5 Simple but Life-Changing Remodeling Ideas

Now that we are through the holidays and the New Year, it’s finally time to stop procrastinating and start turning the house remodeling gears. That long list of improvements you created last year has been gathering dust for far too long, and with spring just around the corner there’s never a better time to get remodeling.

While that list is probably long and distinguished, it’s important to narrow your scope down to a few projects to make sure you follow through rather than drowning in the overwhelming flood of ‘must do’ items. Keep it short. Keep it simple. Keep it on budget. With a streamlined set of tasks laid out with a clear budget and a clear schedule, you’ll be free to complete your remodels relatively stress free. Here are 5 simple but life-changing remodeling ideas to improve your house this 2017.

1 | Exterior Siding Improvements You’ve probably been yearning to take this task on since you purchased the home and decided to ‘live with’ the pink board and batten siding with bright purple trim. Well, now’s the time to stop yearning and start doing. It’s never been more affordable to bite the bullet and re-side your home. Not only will you increase market-value and weather protection, you’ll have full creative control to give your home the curb appeal you imagined it having.

2 | Flooring Updating your flooring is a no-brainer, and should be considered to be a worthwhile improvement for anyone’s first project. It’s a great way to ease yourself into the ebb and flow of a remodel project without breaking the bank (or more importantly, your spirit). Just like with exterior siding, there are unlimited options, so it’s best to agree upon a general aesthetic first and look at specifications later. Hardwood flooring is the most ubiquitous material choice, whether solid or engineered hardwood. If you’re looking to re-floor your home on the cheap, manufacturers are working magic these days with engineered hardwoods. Bamboo is a great option too because it’s sustainable sourced, easy to install, durable, and comes in a wide range of finishes.

3 | Build a Fireplace Not too long ago adding a fireplace to your home meant ripping up some exterior walls, calling the town mason, and applying for a second mortgage to pay for the thing. Thankfully, times have changed, and adding a warm fireplace to your living room has never been easier. If your home is already stubbed out for gas, this proposition becomes a slam dunk, and there are a variety of ways you can finish the feature out – whether it be with brick, stone, or blackened steel. If you don’t have a gas hook-up, there is a growing list of wall mounted fireplace options.

4 | Make a Space for a Home Office You should look into sourcing some commercial grade hardwood floors, plenty of natural light (and ideally a view), and a desk that makes you feel like some work is about to get done. Be deliberate about every piece of furniture, and if you are creating this space by adding new walls, be sure to consider how you will be using your home office so you get things perfect the first time. You might even consider talking to an architect to make best use of your existing space.

5 | Rear Deck or Patio The backyard is the homeowner’s best friend. Host BBQs, a backyard is nothing without a proper place to flip burgers and kick up your loafers. Before you dive those loafers into the deep end, however, you might want to consider how the topography of your yard might determine going with a deck vs a patio. If your yard is sloping away from the house, a deck is going to be your best option. For flat yards, or yards that slope towards the home, a patio is the way to go.

Give us a call for help; you will be enjoying a margarita under your veranda a lot faster than the DIY way.