Remodeling Readiness
We have all heard stories of the nightmares of remodeling. Of course, there are also remodels that go smoothly and the results are just what the homeowner expected. This doesn’t happen by chance. Careful planning and patience will reward you with the renovation, remodel or addition of your dreams!
Once you have decided to make changes to your home, take your time doing research. Thoughtful preparations will make your remodeling experience a pleasant memory. Start by browsing through as many home magazines as possible. These can include anything from Better Homes and Gardens to Architectural Digest to room-specific magazines such as Kitchen and Bath. Tear out anything that appeals to you, even if the featured room is not the space you are planning to remodel. The colors or “feeling” of the room in the magazine can be translated into your space. Purchase a large three-ring binder and some plastic page covers and start placing the magazine pages in it. This process can be started long before you are actually ready to start your redo.
There are questions you need to ask yourself about your needs and what you are expecting as a final result. The first considerations regard the overall reason for undertaking a remodel. Are you looking for more functionality or more aesthetics? Are you planning for the long term or for resale? Once you have determined your focus, the details can become overwhelming. This is why you want to take your time and do as much non-stressed-by-a-deadline research as possible.
If you have remodeled a previous home and were pleased with the resulting fixtures and finishes, you may be inclined to duplicate these in your new space. Be careful, using the same materials and colors may not work in a different home. Your lighting-both natural and artificial- may be totally different which will affect the way colors appear.
Most remodels are being done in the kitchen or bathrooms-usually the master. Cabinetry will be one of the most expensive elements of the project. Consider simpler, more classic styles that offer the look you’re after, and the organization you need. Use simpler lines with timeless design so your remodel will last longer. Avoid very trendy looks. Pull-out storage is extremely useful and is at the top of the list of functional accessories to consider.
If you are planning on staying in this home for quite some time, you may want to consider Universal Design home modifications. This involves remodels which will work for the homeowner well into the future. If your focus is to be able to stay in your home as you age, there are certain design elements you may want to consider. In the kitchen these may include: raised dishwashers, separate refrigerator and freezer units, separate cooktops and ovens to accommodate an open cabinet under the cooktop for wheelchair access, drawers instead of cabinets. Both kitchen and bath remodels may include: ergonomic knobs and pulls, adding grab bars, installing higher toilets, a curb-less shower.
As you plow through the sea of options, you may feel overwhelmed. This is a perfect scenario for hiring a designer independent of the contractor you may or may not have selected at this time. The designer can help you make all of the selections; flooring, tile, granite, cabinets, lighting, hardware, paint, wallcovering, fabrics and furnishings which will create your perfect remodel. By enlisting the services of a designer before obtaining estimates from remodeling contractors, the process will go much more smoothly. The contractor will have concrete items to bid on when you have pre-selected your materials and fixtures. This will also help in not going over budget, since you have made selections and are not working on “allowances”, which is the practice of putting in an estimated cost of products to be used in the bid. As we all know, when presented with two options, we seem to choose the more expensive one.
So, take your time, hire the help you need to pull your ideas together, and enjoy the process!