Designing Principals | Renovation Design Group

Renovation Solutions: Life-centered design improves lives through remodeling

Residential 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

Renovation Solutions: Determining if the dining room is right for you

All 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

Designing your home with storage in mind

This 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

Adding curb appeal to your house

Real 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

Renovation Solutions: Designing your home with storage in mind

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 organization process. However, once you know what you want to keep, you

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.

Heating up the house: Tips for energy efficient homes in winter

It 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

Renovation Solutions: What reality TV doesn’t tell you about home remodeling

Everyone 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

Renovation Solutions: Bigger isn’t always better in home remodeling

When 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

Renovation Solutions: Tips for earthquake-resistant home upgrades

Did 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

Renovation Solutions: Top remodeling challenges decoded

We 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

Renovation Solutions: 5 signs it is time to remodel

BEFORE: 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

Renovation Solutions: How to pull off being your own general contractor

Recently, 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

Renovation Solutions: Plan your home remodels with your life in mind

Last 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

Renovation Solutions: The power of color choice

Color 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

Renovation Solutions: Closed kitchens versus open kitchens

By 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

Renovation Solutions: New Year’s series: Breaking down organizing in manageable steps

The 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

Remodel to better multitask your space

Remodeling 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

Renovation Solutions: Liven up your home with color

The 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

Renovation Solutions: Well-detailed remodeling project will pay off

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

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

Built-in seating gets you more out of your kitchen

Last 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

Renovation Solutions: An architect’s tale of the Frankenhouses

In 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

Defining space with ceiling design

One 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

Renovation Solutions: Wall thickness can be used as design tool

Last 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

How to create better interior views

Removing 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

Tips for designing a welcoming home

It 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:

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

Remodeling should focus on comfort, not size

So 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

Renovation Solutions: Three home design elements to better your home

In 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

Using design elements in your home can renew life : By Annie Schwemmer and Ann Robinson For the Deseret News

Architects 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

Renovation Solutions: Remodeling lessons learned from office renovation

We 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

The key to successful remodeling, even if you do it yourself; Simple secret to a successful home remodel

We 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