-
Spruce up home with paint
Read More: Spruce up home with paintBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon Lisa spent a recent Christmas holiday up to her ears in paint. She had a few days off work, and she decided to use it for a little home improvement. Truly there is no better winter home renovation project than a few cans of paint. Lisa was looking to…
-
Be aware of restrictive covenants
Read More: Be aware of restrictive covenantsBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon We may be in over our heads this week, but we want to introduce you to the concept of restrictive covenants. Restrictive covenants are deed restrictions that apply to a group of homes or lots generally within a development or subdivision. They are usually put in place by the…
-
Work goes on — even in winter
Read More: Work goes on — even in winterBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon As soon as the holidays are over, we will all pack up the tree and decorations, and thoughts will turn to the promises of a new year. Starting that first week in January, architects around Utah will start meeting with new clients, and the request will inevitably be the…
-
New garage door can add zing
Read More: New garage door can add zingBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon We’ve talked about doors for a few weeks now, and we’ll conclude with a discussion of the largest door in your home: your garage door. Changing out that old garage door can do wonders for your home’s curb appeal as well as its energy-efficiency and safety. Many older homes…
-
Patio doors connect home, yard
Read More: Patio doors connect home, yardBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon Continuing with our theme of doors this month, today we will look at patio doors. These are doors that lead to the exterior and are the kind you would use when you want to capitalize on light and views. When done right, patio doors create a strong connection between…
-
Construction of doors varies
Read More: Construction of doors variesBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon Last week we began a discussion about doors. We looked at a variety of door types — from traditional hinged doors to nifty pocket doors. This week we look at the different ways doors are constructed. If you understand your options, replacing doors can be a relatively unobtrusive and…
-
Door options open up possibilities
Read More: Door options open up possibilitiesBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon In the past few weeks we’ve given you tips on how to easily and quickly update your home without a huge renovation. We’ve mentioned carpet, hard flooring, and countertops as minimally invasive ways to spruce up your decor. This week we continue the theme with interior doors. Pocket doors,…
-
Frat house becoming luxury home
Read More: Frat house becoming luxury homeBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon Many homeowners express a desire to add skylights to their homes during a remodeling project. Perhaps it is the same psychological attraction as the sunroof in your latest car. We all know that light cheers us up and makes a space more pleasant. The question in these days of…
-
Countertop options are almost endless
Read More: Countertop options are almost endlessBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon Last week we started a two-part column about countertop options. Countertops can be a relatively simple way to spruce up your decor if you plan to keep everything else (like cabinets and the layout) in place for a while. Last week we looked at some common options for countertop…
-
New countertops can add pizazz
Read More: New countertops can add pizazzBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon Here’s a quick and easy way to upgrade your home: install new countertops. In the right situation, new countertops in a kitchen, bath or elsewhere can make a big splash without causing a big headache. Installing new countertops does not require moving walls or making structural changes or imposing…
-
Wood floors add warmth, beauty
Read More: Wood floors add warmth, beautyBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon Last week we started a flooring theme by focusing on the most commonly used flooring material — carpet. This week we continue the discussion with one of our favorite flooring options: wood. Wood is among the most beautiful types of material available for residential floors. Besides being visually spectacular,…
-
Learn facts about carpet before purchasing
Read More: Learn facts about carpet before purchasingBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon If you are ready for a new look but not ready for a major project, flooring is one of the easiest and least invasive ways to renovate any room. Flooring comes in all shapes and sizes — from carpet to tile to bamboo to cork — and each choice…
-
Drywall helps home take shape
Read More: Drywall helps home take shapeBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon We’ve been following the progress of one of our projects for several months. It’s a house that started as a single-family residence and over time was morphed by several additions and remodels into a fraternity house. We were engaged as the architects to bring it back to its life…
-
Freestanding bathtubs are a relaxing retreat
Read More: Freestanding bathtubs are a relaxing retreatBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon Now that you are an expert on bathroom sinks (see Deseret Morning News column of Sept. 15: Sink can greatly add to beauty of the bathroom), it is time to brush up on bathtubs. Bathrooms today serve more than a practical function. They are often created to be a…
-
Sink can greatly add to beauty of the bathroom
Read More: Sink can greatly add to beauty of the bathroomBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon Last week we reported some encouraging news about adding a bathroom to your home. The National Association of Home Builders has estimated that adding a bath can increase your home’s value by up to 19 percent. Of course, the increase in value will depend on several factors — from…
-
Adding bathroom adds value
Read More: Adding bathroom adds valueBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon Studies show adding a bathroom is one of the best ways to add value to a home. The cost of a new bath varies depending on the size and the materials. (See This Master Bathroom) Thinking about adding an extra bathroom? With school started, isn’t everybody thinking about that?…
-
Updated home may require updated insurance
Read More: Updated home may require updated insuranceBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon There is a step in the remodeling process that homeowners often neglect: insurance. Yes, we know it’s a very boring detail and just one more thing that might cost you money at a time when you already feel bled dry. But it would be tragic for something to happen…
-
Attention to details is important outside, too
Read More: Attention to details is important outside, tooBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon If you checked in with us last week, you’ll have read about some of the many details to consider inside your home as you remodel. As you may have guessed, the details don’t stop there. There are plenty of things to consider outside your home as well. And as…
-
Practical or aesthetic, design details can be devilish
Read More: Practical or aesthetic, design details can be devilishBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon 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 or very tormented by all the details to which…
-
Cabinetry is key component of kitchen remodel
Read More: Cabinetry is key component of kitchen remodelBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon Nothing impacts the look of your kitchen like the cabinetry, and nothing impacts the budget of your remodel like the cabinetry. Understanding your options will help you choose wisely, so you get cabinets you’ll love for years to come on a budget you can handle today. Cabinets come in…
-
Blend inside, outside spaces
Read More: Blend inside, outside spacesBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon We’ve run into an interesting design situation quite a lot recently. When a home has multiple stories, like a basement, main floor and second floor, they are typically stacked on top of each other with a roof on top. Sometimes you will find second stories that are smaller than…
-
Former fraternity house gets new guts in remodel
Read More: Former fraternity house gets new guts in remodelBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon The wiring of a new or remodeled home can look like spaghetti to the untrained eye, like the wires in this former fraternity house remodel – but it will be hidden later. Proper wiring is essential for functionality and safety. Over the past several months we’ve kept you posted…
-
Options for Replacement. Replacing windows in your home
Read More: Options for Replacement. Replacing windows in your homeBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon Older homes have interesting architecture and quaint styles, but they can also have old, drafty, inefficient windows, above. Can you stand one more week on windows? If you’ve followed the past couple of columns, we did a two-part series about window styles and material choices. But we decided to…
-
Tips on window frames and glass
Read More: Tips on window frames and glassBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon Last week we started a two-part look at windows. 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…
-
Windows add natural light, style to home
Read More: Windows add natural light, style to homeBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon We get this one a lot: “We want more natural light in our home.” There is just something about natural light that brightens and cheers up a room. There are various ways to draw light into your home, but the biggest way is through windows. Windows have a huge…
-
Radiant heat: a way to warm the tootsies
Read More: Radiant heat: a way to warm the tootsiesBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon We’ve all had the experience. You wake up early and stumble to the shower. The carpeted bedroom and hallway are fine, but one step on the tile bathroom floor and you shock your tootsies wide awake. That floor is cold! It may be a welcome feeling in summer, but…
-
Home takes form with foundation, framing
Read More: Home takes form with foundation, framingBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon We’ve checked in on our former-fraternity-house project several times now. The permits are in place, demolition has happened, and the reconstruction is moving along nicely. Currently two major phases are under way: concrete and framing. These are exciting phases in any project because what you’ve only seen on paper…
-
Make your home fire-resistant
Read More: Make your home fire-resistantBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon This is a beautiful time of year. The mountains and foothills are awash in green grasses and vegetation and for a brief moment it feels more like the lush Northwest than the arid Great Basin. But already the desert heat is turning the first greens of spring to the…
-
Plan remodeling around trees
Read More: Plan remodeling around treesBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon We’ve mentioned several times that your landscaping can take a beating during remodeling. At best you’ll lose a few flowers and at worst you’ll have to start from scratch. But there is one aspect of your landscaping you should seriously consider and even plan around when remodeling: mature trees.…
-
Remodeling: pain before gain
Read More: Remodeling: pain before gainBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon If you’ve followed our columns recently, you’ll know that we’ve been tracking an interesting project: the complete remodel of a former fraternity house. As you can imagine, it is quite an undertaking. Former fraternity house has been through several updates and remodels over the years. The last time we…
-
Built-in seating expands your kitchen
Read More: Built-in seating expands your kitchenBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon You know how it is these days. The kitchen has become command central. The kitchen is not only a place to store and prepare food, but it has become a place to gather, visit, eat, do homework, sort mail, pay bills, you name it. More and more activities are…
-
Split Level. Embrace your split-level’s personality
Read More: Split Level. Embrace your split-level’s personalityBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon 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. A split-entry home is a two-story house with a twist. You enter and a half-flight of stairs takes…
-
Sink some time into planning kitchen
Read More: Sink some time into planning kitchenBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon Designing your kitchen is most definitely the time to include the kitchen sink. In your “kitchen triangle” — the stove, refrigerator and sink — you will spend the most time at the sink. So it is important to choose wisely for this very functional aspect of your kitchen. Sinks…
-
Get it in writing before work begins
Read More: Get it in writing before work beginsBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon Before you fall asleep or turn the page, let us assure you that ignoring it will only make it worse. When it comes to remodeling, the fun parts are dreaming of the possibilities, getting the architectural drawings, choosing the colors, and buying furniture. The fun parts are not reading…
-
Consider ‘green’ building ideas
Read More: Consider ‘green’ building ideasBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon It is all the rage to talk about “green building” and “sustainable design,” but what do these buzz words really mean and what difference does it make to you? They essentially mean the same thing: design and construction that are sensitive to the environment today and in the future.…
-
Extend ‘remodel’ to the outside
Read More: Extend ‘remodel’ to the outsideBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon Happy National Landscape Architecture Month! You might not have known that April is the month we celebrate landscape architecture, but with a few warm days sneaking in between our April showers, it’s a great time to stop and think about your yard. Remodeling can do a number on your…
-
Interior designer is worth money
Read More: Interior designer is worth moneyBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon Remodeling is generally a big undertaking that requires a great deal of planning and a concerted effort by many people to bring the project to a successful conclusion. Under ideal circumstances, a strong team will be assembled with each person taking responsibility for a portion of the work. Obviously,…
-
Get right permit before demolition
Read More: Get right permit before demolitionBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon About a month ago we introduced you to a project we’re working on. It is an old frat house that the new owners want to convert back into a single-family residence. It’s time for an update on the project and a peek into the paperwork that accompanies construction. When…
-
Decks add value and fun to a home
Read More: Decks add value and fun to a homeBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon With the weather we’ve had lately, you may doubt if spring will ever come. But it always does, and it’s never too early to start planning for a spring and summer of outdoor living. Last week we talked about how to prep your existing deck for a summer of…
-
Spruce up your deck for spring
Read More: Spruce up your deck for springBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon You can’t have a 60-degree day in March and not become seriously ill with spring fever. The weather is warming and snow is turning to rain, giving us hope that we will survive another winter. Spring and summer means outdoor living for many of us, so it is time…