AT HOME MAGAZINE – 2017 ISSUE


{Home care & Decor}

Maximizing Smaller Spaces when Remodeling

by Alison Windham, Windham Construction

When considering a remodel of a smaller home, there are some things to consider that might help with functionality, budget and aesthetics.

Whether your house was built in the 1940’s or 1980’s, there are some universal floorplans seen in many. The rooms in common areas are mostly defined and closed in by walls or partial walls. Some people like the separation, others do not. The first line item in a lot of remodels is to open up the space. Barrier walls between kitchen and family room, dining room, even bedrooms are desired. These changes can help traffic flow, sight range and just makes things feel bigger. Keep in mind load bearing walls are just that, and you must make sure there is reinforcement before it can be removed. It’s always wise to consult with a reputable contractor that can advise for correct wall removal. If there is plumbing, electrical or duct work in the wall, it will have to be relocated. Sometimes this can be a cost deterrent. So what do you do if that happens?

If structural changes aren’t in the game plan, there are some things you can do to achieve more functionality in a remodel.

In the kitchen it’s all about organization and storage. New cabinetry with pull out shelves, spice racks, and corner drawers can open up dead space and allow for more storage. Built-ins in the eating area, or extending counters can also increase surface space. Sometimes reconfiguring the fridge, stove and appliances can create better prep and traffic flow.

The same premise can work in the bathroom. New cabinetry that houses more toiletries, towels and even laundry will free up cluttered space. Sometimes reconfiguring the shower and eliminating the tub will make a bathroom feel much bigger. The laundry room is another often neglected space that often needs some better cabinetry, cubbies or hanging racks to get things organized and manageable. Finding organizational answers will eliminate the clutter that can over power a house.

After those issues are solved, it’s time to consider color palate. Smaller homes need color that joins everything together. Different colors in the bedrooms are fine, but the common areas need fluidity and continuity. A good neutral color that’s warm, cool, or in between will make the house feel open and fresh. The pops of color can be integrated in the kitchen backsplash, countertops, flooring and your decorative touches. Creating a calm background color will allow for different colors from furniture, art and accessories to come into sight.

Remodeling a home involves consideration of the homeowners’ preferences, lifestyle and structure of the house. Choosing a contractor that can address all of these factors will help the client achieve the results they want. Sometimes it takes guided interviews and information impartation to help the client understand what the finished product will allow for in form and functionality. Once that understanding is reached it’s time to get started!

When you decide to renovate your home, you can get in over your head fast if you don’t watch out for some common mistakes. Setting a budget that allows for overages, setting realistic expectations, and working with the style of your home are all important steps.  Here are some common mistakes that homeowners make when the embark on a home renovation

1. Expectations that don’t match your budget

If you’re doing the work yourself or if you’re hiring a contractor, you have to work with the home and budget you have. It’s not going to look just like a picture in a magazine because that picture wasn’t taken in your home. You can, however, get close. If you’re reasonable and patient, you can feel good about your renovation.

2. Choosing the wrong professionals

Whether it’s the designer or the construction company, you need to be sure you’re working with the right people. Hiring the first name you see or just taking the lowest bid will not always lead to quality work. Hire experienced professionals. When it comes to your home there’s never a good time to let someone that’s inexperienced take a shot.

3. Gutting everything

A small job can get much bigger if you aren’t careful. With a good plan, you can make sure you don’t get in too deep. Hiring a professional to do the work will prevent some of the drama.

4. Renovating for a future buyer and ignoring your own needs

Unless you can see the future and read minds, renovating for a potential future buyer is a mistake. If you think about what a future buyer might want, the renovation won’t work out as well for you. Design and build to suit your own needs.  If you are planning to sell in the next few years, you can keep the colors neutral to appeal to a larger audience, but don’t skip out on features that you like.

5. Skipping important rooms

Opening up space in a bedroom and living area is a wonderful idea, but don’t forget other rooms that you use frequently. The kitchen and bathroom can often use remodeling to make better use of space than the home builder had in mind. A home remodeling project that doesn’t include the kitchen and bathroom is a missed opportunity.

6. Not considering your location

Home remodeling in a sunny place like Bryan-College Station, Texas will often take a different turn than a home remodel up north. Here in Brazos Valley, TX home remodeling can include outdoor spaces like decks and sunrooms. There’s plenty of sunshine to enjoy in our part of the state.

7. Ignoring needed renovations

Granite countertops are more fun and attractive than replacing moldy drywall, but if you have mold, you need to get that taken care of. Not all renovations will be apparent. Some things just need to be done for health and safety reasons.

8. Trying to do it all yourself

You may be very good at DIY projects, but there are times when you need to bring in a professional. Hiring professionals can ensure that you get the right permits and that the job is done well the first time. Also, having a construction crew in your house will get the job done faster.

Most of these mistakes can be avoided with the right professionals by your side. Hire a professional crew and your life will be easier.

There are many reasons why DIY can turn into a nightmare.  Your builder is prepared to deal with all kinds of bad situations. He has so many advantages it seems unfair, but that’s what you pay him for. What sort of advantages does a builder have over everyone else?

Knowledge

When you hire an experienced construction company, you know the work will be up to code and done correctly. He doesn’t have to keep checking the internet to see if he’s doing it right.

Experience

Your builder has likely seen a lot of strange problems come up over the years. Hiring an experienced builder means that your kitchen or bath renovation won’t cause any surprises he hasn’t seen before. It’s good to check on the qualifications of anyone before you hire them. A builder with a lot of experience is the safest choice.

Tools

The construction crew has the right tools for the job.  That includes tools that they think they might need in case something comes up. Most homeowners start a project with some tools but find they might not be up to the challenge. Construction companies have better quality tools and more of them.

People

Some jobs require more hands. Trying to do them yourself could get you injured. A construction crew is qualified to do the work and do it safely. Even if you get people to help you do the work, it’s much more helpful to have people that know what they’re doing.

Connections

How many people do you know in the construction related industry in Bryan-College Station?  If your builder has been working here for 20 years, he knows a lot of people. So, he can get the best professionals in Brazos Valley working on your kitchen remodel.

What kind of projects can I hire a construction company for?

Builders work on many types of home projects.  Kitchen and bath renovations are very common, but they do full home renovations, too.  They build decks, arbors, screened porches or sunrooms, and install new windows.

They can even work on smaller handyman projects.

Even if you only want to paint your home and not remodel it, you can still hire a construction company. The point of hiring a construction company is that the crew can do the work correctly and you don’t have to do it yourself.

There’s a reason why jobs done by construction companies look so professional and clean. They’re also safe and up to code.  When you want a job done correctly, hire the people with the tools and skills to the job correctly.

If you have a home project in the Bryan-College Station area that needs to get done and you aren’t sure you can handle it on your own, contact an experienced builder in College Station.  Leave the back-breaking work to a crew of professionals and spare yourself the doctor bills. The work will have a professional finish and you’ll know it was done right. You’ll rest easier knowing that experienced professionals are working on your project and it will add lasting value to your home.