Mike’s Guys Tip: 3 Options for Getting Rid of Popcorn Ceilings

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One of the top requests we get from our clients – whether they are remodeling their current home or have recently moved into an older house – is to have the popcorn ceilings removed.

These textured ceilings, also known as popcorn ceilings, acoustic ceilings or even cottage cheese ceilings, were very popular in the 1970s and ’80s as a quick and easy way to hide imperfections. Unfortunately, this texture can be very difficult to match if you have cracks or holes in need of patching. The uneven surface also catches more dust, allows for cobwebs, and really makes a home’s interior look stale and dated. These reasons alone are enough to make a homeowner opt for removing the texture! This is why we include popcorn ceiling removal in just about every home remodeling project we complete. Read more

An Upstairs Bonus Room Transformed into a Useful Home Office & Loft

Our recent clients wanted to update their 1980’s Southlake home to better meet their needs. As it was, they used a small guest bedroom as their home office – a very crowded room that lacked the storage space and functionality needed for an individual that works from home. Unfortunately, this is often the case for homeowners that have a makeshift workspace. Luckily, these clients had a large upstairs bonus room that was not in use – the perfect area to be converted into a spacious home office! Read more

A 1990’s Master Bath Gets a Much Needed 2019 Update

A 1990’s Master Bath Gets a Much Needed 2019 Update!

Our recent clients have a beautiful home in North Richland Hills that they’ve lived in for several years. The house was in good condition, but the clients knew it was past due for an update. One of the rooms at the top of their list to remodel was the master bathroom. The original bathroom was very dated, including pastel pink wallpaper, builder-grade cabinets, poor lighting, and limited storage space. With hopes of redesigning the room for improved style and functionality, they contacted us to address their needs. Our knowledgeable team of designers met with them in their home, discussed the issues and possible solutions, and provided the clients with a clear course of action to get the project done.

Once they made the decision to move forward with a custom design package, the clients provided us with an inspiration photo of what they had in mind for their remodeled bathroom. Our designers took photos and measurements of the existing room and began creating the new floor plans, 3-D renderings, Scope of Work document, and Budget Items list. Our clients really appreciated the level of detail that was shown in the designs and documentation. It’s always important to have a clear understanding of your project and know exactly what is included before proceeding with any home remodeling project!

You can see in the before and after floor plans that due to the size and location of this bathroom, there wasn’t a lot that could be changed layout-wise. We opted to keep the plumbing lines where they were, so instead of reconfiguring the room completely, we updated the existing layout. The one structural change we did make was to remove the corner tub and angled shower and replace them with a 60” soaker tub and frameless glass shower. Doing this required taking in the shower 1-foot, allowing for a more streamlined look and functional tub that the clients would actually use!

The His & Hers vanities and the toilet room remained in their initial locations, with modifications to the cabinets for improved storage space.

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5 Remodeling Projects that Will Most Always Lower the Value of Your Home

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One of the popular questions we get from homeowners that are considering a remodel is what options will give them the most return in the future, should they someday choose to sell their home. Although our ideal clients tend to be individuals that are not intending to move – those that have found their “forever home” and plan to live the rest of their life there—it is still a good idea to know what projects will provide the greatest ROI in the event that a move is necessary. Most contractors and realtors will probably tell you that a kitchen or bathroom remodel is going to be the best investment in regard to ROI. This is true, however, it’s important to know that this is only the case if you move a minimum of 10 years after your remodel. Moving within a 1 to 5 year timeframe is simply not a wise decision from a financial perspective, as the expense will be greater than the return within such a short time. For that reason, we typically are not the best fit for those that are working with investment properties or flip houses.

While it would seem that any update to your home would be good for your ROI, you should be aware that there are some projects that can actually lower the value of your home! Our owner, Mike Sr, will tell you that many times when he meets with a potential client to discuss a new project, he will spend the majority of the discussion trying to talk them out of it. If what they are thinking might serve an immediate need, but the long-term effect of the project on the value of the house will be a negative, he tries to get them to look at alternatives to serving their need. This might sound blunt, but our goal as a design-build firm is to provide our clients with honest facts and guidance when it comes to major home remodeling decisions. We want to educate you on the pros and cons of your potential project to help you choose the best option for the long-term!

Here are five home projects Mike Sr almost always tries to talk clients out of:

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3 Truths About The Design Phase of Your Home Remodel with Medford Design-Build

Many homeowners come to us with the initial statement that they already have their remodel figured out – they know how they’d like the floor plan, they know what walls they’d like to remove, they’ve picked out the paint colors, hardware, tile selections, and so on. Some have even gone as far as pre-purchasing their fixtures and appliances before they have even hired a contractor. In those cases, we often hear the phrase “I don’t need design assistance” or “the design isn’t necessary; can’t you just build it?”

While there is absolutely nothing wrong with planning ahead (we completely understand the excitement of it!) most homeowners don’t quite understand everything that goes into a kitchen or bathroom remodel and why the design process is necessary. Remodeling a kitchen or a bathroom without an organized design process would be like having a home builder construct a house without any building plans to go by. Even if the builder is experienced and knowledgeable, odds are that the completed house would not be his best work. Everything from intricate details like plumbing and electrical lines to larger portions like structural supports need to be addressed beforehand to ensure a quality finished product.

At Medford Design-Build, our design process is tried and true. With over 30 years of experience, our team has ironed out all the details so that nothing is overlooked during this critical phase of your project. Here are some helpful truths about the design phase in home remodeling to help you understand why it’s not something that can be skipped!

1. The term “design” is not limited to aesthetics.

In the world of home remodeling, the term “design” tends to make people think of paint colors, textiles, and tile selection; i.e. all of the pretty stuff that ties a room together in the end. Yes, realistic 3D renderings are an essential part of our custom design packages to aid in conceptual and visual understanding for both our team and our clients. We definitely want to make sure we’re all on the same page about how the space will look and function before anyone starts swinging a hammer! However, in some cases, the “design” is not only about the finished look of the project, but also the organization of the design itself. Even if a project doesn’t require visual floor plans or renderings, our Interior Designer, Stephanie, still creates a “design sheet” for every project we do. This document (separate from the Scope of Work document) is a part of the process regardless of whether or not the client has already selected their materials. The reason for this sheet is to list out every part of the design that is to be addressed, to ensure none of the pieces are overlooked. For example, a kitchen design sheet would specify the sink style and model, the drain strainer, the faucet, and the disposal under the “plumbing” section, while the “electrical” section would include details regarding the switch plates and outlets, undercabinet lighting, and fresh air vents that need to be added. Each section covers all of the little details you may not have considered on your own (sometimes as many as 60+ items!) even if you have previously selected all of the larger, more obvious items.

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4 Great Reasons To Start Your Home Remodel in the Winter

A Guest Post by Adrienne McGuire

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Now that the days are getting shorter and colder, you may be thinking about the home improvement project you just didn’t get to during the hustle and bustle of summer. Many homeowners feel like they can’t take on big building projects in the cold winter months. The good news is if you’re looking to do a home remodeling project, the winter may be the best time to do it! Here are a few reasons why:

1. Contractors Often Have More Availability

Although home remodeling is not a seasonal thing, the warmer months are typically a more popular time for homeowners to tackle big projects. During the summer, more people are active and tend to have more free time. As a result, many contractors have full schedules and long wait lists for services. Working on many projects simultaneously can also result in longer construction times. While this isn’t always the case, contractor’s workloads tend to lighten when the weather gets cooler and people start thinking about the expenses of upcoming holidays and travel. Taking advantage of the slower winter months can potentially get your project done at a quicker pace. The less time your project takes, the less money you will spend on labor and planning services. 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

A 1970’s Master Bathroom Makeover

Have you ever seen a dated kitchen or bathroom and thought “WHAT was the builder thinking?!” Such was the case in our recent Arlington remodel (and, unfortunately, in most homes that have been around for a while!) Everyone knows that aesthetic design changes over the years, however, it’s not always just the look that needs updating. Style trends come and go, but poor functionality is something that cannot be overlooked. For our 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!

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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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FREE Process Guide

A Guest Post by Adrienne McGuire