughts of grabbing the offer because you are skeptical that it would not match your other outdoor furniture and décor. But with a tad of creativity and a taste for design and balance, you can blend and mix any style to compliment each other in harmony. Here are some great tips to get that awesome, quirky look using both your out-dated and latest collection of backyard furnishings. Enjoy mixing and matching! Let The Mixing Challenge Begin Bridge The Gap Between Furnishings Using Colors. Guess, this first tip is an obvious one. It’s the first thing that people look at when scouting and buying household items and furniture. And the reason behind it is pretty simple: Color draws attention no matter how basic the tone is and how dull the shades are. You should not limit your style to just one shade and keep everything unformed. Make use all the colors of the world to your advantage and give a little delight to your backyard oasis. Like with your patio sofas and chairs, you can make use of colorful cushions and throw pillow to break the monochromatic design. Neon or bright printed pillow covers and sheets can match any aluminum or wooden tables. Learn to Mix and Match Furniture Materials Sensibly. Repetition is the key when it comes to decorating and redecorating any space which applies to your outdoor area too. Wood, resin, plastic, aluminum, glass, and wicker can be grouped together according to their respective material. Choose a piece of patio furniture that is composed of at least two varying materials, this will give you more choices when it comes to putting outdoor items in their places. Like for example, a dining table made of aluminum with glass attachments will match perfectly with a wooden end or corner table, just make sure it has either a glass top or metal legs. Separating Items Can Put Pieces Together. Sounds illogical, but it actually makes a lot of sense. This means that by segregating items into two separate groupings can eventually transform a patchwork of bizarre outdoor items and furniture into a different backyard experience that creates more seating spots for your family and guests. It’s like you are creating 2 different venues in one area which is your backyard. […]

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Give Your Dining Area A New Look

January 28, 2019

You may have been aware that there are some homeowners to consult Feng Shui experts when it comes to their home remodeling and decors before they ask their home remodeling architects to do their job. So what is the purpose of it? To invite peace and tranquility into your home. FENG SHUI AND THE DINING ROOM But when it comes to the room which Feng Shui finds it more important is the Dining Room. Because it is where the entire family usually dine and spend a genuine time together, either every day or whenever there is a chance to be complete. However, in most houses, the dining area is not being used that often and instead, it becomes a dumping area for different stuff and in Feng Shui, this brings negative energy to the entire room. As a matter of fact, piling clutter anywhere in the house or in the office decreases the positive energy Feng Shui has for that space and it is believed that it restricts the flow of Qi energy. THE (FENG SHUI) DINING ROOM TIPS Feng Shui aims to make the dining room in every home an area where harmony, prosperity, wealth, and the strength of the family bond be more centered and focused. And here are the dining room tips that will change the way your dining room looks. Set your dining area to be calm, instigate hunger, comfortable, and inviting. Keep the balance of colors in your dining area; avoid having it too bright or too plain. Determine whether your dining room is well-exposed to sunlight and has proper ventilation. Hang a mirror that will reflect your dining table to attract prosperity It is optional to place a wash basin in the Eastern or Northern part of the dining room. Your dining room should be very close to the kitchen. The kitchen and dining area should be situated on the same floor area. If you have a big kitchen, utilize a portion of an area of the kitchen to be your dining spot. If the dining area is arranged to be part of your living room (which is also common in most homes) install a curtain or place some indoor plants to set a division. As for furniture, choose an oval, square, rectangular or circular dining table. Choose a dining table that is made from high-quality wood material. The dining table should have enough space for every member of the family. The number of dining chairs should be even. As much as possible no one’s back should be facing the door or window when seated because it can cause insecurity. The head of the family should be facing East when dining, while the rest of the family can be seated facing, North, West, or East. Maintain being polite and gentle to every family member when dining and if possible – always. Always be happy, calm, relaxed and stress-free while dining. It should be a habit. Keep the following on your dining table: Apples to develop friendship; Pears to attract positive energy; Peaches for good health and; Oranges for prosperity and richness. If you are […]

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Turn Your Basement Into A In House Bar

January 18, 2019

Most basements are like scary underground spaces that are usually dark and creepy. You can change the norm of it nowadays by giving your basement a totally different character. A home remodeling addition is a key and there are great interior designers and contractors out there who can guarantee a 360 degrees transformation of your underground space. It could be a challenge for most homeowners and is going to be an overwhelming scenario, but it’s going to be a relief to see a space well utilized. One great makeover idea is reinventing your basement area into a basement bar. Although that would also require a bit of strategy and creativity, it’s going to be an awesome nook to hang out with friends and for a small party gathering. SOME BASEMENT BAR IDEAS Okay, so making a basement transform into an in house bar will always depend on how big or small your basement area is. Here are some styles that might interest you. The Whites and Warm Wood Using white subtle tiles can add a distinct style to your basement bar together with your collection of colorful liquor bottles which will totally break the ice of fashion needed. Matched with warm wooden bar chairs can completely set a tone. Custom Pullout Drawers Another way to utilize your basement space is by customizing pullouts for your bar drawers that can perfectly hold bottled upright and will avoid them from tipping. Adjustable dividers are a smart idea for bottles with different forms and sizes. Unique Seating Any exceptional and quirky furniture design and other ornaments that you can incorporate in your basement bar project can go a long way in constructing a cheerful, inviting and bright mood. A booth-style seating is just one of the many styles that you can adopt. It adds a different kind of flair and friendly atmosphere within your basement bar space. Vintage Plank Countertop for A Tiny Corner If you have very limited space in your basement for a full-sized bar, you can make use of any corner and still enjoy the perks of having a personal bar hang out area in your basement. Using a vintage dark-stained plank as your countertop can already set the mood. Just place it over a simple cabinet and place all your bar necessities and accessories and voila! You already have your very own luxurious bar right at the corner of your basement. Under-Shelf Lighting Using undermount lighting in your basement pod can work wonders. From the simplest to the most complex lighting, from a hardwire or sticky lighting installation, you have the freedom to choose what suits you best. Whichever way you want it, your main goal is to provide the proper illumination into your bar area. MAKE USE OF YOUR CREATIVITY Kitchen and Basement Bar When you choose a longer cabinet and open wall shelves can only make your basement bar space look more like a kitchen, yet this design can even make the area more inviting and homey. Adding not only bar drinks, but as well as coffee choices and sodas are great ideas too. Unique Lighting Features If […]

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