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NEWS




If you want to make a big change where you live, you typically have two choices—update something about your current home or look for something entirely new. If you’re in the homebuying camp, it’s important to know that new home purchases are fairly sluggish, with generally high home prices and interest rates, and a limited supply of homes. Experts told Forbes Home that staying put and renovating an existing property is more appealing for many homeowners.


One of the biggest home trends of this year that we’ve noticed is genuinely custom home design, and homeowners and designers alike are adopting this practice. In fact, Paulina Hospod and Albert Rutkowski, founders at AhA Interiors, say that in this challenging home landscape, making a home that truly works for them is one of the most significant deciding factors for homeowners who decide to renovate over buying new.




Renovation Projects That Make a Big Impact


BATHROOM UPGRADES


Focusing on the rooms you and your family use most frequently is a safe bet with any home renovation project, making upgrading bathrooms a top priority for many homeowners. If your bathroom looks like it belongs in a different decade, a full renovation may be in order, but there are plenty of options for smaller projects in this room that can make a major impact.


Jarrett Oakley, TOTO’s director of marketing, shared a variety of popular bathroom projects that help you see major changes without tearing down any walls. He pointed to replacing your vanity to change the room’s look and add more storage, as well as adding new flooring and lighting as popular bathroom projects that can level up the room. It’s important to note the order of operations here too: Hospod and Rutkowski note that big items like flooring should always come first.


But not all upgrades need to be so plainly practical: Both Oakley and Naomi Neilson, founder and CEO of Native Trails, pointed to a tub upgrade as a worthy project for many, especially those who like to wind down with a good soak.


“When space allows, ditching an older built-in bathtub for a beautiful, sculptural freestanding tub makes a huge visual impact, and can really be the key to transforming a standard bathroom into a spa-like sanctuary,” Neilson points out.


Fixtures generally are a good choice for upgrades, as Danielle DeBoe Harper, senior creative style manager at Moen, mentioned. She pointed to sinks as the focal point of the bathroom and kitchen (more on the latter in a second), and a place where you can express creativity. Taking advantage of the mixed metal trend or opting for a tall or ornate sink can all be fun options if you want to make a bit of a statement.


A FOCUS ON KITCHENS


Another obvious choice for home renovation projects is in the kitchen. This room is perhaps the most common one to receive a facelift, but knowing where to start and which projects to take on can be challenging.


“Kitchens are very impactful,” says Richard Davis from Remodeling Consultants LLC. “It’s the space we use the most in a home…Considering resale value in the future, it’s probably the most important space to a potential buyer as well. Kitchen remodels can be an overwhelming and stressful experience for people. Most would prefer to purchase a home with a newer kitchen so they don’t have to endure the hassle of renovating a kitchen, at least not immediately.”


Given this project’s resale value and potential ROI, many experts noted that you may want to consider putting more of your budget behind a kitchen renovation by upgrading more or all of the space. A common project is opening up the kitchen or generally making it bigger.


“In most older homes, the kitchen originally served primarily as a workspace; now we use kitchens as a gathering place for family and friends,” Stephen Pallrand, the owner of Home Front Build, points out. “How would a remodel that opens up the kitchen to an adjacent dining or living room make a difference in the way your family lives, interacts, entertains? Do you even still need a formal dining room—or can it be absorbed into the kitchen altogether?”


However, if your kitchen is still in fighting shape, but just needs a few new touches to make meal prep or Sunday dinner easier to whip up, upgrading your commonly used appliances like stoves, fridges and dishwashers can be great touches, as can redoing cabinets and flooring.


LEVELING UP THE EXTERIOR


Impactful home design doesn’t end at your front door: The exterior of your home deserves some love too. Whether you decide to upgrade the outside of your home because of some damaged siding, to give it a refreshed look or to boost your home’s value, it can be a worthwhile project.


“Generally speaking, curb appeal can be very important and impactful,” Davis says. “It’s the first impression we get when we see a house. The nicer and larger a home looks means a great deal for resale value later.”


One obvious outdoor upgrade is your home’s siding. Eleni Vydra, director of brand marketing at James Hardie, suggested a low-maintenance material like fiber cement siding and says homeowners should generally look for materials that can stand up to the weather in their given climate and match the aesthetics of their home.


Experts also suggested upgrading another big home feature on your home’s exterior: the roof. If your roof is reaching the end of its life or has been giving you issues, renovating it can be a wise investment whether you stay put for a while or want to sell.


“Ensuring your roof is not only beautiful but also secure can make it easier to sell your home, as most people don’t want to deal with costly roof repairs right after buying a house,” says Stephen Riale, CARE area manager at GAF.


It’s also worth considering all of the features not attached to your home: A backyard oasis can serve as an extra entertainment space, a relaxing hobby in the form of gardening or just an extra bit of appeal to any potential buyers.


“Outdoor spaces also deserve attention,” says interior designer Alice T. Chan of Freemodel, a pre-sale home renovation company. “Upgrading your backyard can effectively extend your home’s living space. Outdoor living areas offer a means to expand your home’s perceived size without increasing its footprint.”


Consider touches like redoing the hardscaping, upping your landscaping game with low-maintenance native plants or adding small additions like a paver patio. If you want to take on a big project, adding a larger deck or even a pool may be in the cards. And if ROI is your aim, you’re in luck here: The National Association of Realtors’ 2023 Remodeling Impact Report found 100% cost recovery on projects like upgrading your landscaping and adding an outdoor kitchen.




If a home remodel is on your horizon, you're probably filled with excitement. Everyone loves a new residential design, but in order to get there, you have to get through the demolition first. Some home renovations can take up to a few weeks or months to complete depending on how intense they are, and in rooms like the kitchen or bathroom, this timeline may not seem feasible.



However, with a little planning and proactiveness on your end, you'll find that living at home during a remodel is easier than you think. All that's required is mental fortitude and these expert tips from some of our favorite contractors. We spoke to three experts about the best ways to prepare for your project for an enjoyable experience.





Order Your Fixtures Ahead Of Time


Every remodel will face unexpected problems that can delay the project's completion. One solution all three experts voiced for preventing delays as much as possible is being proactive with ordering your parts. "Make sure you're prepared for the project by having all your parts selected and ordered prior to the start of your project," Diblieux says. "Either having a lead time as to when they'll arrive or already having them on site makes a world of difference."

If you're remodeling a kitchen or bathroom and are looking at upgrading your vanity, hardware, cabinets, and countertops, having the fixtures selected ahead of time is going to save you a few headaches during the demolition phase. That way, you're not left with a mess in your home or with everyday rooms out of use for longer than they need to be.


Think Ahead For Meals

The biggest inconvenience in home remodels is extensive downtime in the kitchen. Other than the bathroom, the kitchen is one of the most used rooms in the house. It's the heartbeat of every home, but sadly, you can expect those comforting home-cooked meals to be non-existent during a renovation. But, that doesn't mean you can't enjoy any home-cooked meals. You can still cook at home with a kitchen remodel going on, you will just need to tweak a few things.

DiBlieux recommends creating a makeshift kitchen in another room. "Have a coffee maker, electric griddle, and a plastic table to set up elsewhere in the home. You also will need to relocate your fridge with the help of an extension cord."

Of course, there's always the obvious option to eat out, but if you have a grill out back, Canter says a kitchen remodel is the perfect time to fire it up. "Cooking is going to get funky in a kitchen remodel. Plan out meals for grilling out, date nights, or family nights, or invite yourself over to a friend's house for dinner."

Canter also recommends investing in a stash of paper plates, cups, and silverware for the time being until your kitchen is somewhat back to normal.


Expect Your Normal Routine To Vanish For The Time Being

The final product of a brand-new remodel is always exciting and worth every second, but getting to the finish line is very challenging. Before starting a remodel, it's important to understand that your daily routine will not go back to normal until the project is over. This can be more frustrating for households with families, but preparing for this interruption beforehand will help you stay sane in the process.

"When it comes to renovations, it's not just about planning the remodel; it’s also planning social schedules as well," Canter says. "It doesn’t matter if everything is going 100% right, you still have people that are showing up to your house daily. A lot of the time the inconveniences are not that the project is going bad, it’s the thrash to the everyday life of living in a construction zone."


Keep The Air As Clean As Possible

During the demo phase, you can expect there to be a lot of dust in the air coming from sanding and other work. To keep those dust particles from traveling into your ductwork and coming back out into the air, Smith says there are preventative steps you can take. "If you’re working in a bedroom with a return duct, tape it off—though it's not ideal for permanent use—when demo is happening or sheetrock is being sanded, anything that creates a lot of dust should be blocked off." Although your contractor will take their own preventative steps to keep the rest of your home dust-free, this step can be a big help for keeping your air clean.


Remove Furniture And Valuables

This might seem like a no-brainer, but one important aspect of living at home during a remodel DiBlieux and Smith stressed is protecting your valuables. Smith says the best thing to do is remove large pieces of furniture out of the construction room or you can wrap them in protective wrapping to keep them free from dust and paint.

Most of the time, contractors will put up a temporary zipper wall that goes all the way up the ceiling from the floor. This will keep the dust from escaping the room, but for added protection, Smith says his crew always puts down protective flooring, which comes in handy if you already have brand-new floors. For carpet, they'll lay down a plastic roll-out covering, or rosin paper for hardwood floors.


Choose A Trustworthy Contractor

Living at home during a remodel is not for the week. Projects take a while to complete, there's a lot of racket, and dust plus power tools are going to be everywhere. One way to reduce the stress is by choosing a trustworthy contractor from the start. "Check the licensure board in your state for an active license and read reviews online," says DiBlieux. "Going to job sites and observing current or finished projects is also a great idea."

No matter what kind of renovation you're undergoing, it's important to work with a contractor you feel comfortable communicating with. "When I leave a job site, we're friends now," DiBlieux jokes.





The CG Design & Construction Team was in King of Prussia, PA to attend Schluter-Systems North America 2-Day Innovation Workshop. Continuing Education like this is always a great benefit for our team and our clients!




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