Renovate, Remodel...Relax!

By Kathi Fleck and Summer Morris

Among the timely and valuable topics, issues and questions Renovate, Remodel... Relax! addresses include:
• How to find your inner designer and how to know when you need to hire help
• Creating a realistic budget for your renovation (and sticking to it)!
• The 28 questions you must ask before you hire a contractor
• Handling project delays and chan

• Language: English
• Publisher: LoneStar Publications
• Release date: Feb 16, 2015
• ISBN: 9780989669122

Book preview

PART I

PUTTING THE PROCESS TOGETHER

Chapter 1

Dare to Dream

Most homeowners don't remodel often, and many have never remodeled. When you first start to explore the idea of remodeling your home, a few common questions come to mind. They are:

Why should I remodel my home?

A remodel will update your home, make it more comfortable, improve energy efficiency, repair problems, help with maintenance, and increase the value of your home. The major financial reasons for remodeling, as surveyed by the National Kitchen and Bath Association in 2010, still hold true in 2014 and include:

When is the best time to remodel?

Most homeowners have been thinking about remodeling or updating a part of their home for several months to years before starting the process. The average time before starting a remodel is 18 months.

How do I plan for a remodel and who will help me?

There are several parts in the planning stage, from gathering ideas to developing a budget to choosing a contractor. This book will take you through all the major aspects of a remodel.

Of course, these are just a few of the questions. When it is time to start your remodel, you may find it overwhelming and the questions may seem endless. When working with my clients, I tell them that the planning phase (or the pre-remodeling) is indeed a process. Usually it takes a few visits or reviews of the products and designs to figure out the look and feel that works best for you. And, if you take a little time in working through the process, you will become comfortable with your choices and pleased with the end result.

What's Your Dream?

My first goal in working with clients is to help them create a final look that will thrill them. I am most pleased when my clients tell me, This is exactly what I wanted. I wouldn't change a thing. I love making my clients' dreams come true.

To make your remodeling dreams come true, you first need to know what those dreams are. Some people are very specific with what they want right from the get-go. From paint colors to flooring to every other detail, they know what the finished product should look like. Others (the majority of people) enter the process with more questions than answers.

If you're unsure on what your look should be, that's okay. Now is the time to dream and explore many different angles. Here are some suggestions for making your dream phase fun and productive.

Blue is my favorite color… but beige is neutral and might stay in style longer. A Tuscan theme would be ideal… but will my house sell in five years? Wood floors are beautiful… but are they too noisy? And so the confusion about how to proceed begins.

Create an Idea Folder

You can find many books and magazines on any aspect of home design: kitchen, bathroom, living room, master bedroom, kid's bedroom, etc. If you are looking for a specialty area, such as laundry room or outdoor kitchen, you'll find resources that deal with those specific areas as well. Additionally, the internet is a rich resource for design inspiration. Sources such as www.Houzz.com and www.Pinterest.com offer many ideas at the touch of a fingertip.

Browse through the various books, magazines, and websites, and tear out or print the pictures you like. Place them in file folders, which I call Idea Folders. At this stage, you want to pick out what you like, without the concern of making any final design decisions. I can't emphasis this enough, as most homeowners become frustrated and overwhelmed with all the choices they need to make. There's no need to make all those decisions when you're just starting out. Right now, you really just want to get a feel of what you like and don't like for the new look.

For example, the picture you place in your idea folder could have a cabinet handle you like, a floor color you find interesting, or a lighting fixture that caught your eye. You may dislike everything else in the photo. Even so, keep the photo for the one element you find attractive.

The idea is to choose pictures of anything and everything you like. Eventually, it all comes together. As you review the pictures in your idea folder, you can start to see the general direction of your new look. For example, one client was having a hard time visualizing the look in her new master bathroom. She pulled dozens of pictures from the internet and emailed me collages of the different colors and materials. She chose several paint colors for the walls, various light fixtures for over the vanity, and several options for ceiling fans. Together, we compared mirrors, towel bars, cabinet hardware, and all the other design elements. We chose single pieces from the photos and starting mixing and matching. Finally, she was able to see the design elements together in a way that worked for her, and she felt confident that the room would be spectacular in the end.

Look to Your Friends and Family

If you have any friends or family doing a remodel, take pictures of their project—both the before and the after. When you review actual Before and After photos of a real home you've visited, it becomes easier to picture your own changes. At the very least, you'll start to wish and envision a new and updated look in your own home.

Many of my clients have wanted to make changes for several years, but they didn't know who to call or how to start. By watching a friend or family member remodel their home, they got a boost of creativity and inspiration. Of course, you may not want the exact look of your friend's home, but you may like certain aspects of the remodel. Put any pictures you do like into your idea folder.

Visit Model Homes

Model homes are a great place to see the latest looks on colors, wall textures, plumbing fixtures, new kitchens and bathrooms, and outdoor living spaces. Touring new model homes is a common occurrence for shoppers who want to browse and gather ideas. This differs from visiting open houses of older pre-owned homes, which are manned by Realtors® representing the seller of the home. Realtors are more inclined to talk with potential buyers rather than shoppers.

When you tour model homes, be sure you visit different areas and price ranges. The higherpriced homes will have the high-end appliances and fixtures. This does not mean you need to purchase these items; rather, it'll give you an idea of which direction the market is