Kitchen Remodeling Best Practices
The kitchen is one of the most used rooms in the house, and many homeowners choose to redesign it to keep it modern and practical. If your kitchen is worn out and you are looking to remodel it, you should know that you will face hefty expenses. The good thing is that remodeling is a long-term investment that can raise the value of your home. Due to this, you must put your ducks in a row and do the right things so you don’t spend too much time and money on the project. Some of the things you should do include: Have a plan A clear end goal and vision are essential for a successful kitchen makeover. You should note that this is not a nice picture of what you want your kitchen to look like. You need to decide what your life—and your family’s life—will look like in this new space because the kitchen must perform to meet those ends. Before you begin the remodeling, sit with your condo remodel contractors and explain your vision. You should then devise a plan for proceeding with the project. Being realistic is just as vital as any other aspect of home renovation planning. Before acquiring supplies or knocking down walls, ensure you understand what you can reasonably accomplish within your budget and available area. Make sure you’re also practical about upkeep—if you have children and know you won’t be able to tolerate continuous fingerprint smudges, stainless steel may not be the ideal option, even if you prefer the design. Understand the costs involved You should know the amount of money you plan to spend on the project. To do this, select the most crucial features in the kitchen. These include a kitchen island, correctly tiered lighting, increased drawer or cabinet space, and a dedicated food pantry. You should then allocate your finances appropriately. While working, monitor your budget to ensure you stay on track with your kitchen renovation projects. Even after creating your budget, you may find yourself spending more. Thus, it is critical to set aside a contingency reserve. Take time and extensively research possible cabinetry, countertops, flooring, appliances, accessories, and lighting options. This will reduce the chances of making mistakes. You should then set aside a 15% to 20% contingency. Choose the right floor. If you intend to install hardwood floors in your new kitchen, you should be cautious and ensure that you select the suitable wood. You should choose timber treated with the proper finish; a pre-finished sealed hardwood is a good choice. Hardwood flooring can be slippery, whereas a textured surface, such as hand-scraped, distressed, or reclaimed wood, can provide greater traction while concealing kitchen wear and strain. To be safe, use wood with a high Janka hardness rating, such as hickory, so it can withstand frequent use and drops while minimizing damage. The kitchen is the most accident-prone room in the house, so it’s critical to safeguard the areas where slips are most likely to occur when choosing new flooring. Use rugs or pads in front of the fridge, sink, dishwasher, and pantry. Many homeowners choose cork […]
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Renovating for The First Time? Here Is How to Do Right
While remodeling a home can be a fantastic opportunity to transform an old, run-down structure into your ideal abode, it’s not always easy to take on such a large undertaking. There are obstacles at every turn, from missing deadlines to unanticipated structural issues and mistakes in design. Thankfully, by working with the right home addition companies and putting the following tips in place, you will create the home you have always dreamt about. Discuss your ideas with your team. Ignoring to share ideas with your professional team may lead to problems with functionality or quality. Your project manager, architect, or builder will have helped many homeowners remodel their houses, so they may be eager to provide professional suggestions. When you share your ideas with them, they might be able to recommend more affordable materials or different approaches to the design. When you are having a remodeling project, make every effort to be adaptable, but if your heart is set on something particular, don’t hesitate to speak out for it. Remember that there is no way that your professionals will deliver the right product if you hire the wrong ones. For the best outcomes, ensure that you work with experienced professionals who know what they are doing. As a rule of thumb, they should have handled a similar project before. Avoid doing anything you don’t understand Although it may be tempting to do most of the job yourself, doing so may result in delays, costly corrective work in the future, and accidents. You don’t want this, do you? For some tasks, it’s imperative that you employ a professional if you lack the necessary skills. For instance, doing plumbing, gas, or electrical work yourself is never a good idea. Doing roof repairs, eliminating asbestos, and tearing down walls without professional assistance are other risky tasks you attempt if you don’t have the necessary skills. For peace of mind, let the professionals do their work. Regardless of how handy you think you are, leave it to the professionals if you have never handled the project before as they will do a better job. You have nothing to worry about as long as you hire the right people. Take your time Moving into a newly purchased house in livable condition for a short while is a good idea before starting improvements. This way, you’ll have more time to determine what works and what doesn’t, and most importantly, how you use the house. It will also help to refine a functional and comfortable design rather than just focusing on aesthetics, from where you put the groceries and how the living areas flow to where the house’s coldest and warmest spots are. Allow as much natural right as possible The way natural light shapes a room is one thing that’s not visible on a floor plan. Before you lock in a layout, get a sense of how different areas in your house feel as the light changes throughout the day. For instance, you’ll probably want the maximum light in your primary family living areas. You can increase the light by glazing choices like expansive picture windows […]
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When Not to Renovate
As much as home renovations come with their perks, such as increasing the functionality of the house and increasing its value, there are some situations when you don’t have to, as in most cases, you end up doing the wrong things. To help you out, here are situations when not to renovate: You want to make your house more appealing to sellers Even if you don’t go overboard with your options, you should avoid upgrading your home to make it more enticing to buyers. If you have a creaky staircase or other evident flaws, make sure to fix them before you place the house on the market, because the home inspector will undoubtedly see them. Hiring condo remodel experts or other professionals to renovate the house may not be a good idea if you’re only doing it to sell the house and make some last-minute cosmetic changes. If you renovate your kitchen or bathrooms, no matter the colors and finishes you use, there will be a buyer who will not like it and won’t want to pay for the work you just completed. For example, if you design a white kitchen, some buyers will prefer blond wood. You create a step-in shower in the master bathroom and the buyer likes to bathe. You should note that we aren’t saying you should never renovate, but if you do so soon before putting your property for sale, you are unlikely to recoup your investment, especially since most homeowners will not pay more for certain features. If you are fully renovating the house for sale, don’t do it. Some of the things you can do instead include painting a room, fixing issues in a floor, replacing a cracked window, or cleaning up wear and tear on window sills. These are cosmetic fixes that show that you care for your home, and they aren’t expensive. Your home has structural problems Structural problems, such as eroding foundation walls, underpinning, and cracked rocks, can quickly become prohibitively expensive. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to estimate the full cost until the work begins and you can see what you’re dealing with. And, while it is necessary to address structural concerns that are crucial to your home’s safety, renovations that may be more difficult due to structural issues may be reasons to forego those modifications. If you are having structural issues with your property, before you embark on the renovation journey, have a talk with your contractor and find out whether it’s a wise move. The last thing you want to do is to start a project and find out that it’s too expensive for your budget. Have a discussion about it beforehand with your contractor and only proceed with it after you find out that it’s a good move. You feel the project is a simple DIY Home renovations can be problematic if you get ahead of yourself. There is so much more to home renovation than what TV shows you, it’s no wonder people get in over their heads and think they can do everything by themselves. One common mistake homeowners make is to attempt renovations themselves and […]
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Home Remodeling Tips
Is this the first time you are remodeling your house? Here are valuable tips from condo remodel experts that will ensure that you have an easy time: Divide the project into small chunks Strategic planning is the key to effective renovation. When refurbishing the house, consider the large picture and the minute details. You may have heard the saying “whole is greater than the sum of its parts”; you can use the same concept in your home remodeling project by creating a renovation plan for each region of your home. If you employ an architect for renovations, he will evaluate your needs and renovate accordingly. Because you’re in charge, you’ll brainstorm your requirements, establish your end objective for each room in the house, and decide the overall goal, before moving on to the other parts of the project. If you are having a problem coming up with a plan, get the help of a professional. Have a clear budget. Because you want to renovate your home on a budget, you must determine your spending needs/limitations first. It is critical to remember in budgeting that you cannot overestimate your budget; instead, maintain your budget and then proceed to look for items you require. The right way to estimate the amount of money you should look to spend on your project is to get quotes from several contractors. From this, you can tell what you need and don’t. You should note that even if you have a budget, you should have at least 25% of the budget for emergencies that might come about. Research You will be shocked at the many possibilities when you begin your research. The gorgeous lamp you loved in a high-end store can also be acquired at a reduced price elsewhere. So, when renovating your home on a budget, keep in mind that if you do your homework to discover the furniture, paint, and decorations you want, you will most likely be able to find the majority of the goods at a low cost. Make use of online shopping, thrift stores, and secondhand furniture shops to see how far you can get. It also doesn’t hurt to enquire from others who have previously handled similar projects. Pay attention to your doors. Your front door is the first thing people see about your home. If you cannot replace the door and your present door is in decent shape, consider repainting it. Your doors may also impact the lighting in your space, and you can benefit from this wonderful trick utilized by interior designers. When dealing with a dark room, whatever color is used on the walls, paint the ceiling, trim the doors, and make them the same color but 50% lighter. Remember that too much of one color can overwhelm a space. So, when renovating on a budget, if you’re repainting your door, try using different shades based on the concentration of light in your home to maximize the lighting in the way you want. Take advantage of the paint. Painting influences lighting, and if you are renovating your home, you may consider using new paint. If you’re already […]
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5 Best Practices When Remodeling Your Home
Are you thinking about undertaking a remodeling project? Here are valuable tips given by condo remodel experts that will ensure that you have fun and, at the same time, do a good job and produce a project that you love: Install enough lighting You don’t want to feel like you’re constantly in the limelight in your house, this means that your house should not be too bright. At the same time, this doesn’t mean that less is more when it comes to lighting. You should have just enough lighting. You should thoroughly check the electrical designs before beginning your job. Sconces, overhead lighting, chandeliers, and even the location of lamp outlets can help set a cheerful tone before your restoration begins. And, if you’re concerned that your lights will be too bright, use dimmers. You should consider layering different types of lights to give your home the perfect look. As a rule of thumb, you should have: Ambient lighting: Ambient lighting provides diffused brightness to the entire room, making your home feel cozier. You achieve this using ceiling lights or chandeliers. Task lighting: Task lighting directs light to a specified region to assist you in doing an activity, such as cooking or dining. In the kitchen, you can achieve task lighting with an island chandelier or pendant lights hung over a table or island. You can occasionally use wall lights like sconces to add task lighting over a specific work area, like a sink. Decorative lighting: Allow your flair to shine by incorporating ornamental lighting into your renovation. This lighting style produces visual focal points and spotlights in any part of your house that you want to highlight, such as wall art, architectural features, plants, and more. For perfect house lighting, you should incorporate all of these lights. Of course, you should work with experts who will give you the perfect outcome. Think about storage Storage is another aspect of house improvements that you should pay attention to. Storage is vital as it adds functionality to a home. When it comes to storage, you should think about the problems and solutions in your existing setup before your project begins. Work with your cabinet maker to create personalized solutions that meet your wants and lifestyle if your budget allows. This will help you maximize every square inch of available space. Items such as a sheet pan cabinet in the kitchen, pull-out dog-bowl drawers in the mudroom, and parking locations for all of your appliances throughout the house will help you establish an ordered area. Consider your long-term needs. When remodeling a room to make it more functional for your requirements, you need to evaluate whether the alterations must be permanent. If you’d prefer a home office to the guest room your third room serves, swap the bed with a desk. Rather than building a permanent built-in desk and bookshelves for the transition, preserve the framework of your room so that you—or someone else—can simply replace it later when family needs change. Whether you use the space for a craft room, a home gym, or an office, a room designed specifically for […]
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How Do You Remodel a Store to Boost Sales?
Regardless of what you are selling, there is stiff competition in the retail industry. As such, you have to be creative enough and stay ahead of your competitors. So, what can you do to attract more customers and increase your sales? Remodeling is the word. The way your store appears has a lot to do with whether you will have returning customers and whether they will buy from you. Here, then, are some remodeling ideas to elevate your selling game. Have comfortable seating areas. Most business owners underestimate the need for cozy and comfortable waiting areas. Having comfortable seats for your clients sends the message that they are valued and welcome in your space. As you can imagine, they will be encouraged to spend time at your store, thus increasing sales for you. Work with retail store contractors and come up with ways to strategically include the seating areas. Have a strategic store layout. Have you ever walked into a store and felt like a headache was approaching because of how poorly it was arranged? That’s how your customers feel when they walk into your store, and everything is all mixed up. They wouldn’t know which aisle or shelf to find something because you have a poor layout. To counter that, you can set up a well-thought-out store layout that is systematically organized. Think of an open floor plan as it is not only inviting but encourages customers to explore. Ensure that you strategically place popular items along the way as well. This way, customers will be compelled to buy even if it was not in their plan. Have eye-catching visual merchandising Aesthetic appeal is everything in sales. You may want to upgrade your store’s aesthetic appeal with eye-catching displays. If you are selling clothes, for instance, invest in quality mannequins and window displays to attract people outside your store and encourage them to come in. While at it, remember to keep updating your displays, as this keeps things fresh and entices even customers who have bought from you before to keep coming for more. Enhance your lighting Did you know that lighting can set the mood and ambiance for your store? You, therefore, need to ask yourself what mood you want your customers to perceive as soon as they walk into your store. A safe choice would be to go for a combination of accent, ambient, and task lighting to bring attention to key products and areas. Lighting not only creates an inviting atmosphere but also makes your products appear more attractive. Integrate technology Customers in this day and age appreciate an interactive shopping experience. In response to that, you want to embrace technology as it is the tool you need to actualize the same. Consider having things like touchscreens that customers can use to access product information, or virtual try-on mirrors. Your customers will not only enjoy the interaction, this also makes your store pleasantly different from others. Personalized shopping experience One of the biggest mistakes that store owners make is not making their customers feel special. To stand out from your competitors and make more sales, consider […]
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Bathroom Remodeling Tricks
If you don’t like the current look of your bathroom, there are several things you can do to spruce it up. Some of these things include: Spruce up the tub and shower According to Deborah Rozell, president of Innovative Inclusive Design and a certified aging-in-place specialist (CAPS), your bathroom should create a sense of well-being—but it can’t do so if you don’t feel safe accessing it. And, while it’s easy to prioritize aesthetics in your shower and tub, water and tile can be a dangerous combination. To avoid this, you should make a few changes in and around bathing places. Falls are a major issue in the bathroom, but there is a lot you can do to reduce the danger. According to Russell Kendzior, president of the National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI), you can use items that grip your tiles if your shower or tub floor is slick. These solutions, made with a mild acid, aren’t a coating but a scrub that you put on the surface to break away the buildup of soil and soap and micro-etch it, boosting slip resistance. To stay safe, work with your home addition contractors and get anti-slip floor treatment, suitable for porcelain, ceramic, and stone floors. You also should choose a bath mat with a nonskid bottom to place outside the shower or tub. A shower bench is a great addition as it assists you while bathing or simply as a place to rest and relax. You should find one and install it. You can have one made from concrete or buy one from your local store. When making the purchase, get one that is foldable that you can easily fold once you are done showering, as it saves you space. Consider installing single-lever controls on your tub and shower fixtures. These controls have a lever that is simpler to grasp than a knob, and having only one handle for temperature control allows for finer changes than separate ones for hot and cold. If you’ve always had a fixed showerhead, you might appreciate the versatility of a handheld showerhead with a long hose (59 inches) and a sprayer head. When the sprayer head rests in a holder at standard showerhead height, you can use it hands-free or as a hand shower whether you’re standing or seated in the shower or tub. Also useful for rinsing the walls or shower door after cleaning.) Choose a model that slides up and down on a vertical sidebar for further adaptability, allowing you to raise or lower it to your desired height without holding it while bathing. Add more lighting Ceiling fixtures give general lighting, but don’t forget to include task lighting in spots where enhanced visibility could prevent injuries. You should add lights near the sink, the toilet, and the tub or shower. You will even be better off if you go with dimmable or multicolored bulbs. Go with lights that allow you to change the strength and color of the light from dazzling white in the morning to a warm glow in the evening. Rather than going for motion-sensor lights, choose ones that stay on […]
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Why You Should Remodel Your Commercial Property
Are you thinking about undertaking commercial remodeling? You should go ahead and do it, as it comes with plenty of benefits. These benefits include: Increase property value One of the primary reasons businesses choose to remodel is to raise the value of their property. Your business property will be worth more when you modify it. This is especially true when individuals want to rent or buy your unit. Of course, for the best results, you should engage in projects that increase the value of your property with the highest margins. Enhanced visual appeal When trying to attract new consumers or keep existing ones happy, it’s critical to provide them with something visually appealing. When customers go up to your building or drive by and notice how nice it appears from the outside, they’ll be more likely to come inside and discover what else you have to offer. Nobody enjoys peeling wallpaper, damaged flooring, or fading wall paint. Renovating will assist you in making the ideal first impression on your clients and customers. You attract more customers and clients. Renovating or remodeling your home is a terrific approach to show your consumers or clients that you are doing well. By renovating your property, you have a competitive advantage in attracting more customers. And the beauty is that you don’t need to make significant changes to the property. Minor design adjustments can sometimes go a long way toward making your property more desirable. Changes to your property will also communicate your dedication to your clients and staff, demonstrating your concern for their comfort and increasing their faith in you. You increase productivity A well-designed area that meets your employees’ demands can boost their productivity. They will have greater space to work and move around, resulting in higher overall productivity. Employees will benefit from working in an appealing setting where they feel comfortable, safe, and productive while striving to meet their daily objectives. It will also assist you in attracting new personnel. Instead of introducing new employees to a weary and aging workplace, you welcome them to one that is efficient, lively, and pleasant and watch employee retention rise. You conserve energy Isn’t it true that energy bills account for a sizable portion of your property expenses? Remodeling your commercial property might provide numerous chances to implement energy-efficient solutions. Some simple ways to save energy include installing energy-efficient HVAC models, replacing old windows, enhancing insulation, and installing energy-saving lighting. Along with saving money on electricity, an eco-friendly approach to workplace maintenance can appeal to many environmentally conscious clients in the long run. As you can tell, this means more money in your pocket. Steps to follow when remodeling your commercial property To get the best results, you must follow the proper remodeling steps. Here they are: Start with determining the objective of your remodeling. Commercial building restoration can range from a simple facelift to major structural upgrades that result in LEED certification. Setting specific goals for your remodeling helps you concentrate and focus your spending on the most critical aspects of the project. After the redesign, You should ensure that the property can […]
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Tips to Consider When Remodeling Your Home
Whether you’re planning a home addition, eco-friendly home upgrade, condo remodel, or basement extension, you need to consider a number of tips to realize your idea as smoothly as possible. Some of the tips you need to consider include: Get the necessary permits and permissions. Before you get away with home improvement ideas and contractors, be sure you have everything in order. This entails obtaining the necessary regulations and permits to begin construction work lawfully. The particular standards and papers you must give will differ by state, but the goal is the same. Many people think permits are a hard obstacle to stop you from doing what you want. However, they protect the value of your property and your neighborhood by keeping the things that made you want to live there in the first place. Remember that you need an electrical, mechanical, or plumbing work permit. The type of permit you need varies from city to city, so always check the local building code and requirements to ensure you get the right one. Homeowners often try renovating their homes without permission, which can be very expensive if caught. If the authorities find out that you remodeled your house without them, you might have to tear down the addition and lose all the time and money you’ve spent on it. If you want to sell your house, you will also need the permit papers. Without them, you will lose money on the house. If you live in an area with a Homeowners Association (HOA) or a designated historic neighborhood, you may need permission from both the local government and these groups. It is important to know that some local building officials may want you to work with an architect before they give you permissions and permits. Even though it’s not required by law, it’s a good idea to let your neighbors know what you plan to do and how long it will take. This way, they won’t keep complaining whenever they hear noises from your house. Have a budget You need to have a budget and ensure that you have enough money. You should note that a lack of funds will rapidly bring your project to a halt or force you to make big changes to your plan, and you don’t want this, do you? When planning a home addition, it is critical to understand home addition costs to create a comprehensive budget. The first step to generating a budget is to find out what design options are available, the likely costs and problems, how long the project will take, and what needs to be done regarding planning and building regulations. Always remember that the decisions you make at the beginning of the project will affect the whole project and set the tone for how you approach the building work and how much you spend. Many cases have been reported of contractors collecting money and running away. To avoid this, ask the contractor to start working and pay them milestones to ensure they are dedicated to the project and will stay with your money. If you must pay before, pay the […]
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Condo Remodeling Tips
Do you have a condo you are looking to remodel? Here are valuable tips you should follow as given by condo remodel experts to achieve perfect results: Follow the rules Condos should always follow the condo regulations in your area, so before you start the project, always check with your local administration and find out whether there are rules and regulations you should follow. Some associations will limit you on the designs you can build your house, while others will give you free reign on the designs but will limit you on the times you can work on your project. To avoid being on the wrong side, always find out about the rules and adhere to them. Maximize your space Condos are usually smaller than regular houses, so when you remodel them, always think about your space and work on making the most of it. And the good thing is that there are plenty of ways to maximize the space. Some of these ways include: Use built-in storage: You should install shelves and cabinets to help reduce clutter and make your space more organized. Take advantage of vertical space: Here, you need to use the walls by installing hooks, shelves, or hanging racks. Use multi-functional décor: From the name, this is décor that you can use for more than one purpose. For example, you can have a coffee table with some storage space that you can use as a medicine cabinet. When painting the house, always use neutral colors that will make the house feel bigger and more open. Don’t use the colors only on the walls; use them on the ceilings and floors. Finally, be creative with the lighting and use it to give the illusion of more space. Use uplights and downlights to highlight specific features in the house and draw the eye upward. Go for an open floor plan. An open floor plan has been shown to make a small space feel larger than it is, so you should always go that route. Work with your architect and devise a plan that combines your living, dining, and kitchen area into one large space. To achieve this, you might need to remove the non-load-bearing walls. If you can’t remove the walls, consider installing sliding or pocket doors that save space and give your home an open feel. You can also use glass partitions or room dividers to separate the house’s different areas and allow as much light as possible. Invest in storage As mentioned, condos often have limited storage space, so making the most of what you have is important. Consider installing built-in storage, such as shelves and cabinets. You can also invest in furniture with built-in storage, such as a bed with drawers underneath. Use natural light A well-lit house always looks bigger and spacious, so you should work on allowing as much natural light as possible. This calls for you to install large windows that allow maximum light. When it comes to curtains or blinds, install light ones that will allow maximum light in. Get creative with flooring. The floor you install should not only be […]
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