Looking for a way to remodel your house and add value? You might think of adding in a family room or extra bedroom, gutting kitchen or redoing the bathroom. But surprisingly, one of the best remodeling investments you can make might already exist in your home. Yes, that’s right: You can remodel your attic and reap some big rewards.

According to Calfinder, “the attic-to-bedroom conversion ranked number two for highest return on investment” in 2009 and 2010. Attic-to-bedroom conversion recouped over 83 percent of cost — pretty impressive! Attics can be dark, drafty spaces that are hard to live in, but they might be perfect for a large master suite or could fit two new bedrooms in an existing space.

Of course, there are considerations like: Will the roof need to be raised? What about dormers? Is there a permanent staircase in existence or will you need to put one in? But if you are looking for a good use of space, considering making your attic into the bedroom of your dreams!

Image courtesy of Calfinder

Good taste and restraint can go a long way in designing a home remodeling project.

When the owners of this bathroom were looking to remodel, both they and architect Jean Rehkamp Larson understood that the existing layout offered the best configuration.

“The space was already well laid out, and as we weren’t making any changes to the size of the bathroom’s footprint, it was decided we could better improve the functionality in other ways,” says Rehkamp Larson.

Built in the 1890s, the home features a great deal of traditional detail, which the owners were keen to reference within the bathroom.

The Marvin windows used fit the style created throughout the bathroom. Marble countertops, bronze accents, and dark wood trim complete the look.

Kind of makes you want to see the rest of the house, doesn’t it?

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We were delighted to have architect and author Sarah Susanka as a guest of Marvin Windows and Doors at this year’s Remodeling Show. Here are some tips from Sarah’s latest book, “Not So Big Remodeling,” written with Marc Vassallo.

1. Borrow Before Building. If the existing kitchen is too cramped, consider borrowing space from adjacent spaces. Often, there is space available in places that get overlooked, such as an oversized living room, a rarely used dining room, a butler’s pantry or a poorly laid-out back entry.

2. Leave Well Enough Alone. Where possible, leave the utility hook-ups where they are, especially if budget is a concern. Limiting the number of utilities to relocate will help keep costs contained.

3. Consolidate Entrances. Attempt to locate all the doorways to the kitchen on one side of the room and eliminate any that are not absolutely necessary. This leaves the rest of the kitchen for continuous countertop and appliance arrangement, while limiting foot traffic through the work area.

4. Pick Out the Pieces. Select major appliances early in the design process so the evolving plan can be tailored to their specific dimensions. The difference of a few inches in any direction can be crucial.

5. Work Triangle Basics. The path linking the centers of the sink, cook top and refrigerator should not exceed 26 feet. No leg of the triangle should be longer than 9 feet or shorter than 4 feet, and no major traffic pattern should intersect it.

6. Bridging the Distance. If the kitchen is more than 12 feet wide, consider adding an island in the center. Make sure any walkways between cabinetry and island are at least 36 inches wide or the kitchen will feel too cramped — 42 inches is better yet.

7. Keep it Flowing. Place large vertical objects such as the refrigerator or a double oven at the end of a stretch of countertop, rather than in the middle, to maximize usable work surface.

8. Maximize Interaction, Minimize Interruption. A successful kitchen remodeling encourages interaction between household members while minimizing the amount of movement through the space by non-cooks. Eliminate the frustrations of a crowded work space while improving the opportunities to socialize by creating a layout that is open to adjacent spaces but still clearly defined as a separate room.

We were delighted to have architect and author Sarah Susanka as a guest of Marvin Windows and Doors at this year’s Remodeling Show. Here are some tips from Sarah’s latest book, “Not So Big Remodeling,” written with Marc Vassallo.

1. One is Better Than None. When undergoing a remodeling project, include as many green upgrades as the budget allows. If the prospect of many upgrades seems overwhelming, just pick one and do it well. Every improvement makes a difference to the long-term sustainability of the structure.

2. Waste Not, Want Not. Reuse as many of the original components from the existing house as is reasonable. There are often interesting ways to repurpose materials, such as using wall studs to extend the eaves or grinding up old stucco for the driveway base.

3. Mind Your Materials. Choose paints and varnishes that are free from harmful VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) and formaldehyde. Look for engineered wood products and FSC-certified woods (Forestry Stewardship Council). Marvin offers FSC-certified wood windows.

4. Give Your House a Check-up. Obtain an energy audit from a home energy expert to identify problem areas and streamline the process of improving the home’s energy efficiency. This alone can save hundreds of dollars a year.

5. Seal Leaks. Have the existing HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) system checked by a qualified contractor. Replace substandard ductwork and seal all ductwork in unconditioned spaces.

6. Improve Efficiency. Increase efficiency and lower energy bills by using double or triple-paned windows with a coating known as “low E.” Choose efficient HVAC equipment and EnergyStar rated appliances.

7. Increase Insulation. Attics and crawl spaces are common culprits for substandard insulation. There are many insulation options to choose from, such as sprayed-in, closed-cell, no-VOC foam insulation.

8. Use the Roof. Extend the roof overhangs to protect the exterior from weather and shade the house from the high summer sun. Consider adding a solar hot water system or a photovoltaic array.

Marvin Windows was delighted to have architect and author Sarah Susanka as a guest of Marvin Windows and Doors at this year’s Remodeling Show. Here are some tips from Sarah’s latest book, “Not So Big Remodeling,” written with Marc Vassallo.

Bathrooms are among the most expensive rooms in the house per square foot. Carefully consider personal patterns and preferences before determining the best remodeling solution for the situation.

1. Positioning the Plumbing. Avoid added expense by leaving plumbing locations alone.

2. Control Costs. Before beginning, identify parts of the existing bathroom that can be saved, such as tile work, half walls, faucets and fixtures. Use available tools such as mirrors, reflected light, clear glass shower partitions and ceiling height variety to make the space look and feel larger. Identify ways to introduce natural light with glass block or frosted-glass windows, skylights and solar tubes. Do not overspend on bathroom tile or jewelry such as faucets and fixtures.

3. Express Yourself. Add simple, yet creative, deisgn flair with tile. Place a single, more expensive feature tile in a field of less costly tile to create a focal point. Or use only low cost tile, but several sizes or colors to create an innovative pattern.

4. A Tub for Young and Old. It is a good idea to have at least one bathtub in a house. Tubs are needed for bathing small children, and the elderly often prefer baths to showers.

5. Daylight in the Shower. When adding a window to a shower, make sure the window is installed properly, or it can cause moisture problems. If possible, use a metal or fiberglass covered unit and make the sill and surround out of tile or a solid surface material.

6. The Throne. For extra comfort in a bathroom or powder room, choose an elongated toilet bowl over a standard model. Given how much time we spend with this trusty fixture, it is worth a few extra dollars to make the experience a pleasant one.

7. Mirrored Gains. No room benefits more form the use of reflecting surfaces than the bathroom. A wall-to-wall mirror can double the apparent size of a room without adding a single square foot.

8. Small Space, Big Effect. Powder rooms have the most impact per square foot of any room in the house. They do not have to be spacious to make guests feel well taken care of. What is important is the design and the attention that is given to the details, such as lighting, cabinetry and countertop design, and color. In this room, beauty matters more than you might expect.

We’re delighted to have architect and author Sarah Susanka as a guest of Marvin Windows and Doors at this year’s Remodeling Show. Here are some tips from Sarah’s latest book, “Not So Big Remodeling,” written with Marc Vassallo.

1. Set priorities. When beginning a remodel, consider the three values of quality, quantity and cost. Determine which two are the most important. Because remodeling is an inexact science, one of these variables must be allowed to “float” in order to make a remodel possible.

2. Examine the space. Begin exploring remodeling options by first looking at what can be done within the existing footprint of the house. By thinking creatively about the available space, you may discover that no additional space needs to be added on.

3. Think in terms of activity areas. Don’t think about remodeling in terms of rooms. Instead, create a list of activities that need to be accommodated — recognizing that a place for the activity is needed, but not necessarily an entire room.

4. Start with the simplest strategy. Begin by exploring the simplest solution — working within the existing footprint — and only move to more complicated solutions, such as a bump-out or a small addition, after determining that the simpler solution won’t work. This is the most important tool for discovering a Not So Big solution.

5. Study storage. Evaluate the home’s existing storage areas. Many homes have too little storage in places where it is most needed, and too much in places where it is only marginally useful. A little well-designed storage in the right place can replace a lot of poorly designed storage, opening up floor space.

6. Bump out a little. Bumping out a section of wall by just a few feet can add some much needed square footage just where it is useful. A bump out that creates an alcove or a small extension running the width of a room will keep costs down while maintaining the scale and proportion of the existing house.

7. Add on with grace. If none of the above strategies meets the remodeling needs, and budget allows, a small addition may be the best option. A well-proportioned addition can greatly enhance the value of a house, while a poorly proportioned addition can actually reduce a home’s value.

8. Let the roof be the guide. To ensure that a bump out or addition will look good on a house, let the existing roof inform the design solution. The roof shape will make some options easy and others nearly impossible without looking like a mistake.

9. Work with windows. Few things can have as much impact on the character of a room as the shapes, patterning and positioning of the windows. In any remodeling decision, an interesting composition of windows can add personailty to both the inside and outside of the house.

10. Include the exterior. Few remodeling strategies can affect the long term value of a home more than an external face lift. These can be accomplished inexpensively when done with a Not So Big focus on quality rather than quantity.

We’ve seen some great kitchen makeovers lately and wanted to take this opportunity to share some of them with you. In particular, two websites have some impressive collections of before-and-after photos, makeover slideshows and watch-it-unfold videos that take you inside for a good look at these remodeling projects.

A post from AOL.com’s ShelterPop blog has a nice slideshow of their top 7 remarkable kitchen makeovers. They include some serious drab-to-fab overhauls, like this one:

For an even more impressive collection, head over to HGTV’s FrontDoor.com. In their guide to home staging — preparing a home for sale, making it look its best to fetch the most — they have a series of before-and-after comparisons, slideshows and videos that are sure to get your wheels spinning. These kitchen makeovers are great, but if you’re looking for something beyond that, they have similar collections for bathrooms, living rooms, bedrooms, patios and more.

Have you seen any impressive makeovers lately? Done one yourself? Share some details in the comments!

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Why wouldn’t you want to get the absolute most out of the time, energy and money you put into your remodeling project? A couple of articles we’ve read recently offer some tips on “getting the most” out of the work: maximizing square footage and maximizing style.

The CalFinder Blog has a nice write-up on some simple tips for getting the most square footage out of your home. Doing things like “build up, not out” will help you squeeze every bit of usable space possible out of your home. In this era of upgrading current homes rather than buying new ones, that’s an asset.

Charles & Hudson explains how architectural details — sometimes as small as some simple trim work — are what really makes a room or a home sing. They say, “As you plan your next DIY or renovation project, consider enhancing your space with an architectural detail that adds maximum visual impact without breaking your DIY budget.” Sounds like a plan, doesn’t it?

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Perhaps you think your modern kitchen is sleek, stylish and minimalist. Well, chances are you have nothing on this kitchen when it comes to being sleek and minimal. Kitchen designer Susan Serra dissects the design of the space and offers a few thoughts on whether it would work for the typical homeowner or kitchen user.

Whether you’re looking for a bit of that modern style or just some more usable space, this ideabook from Houzz.com, also written by Serra, might be helpful. It will give you some ideas about incorporating an effective and useful islands or workstations into your kitchen, whatever your style or functional need.

If an ultra-modern kitchen isn’t your style and you’re not looking to take the big step of working an island into your kitchen, maybe these simpler kitchen remodeling ideas will give you something to work with. Relatively minor remodeling tasks like updating your lighting or refinishing your cabinetry will go a long way toward making you happier with the room in which you likely spend a good amount of your home time.

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Remodeling projects, big or small, can be daunting. Luckily, the World Wide Web is full of resources offering help. We hope this blog is one of those; CalFinder’s blog is another great source. For example, check out this recent post with five tips for remodeling on a budget.

Among the more timely advice: take advantage of “green” incentives. “Collect on these incentives through your state appliance rebate program, or use your renovations to cash in on federal tax credits at the end of the year,” CalFinder says. The site also has a primer on knowing when your remodeling project might require the help of an architect, as opposed to going it on your own.

Kitchens are often a prime target for remodeling efforts and dollars, perhaps because many homeowners spend so much time and energy cooking, cleaning and entertaining in and around the kitchen. Check out these tips on achieving a great luxury kitchen remodel without a luxury budget. The same site also has some simple ideas for incorporating “green” principles into your kitchen remodel, through energy-efficient appliances and environmentally friendly materials.

For more on energy efficiency, check out this post from AOL’s DIY Life blog for some clever ways to save energy (and money) in the kitchen. No remodeling necessary to take advantage of these ideas!

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