Year – 2014
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Designing your home with storage in mind
Read More: Designing your home with storage in mindThis bedroom remodel added built-in storage at the headboard to create much needed storage and a focal point for the room. Brent Murray Renovation Design Group courtesy As we start another year, it is time to get your life and your home in order. Of course, decluttering and purging is a big part of the…
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Renovation Solutions: Design for everyday homeowners
Read More: Renovation Solutions: Design for everyday homeownersOur message in a nutshell: No, the first step to a remodel is not to call a contractor. Design comes before construction and each professional has their expertise. (Photo by Renovation Solutions) Many of our friends and acquaintances are kind enough to tell us they enjoy reading our columns. Other than that, however, we don’t…
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Why upgrading your front door will help you save money on your energy bill
Read More: Why upgrading your front door will help you save money on your energy billEnergy-efficient updates are a good idea any time of the year. There is, however, a more measurable and meaningful reason to go green during the colder months. You can ease the pain of the winter heating bill by making a few simple changes to your outside doors. These simple changes can enhance the energy efficiency…
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Renovation Solutions: 4 levels of options for remodeling master suites
Read More: Renovation Solutions: 4 levels of options for remodeling master suitesEditor’s note: Portions of this column were previously published on deseretnews.com and their blog at renovationdesigngroup.com. As we enter the entertaining season, starting with Thanksgiving next week and moving into the party season of Christmas, New Year’s and the Super Bowl, we are reflecting on the many gathering spaces we have helped create for our…
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Renovation Solutions: Four examples of how to remodel for gathering spaces
Read More: Renovation Solutions: Four examples of how to remodel for gathering spacesEditor’s note: Portions of this column were previously published on deseretnews.com and their blog at renovationdesigngroup.com. As we enter the entertaining season, starting with Thanksgiving next week and moving into the party season of Christmas, New Year’s and the Super Bowl, we are reflecting on the many gathering spaces we have helped create for our…
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Renovation Solutions: Holiday season inspires remodels
Read More: Renovation Solutions: Holiday season inspires remodelsEditor’s note: This column was previously published on deseretnews.com and on their website renovationdesigngroup.com. 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. Before: This client who enjoys entertaining converted an office off the entry to a…
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Heating up the house: Tips for energy efficient homes in winter
Read More: Heating up the house: Tips for energy efficient homes in winterIt is that time of year again: time to start heating the house. Many of us hold out as long as possible, but the old “put on a sweater” or “grab a blanket” routine will only last a few more weeks at most! Our lovely fall weather can’t last forever. Many people, especially homeowners living…
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Renovation Solutions: What reality TV doesn’t tell you about home remodeling
Read More: Renovation Solutions: What reality TV doesn’t tell you about home remodelingEveryone knows reality TV isn’t actually reality, right? We know an hour in real life is never that entertaining. There is a lot of editing, slicing and dicing behind the scenes to put those shows together. However, the pop culture of home-remodeling reality shows has a lot of people believing that the TV version of…
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Renovation Solutions: Bigger isn’t always better in home remodeling
Read More: Renovation Solutions: Bigger isn’t always better in home remodelingWhen it comes to home remodeling, we stand by the saying: “Bigger isn’t always better.” We have said it before and we will say it again: Good home remodeling is about function and design, not about size. We have seen small homes with much better style and function than homes with double the square footage.…
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Renovation Solutions: Architects’ three tips for a great design
Read More: Renovation Solutions: Architects’ three tips for a great designEditor’s note: Portions of this column have previously run on the writers’ website at renovationdesigngroup.com and in a previous Renovation Design column at deseretnews.com. These French doors and windows, visible from the home’s entry, provide lots of natural light to the space and also offer an inviting view of a covered deck and beautiful back…
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Renovation Solutions: Housing market impacts home remodeling
Read More: Renovation Solutions: Housing market impacts home remodelingThe housing market is becoming a seller’s market again. Home values are on the rise and optimism abounds. Actually, according to reuters.com, the housing market saw an eight-month high in July, evidencing that the economic recovery is officially back on track. Experts actually predict the housing market to keep climbing in 2015. Altos Research predicts…
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Renovation Solutions: Guarding your house against floods
Read More: Renovation Solutions: Guarding your house against floodsIn past weeks, we have discussed our valley’s potential for earthquakes and landslides and options to remediate our homes in preparation for a disaster. This week we will consider another issue, namely flooding. Even though we live in a desert, there is still a flood potential in our area. Certain areas, known as flood plains,…
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Renovation Solutions: Tips for earthquake-resistant home upgrades
Read More: Renovation Solutions: Tips for earthquake-resistant home upgradesDid you know that in Utah there are little earthquakes all the time? Actually, according to earthquaketrack.com, Utah experienced 16 earthquakes last month and 495 last year. These are obviously small tremors, usually below magnitude 3.0. However, the probability of a large earthquake along the Wasatch Fault during the next 50 years is 1 in…
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Renovation Solutions: How to protect your hillside home against landslides
Read More: Renovation Solutions: How to protect your hillside home against landslidesAt the beginning of this month, a landslide in North Salt Lake destroyed one home and caused 27 others to be evacuated. People are rightly concerned about protecting their homes from disasters such as this. When things like this happen, we are all reminded that Utah is not immune to natural disasters. While we would…
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Renovation Solutions: Top remodeling challenges decoded
Read More: Renovation Solutions: Top remodeling challenges decodedWe recently saw an interesting survey of homeowners posted on Houzz.com titled “Transforming the American Home: Findings from the 2014 Houzz and Home Survey.” Houzz is a website that posts literally millions of pictures of homes and everything to do with them, including the kitchen sink. It is a great resource for gathering and communicating…
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Renovation Solutions: Understanding the master bedroom madness
Read More: Renovation Solutions: Understanding the master bedroom madnessHome design is where art meets science, function meets beauty and a house becomes home. While the average homeowner can recognize a room that looks and feels good in real life, they can rarely feel what the architect has designed on paper. However, there is a method to the madness. Part of the method of…
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Renovation Solutions: 5 signs it is time to remodel
Read More: Renovation Solutions: 5 signs it is time to remodelBEFORE: This is a good example of how an outdated kitchen can be transformed with an updated style with a remodel. (Dan Barton, Renovation Design Group) AFTER: This is a good example of how an outdated kitchen can be transformed with an updated style with a remodel. (Trina Knudsen) When is it a good…
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Renovation Solutions: How to pull off being your own general contractor
Read More: Renovation Solutions: How to pull off being your own general contractorRecently, we had a conversation with a construction manager for large commercial projects about home remodeling and construction. Shaun Johnson is starting a consulting firm to help homeowners act as the general contractor on their home remodeling projects. The primary motivation for this approach is to save money. The mark-up for a general contractor is…
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Renovation Solutions: How design-build remodeling works
Read More: Renovation Solutions: How design-build remodeling worksThe design-build remodeling process helps you to create great, well-thought-out spaces inside and out. Trina Knudsen, © 2013 Trina Knudsen, Photographer The process behind major remodling projects has changed in the past five to 10 years. If you tackled a project before that time, you probably remember the process as creating a design and some…
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Renovation Solutions: Plan your home remodels with your life in mind
Read More: Renovation Solutions: Plan your home remodels with your life in mindLast week, we talked about the move-versus-remodel debate. That is the first decision you have to make when you accept your house isn’t working for you and you need a change. If you decide to stay put and that remodeling is the way to go, the next phase of the design process is programming. …
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Renovation Solutions: Selecting a garage door for a higher return
Read More: Renovation Solutions: Selecting a garage door for a higher returnFor the past few weeks we have been discussing the top individual remodeling projects that yield the highest return on investment as rated by Remodeling Magazine’s Cost vs. Value report for 2013-2014. We’ve talked about front doors, wooden decks and attic bedroom additions. This week we will be discussing garage door selection. This garage door…
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Renovation Solutions: Adding an attic bedroom
Read More: Renovation Solutions: Adding an attic bedroomWhen it comes to making the most out of your home-remodeling investment, reconfiguring or repurposing existing space to add more bedrooms is a surefire way to get some bang for your buck. In our series of high return on investment remodeling projects, No. 3 on the Remodeling Magazine’s Cost vs. Value national report for 2013-2014…
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Renovation Solutions: Tips for a wooden deck addition
Read More: Renovation Solutions: Tips for a wooden deck additionA wood deck addition is the second project with the highest return on investment in Remodeling Magazine’s Cost vs. Value report for 2013-14. The wooden deck is a common remodeling project, especially at this time of year. As the weather improves, our thoughts turn to barbecues, outdoor parties and soaking up the sun. With our…
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Renovation Solutions: Tips to selecting a new front door
Read More: Renovation Solutions: Tips to selecting a new front doorAs part of our recent market analysis, we mentioned Remodeling Magazine’s Cost vs. Value report for 2013-2014. The top five national remodeling projects with the highest return on investment for this year are a new front door, a wood deck addition, adding an attic bedroom, garage door replacement and a minor kitchen remodel. BEFORE: In…
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Renovation Solutions: 2014 expected to be a good year for remodeling
Read More: Renovation Solutions: 2014 expected to be a good year for remodelingWith housing prices remaining steady, interest rates low and contractors back in full swing, this is a prime time for home remodeling. The remodeling market is confident, and the economy is holding. The experts in the market analysis world say 2014 is a good year for the remodeling industry. The fireplace becomes a nice focal…
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Renovation Solutions: Three types of home improvements that increase home value
Read More: Renovation Solutions: Three types of home improvements that increase home valueIn addition to making your life better every day, home remodeling projects will ideally impact your home’s value for the better. However, your home’s value is at the mercy of the market and, in fact, some home improvements will positively impact your appraisal more than others. Adding a bathroom is one remodeling project that will…
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Renovation Solutions: One family’s experience with remodeling a split-level home
Read More: Renovation Solutions: One family’s experience with remodeling a split-level homeLast week we discussed the common issues of remodeling a split-level or split-entry house. The Smiths found that common thread of a love/hate feeling toward their house and their situation. They loved the neighborhood, the lot and the view. Their split-level had appeal, and with a little tweaking of the floor plan, they knew they…
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Renovation Solutions: 3 common problems and tips to remodeling the split-level home
Read More: Renovation Solutions: 3 common problems and tips to remodeling the split-level homeOwners of split-level homes often have a love/hate relationship with their house. They love the amount of living space provided and the privacy the house design offers. They appreciate that teens can be alone in their bedrooms on the top level of the house or in their lower-level family room, while Mom and Dad can…
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Renovation Solutions: The power of color choice
Read More: Renovation Solutions: The power of color choiceColor is a powerful element in both interior and exterior design. A room with nondescript walls can be transformed by a simple coat of paint. You can create different feelings and moods in a room just by what colors you choose for the walls, furniture and accent pieces. Because color is powerful, you may feel…
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Renovation Solutions: Ways to fund a remodel without equity
Read More: Renovation Solutions: Ways to fund a remodel without equityRemodeling is a big decision. The process will impact several areas of your life and be influenced by many factors, one of which is your project budget and how you will fund your project. In years past, the financial option of choice was a home equity line or loan. During the past several years —…
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How to create a romantic master suite
Read More: How to create a romantic master suiteIn honor of Valentine’s Day, let’s consider the most romantic remodeling project: the master suite. This area is intended to be a luxurious getaway in your own home. A master suite is more than just a master bedroom as it typically consists of three functions — a bedroom large enough to fit a king-size bed…
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Remodeling? How long the process should take, tips to speed it up
Read More: Remodeling? How long the process should take, tips to speed it upIt is not uncommon to think about remodeling your home for years before taking any action. Once you have decided to actually do something, however, it is human nature to want it now. The fact of the matter is there are specific phases in this process. They are sequential, and none should be skipped! …
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Renovation Solutions: Closed kitchens versus open kitchens
Read More: Renovation Solutions: Closed kitchens versus open kitchensBy Ann Robinson & Annie V. Schwemmer When seeing a new house or newer apartment, it will most likely include an open concept kitchen in the design. Many people love the idea of an open kitchen that isn’t separated from the rest of the living space and may be part of a great room. They…
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Renovation Solutions: Organizing, Part 2: A place for everything, everything in its place
Read More: Renovation Solutions: Organizing, Part 2: A place for everything, everything in its placeBy Ann Robinson & Annie V. Schwemmer When organizing children’s rooms, make it easy with one step to put away items. Hooks are easier than hangers, racks are easier than bookshelves, and bins on shelves are a great way to teach organizing and help children stay tidy. (David Price, Renovation Design Group) No matter how…
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Renovation Solutions: New Year’s series: Breaking down organizing in manageable steps
Read More: Renovation Solutions: New Year’s series: Breaking down organizing in manageable stepsThe University of Scranton’s Journal of Clinical Psychology did a survey to discover the most common New Year’s resolutions. Losing weight was No. 1, and No. 2 was getting organized. While we can’t really help you with the first one unless you want to come to the gym with us after work, we thought we…