Selecting and Designing a Remodeling Project

Perhaps it’s those brass fixtures and green counter tops in your ca. 1977 kitchen that have you thinking of remodeling. Maybe it’s the cramped quarters of that cute “starter home” that now strain to fit a growing family? Or maybe it’s a house that has grown too big, now that the little birds have flown the nest? Whatever has you perusing the pages of the home magazines in the aisle at the local hardware store, you have come to the right place to guide you through the process of choosing the right project for your home.

Ideas, ideas, and more ideas

When you first start thinking about remodeling, it helps to gather inspiration from a variety of sources. Look at magazines, websites, and the projects you admired at your friend’s or neighbor’s house. Gather images in a folder and store them away. Look at them again as you get closer to starting your project and cull out the ones that no longer speak to you. When you have figured out what particular aspects of a remodel appeal to you most – open shelving, say, or a kitchen island/table combo – start to look for more images of that particular aspect to find your particular style. Check out these inspirational sites!

Hire a professional

At this point, you may wish to begin consulting with a professional, be it a designer, architect, or a contractor. Each of these professionals will be able to help you define the scope of your project and set a realistic budget.

Popular remodeling projects

Kitchens

Kitchens have evolved over the past thirty years or so from a more functional space for preparing food to become the center of a home’s activity: it’s in the kitchen that families hang out together, kids do their homework, food is not only prepped but served and guests are entertained.  Perhaps you want to simply update the look of your simple plywood cabinets, or maybe you hope to change the layout completely to make more space for living and entertaining. Whatever your reason, the kitchen is one of the most utilized rooms in the house and should reflect the needs and lifestyle of you and your family.

Some things to consider for a full kitchen remodel:

  • Cabinets: door styles and finishes, crown molding for upper cabinets, hardware, specialty drawer slides and accessories, under cabinet lighting, counter tops, panel-ready appliances
  • Lighting
  • Layout: moving electric or plumbing access, workspace and layout of appliances

Bathrooms

Another frequently utilized but often overlooked room in a home is the bathroom. Maybe you want to add a bathroom or update an existing half bath; or perhaps you envision a luxurious master bath with separate shower and a whirlpool tub.

Bedrooms

Perhaps your family is growing, and you need to add a nursery bedroom; or maybe an older relative is moving in and you’d like to convert that basement into living space with another bedroom and bathroom. Or is it a larger master suite that you have your eye on? Some things to consider when planning a new bedroom are what you will do in the room – sleep? study? practice violin? – storage requirements and privacy – mom and dad might not wish to have their bedroom backed up to the bonus room where the teenage daughter is having her slumber party!

Other ideas…

Other remodeling projects include adding a home office, a sunroom or screened porch, custom cabinets, a custom bar, a home theatre, a vacation home on the lake or in the country, an updated exterior – new siding, porch, windows – an artist’s studio addition, a bonus room, a garage or carport addition, a pool house…the ideas are literally limited to the imagination!

Back to The Remodeling Process