-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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.…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
Remodel fireplace to enhance its charm and safety
Read More: Remodel fireplace to enhance its charm and safetyBy Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer A fireplace is one of the most satisfying, romantic and rewarding aspects of a home, especially this time of year. It should be the focal point of a room and reflect the style of the whole house. Aesthetically, some fireplaces are timeless classics, while others are eyesores in need…
-
Consider future when remodeling (not-so) empty nest
Read More: Consider future when remodeling (not-so) empty nestBy Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer One of our clients recently referred to his remodeling project as transforming his “home for raising kids” into “a place for gathering.” “We are entering a new phase in our family,” he said. “Our five kids are young adults now. We already have a fairly large extended family nearby,…
-
Building from ground up has plusses, minuses
Read More: Building from ground up has plusses, minusesEven our most experienced homeowners find a challenge when they choose to tear down their home and rebuild from the ground up. Just ask Chris Burckle and her family. This was their third remodeling project on three houses in Salt Lake City’s historic Avenues district. The interior of the Burckles’ home has a modern kitchen…
-
Architect provides solid foundation for remodel project
Read More: Architect provides solid foundation for remodel projectBy Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer There is no getting around it: If you are remodeling your home, you are going to need a set of plans. Plans will be required for municipal review prior to issuing a building permit, for contractors to provide you with a bid on your project, and for enabling them…