Summer is a great time for tackling those home improvement
projects you’ve been thinking about.
Certain home improvement projects will increase the value of your home
and those upgrades will make your home more enjoyable for you not to
mention marketable if you are selling
your home. I’ve put together a list of the top five improvement
projects for summer. Consider one or all but remember most of all to enjoy your
summer!
1. Add a Deck or Sun Room
Love the outdoors? Enjoy
your outdoor spaces and consider adding a deck or a screened in porch addition.
We did this a few years ago and I can
say that everyone in my family would agree that the screened in porch has become the most favorite room in our house. We hang out all summer and even into the fall
here for quiet time, dinners and entertaining! Bonus- No bugs!
Build a deck: This is a project best left to professionals
because of structural and safety components but you can participate by
discussing your family needs to create the best design and material with the
contractor.
Put in a patio: Although you can hire landscapers to put in
a brick or paver patio, this is a doable DIY project if you want to take on the
challenge. Consult with your local home improvement store on where to begin.
2. Kitchen Makeover
You cannot go wrong with upgrading your kitchen. The most
important thing is to create a space that works for you and your family. See
my Kitchen Remodeling Tips. If
you do not have the money to do a complete kitchen remodel, there are smaller
kitchen improvements that increase your home’s value as well. Work with your contractor
to determine the best solutions for you. You can consider these smaller
improvements.
Cabinet facelift: You should replace cabinets if the new cabinets will yield better use of space or give you a completely new look. If replacement doesn't improve functionality and the cabinet box is in good shape, cabinet refacing would be a cost effective approach to a completely new look. Pick out some new hardware too.
New countertop: Check out some of the newer, affordable
composite counter materials. There is a lot out there now to choose from. Just updating
the counter can add a whole new focal point.
Paint: A new coat of paint in your kitchen can do wonders!
3. Lighting/ Fixtures
Replace fixtures: Brass or gold-tone fixtures like
doorknobs, faucets and other hardware seem to be outdated and not popular
anymore. This ages a home. Finishes like brushed nickel, copper or bronze are
the norm and will give your house an updated feel. Older light fixtures also date a home. Save money
on your energy bills with newer styles.
Increase lighting: Again, think about how your family uses
or might use a room with better lighting. The correct lighting really brightens
a room and is better for reading and other activities. Recessed/can lights and pendant
lighting can add a lot to a room. There have been major advances in CFL and LED lighting with rapid start bulbs, dimmable CFLs and color corrected lighting choices. Our family room originally had one center
ceiling fixture and a corner hanging lamp. It just never was bright enough when
you needed it to be and made the room uninviting. I installed recessed lighting
with a dimmer and it changed the look and feel of the whole room.We enjoy it
much more now.
4. Change Out a Room
Go through your house and consider changing the function of
rooms in your house. If your kids have left for college or you’re downsizing
within your current home, you may want to determine a better use for the space.
With the new concept of Aging
In Place and homeowners staying in their homes longer It’s a fix
that will increase enjoyment of your living environment.
Home office: Although people make do with a corner in the
kitchen as a makeshift office, why not designate an entire room? If you have a
guestroom that is not used often, turn it into a home office or add a built-in
desk space
in the guest room. You can use it and your guests will love it too.
Study or den: With all the electronic connections and media
in our lives, a quiet space to read or just sit and reflect is very appealing.
You can do built-in shelves for books or create an office space here too. I
recently created such a space in a family room closet!
Stick with the room’s original purpose but make it multi-functional:
The key to dual use rooms is to be
organized and avoid clutter which will deter you from using your new space. Simple
design
concepts can make your space more useful and meaningful to you. Browse through Houzz for ideas.
5. Landscaping
There’s something soothing about digging around in the dirt (I
know our dog loves it!) but not everyone has a green thumb! When planning our
yard we asked our Landscape designer, Lynette Rodriguez owner of A Finer Touch, to
only plant local to our area with easy care, low maintenance plants. If you plan and use the right materials, a
beautifully landscaped yard is worth it. By the way, if you need help with your
green thumb, Lynette can be reached at 847.309.1657.
Learn how Archispeak can
help you with your next project by calling 847.205.9844 for a free
consultation or email jimbutz@archispeak.com.
"Very superb information can be found on weblog ...I like your writing so much..Thanks for sharing nice blog !!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteHome Addition
Thanks Christa! I appreciate it.
DeleteThanks for the tips! My wife and I just put in a beautiful verandah off the back of the house and have been looking for some other ideas to spruce up the backyard. Any ideas?
ReplyDeleteMy husband is a bit of a self-proclaimed handyman. He's starting to install spiral stairs into our house. He did a great job with the other projects around the house. I can't wait to see how this one turns out!
ReplyDeleteEnhance the Value of Home with Home Renovation : Keeping practicalities and budget in mind result in Home Renovation, just the way a home owner expected. Kitchen Renovation should be executed with a careful eye on every detail, so that costs incurred are worth it. Every home owner is advised to carefully select services of Renovation Vancouver as this can be helpful for a home owner to hire the most reliable professional services.
ReplyDeleteThanks for very interesting tips for home improvement for your site. Great work for this site. I glad to read it and thanks for sharing it....
ReplyDeletekitchens york
In this blog very good information is shared about the improvements made in home during summer.During summers we can improve our decks and outside space.And we can enlarge our space of kitchen.These changes made home more fascinating.
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