Remodeling Tips & Advice

Sunday marked the official first day of spring, so it is now officially time to talk about a home improvement project everyone can do: spring cleaning. Start your spring cleaning by getting rid of clutter. Throw out anything that is broken or can’t be donated. As for donations, be generous. No matter how well-designed a…

As with any decision, many factors affect the decision to remodel. It is not a decision to be taken lightly. You will likely be spending a significant amount of money, as well as investing time and emotional effort into the process. Most families don’t have the luxury of limitless budgets. So, it is important to…

Most of our clients come into our office with a little remodeling anxiety. It usually stems from the horror stories they have heard from friends and neighbors who remodeled their homes on their own, without an architect, and maybe even without a contractor. Hiring an architect is the first step to eliminating the horror story…

By Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer We have often touted the value of working with an architect on your home remodeling project. However, before you can pick an architect, you have to know where to find one. You can begin by asking your family members, friends, co-workers and acquaintances for recommendations. Many architects work primarily…

By Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer Our most efficient clients are the ones who come in knowing what they want. With so many options available for residential design and remodeling today, smart clients do their part to formulate an idea of what they want before they come into our office. Read books, magazines and articles…

By Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer It seems the economy is finally on the mend. Though concerns and worries still abound, things are looking more positive. A master plan is especially crucial before remodeling project is started. The worst thing a homeowner can do is plunge in and see how far money will go. While…

By Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer While experience may be the best teacher, remodeling a house is not an experience that most (sane) people undertake repeatedly in their lifetimes. Therefore, it becomes critical that you benefit from others” experience, both by working with architects, contractors and subcontractors who specialize in residential remodeling and by seeking…

By Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer Starting April 22, the Environmental Protection Agency is mandating all renovation contractors who work on pre-1978 homes be certified to properly handle lead-based paint to avoid environmental contamination. Lead-based paint was used in more than 38 million homes before it was banned from residential use in 1978. Lead has…

By Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer Architecture is an interesting combination of art and science. In this column we usually feature the more visual side of our profession, but physics also has a lot to do with a remodeling project. How a house is constructed and what makes it structurally sound is every bit as…

By Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer Notice we did not say a “fond” farewell. Frankly, we are glad to see it go. It seems everyone has struggled through, both professionally and personally. Here’s hoping for better things in 2010! We know many of your remodeling plans have been placed on the proverbial back burner this…

By Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer There is no ignoring the fact: Your house is just not working for you anymore. Either your circumstances have changed (more people in the family, fewer people at home, more money coming in, less money coming in, etc.) or you have changed (frankly, you are no longer willing to…

By Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer Unfortunately, many homeowners think undertaking a remodeling project means picking up the phone and calling a contractor. If you have read any of our columns over the past several years, we hope you have picked up on the principle of involving a design professional before calling a contractor. By…

By Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer Choosing the right general contractor is a critical step in remodeling your home. No matter how well your architect designs the plans or how vividly you envision the project, the remodeling contractor can literally make or break the final outcome. Selecting a good general contractor is important because he…

By Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer All of us face a variety of risks to our health as we go about our daily lives. Driving in cars, flying in planes and being exposed to environmental pollutants all pose varying degrees of risk. Some risks are unavoidable; others we accept so as to not restrict our…

By Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer Last week we discussed Lucynthia Knudsen’s remodeling experience, but there’s another aspect of her project that we would like to discuss. Knudsen’s story is intriguing, but it was actually a record project for us in the area of construction observation — we logged more than 200 hours on site…

By Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer Last week, we discussed saving money on your renovation by being your own general contractor. Well, not everyone has the skill set, time or patience to do that. So this week, we have a few tips for saving money on your remodel that anyone can follow. Tip 1: Smart…

By Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer Right now it seems frugality is back in fashion. Everyone is giving tips on how to save money and make your dollar stretch further. Even when it comes to remodeling there are ways to save and stretch your dollar. While we don’t necessarily recommend it to everyone, several of…

By Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer For many of our clients, when they finally sit down with us, it isn’t their first remodeling endeavor. Often times, their first go-round was years ago when they tried to tackle the project by themselves — without an architect and sometimes without a contractor. More often than not, these…

By Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer A family in Murray asked us to help design an addition to their house. This couple likes to entertain, and their small kitchen/family room combination isn’t large enough to accommodate their guests. After reviewing the couple’s project, we determined that they don’t actually need to add on because they…

By Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer Construction sites are considered one of the most dangerous work places in America. Whole government agencies are dedicated to making them safer. So, how do you keep your family safe when your home becomes the construction site? Although it is not always possible, the best approach when it comes…

By Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer Re-mod-el (v.): to alter the structure of: remake; as in: “I want to remodel my … (fill in the blank — kitchen, basement, bathroom, etc.).” With few exceptions, everyone has a desire, if not a plan, to remodel something about their home. The psychology of this desire — whether…

By Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer There is no getting around it: If you are remodeling your home, you are going to need a set of plans. Plans will be required for municipal review prior to issuing a building permit, for contractors to provide you with a bid on your project, and for enabling them…

By Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer As residential architects, we naturally question what triggers someone to turn those remodeling dreams into reality. We have discovered there are three areas that motivate people to get the ball rolling. The first is the tangible need for a different physical arrangement. For example, the anticipated birth of another…

By Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer We see it all the time. Homeowners come to us needing more space for a growing family or desiring home features that their current home just doesn’t have. The tough question they face is: Should I move to a new home or remodel the one I have? An architect…

y Ann Robinson and Annie Schwemmer You have 23 shopping days left until Christmas. So, we thought we would give you some ideas. How about giving the gift of architecture? There are lots of ways to do this. Some people love architecture as others love paintings or symphonies.   Remodeling magazine subscriptions or architectural books…

By Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon When you think of the remodeling team, you may first think of the architect, the interior designer or the contractor. However, the role of the homeowner is often underestimated — usually by the homeowner. Ultimately, you, as the homeowner, are in charge. You have to think of yourself as…

By Ann Robinson and Annie Vernon Remodeling is a complicated process that takes a balanced team to bring the project to a successful conclusion. Obviously, we think a good architect is key to this team, but today we want to talk about another possible contributor: an interior designer. The line between the responsibilities of an…