Materials, Finishes, Appliances & Fixtures
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Home remodels that impact resale value
Read More: Home remodels that impact resale valueThe motivation for a home improvement project can come from a variety of sources. It often occurs at two ends of the home-owning spectrum: We are spurred on to action either when we decide we are staying forever or when we are getting ready to move. It is unfortunate that so many people wait to…
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Renovation Solutions: Couple turns 1880s era Avenues home into a beauty
Read More: Renovation Solutions: Couple turns 1880s era Avenues home into a beautyThe empty property in the Avenues was dripping with potential and history. Adam Collings and his wife first saw the distressed 1880s home in 2011. The outside of the house resembled the Addam’s Family house before it was remodeled. Trina Knudsen, Renovation Design Group “We were actually at a friend’s barbecue when he pointed it…
Bathrooms, Laundry & Mudrooms, Designing Principals, Dining Rooms, Exterior Updating, Family, Living, & Great Rooms, Features Posts, Front Porches, Home Styles, Interior Design, Interior Remodeling, Kitchens, Master Suites & Bedrooms, Materials, Finishes, Appliances & Fixtures, Remodeling Tips & Advice, Staircases, Teardowns, Year – 2016 -
Renovation Solutions: Beyond DIY: Tips from ‘This Old House’ to save on a home remodel
Read More: Renovation Solutions: Beyond DIY: Tips from ‘This Old House’ to save on a home remodelCustom details take a surprising amount of coordination between lots of trades, so designing them in advance is the best way to ensure they out just the way you want them. Trina Knudsen, Renovation Design Group In this crazy technological world, one of our favorite sources is “This Old House” the television show,…
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Renovation Solutions: Tips for choosing an exterior paint color for your house
Read More: Renovation Solutions: Tips for choosing an exterior paint color for your houseChoosing an exterior paint color is an intimidating exercise. Looking at those minuscule swatches and picturing what any one color will look like spread over your entire house is tough. It really feels like a make-or-break decision as far as the curb appeal of your house is concerned. Paint has one advantage over other exterior…
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Renovation Solutions: Hot housing market impacts decision to buy or remodel
Read More: Renovation Solutions: Hot housing market impacts decision to buy or remodelThere are always areas of a home that have room for improvement. Upgrading one of these areas will improve your use and enjoyment of your home and if done well can also positively impact the value. Trina Knudsen, Renovation Design Group The housing market is hot right now in Utah. There are more buyers…
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Weekend projects that can boost home value
Read More: Weekend projects that can boost home valueSprucing up the front door can do wonders for curb appeal. Annie Schwemmer, Renovation Design Group Ultimately, a home’s true value is determined by the price someone is willing to pay for it. When deciding whether to remodel a home and how to do it, a big part of that decision rests with…
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Renovation Solutions: What a remodeling contractor says about architects
Read 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 project either think the job is too small, or they aren’t educated on the value of…
Additions, Basements & Attics, Bathrooms, Laundry & Mudrooms, Designing Principals, Dining Rooms, Energy Efficiency & Green Design, Exterior Updating, Family, Living, & Great Rooms, Front Porches, Garages, Home Styles, Interior Remodeling, Kitchens, Master Suites & Bedrooms, Materials, Finishes, Appliances & Fixtures, New Homes, Remodeling Tips & Advice, Year – 2016 -
Things to consider before removing a structural wall
Read More: Things to consider before removing a structural wallEditor’s note: Portions of this column were previously published on deseretnews.com and on their website at renovationdesigngroup.com. One of the most common requests we hear these days is to design an open floor plan to create a great room that houses areas for the kitchen, dining and living areas. Such a request generally involves removing…
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Creating a plan leads to saving money on remodeling
Read More: Creating a plan leads to saving money on remodelingAt the homeowners request, this toilet room in the master bedroom, shown after renovation was designed to accommodate a future walk in tub. The required plumbing was installed behind the walls and floors to make future installation easy, while in the meantime, the space is being used as storage (Trina Knudsen, photo credit) Before …
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Renovation Solutions: Home remodeling with pets in mind
Read More: Renovation Solutions: Home remodeling with pets in mindWhen we ask potential clients about the makeup of their family, it is always useful if they include their pets on the list. While goldfish and a parakeet don’t require much special design attention, dogs and cats do. Houzz.com recently published a report on a pet survey it has taken. Besides confirming that pets generally…
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How to stick to your remodeling budget
Read More: How to stick to your remodeling budgetOne of the most common fears of remodeling is a project snowballing out of control. It is true that when remodeling there will always be unforeseen items that will impact the budget. Most situations can be anticipated by working with architects and contractors experienced in the remodeling process, but surprises can be lurking behind Sheetrock…
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Renovation Solutions: Common oversights when remodeling
Read More: Renovation Solutions: Common oversights when remodelingEditor’s note: This is the third in a series about avoiding common remodeling mistakes. The first is “Avoiding common home remodeling mistakes” and the second is “5 tips to avoiding costly remodeling mistakes.” Both are on deseretnews.com in the Family section. Portions of this column were previously published. This month, we are discussing common home…
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Renovation Solutions: A pellet ice machine might start a big remodel project
Read More: Renovation Solutions: A pellet ice machine might start a big remodel projectWe’ve recently worked with a family who knew that someday they would like to remodel their home; they just weren’t sure when. When the wife wanted to install a pellet ice machine in the kitchen, it sparked the major remodel to the main and upper floors of the house. That simple pellet ice machine would…
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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: 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: 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: 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: 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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Exterior remodels continued: Gutters
Read More: Exterior remodels continued: GuttersAh, autumn. ’Tis the season for pumpkin shakes, cozy sweaters, the first fire of the season, and — oh, yeah — raking leaves and cleaning out your gutters. No one likes climbing on the roof to clean out the leaves and debris from the gutters, but a neglected gutter system can cause considerable damage with…
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Renovation Solutions: Roofing material choice impacts a remodel
Read More: Renovation Solutions: Roofing material choice impacts a remodelEveryone has seen a bad remodel. You’ve seen the house where the new addition looks like a big shed bumped up against the house, or the second story that looks as if it could have fallen from space and just happened to land on that particular house. The key to achieving a seamless blend of…
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Remodeling for seismic upgrades
Read More: Remodeling for seismic upgradesLast time we introduced you to Bob and Char Nelson’s remodeled 1927 Tudor-style home in the Harvard-Yale area of Salt Lake City. The remodel stayed within the floor plan of the historic home and was initially focused on energy efficiency and updating the exterior facade. The exterior of the home was in rocky shape: The…
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Renovation Solutions: The problem of asbestos in home remodels
Read More: Renovation Solutions: The problem of asbestos in home remodelsWe recently had a reader ask us to highlight the problem of asbestos in private residences, so this is our topic of the week. Asbestos abatement workers contain the area and must where respirators to protect themselves from the harmful effects of working around disturbed asbestos. (DRL Enterprises, Inc., www.drlenterprisesinc.com) Even small areas need…
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Renovation Solutions: Adding insulation will combat high heating bills
Read More: Renovation Solutions: Adding insulation will combat high heating billsThe weather is getting colder and the energy bill is getting higher. If your heating bill is through the roof, then that may be exactly where your heat is escaping — through your roof and walls. There were three different types of insulation used in this residential remodel: Open-cell spray polyurethane foam used in the…
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New countertops are quick, painless upgrade
Read More: New countertops are quick, painless upgradeHere’s a quick and easy way to upgrade your home: Install new countertops. Installing new countertops does not require moving walls, making structural changes or imposing drastic disruptions to your life. The actual disruption can be limited to just one day of switching out the old and new. New counters can be considered for bathrooms…
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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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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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Bringing light inside the home with skylights
Read More: Bringing light inside the home with skylightsStudies show that when people live and work in a well-lit environment, they are happier, healthier and more productive. Natural lighting can also be another way to save on electricity, since it provides free light and warmth. This design technique is called daylighting. A solar tube skylight was added in a mudroom as part of…
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Adding central vacuum system to the home
Read More: Adding central vacuum system to the homeWhile we often think about the aesthetics of our dream houses, we may not spend enough time researching some of the more technical/mechanical elements that could contribute to making our daily lives easier. No matter how beautiful a home is, it still needs to be cleaned. A built-in central vacuum system will make the not-so-glamorous…
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Heated floors are making a comeback
Read More: Heated floors are making a comebackHeated floors are becoming one of the top must-have features in modern homes — both in new home construction and in retrofits. With a growing range of designs to choose from, homeowners are discovering what people around the world have known for thousands of years — radiant floor heating is clean, quiet and comfortable. The…
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Renovation Solutions: Specify products for remodeling project
Read More: Renovation Solutions: Specify products for remodeling projectThe decision to take the plunge into home remodeling may be difficult, but it will be just the first of many decisions you will have to make. Even after the majority of all the design decisions have been made, the average home remodel requires hundreds of additional decisions, ranging from small ones (selecting cabinet hardware)…
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Renovation Solutions: Top home-improvement trends of 2012
Read More: Renovation Solutions: Top home-improvement trends of 2012At this time of year the design community starts the trend talk, discussing home-remodeling trends they foresee for the coming year. Most trends are dictated by consumer priorities, lifestyles and the economy — in other words: demand. Other trends are more about the aesthetics of a home. These trends are usually more short-lived and somewhat…
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Updating your old furnace will pay you back in savings
Read More: Updating your old furnace will pay you back in savingsIf your furnace looks like this, it may be time to consider an upgrade. Annie V. Schwemmer Heating and cooling account for about 56 percent of the energy used in a typical U.S. home, making it the largest energy expense for most households. A wide variety of technology is available for heating and cooling your…
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Renovation Solutions: Remodeling? Here are some survival tips
Read More: Renovation Solutions: Remodeling? Here are some survival tips“Renovating is an intense personal experience shared with large numbers of total strangers — not much different than surviving a plane crash.” — An anonymous homeowner. Contractors Jason Runolfson, left, and Jeremy Jackson of Jackson & LeRoy Remodeling spend hours planning and working with clients on home remodeling projects. -Annie V. Schwemmer Even with…
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Renovation Solutions: Bungalow turned loft: Homeowner wouldn’t change a thing
Read More: Renovation Solutions: Bungalow turned loft: Homeowner wouldn’t change a thingFor this week’s column, we wanted to revisit one of our most unique remodeling projects: the bungalow/loft. While we know that such a contemporary style may not be everyone’s cup of tea, this project shows how bold and creative you can be with a home remodel and still have your home blend into the neighborhood.…
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Renovation Solutions: Avoid the remodeling project snowball
Read More: Renovation Solutions: Avoid the remodeling project snowballOne of the most common fears of remodeling is a project snowballing out of control. Although this home underwent a major remodel, this particular room only received new paint, hardwood floors, baseboards, can lights and a fireplace insert. Thanks to a thorough planning process, all of these items were included in the original bid. It…
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Swamp cooler is an inexpensive way to beat the heat
Read More: Swamp cooler is an inexpensive way to beat the heatBy Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer Last week we discussed the basics of cooling system upgrades in regard to central air conditioning. However, in this dry, desert climate, central air isn’t the last word on effective cooling systems. Another natural and energy efficient option is an evaporative cooling system. An evaporative cooler produces effective cooling…
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Time for cooling-system upgrade? Here are the basics
Read More: Time for cooling-system upgrade? Here are the basicsBy Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer Well, summer finally came, and more hot days are in the forecast. While most Utahns have some sort of cooling system in their homes, some yearn for a system upgrade. Here is a basic primer on air conditioning systems: A challenge of adding central air to a home is…