Create an Oasis With Outdoor Pools, Patios and Pergolas

August 24, 2016 by ·

Oasis With Outdoor Pools, Patios and PergolasThe living space outside your home is just as beneficial to you and your family’s comfort as the indoor areas are. Outdoor entertaining and relaxation are very important in our hot. Installing unique outdoor pools, patios, pergolas and other external features can help turn a normal expanse of lawn into a true oasis of tranquility and fun.

For many homeowners, enjoying the backyard in the hot summer months begins with a sparkling blue swimming pool. Considering the exterior style of your home, you can select from many different pool shapes and sizes to suit the overall look of your property. If your house is a very traditional brick façade with columns, a rectangular pool etched in a wide brick and cement patio might match your taste. If you have a home that features natural stone and wood beams, a more free-form pool surrounded by rocks and plantings may be more your style.

Outdoor Entertaining

No matter what shape and size of pool you have installed, what really adds to the enjoyment of the area is all the hardscaping and structures you have built around it. After all, a pool is not just for swimming in. You may also want to entertain poolside or relax on patio lounge chairs and invite friends over for a pool party – complete with an outdoor kitchen.

The area directly surrounding the pool should be covered with a solid flooring such as cement, stone or brick. Some also use wood decking to form the platform for chairs, tables and walkways. The solid surface gives you not only a place to gather and relax but also increases pool safety.

Once you have made the decision about what material will surround the swimming pool, it is time to consider your comfort and enjoyment of the area more closely. Although most people purchase tables and umbrellas to provide some shade, a physical structure built into the landscape scheme will cause less problems in the long run. After all, it won’t blow over when you’re trying to eat and it will last much longer by resisting damage and wear.

If you have a large property and room in the budget, you may want to consider having a pool house built to give you and your guests a convenient place to change and to rest out of the sun. Some prefer a quaint gazebo complete with benches around the outer edge. A straight roof over an outdoor cooking area can provide even more benefits. If your family enjoys uninterrupted entertaining and barbecues, this will allow the grill to continue cooking and also protect guests should the weather deteriorate.

Another structure that can provide some shade and relief from the direct sun is a pergola. These do not have solid roofs but, instead, feature a sturdy structure with vertical wooden boards across the top to provide partial sunshade. These can be left as is, may be covered with a cloth or curtains or have a vine grown up them to provide more shade and beauty in the long run.

Isn’t it time to build your perfect backyard oasis? Outdoor entertainment, fun and relaxation are only a few steps away. Please call us today to discuss these and other options for your outdoor space.

Filed Under: Outdoor Living Spaces, Porches Decks Pergolas ·

Carpet, Tile or Wood – The Perfect Floors for Every Room

August 3, 2016 by ·

Carpet, Tile or Wood – The Perfect Floors for Every RoomForty years ago, hardwood floors were covered with linoleum and shag carpeting. Twenty years ago, parquet and vinyl tiles covered floors. Even floors from ten years ago can seem outdated and old fashioned now. Replacing carpet, tile, vinyl and wood for more naturally modern options will instantly transform the look of all your rooms.

What floors are right for you?

Carpet Options for Bedroom, Living Room and More

For decades, wall-to-wall carpeting has been the standard floor covering for rooms where people wanted something soft underfoot. With all the possible styles and colors available today, everyone can find something they love. Carpet that covers the entire floor should always be installed on top of padding by a professional. This makes the carpet even more comfortable to walk on by giving it an extra plush and cozy feel.

Natural Tiles in Bathroom and Kitchen Rule

Although tile has been used in kitchens and bathrooms because it is very easy to clean and is impervious to water, the styles of tiles that are now being used lean toward more natural materials and appearances. Vinyl is still an option for those with smaller budgets, but even those man-made fabrics are being designed to look like natural stone or wood.

Ceramic and glass are used primarily in bathrooms and as backsplash behind the kitchen sink. Some like very small colorful glass tiles while some prefer large subway tiles and, still, others choose large ceramic squares that give a smoother appearance.

So many options are on the market today so you can create the look you want. Stone is truly the best modern tile option for the kitchen and bathroom floors. Consider large tiles of pale marble for a very elegant finish or multi-colored tiles that can be artfully pieced together like a puzzle for country-style charm.

Hardwood Throughout Will Last Years

Hardwood floors will never go out of style, but they are decidedly in style these days if used throughout the entire home. The wide planks or narrower boards are installed in the same direction in every room to seamlessly draw you from one room to the next. There are many different styles and innumerable stain colors to choose from.

The benefit of having hardwood floors installed in every room of the house not only increases the look of cohesiveness but also creates a clean and traditional look that does not interfere with any decorating scheme. You can easily lay a large rug over the wood in each room to display a completely different style.

Floors in the home are one of the first things that can become worn out or outdated. If your home is in serious need of floor remodeling or renovation, you have so many options to choose from. Whether you install stone or ceramic tile, wall-to-wall carpeting or hardwood boards, you can create the look you want that will be in style and will endure for many years to come.

Filed Under: Remodeling ·

Style Ideas for a Multi-Level Deck in Your Backyard

July 13, 2016 by ·

Ideas for a Multi-Level Deck in Your Backyard

If you want to improve the look and function of your backyard, I’m convinced that nothing beats a deck. These have been popular for decades as places to relax after a day’s work and entertain friends on the weekends. A single-level deck provides a sturdy floor to do that, but a multi-level deck increases use even more. Before finalizing plans with your deck builder in College Station, TX, I would like for you to consider everything a multi-level deck has to offer.

Multi-Level Deck Perfect for Sloping Back Yards

If you have a backyard that changes elevation at all, a multi-tier deck is practically essential. If you have a flat deck installed, there will be open, wasted space underneath. While I’m aware this could be covered with boards or lattice, it would still not be as attractive as another section of usable deck.

Start with a level of decking next to the house for easy access through a sliding glass door or another exit. Wide stairs can invite people to step down to the lower level and, then, on to the grass of the backyard to explore the gardens.

Separate the Private Deck from the Party Deck

This style idea is most used when there are both upstairs and downstairs decks on the back of the house. Many people enjoy having an outdoor spot right next to the master bedroom for early morning relaxation and late-night star watching. You may not want your friends and family to head up there during a barbecue, however.

Gated stairs can separate the upper tier from the lower tier in an attractive way that also improves safety if small children are present. This does not affect the style of the cohesive deck system.

Incorporate Pools, Hot Tubs, Pergolas and Gazebos

Backyard pools and hot tubs are often installed near the house and have their own deck, paving or stone surrounds. If you have a deck built at the back of your house, I would recommend extending it to go around the water feature as well. It not only gives a more unified look to the backyard but also makes using the pool or hot tub easier and more accessible.

These same rules apply to any gazebo or pergola you have in your yard. Whether your deck is one level or multi-tier, these additions make it so much nicer. In the hot Texas summers, having a spot of shade and more seating is always welcome for family and friends.

A gazebo could be built either below the level of the regular deck or above it. Pergolas frequently extend directly from the home’s roof line so they would be on the top tier of a multi-level deck setup. Sunrooms and screened porches are other options for us to consider.

Whether you love to entertain tons of family and friends with Texas-style barbecues all summer long or simply want more space to enjoy quiet moments outside, multi-level decks are great options. With the right style, they can give you plenty of room for any activity and improve the overall style of your home’s exterior.

Filed Under: Porches Decks Pergolas, Uncategorized ·

Budget-Friendly General Remodel Ideas for Your Old Home

July 7, 2016 by ·

TV programs, magazines and the internet show us homeowners many million-dollar remodel projects that transform an old, out-of-date house into a dream. I admit inspiration is great, but I also realize that when you look at your budget, reality crashes back in. Even without tons of money, though, it’s possible for us to update. These budget-friendly general remodel ideas in College Station, TX that I listed below can help add style and improve property value for the family home.

General Remodel Ideas for Your Old Home

General Remodel Tip: Kitchens

Kitchens are one of the most popular rooms to get remodeled in Brazos Valley, TX. Redoing the whole room can cost tens of thousands of dollars depending on what materials you choose. To save money, I recommend that you focus on only one thing at first.

Here are a few affordable transformations I want to suggest. Replace kitchen counters with a modern material and style. Repaint or re-stain cabinets. Light or bright colors or espresso dark are in style right now. Add a tile backsplash in an eye-catching color or pattern. Vinyl tile or laminate flooring is affordable, attractive and durable too.

General Remodel Tip: Bathrooms

Since bathrooms are smaller rooms, I have found that a general remodel is usually less expensive as long as fixtures are not being replaced. Cabinets can be refinished and painted or stained easily. Replace the old shower curtain with a built-in glass door. Add contrasting tile trim to the existing tile work for a boost of style. Replace old light fixtures with more modern choices.

General Remodel Tip: Living Rooms

Much of our at-home time is spent relaxing in the living room. It is the place where most guests are entertained too. This makes it the perfect place for a bit of budget-friendly general remodel action.

Painting walls a pale neutral always makes sense, but try one wall with a bright or dark accent color. Install crown molding or wainscoting to give the room a touch of elegance. The old brick fireplace may be an out-of-date eyesore. Have the surround refinished in tile or stone and add a new wooden mantle and trim.

General Remodel Tip: Exterior

Don’t forget the outside of the house for a general remodel in College Station, TX. While painting the whole exterior or installing siding may be financially out of reach, there are still some great opportunities to spruce things up with the help of a professional.

Painting the front door and all trim on the front of the house is a great place to start. Try a bold color for a splash of interest. In the backyard, consider installing a new deck, extending an old one or adding a pergola or gazebo. These remodels definitely make it easier to enjoy the great outdoors, especially in hot Texas weather.

Although remodeling and home renovation in Brazos Valley, TX could be just as expensive as you see on the home design TV shows, we don’t need to make that kind of investment to improve our homes. With the right ideas and experienced professional to help, even smaller projects can make a difference.

Filed Under: Home Remodel College Station TX ·

Adding Modern Style in an Old Bathroom Remodel

June 22, 2016 by ·

Adding Modern Style in an Old Bathroom Remodel

Bathrooms in older homes are usually coated with colored ceramic tile, have a single sink and feature a combination bathtub and shower unit. Not only is this style less attractive than many modern options, but it can also considerably lower overall property value. In College Station, TX, bathrooms are one of the most popular rooms in the house to get the professional touch.

Lose the Pink and Avocado Tilework and Countertops

Gutting an old bathroom is your best bet for bringing it up to date. Removing all the old ceramic tile from the floor and walls is necessary in most cases. Out-of-date molded countertops should also go out with the trash.

Current bathroom styles use stone, glass and ceramic tile in neutral tones, plain white or with colorful accents. Subway tile is still popular on the walls and shower surround. One popular bathroom remodeling update is to use pebble-sized tiles or stones on the shower floor. Floors can even be hardwood if treated to be more waterproof.

Install Elegant Cabinets for Storage

Under-sink cabinets only in older bathrooms left homeowners trying to find storage solutions for towels and toiletries. While this cabinet style is still the most common, other styles are also being included in newer bathroom designs. For example, installing tall or corner built-ins provides more storage without taking up too much floor space.

Very dark espresso brown and black cabinets can often be found in modern bathrooms, but white and pale neutrals are more common. Some people also choose to paint cabinets bright blue, pale aqua or another vibrant color that matches their chosen décor.

Maximizing the Size of Old, Small Bathrooms

One common problem with older bathrooms is that they are quite small. The trend these days is to have more square footage for bathrooms so more cabinetry and fixtures can fit inside. The right home renovation expert in Brazos Valley, TX can come up with a plan to best utilize every inch of the bathroom or can even knock down a wall and expand.

The master bath, for example, could be enlarged if it shares a wall with a large closet the homeowner is willing to sacrifice. During a more extensive home renovation, knocking out unnecessary walls and doing away with separate hallways can provide extra space to extend bathrooms.

Most Popular Features in Today’s Bathrooms

Many people want a separate nook or room for the toilet. This essential fixture can be hidden behind a narrow wall or completely enclosed behind a door like a public restroom.

A walk-in shower much larger than the stalls of years past is a feature many people want. These frequently include built-in tile seats or benches along the side. Multiple shower heads can create a relaxing rain shower.

One optional feature for current bathrooms is the soaker tub. These deep basins offer plenty of relaxation for those who use them, but they require a considerable amount of floor space. So, you should be aware that an older, smaller bathroom may not have enough room available.

Homeowners have different ideas about the perfect style or layout for their bathrooms, but some options are chosen more often than others. Your personal choices will not only provide a more relaxing and rejuvenating experience for everyone in the home but may also increase property value.

Filed Under: Uncategorized ·

Landscape Design Tips for Arbors and Pergolas

June 15, 2016 by ·

Landscape Design Tips for Arbors and Pergolas

When you hire professionals for home remodeling in College Station, TX, leave some money in the budget for arbors and pergolas. In the hot Texas weather, these structures provide shade without restricting air flow to windows and doors. They also provide wonderful opportunities to improve the look and feel of your backyard. No matter what size or style pergola or arbor you have built, these landscape design tips can help you create the most attractive and useful style.

Pergolas Attached to the House

Although this type of outdoor renovation is more complex than building freestanding pergolas in College Station, TX, it can provide extra benefits as you will read below. This type of pergola must be attached to the beams of the house and the roofing material matched.

When it comes to landscape design, a pergola with a solid roof that flows directly from the house roof gives the impression of more living space and a larger home. It also breaks the backyard up into different sections suitable for entertaining or just relaxing after a hard day.

Stand Alone Arbors and Pergolas

Most pergolas and arbors stand away from the house and shade a patio, outdoor kitchen or area around a pool. Many of these are surrounded on three sides by gardens. Low shrubs and flowering perennials make for a beautiful landscape design that will not block air flow.

Under a pergola, arrange outdoor seating and a small table or simply include a couple of benches and some potted plants. Arbors are often used where one part of the yard transforms into another, such as at the entrance to a garden spot or a secluded hot tub nook. If privacy is the goal, larger bushes and climbing vines are a great option.

Great Texas Vines to Grow on Arbors and Pergolas

Vines not only provide beautiful flowers and foliage to look at, they can also increase privacy and shade for anyone sitting under the arbor or pergola. Texas weather allows for several attractive vines to grow.

Purple wisteria is always a favorite flowering vine to grow over landscape structures. This hearty plant provides thick coverage and beautiful blooms. Another flowering option is coral honeysuckle with bright orange-red blossoms. It climbs readily and attracts hummingbirds. Mexican flame vine can also attract these jewel-like birds as well as butterflies. It is particularly hardy and has bright orange flowers.

No matter what type of arbor or pergola you decide to add to your landscape design, it will provide plenty of interest and good use for your entire family. In the grand scheme of a home renovation in Brazos Valley, TX, adding one of these outdoor structures is relatively low cost. Added beauty, backyard use and an economical way to improve cooling in and around your home are all great reasons to have a pergola or arbor installed.

Filed Under: Uncategorized ·

Remodel With Painting – Simple Yet Effective Style Updates

May 18, 2016 by ·

While other remodeling projects may result in a greater change in your home, painting can update style and revitalize the room very effectively without dipping into your budget very much. With all the modern options of paint, these remodeling projects can turn any room in the house into a truly unique experience. Consider some of the following possibilities and then begin to plan your own painting upgrades as well.

Remodel With Painting - Simple Yet Effective Style Updates

Remodel With Painting

In the Kitchen

Old wood cabinets that lack the style of more modern choices could be replaced for a brand-new look, but having them painted is also a great way to remodel on a budget. One popular style for an updated home is white cabinets on the top and a dark color on the bottom such as slate gray, black or espresso brown.

Living Spaces Lift

Painting a brightly colored accent wall is still a stylish way to add interest to your living room, library, media entertainment room or home office. Although you may prefer white or a pale neutral on most of your walls, making one a striking red, brilliant blue or sunny yellow can change the whole ambience of the room.

The right paint color in a living room can change the entire mood. Just imagine a soft be living room being remodeled in a stately navy blue with white trim or a stark white with red and black accent walls.

Bedrooms Burst with Style

Relaxation and luxury is the goal of most remodels in the bedroom. With paint, can easily create this style with very soft tones such as sage green or silver gray. Bedrooms also look wonderful with darker colors, which can make them more restful for sleeping. Deep blues and greens, passionate reds and darker neutrals like chocolate brown and charcoal are all options.

One of the best things about remodeling a bedroom with paint is that, because it is a more private room in your house, there is a greater sense of freedom to do unusual things or use more unique colors. After all, your friends and family may be shocked by a bright red living room or a purple kitchen, but in the bedroom you are free to enjoy more unique personal tastes.

Exterior Paint Options

Painting your entire house a new color during a remodeling process can definitely make it stand out on your block. Of course, you do not want to stand out too much by picking an exceptionally bright or showy tone. Professional remodelers can help you choose the color that is more suitable to your neighborhood and still support your personal sense of style. Popular exterior whom colors include various neutrals, especially grays, soft terra-cotta reds, muted and darker blues and soft greens.

Other possibilities for a paint only remodel job include changing the trim color throughout the home inside or out, painting fences to delineate property lines more clearly or revitalizing an old-fashioned decorating scheme for a more modern home.

Filed Under: Remodeling ·

What to Expect With a Whole Kitchen Remodel

May 5, 2016 by ·

What to Expect With a Whole Kitchen Remodel

What to Expect With a Whole Kitchen Remodel

Having any part of your home remodeled can be a big headache and disrupt your life considerably no matter how careful and respectful the contractors and laborers are. Having your kitchen remodeled is at the top of the list for disruption, however. After all, you will not have access to your appliances, dishes or food storage for the duration.

If you want to get through a whole kitchen remodel with your sanity intact, be prepared for these intrusions on your life:

1 – Dust, dirt and garbage. Even with the careful preparation and consideration of a professional remodeling team, there will be dust, dirt and garbage in the kitchen, speaking into other rooms of your house and in your driveway or on the street. None of this should be left around lying in unsightly fashion, but extensive remodels to require garbage skips conveniently located and things will simply look messy for a while.

2 – Constant loud noise. All sorts of electric tools such as saws and sanders will be running for many hours during the day. After all, you want your entire kitchen remodel to be done quickly, so it makes sense that the workers have to work long hours. Hand tools like hammers and even the noise of workers talking and calling to each other can become abrasive after a while.

If you cannot spend some time in a hotel room or friend’s house, invest in some comfortable earplugs or noise-canceling headphones. This can be especially helpful for any children that live in the home.

3 – Really unpleasant surprises. Most homeowners do not know the precise history of their home or what is going on inside the walls floorboards. When a whole kitchen remodel takes place, there is a high chance of finding something unpleasant and unexpected. This could be water damage or mold near pipes and plumbing, evidence of past fires that have been covered up, insects or rodent evidence or even substandard subfloors supports for cabinetry.

4 – Over budget, over deadline. Professional contractors and construction crews understand the importance of sticking to the homeowner’s budget and working as quickly and diligently as they can get the job done on time. However, a kitchen remodel requires many different things to make it complete: cabinets built and installed, plumbing upgraded, painters, stonecutters to make the countertops, glaziers for new windows and flooring experts for the tile.

All of these smaller jobs need to fit neatly together so that every team has enough time and space to work. For example, it is impossible to installing cabinets while someone is retitling the floor. If one thing goes wrong such as a breakage, a back order or even an illness, the deadline can get pushed back. If any of the unexpected surprises mentioned in #3 above occurs, the budget can be affected negatively as well.

As long as you choose the right company to handle your whole kitchen remodel and expect the unexpected during the whole process, it should go by with minimal disruption and headaches. No matter what, standing in the middle of your new kitchen when everything is done will be worth it.

Filed Under: Kitchen Remodeling ·

Adding Sunrooms and Screened Porches to Your Home

April 21, 2016 by ·

Adding Sunrooms and Screened Porches to Your Home

Contracting a expert in home remodeling to adding sunrooms and screened porches to your home is just about as complex as adding an entire new enclosed room. They use the same structure, need electricity run into them and have added complexity of many windows and even skylights that need to be handled and installed professionally. When you find the right contractors to handle this general remodel project, you can rest assured they will do exactly what it takes to have the perfect sunrooms/screened porches added to your home.

Sunrooms and Screened Porches to Your Home

Here is how it works from start to finish:

1 – The foundation is either prepared, poured or constructed for the sunrooms and screened porches to your home first. If there is no existing structure in the place where the new room will go, a concrete slab is constructed to support the sun room or porch. They can also be built on existing patios or even decks.

2 – Framing of walls and the roof is done next. The roof must be tied into the existing house so it may be necessary to open up a wall or existing roof line. This is done in much the same way as building an actual room on a house using 1×6 and 2×4 boards. The framework has to be sturdy enough to support all the glass windows for the sunroom. If a screened porch is being constructed instead, the builder may not worry as much about it being super strong instead of lightweight and cost effective.

3 – All utilities such as electricity is run into the new construction and hooked up so it functions properly. Most sunrooms and screened porches at least have a light inside so you can use it any time of the day or night. Ceiling fans are also popular additions unless the roof of the building is also completely glass or screening.

4 – Floors and walls of the new construction are finished. Some insulation may be added especially in sunrooms. In most cases, these types of additions have either cement, stone or tile floors, though hardwood is another option. Some people opt for outdoor carpeting as well, although it is not considered very stylish these days.

5 – Windows, skylights and screens are installed and secured next. If there are any doors to either the rest of the house or to the outside, they are also hung at this time. Sunrooms and screened porches frequently open up onto an existing deck or patio in the backyard to further extend the living area to the outdoors.

6 – All finishing construction is completed at the end. This includes replacing or repainting the shingles, brick or other material on the outside of the house and the newly constructed room, painting the interior walls, window trim and ceiling and completing any other cosmetic procedures.

7 – The final step in the creation of a sunrooms and screened porches to your home is to decorate and enjoy it. Bring in plenty of seating, some lighting so you can enjoy the new room after hours and any decorations such as houseplants that you enjoy best.

Filed Under: Outdoor Living Spaces ·

Get Ready for Summer Entertaining – Outdoor Living Spaces

April 7, 2016 by ·

Summer Entertaining – Outdoor Living Spaces

Get Ready for Summer Entertaining - Outdoor Living Spaces

A few folding chairs on the lawn and a grill on the patio may be how most people think of outdoor summertime entertaining, but if you are serious about outdoor living spaces and having friends over for dining al fresco or just having fun in the cool evenings under the stars, you should consider a home renovation in College Station, TX project that will greatly improve your outdoor living spaces.

Outdoor living spaces need three main things: protection from the weather, a platform that gets you off the grass and gardens and plenty of places to sit. The ways in which you tackle these three needs depends largely on how extensive the general remodel projects you want to undertake are and how much of a budget you have to work with.

Here are some home remodeling in Brazos Valley, TX ideas to consider:

Sunrooms/Screened Porches

While sunrooms and screened porches require a more extensive construction project and cost more than other options, they also provide more comfortable spaces for living a semi-outdoor lifestyle. In fact, a sun room simply lets the sun in to warm the bright, airy space and is more of an indoor spot than an outdoor one. It does allow the homeowner and her guests to enjoy a nearly unobstructed view of the landscaping and yard.

Screened porches let fresh air in as well and are usually much easier to construct. Screening is frequently stapled neatly to the inside of existing framework on a porch or deck.

Arbors/Pergolas

If there is already a deck or patio attached to the house, the addition of an arbor or pergola can help block some of the hot Texas sun without blocking the fresh air and full outdoor experience. Home remodelers in College Station, TX can easily add an overhead semi-solid roof to a deck area. These arbors or pergolas provide only minimal protection from the sun, but the partial shade can be enough to extend the use of an outdoor living space. Another option is to grow a vine or other climbing plant over it and thus afford more shade.

Decks and Patios

When it comes to providing a platform for friends and family to sit on, nothing is better at creating an outdoor entertainment spot than the addition of a deck or patio. These can be as simple as a flat wooden platform or a slab of concrete or as extensive as multi-level constructions with built in seating and grill station. They can include space for a hot tub or spa, planter boxes for pretty flowers and even private entrances to upstairs bedrooms.

When summer approaches and homeowners get ready to invite friends and family over for their hot weather parties, they need to provide the perfect place to hang out and have fun. Experienced professional home renovation experts in Brazos Valley, Texas region can help you decide whether a sunroom or screened porch, arbor or pergola or just an attractive and functional deck or patio is right for your home and outdoor living spaces.

Filed Under: Outdoor Living Spaces ·
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