Given the (relative) high cost, time consumption and considerable disruption, dust and debris associated with home remodeling (and this can apply to even the simplest of bathroom or kitchen renovations), why would anyone want to take on that kind of extra time, effort and expense? Contained within this article are eight excellent reasons why so many Bay Area residents are opting to remodel their homes, and why they are so happy with their outcomes. Here is reason number 1. Come back next week for reason number 2!
Although reasons for remodeling vary widely among homeowners, the following list reflects 8 excellent (and very common) reasons my clients have elected to remodel their homes.
1. To Enhance Your Home’s Beauty (while Providing for Your Increased Comfort and Enjoyment)
At the end of the day, no one wants to come home to a house they don’t find beautiful, comfortable or enjoyable. Beauty, comfort and enjoyment are essential to happy home ownership!
When you first purchased your home, you likely purchased it (and fell completely in love with it) because you could see yourself in that home feeling happy, relaxed and comfortable raising your family and/or entertaining your friends. However, after some time has passed, typically 5-10 years, those initial good feelings may come to change to something less “warm and fuzzy.”
One day you may come home to find yourself wishing that you had painted your exterior a different color, that you had different window trim, a more modern set of garage doors or that your front door was more dramatic, featuring glass in a more updated design. You may enter your home and think, “Why didn’t we ever redo the entry way tile, install crown molding throughout the house, or take the time to remove the aging carpet in the family room, perhaps replacing it with that rich looking hardwood flooring we had admired at our friend’s home?” Why, indeed?
Based on my experience, these are very common questions for many homeowners. Why not start answering these all-so-familiar ponderings now, by putting together all those thoughts and ideas that have been bouncing around in your head onto paper? Have you been dreaming of a spa-like master bath sanctuary? Why not make that dream a reality! Many remodels begin with just such a fond dream that turns into the actual check list for your real-life remodel.
1. To Enhance Your Home’s Beauty (while Providing for Your Increased Comfort and Enjoyment)
At the end of the day, no one wants to come home to a house they don’t find beautiful, comfortable or enjoyable. Beauty, comfort and enjoyment are essential to happy home ownership!
When you first purchased your home, you likely purchased it (and fell completely in love with it) because you could see yourself in that home feeling happy, relaxed and comfortable raising your family and/or entertaining your friends. However, after some time has passed, typically 5-10 years, those initial good feelings may come to change to something less “warm and fuzzy.”
One day you may come home to find yourself wishing that you had painted your exterior a different color, that you had different window trim, a more modern set of garage doors or that your front door was more dramatic, featuring glass in a more updated design. You may enter your home and think, “Why didn’t we ever redo the entry way tile, install crown molding throughout the house, or take the time to remove the aging carpet in the family room, perhaps replacing it with that rich looking hardwood flooring we had admired at our friend’s home?” Why, indeed?
Based on my experience, these are very common questions for many homeowners. Why not start answering these all-so-familiar ponderings now, by putting together all those thoughts and ideas that have been bouncing around in your head onto paper? Have you been dreaming of a spa-like master bath sanctuary? Why not make that dream a reality! Many remodels begin with just such a fond dream that turns into the actual check list for your real-life remodel.
One of the most common remodeling options that adds not just beauty, but considerable comfort in the form of greater energy savings (given both your heater and air conditioner will not need to run as often to maintain your home’s temperature), is to replace your old metal frame, single-pane windows with the more energy efficient vinyl frame, dual pane windows. You can also upgrade windows to a higher quality, fiberglass or wood framed style to add the aesthetic appeal of a more craftsman-like residence. Besides improving the beauty of your home and adding greater energy efficiency, new windows eliminate drafts and rattles. And, in addition, they can be far easier to clean.
Remember that when you’re replacing your old windows, that you keep the look of the original window consistent with the style of your home. Given that original wood windows are an important architectural feature, don’t attempt to replace them with something that isn’t comparable. Whenever you attempt to downgrade your windows, you inadvertently downgrade your home.
This means that if your original windows were wood, it’s not likely to be appropriate to replace them with vinyl, despite vinyl being more cost effective. Rather, replace existing wood with new wood windows, and make sure to match the divided light pattern (the number of panes in each window) with the original windows to keep your home’s architectural beauty and flow intact. Notice the dramatic difference in the photograph of the windows below - from the dark, dull and frumpy "before" to an airy, elegant and engaging "after!"
Remember that when you’re replacing your old windows, that you keep the look of the original window consistent with the style of your home. Given that original wood windows are an important architectural feature, don’t attempt to replace them with something that isn’t comparable. Whenever you attempt to downgrade your windows, you inadvertently downgrade your home.
This means that if your original windows were wood, it’s not likely to be appropriate to replace them with vinyl, despite vinyl being more cost effective. Rather, replace existing wood with new wood windows, and make sure to match the divided light pattern (the number of panes in each window) with the original windows to keep your home’s architectural beauty and flow intact. Notice the dramatic difference in the photograph of the windows below - from the dark, dull and frumpy "before" to an airy, elegant and engaging "after!"
To further enhance your exterior, rather than the standard slab front door, homeowners can choose from a wide variety of contemporary production doors. Or, as another alternative, why not opt for a unique custom door that beautifully reflects your desired aesthetic?
 | Also, keep in mind that throughout your home, the standard production interior doors can be replaced with the highly favored five (see photo to the left) or six-panel, solid core door that not only reduces noise, but that can feature more contemporary hardware (many of my clients are opting for the highly attractive “handle” style of door knob, given it’s far easier to operate) available in brushed nickel, antique bronze or a multitude of other options from which you may choose. Unless your house was constructed after the year 2000, chances are your kitchen is undersized. If you’re considering a major renovation, this is the perfect time to expand the kitchen. You can re-purpose square footage from an adjacent hallway or closet, or you may want to consider simply making it “feel” much bigger by taking down a wall and creating an open floor plan between your kitchen and the adjacent dining or living space. The newly opened flow will really "up" the visual impact as well! In today’s open flow kitchens, more and more homeowners are opting for tile back splashes that extend from the countertop to the uppermost wall cabinet. The new tile selection is vast and offers a wide range of colors, styles and textures. See the image below for a popular tile choice that adds a great deal of beauty and visual interest. |
And when it comes to countertops, homeowners have moved away from the old Formica and tile, to solid surfaces such as Corian, granite and quartz - and even cast concrete, wood or metal. The options are nearly endless, and these are not just beautiful to behold, but can be much easier to clean and maintain than the old tile and grout.
While you may not want to go too outside-of-the-box on cabinet finishes, free yourself to choose hardware that is sculpted or unusual (see image on the left) as it adds a very nice element of beauty to a kitchen. Think of kitchen hardware as the “jewelry” of the room. The options are nearly endless and the selection of unique hardware available in a wide variety of materials can add a wonderful finishing touch to your newly remodeled kitchen.
Some of my clients have taken a cue from their living room when they set out to redesign their eating area. The new banquettes maximize seating space, while also being inviting, comfortable and just plain fun. A banquette bench, such as in the image below, refers to the built-in benches often found in restaurant seating that are being added to many modern-day kitchen remodels. Because you don't need room to walk behind the seating on one or more sides of the table, it has enabled homeowners to fit a dining table into a space that may be too crowded with a stand-alone set of table and chairs.
Some of my clients have taken a cue from their living room when they set out to redesign their eating area. The new banquettes maximize seating space, while also being inviting, comfortable and just plain fun. A banquette bench, such as in the image below, refers to the built-in benches often found in restaurant seating that are being added to many modern-day kitchen remodels. Because you don't need room to walk behind the seating on one or more sides of the table, it has enabled homeowners to fit a dining table into a space that may be too crowded with a stand-alone set of table and chairs.
The choices for kitchen lighting have really exploded! From the addition of motorized skylights (that open to bring in more natural light as well as greater air circulation), to bold glass pendants that don’t just provide excellent work area illumination, but that also serve as a beautiful, highly decorative focal point. I'm happy to discuss with you the various available options or to introduce you to one of the many interior designers that I work with whose beautiful kitchen designs feature everything from the most unique and visually stunning to the more traditional and highly functional lighting options.
In the bathroom, homeowners are moving from standard, shallow steel tubs to deep soaker tubs that come in fiberglass, acrylic or composite materials, turning time in the bath to a relaxing, spa-like experience. Below, you can view a modern soaker bathtub I happily installed in the home of a Bay Area bachelor.
And with a wide variety of hardware options, such as a waterfall feature (as seen below to the right), there is little doubt that your master bath will soon become your favorite room in your house!
In the bathroom, homeowners are moving from standard, shallow steel tubs to deep soaker tubs that come in fiberglass, acrylic or composite materials, turning time in the bath to a relaxing, spa-like experience. Below, you can view a modern soaker bathtub I happily installed in the home of a Bay Area bachelor.
And with a wide variety of hardware options, such as a waterfall feature (as seen below to the right), there is little doubt that your master bath will soon become your favorite room in your house!
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Today’s modern home is far more aesthetically rich, with far greater attention to detail. Such a home can tell a beautiful and amazing story about the people that inhabit them with the effect of a whole house remodel being layered, meaningful and authentic to the people within whose joy and comfort are greatly enhanced.
And while you’re thinking about your home’s overall beautification, added comfort and enjoyment, why not also consider “excellent reason to remodel” number two - to improve your home's value. I'll be posting this upcoming blog next week. Please be sure to come back for more!
In the meantime, if you have a question about this blog or are interested in a free estimate for your home remodeling or repair project, please feel free to text or call me at 408-368-7162 or email me at ed@edneir.com! I truly love what I do, and I’d love to help you make your remodeling dreams (or those of your friends and family members) come true!
Warmest Regards,
Ed
Ed Neir Construction
License # 928715
And while you’re thinking about your home’s overall beautification, added comfort and enjoyment, why not also consider “excellent reason to remodel” number two - to improve your home's value. I'll be posting this upcoming blog next week. Please be sure to come back for more!
In the meantime, if you have a question about this blog or are interested in a free estimate for your home remodeling or repair project, please feel free to text or call me at 408-368-7162 or email me at ed@edneir.com! I truly love what I do, and I’d love to help you make your remodeling dreams (or those of your friends and family members) come true!
Warmest Regards,
Ed
Ed Neir Construction
License # 928715
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