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For many people, their location is what’s keeping them where they are rather than their home. But when your home is no longer meeting your needs, there’s always going to be that lingering temptation to move, no matter how much you love your area and neighborhood. But there are some ways to improve and revitalize your home in an effort to avoid moving. Find out about those options below. Convert Under-Utilized Spaces If you have spaces in your home that are not being utilized, now is the time to improve them. When you convert under-utilized spaces, you can ensure your home offers more than it currently does. Maybe you have spaces in the basement and the attic that are simply not being put to use right now. If that’s the case, turning them into additional bedrooms or other functional spaces might be a good idea. Build an Extension If space is an issue in your home, you might want to think about having an extension built. When you do that, you can add the extra room you need without having to leave the neighborhood that you love. Of course, obtaining planning permission is something you’ll have to overcome but if you can do that, building an extension doesn’t have to be particularly complicated.  Image Source - CC0 License
Remodel the Most Important Rooms in the Home If there are particular rooms in the home that you see as most important, you can improve the home by remodelling those particular rooms. There are some rooms in the home that are generally seen as more important, such as the kitchen and bathroom, so those are the rooms you should probably focus your attention on for now. They’re the rooms that you use functionally every day of the week. Consider a Knockdown Rebuild There are some companies such as Bellriver Homes that can help you with knockdown rebuild projects. This is a big and drastic move to make, but it’s one that many people opt for. As the name suggests, it literally involves knocking down your existing structure and then building a new property on the newly vacant land. It’s something you should do further research into. Make Better Use of the Outdoor Space If you have a garden that’s rarely used, you should do something about that by doing something new with it. There are so many great ways to make a garden space more functional, so find the approach that’s going to work for you best. You could add a swimming pool, make it a social hub or even turn it into a vegetable garden. Adding function can bring new joy to your property and help revitalize it. As you can see, there are many options to consider when you’re looking to stay in your location but improve the home facilities you have at your disposal. At least one of the options discussed above will suit your needs and help you to revitalize your home in the way that works for you and your family.
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When it comes to designing home living spaces, bigger is better. At least when perceptions of space are involved. Unfortunately, increasing the physical dimensions is usually impossible or mega expensive. Thankfully, it is possible to trick the eyes into thinking rooms are larger. Here are five of the best ways to make it happen without the need to invest huge amounts of time or money. #1. Introduce More Light Lighter, brighter rooms will always look larger than their dark and gloomy counterparts. Whether it’s the installation of sliding doors to bring more light into the room or using ceiling lighting solutions is up to you. Dressing the windows in a more suitable manner can have a telling influence too. Either way, a combination of natural and electrical lighting should be used to create a brighter appearance. In addition to making the home look brighter, it can create a happier atmosphere. #2. Make Smarter Color Choices While bringing more light into the home establishes a positive platform, you need to do more. Choosing better color schemes can have a telling influence on the energy of a room, including spatial perceptions. Whether it’s a lighter shade of vinyl flooring, a neutral wall color, or a bold feature wall doesn’t matter. All of those features must work together to create the desired overall appearance. Meanwhile, the furniture choices can complement the strategy even further. #3. Go Open Plan Open plan living has become an increasingly popular choice in recent times. It makes the whole living area look far bigger, especially when sliding doors are used to step onto the garden. When you remove an internal wall but wish to retain the ability to section off individual spaces, sliding doors with glass panels work well. Again this ensures that the light is allowed to promote a larger vibe. Another top trick is to install a frameless shower unit rather than something that cuts off the visuals of the bathroom. #4. Build Up When looking to make rooms look larger, you will want to retain as much floor space as possible. As such, avoiding unnecessary clutter is vital. Even so, you will want to add decor features. Building up with tall cabinets rather than wide ones is a good starting point. Meanwhile, wall-mounted shelving can have a positive influence on using rooms to their full potential. Working vertically can also include making calculated choices regarding house plants or ornaments. Either way, the impact is huge. #5. Choose Big Furniture The idea of choosing larger furniture pieces may sound a little counterproductive. In reality, though, it can have a positive influence if used instead of several smaller furniture pieces. One big corner sofa can fit nicely in a difficult space compared to taking up the middle of the room with armchairs or small sofas. Further developments can be made by using retractable tables or ottomans that double up as storage as well as seating. When used with the other tricks, success is assured.  I am currently working on a project that is a minor bathroom renovation. The client wanted to update a kid’s / guest bath in a budget oriented, simple way. The concept board above represents new selections to work with the existing vanity - but adding in new countertops, sinks, faucets, mirrors, lighting, and hardware. They are going to re-tile the existing tub / shower too. Added in a few natural textured accessories to mix with the neutral, versatile color scheme!
 Over the past few months, I’ve been working with a client on her kitchen remodel. The process has been a well planned and thought out design, allowing plenty of time for thinking through the design concepts and researching the selections. For this project, the client has had a strong direction of what she likes and the look she is going for, bringing much of her inspiration to the project. While we’ve had on going communication and meetings, she has also spent time researching selections and the finishes she’d like to use. The concept board above is the most recent, finalized selections for the project. The three below (followed by the final) represent the evolution of the project as we entertained various “inspiration” photos and created the different looks, or boards, based on them. Construction is to begin in a few more months!     Throughout the pandemic, there has been an uptick in searches for interior design services. People everywhere are looking for ways to beautify and enhance their homes while inspiring everyday life. Part of having a beautiful home means having a functional home. Even though winter was just here, spring is right around the corner, and you know it will be hot. You may have been through a lot this year with a pandemic, an unprecedented freeze, and unexpected furnace and plumbing repairs. Keeping your home up-to-date is like scheduling annual health well-checks for yourself. Ensure you do not put them off for a later date. Take care of it now to prevent future problems.  Home Maintenance Make sure that you know who to call if or when the time comes for an air conditioning repair or inspection. Do not let that be another unfortunate item on your to-do list, but if it happens, call the experts in air conditioning repair. Once you find a 24/7 quality expert in this field, place the contact information both in your phone contact lists and near the unit if it is indoors. This will be helpful so that you do not need to search for both the number and reviews when you are dealing with the summer heat. Gutter Cleaning When spring arrives, the rainy season follows. Even if you took the time to clean out your gutters and downspouts before winter arrived, make time once again to clean them out. Any errant leaves or debris from winter may have landed on your home leading to the possibility of clogged gutters. Allowing the rainwater to run through the gutters and downspouts will keep water away from your home’s foundation. Foundation Inspection Once the snow has melted, walk around your home and any outlying buildings to inspect the foundations. Look for shifting, new cracks, and any noticeable activity from animals over the winter. Sometimes it is difficult to remember what your foundation looks like from one season to the next. Take photos every year to have a point of reference that will aid in determining if there are any problem areas. If you find any issues, consult with a professional to assess damage or prevent it from occurring. Exterior Cleaning Another area that can use annual cleaning is the outside of your home. You can rent or purchase a pressure washer or hire professionals to service your home if it will be unsafe for you to do so. Pressure washing will clean off all of the dirt and dust that may have accumulated on your exterior. Sometimes mold and mildew collect on the outside as well. Keeping the outside of your home clean and in good repair preserves the beauty and aesthetics that you have worked to attain. Here is a quick video showing items you can clean with a pressure washer and how to do it.  When you are a homeowner of any type, it is important to follow a routine maintenance schedule throughout the year to keep your home in working order. You want your living space to be comfortable, cool, and in good repair for all of the good times ahead.
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Can help with: Remodeling feedback for design direction, layout, colors, finishes, materials, paint colors, etc. Room design functionality, layout, ideas, concept, direction, sources. Home staging or room refresh ideas. Or any design questions or dilemmas that you may have... For home, office, retail, or any spaces you are looking for help with. Works by emailing your questions & photos of the rooms or areas you are needing help with. Design ideas and direction will be provided in written feedback with concepts, links, sources, color selections, solutions, etc. Design consultations for $100/hr. (Can also be for 30 min of time at $50.) Payable via Venmo or PayPal. Please reply to this email for more info or your design questions. |
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