Tag Archives: renovation station

Renovation Station: Updating Your Bathroom

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Renovation Station: Updating Your Bathroom

Winter is the ideal time to complete home renovation projects. Not many people are keen on venturing out into the cold outdoors, which means you will have plenty of time in your home to work on freshening it up. In today’s post, we are going to talk about the bathroom specifically. Nothing is better than having the old bathroom renovated. We do spend a lot of time in there, after all! Let’s get to it:

Is There A Theme?

The first thing you will want to consider during your throne room renovation is a theme. Do you want it luxurious like a five star hotel? A nautical theme? Or just a no muss no fuss bathroom? Once you have a theme in mind, it will be easier to determine the next steps in your renovation in terms of color palette, appliances, and accessories.

Start From The Ground Up:

When it comes to home renovations, it’s always best to start from the ground up. Consider your flooring. Would you like laminate or tile? Perhaps hardwood? Remember, that no matter the flooring option you choose, you will want to invest in things like soft, absorbent bath mats to place throughout the space. There is nothing worse than walking onto a cold bathroom floor in the middle of the night!

Paint, Please:

The bathroom is, ultimately, a place that should be relaxing. For the walls, you will want to go with a soft, soothing color. Think pale blues, creams, powder pinks, or even earthy tones like green or tan. Loud, brash colors are not conducive to relaxation so save that for rooms with lots of activity like the living room or kitchen.

Appliances:

Unless your toilet, sink, or shower unit is on the fritz, then there is no need to replace your bathroom appliances. A mini makeover will suffice just fine. Rather, put it on a renovation wish list for the time being and save that investment for a rainy day.

Accessories:

Your bathroom should be a comfortable space for your family and guests too. Make sure that your throne room is fully stocked with soft towels, scented candles, and toiletries. It never hurts to have spare toothbrushes, lotion, shower gel, and shampoo tucked away in the cabinet. How many times have you spent a weekend with friends only to find that you left your toothbrush at home?!

Ready, set, renovate! The tips above will help you give your bathroom a mini makeover or a full on remodel for ultimate comfort and relaxation.

Updating Your Kitchen For A Fresh Look

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Updating Your Kitchen For A Fresh Look

There’s nothing quite as satisfying as a freshly renovated kitchen, is there? So if you’re looking to give your kitchen an updated feel without the hassle of a full renovation, then this blog post is for you. We’ll be talking about how to make those changes that will have the biggest impact on your home and help you get started with a budget-friendly remodel:

New kitchen countertop:

The first thing you should consider when renovating your kitchen is a new countertop. While it may seem like a small detail, there’s no denying that this subtle change can go a long way in enhancing both the aesthetics and functionality of your home. New granite or quartz counters will give off an elegant appearance while creating a smooth surface for cooking tasks such as chopping vegetables or preparing snacks.

Lighter colors make rooms appear more spacious so try experimenting with different shades to see what works best with your existing decor scheme. If choosing darker tones, then keep accessories on top limited to stainless steel appliances and white dinnerware sets for clean contrast against the dark finish. If you are having a difficult time selecting a color scheme with the options before you, you might want to consider doing custom countertops instead. This will ensure that it is a perfect match to your kitchen and tastes.

Throw away old cookware and cutlery:

One of the most common mistakes homeowners make during a kitchen update is adding in new appliances and furnishings while forgetting about their old cookware. If your pots, pans, and other utensils are on their last legs, then now’s the time to upgrade them for something more functional.

Throw away any broken or scratched items and get rid of those you never use anymore (do they really belong in a box at the back of your cupboard?). Don’t let yourself be tempted by cheap promotional deals; instead, invest in some long lasting, high quality cooking essentials such as stainless steel frying pans, cast iron skillets, copper saucepans, and ceramic knives. These will not only help with food preparation but will look great on your new kitchen countertop.

New kitchen wall tiles:

One of the easiest and most affordable ways to give your kitchen an updated feel is by installing new wall tiles. Whether you choose a traditional or contemporary design, adding some new tiles will completely transform the look of your cooking area. If you’re looking for something that’s both stylish and practical, then consider using tile panels instead of standard square tiles. These panels are easy to install and come in a variety of colors and textures, so you can find the perfect style to match your existing decor. Plus, they’re less likely to crack or chip over time, making them a more durable option than traditional ceramic tiles.

Replace old appliances:

If you’re serious about giving your kitchen an updated feel, then it’s time to say goodbye to those old, dated appliances. While they may have served you well in the past, they’re no match for today’s high-tech models. Replacing your oven, fridge, and other appliances can be a costly task, but it’s one that will pay off in the long run.

Not only do new appliances look great, but they also come with a range of features that make cooking and food storage easier than ever before. Alternatively, you could consider utilizing the help of vierascheibner appliance repair to make your old appliances work like new again! So, if you’re thinking of doing some major renovations in the near future, then don’t forget to factor in replacement appliances as part of your budget.

With these simple tips under your belt, you’ll be able to give your kitchen an updated feel in no time at all!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Where To Start When Planning A Home Renovation

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Where To Start When Planning A Home Renovation

Whether you’re planning on prepping your home for winter or updating your home to make it bigger and more comfortable for you and your family, you know you can’t just pull out a drill and get started. A home renovation is a substantial project that demands plenty of care and planning. If you don’t know every step of the process, you might end up realizing that it won’t work right now. So, before you pull on your safety goggles, here is some advice for where to start when planning a renovation at home:

Decide Which Room Is Most Important:

Before you do anything, you should get an idea about which room requires the most attention. Many people begin with the room they use the most, which research shows is the kitchen, but this can also cause disruptions that make it impossible to use the room at all.

Other common rooms to start in are the living room, bathroom, and your bedroom, especially as you can usually make adjustments to the living situation while they are under renovation. A bathroom remodel with pros like mattbakercontracting.com (or a similar company in your local area) can be far more budget friendly than a kitchen remodel and is always appealing to potential buyers if you put your home on the market. However, you might consider these rooms perfect already, so it’s best to focus on anywhere that isn’t up to the same standard.

If you are already satisfied with the major components of your home, you could turn unused space into living areas. This is an incredibly common renovation for those that have an attic or basement and is an appealing one. A renovation to these spaces will not only boost your property value but allow you the freedom to turn these areas into whatever you please. It could be a home office, an entertainment room, or a guest room. If you would like to renovate your attic or basement, hold a family meeting to decide the best use of your new space.

Consider the Total Cost (And How You’ll Pay):

It’s no secret that a home renovation costs a lot of money, especially if you want it done right the first time. So, consider how much it will cost and how you will pay for it before you get on the phone with contractors or materials suppliers. Don’t forget to factor in additional costs as well like if you need to stay in a hotel while the renovation is completed or you need to make use of storage units and dumpster rentals. Dumpsters are a must for any home renovation so be sure to enter a search for “denver dumpster” (or your local area) to schedule your rental. It will help the clean up process so much!

Anyone who has done a renovation before will tell you that it will always cost more than your budget, so make allowances for this. Once you have decided which room needs the renovation the most, you can get an inspector to visit and check for any issues so you can budget accurately.

When your budget is established, consider the different ways to pay for the work, whether you want to take out a loan or pay everything upfront.

Decide Between DIY or Contractors:

The final step is to consider whether you will do it yourself or bring in professional contractors. Although DIY can save money in the short term, it could cost you more later as inexperienced DIYers can make mistakes that require repairs. There are also some parts of the home where contractors are essential. If you’re working with electricity, gas, or water, professional services like Panda Kitchen & Bath Expo are more reliable than attempting the work yourself.

It’s best to do your research and decide what jobs are feasible to complete yourself and what you will need a professional to assist with. Upgrading your living spaces can be a huge task, and one you may not be able to do completely solo. It takes a lot of time and dedication to take on a renovation, and when you employ contractors like those at ClearcutBuilders, this can take a significant amount of stress off managing every detail yourself. These professionals will also have experience and expertise in certain jobs that require access to resources and tools, ensuring a smoother project outcome.

A home renovation is a fantastic way to make your home safer and accommodate a growing family. It can take a lot of time and hard work, but as long as you remember these important factors, you will have no trouble planning a renovation that you will love.

Featured Image By: Unsplash

Small Renovations That Make A Big Difference

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Small Renovations That Make A Big Difference

When people think about home renovation projects, they often think big with HGTV worthy remodeling. While this will definitely make a huge impact on your property it is not feasible for everyone as it is a huge expense. Today, we are going to discuss some renovation projects that you might not have ever considered. These ideas might not be as big as a full fledged room makeover but they still pack a punch, all the same. Let’s get to it:

Exterior Projects:

Boosting your property’s curb appeal begins from the outside in because the exterior of your home offers the first impression to friends, neighbors, and strangers. Make their first impression a great one with these projects:

Driveway Repairs:

You might not think much about your driveway but it is subjected to a lot of wear and tear. Cracks and potholes are inconvenient as well as unsightly. Repairing these issues is a definite must for boosting your curb appeal. You might also want to get driveway sealing before winter to better protect the road to your castle.

Porch Perfect:

Your porch, patio, deck, or any other outdoor seating area can be a huge selling point for your house. The front porch is one of the first things people notice about your house so you want to make sure it is putting its best face forward. Replace rotting or splintered wood and don’t forget that a fresh coat of paint can work wonders.

While you are working on your front porch, consider your front door too. A brightly colored door is sure to catch attention. Shades of blue, red, and yellow all look especially charming.

Outdoor Accessories:

Every great outfit is not complete without the right accessories and the same goes for your house! Outdoor accessories are not so much of a renovation as it is placing objects but it sure is a fun way to showcase your personality. Bird baths, fountains, swings, solar lights, and even garden gnomes can offer a playful touch to any home’s exterior.

Interior:

Tile Backsplash:

Creating a tile backsplash in your kitchen or bathroom is an amazing way to add color and patterns into the room. It is relatively cheap and can also be done on your own. It will feel great to see something so pretty in your place and knowing that you did it all by yourself.

Something Extra:

Do you ever feel like a room is missing just that little extra something to make it pop? We’ve got you covered. Although this is a somewhat tedious and minor project, have you ever considered changing out your door knobs and cupboard handles? There are countless different options for you to look into. For a touch of glam, how about diamond handles for your dresser? Or even colorful square knobs for something different? A little change, yes, but swapping out hardware accessories can be a fun way to add something new.

Floating Shelves:

If an area is feeling cramped with a bulky shelving unit or dresser, you could consider having floating shelves installed. These are an awesome way to display all of your favorite treasures while taking up a fraction of the space. Floating shelves will turn your wall into an instant work of art – no painting required!

Mini renovations can still make a huge impact and will help keep the exterior and interior of your home fresh as well as visually appealing!

Renovation Station

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Renovation Station

Hi hi hi hi hiiiiii. So tomorrow I planned on showing you guys what the new renovations on our hallway/entry way look like, but then I remembered that I’ll be out of office for most of the day so I figured I’ll just get it out of the way now! I mentioned earlier that we were getting our hallway and whatnot painted and the finished product looks SO fab and shockingly modern considering my dad came up with most of the ideas! Take a look at the before and after pics:

BEFORE:

renovation

AFTER:

renovation2

I know that the lighting in these pictures isn’t the best, but you get the idea. Our faithful handyman who we go to for literally everything did such an amazing job. He spent the better part of this week painting, doing whatever else it is that he does, and making everything look perfect. I know you can’t really tell the color of the hallway in the very first picture on the PicStitch because it didn’t photograph very well, but it’s a sage green and it’s SO pretty. I’m really hoping that we can get some cool artwork to hang on the walls soon, because they’re looking super bare. But yes, being woken up early every morning by the handyman doing his thang was totally worth it, as you can see by the finished results!

^^^This has been my blogging soundtrack and I’m so obsessed it hurts. I love AWOLNATION too much and am so excited to listen to their new album in its entirety later tonight because I finally added it to my iTunes today!

Tomorrow my parents, my best friend Kate, and I are going to see Beauty & The Beast at Playhouse Square in Cleveland and I CANT WAIT!!!! I haven’t seen a musical in ages and shocking as it may be for some – I absolutely love them. It’s going to be so much fun and I’m really looking forward to telling you guys all about it, so make sure you keep it posted at lifewithlilred! I’ll try and get some pictures if I can!! ALSO, I have a really fun photo shoot planned on Sunday for some fresh new pics for the ol’ blog so make sure you come back and check them out! I’m not going to give the idea away completely, but I can tell you that the shoot revolves around my early birthday gift from my mom….a super adorable Betsey Johnson purse!! I live for Betsey Johnson’s quirky/girly/fun clothes and accessories so needless to say I’m beyond happy with my month and a half early gift! :))))

I hope all of you are having a terrific Friday night! I’m actually about to go watch The Theory of Everything again with my parents. They didn’t watch it with me last week and the movie was so nice damn right I’ll watch it twice! Have any of you done any home renovations lately? How did they turn out? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Goodnight. -Sarah