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Renovation Solutions: Tips on designing an outdoor kitchen
Read More: Renovation Solutions: Tips on designing an outdoor kitchenThis patio project boosted the outdoor cooking space with a custom built-in barbecue. Spring is finally here, just in time for Father’s Day. We can almost hear the steaks sizzling! In honor of the sun and national grilling day (i.e. Father’s Day), we thought we would focus our column today on one of Dad’s favorite…
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Architects bring added value to project
Read More: Architects bring added value to projectMost people have never worked with an architect before. They see them on TV carrying around a set of plans or sitting at a drafting table, but they don’t really know what architects do or what added value they can bring to a project. This client loves to read and wanted a way to organize…
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Renovation Solutions: Avoid the remodeling project snowball
Read More: Renovation Solutions: Avoid the remodeling project snowballOne of the most common fears of remodeling is a project snowballing out of control. Although this home underwent a major remodel, this particular room only received new paint, hardwood floors, baseboards, can lights and a fireplace insert. Thanks to a thorough planning process, all of these items were included in the original bid. It…
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Renovation Solutions: New deck adds value
Read More: Renovation Solutions: New deck adds valueWith the weather we’ve had lately, you may doubt if spring will ever come. But even if we skip spring altogether this year, summer will eventually appear. So, rain or not, it is time to start planning for a great season of outdoor living. Building a deck is a project that can be started now…
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Renovation Solutions: Renovation Solutions: Remodel project moves into construction phase
Read More: Renovation Solutions: Renovation Solutions: Remodel project moves into construction phaseOne of the most exciting and traumatic times of a remodeling project is when construction finally begins, especially if you are tearing off a roof. In March, we introduced you to the design phase of the Caldwell project. Under construction for about a month now, here is an update on the progress. “We set a…
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Renovation Solutions: The Cape Cod and the California Ranch
Read More: Renovation Solutions: The Cape Cod and the California RanchThe Cape Cod is typically seen as a cozy cottage-style home. -Annie Schwemmer Understanding the history, style and architecture of your home — and the other homes in your neighborhood — is crucial in designing an addition or renovation. Ignore this principle, and you’ll end up spending a lot of money to decrease the value…
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Renovation Solutions: Challenges of remodeling Tudors and craftsman bungalows
Read More: Renovation Solutions: Challenges of remodeling Tudors and craftsman bungalowsSeveral predominant home styles have evolved over the past century in the U.S. In their purest form, Tudors feel like miniature castles with towers, dormers and steeply pitched roofs. You’ve seen them as you’ve driven the streets of Salt Lake City’s classic neighborhoods: the fairy-tale Tudor revival, classic craftsman bungalow, charming Cape Cod and California…
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Renovation Solutions: Planning ahead will save money on your remodel
Read More: Renovation Solutions: Planning ahead will save money on your remodelIn a recent market analysis, MetroMonitor ranked Salt Lake City and Ogden among the 20 strongest markets in the U.S. primed for an economic recovery. (MetroMonitor tracks the economic recession and recovery in America’s 100 largest Metropolitan Areas.) There is purpose in improving your home say professionals whose advice will make your money count for…
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Renovation Solutions: Want to remodel? Here’s what to do before you get started
Read More: Renovation Solutions: Want to remodel? Here’s what to do before you get startedIf you are considering a home remodel, the planning phase is critical. We have put together a list of some of the basic points to consider as you begin your remodeling project. If you are considering a home remodel, the planning phase is critical. We have put together a list of some of the basic…
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Renovation Solutions: Add home improvements to your spring cleaning
Read More: Renovation Solutions: Add home improvements to your spring cleaningWhen spring cleaning isn’t enough, there is always spring remodeling. Sprucing up and refinishing your deck is a great way to welcome spring’s warmer weather. David T. Price The harsh winter weather can be hard on the exterior of your house. When the weather starts to warm up, it is time to assess the…
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Renovation Solutions: Welcome change in seasons with some spring cleaning
Read More: Renovation Solutions: Welcome change in seasons with some spring cleaningSunday marked the official first day of spring, so it is now officially time to talk about a home improvement project everyone can do: spring cleaning. Start your spring cleaning by getting rid of clutter. Throw out anything that is broken or can’t be donated. As for donations, be generous. No matter how well-designed a…
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Renovation Solutions: Trim work adds beauty and sense of purpose to a room
Read More: Renovation Solutions: Trim work adds beauty and sense of purpose to a roomAt Renovation Design Group, we adopt the same theory promoted by Architect Sarah Susanka: “Build better, not bigger.” Susanka’s “Not So Big” concept doesn’t necessarily mean living in small houses, just in houses with the space that you need and comfortably use every day. There are too many houses with wasted space that homeowners rarely…
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Renovation Solutions: East Millcreek remodel aims for rustic, Southwestern look
Read More: Renovation Solutions: East Millcreek remodel aims for rustic, Southwestern lookMeet Bruce and Nicole Caldwell. The Caldwells are in the middle of a remodeling project to transform their 1950s East Millcreek ranch from its traditional style to a rustic, Southwestern style all their own. Usually, we feature clients in this column with finished projects, but for a change we have decided to follow the Caldwells…
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Renovation Solutions: You, too, can now live the ‘Jetsons’ lifestyle
Read More: Renovation Solutions: You, too, can now live the ‘Jetsons’ lifestyleIf you have trouble getting a DVD to play or can only use the power, volume, and channel controls on your remote control, you may be amazed and/or terrified at the level of sophistication technology has reached relative to the home you live in. The command center for an automated system. In fact, anything in…
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Renovation Solutions: Analyze your house and your needs before you remodel
Read More: Renovation Solutions: Analyze your house and your needs before you remodelAs with any decision, many factors affect the decision to remodel. It is not a decision to be taken lightly. You will likely be spending a significant amount of money, as well as investing time and emotional effort into the process. Most families don’t have the luxury of limitless budgets. So, it is important to…
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Renovation Solutions: Building a remodeling team alleviates horror stories
Read More: Renovation Solutions: Building a remodeling team alleviates horror storiesMost of our clients come into our office with a little remodeling anxiety. It usually stems from the horror stories they have heard from friends and neighbors who remodeled their homes on their own, without an architect, and maybe even without a contractor. Hiring an architect is the first step to eliminating the horror story…
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Updating exterior doors saves money and energy
Read More: Updating exterior doors saves money and energyBy Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer Energy efficient updates are a good idea any time of the year. However, as the season changes there is a more measurable and meaningful reason to go green. You can ease the pain of the winter heating bill by making a few simple changes to your outside doors. These…
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Avoid pitfalls of overbuilding for your neighborhood
Read More: Avoid pitfalls of overbuilding for your neighborhoodBy Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer Overbuilding is one of the major mistakes people can make when remodeling their homes. So much so that real estate agents refer to it as the most commonly broken real estate commandment: “Thou shalt not overbuild.” Overbuilding occurs when homeowners sink too much money into a house when either…
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In child’s room, focus on lighting, shelving and the bed
Read More: In child’s room, focus on lighting, shelving and the bedBy Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer Summer is winding down, and it is almost time to send those little darlings back to school. With just days remaining before the first day of school, you might be able to sneak in a mini-remodel on a child’s bedroom. A bedroom can be a fun project that does…
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Swamp cooler is an inexpensive way to beat the heat
Read More: Swamp cooler is an inexpensive way to beat the heatBy Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer Last week we discussed the basics of cooling system upgrades in regard to central air conditioning. However, in this dry, desert climate, central air isn’t the last word on effective cooling systems. Another natural and energy efficient option is an evaporative cooling system. An evaporative cooler produces effective cooling…
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Time for cooling-system upgrade? Here are the basics
Read More: Time for cooling-system upgrade? Here are the basicsBy Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer Well, summer finally came, and more hot days are in the forecast. While most Utahns have some sort of cooling system in their homes, some yearn for a system upgrade. Here is a basic primer on air conditioning systems: A challenge of adding central air to a home is…
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Be prepared with your kitchen appliance choices
Read More: Be prepared with your kitchen appliance choicesBy Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer One of the most exciting and challenging parts of the remodeling process is choosing the finishes, fixtures and appliances. While selecting asphalt shingles, furnaces and the type of insulation that will go into your project is very important, it is nice to get to the part where you can…
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Well-landscaped yard adds beauty and value to home
Read More: Well-landscaped yard adds beauty and value to homeBy Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer When you think of remodeling to increase the resale value of your home, you might think of updating the kitchen or adding a master suite. But according to a new study from Michigan State University, remodeling your yard could actually increase the value of your home from 5 percent…
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Working with experts makes window shopping easier
Read More: Working with experts makes window shopping easierBy Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer Remodeling can be an overwhelming process. There are just so many options. Take windows for example: There are hundreds of shapes, sizes, styles, colors and features to choose from. These doors and windows open the pool to the patio, creating a great entertaining space. Windows can vary so dramatically…
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Consider a guy’s interests when designing a ‘man cave’
Read More: Consider a guy’s interests when designing a ‘man cave’By Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer Just over a week ago, we celebrated the fathers in our lives. Today, in honor of the manly men, we thought we would write about a remodeling anomaly known as the “man cave.” While some males would prefer to just call their man cave simply “the garage” or “the…
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Creatively add space with purpose
Read More: Creatively add space with purposeBy Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer Meet the Schwartzes: A family of eight with six children ranging from one in the crib to junior high. They live in an East Millcreek neighborhood that is close to work and to extended family. The kids are involved in their schools and the community. They love it there.…
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Choose your architect wisely
Read More: Choose your architect wiselyBy Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer We have often touted the value of working with an architect on your home remodeling project. However, before you can pick an architect, you have to know where to find one. You can begin by asking your family members, friends, co-workers and acquaintances for recommendations. Many architects work primarily…
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Gather plenty of information to prepare for your remodel
Read More: Gather plenty of information to prepare for your remodelBy Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer Our most efficient clients are the ones who come in knowing what they want. With so many options available for residential design and remodeling today, smart clients do their part to formulate an idea of what they want before they come into our office. Read books, magazines and articles…
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Send in your renovation questions
Read More: Send in your renovation questionsBy Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer We started writing this renovation column back in April 2005. With our five-year anniversary, we wanted to turn our attention to our readers. First of all, thank you for reading. And to the Deseret News, thank you for giving us a place to write every week. This family had…
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Before remodeling, get professional plan and real budget
Read More: Before remodeling, get professional plan and real budgetBy Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer It seems the economy is finally on the mend. Though concerns and worries still abound, things are looking more positive. A master plan is especially crucial before remodeling project is started. The worst thing a homeowner can do is plunge in and see how far money will go. While…
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Plan for future, efficiency with your bathroom design
Read More: Plan for future, efficiency with your bathroom designBy Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer American consumers are choosing a little bit of luxury mixed with practicality and efficiency when it comes to bathroom remodels. That is according to The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Design Trends Survey, compiled from surveying 500 architects to find the most popular design features across the country. Changing…
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Recycling centers, pantries among top kitchen upgrades
Read More: Recycling centers, pantries among top kitchen upgradesBy Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer Every quarter, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) surveys 500 architects across the country to discover the latest design trends in kitchen and bath remodels. According to the 2009 survey for the fourth quarter, the five most popular upgrades for kitchens are more practical than ever. Changing the lighting…
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Solar water heaters add to home’s energy efficiency
Read More: Solar water heaters add to home’s energy efficiencyBy Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer Recently, we wrote about tankless water heaters. Following its publication, we were contacted by a nice gentleman named Larry Wilkins. Wilkins has been in the tankless water heater business for many years, and operates a company called Envirotherm. Tankless water heaters can help cut back on environmental waste. They…
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7 steps to a net-zero home — start with conservation
Read More: 7 steps to a net-zero home — start with conservationBy Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer One of our favorite home-improvement publications is Fine Homebuilding magazine, published by Taunton Press. It is the largest residential construction magazine with informative how-to articles written by the “guys who swing the hammers.” The April 2008 issue features excellent article by Betsy Pettit on “Remodeling for Energy Efficiency.” Changing…
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3 tips on house remodeling, to ease the pain
Read More: 3 tips on house remodeling, to ease the painBy Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer While experience may be the best teacher, remodeling a house is not an experience that most (sane) people undertake repeatedly in their lifetimes. Therefore, it becomes critical that you benefit from others” experience, both by working with architects, contractors and subcontractors who specialize in residential remodeling and by seeking…
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New EPA rules affect renovations
Read More: New EPA rules affect renovationsBy Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer Starting April 22, the Environmental Protection Agency is mandating all renovation contractors who work on pre-1978 homes be certified to properly handle lead-based paint to avoid environmental contamination. Lead-based paint was used in more than 38 million homes before it was banned from residential use in 1978. Lead has…
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Finding your own design style is a revealing process
Read More: Finding your own design style is a revealing processBy Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer A person going through the process of finding a design style may be surprised at the types of items selected — people tend to be eclectic. A person’s design style is as unique as his or her own personality. It may not be what is advertised on the billboards…
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Tankless water heater nice for Earth and you
Read More: Tankless water heater nice for Earth and youBy Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer Having hot water available at our fingertips has to be one of the great inventions of the past few centuries. Credit goes to Edwin Ruud, a Norwegian mechanical engineer, as the inventor of the automatic storage water heater in 1889. Ruud later emigrated to Pittsburgh where he pioneered the…
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Building home a big task, but you get what you want
Read More: Building home a big task, but you get what you wantBy Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer Very rarely can a family find everything they want in a house on the market ready for them to buy. Families usually have to remodel or build new in order to get their dream house in the right location. The Corey family decided that for them, building this new…
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Renovating? Upgrade home’s earthquake resistance
Read More: Renovating? Upgrade home’s earthquake resistanceBy Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer Architecture is an interesting combination of art and science. In this column we usually feature the more visual side of our profession, but physics also has a lot to do with a remodeling project. How a house is constructed and what makes it structurally sound is every bit as…