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Remodeling your attic: Tips for getting the most out of this space

October 18th, 2011 1 Comment

It sits atop most houses, confined to a space for storage and cobwebs, dark and dreary. But if you have an attic, it’s a great way to add some extra space to your house.

Need an extra bedroom or two? How about a bathroom? Maybe an office or art studio? Or a playroom for the kids? Your old attic can be your salvation. But let’s face it, attics are often weirdly shaped spaces with little light. There are things you need to remember when remodeling.

Here are some of Re-Nest’s attic tips, and a few ideas of our own:

  • Ceiling fans are your friends in an attic. They help regulate the temperature in both the winter and summer.
  • Attic floors are notoriously noisy. Carpet is an easy solution, but Re-Nest also suggests “beefier floor joists” if you want hardwood flooring.
  • Put bathrooms above lower-floor bathrooms. This might take a little design maneuvering, but can save money in the end.
Because attics traditionally have very small windows, you’ll want to let some light into your attic renovation. Windows like Marvin’s Ultimate Casement can be handy not only because of their large sizes but also the innovative wash mode – no more having to haul out a ladder to wash the attic windows!
Although it adds far more expense and inconvenience to an attic renovation, consider the possibility of incorporating some kind of dormer. This can really open up the attic and extend usable space.
Have you remodeled your attic? What do you use it for?

Image courtesy of bunnygoth on Flickr

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Posted in remodeling

A look inside a great kitchen remodel with HouseSmartsTV

August 29th, 2011 No Comments

The kitchen is the heart of the home, says the description of this remodel case study video from Lou Manfredini’s HouseSmartsTV. And who’d argue?

In this segment, HouseSmartsTV talks with an interior designer about a recent remodel that gives a bland kitchen space back its soul. The most significant change was to remove a peninsula that unfortunately cut the space in half and to add a stylish stone island.

A drawer-style microwave and refrigerator (with panels to match other cabinetry) are a clever way save space that can be better used for other purposes. Other nice touches include under-cabinet lighting and glass decorated with gold leaf. Watch the video to see the before and after photos, and see more from HouseSmartsTV on YouTube.

Posted in design, remodeling

Something for our trade readers: Remodeler of the Year

August 3rd, 2011 No Comments

If you’re one of our readers who’s a remodeler by profession, then you might be interested in this: Professional Remodeler is starting the search for its 2011 Remodeler of the Year, to be unveiled in the December issue of the magazine and on HousingZone.com.

“We’re looking for companies that excel in all aspects of remodeling, have made innovations in operations to deal with the current market and uphold the highest standards of the remodeling industry,” they explain.

Do you think your remodeling operation has what it takes to win this honor? Fill out the form here to get started with the submission process. Good luck!

Posted in Announcements

Budget bathrooms: Remodeling tips to make this functional room more of a pleasurable escape

July 21st, 2011 1 Comment

The bathroom is probably the only room in the house that you absolutely can’t get along without. In addition to its practical uses, it has also become a sanctuary and haven from the busy world and some people prefer it to be as spa-like as possible.

For those reasons, the bathroom has a tendency to be one of the top items on a homeowner’s remodeling wish list. CalFinder has covered some ideas for when you want a bathroom upgrade but are short on cash. Here are a few of their ideas we especially like, and you can check out the rest of the post here.

  • Try a quick fix: Maybe a coat of sky-blue paint on your white walls will give it that serene feeling you’ve been craving. And if it doesn’t? Then you can always look at more spendy ways to reach your goal.
  • Leave some jobs to the pros: Plumbers know plumbing and electricians know electricity. Do you really want to deal with an exploding toilet because your knowledge of pipes is rudimentary? No matter how cheap your bathroom remodel is, save some money to hire experts for certain parts of the job.
  • Reface the cabinets you already have–far less expensive than getting them entirely replaced!
What are your ideas for remodeling your bathroom on a budget? Let us know in the comments!

Posted in remodeling

Link Love: How to pay for your remodel and more

June 9th, 2011 No Comments

Karim Rashid & Soda Stream: A Bubbly Match
Shelter Pop
“The award-winning designer has a new kitchen device — and he’s giving his only US interview to ShelterPop! With the at-home soda craze in full swing, it’s only natural that SodaStream — maker of the DIY soda maker — would bring some design cred to their machines by teaming up with award-winning designer Karim Rashid. Together. they’ve created a fun and bubbly limited edition home soda maker that us seltzer-aholics here at ShelterPop are crazy about. So when he agreed to give his one US interview to us, we jumped at the chance to talk not only about the DIY soda trend, but inspiration and good design as well.”

3 Smart Ways to Pay for Your Home Remodel
CalFinder
“As you may have noticed, the remodels with the greatest return often come at the highest price tags. Window replacement, for instance, costs an average of $11,066, bathroom remodels go for $16,634, and minor kitchen renovations ring in at $21,695. If you lack the cash up-front to cover materials and labor, how can you afford the work your home needs this year?”

Rooftop Gardens
Design*Sponge
“Outdoor space is most New Yorkers’ ultimate real estate wish. We initially hunt for more light, bigger rooms and better locations, but even after you’ve found a great apartment, it’s impossible to not eventually hope for a place to plant a garden to sit outside. While the reality of an amazing rooftop garden feels about a hundred years away for me, for some New Yorkers, it’s sitting right in front of them.”

DIY: Make a Sewing Kit in a Mason Jar
Casa Sugar
A picture guide to keeping sewing equipment for clothing emergencies in an adorable mason jar.

Why You Should Get an Energy Audit
Old House Web
“The right place to start is with an energy audit, a top-to-bottom look at your house by a trained professional who can then make suggestions on which upgrades can do the most good.”

Posted in Link Love

What you want in 2011

June 7th, 2011 No Comments

We ran across an article with some interesting tidbits about what homeowners want in 2011. Are any of these on your radar?

  • Outdoor living areas: Are you paying more attention to things like porches and patios? An outdoor kitchen (from simple to grand) and a fireplace can add a whole new dimension. Who doesn’t love an extra room in the great outdoors?
  • Green features: Green is hot right now, but homeowners are demanding practical things like energy efficient windows and water and electricity-saving appliances.
  • Open kitchens: If the hearth is the heart of the home, it makes sense people want to be in it. Open kitchens allow that cozy feeling while allowing the cook some additional space to maneuver.
  • Smaller homes: To go along with the green theme, smaller homes are easier to heat and cool, easier to clean and discourage the mindless filling of rooms.

Do you see these trends in your house hunting and remodeling plans?

 

Posted in trends

Link Love: Extreme design, dancing while ironing and more

May 3rd, 2011 No Comments

Crazy Rooms (That We’re Crazy About) From New York Magazine
Shelter Pop
“This week’s issue of New York focuses on extreme design…and we’re extremely excited. Check out our five favorite spaces.”

Do You Dance While You Iron?
DIY Life
“Everybody, at some point, has busted a move while cleaning. These people were kind enough to share their methods on YouTube. ”

America’s Most Decadent Kitchens
MSN Real Estate
“Forbes compiled a list of some of the most luxurious kitchens in homes now for sale, with help from Realtor.com, Trulia.com, Sotheby’s International and Coldwell Banker.”

How Much Can You Save with Green Remodeling Tax Credits?
Calfinder
“Happy Earth Day, folks! In honor of the 41st anniversary of this greenest of holidays, I’d like to share a breakdown on energy-saving home improvements, and the federal tax incentives that make them affordable.”

Posted in Link Love

Remodeling insanity

March 29th, 2011 No Comments

At a certain point in any remodel, homeowners might find themselves fleetingly considering homicide. You might think you know about the disruption remodeling can cause, but dealing with dust, dirt, workers going in and out of your home, nonworking essential appliances, etc., can turn your attitude into surviving if you’re lucky and insanity if you aren’t.

Fellow bloggers Charles and Hudson recognize that remodeling can drive you around the bend and they have a few commonsense tips to help you make it through. Memorize their advice  to repeat as a mantra:

  • Manage expectations: There will be times that it is just going to be bad. Expect that and you will feel better when it happens.
  • Plan first: You know that old saying about how it’s easier to seek forgiveness than permission? It doesn’t apply when it comes to remodeling. Always plan first, and tear down later.
  • Get ready for dust, dirt and inconvenience: Do a mini cleaning each day or week. It will help make the mess more bearable. Charles and Hudson suggests budgeting for a maid — maybe do this for a deep cleaning when the project is done.
  • Schedule changes: Your schedule will be disrupted (see above point) and you must plan for it or risk coming home after a run to the water being turned off (that your builder told you about).

To these points we would also add that nothing lasts forever, although it may seem like it. Keep your eyes on the prize and before you know it, your remodeling project will be over.

If you’re interested in further reading on this very subject, check out this previous post from Lou Manfredini.

Image courtesy of Demed on Flickr.

Posted in remodeling

Homes on Film

February 10th, 2011 No Comments

Have you ever noticed that movies about houses are generally horror movies? The House on Haunted Hill, The Amityville Horror, Paranormal Activity… There’s something deeply sinister about your shelter from the world being invaded or violated. Most of us won’t ever have to deal with supernatural phenomena in our houses, but that doesn’t mean that it can’t be a house of horrors.

Buying, building or renovating — it’s a huge amount of money being spent with a lot of potential for things that might go wrong. Dealing with unpredictable schedules, unforeseen delays and the rare unscrupulous building professional might make you wish that all you had was a poltergeist!

One of the best non-horror house movies is The Money Pit (1986), starring the always great Tom Hanks and Shelley Long. It’s renovations with laughs. Old House Web recently made the excellent point that these characters could have avoided a lot of money and frustration by heeding some basic home buying and renovating principles. We wanted to share a few of those here:

  • Do your due diligence: This is probably the biggest purchase you will ever make in your life. There is no excuse for not taking a careful, dispassionate look at what you are really getting.
  • Don’t buy a house if you’re broke and can’t afford to repair it: This is where you will be living. C’mon, do you really want to deal with leaky toilets and rotting floorboards when you can barely make the mortgage?
  • Prioritize your renovations: Think needs versus wants. You NEED electricity and plumbing. You WANT granite countertops and new tile for the fireplace.
  • Stay out of the work area for your own safety: As a window manufacturer, we know the importance of safety when it comes to building. Let the pros do their job; they know the rules to prevent injury (and if they don’t, find new contractors immediately!).

Read the full article at Old House Web.

Image courtesy of IMDB.

Posted in remodeling

Case study: Deco window

February 2nd, 2011 No Comments

We got word of a beautiful and unusual renovation featuring Marvin from Wooden Window in Oakland, Calif. They graciously provided us with photos and a history of this project.

The owners of a 1930s San Francisco home  have been restoring it for the past nine years. After several door and window projects with Wooden Window, they proposed their most challenging job yet: the design and fabrication of a 10-foot-wide picture window that integrated a deco design the couple had seen as a railing in another nearby neighborhood.

Their original design posed structural concerns, so Wooden Window and Marvin collaborated with the clients through eight rounds of revision until, as the client put it, “we arrived at a design with which I was pleased and that Marvin was comfortable building.”

The result was a stunning work of art and craftsmanship that exists as the focal point of their deco facade. Wooden Window Inc. also won a Northern California NARI award for this project.

The next step is the replacement of a different window with French doors that will open to a step-out balcony. They plan to again work with Wooden Window and Marvin. ”The renovation is a continual work in progress,” according to the homeowners. Following a recent paint job, tiling, the addition of a marquee and neon house numbers, their home will have you turning your head next time you find yourself on Monterey Boulevard in San Francisco.

Posted in case study, design

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