Many homeowners have a Houzz or Pinterest account full of beautiful spaces, but finding qualified local professionals who can help them determine what is realistic for their space and budget is an essential step to success. Trina Knudsen, Renovation Design
Renovation Solutions: Five basics of home remodeling
There are so many moving parts and issues to consider when remodeling a home that today we want to summarize five of the most important items to consider when tackling a home remodel. A home’s style Scot Zimmerman, Renovation
Renovation Solutions: The difference between design, decorating
Our company motto is “Making the world a better place, one home at a time.” We enjoy having a positive impact on our community and in our clients’ lives. We get an occasional “hot mess” to fix up, but more
Renovation Solutions: What a remodeling contractor says about architects
(before) This beautiful deck and pergola remodel was the result of a great collaborative effort between the architect, general contractor, and steel fabricator. (Kevin Bunnell, Renovation Design Group) Most people who don’t use an architect for a home remodeling
Renovation Solutions: Solving common house problems with remodeling
As we are architects who specialize in residential remodeling, every client we see has a problem with his or her house. Some of these houses just need a cosmetic upgrade (replacing outdated finishes, appliances, plumbing fixtures, etc., in their current
Navigating the great move vs. remodel debate
When your house isn’t working for you anymore, the great debate begins: Do you move or remodel? There are many factors to consider. First, take a look at your existing house and determine what needs to be done to make
Renovation Solutions: Home remodeling horror stories
Editor’s note: Portions of this column were previously published on deseretnews.com. Happy Halloween! In honor of the scary holiday, we want to discuss some of the most common remodeling nightmares: total budget annihilation, the great disappearing contractor, and the never-ending
Renovation Solutions: Tricks to front porch additions
When clients come to us looking to enhance curb appeal, we often recommend a front porch addition or upgrade. A front porch can do wonders for the look and feel of a house. In addition to helping define the style,
Empty nesters find family togetherness in new remodel
As we move through life, we need different things from our houses. Different ages and stages bring different expectations, needs and wants. College campuses have dorm rooms because all a young college student needs is a place to study and
Small, smart additions to your home can replace expensive big ones
Small, well-designed additions — just adding a few square feet here or there — can create sufficient space to change the way your home functions without having to construct a “big box” addition. Annie Schwemmer and Ann Robinson, Deseret News
Renovation Solutions: Converting garages to living space
Editor’s note: Portions of this column were previously published on deseretnews.com. Finding existing space in your home to repurpose, convert into living space or reconfigure may take some creativity. Last week, we discussed how to creatively remodel existing space with
Finding more space without an addition
Most people who want to remodel crave more space from their house. They want more storage space, more living space, more garage space, more office space, or more gathering space. In general, people want more space. While most people initially
Renovation Solutions: 5 tips to avoiding costly remodeling mistakes
Editor’s note: This is the second in a series about avoiding common remodeling mistakes. The first is “Avoiding common home remodeling mistakes” and is on deseretnews.com in the Family section. Also, portions of this column were previously published deseretnews.com. Last
Avoiding common home remodeling mistakes
Part of our job is to help our clients avoid common home remodeling mistakes. Most people who undertake a significant home remodel will do so only once in their lifetime. On the other hand, we have been involved in almost
Renovation Solutions: How to survive a home remodel
By Ann Robinson and Annie V Schwemmer Published: March 27, 2015 Unless you are into flipping houses, you will most likely only experience a major home remodel once or twice in your life. Like the path to many good things
Renovation Solutions: Planning the spring projects
By Ann Robinson & Annie V. Schwemmer The official groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, predicted six more weeks of winter this year. Here along the Wasatch Front, however, we are wondering what winter? Well, whether or not Phil’s prediction will prove to
Renovation Solutions: Design for everyday homeowners
Our 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
Renovation Solutions: Holiday season inspires remodels
Editor’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.
Renovation Solutions: One family’s experience with remodeling a split-level home
Last 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
Renovation Solutions: Consider small, creative additions
When we say addition, what do you think of? Do you think of an additional structure off the back of the house, a full room? Do you think of the “big box” addition? Well, we are here to say home
Renovation Solutions: Converting your garage to living space
Finding existing space in your home to repurpose, convert into living space or reconfigure may take some creativity. We started our series on creatively remodeling existing space by discussing attic conversions. This week we are going to consider converting the
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
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: 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
Renovation Solutions: Repurposing a home’s underused space
Your house has a finite number of square feet, and it is incumbent upon each of us to make sure we are using that space to our greatest advantage. A spare bedroom was an underused space that has been
Renovation Solutions: Be prepared for remodeling ‘unknowns’
One of the common challenges in remodeling is to control the mentality of adding projects in the “while we are at it” category. These additions can quickly add up and scuttle a project budget. On the other hand, there is
Renovation Solutions: Split-level home updated for a more gathering space
When the Smith’s bought their home in 1995, they had three children and one on the way. They loved the neighborhood and liked the house. It was in fairly good condition, though it had not been updated since it was
Renovation Solutions: Frankenhouses: horrifying home remodels
Happy Halloween! Multiple additions can create a disjointed feeling and negatively impact curb appeal. Picasa, Annie V. Schwemmer In honor of this ghoulish holiday, we want to tell a scary story: “The Story of the Frankenhouses.” Frankenhouses are homes that
Renovation Solutions: Deciding to remodel or move
It happens suddenly, over a cup of coffee and the morning newspaper, or perhaps as you make your way across the obstacle course of clutter that was once your living room. Your house doesn’t fit your needs, and you can’t
Renovation Solutions: Renovation Solutions: Remodel project moves into construction phase
One of the most exciting and traumatic times of a remodeling project is when construction finally begins, especially if you are tearing off a roof. In March, we introduced you to the design phase of the Caldwell project. Under construction
Creatively add space with purpose
By 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
A neighborhood-friendly remodeling project
If you want to live in an established Salt Lake City neighborhood, the houses often are either too small or expensive fixer-uppers. The nature of a typical city neighborhood breeds remodeling. In Holly Morham’s neighborhood, she says she sees remodeling
Remodel, move both have costs
By Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon Chances are you aren’t living in your dream home just yet. But don’t worry — you’re in the majority. Usually, a home is missing that extra bedroom or perfect kitchen, bathroom or master suite.
Detailed planning keeps remodeling on track
By Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon Most clients come to us ready to remodel, but rarely do they come with the project planned. Two years ago, we met a couple who were ready to start the redesign process on their
Craftsman Bungalow House re-Design: Home remodeling results in new old home
By Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon We’ve decided to periodically highlight homeowners and their projects to give you a better feel for real-world remodeling experiences. We realize you will never really know what it’s like until you’ve experienced it yourself,
Blend inside, outside spaces
By 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
Home takes form with foundation, framing
By 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
Extend ‘remodel’ to the outside
By 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
Decks add value and fun to a home
By 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.
Old frat house getting makeover
By Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon We have enjoyed writing this column for several months now and hope some of our ramblings have been useful and educational. For those of you still wondering if you have the time, interest, or