“We just want a small remodel project, do we still need to invest in design?” This is a great question that has been asked many times over. After pondering whether design is necessary for hundreds of projects over 30-plus years, my answer always seems to be the same. Good design does not guarantee success, but…
Before COVID-19, homeowners had wanted to transform bland yards into practical extensions of their homes. But like many other home trends, the pandemic accelerated the desire for seamless, functional and beautiful outdoor living spaces as people followed stay-at-home orders and had more time to invest in creating their own backyard escapes. Today, people are committing…
“We are shopping for quartz countertops for our new home. We have seen countertops online that appear thin and sometimes unattractive, while others are much thicker and more attractive. Why is there a difference, and how can we get the thicker countertops?” This is a great question that I encounter frequently. Most assume these “thicker”…
I find that homeowners prefer to take plenty of time researching their kitchen appliance selections, so it’s never too early to begin the process. Additionally, many of them want some advice when making the final choices. Once the process has begun, the sheer number of models to choose from can feel overwhelming. Appliance manufacturers offer…
Everyone is incredibly busy these days. And with so much work to be done, how do we deal with the added burden of supply chain disruptions and labor shortages? Building or remodeling has always been a remarkably complicated process, with hundreds of moving parts interacting at any given time. While some made-for-TV shows seem to…
“We recently encountered a competitor to Hardie Plank called LP SmartSiding. Would you help us understand how LP SmartSiding compares to Hardie Plank?” The most common installation for both products is lap siding installed as individual planks. When compared to vinyl siding, these products will have a traditional wide plank look with sleek straight lines…
Custom-tiled showers are a sizable investment and should last the lifetime of your home. Unfortunately, if you tear out shower tile as often as I do, you’ll find a host of catastrophes, including horrifying mildew and mold growth as well as failed framing – rotted through after long-term exposure to water. The culprit often is…
What started as a small water leak under the refrigerator ended up being a dream home remodel for Casey and Cheryl Hixson. Although the Hixsons’ house, which was built in 1959, had been through a facelift by the previous owner, this was the first full-scale remodel. “We had talked about it several times in the…
With today’s rapid-growth forestry products and cookie cutter blueprints, it is important to remember that the family home is meant to last for more than a single generation. And this is definitely a place where size does not matter. From the Thanksgiving turkey, to holiday parties, and ordinary occasions—even tiny homes have unlimited space to…