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Simple Options for Renovating Your Home

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Kitchen Remodel by S Interior Design, LLC

Ready to renovate your home? The process can be daunting, but it’s a great way to increase the value of your home and make it look exactly the way you want it to. Whether you plan to renovate your basement, the roof, or other parts of your home, here are some things that you should keep in mind. 

Improving and Renovating Your Home

When you decide to renovate, the first thing to decide is what you want to renovate. Do you want to add a home extension? You’ll need quotes from multiple contractors, plans, and approval from the local government. Are you interested in getting more energy-efficient lighting or a better HVAC system? Calling a local electrician or HVAC specialist could be the key to doing renovations right.

While you can DIY some of your home renovations, know that some of them will require professional input. Some areas that you can handle yourself may include your home office, flooring, and interior design. S Interior Design recommends putting a team of experts together to get the best results.

Adding a Home Office

Adding a home office can be as easy as converting a walk-in closet into an office space or as labor intensive as adding walls and building a new room in your home.

When you build your new home office, consider locating it near natural light, which is known to help maximize productivity. If you can’t do that, make sure you invest in overhead lighting so you have plenty of light in the room.

Working on New Flooring

Flooring is one thing most people can do themselves. You have the option to add new vinyl, waterproof, wood, or other kinds of flooring to your home.  Note: You need to make sure the substrate you are installing your new flooring over is level! (S Interior Design commentary)

Selecting vinyl roll flooring or vinyl planks is a good choice since these lay down easily in one or two afternoons. Just choose your favorite colors, and you’ll get the look you want in no time at all. 

Designing the Interior of Your Home

Another thing you can do yourself is the interior design of your home. Do you have an older home that you want to update? Select new paint colors, change out the hardware on your cabinetry or consider adding a new top to your counters for an updated look.

You can also change the furniture in your home without touching your physical walls or flooring and still make a huge impact. Swapping out dark furniture for lighter furniture, for example, may brighten up your space. Selecting modern furniture instead of traditional styles could make your space look more current.

For professional interior design help, contact S Interior Design. S Interior Design provides services such as paint color and wall treatment selection, design drawings, and more to help you achieve the perfect look for your home.

Get Help Renovating Your Home in Scottsdale, AZ

Changing different parts of your home, like adding a home office, can increase its value and make it stand out. If you’re ready to renovate your home in Scottsdale, AZ, you can handle some aspects yourself but may need to call in professionals for others. For help with interior design, visit S Interior Design. 

Lifestyle Changes Seen Resulting in Key New Design Trends

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Below is a re-post of an article I received that I felt was worth sharing. Our COVID-19 lifestyles have most definitely impacted the way we want to live in our homes. The article outlines lifestyle changes that are impacting the interior design choices being made. Connected, Simplified, Healthy are some of the key design objectives being considered.

Tips To Improve Curb Appeal With Your Garage Door

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Below is a guest posting on how to improve your home’s curb appeal by the look and design of your garage door. Here in Phoenix many homes have front facing garages and they can sometimes distinctly define the look of a home; for better or for worse. This makes it very important to have a garage door design that compliments and enhances your home’s elevation design.

First impressions are absolutely important, especially when we’re talking about your home. There’s nothing like the feeling you get when people stop, stare, and marvel at the way your house looks. More importantly, that first impression matters when you’re thinking about putting your house on the market. House-hunters will surely want to call your real estate agent with just one look at the front of your home.

That impressive look, of course, can be achieved when you make an effort to enhance the curb appeal of your home. There are many ways of improving curb appeal, but did you know that your garage door can play an instrumental role in bringing fresh excitement to your home’s façade?

Admittedly, a garage door can look incredibly bland, which isn’t surprising since many homeowners just concern themselves with keeping it functional with maintenance and garage door repair. But with a little creativity from your end, your garage door can do so much more, especially when it comes to improving curb appeal. Here are some tips on doing just that.

Paint your garage door.

If the color of your garage door matches the paint of the exterior, then it’s time to do some repainting on it.

As it stands now, your garage door will tend to disappear into the walls. So pick a color that will contrast to the rest of the house in an attractive way. The best color for your garage door would be one that is a few shades darker than the paint on your home. A house painted a light tan, for example, would look great with a garage door with light brown paint. The point is to create a contrast that isn’t too stark.

Do some accessorizing.

If your garage door already came with handles, windows, patterns, or side arrows, then you’re all good on the accessorizing front. However, if your garage door is a little on the simple side, you can enhance the way it looks by adding accessories around it.

Consider placing potted plants on either side of your garage. For added flourish, you can have shrubs, tall plants, and other kinds of greenery close to the garage doors. If you can incorporate some decorative stonework on your driveway, then that would make your garage door pop nicely.

Add lighting fixtures.

When installed in the right spots, exterior light fixtures almost instantly make everything look great. Put up exterior lighting with the garage door as a focal point, and you can be sure that they will enhance curb appeal.

A wise choice is overhead and side lights. They provide much-needed illumination and security, and make the garage door look stunning at night as well. Of course, you have to make sure that the lights you install complement not only your home’s color tone but also its overall style to make the overall look of your home stand out.

If you have a big enough budget for more lighting, then you can go for ground lights that point upwards, preferably towards the trees and tall plants around your garage door.

Balance everything with the front door.

It would look odd if your garage door is all spruced up and your front door isn’t. So whatever enhancements you did with your garage door, it would be a great idea to do the same for your front door. It will make the look of your home more consistent and balanced.

Garage doors don’t have to look dull. Follow the tips above, and your garage door should be able to contribute significantly to the overall curb appeal of your home.

Home Remodels Gone Wrong and Lessons Learned

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Guest Post for S Interior Design
By: Paige A. Mitchell

There’s nothing worse than a botched DIY home remodel. But what if you were able to know what not to do before you dove into a home remodel on your own? Here are some prime examples of mistakes to avoid during a home remodel, in hopes that you will be wiser before jumping into the deep end.

Not Planning Ahead

Jumping into a home remodel without a distinct plan in mind is a recipe for disaster. For all intents and purposes, there is no such thing as “over planning” for a home remodel. Make sure you know exactly what you want to remodel and you know why you want to remodel it. Then, make sure you have planned everything as completely as possible, from the budget to the materials to the daily schedule. Leave no stone unturned.

Trying To Stay With The Trends

Everyone gets a little excited when they want to dive into a DIY remodel and the first place they turn to for inspiration is Pinterest. The problem? Going crazy with what the current home trend is, only to have that trend expire after a month and you be left with a less than desirable kitchen filled with Spanish influence. Be sure to pick a look for your home remodel that fits your personal interest and is also timeless. That way, you won’t feel that remodel itch a month after you complete your project.

Running Out Of Budget On The First Day

In the same vein as making sure you plan your home remodel ahead, make sure you completely map out your home renovation budget before diving in. That means making sure you have a realistic budget in mind with real-time numbers for all your materials and labor planned out. Just because you are performing a DIY home remodel does not mean you shouldn’t take labor into account. Even if you are able to perform the entire remodel on your own, which is hardly ever the case, you have to take into account time lost while doing that work.

Did you use paid time off at your work to perform the home remodel? Are you missing out on projects that could have earned you money? Your own time will play a factor in your budget. Along with that, make sure you know exactly how much supplies you need and how much it will all cost you. There is nothing worse than stopping at your home improvement shop only to get to the register and not have enough money for your supplies.

Measuring Once, Cutting A Hundred Times

Measure your work, then measure it again, then measure it again! The last thing you want is to measure your flooring or wood for your patio, get ready to lay it all out, then realize you mis measured and have to cut everything all over again. What could be worse than that? Ruining your materials because you cut too much and have to start from scratch. Check, double check, and triple check that all your measurements are correct so that you only have to cut once.

Going Cheap And Suffering

You’re already saving money by performing your home improvement project on your own. Make sure that when you do spend your money, you are purchasing items that are so cheap that they will fall apart in less than a year. If you are trying to DIY a home appliance, considering instead saving money on a home warranty and have the experts come in to make repairs. The last thing you want is a puddle in the bathroom because you thought you could fix the sink. Make sure you are being frugal in the right places and splurging when you need to same. Same with buying the right materials, know your limits. If you are even slightly unsure about performing a task, hire a contractor.

Top Home Improvement Tips for Living with Alzheimer’s-Universal Design

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Below is a guest post on a subject matter that touches so many of us.  My own father-in-law is a dementia sufferer and I have had a first row seat to witness the challenges living in a home that is not designed to accommodate the illness presents.  As a professional designer,  I have an interest in addressing the design of  living spaces for adults impacted by Alzheimers that will provide easier living conditions for all in the household.

Here is a recent remodel of a master bath that is universal design compliant so my clients can age in place without issue.

Image courtesy of Pixabay

 

You may think living with Alzheimer’s means living in a sterile, nursing home-style environment.  However, one of the hottest trends in home remodeling is “universal design,” which means creating an environment that allows homeowners to enjoy their homes at any age.  That includes living well into their golden years, and accommodating the mental and physical decline that can come with aging. Those same modifications can apply when making homes safer and more accessible to people living with Alzheimer’s disease.

More of us are caring for people with Alzheimer’s disease, and this means making appropriate home modifications to meet loved ones’ needs.  As pointed out by the experts at Redfin, “Alzheimer’s disease affects about 5.4 million Americans, about 5.2 million of which are 65 and older.  It can be your grandparent, your cousin, your sibling or even your parent who faces the diagnosis. Eventually, those with Alzheimer’s require round-the-clock care, and for many families, that means taking the loved one into their own home.”  Thankfully, with universal design options, you can meet those needs in ways that are not only safe, but livable and fashionable.

Studies show Alzheimer’s disease erodes judgment, balance, memory, general behavior, and basic senses like hearing and vision.  Because of the effects of the disease, some experts advise making important modifications to reduce risks while keeping your loved one independent, such as:

  • Eliminate steps.  At least one entryway to the home should be free of steps.
  • One-floor living.  The main floor of the house should include at least one bathroom, bedroom, and kitchen conveniences.
  • Doorways and hallways.  Doorways throughout the main living area should be free of thresholds and should be a minimum of forty-two inches wide.
  • Flooring.  Replace carpeting with slip-resistant flooring, such as hardwood floors or linoleum.
  • Floor space.  Open floor plans are a benefit to those with mobility issues.  Reducing clutter and broadening walkways helps reduce the risk of tripping or falling.
  • Easy-to-use handles.  Doorknobs and faucet handles should be replaced with lever handles.
  • Controls and switches.  Place thermostats at lower levels, add a remote control, or add devices or apps which allow for voice control.  Switches should be placed at heights accessible from a wheelchair, generally forty-two to forty-eight inches off the floor.  Similarly, install electrical outlets higher for easier accessibility.
  • Lighting.  Improving lighting throughout the home is a simple and important step toward safety.  Add light fixtures, install brighter bulbs, and add nightlights to enhance safety for those with failing vision or to help those suffering with disorientation.
  • Bathroom.  A taller, hands-free toilet and walk-in shower improve independence and safety.  Installing grab bars and a seat for the shower are also important selections.
  • Countertops and sinks.  Opt for shallower designs to keep things easier to reach.

The AARP notes that most of us want to remain at home as long as possible, and with that in mind, home styles are favoring designs that allow people of all ages and abilities to remain comfortable, mobile and safe in their living arrangements.  For those who are caregiving to Alzheimer’s patients, that means stylish options can accommodate your loved one on all fronts. As explained by some professionals, it’s an opportunity to choose aesthetically pleasing but also practical solutions for living independently as long as possible.

 

Here’s the most exciting part: thanks to modern trends, functional equipment is more fashion-friendly than you think.  Even grab bars offer a spa-style appeal coupled with safety and support. As The Wichita Eagle explains, “Many of today’s grab bars are cleverly disguised, looking instead like sleek soap dishes, functional shampoo trays, trendy towel racks and even toilet-paper holders.”

Safety marries fashion.  If you thought home modifications for the elderly meant giving in to an institutional, sterile environment, think again.  Homes can be safe, accessible and fashionable. Thanks to the trend of universal design, caregivers for Alzheimer’s patients can meet their loved one’s needs effectively and beautifully.