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Renovation Solutions: Life-centered design improves lives through remodeling
Read More: Renovation Solutions: Life-centered design improves lives through remodelingResidential architecture is more than just making a house look pretty. Function is a critical feature of any home and must be given equal or even greater billing than aesthetics. Residential architecture is a unique branch of architecture because clients are also the end users. When designing a large commercial or institutional building, architects have…
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Adding curb appeal to your house
Read More: Adding curb appeal to your houseReal estate professionals say it time and time again: Curb appeal (or the lack thereof) can make or break a deal. They say potential buyers form their opinions about a given property within the first 15 seconds of viewing a house. Whether you are selling your house or not, curb appeal is important and can…
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Renovation Solutions: Determining if the dining room is right for you
Read More: Renovation Solutions: Determining if the dining room is right for youAll types of design have trends. Whether it is shoes, furniture or interior design, trends reflect a measurable change in behavior that develops within a group or culture. Sometimes the trend is to take something away. Eventually we miss whatever it was, so the next trend is to bring it back. Take, for instance, the…
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Renovation Solutions: Designing your home with storage in mind
Read More: Renovation Solutions: Designing your home with storage in mindAs 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 organization process. However, once you know what you want to keep, you need a place to put it. Lack of storage is one of the most common…
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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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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…
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Remodel to better multitask your space
Read More: Remodel to better multitask your spaceRemodeling doesn’t have to mean expensive additions; it can be more about creatively using the space you have. Multitasking rooms is a great way to use your existing space to its full potential. How do you multitask rooms? Well, you are already doing it. You just need to recognize it and make sure each room…
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Renovation Solutions: Liven up your home with color
Read More: Renovation Solutions: Liven up your home with colorThe sea of ivory-colored homes with white walls and beige carpet is evidence that people are generally afraid of color. But really they shouldn’t be — at least not for architecture’s sake. The soothing and relaxing tones in this room tie in the furniture and art with slight variances in wall, ceiling and trim colors.…
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Renovation Solutions: Well-detailed remodeling project will pay off
Read More: Renovation Solutions: Well-detailed remodeling project will pay offArchitect 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 you must attend. If you are…
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Tricks to front porch additions
Read More: Tricks to front porch additionsIf 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 the California Ranch. While this was just a sampling of house styles, we made the…
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Built-in seating gets you more out of your kitchen
Read More: Built-in seating gets you more out of your kitchenLast week, we started our kitchen remodeling series in honor of Thanksgiving — the holiday with the most time spent in the kitchen. Beyond Thanksgiving and other holiday gatherings, modern families are actually spending more time in general in the kitchen. The kitchen has become command central. It is not only a place to store…
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Renovation Solutions: An architect’s tale of the Frankenhouses
Read More: Renovation Solutions: An architect’s tale of the FrankenhousesIn honor of this ghoulish holiday, we want to resurrect a favorite scary tale: “The Story of the Frankenhouses.” Spooky decorations may add some Halloween flare to this recently remodeled porch, but nothing is scarier than An Architect’s Tale of the Frankenhouses. Daniel Barton, Renovation Design Group Frankenhouses are “renovated” homes that feature things…
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Defining space with ceiling design
Read More: Defining space with ceiling designOne of the main goals of architecture is to clearly and beautifully define and differentiate space in a home. While adding a wall is one way to do that, it is not the only way. Today’s families want houses that accommodate their lifestyles, which tend to be less formal than they were in the past.…
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Renovation Solutions: Wall thickness can be used as design tool
Read More: Renovation Solutions: Wall thickness can be used as design toolLast week we discussed interior views — the views we see from room to room inside our homes. One important aspect of these views is the wall in the rooms themselves. Wall thickness actually impacts the look and feel of the house. Many people associate thicker walls with sturdiness, permanence and a time when homes…
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How to create better interior views
Read More: How to create better interior viewsRemoving a section of wall and adding a window in the wall behind it made this space feel much more open and inviting. (David Price, Renovation Design Group) Architecture is often associated with how the home is viewed from the exterior, but there are far more opportunities to impact the lives of those who…
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Tips for designing a welcoming home
Read More: Tips for designing a welcoming homeIt is difficult to put into words what it feels like to come home. “Home” looks and feels different for everyone. However, there are similarities in the elements of architecture that create that welcoming feeling of “Ahh, we’re home.” Before: while tiling an entry area helps, it is still awkward to walk directly into a…
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Designing the perfect ‘away room’
Read More: Designing the perfect ‘away room’Because our homes are filled with electronics, televisions, computers, appliances and people, our homes are filled with noise. When a majority of the public space in a home is open, it is helpful to maintain a small space that can be closed off to contain or seal out noise. (Brent Murray, Renovation Design Group) Noise…
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Remodeling should focus on comfort, not size
Read More: Remodeling should focus on comfort, not sizeSo many times, clients come to us asking for more space. However, most of the time it is not more space that they actually need. It is better space. Do you use every room of your house every day? How are you using those rooms? Are feeling cramped in your current house? Is there wasted…
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Renovation Solutions: Three home design elements to better your home
Read More: Renovation Solutions: Three home design elements to better your homeIn our last column, we started the discussion on design elements that affect our lives and our relationships in our homes. We talked about three key design elements: light, interior views and shelter around activity. This five-foot opening between a basement family room and guest room helps the spaces feel larger and more connected. (Brent…
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Using design elements in your home can renew life : By Annie Schwemmer and Ann Robinson For the Deseret News
Read More: Using design elements in your home can renew life : By Annie Schwemmer and Ann Robinson For the Deseret NewsArchitects have numerous design tools at their disposal to evoke positive emotions. Good architects know when to use each one and can expertly apply combinations of them to change the lives of their clients. There are three general areas of impact to a client’s life: The natural light from the window and the skylight…
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Renovation Solutions: Remodeling lessons learned from office renovation
Read More: Renovation Solutions: Remodeling lessons learned from office renovationWe recently renovated a space and moved our office. This has been a good experience in the same way that a surgeon should occasionally have an operation. We are in the business of uprooting people’s lives, temporarily, and telling them that the pain and stress are all worth it. We assure them that they will…
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The key to successful remodeling, even if you do it yourself; Simple secret to a successful home remodel
Read More: The key to successful remodeling, even if you do it yourself; Simple secret to a successful home remodelWe would like to preface this column by saying that we are not automatically opposed to do-it-yourself remodels. We have seen some beautiful homes remodeled by homeowners as the contractor and/or laborer. Granted, the homeowner who successfully does it himself is usually experienced with construction or handier than the average homeowner, but putting some sweat…
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How architecture can change lives
Read More: How architecture can change livesHappy clients are the measure of our success. We enjoy having our work published and earning design awards, but we get our most direct rewards from our happy clients. Nothing is more rewarding than to hear how our work has truly improved our clients’ lives. Before: In this project, we removed a wall to open…
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Renovation Solutions: Navigating technical aspects of a remodel
Read More: Renovation Solutions: Navigating technical aspects of a remodelLast week we discussed what is involved in removing structural walls. But there are more aspects of construction that you need to deal with in a more major remodel. Believe it or not, the technical aspects of the remodel impact the final look, flow, function and design of your project. These aspects fall into three…
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Renovation Solutions: Repurposing a home’s underused space
Read More: Renovation Solutions: Repurposing a home’s underused spaceYour 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 transformed into a music room. (Annie V. Schwemmer) Many people come to us thinking they…
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Finding a design style is a revealing process
Read More: Finding a design style is a revealing processA person’s design style is as unique as his or her own personality. It may not be what is advertised on the billboards or what you grew up with, but rest assured that you have a style — you just have to find it. The trick is to shut out the loud trends and prevalent…
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Renovation Solutions: Expert advice on creatively maximizing your space
Read More: Renovation Solutions: Expert advice on creatively maximizing your spaceMultitasking: the performance of multiple tasks at one time, describes a lot of our lives. From the dubious practice of talking on our cellphones while driving to the mom trying to feed the baby while getting the other children out the door to school, we are trying to accomplish more in one day than the…
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Renovation Solutions: Fireplaces add warmth and ambiance to homes
Read More: Renovation Solutions: Fireplaces add warmth and ambiance to homesThere is nothing that makes a home feel cozier in the winter than a fireplace. All year round a fireplace adds beauty, dimension and a focal point to the room. Most people, especially this time of year, understand the value of having a fireplace. However, many are not so lucky as to have one in…
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Renovation Solutions: Changing ceiling gives feeling of more space in your home
Read More: Renovation Solutions: Changing ceiling gives feeling of more space in your homeWhen designing a room, don’t forget to look up. The tray ceiling in this master bedroom makes the room feel more spacious while adding drama to the room. (David T. Price) The ceiling represents a substantial portion of the finished area of a room and offers a lot of opportunity to add design and definition…