By Ann Robinson & Annie V. Schwemmer Adding more curb appeal to a house is one of the top client requests when they are considering a remodel. While some issues of deferred maintenance need to be addressed on a
Renovation Solutions: Finding the best remodeling contractors for your project
By Ann Robinson & Annie V. Schwemmer This entry remodel shows the dramatic impact a remodel can have on a house with the help of a well-selected group of professionals. (Annie Schwemmer, Renovation Design Group) Many of our clients come
Kitchens serve as the life of the family, home
By Annie Schwemmer and Ann Robinson For the Deseret News We recently heard a statement from a woman who was planning a new custom home, and something she said resonated with us: “The kitchen to me is the life of
Renovating the mother-in-law suite
By Annie Schwemmer and Ann Robinson For the Deseret News Thinking of moms recently, this week we will discuss a mother-inspired renovation: the mother-in-law suite. The number of multi-generational households is growing in the U.S. The Census Bureau says they
Tips for surviving home remodeling
By Annie Schwemmer and Ann Robinson For the Deseret News “Renovating is an intense personal experience shared with large numbers of total strangers — not much different than surviving a plane crash.” — an anonymous homeowner Even with the grim
Remodeling for seismic upgrades
Last time we introduced you to Bob and Char Nelson’s remodeled 1927 Tudor-style home in the Harvard-Yale area of Salt Lake City. The remodel stayed within the floor plan of the historic home and was initially focused on energy efficiency
Remodeling for energy efficiency
When Bob and Char Nelson relocated from Provo to the Harvard-Yale area in Salt Lake City, they knew it was only a matter of time before they would remodel their new, old house. Right after they moved in, they finished
Outdoor kitchens are gaining popularity
People enjoy a good old-fashioned barbecue. On a beautiful sunny day, people just love to cook and eat outside. For some reason, food cooked outside just tastes better. It might have something to do with the mouth-watering scent filling the
Renovation Solutions: Planning the details of your patio design
By Ann Robinson & Annie V. Schwemmer Last week we discussed planning a patio remodel. Now that the basics of function, location and size are out of the way, it’s time to talk about details. The more attention you
Time to plan the patio project
By Annie Schwemmer and Ann Robinson For the Deseret News We are sure your spring project priority list is filling up fast. No doubt many of your lists include some overhaul to or addition of an outdoor space. Though Mother
Tricks to front porch additions
If you follow this column, you know that for the past month we have been covering house styles. We broke down the history, traditional elements, remodeling challenges and solutions for the Craftsman Bungalow, the Tudor Revival, the Cape Cod and
Remodeling the California Ranch
For the past few weeks we have been discussing home styles in our column. Last we talked about the challenges and solutions in remodeling the Cape Cod-style house. This week we are focusing on another favorite house style from the
Ways to enhance your Cape Cod-style home
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
Renovation Solutions: Dealing with the challenges of remodeling Tudor style homes
Several predominant home styles have evolved over the past century in the United States. You’ve seen them as you drive the streets of Salt Lake City’s classic neighborhoods: the fairy-tale Tudor revival, the classic craftsman bungalow, the charming Cape Cod
Homeowners dodge awkward basement remodel
Finishing the basement may not be a project that most people think would need an architect. Whether or not there is a “need” depends on a variety of factors. once dreaded, partially finished space in the house is now a
10 years later, architects reflect on their story
Annie V. Schwemmer, Jared Bulloch, and Ann Robinson reflect back on the beginning of Renovation Design Group as they celebrate its 10-year anniversary this year. Daniel Barton, Renovation Design Group The year 2013 marks the 10-year anniversary of Renovation
Renovation Solutions: Design tips: Remodeling your basement can lead to wonderful, usable spaces downstairs
Finishing your basement is a less-expensive and less-invasive alternative to a home addition, and it does not eat up yard space. With good architectural design, even shelf basements with low ceilings and small windows, or basements that have already been
Holiday season tests your home the most and sparks remodeling discussions
The holiday season is often the busiest time of year for gatherings, so it is also the time when your home’s capacity and functionality are tested the most. This is when you learn (or remember) you really could use that
Renovation Solutions: The problem of asbestos in home remodels
We recently had a reader ask us to highlight the problem of asbestos in private residences, so this is our topic of the week. Asbestos abatement workers contain the area and must where respirators to protect themselves from the harmful
Renovation Solutions: Adding insulation will combat high heating bills
The weather is getting colder and the energy bill is getting higher. If your heating bill is through the roof, then that may be exactly where your heat is escaping — through your roof and walls. There were three different
New countertops are quick, painless upgrade
Here’s a quick and easy way to upgrade your home: Install new countertops. Installing new countertops does not require moving walls, making structural changes or imposing drastic disruptions to your life. The actual disruption can be limited to just one
Built-in seating gets you more out of your kitchen
Last week, we started our kitchen remodeling series in honor of Thanksgiving — the holiday with the most time spent in the kitchen. Beyond Thanksgiving and other holiday gatherings, modern families are actually spending more time in general in the
Renovation Solutions: Carving out a better kitchen
It is hard to believe it is already November. Now that the election is over, everyone can all start thinking about the next big event in November: Thanksgiving. With its focus of a wonderful, home-cooked meal, there is no doubt
Creative storage space ideas
More storage space is one of the top needs on our clients’ lists. What we help clients realize is that storage doesn’t necessarily have to come in the form of a closet. There are many ways to creatively add storage
Renovation Solutions: An architect’s tale of the Frankenhouses
In honor of this ghoulish holiday, we want to resurrect a favorite scary tale: “The Story of the Frankenhouses.” Spooky decorations may add some Halloween flare to this recently remodeled porch, but nothing is scarier than An Architect’s Tale of
Defining space with ceiling design
One of the main goals of architecture is to clearly and beautifully define and differentiate space in a home. While adding a wall is one way to do that, it is not the only way. Today’s families want houses that
Renovation Solutions: Wall thickness can be used as design tool
Last week we discussed interior views — the views we see from room to room inside our homes. One important aspect of these views is the wall in the rooms themselves. Wall thickness actually impacts the look and feel of
How to create better interior views
Removing a section of wall and adding a window in the wall behind it made this space feel much more open and inviting. (David Price, Renovation Design Group) Architecture is often associated with how the home is viewed from
Tips for designing a welcoming home
It is difficult to put into words what it feels like to come home. “Home” looks and feels different for everyone. However, there are similarities in the elements of architecture that create that welcoming feeling of “Ahh, we’re home.” Before:
Designing the perfect ‘away room’
Because our homes are filled with electronics, televisions, computers, appliances and people, our homes are filled with noise. When a majority of the public space in a home is open, it is helpful to maintain a small space that can
Remodeling should focus on comfort, not size
So many times, clients come to us asking for more space. However, most of the time it is not more space that they actually need. It is better space. Do you use every room of your house every day? How
Busy families choose mudrooms for entrances
Busy families with school-age children have most likely spent the last few weeks buying school clothes and supplies to prepare for the new school year. As we say goodbye to summer, it is time for us to gear up for
Renovation Solutions: Three home design elements to better your home
In our last column, we started the discussion on design elements that affect our lives and our relationships in our homes. We talked about three key design elements: light, interior views and shelter around activity. This five-foot opening between a
Using design elements in your home can renew life : By Annie Schwemmer and Ann Robinson For the Deseret News
Architects have numerous design tools at their disposal to evoke positive emotions. Good architects know when to use each one and can expertly apply combinations of them to change the lives of their clients. There are three general areas
Renovation Solutions: How to survive a renovation
Many of those who remodel choose to stay in their home while it is being renovated. In terms of saving money, this isn’t a bad idea. It is definitely more cost-effective than renting a place for the few months your
Tips on making remodeling less stressful
As difficult as remodeling is under the best of circumstances, imagine trying to complete a project on a house in a different city or state. For instance, a Utah family was transferred to Arizona. The family flew to the new
Renovation Solutions: Remodeling lessons learned from office renovation
We recently renovated a space and moved our office. This has been a good experience in the same way that a surgeon should occasionally have an operation. We are in the business of uprooting people’s lives, temporarily, and telling them
The key to successful remodeling, even if you do it yourself; Simple secret to a successful home remodel
We would like to preface this column by saying that we are not automatically opposed to do-it-yourself remodels. We have seen some beautiful homes remodeled by homeowners as the contractor and/or laborer. Granted, the homeowner who successfully does it himself
How architecture can change lives
Happy clients are the measure of our success. We enjoy having our work published and earning design awards, but we get our most direct rewards from our happy clients. Nothing is more rewarding than to hear how our work has
Bringing light inside the home with skylights
Studies show that when people live and work in a well-lit environment, they are happier, healthier and more productive. Natural lighting can also be another way to save on electricity, since it provides free light and warmth. This design technique