Month: September 2012

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Home Remodeling Trends That Are Here to Stay

Homes are almost always a work in progress. Sure, you like how it looks when you move in and for a while afterwards, but sooner or later you’ll need to make some updates. Maybe you’ve grown tired of the peeling floral wallpaper in the kitchen. Perhaps you realized that the sliding barn door fad isn’t functional for families with kids.Whatever your reason, navigating a remodel requires careful thought and thorough planning. Keep reading to see some practical home renovation ideas that will spark inspiration for your upgrades.

 

 

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Room-by-Room Remodeling Ideas to Make Your Dream Home

 

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If you’re ready to start planning a home remodel by using the Toronto handyman services then you’ve come to the right place. We’ve rounded up the tried-and-true ideas, and sorted them by room.

Popular Kitchen Remodeling Ideas

It’s a room you spend a lot of time in, from cooking to unloading groceries. It also happens to be home to some of the most common home renovation projects. Whether you’re looking to demo your kitchen from top-to-bottom or just make a few quick upgrades, here are a few remodeling ideas to get you started.

Change Countertops

If you’re looking to update your kitchen countertops, butcher block is a stylish and practical option that can add warmth and charm to your space. With a variety of wood species and finishes to choose from, butcher blocks can complement any kitchen decor, from modern to rustic. If you’re interested in learning more about incorporating butcher blocks into your kitchen design, contact a trusted supplier or manufacturer to discuss your options and get started on your kitchen renovation project.

Installing new countertops can breathe new life into an old kitchen, whether you’re looking for a timeless classic like quartz or laminate or want to go a bit trendier with something like butcher block or marble. As an added plus, tearing out the old countertops isn’t too hard of a project, depending on the material. Take a look to these butcher block cutting boards.

Update Cabinets

Modern kitchen gadgets like air fryers and espresso machines take up more space than you might expect. As a result, storage space always seems to be at a premium. Updated cabinet designs allow for more storage options than ever before — everything from pull-out drawers and built-in lazy Susans to adjustable shelving heights and hooks. Chances are if your cabinets haven’t been remodeled since 2010, you’re missing out on a lot of much-needed storage space. The good news? DIY cabinet removal and installation are both fairly simple. You or a contractor could knock out both jobs in a couple day if all the supplies are ready.

Expand Your Pantry

Most kitchens contain pantry space, but sometimes the area you have isn’t enough, especially for large families. If you’re looking to add a bit more pantry space, it all depends on the type of kitchen you’re working with. For a galley-style kitchen, consider constructing a small stacked pantry or adding more shelves to one you may already have. If you have a bit more space to work with, you may choose to build a larger, walk-in pantry into a corner. Also, never discount expansion. If you have the space to knock down a wall and borrow a bit of a neighboring room, it could be a great choice.

Basement Remodeling Inspiration

If your house has a basement, you know it’s a great multi-functional space. Maybe you’re using it for storage. Perhaps you’ve made it a rec room or home gym. Whatever its function, basement remodeling is a common practice that can add more functional square-footage to your home. Read on for some renovation tips that will make your basement the best it can be.

Finish the Basement

If you’re looking for another functional room in your house, finishing the basement is a simple solution. The best part of finishing a basement is that it can be as complete as you want it to be. You can remodel the whole basement or just a portion, leaving yourself an unfinished space for storage, messy indoor work or any other function you’d like an unfinished area to serve. The possibilities of a basement are endless, and allow for as much customization as you would like.

Add Shelving

Whether the basement is finished or unfinished, adding built-in shelving is always a possibility. For unfinished basements, a couple of support beams with wooden planks fit the aesthetic nicely. Finished basements offer a wider variety of options — wall inset, open air, hideaway — but do require more work to install. Regardless, the addition of shelving units will go a long way toward helping organize your basement while making room for new additions.

Customize for Entertainment

If you’re looking to make your basement a fun place, there’s plenty of option to suit your needs. Enjoy hosting parties for the big game or awards season? Consider installing a bar complete with running water and cooking surfaces so no one needs to leave the room and miss a big play or acceptance speech. Need a playroom for the kids? Install some kid-friendly flooring and chalkboard wall paint, coupled with some built-in toy chests. Want a movie theatre feel in your own home? Install some lights on a dimmer, coupled with a projector and surround-sound speakers.

Renovation Ideas for an Ideal Bathroom

You use this room multiple times a day, so it only makes sense that you would like to ensure it’s always at its peak. Whether big or small, it’s possible to remodel your bathroom on a budget to get the functionality and design you’re looking for. You can find ways to make most of your ideas work, even if there might be a few compromises along the way.

Update the Vanity

The quickest way to update the look of your bathroom is with one of the largest features: the vanity. This update can bring a lot of valuable changes to the room, including more drawer space and a modernized sink and faucet. Tearing out your vanity and replacing it tops many bathroom renovation to-do lists. Plus, it’s one you can do regardless of your budget — from adding his and hers sinks on the higher end of the scale to updating older lighting fixtures with modern, energy-efficient designs for a quick budget remodel that instantly transforms the space.

Convert Your Tub or Shower

Ready to remove your walk-in shower? Switching to a bathtub is a great option for families with young children or pets. On the other hand, converting from a tub to a shower is a popular project for aging in place to avoid tripping hazards. Whatever the reason, updating the bathing area of your bathroom is a common renovation.

Maximize Storage Potential

Adding storage space is a common add-on to bathroom remodels, whether you have a sprawling master bathroom or are looking to find new shelves in a tiny bathroom. Over-the-toilet shelving, a storage closet or hanging cabinets are all common installations to add storage capacity in a bathroom.

Perfect Laundry and Mudroom Transformation Tips

The mudroom and laundry room are often times one and the same. With so many uses, it can be tough to find ways to get everything that you need into one space. Use these tips to help get your ideas flowing and create the room that fits your needs.

Maximize Flat Surface Space

Flat, open space is an important element in both rooms. Adding places to set items is a key component of any remodeled laundry room or mudroom, whether you’re looking for a space to fold clothes, dry wet sweaters or stack some boxes for a quick grab as you head out the door. If you’re looking for a way to add more surface space in your laundry room or mudroom consider something on a hinge that can allow added space when needed.

Increase Hanging Capacity

Vertical space goes hand-in-hand with counter space. Look for places to include hooks or a rack for hangers. Whether you’ve got rain coats or a freshly ironed dress shirt, they need to be hung up to dry or prevent wrinkles. Often times, the best place for these can be above a counter space.

Create a Dirty Spot

A space that is made to handle mud, dirt and water is crucial for a mudroom renovation, but is just as important in a laundry room. There are plenty of materials to help create this space — laminate or tile floors to hold up to moisture, rubber wall panels, floor drains — but you’ll need to pick and choose what best fits your space and needs.

Pick another room

Simple Home Remodel Tips for Any Room

While the sections above are great for room-specific inspiration, the tips in this section can apply to any room and can be done at any time — not just when you’re doing a major room overhaul. Read on for some ideas on how to instantly give your home an update.

Paint the Walls

For a quick, splashy update to your home, consider a new paint job. From a simple touch up coat to picking an entirely new color scheme or adding an accent wall, a few coats of fresh paint can change the mood of any room at a relatively low cost.

Open the Floor Plan

If you’re looking for a way to create more space in your room, consider opening it up by knocking out a wall. This trend has become common as a way to connect the kitchen and dining room or living room for entertaining. However, you need to be sure that the wall you’re removing isn’t load bearing.