SIMPLICITY, ORGANIZATION AND BALANCE IN YOUR LIFE
Remodeling or renovating is more than a reflection of personal growth and achievement. It is an investment in your home, an investment in your health and happiness and an investment in your overall quality of life. And, as you will see, it is an investment in the planet.
Utilize the space you have to help organize your life.
• Any small space can be made into a computer nook and mail station. Adding a full interior wall or half (pony) wall can create any size office space and separate it from the living area. Add a built-in work surface to hold a computer along with custom shelving or cabinets to hold and organize your other necessities.
• Storage space can be built throughout your home. You undoubtedly have unused space in your home that you have not even thought to use for storage. Custom cabinets can be built and installed in the higher wall space up to the ceiling, which is bare in most homes. Use the space in a bay window for a built-in bench with storage. Custom closet organizers utilize the entire closet from floor to ceiling.
Lose your carpet and make your home healthier, easier to clean and more valuable.
• Carpet is full of hazardous chemicals, it is a breeding ground for germs, mold, mildew and dust mites. Carpet captures and holds dirt and allergens no matter how often you vacuum. Even non-synthetic untreated carpets which are made without toxic chemicals can still trap what we track in from the outside including toxic lawn chemicals, carcinogens and allergens. Laminate or wood flooring is healthier and easier to clean than carpet. And it comes in many eco-friendly options such as bamboo and engineered wood.
• Laminate and wood flooring is kid and pet friendly. While carpet gets stained and holds odors, laminate and wood flooring does not. Any spills or messes made on a laminate or wood floor can be quickly and easily wiped clean.
• Laminate and wood flooring lasts much longer, does not require periodic professional cleaning and increases the value of your home. And remember, because it has a long life expectancy, it won’t be clogging our landfills.
• Laminate or wood flooring can also be used throughout the entire house with the exception of bathrooms. Having the same flooring throughout the house, including the kitchen, makes cleaning your floor quicker and easier. It also makes makes your home appear larger and creates a more harmonious look.
• Laminate and wood flooring is optimal for smaller homes. In addition to appearing larger because of the uniformity throughout the house, your home will appear and feel larger with light colored flooring. While light colored carpet is impractical, especially for a family with children and/or pets, light colored wood/laminate flooring is extremely practical.
Do not underestimate the importance of a master bath.
The impact that a master bath can have on your psyche is immeasurable. It is where you start your day every morning and where you can find an escape to relax and unwind in the evening. It is difficult, if not impossible, to relax and unwind in a single, shared bathroom while staring at bath toys or while the rest of the family is knocking on the door because they need to use the bathroom now.
Likewise, it is difficult to relax and unwind in an outdated or tiny master bath. It does not have to be extravagant. Once renovated and updated, affordable details such as candles, neutral colored towels and accessories can make your master bath feel like a spa. A master bath addition or renovation is one of the most cost effective remodels for a homeowner. Next to the kitchen it is the most important element that prospective home buyers consider in purchasing a home.
Your kitchen can make your life much easier or it can have drastic negative effects on your overall happiness.
• An enclosed kitchen can make you feel trapped and isolated. By opening up the kitchen to the rest of the house you are instantly involved with your loved-ones while you are preparing a meal, cleaning up or washing the dishes. Best of all, you don’t have to lose valuable storage space to accomplish this.
• Is your kitchen optimally organized and efficient? Having the right cabinet space is just as important as having enough cabinet space. The proper location of your large appliances can save you time and save you from frustration. Your kitchen layout should be designed according to your tendencies and needs.
• An island adds valuable work area as well as storage and can also serve as a room divider. Stools can be used with an island for a convenient eating area for snacks and breakfast and readily becomes an area where the family congregates while you are busy in the kitchen.
• If you have a formal dining room that you rarely use, don’t be afraid to lose it for a larger, more practical and efficient kitchen. Why not use that wasted space to simplify your life? A portion of the area can still hold a large table for eating and entertaining, but a more casual space expands your options such as allowing for storage which would be incompatible with a formal space.
A craft room is on most moms’ “wish-list”.
We have heard many moms say, “If I was rich I would have a craft room.” But you don’t have to be rich to have a craft room. You don’t even have to be “crafty” to have a craft room because, if you have children, you need a place to do arts and crafts, science projects, gift wrapping, etc.
Craft rooms can be as small as a closet or as large as a bedroom, or somewhere in between. A craft room keeps all supplies, materials and equipment organized and contained to one area leaving the rest of your house more organized and your life less chaotic.
Indeed, the ideal option is to add square footage to your house and if you are already planning an addition this can easily be incorporated into your plans. But there are other feasible and less expensive options. Interior walls can be moved to make a craft room. Shelving, cabinets and desks can be custom built to meet your specific needs in a smaller area, even in a closet where bi-fold doors or curtains can be closed when the space is not being used. A portion of a playroom or guest room can also accommodate a crafting space.
Replace your home’s windows and enjoy the benefits of saving money on your monthly energy bill, enhancing your home’s curb appeal and increasing your home’s value.
These are the clear benefits of window replacement, but the less obvious benefits are much more valuable.
• Save the planet. Reducing energy consumption reduces greenhouse gas emissions and helps in our fight against global warming.
• Make your home safer for you and your family. Newer windows have security locks, and dual pane windows are harder to break than single pane windows. Both features deter burglars and other intruders. For even better security, impact resistant windows are virtually impossible for an intruder to break.
• Reduce dust, allergens and drafts from entering your home. This is especially important for families with children and a necessity for anyone suffering from allergies or asthma. Also consider the time you would save on cleaning. Dusting is almost a daily chore if you have single pane windows.
For the price of new windows you are improving the planet as well as your family’s safety and health and you are getting peace of mind.
Don’t ignore your home’s exterior.
In a city like San Diego, you can spend as much time outdoors as you do indoors. Make your outdoor area an extension of your living space. Making it appealing and comfortable will encourage the family to take activities outside. This promotes exercise for the kids and provides the perfect setting for outdoor entertaining. Outdoor living is also another way to help keep the interior of your home clean.
• Decks and patios are a great way to make your yard more comfortable, attractive and usable. Decks are particularly beneficial if your yard is not level or has a slope or if your home is split-level. If your home has a view, or a potential view, a roof top deck positively cannot be discounted. If your yard is level, patios provide a clean and functional space for kids to play with items they would otherwise only be able to use at a park. Many families have to go to the park to use toys such as tricycles, bicycles, rollerskates, skateboards or sidewalk chalk. Wouldn’t it be great to get your laundry done and enjoy the outdoors?
• Patio covers are an aesthetically pleasing shade source. Naturally, you want your outside living space to be comfortable and safe from the sun and heat. Patio covers can be built to match the design and style of your outdoor living space.
• Outdoor kitchens are becoming increasingly popular and it is easy to see why. Entertaining outside usually means running inside to grab food, ingredients, utensils, and condiments or to prepare a side dish or appetizer. An outdoor kitchen makes your necessities, including appliances, readily accessible and keeps you where you want to be, with your family and guests. If you want to make the most of your outdoor living space in San Diego you should treat yourself to an outdoor kitchen.
• A front porch adds depth and character to the front of your house. Additionally, it is a place for you and your family to relax and enjoy your neighborhood. It connects you to your neighbors and opens communcation. It invites interaction and gives you a place to comfortably watch your kids play with the neighbor kids. A porch allows you to get back to a social, small town quality of life.
• Outdoor living lets you see your home as your neighbors and passers-by see it. The more you see the exterior of your home, the more you will notice where improvements are needed, improvements that can reflect your personal style. Maybe you will want a fence around the front yard, or siding to replace aging and chipping stucco, maybe new windows or maybe shutters. Any Improvements made to the exterior of your home will inspire and motivate your neighbors to improve the outside appearance of their homes which can considerably increase the value of your home.
