Making a House a Home

When people walk in to your home, do they know something about who you are, or does your home say more about its previous owner?

When you look around your house, do you feel relaxed, energized, or just on edge?

Some people live their lives in homes that hold their stuff, but never really feel like home. As the saying goes, "home is where the heart is", and this is true in a design sense as well. Your home and its design can have a significant impact on your overall well-being and state of mind. Ever notice how a cluttered, disorganized house can really set your nerves on end, making you feel unsettled or stressed out? It's not just the work piled up, the stack of bills to pay, or the toddler's toys scattered around waiting for your poor feet to fall victim to a spiky plastic dinosaur- there is a real energy to a space that can enhance your experience, or make you want to get out of the house.

Your home should be a true sanctuary- a cocoon where you can escape from the worries and stresses of the outside world, a place of rest and restoration where you can retire at the end of a busy day and rejuvenate yourself, ready to tackle what the future holds in store when you head out again tomorrow.

No time of year can bring this point home more than winter, where cold days and dreary weather can take its toll on the best of us. Ever experienced "cabin fever"? We begin to feel restless and ill at ease when we're cooped up in one space too long, and this effect can be exacerbated by an environment that is not designed with comfort or tranquility in mind.

So, how can your home be a haven instead of headache inducing? Attention to details and custom design are critical. A home is a very personal thing- you could take all your decorating tips from Better Homes and Gardens or your favorite HGTV show, but any old designer look won't do. Some styles and colors are better suited to some people than others.

Take cues from things that are personally meaningful to you- your favorite sweater, a special souvenir, colors and textures that resonate with you and make you feel comfortable and at ease. As a designer, I can appreciate lots of different design aesthetics, but in my own home, I choose elements that resonate with my individual personality (and my husband's) to create a space that feels like home to me. By taking some time to really note how different colors, patterns, textures, decor items and design elements make you feel, you can create a home that is truly "yours". No one wants to feel like they are living in someone else's home their entire life- just like staying with family for too long, living with the wrong design can really set nerves on edge.

If you are having trouble getting started, try this exercise:

Brainstorm words that come to mind when you think of "home"- for example: cozy, warm, family, memories.
Study the words that came to mind, and think about what significance they hold and how you can incorporate that into your design.

Now, think about how you define those words that came to mind- "cozy", "warm", "restful"- try to relate those concepts to concrete things like colors, textures, patterns, etc. What is "cozy"? Is it flannel sheets, a big soft sofa, plush carpets or hardwood floors?

Once you have created your concept of "home", you can begin to tie the elements together and plan your design to incorporate those special features that will make this home your home.

If you live in the Shenandoah Valley, VA and are looking for more design help, please give us a call to schedule an in-house design consultation: Modern Renovations, 540.421.6206. We are a full-service design and remodeling firm located in Harrisonburg, VA and we're happy to help you create the perfect kitchen, bathroom or living space in your home.

What You Don't Know CAN Hurt You... And Your Children!

Lead paint has long been known to be a health hazard, but many homeowners continue to choose to ignore the potential damage of this often unseen toxin. With the rise in behavior problems and learning disabilities in children, both of which have been linked to increased lead levels in the blood, more and more concerns have risen about what we can do to prevent this trend from continuing. Lead is not only harmful to children, but also causes negative health effects in adults, such as high blood pressure, and is especially harmful to pregnant women, who can transfer lead to the fetus.

Due to these known health hazards, the EPA is requiring that all contractors conducting Remodeling, Repair, or Painting work in homes built prior to 1978 be certified in lead-safe practices by October 1, 2010. In order for an individual contractor to be certified, they must attend a minimum 8-hour EPA course and pass an exam verifying that they understand how to implement lead-safe practices.

Before you remodel or repair your pre-1978 home, be sure your contractor is certified and implements lead-safe practices to protect you and your family. You can also have your home tested for lead by a certified inspector, who can let you know if your home contains lead-based paint and where it is located.

There are also things you can do to keep your home lead-safe. Protect your family every day by regularly cleaning floors, window sills, and other interior surfaces to keep lead dust from collecting (dust can be caused by opening and shutting doors and windows that have been painted with lead paint). Remove your shoes when entering your home to prevent lead from the soil from tracking in. Wash childrens toys, pacifiers, and hands frequently to prevent any lead-containing dust from being ingested, and be sure to feed them a healthy diet of nutritious foods to help protect them from the effects of lead.

If you want to know more, visit the EPA's website or call 1-800-424-LEAD.

Building? Remodeling? Don't Forget the Permits

Many homeowners planning their own home improvement projects are looking to cut corners with the budget, whether it is a simple update to the kitchen or bath, a new deck or garage, or something more substantial like finishing out an attic or basement. This means saving on hiring contractors where they can, and doing as much as possible themselves. And we are all for that! Completing your own home improvement projects is a great way to invest in your property and is incredibly rewarding- why do you think we love what we do so much? BUT, when you are tackling your own home projects, being thrifty should end at the bargain hunting for materials and finishes.

Some homeowners think that they can save big bucks by not pulling the proper permits- and this may be one of those short term gain, long term loss scenarios. Building permits are generally a small fraction of the cost of a project- about 1% or less of the total estimated cost of the work being done on most home projects. This initial investment assures that your project meets all local code requirements, providing peace of mind to you and future home buyers as well.

So why don't owners pull permits for work they complete themselves? Well, there are probably many reasons out there, but the ones we hear most frequently are either lack of awareness of permit requirements, or concern over raising property assessment value, and thus raising taxes. This might or might not be true for all projects in all markets. For instance, making improvements to a kitchen or bath will not necessarily affect the assessed value, especially if other homes in your neighborhood have made similar improvements. Repairs, such as replacing an old roof, will generally not affect the assessed value or raise taxes. If you are concerned, you can contact a local realtor or speak to an appraiser in your area about how much your intended project will likely affect assessment value.

One more thing to consider- for many homeowners, remodeling projects are done with the intention to raise property value, with an eye ahead to selling now or sometime down the road. Not filing the proper permits- for say, a second bathroom you squeezed in- can adversely affect your bottom line when you go to list the home, a scenario which can play out in a couple different ways. If you choose to conceal your improvements, you can't list at the full value you have added, meaning a bigger loss on all that investment. If you fess up to your project after the fact, you will have to face the community development office and explain that you completed a project without filing for permits. This is not the end of the world, and they will work with you to get the permits and conduct the proper inspections after the fact, but it is always much easier to do things right the first time around.

Not all projects require permits, but you should check with your local building and community development office to be sure before you begin. Also, remember there is usually a lead time on review and approval- as much as 2 to 3 weeks- so plan accordingly. Doing things the right way will give you peace of mind that your project was done right (and a guilt-free conscience) and save you headaches down the road if you ever go to sell.

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Modern Renovations, LLC is a design and remodeling contractor located in Harrisonburg, VA serving the central Shenandoah Valley. Visit our website at http://www.modreno.com and don't forget to check us out on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ModernRenovations for more tips, trends, and project ideas.