Whole House Remodel Part 2: Refreshing the Living Spaces

If you follow Medford Design-Build on Facebook or subscribe to our e-newsletter, you know that we recently completed a whole house remodel in a 1970’s home in Arlington, Texas. We posted the first blog in our 4-part series for this project last month, starting with the kitchen. This month, we’re excited to share the beautiful updates we completed in the living spaces!

In many of the homes we remodel today, an open-concept floor plan is the end goal. The kitchen is either already open to the living room, or it is in our remodeling plans to remove walls, resulting in one large, open space. In either instance, it’s important to have consistent flooring and paint colors to create a flowing, cohesive feel. For this particular home, the original floorplan of the kitchen and surrounding living spaces provided the most usable space in regard to countertops and cabinetry. The home had really good bones, so the decision was made to leave the existing walls where they were and just update the aesthetic of the living spaces instead, keeping in mind the concept of a consistent theme throughout. Read more

3 Major Contributors to the Cost of Your Home Remodel

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Preparing for your first home remodeling project requires a good bit of research. The first step, of course, is exploring how much your specific project will cost and if it fits within your budget. There is nothing worse than getting your hopes only to find that your dream project isn’t a realistic option financially! Unfortunately, if you’re new to remodeling, you’ll likely be surprised at how much the process actually costs. Even if it’s not a “full gut” or a major renovation, the estimated cost can still be higher than most homeowners expect. One great resource we can provide when it comes to the average cost of various home remodeling projects is this cost vs value report. The report is location-specific and is updated each year, making it a great tool for those in the early research phase of their project. Read more

A 1970’s Master Bathroom Makeover

Style trends come and go, but poor functionality is something that cannot be overlooked. For our recent clients, their master bathroom didn’t only look dated, but the poor use of space and limited functionality was a struggle they dealt with daily. They came to us with a complete remodel in mind (and when we say complete, we mean that even the plumbing deep below the floor was taken up and replaced!) Knowing it was going to be a massive undertaking, they sought a company that could help with both design and construction services. Our design team was able to redesign the entire room with floor plans and detailed renderings, followed by our talented crew of craftsmen that completed every phase of construction to install the remodel. What a great experience for us all, and what a transformation for this bathroom! Read more

5 Hidden Ways You’re Sabotaging Your Own Remodel

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Whether you’re embarking on a major remodel or simply completing some minor updates throughout the house, just about every home project has its fair share of struggles. We all tend to have the mindset that renovations are pretty straightforward and can be completed in as little as a week or two (maybe it’s all that HGTV that makes it seem so much easier than it really is!) The reality is that even the simplest home projects often turn out to be more complicated than initially expected. It’s usually at the point of no return when you realize it’s not going to be the piece of cake you had hoped for. This can certainly be a humbling experience; to realize you’re going to need some help to get the job done right (we’ve all been there!)

If your home is past due for a face-lift and you’re ready to get serious about remodeling, consider these 5 hidden ways you might sabotage your own remodel, and how to avoid making it harder than it has to be:

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5 Easy Ways to Modernize Your Home

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If you have an older home that needs a lot of work done, updating it can feel overwhelming. Even if you’re not ready to invest in a full-blown remodel, there are some minor things you can do throughout your home to create a more modern look. Taking on these smaller projects first makes the job as a while seem a little less intimidating, and can allow you to save up and think about what you really want in a major remodel.

Here are 5 easy ways to give your home a modern, updated look:

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6 Risks of Completing a Remodel without a Permit

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In our past blog post – Permits & Remodeling: What You Need to Know – we explained what permits are, what is involved when applying for a permit, and when it is necessary to obtain one. As a design-build firm, obtaining the required permits from the city prior to remodeling a home is part of our standard procedure. However, there are many instances in which remodeling companies, general contractors, or the homeowners themselves decide to pursue a project without getting the necessary permits. This isn’t surprising, as the hassle of getting a permit can seem tedious and time-consuming, especially if you are not familiar with the process. The permit might be expensive, require additional work to be done, and can cause delays in construction. Many homeowners might also think it’s not a big deal not to have a permit and aren’t concerned with getting caught.

Is it worth it to risk not getting a permit for your home remodeling project? Here are 6 risks of remodeling without a permit:

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Why it Makes Sense to Purchase Designs for Your Home Remodel Before Getting Bids

Just about every online guide you can find on “tips for remodeling your home” will tell you it’s important to get multiple bids for your project before hiring just any contractor. As it is with any big investment, you should carefully consider your options, have a clear understanding of the process, and establish confidence and a comfortable relationship with the individual or company you intend to hire. This is especially true in the remodeling industry, as projects tend to be very costly and can last for several months. It’s critical that you find a reliable, experienced contractor that you get along with. Of course, the main purpose of meeting multiple contractors and getting multiple bids isn’t only to determine if you can trust them, but also to compare pricing. Read more

3 Red Flags of “Affordable” Remodeling

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With all the beautiful interiors seen on TV shows, featured in home design magazines, and posted across Pinterest and other social media platforms, it’s no wonder home remodeling is such a hot topic among today’s homeowners. Honestly, who wouldn’t want their house to look like Chip and Joanna’s?!

Odds are, if you’re really committed to the idea of remodeling your home, you’ve probably already looked into the process and maybe have even met with a few contractors to for estimates. While it can be tempting to go all-in with the first contractor that offers you an affordable quote, the old cliché “you get what you pay for” is important to keep in mind. It’s a sad reality that many clients come to us after being ripped-off or left high-and-dry by another contractor who made them an offer they couldn’t refuse. Prices might vary somewhat between remodeling contractors, but if someone quotes you a price that is thousands of dollars less than the others, it’s likely too good to be true!

Heed the warnings of so-called “affordable” remodeling! It might seem like a good deal at first, but you’ll end up paying significantly more in the long run to have a quality contractor come in and fix what was done incorrectly by the “affordable” contractor. Double (or triple) the cost, time and headache. Ouch!

Here are the red flags to be aware of when it comes to “affordable” remodeling:

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3 Steps to Get Rid of Ceiling Condensation

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We recently had a client contact us for help getting rid of ceiling condensation. This is a common problem homeowners face and should be addressed promptly; excess moisture can eventually cause mold and mildew to form — quickly escalating a small problem into a much larger and potentially dangerous ordeal. Not only will you have to pay for a mold remediation company to handle the hazardous growth, but you’ll likely need to hire a contractor to repair the affected areas afterwards. What a headache! It is helpful for homeowners to understand what causes the condensation and how to get rid of it before it becomes a bigger issue. Read more

8 Storage Solutions & Features for a Sleek, Uniform Kitchen

The kitchen is one of the busiest rooms in the house. When you consider how many times your family uses the kitchen throughout the week – how many meals are prepped, dishes are dirtied and washed, how often the trash needs to be taken out, groceries need to be put up and so on – it’s easy to see how it can quickly become jumbled and disorderly! Add the regular, frequent use of the kitchen to the occasional birthday celebration, holiday dinner, or Superbowl Sunday party and before you know it, your kitchen is in desperate need of some TLC and reorganizing.

One of the main reasons clients come to us for a kitchen remodel is because they want to improve the functionality and organization of the space. A kitchen that is equipped with the right features, adequate storage and a flowing floor plan not only provides for a pleasant experience when using the kitchen, but also creates a cleaner, sleeker look with less clutter. Trust us, these are two things you will appreciate all year ‘round!

Even if you aren’t ready to complete a full-scale renovation, there are a few storage solutions and features you can incorporate into your kitchen that really will make all the difference in it’s efficiency and organization:

1. Pull-out Pantries and Spice Racks

Many older homes include large walk-in pantries. While this might seem like a great feature to have in your kitchen, these bulky pantries often end up wasting more space than they provide. Not only do they take up potential counter space, but when you consider that there has to be enough room for you to stand inside, how much space is really being used efficiently? Pull-out pantries take up much less square footage while taking advantage of vertical space that would otherwise be wasted. Another neat benefit is that pull-out pantries can be seen from both sides, so you no longer have to worry about digging through your pantry shelves or finding an item that is expired because it was pushed to the back for too long!

Pull-out spice racks are another cool feature that optimize storage space and help with organization. Having this type of spice rack installed near your stove or cooktop makes for easy access during meal prep and provides for quick put-away when it’s time to clean up.

2. Cabinets Extended to the Ceiling
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