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home design

Multiple Room Renovations

Multiple room renovations can be fun and rewarding. Jazz up your living space by creating an open floor plan with the use of one or more rooms. Open up a small kitchen and add useful space by connecting it with a living or dining area. No matter which rooms you’re planning to remodel, contact your experienced licensed contractor to get started with your ideas right away.

Opening Up a Small Space By Combining Areas

If you have an area of your house that is fairly small, try adding more space by combining it with another area. Knock down a wall or so to create a more open area. This is common in the kitchen home-designarea, as many people like to view the living or dining area while preparing meals. Remember that only a licensed contractor should do this kind of work, as it needs to follow code and requires building permits.

Creating a Fluid Living Space

Going for even more flow than is offered in joining two rooms? Try creating a fluid living space by combining three or more rooms. Some may choose to do this with the kitchen, dining, living, and playroom areas. That way, everything flows together nicely and the space available is also maximized. Others may do this with a child’s bedroom and playroom or a parent’s office with the playroom (for keeping a closer eye on smaller children). Whichever areas your family would use together the most or access from each other the most make for the best fluid spaces.

Open Master Bedroom Additions

Looking for more room to relax, but need an easy way to get to and from the bed and relaxation area? Try combining your master bedroom with another adjacent room for more space. An open floor plan in your master area can help things flow more easily. Obviously, you may want a door or wall separating the toilet area. However, some enjoy the comfort of an open floor design that brings multiple rooms together as one master bedroom. This often includes the sleeping area, a lounging or game area, and the master bathroom.

Open Floor Basement Ideas

Whether your basement serves as a master getaway, a family retreat, a gaming and lounge area, an exercise space, something else, or all of the above, try an open floor plan. By opening things up, you can make a smaller space seem big and a bigger space seem like a luxury. Open floor designs make it easier to get to each area and also help you maximize space. Oftentimes, they create a more organized look and feel as well.

Should You Go With an Open Floor Plan?

Before deciding on an open floor plan, consider your lifestyle. If you enjoy having a more fluid layout without so many walls and doors, this option may be the right choice for you. Talk with a licensed remodeling contractor about your ideas, needs, lifestyle, and budget to find out what works for you. Their experience with a large variety of options will help you explore and discover the ideas that fit your family’s lifestyle.

 

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You Want a Dream Home Gym

You want a dream home gym. But when would you have time to use it, amid chasing kids around? Inviting a sitter over during every workout may be impractical for your lifestyle. Use your home gym more by creating an attached playroom for your kids to enjoy while you’re working out. A reputable and licensed remodeling contractor can help you create the best space for your personal comfort, wants, and needs.

Watch Kids Easily While You Work Out

Every parent knows that when the kids are out of mediterranean-home-gymsight, it’s not a good thing. Keep an eye on those kiddos while getting in your exercise time by remodeling your home gym to add a playroom. Discuss with your contractor whether having a clear viewing area from the workout space or creating an open-style multipurpose area is best for your family’s needs. Think about which would be easier not only to watch the kids, but also to keep smaller children from accessing dangerous equipment.

Extra Exercise Space For Kids Too

Since you’ll be working out anyhow, why not add some good exercise options to your child’s attached playroom? Some options might include indoor playground equipment, children’s sports and gym equipment, or child-sized yoga balls and mats with built-in storage for watching workout videos on television. To ensure the kids don’t get bored while you’re working out, it is recommended to create an area that includes a variety of free play and exercise options. Built-in storage is a good way to stow away a large number of things that can be accessed easily.

Busy Kids Are Happy Kids

Because you are creating a space customized just for the kids, this should be a happy place for them. Your licensed contractor can go over your wants and needs to be sure it’s exactly the space to keep your kids busy in. While you take advantage of having a  home gym, the kids can do the same or simply play. Your family’s lifestyle will play a major role in the design. After all, busy kids are happy kids and they will only be busy if they like what they see in the space. So be sure to tell the contractor all of your children’s desires and your comfort and safety concerns upfront.

Convenience All-Around

Once you have a fresh new custom playroom added to your home gym, things will be so much more convenient. No more waiting for babysitters to show up or scheduling your workout time so that it’s convenient for others. No more rushing out the door to the gym and spending extra time on the commute. No more having to leave the kids behind for a workout. You can involve them instead and create a great opportunity for bonding that lasts a lifetime. Sure, some gyms have childcare or family classes, but it’s much more convenient for all involved to do it yourself at home, if at all possible. Some kids may be more comfortable exercising in their own home, which is more convenient when they need anything.

As you can see, there are many reasons building a playroom could greatly enhance your home gym time. Talk with a good contractor today to make your home gym dreams come true.  

 

columbus ohio kitchen remodel

Surviving a Kitchen Remodel

 

Remodels can become very stressful business even with the best planning. However there are ways to reduce stress to a comfortable minimum. Surviving a kitchen remodel is as much about leaving the hard part to the professionals as it is about being clear and understanding from the start. Learn how to get what you want from a remodel while expecting the unexpected.

Be Clear From The StartEastmoor Columbus Kitchen Remodel

When you give clear and concise details upfront, surviving a kitchen remodel is much simpler. Communication plays a major role in things going smoothly. For the best results, your contractor should always know exactly what you’re looking for. Try to be clear about each details, including knobs and hardware, if these need to be specific. That way, the end result is what you expect or better. For instance, if you don’t like nickel finishes, this should be specified before the project begins so that the proper materials are used. The more detailed you are, the better.

Expect the Unexpected

The basic idea is to understand that things will happen during a remodel that could cause some unexpected twists and turns in the course of the project. Rather than focus on what could go wrong, focus on whatever progress is being made no matter how big or small. If something doesn’t go according to plan, it’s best to work with your professional kitchen contractor to sort out the solution quickly, rather than get upset over the details. Generally, these twists can occur due to hidden construction issues or miscommunication. Both the contractor and homeowner should remember that problems will get resolved quicker if everyone remains calm and works together on the resolution.

Understanding and Managing Delays

Managing delays is the most important part. They are a common part of remodeling and have to be accepted as such. Sometimes a special selection may take longer to order, which could delay the kitchen remodel. If it’s important enough to wait, don’t let it deter you from your dream look. The best way to handle something like this is to be prepared beforehand. By going into a remodeling project prepared for the worst, you will more readily be able to handle any changes. Usually the worst is avoided. But being prepared just in case will help you understand small delays and appreciate positive results.

Discuss Changes Quickly

If you decide to change the materials used in your kitchen remodel, inform your contractor as quickly as possible. This will help avoid unnecessary costs. One simple change in countertop or flooring can slow down the process and/or change the cost of your kitchen remodel. Therefore, changes should be made before things get underway, wherever possible. If you have a change of heart after things get started, express your concerns right away. That way, if a change does need to happen, it’s less likely to affect other materials in the process. For instance, changing the sink choice after the countertop is installed may require installing a new countertop as well, since sink measurements can vary significantly.

 

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Should You Move Out During Your Whole House Remodel?

This is a big question, and it is one that you need to think about carefully. If you have never stayed in your home while it is being remodelled, you will have no idea of what it is like or whether you need to get out of the way. There are a lot of things to consider, and there is no single right answer – it will be a different case for every individual. However, we have gathered a few things here that you can consider before making the decision, to help you go in the right direction for you.

Think about costs

movedThis is the first thing on the minds of most homeowners, but it is not as straightforward an answer as you might think. If you stay home, instead of renting or going to a hotel, then you will save money, right? Well, maybe not. Some contractors charge more when they know that you will be staying on. This is because it makes the work more complicated for them. It is worth asking them for a quote in each situation so that you can weigh up the costs and benefits of either side.

Consider the scale

If you are just having the end of one room done, then maybe you will be alright to stay home. But if more than half of the property is affected, or all of the bathrooms, or the kitchen, you will have big problems if you stay. The same is true if work would involve taking off all or part of the roof temporarily. Consider the noise, too, and the amount of workmen involved. This may influence your decision, as there is only so much that you can put up with for an extended period of time.

Kids and pets

If you have either of the two above family members staying in your home, and then moving out might be a better option. Both children and pets need to be kept safe and away from construction work. Will their ears be too sensitive to be around machine work? Will they be easily injured if they stray too close to the work? You can put in temporary child gates or plastic sheeting, but you cannot guarantee that nothing will happen. It may also make them cranky – crying kids and howling dogs are no fun when you already have to contend with the construction noise.

Consider cleaning requirements

It can get very old, very fast to try and clean up the house when it is undergoing a remodel. Dust and dirt will get everywhere, especially if you have a wall coming down at any point. If you have part of your home inaccessible for a time, this may also cause other complications. You might have to clean dishes in the bath or sink, take clothes to a dry cleaner, or head to a neighbour’s house for a shower. How long can you put up with that for?

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How To Plan a Smoother Kitchen Remodel

Remodeling your kitchen is an important step in making your home more useful. The kitchen can be one of the most used rooms of the house. You can help make sure your kitchen remodel goes more smoothly by following some simple steps while planning.   Read more

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5 Kitchen Design Elements that Make Your Kitchen Better

A good kitchen design is a dream come true for homeowners. However, that needs lot of planning and effort to execute it the right way. Kitchen is always the central place at home because that is where many families sit together for their meals and many important conversations take place in the kitchen area. While it sounds easy to design a kitchen, but the fact is that a wrong kitchen design can make it harder for you to prepare meals and be efficient. This is exactly why you have to be sure that you are planning and focusing on great kitchen design elements that can help you to handle your current lifestyle. Read more