Getting the Right Design for Your Home

The right design is among the prime ingredients to achieving home improvement project success. A crucial product of the planning stage, failing to realize its importance would surely bring great frustrations and a waste of resources by the time the project takes shape.

Inject Your Personality into the Design

No matter the yearly trends when it comes to remodeling project designs, one thing has strongly influenced the trends throughout the recent decades and this is tending towards personalization of space. More and more homeowners are finding comfort in going home to a place that they can truly call theirs. The ambiance, the mood and the design in general can tell so much about the personality of the homeowner.

Complement

The right design makes your remodeling project complement the overall look and boost the appeal of your home. Though every room should have an interesting personality on its own that emanates with a sense of creativity and its true purpose, the homeowner still should be able to maintain that thread of harmony to make the home improvement finish feel like a part of the home.

Match Lifestyle

The right design will result to a home remodeling project finish that is ideal for the homeowner as well as the rest of the household. Childproofing measures should be implemented if there are small children in the house. Make the rooms and your entire home handicap-friendly for easy navigation if one of the family members has a disability. Finish the basement into a recreational area or home theatre for your young teens to enjoy with you and their group of friends.

Want to Add a Wine Cellar to Your Home?

If you're running out of space to store your wine, you may have considered building a wine cellar in your home. However, wine cellar design involves many steps and you'll have to work closely with your contractor and builder to find a solution that works best for your space. Here are a few things you'll want to think about.

The wine cellar should have the right temperature and environment to house the wines that are part of your collection. This means that the cellar will be considerably colder than the rest of your home, and should be built in a basement area. You will have to figure out your wine cellar design based on the amount of space you have to work with, so do your best to plan accordingly even before you meet with your contractor. Take a look at the wine racks that will fit into your space, you can do research online for more ideas and then draw up your plans accordingly.

Your wine cellar design will also need to include seating if you plan on having guests use the cellar for a wine tasting. The right flooring, as well as door plans should also be considered since want to make the space as inviting as possible. You will also have to include certain electrical features if people will be in the cellar for more than a few minutes at a time, so your electrician and plumber will have to come out and give you an estimate based on the size of the property and complexity of the job. You may also want to talk to your contractor about cooling units that you can purchase to keep your wine at the right temperature.

Getting the Highest ROI on Your Remodeling Porject

Many a homeowner spends thousands of dollars on a home remodel only to find out that in reality it has not changed the value to their house. Unless the remodeling project is designed to fix a structural problem or flaw it is often unlikely that the homeowner will make a profit aside from the pleasure in having the house enhanced to fit their liking.

1. Location
A common mistake among homeowners is to improve their house more than that of the neighborhood it is located in. While the more improved house might possibly receive more interest than others in the area marketed it is unlikely to command a premium well above the average selling price of homes in the neighborhood. A little known fact is that market price is held in check by the lowest-priced homes in your neighborhood and not the other way around.

2. Time
While you may not be planning on moving houses immediately after a home remodel, time does impact the ability of a remodel to increase a houses value. Structural or design improvements such as an addition or completed basement will add value for a longer period of time than updates to a kitchen or bathroom or even technological improvements such as a new furnace or air conditioning system.

3. Consider the cost - and the return of your investment
Did you know that there are several sources that can give you insight into the expected payback for home improvement projects? Realtor magazine publishes an annual "Cost vs. Value" report that compares the cost of common remodeling projects and shows the payback that homeowners can expect.

Let's Add a Sunroom or Outdoor Living Room

Sunrooms have become one of the most popular home additions, popping up in all sorts of homes. A sunroom can dramatically enhance the value of your home, while providing additional living space for you and your family. If you think adding a sunroom to your home is out of your price range, you might want to think again.

Though popular among nature lovers and gardeners, sunrooms are increasingly becoming in demand for those of us who love the beauty of the outdoors without the nuisance of insects and inclement weather. Many people add sunrooms to their homes to house spas or hot tubs. Imagine relaxing in your spa in the evening after a rough day at work. To top it all off, if designed and built properly a sunroom can be used all year round, even in the nastiest of weather conditions.

A perfect sunroom addition allows you to experience all of the enjoyment of the sun and benefits of being outdoors, without any of the drawbacks. An important thing to remember when dreaming up your new sunroom is design! Windows are an obvious important design element and should be considered carefully. Window glass should be of high quality for insulation purposes, as the point is to enjoy the outdoors year-round, and through the worst of weather scenarios.

You will want to research insulation and tints for your windows to help alleviate summer heat, or the chill of cooler months. Your best bet when choosing your windows would be windows specifically made for sunrooms. They are made stronger and thicker than traditional glass and are available in both single and double paned. Sunroom windows should also reduce glare, as this will bring much enjoyment having the unrestricted view of the outside.

Surviving Your Home Remodel

The good news is that you're finally getting the house of your dreams. The bad news is that you need to live through months of remodeling to get there. Living in a house that's being remodeled is stressful, but if you're prepared, you can make it easier on the whole family.

Plan Ahead: Find out how long the home remodeling project will take. Consider how the work will disrupt your life and make contingencies for it. Also make plans in case something goes wrong. A power outage or plumbing emergency might necessitate decamping for a couple of days.

Establish Ground Rules: Talk to the contractor about what hours and which days of the week the crew will work. That will make it easier to plan your life around the renovation. Consider getting a portable toilet for the workers so yours will still be available. Tell them where they can park their trucks and establish how they will clean up the work site.

Set up a Living Area: Cover the entrances to the work area with plastic to avoid getting dust in the rest of the house; this will also establish a living area. If you're having a kitchen remodeling job, set up a temporary kitchen with a microwave and hot plate, and designate a sink for washing dishes. Stock up on bottled water and paper plates and cups. You'll need them if you lose the use of your plumbing at some point.

Store Your Belongings: Put away anything breakable and delicate. Even if your china cupboard isn't in the work area, the vibrations from the machinery can cause things to crack or fall. If you can't move some pieces of furniture, cover them with drop clothes so they won't get coated in dust.

A Sample Checklist Before Your Kitchen Remodel Begins

You are ready for a new kitchen and cannot wait for the remodelers to come in and start ripping out all those old cabinets and counter tops to replace them with something newer, more elegant and far more functional. Before they do arrive though take one last look at your kitchen design plans, as there are several factors that homeowners can often overlook, especially if they have done much of the planning work themselves.

Some points you should definitely consider in your review of your kitchen remodel include the following:-

• Is there going to be enough room to open all the drawers and cabinets in your new kitchen properly?
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• Is there going to be adequate counter top space between the sink, stove and refrigerator?
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• Is the microwave going in right place? If there are kids in the house is it low enough for them to use safely?
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• How well will your new kitchen flooring match with that in adjoining rooms?
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• Do you have enough lighting planned? Under cabinet lights are often overlooked but they are incredibly useful in most kitchens and really should not be forgotten.
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• Is the work flow between all the appliances going to be smooth? Transit between them all, including the dishwasher should be as easy and clutter free as possible.
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• Will you have enough storage space?
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• Are you really happy with the overall design plans?

If, after you have asked yourself all these questions, you are still happy with the planned design that is great, let the work commence.  However if you have any nagging doubts, even if the kitchen plans were drawn up by a kitchen remodeling expert, voice them now.  Changing something mid project can be an expensive headache and derail the project's timeline by days or even weeks. It is your kitchen, your money and ultimately it is up to you to make sure that the design is exactly what you wanted it to be.

Don't Settle for Cookie Cutters! Get Custom Home Design!

It seems like more and more developments these days are filled with look-alike homes. From identical facades to cookie-cutter floor plans, these homes are designed to suit the average family... But your family isn't average-you have particular needs, desires, and wants. So why settle for cookie cutter house plans when you can get a custom home design that suits your family's specific needs!

From architectural tastes to family size to your specific lifestyle, your family is unique. So why cram your five-person family into a three bedroom house or settle for a tiny galley kitchen when you love to cook. Custom home plans are your answer for getting the beautiful, functional house that's perfectly suited to your family. Your local home designers can integrate your personal needs into a standard house plan or create a one-of-a-kind home from scratch. They'll work with you to identify the features, flow, and format you need in a home and then create the plans for a beautiful house that incorporates all of these things. When you're going to the expense of building your own home, why settle for anything less than perfect. Get the home of your dreams with custom home design today.

Keep in mind that top-quality house plans can make a huge difference in the entire process of building your new home. Helping ensure the construction process stays on schedule and within budget, detailed, accurate blueprints and house design plans can help ensure you get the home of your dreams. On the other hand, incorrect or error-filled plans mean a chaotic, problem-filled build and a less-than-ideal house. That's why it's so important to ensure your house designers [http://par-homebuilders-nola.louisiana-biz.com/] are qualified, skilled experts. By choosing professional home designers, you can help guarantee you get the custom plans you need to take your visions of a new home from paper into reality.

Design That's In in 2011

Smaller Homes

For those families purchasing new homes, many are looking for more modestly sized properties than the McMansions of the past. Being more attracted to the space they need rather than the space their ego wants - is on today's agenda. It's all about being more value conscious and living authentically. Although some newly built homes may be shrinking in size - by only about 10-15% (reducing overall room sizes), the high-end materials and finishes are in no way compromised.

Greener, Healthier and Smarter Homes

The current scene is definitely green. Energy efficiency is fast becoming the hottest and most desirable remodel trend or "shift" in the home design and building industry.

Universal Design

Renovating your existing home and removing interior walls creates an open, spacious and more flexible floor plan. This immediately improves the layout and flow of the home and makes it more comfortable and versatile for families who love to entertain.

Work Spaces

The homeprenuer trend is not just growing - it's intensifying. With an unstable economy comes the opportunity for more people to work from home either part time or launch home-based businesses. Today's technology makes it easy to be as productive at home as in an office-based location.

Your New Fireplace Design & Remodel

Today, fireplaces are becoming more popular, most especially with the modern ideas and designs that circulate around. Although many people still prefer the conventional fireplace designs, there are also some who are opening up to new concepts and ideas.

Appearance. In any design, it is most important to identify the appearance. For fireplaces, appearance matter a lot. It is essential to plan the appearance of the fireplace before constructing it or remodeling it. For most designers, since the fireplace serves as the focal point of the house, it should appear consistent with the rest of the house.

Concept. The concept is also another important factor. Since fireplaces have revolutionized over the years, there are a number of new designs today. Deciding on the concept is actually just a choice between the traditional and the modern fireplace. Traditional fireplaces are those that literally burn wood fuel, and other similar types of fuels. Moreover, these fireplaces are usually made of brick and other refractory materials. Some of the most popular materials for these types are grates, French marble, English stone, cast iron, and bespoke marble. On the other hand, modern fireplaces include gas and electric.

Heat source. Choosing the heat source is equally important as well. Since there are already fireplaces that provide heat artificially, choosing is not a very difficult thing to do.

Remodeling a Ranch Style Home

The Ranch's exterior style is typically asymmetrical with a one-story rectangular or L-shape. The Ranch is long, narrow and low to the ground with a strong horizontal emphasis. It has strip or ribbon windows, a low but visible chimney, a very visible garage, a recessed entry door with flanking sidelight, and a low roof with projecting eaves. Hearkening back to its California indoor/outdoor roots, the Ranch often has partially enclosed courtyards and patios.

Inside you'll find an open, free-flowing floor plan. The Rambler interior typically includes wood paneling, a stone fireplace and hearth, built-in storage, and floor-to-ceiling views of the back yard for more of that indoor/outdoor living. Throughout the typical Rambler home you'll find connections of major living spaces to the outdoors. The beauty of the ranch lies in the simple details which are not ornamental but essential. When the Ranch was en vogue, applied decoration - like you would see on a Tudor, for instance - was considered old-fashioned. Rather, the details are only those required to finish the house, such as door trim, baseboards, crown molding, and cabinets.

If you have one of these American originals in need of home remodeling, we recommend capitalizing on its simple features and clean design. While the essential details are not ornamental, they do not need to be boring either. Today we have a variety of materials to choose from, like metals or woods, to add flare - not decoration - to your Rambler. We also recommend embracing the indoor/outdoor elements unique to this design. We live in an area famed for its amazing outdoors, and this home style allows you to connect to them every day.