Author: ddev

Remodeling projects can be quite complicated, problematic or even overwhelming. In addition to the design, you also need to buy the materials, move the furniture around and spend precious time redecorating your house. If you’ve already invested good money into your home and you want to keep up the good work, it is wise to hire an interior designer.

A remodeling company that works with experienced interior designers can easily design your home addition or remodel in a short period of time, working in sync in order to transform your house into a haven for your family. Of course, you can take things in your own hands and start your own DIY remodeling project. However, you will miss out on all the benefits of hiring an interior designer. Here are some of the most important:

Quick Turnaround

When you have a professional team of interior designers working on your remodel project, you can rest assured that they will do a marvelous job in a short period of time. Additionally, because there will be more than one person working on this project, any potential problems will be detected faster after a short brainstorming session.

Save Precious Time

Time is the most important asset we have today. For most of us, one hour of our precious time equals $20 or more. A remodeling project requires a huge time investment, which is something most of us don’t have. If you have plenty of time, you might have fun remodeling your kitchen or bathroom all by yourself or with your family. However, if you are like most of us, you would benefit from having an interior designer professional design your new space while you focus on other things.

Save Money

Even though it might sound unreal, hiring a remodeling company to design your home addition can help you save thousands of dollars in the long run. Even though you might need to invest more money upfront, in the long run you get to save money, because your remodeled room will be safe from potential problems. When designers remodel your room, they make sure to think long term and to ensure anticipated costs and problems are reduced at a minimum.

Fewer Chances for Errors

A professional company will always come with a detailed plan in order to identify all materials required, tools to be used and determine the placement of each piece of furniture. With one of these written plans, any chance of error is diminished considerably. Conversely, you might not have the time or the skill to write a detailed plan on how to remodel your house.

Peace of Mind

Lastly, working with experienced interior designers give you the peace of mind that your remodeling project is in good hands. Instead of trying to do things on your own, you can let the pros do their job while you can relax or perform your daily activities.

There is no doubt that having a team of interior designers design your home addition or remodel is the best choice you have when you want to start a new remodeling project. Capitalize on all the benefits of working with an experienced remodeling company and get the peace of mind that your new room or addition will look stunningly beautiful.

Remodeling your home is a very huge decision that you can make as a homeowner. Making improvements to your home increases your lifestyle as well as the beauty of the home. Everyone would like to get the best services after the remodeling process. To ensure this, you should hire an experienced Anchorage Remodeling company to help you during the process of remodeling. It is upon everyone homeowner to make sure that the professionals to do the work are qualified since a subpar company may lead to problems during the work. It is very essential to hire the company and take the following simple steps in order to make sure that you hire the right remodeling company.

Interviews

You should select at least 3 companies to bid for your remodel project. Some quotes can also assist you to determine a reasonable price for the work once completed. You are supposed to interview the 3 potential contractors so as to see the company you may give the work. Always make sure that you are communicating with the contractor comfortably. Some situations may arise especially when you want to instruct or redirect the performance of the contractor. Select the company that you will be most comfortable with to do the work.

Insurance and license

You are supposed to ask for the license number of the company prior committing the work to it. You should then contact the state’s contractor licensing department in order to verify if the license of the company is in good standing as well as current. The department will then inform you if there are any issues with that license number. You should then ask if an insurance cover will be given for the remodel. If the company fails to provide insurance, you may find another one that will provide.

Experiences and references

During the process of hiring a remodeling company you should also determine the experience level the professionals holds. In addition to this, you should also ask for a portfolio of any completed project so as to see. The portfolio should contain the photos of the project before and after remodeling. Also remember to always ask for a list of jobs the company has completed as well as the value of the work it has done. To fully ensure that the company is capable to do the work, ask for the references. Contact the previous clients the company worked for and ask about how was the performance.

Estimates

You can get 3 or more estimates from various companies. The estimate should contain the approximated total cost of the entire work. Compare the costs and this will assist you greatly to evaluate about the cash you should pay the company.

Contract

A comprehensive contract is very crucial when hiring a remodeling company. Ensure that the contract clearly states the kind of work the company will be responsible for, the promised completion date, the total cost as well as the limited warranty for the entire work. It should also contain the process the company should use so as to submit change orders if anything unexpected happens during the remodel. This is the legal document which both parties shall be held to if anything bad happens.

In conclusion, the above tips are very important and you should always use them during the process of hiring a remodeling company. If you are planning to remodel you home, you can just try the above tips and surely they will work out fine for you.

Each month over 6 million Americans tune in to watch professionals fix and renovate homes. They look at these shows for inspiration and ideas. However, in this renovation DIY craze, people are often left with so many ideas but a small construction skill set and even smaller budget. Here are four great kitchen upgrades that will refresh and revive your kitchen!

1. Updating lighting

Lighting is such an important feature in a kitchen. Natural light is important, however in dark Alaskan winters a kitchen must have adequate lighting. Lights under and inside cabinets make a huge difference in making your kitchen look bigger than it is. It helps take away shadows that darken counter-tops and make it hard to see. Can lighting also helps create an even light throughout the entire kitchen. This not only increases visibility of food prep, but also creates a warm and open atmosphere for anyone spending time in your kitchen. Never underestimate the power of lighting.

2. Update Countertops

While this project my cost more up front, it does give your kitchen a huge face-lift. With these dark counters and cabinets, the entire kitchen absorbs light. Adding light counters transforms this small kitchen into a light room that looks larger than it is.

3. Update Flooring

In many older homes, the linoleum in the kitchen has never been updated. Often there is a stark contrast from beautiful hardwood or laminate flooring in the dining room, to heavily patterned boxy linoleum in the kitchen. Consider updating your flooring to create a beautiful transition from your dining area to the kitchen.

4. Add Back splash

Not only does a back splash protect your walls from spills and cooking grease, it also is a beautiful accent to any kitchen. This is a very practical addition to your kitchen renovation. If you need to lighten up your kitchen, consider adding a light colored back splash. It is an inexpensive way to give your room a huge face-lift.

4 Common Mistakes People Make When Choosing a Room Color

Painting a room can totally transform it’s the look, but it can also ruin the atmosphere and decor of an otherwise beautiful room. Because painting a room is very time consuming, rather costly and exhausting, you want to do it right the first time. To help you choose the right shade for your room, we’ve put together a list of 4 common mistakes people usually make when choosing a room color.

1) Choosing the color only looking at paint chips.

When choosing a shade for your room, it isn’t advisable to only look at paint chips. Instead, we suggest that you take your paint chips home and place them on your room’s walls. Do your best to visualize the color on your walls. If there is a light source in your room, open it. Visualize the color with the light on, with the light off, with the natural light gleaming through your window or with the panels shut. Sometimes a hue can look great on the paint chip but look completely different once on the walls. Your visualization efforts will insure that don’t have any surprises when you finally decide to paint your room.

2) Choosing a color which makes your room look smaller

Dark hues will invariably make a room look smaller, just like black clothes make a person look thinner. This is an optic characteristic of dark colors. Dark shades can be perfect if your aim is to actually make a room look smaller, cozier and more comfortable. Dark colors are often used in reading rooms or sitting room. On the other hand, if you do not want to make your room look smaller, go for paler hues. Furthermore, remember that sometimes a color can look darker on your walls than it does on the paint chip, mostly due to the lighting in the room. When in doubt, go one shade lighter than the shade you wish to use.

3) Going for a look while forgetting lifestyle and the purpose of the room

Each room has a very distinctive purpose. Generally, the living room is a social room, where you entertain, eat, talk, laugh, and watch TV. A bedroom is a place of relaxation and peace. The office is often meant for tasks that require concentration. A bathroom is a place of cleanliness and purity. These general rules may be different in your home, for example, you may want a very relaxing, calm living room. In any case, remember the cardinal rules of colors and moods. Warm tones like reds and oranges, or earth tones, are great for social rooms as they stimulate conversation and are lively. The same goes for the dining room. Blues, purples, greens, and other cool hues, especially in dark tones, are great for the bedroom because they are soothing and slow down the heart rate. Green is great for your office or workroom since it stimulates creativity and effectiveness.

4) Choosing a stylish color which won’t pass the test of time

Decor fashion changes with the seasons. When you choose a highly stylish color you may have an extremely chic and fashionable room, but after a time, if this color is not truly suited to your needs and to the purpose of your room, you will tire of it and will want to repaint the room. If you are looking for a fashionable touch to add to your room, go with accessories instead of paint. A room color should be able to last more than a season. We advise you to choose something that will take you through the years and which can be adapted to many decor looks. As you can see, choosing a color for your room requires a bit of thought and a pinch of patience. Of course, the most important is that you love the color you choose and that it sublimes your room.

Selecting the right builder can be an overwhelming process. First, consider the scope of your project. Do you need a specialist or a general contractor? After you have laid out your specific expectations, let the builder take the reigns. With the right builder, your project will go as smoothly as possible. Read More…

Have you considered how you will balance a realistic budget with your storage and materials preferences? Is accessibility a current or future requirement for your family? Ask yourself these 13 questions before making the big decision to tackle a renovation. Read More…

Have you considered how you will balance a realistic budget with your storage and materials preferences? Is accessibility a current or future requirement for your family? Ask yourself these 13 questions before making the big decision to tackle a renovation. Read More…

Bathrooms are often the room in the house that is the dullest, most boring and most overlooked when it comes to design. Before starting a remodel, it’s important to know exactly what you’re getting into before you tear the room apart, such as how much it will cost, how long it will take and what kind of vanity will fit and look right. This article offers helpful tips to take before jumping into your bathroom remodel. Read More…

Get your house set for summer with a mix of maintenance musts and breezy room refreshes. Here is a 15 tip guide to help you whip your house into summer shape! Read More…

8 Ways to Stick to Your Budget

The budget of your remodel or renovation isn’t always as straightforward as you hoped, or as easy to create and plan. Knowing exactly what you want and being consistent, and finding a balance between holding your ground when necessary but also considering alternatives, are just a few examples of how to stick to your budget. Read more ways to cohere to your renovation goals. Read More…