shadowsloan's ideas
Be realistic. It’s often difficult for homeowners to know what’s realistic for each phase of the construction process. For instance, one week to construct a kitchen is not realistic due to the number of services and trades involved — installers, plumbers, tile contractors. It would be foolhardy to think that everything could be done to satisfaction in such a short time. What’s also confusing is that timelines for suburban developments can be wildly different from a single luxury custom home. We have had clients ask us why a custom home costs more per square foot and takes longer that a tract home. The reason is that developers have crews that move from house to house and are dedicated to that development. This means that for all intents and purposes, they finish their work on one house and move on to the next. On a custom house, your framers might be a week late showing up (because their last job ran late), and then the next trade in line is thrown off as well. You can see how this can cause a domino effect on your project. Most contractors can’t wait around until the exact time they are needed on a site — they have to keep their crews busy, or they don’t get paid. So they tend to...
What if You Run Out of Money?We have had this conversation with clients on more than one occasion, and truly it’s not easy for either the clients or us. It’s frustrating to hear how something that you’ve been planning for is out of your reach. There may be opportunities to reduce costs by changing the scope of the project. For example, instead of fully constructing a basement bathroom in a new house, you might just rough in the plumbing so it could be finished at a later date. Or it could be possible to reduce the cost of fixtures and finishes such as flooring or faucets.During a recent conversation with clients, we recommended that they wait before starting the project so they could gather more resources before proceeding. In the discussion we realized that it wouldn’t be possible to “de-scope” or redesign the project to fit their needs, so the best course of action was to delay. Was this difficult for all involved? Absolutely, but we felt strongly that starting a project that didn’t address their needs wouldn’t serve their overall best interests.Whenever you are dealing with money, there is the potential for some uncomfortable conversations. But if you understand what you are dea...
Establish Your Budget EarlyWe have been in situations where clients have not told us their budget until we have completed some of the initial phases of work. This, no surprise, can slow down the process. It’s like going to a personal trainer but not telling them how much weight you can lift, and so you spend time trying a few exercises to figure out what the proper weights are. There are situations where homeowners generally don’t know what a new custom home or addition will cost, but a key part of the process is considering how much you would be comfortable spending on the project. Obviously spending $50,000 will produce a dramatically different result than if you spent $500,000. And what you spend will be influenced by a wide variety of factors, including neighborhood, type of project and level of finishes.
Understand the reason you want to remodel. Increase resale value? Improve layout? Improve energy efficiency? It could be a combination of a number of things, but make sure you’re being rational. If you want pro-style appliances but you eat out most evenings, you might want to reconsider. In one project our client wanted to double the size of his kitchen because it felt like he had no counter space. Instead of just going for space, we talked to him about how he prepares meals and worked to increase the amount of usable counter space rather than just making the kitchen bigger. 6 Must-Know Lessons From a Serial Renovator
Write down your priorities. Or store it in a document online. This can seem like a waste of time (you know what you want), but in the thick of getting your project done, there are many shiny objects that can stand between you and a successful remodel. Having your priorities written down will allow you to stand back in the heat of the moment and evaluate if a new option will get you closer to your goals or farther away. In my experience about 60 to 70 percent of the choices that get made on the spur of the moment cost more than sticking to the original choice. Sometimes it’s because something needs to be redone or upgraded (like reinforcing a tile floor) that wasn’t taken into account during the design phase. And sometimes it’s just because a friend suggests that something seen on TV would look so good in your remodel. Whatever the case, if you have a list to refer to, it’s easier to evaluate if those changes will get you closer to your goals.Could a Mission Statement Help Your House?
The island is a compact 5 by 3 feet, which, Caillier says “is really the smallest you want to go, but it was the absolute biggest we could do in here.” Drawers in the island hold many of the homeowners’ pots and pans. “We did a lot of large drawers, which I always try to integrate because the storage is more practical,” Caillier says. “The hardware placement was also very intentional and goes a long way to adding charm.” Chunky pendants over the island help augment the light from the window and sconces. “I love doing varying light sources in a kitchen so at night — or on a rainy Seattle day — you can leave on just the sconces and get a nice, soft, warm glow,” Caillier says. Cabinetry: Garofalo Woodworks; hardware: Rejuvenation; countertops: Calacatta marble; pendants: Schoolhouse Electric; more island lighting optionsHow much room do you need for an island?
An electric system, on the other hand, would be more appropriate for a small area, like a bathroom. Warm Up Your Bathroom With Heated Floors
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