Making the best home remodeling decisions

Baseball is getting underway, the weather is heating up, and people are thinking about remodeling, which means that Spring is here.

While it might be easy deciding on a part of the house to remodel (kitchens are a perennial leader), deciding exactly what to do might be a harder task.

Mixing the latest trends with your personal style and taste is a recipe for success, especially if you know you are selling in the future. On the other hand, if you are lucky enough to own your forever home, then customize away!

A good rule of thumb when it comes to kitchen color is to go heavy on neutral tones (such as white, cream, or gray) and work in pops of color, according to this article.

Keeping that in mind when you are looking at cabinets and countertops will ensure your kitchen has a classic look that never goes out of style. Additionally, staying on neutral colors will save you money on appliances since white is the most popular and usually inexpensive color, the article says.

If you are looking for more nuance in your kitchen decisions, check out this article, which underscores the importance of hiring a designer. One tip in the article we liked was using the same type of wood across the entire kitchen. 

If kitchens don’t tickle your fancy, then take a look at a few bathroom trends, courtesy of a video featuring our friends at Angie’s List.

More and more homeowners are looking for sleek styles that are low maintenance and offer an open, spa-like feel, the video says. Say goodbye to grout lines, and hello to floating vanities and cabinets that don’t up the clutter. 

If all that remodeling talk hasn’t scared you off just yet, we have one last item for you.

It sounds like something out of a movie, but one remodeling project uncovered non-human remains at the work site, according to an article.

Police say the bones appear to be from animals and have been sent off for testing.

Have a great week!

Early remodeling trends for 2020

Happy New Year! 

We are nearly a month into 2020 and I still can’t get used to writing the correct year on things. Speaking of which, I’ve read you should fill out the entire year when you date your papers because an enterprising criminal could forge the date into a different year if you just leave it as “20.” 

I know you came here for remodeling news, so let’s get back to our regularly scheduled programming. 

More people are looking to add a kitchen island this year, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune

Some of the most sought out features include built-in appliances, built-in storage, and charging stations, the article says. And while most people will be looking to use them for dining purposes, homeowners are also weighing entertaining and socializing in their plans, the article says. 

Another big trend with islands is mismatching with the kitchen countertops, in either color, material, or both, according to the article. 

The island fever is reflective of a larger trend in remodeling, according to another article, because more homeowners are looking to fix up their living space instead of move. 

Nationwide residential remodeling is expected to pick up over the next two years, according to an article in the Dallas Morning News

That is largely due to a lack of affordable housing, the article says. 

If you need to draw some remodeling inspiration, take a look at the guide from our friends at The Tile Shop Blog. So many beautiful pictures! 

So if you are ready to get started on that kitchen island, give us a call. 

Have a great week!

Guest Post: The Do’s & Don’ts of Home Renovation that You Need to Read

We all know that transforming your old, bland-looking house into your dream house with full home remodeling is one of the most exciting yet time-consuming times. If you are planning to remodel your house, there is a high chance that you are working ahead of time to get it quickly completed. However, rushing the whole process without carefully planning the home renovation can cost you more money and time.

If you have already planned on remodeling your full house, you need to have a read through our do’s and don’ts of home renovation. These tips will help you a lot before you finally take a sledgehammer and attempt to knock the walls down. 

Let’s first have a look at the Don’ts of home renovation. 

Don’t Go For The Cheapest Remodeling Contractor

Remodeling the whole house can be a quite expensive undertaking. You always want to try and cut down the cost as much as possible. But keep in mind that hiring one of the cheapest contractors is not recommended. You’ll have to go down the line again and hire a reliable remodeling contractor because of the shoddy job that the cheaply priced remodeling contractor provided you with.

When you plan on hiring a remodeling contractor, you should shop around a bit. Always make sure that you properly vet your remodeling services company by asking around or reading online reviews. 

All in all, you might end up paying a little more when you hire a good remodeler. But look at the bright side, you will not be hiring anyone else for getting the work re-done.  

Don’t Neglect Your Vision For The Design

People who remodel houses are experts when it comes to re-building homes. But this does not mean that they know how to work around on non-existing design. If you do not have a proper plan laid out or do not have a vision as to how the final product ought to look, there is a high chance that you will not be satisfied when the home remodelers are done with the project.

You need to make sure that you have a strong vision for the final design so that you can deeply discuss it with your contractor. 

Don’t Renovate Every Room At Once

Let’s suppose that you are planning on renovating your whole house. Try renovating one room at a time. Trying to do everything all at once will not only turn out to be expensive, but it will be upright inconvenient to you and your family as well. This is because all of your rooms will begin to look like a construction site.

Always choose to take one or two rooms at a time, so that you still have a place to live in your house whilst the renovation is taking place. 

Don’t Keep An Unrealistic Date For Completion: 

What most people fail to understand is that there are a lot of factors that can delay the completion of the renovation project. This is why it is important to keep a flexible completion date. Just keep in mind that a good remodeling job takes time, so be patient.

Do Set A Budget 

The key to a successful home remodeling project is knowing how much you can realistically afford to spend to get the results that you desire. One of the first things that you need to do is discuss your home remodeling plan with your builder or remodeler.

Do not try to go over the allocated budget as much as possible. But always keep a contingent budget. In case something unexpected thing creeps up; you should be prepared beforehand. 

Do Know When To Call A Professional Remodeler

A little DIY is great, for example, when it comes to stripping that wallpaper, giving your walls a fresh coat of paint, or putting a varnish on the decking. However, when it comes to remodeling the bigger parts of the house in which you don’t have much experience or the right skill set, hiring a professional is your best bet.

No matter how many online videos you’ve watched related to home remodeling, such projects are best suited for professionals only. This is why you should always hire a professional for bigger jobs.

Do Invest In A Quality Appliance

Things like electrical appliances, washer and dryer, and HVAC systems are investments that make a lot of difference in your day-to-day life. So, always go for quality over the cost.

Do some research and invest in buying the best appliances that best suit your needs and requirements. Read the reviews and ratings, and gain an understanding of their warranties. Keep in mind that buying from renowned brands will last longer.

Do Keep Your Belongings Safe 

When remodeling the house, dust and dirt can be difficult to control. Most home renovation contractors will use plastic sheets to protect your household items. But all in all, these things will get in the way of workers. This is why they need to be moved to a secure location where they will remain safe. If you have some fragile items, you need to carefully pack and store them until the house has been renovated.

About the author: When you talk about remodeling ideas, no one can help you better than Sarah. With ample experience in the field, she has been a pro in increasing the aesthetic value of places. To stay updated with the ins and outs of remodeling, her articles are a must read.