Family, Living, & Great Rooms
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Removing a structural wall is tricky but not impossible
Read More: Removing a structural wall is tricky but not impossibleOne of the most common requests we hear these days is to create an open floor concept to create a kitchen/great room. This request requires removing walls. How simple this process is depends on whether or not the wall is “structural,” which means it is part of the structural design of the home and is…
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You, too, can enjoy the ambiance of a well-designed fireplace
Read More: You, too, can enjoy the ambiance of a well-designed fireplaceEven though this winter has been unseasonably warm and the snow limited, it is still “sit by the fireplace” season. We may not ever light the fire but at least we can enjoy the ambiance of a well designed fireplace and mantel. If you don’t have a fireplace or your existing fireplace is less than…
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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: Split-level home updated for a more gathering space
Read More: Renovation Solutions: Split-level home updated for a more gathering spaceWhen 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 built in 1973. The home before the remodel. (Daniel Barton) They fell in love with…
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Renovation Solutions: Capitalize on views by updating windows
Read More: Renovation Solutions: Capitalize on views by updating windowsEveryone knows that curb appeal, or what you experience as you look at a house from the outside, is an important aspect of a home’s architecture. (See the past few columns for ideas about enhancing exterior curb appeal.) These windows were added to this room to create a focal point. The remodel also added a…
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Renovation Solutions: Make sure a remodel adds value to your home
Read More: Renovation Solutions: Make sure a remodel adds value to your homeMany homeowners wonder if a home remodeling project could possibly have a negative effect on the resale value of their home or if they will recoup their investment when it comes time to sell. This family’s kitchen was opened to the dining room and an adjacent bedroom (now a family room) to create a great…
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Renovation Solutions: Planning ahead will save money on your remodel
Read More: Renovation Solutions: Planning ahead will save money on your remodelIn a recent market analysis, MetroMonitor ranked Salt Lake City and Ogden among the 20 strongest markets in the U.S. primed for an economic recovery. (MetroMonitor tracks the economic recession and recovery in America’s 100 largest Metropolitan Areas.) There is purpose in improving your home say professionals whose advice will make your money count for…
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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.…
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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,…
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Renovation turns ordinary house into something inspiring
Read More: Renovation turns ordinary house into something inspiringBy Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer The old family house on the east bench of the Salt Lake Valley turned 83 this year. When Lucynthia Robbins Lines Knudsen received the deed to the house, she couldn’t bear to sell it. This home was renovated with modern flair. It now has a metallic, see-through fireplace; clean,…
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Digging down erases steep driveway
Read More: Digging down erases steep drivewayWhen you are sitting in Jennie Broadhead’s main-floor family room, you would never guess that two years ago you would have been sitting in her garage. The Broadheads just finished an extensive remodeling project that is one of the most creative uses of existing space we have seen. Jennie’s home is on a steep Bountiful…
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Family designs house for casual lifestyle
Read More: Family designs house for casual lifestyleBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon More people are exchanging formal spaces in their homes for more casual and flexible spaces. They realize they use a formal dining or living room only a few times a year. So, they renovate existing space or add on to make their physical surroundings reflect their more casual and…
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Great rooms are great places for gatherings
Read More: Great rooms are great places for gatheringsBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon Fall is the kickoff season of gathering. Just think of all the times you gather your friends and family together this time of year — college football in front of the big screen, Thanksgiving dinner, the neighborhood Christmas party held at your house, pot roast and potatoes on a…
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Remodel to add gathering space
Read More: Remodel to add gathering spaceBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon Pat and Kathie Debenham had a problem we see again and again in our business: not enough gathering space. And just like so many others, their gathering centered around the kitchen. So this week we want to introduce you to the Debenhams and their renovation because we know it’s…
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Great rooms are gathering places
Read More: Great rooms are gathering placesBy Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon The addition of a great room off the kitchen (Image 1 & 2) created the ideal gathering space for the family of seven living in this 1940s home. Every home needs space for gathering. It’s fall and just think of all the gatherings: college football in front of the…
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Well-designed porch looks good and welcomes visitors
Read More: Well-designed porch looks good and welcomes visitorsWe have all had the unwelcoming experience of approaching a home without a porch. It’s raining and you hug as close as possible to the door to avoid the dripping rain from the eave. Balancing with one foot on the step and the other on the pathway, you hope someone heard your knock and comes…