Express Yourself: Define Your Remodeling Wants & Needs

Here is a great solution to help define your remodeling hopes and dreams to express them clearly to your contractor/ designer. Remodeling is not just fixing the bad and broken.  It is a total upgrade; a renovation of tired materials, old technologies, and dated design. Think of remodeling as you would a new car purchase. You consider the reliability and warranty when shopping for your new vehicle you.  While these are seriously important, you also consider the comfort, desirable accessories, beauty, and color. Let’s simplify this idea down to three main considerations:  lifestyle essentials, aesthetic desire, and resale value.

Lifestyle essentials – Research Your Daily Needs

What do you do in your space? How does it help you complete daily tasks? Is that basement space perfect for the kids, or maybe it will be an adult retreat?  Does your kitchen need a breakfast space for you and your family? For example, let’s say you have a love for baking.  Your kitchen should be a reflection of this passion. Marble slabs to prep tasty treats, ample oven space to bake all your delectable desserts, and counter space aplenty to cool cookies. These are all essential design elements in creating a space tailored to a life full of sweet creations.  So, get started by taking mental notes of your daily rituals and needs within your project space.  Keep in mind contractors/designers do not know your personal needs.   A clear understanding of how you live in your space allows you to pass along this knowledge to your remodeling team.

 Aesthetic Desire – Find Your Style

How do you want your new space to look and feel? Cozy and warm? Rusty and rural? Clean and modern?  Sleek and urban? Find terms that express your style and taste. To provide yourself and your contractor/designer with a clear definition of the stylistic direction of your project, create a small collection of images representing your desired taste, color palate, and atmosphere. To get started, check out the website HOUZZ.  The site provides a tool to surf their vast database of remodels and collect your favorite images to create a virtual idea bank.

Resale Value- Make It Timeless

Always consider the permanence of your decisions. Keep all investments such as cabinetry, tile work, countertops, and technology neutral.  And let’s get one thing clear… beige isn’t the only neutral, so don’t fear.  You still have many options!  Going neutral doesn’t mean you should avoid color or eclectic elements, but always incorporate your personal touches and vibrant accents to applications easily swapped out. This will allow your tastes and your space to evolve together and become a reflection of you. If in the future you decide to sell, neutral spaces become an asset to your home’s market appeal.

Bring this approach into all remodeling projects as a guide in your decision making process.  The end result will be a successful space that fulfills your needs and your dreams. Speak up about your needs. Speak up about your style. And be smart about your investments. Contractors/ designers can’t read your mind, so tell us what you want. Insist on what you need. Get started!

Be sure to contact the dRemodeling team if you have questions or ideas about your next remodeling project. 

Drexel Hill, Philadelphia Dream Bathroom Remodel

A recent remodeling project took the dRemodeling team to Drexel Hill to renovate a cramped, outdated bathroom. The homeowner wanted to update her drab bathroom and turn it into a luxurious, hotel-worthy space. Rich, warm tones combined with high-end materials easily turned this bathroom into a chic and sophisticated room that could easily be found in any 5-star hotel.

Remember, if you’re ready to give your bathroom a facelift, contact dRemodeling for all of your Philadelphia bathroom remodeling needs. 

Top 10 Reasons You Should Remodel Your Kitchen

Kitchen remodels are always one of our top requests at dRemodeling. We take pride in all of our past Philadelphia kitchen remodel projects, and always look forward to taking on new kitchen remodel challenges.

Does your kitchen need an update? View these top 10 reasons you should remodel your kitchen to see if it’s time to remodel!

 1.    Your Kitchen Is Too Small. Need more storage space? Hate the cramped layout of your kitchen? Remodeling is a great way to update your kitchen and create more space. An experienced contractor can expand your kitchen to give you the look and the square footage you want.

2.    More Products Than Ever. With interior design and home remodeling at the forefront of many company’s minds, there are more kitchen products than ever to choose from. Get a custom island, new cabinetry, the latest backsplashes, modern countertops and beautiful appliances in your kitchen with a great remodel.

3.    Your Kitchen Is Outdated. If your kitchen is stuck in the 1960’s, it can really make your whole house look outdated. Updating your kitchen to a new design and layout will bring your home into 2012.

 4.    Huge Return on Kitchen Remodels. Kitchens are one of the few places you can see a huge return on investment with a remodel. Time and time again, a little spending in the kitchen can up the resale value of your home.

5.    Improve Your Cooking. If you love being in your kitchen, you’ll most likely cook more often and enjoy the space much more. Improve your cooking, and your quality of life, by making a few adjustments to your kitchen with a quality remodel.

6.    It’s a Quick Project. Hiring quality contractors that have experience with kitchen remodels means that your kitchen renovation will get done quickly and affordably. An average kitchen remodel takes just a few weeks at most.

7.    You Can Save on Energy Costs. When you decide to upgrade, go with appliances and lighting fixtures that will cut down on your energy costs throughout the year.

8.    You Just Want a Change. There is nothing wrong with deciding that the countertops you once loved just aren’t your style anymore. Make some quick adjustments to things like counters, backsplashes, flooring or cabinetry to instantly change the look of your kitchen.

9.    You Want a Gourmet Kitchen. Have you gotten really interested in cooking? Do you have a lot of guests over and entertain in the kitchen? It may be time to upgrade your standard kitchen to a gourmet kitchen. Remodeling your current kitchen into your luxury dream kitchen will make you feel like a master chef.

10.  Additions Are Necessary. If you once had no need for an eat-in kitchen, but now have a need for this extra dining space, you may want to remodel and make some additions to your kitchen. Other additions could include an island, a pantry, a wet bar and much more.

Remember, if you’re ready to give your kitchen a facelift, contact dRemodeling for all of your Philadelphia kitchen remodeling needs. 

Bathroom Remodels for Small Bathrooms

A bathroom remodel can really change the feel of a home with just a few small adjustments. Even if you have a small bathroom, updating the space can help take your bathroom from a drab and dated space to a sleek and stylish bathroom.

A small bathroom is a great place to make a statement. Making sure the space is cohesive in terms of color palette and materials used, you can really push the limits in terms of color and textures. Often times, homeowners will feel more comfortable experimenting on a small room than a larger room. So now is your chance to mix it up with a great remodel!

If you’re working with a full bath, opt for an updated shower stall with glass enclosures to open up the space and make it feel bigger than it is. Pedestal sinks and wall mounted sinks will also give the illusion of more space by freeing up a bit of the floor that a larger vanity would occupy. If you do want a vanity with storage space, check out some floating vanities that offer a modern look without hogging floor space.

Light fixtures are another way that you can update a small bathroom without spending much money. Size-proportionate sconces and light fixtures should be used so that the lighting doesn’t overwhelm the space. Also be conscious of size when choosing mirrors and other bathroom hardware.

When it comes time to decide what to do with the walls, this is your chance to really push the boundaries and work with bold, warm colors or fun patterns. Play with wallpapers, or opt for a tiled accent wall. Glass mosaic tile on one wall, or a section of the bathroom, will instantly brighten the room.

Use these tips when updating your small bathroom to get the most out of the space. Remember that sticking to scale and playing with colors, materials and textures are all great ways to totally revamp and remodel the room.

For more design ideas, tips and information about bathroom remodeling, check out the dRemodeling Philadelphia Bathroom Remodeling section of our blog.