Remodeling a Fireplace to Make it a Focal Point, and Getting to Know Houzz

One of our clients recently purchased a home and was anxious to make her lack-luster fireplace into an eye-catching focal point.

Here is the client’s fireplace before the renovation. As you can see, it was dated and uninteresting.

The client did the smart thing and did some research so she could show us her vision. After visiting our Houzz.com idea book (check out our Houzz page here) she created this very professional inspiration page…

We finalized a design plan and our master stone mason James Slayton got to work laying the stone to create the look that the client wanted. The transformation began to take place! Read more

Fun Fall Outings: Visit the Pumpkin Patch

If you’re looking for fun outdoor activities to enjoy with your family this fall, a trip to a local pumpkin patch is a must! There are various pumpkin patches set up around town (see a list here), but one of the largest is at Trinity United Methodist Church in West Arlington.

This is the third year the church has hosted its annual fall pumpkin patch, which is open daily from September 27^th through the end of October. Activities such as face painting and a hay maze make for an exciting experience for children, plus great photo opportunities and LOTS of pumpkins to choose from! All proceeds benefit the church’s youth international mission trip to Costa Rica in December. Read more

12 Tips for a Successful Kitchen Design

When we help a client design a kitchen, there are many aspects to consider to be sure the kitchen functions efficiently, and safely. Here is a check list of things to think about:

Is there enough counter space between appliances and sinks? Building codes require there to be a minimum of 12” of counter space between appliances.

Will corner drawers and doors have enough room to fully open?

Will the placement of cabinet pulls interfere with nearby appliances, doors, or drawer openings?

Are the microwave and oven at the right height for pulling out hot items? Is the chosen placement safe for children?

Is the lighting designed to create a shadow less environment? It takes properly placed overhead and under cabinet lighting to achieve. This makes the work areas much safer.

Have you planned where the light controls will be? You don’t want to cross a dark room to turn on a light.

Has the thickness of your flooring been calculated into the height of the toe-kick below the cabinets?

Will the style and height of flooring in adjoining rooms match that of the new floor chosen for the kitchen? How will it be joined?

Do you have enough electrical outlets for the size of the kitchen? Keep in mind that the island or a peninsula will need an outlet, too.

Does the layout provide for an uninterrupted work flow?

Is there ample storage space?

Is there enough floor space to comfortably fit the number of people that will be using the kitchen at one time?

The time, money and work that is put into your kitchen design should be reflected in a space that is efficient and safe. So if you’re excited about your kitchen design, and you’ve done the planning yourself, get a professional kitchen designers opinion. There is a lot more to it, than just being pretty. Read more

8 Ways to Save Energy this Fall and Winter

Cooler temperatures outside means it’s time to heat the inside; which could result in a higher electricity bill. Here are some tips to help you keep your home warm and your bills low this fall and winter!

1. Take Advantage of Natural Heat
Opening curtains on your south-facing windows during the day is a great way to cut your energy costs by warming your home naturally. In the evenings, when the sun starts to set, be sure to close your blinds and curtains to minimize the chill from cold windows and retain the heat in your home throughout the night. Read more

Six Ways People Unintentionally Harm Their Houses

Here are six things I see people do that potentially harm their home without realizing it:

1. How do you clean your home’s exterior?

Pressure washing is a great way to tidy up the exterior of your house quickly, without a ton of effort on your part. Unfortunately, it can be equally as swift at inflicting damage. Switching tips based on your distance from the house is a crucial step that could be the difference between helping and hurting. Operating on too high of a setting can cause paint peeling, dislocated siding and scratch a multitude of surfaces including wood, brick & concrete! Read more

Celebrating the Second Annual Cowtown Cook-Off

Here at Medford Remodeling, we take great pride in supporting and giving back to the DFW community. It is encouraging to hear about the positive impact local associations, such as the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Fort Worth, make in the lives of our youth. Serving over 14,000 children and young adults, the Boys & Girls Club has seven branch locations, all aiming to enrich the lives of disadvantaged individuals through skill-developing programs.

You can be a part of this great effort by attending the second annual Cowtown Cook-Off & Casino at the Fort Worth Stock Yards on Friday, October 17th! Come out and enjoy a hot and spicy chili competition put on by the Panther Club and benefiting the Boys & Girls Club of Fort Worth! From 5:30 PM to 11 PM, you can indulge in tasty chili prepared by multiple teams, vote for the best and wash it down with ice-cold brew, wine and margaritas. The event is complete with a J.R. Ewing Whiskey Bar, Poo Live Crew, dancing, a casino, an auction and more. It’s a fun way to spend your Friday night while supporting your community, and all proceeds benefit Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Fort Worth. Read more

Giving a Home an Exterior Facelift!

Check out the exterior facelift we recently gave this home. A few small changes can make a world of difference!

As you can see, the home was very plain and uninteresting with two stories of brick. It was lacking that extra detail to help it stand out in a neighborhood of “cookie-cutter” houses.

After talking with the client to get a clear grasp on her vision, our team got to work creating 3-D renderings and concept drawings, allowing the client to see just how the finished design would look. The drawings alone proved the completed project would make a huge impact on the visual interest of the home.

Our craftsmen proceeded to mount the shutters and the awning they created to the home.

The finished design turned out great. The Client was very happy with the results and the beautiful curb appeal of her newly updated home!

Let us know if you’re interested in adding some attractive curb appeal to your home!

Mike

Read more

Get Busy on Those Fall To-Do’s!

The holiday season will be here before you know it. Now is the time to get started on those home improvement projects you’ve been putting off, so your home will be in mint condition for those upcoming holiday parties!

Here’s a quick checklist to help you get a head start on your fall to-do’s:

EXTERIOR:

1. Clean it up! Cleaning out gutters, raking leaves and retouching paint work are among the minor details that make a big impact on the curb appeal of your home.

2. Repair uneven concrete. You can repair concrete that isn’t cracked all the way through by coating the slab with a concrete resurfacer. You’ll want to buy enough to apply a thin layer over the entire slab to ensure consistency in color. If you want a different color, it’s easy to add a concrete tint. Check out the details here. Read more

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