Lenny | Colony Home Improvement

Walk-in closets are a great option for a custom built home plan.

Benefits of Adding a Walk-In Closet to Your Weston, MA, Custom Built Home Plan

May 26, 20160

When you’re working with your contractor on a Weston, MA, custom built home plan, you probably agonize over such details as the layout of your new kitchen, how many bedrooms and bathrooms your home will have and how large they will be. Do yourself a favor: don’t underestimate the importance of having functional closets. If you incorporate walk-in closets into your southeastern MA home improvement plans, you will eliminate agony down the road as you settle into your new home. Here are four benefits of walk-in closets.

Clutter Control

If you appreciate a tidy bedroom, you’ll love being able to store your clothing, shoes, bags and accessories, all conveniently in one space: your bedroom closet. You’ll be able to say goodbye to under-bed storage bags, unsightly door hooks and treks across the house to retrieve apparel and accessories from other closets in your home. When you have a spacious, well-organized closet, you’ll know where to find things quickly.

Efficiency

When you design your own home in Weston, you can design closets that have enough space to store all of your clothing, shoes and accessories; hang a full-length mirror and place a chair or bench. In other words, you can design a closet that can easily double as a dressing room. You can try on different clothing combinations until you’re happy with the look and better yet, rather than dropping the discards onto the floor, you can hang them back up right away to avoid a mess.

Walk-in closets are useful when you design your own home.

Design your own home with walk-in closets.

Ideal Hiding Place

Especially if you have children, when Christmas, Easter and birthdays approach, you may find it challenging to hide gifts and goodies where they’ll be away from prying eyes. The top shelf of a walk-in closet is always a great hiding spot when you want to keep surprises from being spoiled.

Increased Resale Value

Even if you don’t have 50-plus pairs of shoes or a huge wardrobe, many people do. One day you will probably sell your home. For many potential buyers, spacious walk-in closets are a big plus. Sometimes, lack of abundant closet space is a deal-breaker.

Things to Consider When Designing A Walk-in Closet

Obviously, a walk-in closet should be large enough to fit your clothing, shoes and accessories and allow you to comfortably walk and try on outfits. Additionally, it should have lighting that is bright but doesn’t generate too much heat. Chandeliers and pendant lights are great choices for a luxurious look and feel. Make sure to incorporate heating and air conditioning vents into your closet to keep the space comfortable. When designing your closet, in addition to creating space for hanging rods of various lengths and heights, consider incorporating built-in shelving, drawers and shoe storage cubbies. Built-ins maximize efficiency by making optimal use of every square foot of space.

If you’re ready to begin designing your dream home, we invite you to contact us at Colony Home Improvement. We have experience in remodels, additions, renovations and custom built floor plans in Weston and the surrounding areas.

Make the right choice with home improvement contractors.

home additions, room addition

Why Ranch Homes Are Ideal for Remodeling or Room Additions

May 19, 20160

Classic American ranch style homes are common in suburbs from coast to coast. Ranch homes are prized for their spaciousness and for the fact most sit on relatively large lots and boast conveniences like attached garages. Times have changed since many ranch homes were built in the immediate post-war era, however. Many owners of ranch homes crave more living space and are interested in making aesthetic improvements to their ranch homes’ exteriors. If you’re one of those owners interested in revamping your ranch home, you’ll be glad to know home improvement contractors in Wellesley and the surrounding areas will confirm ranch homes are ideally suited for remodeling.

A ranch home remodel can be a lucrative option.

Reasons to Remodel Your Ranch Home

If you’re trying to decide whether to sell your ranch home and purchase a home that better suits your lifestyle or to remodel your existing home, here are a few arguments in favor of remodeling.

Many ranch homes can easily be renovated to achieve a more open floor plan simply by removing non-load bearing walls.
Ranch homes are known for their solid construction. If the “bones” of your home are strong, why risk moving into a newer construction home that may not be as reliable?
Ranch homes are historic homes! You can retain your home’s retro rootsand remodel it to meet your changing needs.

Up or Out? That Is the Main Question

If you’re considering embarking on a ranch home remodel in Wellesley or the surrounding areas and your primary goal is to add more living space, you have two options. You can build up (contractors often call this a “pop-top” addition) by adding a second story or you can build out by expanding at the back or side of your home. Building up can literally double your home’s square footage without changing its footprint. You’ll have the ability to design whatever bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and family room configuration you wish. Building up will also significantly transform the exterior of your home.

Build outs, also known as bump outs, are usually less expensive by about 25 percent than build ups. This remodel usually involves constructing a “U-” or “L”- shaped addition or enclosing a carport. Build outs are only feasible if your home’s lot is large enough. Additionally, for larger build-out projects, you’ll usually lose a sizable portion of your yard. Either option will deliver more square footage and a dramatic change to the exterior aesthetics of your home.

There May Be a Third Option

If you are contemplating a ranch home remodel and your home has a basement, you could pursue southeastern MA home improvement plans that call for a basement remodel. Large basements have immense potential. A skilled contractor can transform your home’s basement into a warm, inviting living space or add bedrooms and bathrooms. Don’t overlook this valuable square footage if you’re considering a remodel.

Whether you are interested in extensive second-story additions or simple room additions in Wellesley, contact us at Colony Home Improvement. We can transform your run-of-the-mill ranch home into a true showpiece you’ll be proud to call home.

Make sure your outdoor kitchen addition is kid-friendly.

home additions, kitchen remodeling

How to Make Your MA Outdoor Kitchen Addition Kid-Friendly

May 12, 20160

If you are planning to design your own home in Scituate, congratulations on choosing an outstanding place to put down roots and for opting to build your dream home. If you want to maximize the enjoyment you’ll get from your new home, make sure your southeastern MA home improvement plans include an outdoor kitchen. You’ll use it more than you realize! If you have children or plan to host friends, neighbors or relatives with children for backyard barbecues, do yourself and your guests a huge favor: Design your outdoor kitchen to be kid-friendly. Here are some things to think about during the design phase.

Flooring

Every kid is different but most of them love to roughhouse and run. With the wrong type of flooring, kids, an outdoor kitchen and a pool or hot tub (or rain or sprinkler water) is a recipe for disaster. You may love the look of tile or stained, polished concrete. You will not love the look of skinned knees, chipped teeth or worse when kids slip and slide across it. Texturized flooring like pavers and flagstone is a much safer alternative.

Countertops

Not only do running and roughhousing kids risk slipping and falling on a slick floor, they also risk running straight into the edge of your countertop. That can lead to a nasty gash on the forehead. Rounded countertop edges will do less damages than angular ones. Additionally, expect kids to spill on your countertops. Opt for a low-porosity, easy-to-clean material.

Consider an outdoor kitchen when you design your own home.

When you design your own home, consider an outdoor kitchen.

Placement of Appliances and Accessories

One of the biggest risks of having young children around an outdoor kitchen is accidental burns. Typically, kids don’t incur these burns by looking for trouble and mischief. They are injured when they go to grab a juice box from the outdoor fridge or wash their hands in the outdoor sink and accidentally brush up against a hot surface. When you’re designing your outdoor kitchen, think about the things kids will want to access most, such as the fridge, bathroom, sink and seating. Separate the grill, outdoor fireplace, pizza oven and fire pit from kid-magnet appliances and accessories.

Seating

You can easily keep an eye on the kids and have a degree of blissful separation if you design a kids’ seating area. Depending on the age of the kids, that could be an outdoor island with bar stool seating or a cute kid-sized table and bench situated away from anything hot or fragile (and away from the big-screen TV, unless you plan to use that to distract them rather than watch the Red Sox or Celtics.) Actually, it might be a great idea to incorporate two TVs (one for kids and one for adults) into your MA outdoor kitchen addition!

Whether you are in need of a room addition in Scituate or plans for a new kid-friendly outdoor kitchen, Colony Home Improvement will deliver. We have more than 40 years of experience and thousands of happy clients, and we would love to add you to that list. Contact us for a free consultation!

Choose the right windows in your sunroom addition.

home additions, replacement windows

Choosing the Perfect Windows for Your Newton Sunroom Addition

May 5, 20160

A Newton sunroom addition is your opportunity to bring the beauty and light of the outdoors inside, while leaving the rain, sleet, snow and bugs outside. A sunroom is the ideal place to relax and read a book in climate-controlled comfort or set up a game room or entertaining space. There are a vast array of options for putting your sunroom to great use. There are also more window options than you probably realize. Read on to learn what to consider when choosing windows that will provide the best ambiance and energy efficiency for your space.

What Material Do You Want Your Windows to Be Constructed Of?

The three most popular window material options are vinyl, wood and vinyl- or aluminum-clad. Here are the pros and cons of each.

Vinyl — Typically priced between $300 and $800, vinyl windows are the most economical windows. These no-frills windows are low maintenance because they don’t need to be painted or repainted. The drawback is they are available in white and only a few other colors. They do the job but don’t really add any aesthetic pizazz and may look out of place on a high-end home.
Wood — Usually priced from $400 to $1,000, wood windows are classic, have an upscale look and can easily be painted or stained any hue you wish. Over time, repainting or re-staining may be needed. As with anything made of wood, repeated exposure to moisture can cause wood rot.
Clad — Priced from $500 to well over $1,000, these windows provide all the benefits of wood without the drawbacks. These are wood windows, but the exterior is coated in vinyl or aluminum to make them low maintenance.

Add value to your home by adding a sunroom.

Adding a sunroom can add value to your home.

Do You Want Your Windows to Open? If So, How?

If you don’t care if your windows open, prefer a seamless look reminiscent of a wall of glass, and/or want maximum insulation, fixed windows fit the bill. If you do want to let the breeze in (or the heat out), consider:

Hinged windows (awning hinged windows open from the top and casement hinged windows open from side to side).
Horizontally-sliding windows come in a large array of styles and don’t obstruct your view of the outdoors.
Bay windows are built into the sunroom and provide an ideal space to build a bench underneath.
Double-hung windows are easy to clean, versatile and deliver the best ventilation of all the window styles.

What Type of Glass Do You Want?

You may be surprised to learn not all window panes are created equally! Your glass options include single-, double- and triple-glazed panes. Basic single-glazed glass (the least expensive option) lacks insulation, middle-price-point double-glazed glass features two layers of glass sandwiching a layer of air or argon gas for improved insulation and the priciest option, triple-glazed glass, provides outstanding insulation. Whichever option you choose, make sure your window glass is tempered so it will shatter in little pieces rather than jagged shards if broken.

If you’re a bit overwhelmed by all of your sunroom window options, skilled Newton home improvement contractors can help you make a smart choice for your specific home.

Colony Home Improvement specializes in designing, building and remodeling homes and has completed many room additions in Newton and the surrounding areas. Building sunrooms is one of our favorite projects because we know customers will enjoy them year-round. If you’re considering adding a sunroom in eastern MA, contact us for a free consultation.

Add livable space with a second story addition.

2nd floor addition, home additions

What to Consider When Building a Duxbury, MA, Second Story Addition

April 14, 20160

The Massachusetts real estate market has exploded in recent years, for good reason. Our area offers natural beauty, historical significance, charm, friendly people and proximity to all the East Coast has to offer. Buying a new home has become highly competitive and expensive. That’s why so many homeowners are choosing to pursue a Duxbury, MA, second story addition rather than looking for a new home. It’s less stressful and less expensive to make your existing home work for you than it is to move!

A second story makes a good home addition.

For your home addition, consider a second story.

Is a Second Story Addition in MA Right for You?

As you contemplate whether it’s time to go up, ask yourself the following questions.

How do you feel about your home, your neighbors and your neighborhood? If you love your home and location, but simply find your family is outgrowing your home, that’s a great sign it makes sense to expand your existing home.
What is your budget for an addition? Before you get overly excited about the prospects of adding a second story, speak with a contractor who can give you an accurate idea of the cost of a custom built floor plan in Duxbury and the surrounding areas. The cost to add a second story in Massachusetts will be far different than the cost to add one in California or Texas. The last thing you want is to be strapped for cash and have to cut corners on your addition. There’s no need to pursue one unless you can afford to make sure it’s well-designed and well-built.
How much more space do you need? If you want to triple your square footage, a home addition in Duxbury may not be feasible. If you want to simply add a bedroom and bathroom or create a family room, a second story addition will meet your ideas.

Why a Second Story Addition Is So Appealing

Unlike adding on horizontally or digging down to add a basement, a second story makes smart use of your property. It allows you to maintain your yard and buffer between neighbors and is far easier from a construction standpoint than building underground. Done right, a second story will enhance your home’s aesthetics and make it look updated and fresh. In other words, it will boost your home’s curb appeal and functionality.

Choose Your Partner Wisely

Choosing a builder for your addition is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. You will work with your chosen team closely, and you will be entrusting them with your money and your valuables. At Colony Home Improvement, we have been serving southeastern Massachusetts homeowner for more than 40 years. We will be happy to show you before and after photos of our work and testimonials from past customers. When you’re ready to begin your project, contact us!

Author: Lenny