Articles
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Lots of options in bath remodel
Read More: Lots of options in bath remodelBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon Adding a bathroom to your home remodel could change your life. Just think of how different your mornings would be if the vanity in your teenagers’ bathroom was separate from the shower. Or if you never had to have a guest use the kids’ bathroom again. It’s amazing the…
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Redo closet in a weekend
Read More: Redo closet in a weekendBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon Has anyone ever had too many closets? A need for storage (or possibly hoarding!) seems to be part of the human condition. The old adage “A place for everything and everything in its place” is still good advice. Homes and rooms seem larger when they are not filled with…
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Use color to create a mood
Read More: Use color to create a moodBy Annie V. Schemmer A room with plain, white walls can be transformed by a simple coat of paint. You can create different feelings and moods in a room just by what wall colors you choose. Because color is powerful, you may feel indecisive and insecure about choosing color schemes. We’ve all experienced the difficulty…
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Lighting key to comfort, design
Read More: Lighting key to comfort, designBy Ann Robinson and Annie V. Schwemmer When it comes to remodeling, sometimes it is the little things that can make all the difference. Today the influential detail we want to discuss is lighting. Changing lighting fixtures as well as their placement can drastically enhance architecture, give character and individuality to a space, and set…
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Want to do your part for conservation? Remodel
Read More: Want to do your part for conservation? RemodelBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon It seems only a few years ago that the only one who thought it was cool to be green was Kermit the Frog — and even then it wasn’t always easy. Today, everyone has jumped on the green bandwagon, and it is gaining speed. As architects, we are bombarded…
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Architects valuable in redesign
Read More: Architects valuable in redesignBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon There is no getting around it: If you are remodeling your home, you are going to need a set of plans. If you know exactly what you want, a drafter can draw the plans as you direct. But if you want to study the possibilities and consider your options…
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Take initiative with major remodel
Read More: Take initiative with major remodelBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon When you think of the remodeling team, you may first think of the architect, the interior designer or the contractor. However, the role of the homeowner is often underestimated — usually by the homeowner. Ultimately, you, as the homeowner, are in charge. You have to think of yourself as…
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Contractor choice is critical step
Read More: Contractor choice is critical stepBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon Choosing the right contractor is a critical step in remodeling. No matter how well your architect designs the plans or how vividly you envision the project, the contractor can literally make or break the final outcome. While each member of the design team has an important role, the contractor’s…
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Make interior designer part of team
Read More: Make interior designer part of teamBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon Remodeling is a complicated process that takes a balanced team to bring the project to a successful conclusion. Obviously, we think a good architect is key to this team, but today we want to talk about another possible contributor: an interior designer. The line between the responsibilities of an…
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Family designs house for casual lifestyle
Read More: Family designs house for casual lifestyleBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon More people are exchanging formal spaces in their homes for more casual and flexible spaces. They realize they use a formal dining or living room only a few times a year. So, they renovate existing space or add on to make their physical surroundings reflect their more casual and…
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Boomers have their own style
Read More: Boomers have their own styleBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon Now that our children are gone, we need a bigger house! This is a sentiment we, as architects specializing in residential remodeling, hear a lot. Though it may not make sense on the surface, many “boomer” couples and individuals are experiencing this phenomenon. The actual need is not always…
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Give the deck a face-lift
Read More: Give the deck a face-liftBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon If you haven’t noticed from our columns over the past couple of weeks, we are ready for summer. We have discussed outdoor kitchens, patios in all their shapes and sizes, and porches. This week we will focus on another outdoor-living favorite: the classic wooden deck. After a winter of…
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Spruce up your porch for summer
Read More: Spruce up your porch for summerBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon Porches are a great way to take advantage of beautiful spring and summer weather. Whether you have a small front porch with a single chair or a big back porch that spills into the backyard, now is the time to assess its condition and get it ready for outdoor…
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Some concrete ideas for home remodeling
Read More: Some concrete ideas for home remodelingBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon Who would have thought to use a sidewalk as a kitchen countertop? Well, someone did, because the once drab, gray concrete is now an artistic upscale trend in home design. Today, contractors can transform this typically utilitarian building material into whatever you can imagine. They can make concrete any…
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Outdoor kitchens can enhance backyard barbecues
Read More: Outdoor kitchens can enhance backyard barbecuesBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon It’s March. The snow is beginning to melt and we are all anticipating spring. Before long we will soak in the sun, watch the flowers bloom and, of course, barbecue. It is hard to imagine spring and summer without a little outdoor cooking. The backyard culinary experience has moved…
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Choose window materials well
Read More: Choose window materials wellBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon Windows are an important part of your remodel. You may be adding windows to capitalize on natural light or a particular view. You may be replacing old, inefficient windows to save energy costs. Or you may be looking to change the style or functionality of your windows. Whatever your…
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Windows complement house
Read More: Windows complement houseBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon Last week we discussed the impact window size and placement has on the views and natural light in your home. Window style also has a big impact on your home and should complement its overall style. A window is often the design focal point of a room. You’ll add…
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Media rooms on most-wanted list
Read More: Media rooms on most-wanted listBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon Everyone loves the movie-theater experience. The only thing that would make it better is to be able to have that experience in your own home. In-home theaters are increasingly popular — especially now that virtually everyone covets technology’s next bigger, better and flatter TV screen. More than half of…
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Remodeling offers practical, emotional benefits
Read More: Remodeling offers practical, emotional benefitsBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon Whether we love our homes or hate them, there is always something we dream of changing about them. As residential architects, we naturally question what triggers someone to turn those remodeling dreams into reality. There are three areas that motivate people to get the ball rolling. The first is…
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New master suite can go up or out
Read More: New master suite can go up or outBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon Last week we discussed master suites, one of the hottest trends in home design and typically at the top of our clients’ wish lists. There are two ways to create a master suite: rearrange the existing space or adding a second story or extending an addition into the yard.…
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Master suite often is the crown jewel of renovation
Read More: Master suite often is the crown jewel of renovationBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon The master suite often adds touches of luxury with items such as built-in closet organizers, above, and a garden tub. One of the most frequent items seen on our clients’ wish lists is a master suite. Master suites are a relatively recent trend in home design, so most older…
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Analysis comes before remodel
Read More: Analysis comes before remodelBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon Wendy Sorenson’s five children used to fit perfectly around the kitchen table in the nook, but she eventually found herself with five teens and no room to breathe. Sorenson’s family was growing, and they needed a main-floor gathering room. The Sorensons’ Tudor home in Salt Lake City’s Harvard-Yale area…
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Do homework to help define your style
Read More: Do homework to help define your styleBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon Have you ever let a Nordstrom sales associate pick out a new outfit for you with no input at all? Or would you let a hair stylist choose your new hairstyle and surprise you with the result? While some people are happy to let the experts take over in…
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Have a remodeling resolution?
Read More: Have a remodeling resolution?By Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon If remodeling your home this spring is on your New Year’s resolution list, there are a few things you should know. We hate to dash your hopes for a quick remodel, but it isn’t realistic to think you can see an architect in January and build by April —…
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Affordable snowmelt solutions
Read More: Affordable snowmelt solutionsBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon Snowmelt systems are designed to take the sting out of Utah winters. Last week we discussed a permanent system to keep snow and ice off your driveway. The system, which can be expensive, features electric cables or hot water pipes running under your driveway. Today we’ll discuss some other…
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Driveway Heaters: Tired of shoveling driveway?
Read More: Driveway Heaters: Tired of shoveling driveway?By Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon Did you ever hear your dad say, “Shut that door! Are you trying to heat the whole outdoors?” Well, today a whole industry has sprung up with just that goal in mind. Several factors contribute to the rise of outdoor heating technology: First, we are living outside more these…
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Fireplace remodels add charm
Read More: Fireplace remodels add charmBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon We hang stockings from it, roast chestnuts in it, and cuddle in front of it. With so many reasons bringing us to the fireplace, we thought we would discuss options to remodel yours. Fireplaces are the heart of a home and the focal point of a room. People tend…
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How to carve out a better kitchen
Read More: How to carve out a better kitchenBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon Thanksgiving wins as the holiday with the most time spent in the kitchen. The celebration centers on a wonderful, home-cooked meal. How did your kitchen handle the four extra cooks, the turkey, rolls, mashed potatoes and yams? It isn’t realistic to design a home to handle a once-a-year event…
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Green Design & Building: Remodeling offers plenty of ways to go green
Read More: Green Design & Building: Remodeling offers plenty of ways to go greenBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon Global warming, green building, energy efficient. These buzzwords have people thinking green. And the green-building movement, which has picked up speed over the past 10 years, is at your doorstep in the form of your next remodeling project. Actually, your first “green” decision was to remodel instead of tear…
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Great rooms are great places for gatherings
Read More: Great rooms are great places for gatheringsBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon Fall is the kickoff season of gathering. Just think of all the times you gather your friends and family together this time of year — college football in front of the big screen, Thanksgiving dinner, the neighborhood Christmas party held at your house, pot roast and potatoes on a…
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Go downstairs for extra space
Read More: Go downstairs for extra spaceBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon One of our clients came to us wanting to keep her Sugar House bungalow looking like a bungalow, but with twice the livable space. Without destroying the classic style or eating into her flower gardens, we designed a major renovation by excavating the basement. The floor of the unfinished…
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Go for luxury in shower
Read More: Go for luxury in showerBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon The day of the shower has arrived. What used to be the most purely functional space in a home is now the center of attention in modern bathroom design. Shower designs are more elaborate than anything we could have imagined just a few years ago. It used to be…
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Remodel, move both have costs
Read More: Remodel, move both have costsBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon Chances are you aren’t living in your dream home just yet. But don’t worry — you’re in the majority. Usually, a home is missing that extra bedroom or perfect kitchen, bathroom or master suite. Maybe it is lacking the space for your growing family or a large area to…
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More space lurking in basement
Read More: More space lurking in basementBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon Many clients who come to us for help with renovations are craving more space. The good news is that most Utah homes already have potentially livable space lurking in the basement. Finishing your basement is a less-expensive and less-invasive alternative to a home addition, and it does not eat…
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Mudrooms make sense
Read More: Mudrooms make senseBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon It is more than just the calendar that marks the beginning of fall. The trail of coats, books, backpacks and dirty footprints across the floor gives it away. The kids have barely been back to school a month, but if you are already tired of cleaning up the messy…
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Elevator can keep home livable
Read More: Elevator can keep home livableBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon As baby boomers age, most have plans to keep living in the homes they have now. And as baby boomers prepare for the future, there has been a rise in the demand for home designs and renovations that are more accessible. One of the most requested designs lately is…
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Detailed planning keeps remodeling on track
Read More: Detailed planning keeps remodeling on trackBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon Most clients come to us ready to remodel, but rarely do they come with the project planned. Two years ago, we met a couple who were ready to start the redesign process on their rambling ranch. The major overhaul was divided into three phases implementing six independent projects over…
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Safeguard home with seismic upgrades
Read More: Safeguard home with seismic upgradesBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon Remember there is no practical way to completely “earthquake-proof” your house. But engineers have developed some extreme and expensive methods to equip a building to ride out an earthquake. One of these techniques, which was actually used on the Utah State Capitol building and the LDS Tabernacle in Salt…
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Understand the dangers of home’s structure
Read More: Understand the dangers of home’s structureBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon If an earthquake hits, damage to public structures and infrastructure will be beyond the control of the average citizen, but you do have some control over your individual circumstances in relation to your own home. In our continuing series, we are discussing steps you can take to increase the…
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Protect yourself with seismic safety
Read More: Protect yourself with seismic safetyBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon Northern Utahns know California is not the only earthquake country in the western United States. Even though we are not confronted with catastrophic earthquakes every day here in the Wasatch Front, we know the risk is there. According to the Utah Guide for the Seismic Improvement of Unreinforced Masonry…