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.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
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.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
One-Stop Shopping?
Many home improvement retailers these days offer their own installation services. It can be enticing to take advantage of this "one-stop shopping", but use caution if you plan to go this route. Some of these retailers, especially flooring outlets and some kitchen and bath companies- have in-house installers, employees that work for the company to do their own installations. These employees are generally well-qualified and because of their direct ties to the retailer, are a much safer option. However, not every retailer contracts their installations this way, and many solicit installers from their service area with a minimal screening process and do not take the time to follow up on their work. Because they are not "company employees", the retailer may not be as concerned with who they send out to you.
While many big box home improvement retailers offer their list of "approved installers", many of these contractors are not as reputable as you may think. We at Modern Renovations have come in after many projects to find shoddy work by some of these very people- everything from improperly installed appliances to poor tile jobs. We've even had our own experiences with these "approved installers" who bid some HVAC work on our home but had just gotten into the business and seemed to have no clue what they were doing. Needless to say, we decided to look elsewhere.
This is not to say that you can't get it all done in one place- and those financing options can really be enticing. However, any time you have work done on your home- one of the most significant investments most people make in their lifetime- you MUST call for references and be sure your contractor knows what he is doing. Even if the store says they have been "pre-screened", ask for the information of the contractor and contact a list of previous clients on your own before you decide to go with them.
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Modern Renovations, LLC is a fully licensed and insured Building Contractor in the State of Virginia providing quality design and remodeling services to Harrisonburg, VA and the surrounding Shenandoah Valley area. We have an Interior Designer on staff to help you take your project from start to finish and will work with you every step of the way to design a project that is just right for your budget and needs.Give us a call today at 540.421.6206 or check us out on the web at http://www.modreno.com to learn more about what we can do for you!
Avoid Sticker Shock On Your Next Home Improvement Project
Many homeowners are taking advantage of the warm season to complete home repairs and improvements, and even some major remodeling projects, too. Summer is a great time to take care of your home, and it certainly is the booming season for us contractors.
One thing we encounter all too frequently with customers and homeowner friends alike is the "sticker shock" of a remodel or home improvement project. All too often, these projects start out as a "small job" and grow bigger and more expensive with each step. This holds especially true when doing repairs or improvements on older homes.
One factor in the "rising cost" of a home improvement project is the hidden factors that no homeowner or contractor can be entirely prepared for. When we do estimates for our customers, we try to cover all the bases- but there are inevitably surprises along the way when you undertake a job on an older home. The older the home, the greater the chance for these "surprise expenses" to pop up.
For example, we just did some work on a home being readied for sale and discovered that today's standard bath vent fan/lights do not cover the opening from the existing fan, which was about 40-50 years old and an odd shape. Factor in some extra drywall work into the initial project estimate...
Or consider the homeowner who wanted his bathroom remodeled for sale, but when we took off the existing tile surround, we found years of water damage and rot which required substantial repair- and up goes that bottom line. Move over to the toilet- same thing. We had to repair the whole subfloor where it had rotted out beneath the existing commode in order to replace it. The homeowner had no idea all that water damage was there, and although it needed to be repaired, it was an unforseen cost in their home improvement budget.
These sorts of things are very common, but many times homeowners start projects without planning for a little extra in the budget for unexpected expenses. This can lead to bigger problems if you find yourself strapped for cash and in need of some serious repair work, like our homeowner with the bathroom water damage. Had he not had a little bit extra set aside "just in case", who knows where that bathroom would have ended up.
The bottom line is this: Spending every last penny you can afford on the materials if you're going to do it yourself, or allowing your contractor's bid to meet your budget limit is a bad idea. Whether you are taking a project into your own hands, or trusting your home to a contractor to complete some repairs or improvements, be sure to allow for some flex room in your budget- for some projects with higher potentials for hidden expenses, like those involving potential plumbing or electrical work, a good cushion is about 20%- it may seem like a lot, but you'll be glad you did if you have it allotted for, Just In Case.
--
Modern Renovations, LLC is a Design&Remodeling firm located in Harrisonburg, VA serving homeowners and property managers in the Central Shenandoah Valley. We are fully licensed and insured Building and Remodeling Contractor in the Commonwealth of Virginia and have an Interior Designer on staff to take your project- big or small- from design to construction. Serving residential and commercial clients.
Give us a call today for a FREE project consultation and estimate: 540.421.6206
View us on the web at http://www.modreno.com
Don't forget to follow us on Twitter for more tips, trends, design ideas, and more!
http://www.twitter.com/modreno
One thing we encounter all too frequently with customers and homeowner friends alike is the "sticker shock" of a remodel or home improvement project. All too often, these projects start out as a "small job" and grow bigger and more expensive with each step. This holds especially true when doing repairs or improvements on older homes.
One factor in the "rising cost" of a home improvement project is the hidden factors that no homeowner or contractor can be entirely prepared for. When we do estimates for our customers, we try to cover all the bases- but there are inevitably surprises along the way when you undertake a job on an older home. The older the home, the greater the chance for these "surprise expenses" to pop up.
For example, we just did some work on a home being readied for sale and discovered that today's standard bath vent fan/lights do not cover the opening from the existing fan, which was about 40-50 years old and an odd shape. Factor in some extra drywall work into the initial project estimate...
Or consider the homeowner who wanted his bathroom remodeled for sale, but when we took off the existing tile surround, we found years of water damage and rot which required substantial repair- and up goes that bottom line. Move over to the toilet- same thing. We had to repair the whole subfloor where it had rotted out beneath the existing commode in order to replace it. The homeowner had no idea all that water damage was there, and although it needed to be repaired, it was an unforseen cost in their home improvement budget.
These sorts of things are very common, but many times homeowners start projects without planning for a little extra in the budget for unexpected expenses. This can lead to bigger problems if you find yourself strapped for cash and in need of some serious repair work, like our homeowner with the bathroom water damage. Had he not had a little bit extra set aside "just in case", who knows where that bathroom would have ended up.
The bottom line is this: Spending every last penny you can afford on the materials if you're going to do it yourself, or allowing your contractor's bid to meet your budget limit is a bad idea. Whether you are taking a project into your own hands, or trusting your home to a contractor to complete some repairs or improvements, be sure to allow for some flex room in your budget- for some projects with higher potentials for hidden expenses, like those involving potential plumbing or electrical work, a good cushion is about 20%- it may seem like a lot, but you'll be glad you did if you have it allotted for, Just In Case.
--
Modern Renovations, LLC is a Design&Remodeling firm located in Harrisonburg, VA serving homeowners and property managers in the Central Shenandoah Valley. We are fully licensed and insured Building and Remodeling Contractor in the Commonwealth of Virginia and have an Interior Designer on staff to take your project- big or small- from design to construction. Serving residential and commercial clients.
Give us a call today for a FREE project consultation and estimate: 540.421.6206
View us on the web at http://www.modreno.com
Don't forget to follow us on Twitter for more tips, trends, design ideas, and more!
http://www.twitter.com/modreno
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Cost-Saving Remodeling Tips
Looking for a low-budget way to spruce up your home and give it a new look? There are lots of ways to save money on home improvement projects. Here are just a few tips to help get you started:
In the Kitchen:
When planning a kitchen remodel, consider refacing the cabinets versus buying and installing new ones, if you like the general layout and the boxes are in good condition. This can save you a LOT of money, and also conserves waste (a benefit for the environment as well!). Simple updates like adding wood medallions, trim mouldings, and new hardware to your existing cabinetry can also be a great way to give it a custom look on a budget. If your cabinets are real wood, consider sanding and refinishing with a new stain, or custom paint or glaze. These looks are very popular and will give your kitchen an instant update for minimal cash investment.
You can also re-laminate existing laminate counters to save money while getting a whole new look, for just a few dollars a foot. If you are looking for an upgraded look, consider buying reclaimed or discount tile at an architectural salvage store, wholesalers, or even the clearance section in your local Lowes or Home Depot. You can also find great deals on "remnants" of stone slabs at many local quarries- if you have shorter sections of counter top, or an island, this can be a GREAT way to get a high-end, high-impact look on a tight budget.
There are many options for low-cost flooring upgrades, resilient flooring being by far the cheapest to purchase and install. This is not always the easiest do-it-yourself project, but new products like vinyl tiles can make this a bit easier- just be sure to prepare the floor properly and follow all installation guidelines. Again, you can also find great deals on ceramic tile in the clearance sections of your local home stores as well as tile retailers and salvage stores, like the Habitat Re-Store and the Friendship Home Stores.
For the Bath:
You can find great deals on many bathroom fixtures by doing a little online research. Visit local bath showrooms for ideas, jotting down names and model numbers, then plug that information into your favorite search engine and your bound to come up with a few discount retailers who are selling the exact same item for less.
Upgrading your vanity can be a fairly inexpensive way to get a whole new look, and many retailers now stock vanity and top combos for less than $400 to give your bath a quick, updated style. Changing out lighting fixtures can be another great way to give your bath a new, modern look and you can definitely find these items on clearance and online from discount retailers as well.
For the Home:
No matter what room you are planning to re-do, a fresh coat of paint or some new trim molding is bound to make a big impact. Adding a few new pillows, towels, or updating the window treatments are all low-cost ways to change the entire look and feel of a room- and savvy shoppers can find great deals on clearance, or at places like TJ Maxx and Ross that routinely offer great deals on designer items for well below retail price.
Artwork is also a GREAT way to revive a room- finding a nice, big focal piece can have a dramatic impact, and shopping discount retailers and thrift stores or yard sales can be a great way to find beautiful pieces for next to nothing. Remember, you can always paint or change out the frames.
With a little time and some thrifty shopping, you can invest minimal money into your home and get big returns from your remodeling dollars. And don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it. Just remember, not every project needs to be a complete "gut and remodel" to give you a new look and add design and value to your home.
Happy remodeling!
In the Kitchen:
When planning a kitchen remodel, consider refacing the cabinets versus buying and installing new ones, if you like the general layout and the boxes are in good condition. This can save you a LOT of money, and also conserves waste (a benefit for the environment as well!). Simple updates like adding wood medallions, trim mouldings, and new hardware to your existing cabinetry can also be a great way to give it a custom look on a budget. If your cabinets are real wood, consider sanding and refinishing with a new stain, or custom paint or glaze. These looks are very popular and will give your kitchen an instant update for minimal cash investment.
You can also re-laminate existing laminate counters to save money while getting a whole new look, for just a few dollars a foot. If you are looking for an upgraded look, consider buying reclaimed or discount tile at an architectural salvage store, wholesalers, or even the clearance section in your local Lowes or Home Depot. You can also find great deals on "remnants" of stone slabs at many local quarries- if you have shorter sections of counter top, or an island, this can be a GREAT way to get a high-end, high-impact look on a tight budget.
There are many options for low-cost flooring upgrades, resilient flooring being by far the cheapest to purchase and install. This is not always the easiest do-it-yourself project, but new products like vinyl tiles can make this a bit easier- just be sure to prepare the floor properly and follow all installation guidelines. Again, you can also find great deals on ceramic tile in the clearance sections of your local home stores as well as tile retailers and salvage stores, like the Habitat Re-Store and the Friendship Home Stores.
For the Bath:
You can find great deals on many bathroom fixtures by doing a little online research. Visit local bath showrooms for ideas, jotting down names and model numbers, then plug that information into your favorite search engine and your bound to come up with a few discount retailers who are selling the exact same item for less.
Upgrading your vanity can be a fairly inexpensive way to get a whole new look, and many retailers now stock vanity and top combos for less than $400 to give your bath a quick, updated style. Changing out lighting fixtures can be another great way to give your bath a new, modern look and you can definitely find these items on clearance and online from discount retailers as well.
For the Home:
No matter what room you are planning to re-do, a fresh coat of paint or some new trim molding is bound to make a big impact. Adding a few new pillows, towels, or updating the window treatments are all low-cost ways to change the entire look and feel of a room- and savvy shoppers can find great deals on clearance, or at places like TJ Maxx and Ross that routinely offer great deals on designer items for well below retail price.
Artwork is also a GREAT way to revive a room- finding a nice, big focal piece can have a dramatic impact, and shopping discount retailers and thrift stores or yard sales can be a great way to find beautiful pieces for next to nothing. Remember, you can always paint or change out the frames.
With a little time and some thrifty shopping, you can invest minimal money into your home and get big returns from your remodeling dollars. And don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it. Just remember, not every project needs to be a complete "gut and remodel" to give you a new look and add design and value to your home.
Happy remodeling!
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Maximize Your Living Space- Expanding UP or DOWN!
Most of us have a space in our house that we use as the "junk catcher". We say it will be used for storage, but inevitably it becomes a mass of things we don't really need or use. If you are one of those few, organized people out there- congratulations! But for all those "pack rats" out there, now may be the time to re-evaluate your home and find the true potential within those walls.
If you have an unfinished attic or basement, you already have a treasure waiting to be discovered. By utilizing these spaces for more than storage, you can truly add value to your home, and enjoyment as well. Keep in mind that not all of these spaces are suitable for living space- some attics are not structurally designed to be lived in, and may need some rather costly modifications to support living weight, but it might be worth a call to an engineer to look into if you find you're growing out of your home elsewhere.
Basements are a GREAT place to expand you living areas into. They are naturals for dens, family rooms, offices, and maybe even a guest suite. Keep in mind that local building codes may dictate how you can officially classify this space, and be sure any remodel takes these requirements into consideration in the initial planning stages. Some may require minor modifications, others may again be more costly depending on the actual space you are working with. Many builders can provide you with a free consultation and estimate, and be sure to ask some of these questions when you meet.
When it comes to expanding your living space, the possibilities are virtually endless- from a home office to a home theatre, a play room for the children, or any number of ideas in between. In today's real estate market, many of us cannot afford to buy new, but you may be able to utilize more of the space in your home and find you don't need to upgrade after all. And remember, any time you add square footage to your home, you are adding substantial value, even in a slumping market. Consult a local realtor for an estimate of the projected return on investment for your project.
If you have an unfinished attic or basement, you already have a treasure waiting to be discovered. By utilizing these spaces for more than storage, you can truly add value to your home, and enjoyment as well. Keep in mind that not all of these spaces are suitable for living space- some attics are not structurally designed to be lived in, and may need some rather costly modifications to support living weight, but it might be worth a call to an engineer to look into if you find you're growing out of your home elsewhere.
Basements are a GREAT place to expand you living areas into. They are naturals for dens, family rooms, offices, and maybe even a guest suite. Keep in mind that local building codes may dictate how you can officially classify this space, and be sure any remodel takes these requirements into consideration in the initial planning stages. Some may require minor modifications, others may again be more costly depending on the actual space you are working with. Many builders can provide you with a free consultation and estimate, and be sure to ask some of these questions when you meet.
When it comes to expanding your living space, the possibilities are virtually endless- from a home office to a home theatre, a play room for the children, or any number of ideas in between. In today's real estate market, many of us cannot afford to buy new, but you may be able to utilize more of the space in your home and find you don't need to upgrade after all. And remember, any time you add square footage to your home, you are adding substantial value, even in a slumping market. Consult a local realtor for an estimate of the projected return on investment for your project.
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