At the beginning of this month, a landslide in North Salt Lake destroyed one home and caused 27 others to be evacuated. People are rightly concerned about protecting their homes from disasters such as this. When things like this happen,
Renovation Solutions: Top remodeling challenges decoded
We recently saw an interesting survey of homeowners posted on Houzz.com titled “Transforming the American Home: Findings from the 2014 Houzz and Home Survey.” Houzz is a website that posts literally millions of pictures of homes and everything to do
Renovation Solutions: Understanding the master bedroom madness
Home design is where art meets science, function meets beauty and a house becomes home. While the average homeowner can recognize a room that looks and feels good in real life, they can rarely feel what the architect has designed
Renovation Solutions: 5 signs it is time to remodel
BEFORE: This is a good example of how an outdated kitchen can be transformed with an updated style with a remodel. (Dan Barton, Renovation Design Group) AFTER: This is a good example of how an outdated kitchen can be
Renovation Solutions: How to pull off being your own general contractor
Recently, we had a conversation with a construction manager for large commercial projects about home remodeling and construction. Shaun Johnson is starting a consulting firm to help homeowners act as the general contractor on their home remodeling projects. The primary
Renovation Solutions: How design-build remodeling works
The design-build remodeling process helps you to create great, well-thought-out spaces inside and out. Trina Knudsen, © 2013 Trina Knudsen, Photographer The process behind major remodling projects has changed in the past five to 10 years. If you tackled a
Renovation Solutions: Plan your home remodels with your life in mind
Last week, we talked about the move-versus-remodel debate. That is the first decision you have to make when you accept your house isn’t working for you and you need a change. If you decide to stay put and that remodeling
Renovation Solutions: Selecting a garage door for a higher return
For the past few weeks we have been discussing the top individual remodeling projects that yield the highest return on investment as rated by Remodeling Magazine’s Cost vs. Value report for 2013-2014. We’ve talked about front doors, wooden decks and
Renovation Solutions: Adding an attic bedroom
When it comes to making the most out of your home-remodeling investment, reconfiguring or repurposing existing space to add more bedrooms is a surefire way to get some bang for your buck. In our series of high return on investment
Renovation Solutions: Tips for a wooden deck addition
A wood deck addition is the second project with the highest return on investment in Remodeling Magazine’s Cost vs. Value report for 2013-14. The wooden deck is a common remodeling project, especially at this time of year. As the weather
Renovation Solutions: Tips to selecting a new front door
As part of our recent market analysis, we mentioned Remodeling Magazine’s Cost vs. Value report for 2013-2014. The top five national remodeling projects with the highest return on investment for this year are a new front door, a wood deck
Renovation Solutions: 2014 expected to be a good year for remodeling
With housing prices remaining steady, interest rates low and contractors back in full swing, this is a prime time for home remodeling. The remodeling market is confident, and the economy is holding. The experts in the market analysis world say
Renovation Solutions: Three types of home improvements that increase home value
In addition to making your life better every day, home remodeling projects will ideally impact your home’s value for the better. However, your home’s value is at the mercy of the market and, in fact, some home improvements will positively
Renovation Solutions: One family’s experience with remodeling a split-level home
Last week we discussed the common issues of remodeling a split-level or split-entry house. The Smiths found that common thread of a love/hate feeling toward their house and their situation. They loved the neighborhood, the lot and the view. Their
Renovation Solutions: 3 common problems and tips to remodeling the split-level home
Owners of split-level homes often have a love/hate relationship with their house. They love the amount of living space provided and the privacy the house design offers. They appreciate that teens can be alone in their bedrooms on the top
Renovation Solutions: The power of color choice
Color is a powerful element in both interior and exterior design. A room with nondescript walls can be transformed by a simple coat of paint. You can create different feelings and moods in a room just by what colors you
Renovation Solutions: Ways to fund a remodel without equity
Remodeling is a big decision. The process will impact several areas of your life and be influenced by many factors, one of which is your project budget and how you will fund your project. In years past, the financial option
How to create a romantic master suite
In honor of Valentine’s Day, let’s consider the most romantic remodeling project: the master suite. This area is intended to be a luxurious getaway in your own home. A master suite is more than just a master bedroom as it
Remodeling? How long the process should take, tips to speed it up
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
Renovation Solutions: Closed kitchens versus open kitchens
By Ann Robinson & Annie V. Schwemmer When seeing a new house or newer apartment, it will most likely include an open concept kitchen in the design. Many people love the idea of an open kitchen that isn’t separated from
Renovation Solutions: Organizing, Part 2: A place for everything, everything in its place
By Ann Robinson & Annie V. Schwemmer When organizing children’s rooms, make it easy with one step to put away items. Hooks are easier than hangers, racks are easier than bookshelves, and bins on shelves are a great way to
Renovation Solutions: New Year’s series: Breaking down organizing in manageable steps
The University of Scranton’s Journal of Clinical Psychology did a survey to discover the most common New Year’s resolutions. Losing weight was No. 1, and No. 2 was getting organized. While we can’t really help you with the first one
Renovation Solutions: Considering gathering spaces in your home
One of the joys of the holiday season is getting together with family and friends. Determining where to hold the holiday party usually consists of evaluating the potential hosts’ gathering space. What makes a good gathering space? Architecturally speaking, the
Renovation Solutions: Remodeling the split-level house
Split-level homes have made a comeback in recent years. Drive around some of the new “starter-home” neighborhoods around the Wasatch Front and you’ll find many variations on the split-level theme. You’ll also find split-level homes in many older, established neighborhoods.
Renovation Solutions: Consider small, creative additions
When we say addition, what do you think of? Do you think of an additional structure off the back of the house, a full room? Do you think of the “big box” addition? Well, we are here to say home
Renovation Solutions: Converting your garage to living space
Finding existing space in your home to repurpose, convert into living space or reconfigure may take some creativity. We started our series on creatively remodeling existing space by discussing attic conversions. This week we are going to consider converting the
Renovation Solutions: Basements can be remodeled, no matter how scary
For the past few weeks, we have been discussing how to creatively use or repurpose existing space in your home. Whether it be the attic or your garage, there may be space within your home just waiting to be used.
Renovation Solutions: Find more space in the attic to enhance your house
Space is like the wind: You can’t see it, but you can feel it. People tend to look at the space in a home in terms of quantity — either there is too much space or, more likely, not enough.
Exterior remodels continued: Gutters
Ah, autumn. ’Tis the season for pumpkin shakes, cozy sweaters, the first fire of the season, and — oh, yeah — raking leaves and cleaning out your gutters. No one likes climbing on the roof to clean out the leaves
Remodeling for curb appeal
A lot of our clients come to us with requests for more curb appeal. Even if the remodel is staying within the home’s original footprint, many clients want to see what they can do to enhance their home’s exterior. Exterior
Remodel to better multitask your space
Remodeling doesn’t have to mean expensive additions; it can be more about creatively using the space you have. Multitasking rooms is a great way to use your existing space to its full potential. How do you multitask rooms? Well, you
Renovation Solutions: Roofing material choice impacts a remodel
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
Renovation Solutions: Laundry made easier with redesign
By Ann Robinson & Annie V. Schwemmer Does it seem like your laundry piles are more like mountains than molehills? Is getting family members to pitch in and do laundry harder than getting out grape juice stains? If so, it
Renovation Solutions: As school nears, it may be time to remodel kids’ bedrooms
By Ann Robinson & Annie V. Schwemmer For a child’s bedroom remodel, consider the lighting, shelving and bed choices carefully. Kevin Bunnell, Renovation Solutions Summer is winding down, and it is almost time to send those little darlings back to
Renovation Solutions: Quick makeover for your home
Even small changes to your house (a quick off-the-street makeover) can make your home more beautiful. Often when you work to create or uncover extra space and functionality in your home, you will find more beauty, too. What makes someone
Renovation Solutions: Liven up your home with color
The sea of ivory-colored homes with white walls and beige carpet is evidence that people are generally afraid of color. But really they shouldn’t be — at least not for architecture’s sake. The soothing and relaxing tones in this room
Carefully consider design for bathroom remodel
Clearly, if you survive the stress and strain of a home remodeling project, the results should enhance your life. Your home should be easier to live in. A bathroom addition or remodel is a project that will have a definite
Renovation Solutions: Well-detailed remodeling project will pay off
Architect Mies van der Rohe said, “God is in the details.” Others have said, “The devil is in the details.” We suppose it’s all in the perspective. Certainly when it comes to a home renovation, you can feel very inspired
Renovation Solutions: Remodeling opens up possibilities
With the Fourth of July, we’ve got freedom on our minds. A very different kind of freedom is found in the process of remodeling when clients become aware that there are many options available to address their particular issues. For
The question: Remodel or move?
By Annie Schwemmer and Ann Robinson For the Deseret News If there is something about your location like a great view that would be hard to duplicate, then remodeling may be the right solution for you. Deciding to remodel