Articles
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Improving and enjoying outdoor living spaces
Read More: Improving and enjoying outdoor living spacesBy Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer With the advent of spring, we enjoy reconnecting with the outdoors through hiking, biking, golf or puttering around in the garden. Have you ever considered how well your home connects with your outdoor living spaces? An expanded patio, a built-in barbecue grill and a bench were added to the…
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Welcome spring with porch remodeling
Read More: Welcome spring with porch remodelingBy Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer It’s spring and our thoughts turn to outdoor living. We long for the days soon to come when we can sit on our back porch and relax outside, and our mouths are already watering for the first barbecue of the season. With the spring weather come opportunities to focus…
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Cost of adding on to home twice that of using existing space
Read More: Cost of adding on to home twice that of using existing spaceBy Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer A family in Murray asked us to help design an addition to their house. This couple likes to entertain, and their small kitchen/family room combination isn’t large enough to accommodate their guests. After reviewing the couple’s project, we determined that they don’t actually need to add on because they…
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Design should focus on flow of public, private spaces
Read More: Design should focus on flow of public, private spacesBy Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer There are places in your house meant to be public, and there are places meant to be private. When thinking architecturally, there are three levels of interaction in your home, and they need to be identified and appropriately designed in your remodel. The first is public spaces. These are…
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Rearrange existing space or add on to create master suite
Read More: Rearrange existing space or add on to create master suiteBy Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer Some of the most sought-after simple pleasures of life are realized with remodeling a master suite. Finally, the bathroom you don’t have to share with the kids, the convenient double sinks, a separate shower and luxurious soaking tub. At last, the coveted walk-in closet with enough space to spread…
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Replace windows to capitalize on property’s views
Read More: Replace windows to capitalize on property’s viewsBy Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer Everyone knows that curb appeal, or what you experience as you look at a house from the outside, is an important aspect of a home’s architecture. But don’t forget that what you experience from the inside of your house looking out can be even more important. By replacing the…
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Safely, sanely living through your remodeling project
Read More: Safely, sanely living through your remodeling projectBy Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer Construction sites are considered one of the most dangerous work places in America. Whole government agencies are dedicated to making them safer. So, how do you keep your family safe when your home becomes the construction site? Although it is not always possible, the best approach when it comes…
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Be safe when tackling a remodel on your own
Read More: Be safe when tackling a remodel on your ownBy Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer Re-mod-el (v.): to alter the structure of: remake; as in: “I want to remodel my … (fill in the blank — kitchen, basement, bathroom, etc.).” With few exceptions, everyone has a desire, if not a plan, to remodel something about their home. The psychology of this desire — whether…
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Snowmelt systems can make home safer
Read More: Snowmelt systems can make home saferBy Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer Snowmelt systems are designed to take the sting out of Utah winters. Last week we discussed permanent systems to keep snow and ice off your driveway. These systems, which can be expensive, feature electric cables or hot water pipes running under your driveway. Today we’ll discuss some other options…
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Heating a driveway melts winter shoveling
Read More: Heating a driveway melts winter shovelingBy Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer Heating your driveway is one of the most popular outdoor heating applications with obvious advantages, especially in the midst of a Utah winter. There are two basic choices for driveway heating — electric cable or hot water systems. You cannot add such a system to an existing concrete driveway…
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Architect provides solid foundation for remodel project
Read More: Architect provides solid foundation for remodel projectBy Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer There is no getting around it: If you are remodeling your home, you are going to need a set of plans. Plans will be required for municipal review prior to issuing a building permit, for contractors to provide you with a bid on your project, and for enabling them…
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Digging out your basement to add new space
Read More: Digging out your basement to add new spaceBy Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer When you are thinking of ways to use the existing space in your home, don’t forget to look in the basement. A basement remodel can be a less-expensive, less-invasive alternative to a home addition. It doesn’t require changing the exterior of your home or encroaching into your yard. A…
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If your house needs a little extra room, look to your attic
Read More: If your house needs a little extra room, look to your atticBy Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer People tend to look at the space in a home in terms of quantity — either there is too much space or, more likely, too little. Architects, on the other hand, see space as a way of creating an experience in a structure, a commodity that should be shaped…
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Multitask your rooms, make better use of space
Read More: Multitask your rooms, make better use of spaceBy Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer Multitasking: the performance of multiple tasks at one time. This word, dating from 1966, describes a lot of our lives. From the dubious practice of talking on our cellular phones while driving to the mom trying to feed the baby while getting the other children out the door to…
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Analyze wants, needs before starting remodeling project
Read More: Analyze wants, needs before starting remodeling projectBy Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer As residential architects, we naturally question what triggers someone to turn those remodeling dreams into reality. We have discovered there are three areas that motivate people to get the ball rolling. The first is the tangible need for a different physical arrangement. For example, the anticipated birth of another…
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Weigh pros and cons of remodeling vs. buying new home
Read More: Weigh pros and cons of remodeling vs. buying new homeBy Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer We see it all the time. Homeowners come to us needing more space for a growing family or desiring home features that their current home just doesn’t have. The tough question they face is: Should I move to a new home or remodel the one I have? An architect…
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Digging down erases steep driveway
Read More: Digging down erases steep drivewayWhen you are sitting in Jennie Broadhead’s main-floor family room, you would never guess that two years ago you would have been sitting in her garage. The Broadheads just finished an extensive remodeling project that is one of the most creative uses of existing space we have seen. Jennie’s home is on a steep Bountiful…
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Combating McMansion craze
Read More: Combating McMansion crazeBy Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer In the past 10 years, there have been several trends in the local and national housing markets worth noting: The first is that houses have increased in size. Since 1970, the average size of a single-family home in the United States increased from 1,500 square feet to 2,443 —…
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Give fireplace a cost-effective face-lift
Read More: Give fireplace a cost-effective face-liftBy Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer The fireplace: We hang stockings from it, roast chestnuts in it and cuddle in front of it. (OK, maybe we don”t do the chestnut part.) Anyway, with so many reasons to gather around the fireplace this time of year, we thought we would discuss options to remodel yours. The…
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Give the gift of architecture
Read More: Give the gift of architecturey Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer You have 23 shopping days left until Christmas. So, we thought we would give you some ideas. How about giving the gift of architecture? There are lots of ways to do this. Some people love architecture as others love paintings or symphonies. Remodeling magazine subscriptions or architectural books…
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Being decisive will help streamline your remodel
Read More: Being decisive will help streamline your remodelBy Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer It is not uncommon to think about remodeling your home for years before taking any action. Once you have decided to actually do something, however, it is human nature to want it NOW. The fact of the matter is there are specific phases in this process. They are sequential…
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Save money tomorrow with a master plan today
Read More: Save money tomorrow with a master plan todayBy Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer Most have been hit hard by the recent financial turmoil in our country. “We’re going to have to wait on our project.” That’s a phrase we are hearing from a lot of people, and it is not hard to understand that line of reasoning. During above: Replacing the windows…
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Skylights add light, warmth, dimension
Read More: Skylights add light, warmth, dimensionBy Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer Many homeowners express a desire to add skylights to their homes during a remodeling project. Perhaps it is the same psychological attraction as the sunroof in your latest car. We all know that light cheers us up and makes a space more pleasant. The question in these days of…
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Vanquish ‘energy vampires’
Read More: Vanquish ‘energy vampires’We’re afraid it isn’t going to be cheap heating our homes this year. With energy costs expected to soar this winter, it is more important than ever to do our part to make our homes as energy efficient as possible. That means controlling “the energy vampires” that slowly suck the energy and heat out of…
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Beautify basement window wells
Read More: Beautify basement window wellsBy Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer Basements are not just for storing canned peaches anymore. Finishing the basement is one of our most common renovations. People are living, playing and sleeping in the basement. With our families spending more time below-grade, it makes sense that there is a new market for livable basement products. For…
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Pet-friendly home reduces stress
Read More: Pet-friendly home reduces stressBy Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer Our goal is to improve people’s lives through architecture. Having a home that supports your family’s lifestyle reduces stress and contributes to mental and physical well being. It is a fact of life that many lifestyles include pets as important and valued members of the family. From building in-the-wall…
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New garage door adds curb appeal
Read More: New garage door adds curb appealBy Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer Last week’s column touted the importance of a high-functioning, well-designed garage. But it also cited a reality check to the costs involved. If you already have a garage that functions but lacks luster, there are ways to upgrade without paying for a new garage. Our first “renovation-alternative” is to…
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Garage remodel enhances home
Read More: Garage remodel enhances homeBy Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer For some, garages are among the least exciting home-renovation projects. But for others, the garage is the only exciting home renovation project. The truth is, because a garage is one of the most useful and practical elements of your home, it holds a great deal of potential for making…
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Right roofing material is key to blending home addition
Read More: Right roofing material is key to blending home additionBy Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer Everyone has seen a bad remodel. You’ve seen the house where the new addition looks like a big shed bumped up against the house, or the second story that looks as if it could have fallen from space and just happened to land on a particular house. Remodels don’t…
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Remodel pulls laundry out of the dungeon
Read More: Remodel pulls laundry out of the dungeonBy Ann Robinson and Annie V. Schwemmer How do you do laundry? Do you do a load a day keeping the piles small? Or do you wait until heaping piles take over the hampers? No matter what kind of laundry person you are, your laundry room should function for your laundry style. It’s an architectural…
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Ceiling beams and other ceiling finishing touches
Read More: Ceiling beams and other ceiling finishing touchesBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon While we devoted the past three columns to flooring, this week it is time to look up and discuss the project hanging over your head: ceilings. The ceiling is often a seriously overlooked aspect of your house’s appearance. While walls, flooring and exterior work are important when it comes…
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Tiles almost limitless in their variety and uses in home
Read More: Tiles almost limitless in their variety and uses in homeBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon Flooring is one of the most inexpensive and least invasive renovation options. For the past two weeks, we have devoted columns to carpet and hardwood floors. This week we are focusing on another popular floor covering: tile. Tile has a natural, handcrafted look that is durable and has easy…
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Hardwood flooring is great way to dress up any space
Read More: Hardwood flooring is great way to dress up any spaceBy Ann Robinson and Annie V. Schwemmer Last week we started a flooring theme by focusing on the most commonly used flooring material — carpet. This week we continue the discussion with one of our favorite flooring options: wood. Wood is among the most beautiful types of material available for residential floors. Besides being visually…
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New carpet one of the easiest ways to renovate rooms
Read More: New carpet one of the easiest ways to renovate roomsBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon If you are ready for a new look but not ready for a major project, flooring is one of the easiest and least invasive ways to renovate any room. Flooring comes in all shapes and sizes — from carpet to tile to bamboo to cork — and each choice…
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Homes have public and private spaces
Read More: Homes have public and private spacesBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon There are places in your house meant to be public, and there are places meant to be private. When thinking architecturally, there are three levels of interaction in your home, and they need to be identified and appropriately designed in your remodel. The first is public spaces. These are…
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Leaky basements can be prevented or remodeled
Read More: Leaky basements can be prevented or remodeledBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon While most of the time you can choose and plan for remodels, there are emergency situations when a renovation is less of a choice and more of a necessity. If you find your basement wet and moldy and your foundation walls cracked, you have no choice but to look…
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Bathtubs can be refinished with ease
Read More: Bathtubs can be refinished with easeBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon Last week, we discussed replacing your bathtub — a rather daunting process. In our effort to consider ways to update your bathroom without a complete remodel, today we will discuss refinishing an existing tub. For years, bathtubs were made of steel with a vitreous china coating. This is a…
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Bathroom may need partial redo
Read More: Bathroom may need partial redoBy Ann Robinson and Annie V. Schwemmer We’re sure you are as sick as we are about hearing of rising gas prices every time you turn around. Unfortunately, that is just the most obvious symptom of our current economic troubles. Everyone is feeling the pinch, and all our plans and projects are being scrutinized and…
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Tubs help bathrooms become relaxing retreats
Read More: Tubs help bathrooms become relaxing retreatsBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon Bathrooms today serve more than a practical function. They are often created as a refuge from the stress and commotion of everyday life. While the combination tub-shower is a practical solution when space is at a premium, the secret to a great tub is to have a separate shower.…
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Sinks can add beauty to baths
Read More: Sinks can add beauty to bathsBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon As the number and type of bathrooms in the average home increase, so has the selection of bathroom sinks, which now range from tiny wall-hung versions for the smallest of powder rooms to elaborate dual-basin models for luxurious master baths. The sink is certainly a practical necessity in a…