By no means am I an interior decorator nor do I have much interest in that subject. But, I am a homeowner who understands that people need space to live and, in some cases, they need more of it. For millions of Americans making a move to larger quarters or expanding the current home may be something they’d like to do, but given the current economic climate, beyond their ability to carry out.

So, how do people make do under such circumstances? They go minimal, of course.

As I mentioned, home décor isn’t my forte but I have friends who recently made some small but significant changes to their home, steps which have made all of the difference for them. You may still need more space, but sometimes small changes can yield big results and delay the inevitable move or upgrade. Let’s take a look at what my friends did and did not do:

Remove Furniture – The family room was getting crowded with one sofa, two love seats and a pair of recliners. Although quite a large room to start with, the extra seating capacity, coffee table and floor lamps were getting in the way. One love seat and one of the recliners was removed as were the coffee table and all three floor lamps. Track lighting now supplies the bulk of the lighting — getting around a once crowded room can now be done with ease.

Toss Drapes – Both the family room and the living room had the biggest, darkest drapes you’ve ever seen. I like heavy drapes in the bedroom which is perfect for privacy and conducive to a good night’s sleep, but cotton curtains look better elsewhere in the house, allowing the light to flow in and giving the impression that the room is larger than what it really is.

Lose Doors – Open floor plans create a more seamless living environment while helping homeowners maximize their space. Short of removing entire walls, taking down a door between rooms can make a big difference. Also, widening the entrance way to a room where a door once stood can give the appearance of a home being larger than it is.

Choose Built-ins – If you have a large amount of wall space, why not consider getting rid of the bulky bookcase and create built in shelving instead? One of the easiest ways to do that is to remove an extra window, enclose it and replace it with shelving. The cut out is already there and you’ve just freed up a significant amount of needed floor space by transferring your books from the floor to the wall.

Some of the changes mentioned only give the illusion of more space including using lighter colors on the wall and ceiling or buying smaller furniture, steps which cost you extra money. You may not be able to upgrade your living quarters right now, but making interim changes now can allow you to get even more out of your dwindling living space.

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Tags: doors, furniture, home décor, Home Improvement, home renovation, interior decoration, lighting

Your Home Remodeling Contractor

Are you looking for a home contractor? You'll want to choose someone who knows his stuff and can give to you the peace of mind that he'll get the job done right, on time, and for a fair price.

If you’re planning to have any sort of renovation done to your home, whether that means rewiring the house, adding a family room, or replacing an aged deck, you’ll be dealing with professionals who will do the job for you. Electricians, carpenters, and plumbers can handle these tasks, but if your project is much more comprehensive than that, then a contractor should be used to oversee everything.

By using a home contractor who can supervise other professionals while overseeing your home addition or other major project, you’ll be entrusting him with getting the job done and done right. If you find the right contractor, your project will be completed as planned, but if you hire the wrong contractor you could be faced with the job from hell, a real nightmare that can cost you time, money, and a lot of heartache.

Find A Quality Home Contractor

You can find a quality home contractor if you plan out your project carefully:

Craft a plan — Avoid misunderstandings by detailing as much of the project in advance before asking contractors to bid on the job. A contractor who is worth his salt will guide you through the process while others will simply offer a bid and hope that you accept it.

Get recommendations — The best contractor for the job is the one who has completed jobs like the one you want to have done. Ask neighbors, check with nearby friends and family members, even consult co-workers to find out who they used.

Seek estimates — You’ll want to get at least three estimates for the job. Provide a detailed spec sheet for each bidder and have them base their estimate on your information. Rule out anyone who can’t get their bid in on time or whose estimate is incomplete or too low.

Furnish references — Contractors who are being considered by you should furnish local references, preferably for jobs completed within the past six months. Call them! Find out if the contractors’ customers were satisfied and, if you discover that there were problems, find out how they were handled.

Check licensing and insurance — Your town probably requires that your contractor be licensed and have insurance. Make sure that everyone who sets foot on your property is covered by the contractor or has their own insurance and is licensed.

Sign a written contract — Incomplete or verbal contracts can get you into trouble.  Price, cost of materials, starting and ending date, and all other details about the project should be outlined. Do not sign a contract until you are satisfied that it represents what you want done. Most states allow homeowners to cancel a contract within a certain amount of time, usually three business days.

Make payments — Never offer to pay for the job in full up front. Make payments in cash and increments — as each part of the job is complete, write out a check. Hold back your final payment until after the job has been completed and inspected to your satisfaction. Make sure that all subcontractors have been paid as you don’t want someone showing up at your door days later demanding payment.

You know you have an excellent home improvement contractor for the job when he meets all of your requirements and is available to you as the job progresses. If he explains himself clearly and listens to your concerns, then this is the type of person best suited to handle your job.

Tags: Home Improvement, home remodeling, home renovation, house contractor

Before starting any home improvement project it is good to weigh your plans with the benefits that it will provide. After all, your budget sets the tone on what you can spend and who doesn’t want to get the best bang for their buck?

If adding a room, expanding an attic, or increasing a kitchen’s size is beneficial to your personal enjoyment, then that is reason enough to expand. Of course, if you’re looking to add value to your home, then choosing the right home renovation project can increase your home’s worth and make it easier for you to sell it later on.

Adding A Half Bathroom

One project that offers excellent benefits is the addition of a half bathroom, particularly in a home with only one full bath present. Many of the pre-war (WWII) homes that were built, including stately colonials, have only one bathroom — homes which can be found in older communities throughout the northeast and midwest. Today, we’re so used to having almost as many bathrooms as bedrooms that it may come as a surprise that some homes have only one bathroom and that one is located upstairs.

What Is A Half Bath?

A half bath (or half bathroom) is a room with a toilet and a sink, but no shower or tub. Many half baths are placed under the stairwell, as that area affords just enough room for the placement of a toilet along with a sink and mirror. If you can convert a closet to a bathroom, you’ll have some extra room, but as long as the bathroom is at least 3×6 mostly everyone will find the area comfortable.

What You Must Consider

The biggest challenge after available space is plumbing, particularly connecting to existing water and sewer lines. New lines can be run underneath the floor especially if your bathroom is on the first floor and you have a basement below it. The easiest job is one where the new bathroom backs up to another bathroom, which usually isn’t the case for aged colonials.

If space is at a premium, a pedestal sink will work better than a sink cabinet. A mirrored cabinet can be used instead, the perfect place to put extra rolls of toilet paper, towels, and supplies.

Every bathroom needs to be adequately vented and insulated. Local building codes may determine some of the materials to be used while older homes may need significant rewiring and the running of a new ventilation system. Excellent insulation is needed to absorb interior sound so that people can go about their business in privacy. You’ll need at least one electrical outlet which can be used for an automatic air freshener device.

More or Less?

Will your new half bath add value to your home? Personal value and satisfaction — absolutely, if done right. Financial value — yes, especially if your home only had one full bathroom previously.

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Adv. – If you need ideas for your next home renovation project, visit LetsRenovate.com to find helpful tips and budget information to help bring your plans to fruition. Your home is your most valuable asset — let us help you protect and enhance your home!

Tags: bathroom, half bath, half bathroom, Home Improvement, home renovation, powder room