Blog
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Parley’s Mid-Century
Read More: Parley’s Mid-CenturyAfter living in a few Salt Lake City neighborhoods for 20+ years, these wonderful clients fell in love with this home. They knew that the home needed a lot of work, but were passionate about preserving the mid-century style. They hired a team of experts, including us, to help them figure out what changes were…
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Red Butte Craftsman
Read More: Red Butte CraftsmanAt this historic Craftsman home, we remodeled the main level in a manner that maintains much of the original charm while also updating the flow and finishes throughout. The existing layout of the home was relatively closed off and dark. Our goal was to open up these spaces in a way that fits the home, offers clear sightlines, and still defines…
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Bungalow Basement Build
Read More: Bungalow Basement BuildAt this 1910s Craftsman Bungalow, the existing home offered historic charm and a great location, but the basement lacked connection to the main level and functionality for a growing family. We worked closely with the homeowners, engineer, and contractor, to replace an existing addition as well as improve and expand the partially finished basement. On the main level, we removed a small addition and replaced it with a slightly…
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Yalecrest Basement Hangout
Read More: Yalecrest Basement HangoutIn the coveted Yalecrest neighborhood in Salt Lake City, the homeowners underwent an extensive and impressive basement renovation. Annie Schwemmer, AIA teamed up with Solid Renovation and Denise Glenn Interior Designer, and truly created a warm and functioning space for the whole family. For more on this project, check out Solid Renovation Company’s Before and…
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Garden Oasis Addition
Read More: Garden Oasis AdditionA family neighborhood, literally! This neighborhood, in Salt Lake City, is a bit of a hidden gem. Perhaps you recall our Utah Style and Design featured project, Blue and Bold Modern New Build. Just across the short street, our client and relative to the home owners aforementioned, discussed location with me as I photographed her…
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Lower Level Primary Suite
Read More: Lower Level Primary SuiteThis Bungalow-style home, located in the charming Liberty Wells neighborhood of Salt Lake City, underwent a full interior remodel of the lower level and a mudroom addition on the main level. The plans for the remodel were designed by our wonderful, now-retired architect, Ann Robinson, AIA. On the lower level, Robinson designed a primary suite,…
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Millcreek Oasis
Read More: Millcreek OasisWith a large family including 12 grandchildren, the homeowners desired an outdoor space that was usable much of the year. The newly built pool house has heating from a gas fireplace and heat lamps in the covered entertaining area roof , 2 indoor showers and bathrooms. The pool, patio, and sport court offer endless entertainment…
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East Bench Gem
Read More: East Bench GemNestled in Salt Lake’s east bench, this home and family have undergone 2 home renovations with Renovation Design Group and Matt Russell and Co. Shortly after marrying, the homeowners decided to accommodate their blended family by taking on an extensive home renovation. When I asked why remodel instead of move, the answer was easy–location. But…
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South Sandy Supreme
Read More: South Sandy SupremeThis project had a decent home on a spectacular lot. Talk about views!–the valley from Point of the Mountain up to the Capitol on the west side and the protected hillside to the east. Like many homes, it had plenty of square footage, but did not take advantage of its amazing location or feature those…
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Ann Robinson, AIA wins the Women in Architecture Leader of the Year Award
Read More: Ann Robinson, AIA wins the Women in Architecture Leader of the Year AwardRenovation Design Group’s own Architect and co owner, Ann Robinson, AIA was recently awarded the leader of the year award from the WIA. (From the Wia website ): wiaslc.com “Women in Architecture SLC (WIA SLC) was organized in 2012. The goal of the organization is gender parity in the professional field of architecture, and seeks…
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Emigration St. Kitchen
Read More: Emigration St. KitchenIn collaboration with Solid Renovation & Elise Post, we removed a wall between the existing kitchen and dining spaces, improving the functionality and allowing natural light to flood in to the once dark dining room! The kitchen was beautifully updated and the usefulness of the expanded mudroom was greatly improved. We asked the client: What…
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What is an English Tudor House Anyway?
Read More: What is an English Tudor House Anyway?For context it is important to understand the creation of the Tudor house. The name “Tudor” originated when British monarchs came from the country of Wales and the royal “House of Tudor”. The style originated in England, dating back to the late 1400s and early 1500s. With a blend of decorative Renaissance components and Gothic…
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Harvard Ave Tudor: Remodel or Move?
Read More: Harvard Ave Tudor: Remodel or Move?Remodel or Move? I regularly meet with many people who face the dilemma Joan and Joe had when trying to decide whether to remodel their current home or move to a new one. There are many factors to consider when making this decision. When I first met Joan and Joe in January of 2018,…
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Harvard Ave. Home
Read More: Harvard Ave. HomeCheck out our third post in our blog series on the Harvard Ave. Tudor! Located in the historic Harvard/Yale area in Salt Lake City. The homeowner lets us know how this home and this major renovation unfolded (Cute Doggie Pics to boot!)
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Normandie Heights
Read More: Normandie HeightsI have lived in Salt Lake City over 20 years, some in Sandy, some in Holladay and the remainder in Harvard/Yale district. My love for Sugar House, 15th South and 15th East, and Harvard/Yale is nothing new. From the early 90’s, I drove these streets and became captivated with the uniqueness of homes, the…
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Harvard Avenue Tudor
Read More: Harvard Avenue TudorA new Adventure for an older home. A personal account from the homeowner herself of the history of the Salt Lake Harvard Yale area, and the first post of a project progression series of her home renovation with Renovation Design Group
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5 Custom Home Trends You’ll Want To Consider by : Matt Lee
Read More: 5 Custom Home Trends You’ll Want To Consider by : Matt Lee5 Custom Home Trends You’ll Want To Consider Teton Drive Patio | Renovation Design Group The basics of custom home design and construction have mostly remained the same in the last century. Custom home builders and re-modelers traditionally have exhibited healthy doses of caution while watching highly touted, but unproven, products and techniques fail…
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6 tips for extending your Utah patio season year round By: Lucy Crawford
Read More: 6 tips for extending your Utah patio season year round By: Lucy CrawfordGuest blog post on extending the patio season written by Lucy Crawford at Lawnstarter, Photos courtesy of Renovation Design Group
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Hillside Villa: Things hidden inside the walls
Read More: Hillside Villa: Things hidden inside the wallsThe electrical systems of today’s houses have come a long way. Whole house computerized systems are available to provide sophisticated options to control all the lights inside and outside the house
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Hillside Villa: Views call for Windows!
Read More: Hillside Villa: Views call for Windows!Once the sheathing and waterproofing is applied to the framing and the plywood sheathing and waterproofing is applied over the roof trusses, the final step to enclosing the house is to add the doors and windows. At that point, the house is totally ‘dried in’ or protected from the elements. Doors and windows are a…
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Hillside Villa: The Scoop on Roofs
Read More: Hillside Villa: The Scoop on RoofsAfter the walls of the home are framed, it is time to add the roof. Today most residential roofs are created with pre-manufactured trusses. This is the fastest and most economical method of creating a pitched roof. If you are trying to use the space within the roof for livable space, then the roof must…
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Hillside Villa: Structural Engineering
Read More: Hillside Villa: Structural EngineeringOur fifth installment on the Hillside Villa new home construction in Salt Lake City, framing part II and the structural engineer.
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Hillside Villa: Taking Shape!
Read More: Hillside Villa: Taking Shape!Once the concrete work is finished on a house—the footings, foundation walls, and floor slabs—it is time to bring in some other materials. The plumber and heating subcontractors have already been on site to install pipes and ductwork that is now covered up by the concrete slab. The next trade that shows up is the…
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Hillside Villa: Waterproofing & Radiant Heat
Read More: Hillside Villa: Waterproofing & Radiant HeatAn important step in keeping a home warm and dry is to waterproof the exterior of the concrete foundation walls before they are backfilled (when the dirt is piled up against the exterior of the walls). In the planning stage of this home, it was decided to put the ductwork for the lower level in…
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Hillside Villa: Footing & Foundation
Read More: Hillside Villa: Footing & FoundationOnce the hole has been dug for a new home, we begin filling it up again –this time with concrete and steel to create the engineered footings and foundation walls which will hold up the new structure. The process for correctly laying out these elements is critical, as there is no easy way to move…
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Hillside Villa: The Site
Read More: Hillside Villa: The SiteNew construction with amazing views of Salt Lake. Follow along as this beautiful home becomes a reality for Craig and Marianne
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Canyon View Drive: 99% Done!
Read More: Canyon View Drive: 99% Done!When the contractor considers himself to be 99% done, we schedule a formal “final walk-through”. Jon, Marisa, the contractor, the interior designer, and myself spent over an hour this morning walking through the entire house to create an official list of remaining work that needs to be done. Marisa found a piece of trim under…
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Canyon View Drive: The Final Stretch!
Read More: Canyon View Drive: The Final Stretch!Today’s on-site meeting was exciting because the paint is done and they’ve removed all the masking! It’s so fun to see how everything is coming together and Jon and Marisa are so anxious to move in! There is still about a month left of finish work to do, but we’re definitely in the final stretch.…
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Canyon View Drive: 6 Month Update!
Read More: Canyon View Drive: 6 Month Update!The cabinet installation is complete and finish trim installation is in progress, including the new stair railing. The cabinets have all been covered in plastic as painting begins. All of the concrete flatwork has been poured and the bluestone is being installed on the front porch. By being disciplined during the design process and selecting…
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Canyon View Drive: Finishes and Porches
Read More: Canyon View Drive: Finishes and PorchesThe cabinet company has been busy installing cabinets and it is very exciting to start seeing some of the finishes that Jon, Marisa, and their interior designer selected many months ago! The cedar tongue and groove ceilings on the front and back porches have now been installed. Prior to their renovation, Jon & Marisa had…
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Canyon View Drive: Great Room and Concrete Work
Read More: Canyon View Drive: Great Room and Concrete WorkThe baseboard and window casings have all been installed except where they’re waiting for cabinetry which is scheduled to be delivered tomorrow. I was very excited to see that a couple of the great room beams have been installed and they look great! This is one detail that clients sometimes choose to eliminate that they…
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Canyon View Drive: Finishes and a Fire?!
Read More: Canyon View Drive: Finishes and a Fire?!The finish carpenter is hard at work installing new interior doors and poplar baseboard and casing throughout the house. Cabinetry and paint are next on the list. Jon & Marisa have not been living in their house during the renovation, but are only a few blocks away in a rental house. A week ago on…
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Canyon View Drive: Paint and Stain
Read More: Canyon View Drive: Paint and StainThe brick window sills have been moved up and once the brick has been power washed it will look great! The painters have painted swatches of the selected exterior wall and trim colors just left of the new back porch for Jon & Marisa to review/approve. The hardwood installation is complete. The floors will be…
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Canyon View Drive: Windows and Hardwood
Read More: Canyon View Drive: Windows and HardwoodWe did not meet last week due to the Independence Day holiday, so it’s been two weeks since our last meeting and great progress has been made! As a follow-up to my last post, the great room windows have been moved up and the interior drywall patched. The interior has also been primed. The exterior…
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Canyon View Drive: Unexpected Situations
Read More: Canyon View Drive: Unexpected SituationsThe interior drywall has been hung and on the exterior the brick and fiber cement siding & trim have been installed. It is exciting to see the interior spaces and exterior finishes take shape! Interestingly these two things also made an issue with the window height evident that no one had noticed previously. While we…
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Canyon View Drive: Inspection and Interior Design
Read More: Canyon View Drive: Inspection and Interior DesignThe contractor passed his 4-way inspection this week (framing and rough plumbing, mechanical, and electrical) and the benefits of interior designers and a well developed plan in place. This is post #9 in a series of construction observation for Jon & Marisa.
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Canyon View Drive: Update!
Read More: Canyon View Drive: Update!From the beginning of the project we’ve known that there was something funky going on with the floor but we didn’t know what was causing it. The original house was built in 1949 and the family room addition was constructed in 1989. During demolition they figured out that the family room floor was built an…
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Canyon View Drive: Landscape and Lights
Read More: Canyon View Drive: Landscape and LightsJon & Marisa’s latest blog post on their home renovation in progress
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Canyon View Drive: Great Room and Roof
Read More: Canyon View Drive: Great Room and RoofToday was so exciting because now that the framing is complete they were able to remove the temporary interior walls and we got to see the new great room space – it looks amazing! The roof has been dried in and we confirmed the roofing color. We realized that the pantry pocket door was framed…
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Canyon View Drive: Framing the Roof
Read More: Canyon View Drive: Framing the RoofAs far as construction progress goes, the roof framing should wrap up later this week and it was exciting to see that the Pella windows have been installed. With the framing almost complete, the rough plumbing, mechanical, electrical, and audio/visual subcontractors are all gearing up to start. The superintendent and I had a good discussion…