Lenny | Colony Home Improvement

Modern Trends for an Outdoor Living Space as Part of Your Home Addition

May 12, 20150

Use custom built home plans for outdoor spaces.

Custom built home plans can create beautiful outdoor spaces.

When most people think of a home addition, they consider adding to their interior living space. However, contractors for home additions in Brookline and the surrounding areas can help you create custom built home plans that add outdoor living space as well. During the summer, having this type of living space can greatly improve your quality of life.

Effective Lighting

Just because the sun goes down doesn’t mean you have to head inside. With your outdoor room addition, choosing the right lighting can create an ambience that makes spending time outdoors after dark more enjoyable. In addition, the lighting you use in your new outdoor living space can work to draw the eye to certain features, as well as make it easy to see what you’re doing. In some cases, this may involve installing several types of lighting to serve each purpose individually.

Comfortable seating outdoors can be a great home addition.

An outdoor home addition can create comfortable seating.

A Comfortable Seating Area

Most people who want an exterior room addition have a nice seating area in mind where they can relax, spend time with family and friends and enjoy the outdoors. When you work with contractors for home additions in Brookline and the surrounding areas, they can help you create a comfortable place to sit and enjoy the feel of relaxing in the open air. You will be able to choose from a number of elegant seating options, as well as layouts that will help feed the conversation and allow you to enjoy the surrounding landscape.

Ask contractors for home additions about an outdoor kitchen.

Contractors for home additions can make an outdoor kitchen.

Consider a Kitchen

Whether you often grill outdoors or you’d like to give it a try, one of the most popular outdoor living trends is an outdoor kitchen. These kitchens often include a highly functional grill or outdoor stove top, along with other popular kitchen features, such as a small refrigerator, cabinets and countertops. Your custom built home plans will allow you to create a kitchen space outdoors so you can easily prepare meals without having to leave your guests out on your patio or other outdoor living space alone.

A room addition doesn’t have to be limited to the interior of your home. While adding more living space inside may have its benefits, creating new outdoor living space can be just as functional and help you enjoy some time outdoors as well. When you follow these latest outdoor living space trends, you will be able to enjoy the outdoors in new ways, whether you spend time outside as a family or entertaining friends

If you’re interested in expanding your outdoor living space, contact us. Our Massachusetts contractors can help you plan and carry out a functional living space in your own back yard.

Not Ready to Expand? Custom Built Home Plans Can Maximize Square Footage

May 7, 20150

Create more space with contractors for room additions.

Contractors for room additions can can create more space.

Do you feel like you need more space, but you aren’t quite ready to invest in a full home expansion project? Maybe you don’t have the funds to add an addition and need more time to save first. In these situations, you can design your own home in Westwood, MA, so you can maximize the space you do have. Custom built home plans can help you make the best use of your space to give you the feeling of having more room.

Use mirrors when you design your own home.

Design your own home with mirrors.

Finish Your Basement or Attic

Both the basement and the attic can be extremely underused areas of the home. Contractors for home additions in Westwood and the surrounding areas can often help you with getting more use out of these spaces. When you finish the basement, it becomes the ideal place for a hobby room, rec room or even a bedroom if done correctly. Your attic can be transformed into a bedroom or other living space. In some cases, this can double the amount of useable space in your home.

Remove Some Walls

If you really want to open up your home, removing some walls can help give you the impression of more space without actually adding an addition. For instance, if you have a dining room, breaking down the wall between your dining room and kitchen can help create the illusion of more space. When you design your own home in Westwood, MA, you will be able to remove some walls as long as you don’t compromise the support beams in the home. Adding mirrors can also help in areas where walls can’t be removed.

Custom built home plans can add more space.

Add shelves with your custom built home plans.

Consider Built-in Shelves

Contractors for room additions in Westwood and the surrounding areas often recommend installing built-in shelving units to give you more storage space without compromising precious floor space. These shelves can be the ideal way to keep your books organized or display your knick knacks and other items. While many people use book shelves and tables to serve these purposes, built-in shelves are an excellent alternative.

Custom built home plans can help you maximize the amount of space you have without having to consider home additions. Working with experienced contractors will allow you to find the best ways to make the most of the existing space in your home so you don’t feel as cramped. Whether you intend to use home additions later or these changes are enough to give you the space you’re looking for, your contractor can help you make the best choices for your needs and budget.

If you want to increase the amount of space in your home without completing a home addition project, contact us. Our home improvement contractors in Massachusetts can help you create the home of your dreams.

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Twitter: Do you need more space in your home? Find out how a #custombuilder can help you create more space.

Are You Ready for a Room Addition: Eight Facts You Need to Consider

May 5, 20150

Ask the right questions before a home addition.

A home addition can be a major undertaking.

A home addition in Weston can be a great way to create more space in your house. However, before you start working on home addition floor plans, it’s important to do your research on the topic to ensure you are fully prepared for the project. This includes viewing photos of room additions before and after in Weston and the surrounding areas, as well as taking into consideration the following factors.

1. Set Your Budget

The cost of a home addition can vary greatly, depending on the current structure of your home and how much work needs to be done. For this reason, it’s important to work with a home improvement contractor to determine the overall cost of the project. Setting a budget ahead of time can help them recommend a home addition that fits within those constraints.

2. Get Your Funding

After you have a quote from your contractor, you need to arrange for the funding before your project begins. Take your quote to your bank or another lender to apply for a loan. Your mortgage lender can also help you get a home equity loan if you have enough to cover the project.

Home addition floor plans require a good budget.

Set your budget for home addition floor plans.

3. Create a Wish List

You likely have visions of what you want from your home addition floor plans. Looking at images of room additions before and after can help you determine what you you prefer. Make sure your contractor knows what is a necessity and what is negotiable.

4. Match the Exterior Materials

One of the most difficult aspects of a home addition, especially on an older home, is matching the exterior materials. However, it’s essential to make sure your home flows well together and doesn’t look awkward.

5. Check Your Zoning

There may be legal ramifications to adding a home addition, especially if you’re planning on building out toward the property lines. Your contractor should be able to help you get the permits you need. Once the zoning regulations are addressed, you will be able to move forward with your project.

6. It’s All in the Details

Don’t forget you need to pay close attention to all the details to ensure your addition matches the rest of your home. In addition to the exterior materials, you’ll need to choose lighting fixtures, windows and other features that blend with the rest of your home.

Look at room addition before and after pictures.

Room addition before and after pictures can give you ideas.

7. Don’t Forget Landscaping

A home addition in Weston will change the landscape of your yard. For this reason, you will likely need to re-landscape areas of your property. This can include putting in a new garden or changing the path of your walkway.

8. Expect a Little Chaos

Home remodeling projects aren’t a walk in the park. When you’re adding onto your home, life may become a little chaotic. There will be a lot of noise and dust and you may lose some use of your home for a short period of time. The good news is, it will be worth it in the end.

If you’re looking for a contractor to help with home addition floor plans, contact us. Our Massachusetts contractors can help you design the perfect addition for your home.

Tips for Designing a Custom Built Home Plan

April 30, 20150

Design your home with custom built home plans.

A custom built home plan reflects your wishes.

The best way to get exactly what you want in a house is to design your own home. A custom built home plan in Brookline provides a variety of benefits, including full control over the design and budget, as well as the ability to achieve the unique living space you want. The following tips will help you create the home of your dreams as you work with an experienced contractor to design your plans.

Start Simple

You may have big ideas for your home additions floor plan in Brookline, but this doesn’t mean you should start with all of the complexities. Instead, you should begin with a simple overall layout so you can determine exactly what you want from your home. You can embellish it with the details later. This allows you to brainstorm and consider a number of ideas before you finalize your plans.

Consider the Future

You may only get the chance to design your own home once. For this reason, it’s important to consider your future when creating your plans. For instance, if it’s currently just you and your significant other, but you know you want children in the future, you need to make sure you have room for everyone. As long as you think ahead, you will be happy with your home for longer.

Design your own home so you’re happy with the end result.

Prioritize the Features

Your custom built home plan in Brookline is designed with your own personal touches. However, sometimes things may not go as planned and certain aspects will need to be changed to meet your budgetary requirements. For this reason, it’s essential to prioritize which features are a must-have and which ones are negotiable.

Maximize Your Space

While you may have clear ideas for what you want in your home, your contractor may be able to offer ideas that maximize the space you have. Certain layouts will work better depending on the size and shape of your lot, as well as the position of the house on it.

Consider Function

Another important element to consider in your home designs is the functionality of your layout. For instance, placing your living room right next to what would be your child’s room may make it more difficult for him or her to sleep while you stay up and watch a movie. Another example is the ideal positioning for the bathroom. A central location, often close to the bedrooms, is essential.

When you design your own home, you will be able to create the house you’ve always dreamed of. However, when you’re creating your custom built home plan in Brookline, it’s important to start simple and consider your future in your designs. Along with working with an experienced contractor, you can build a home that meets your needs and reflects your personal tastes.

If you’re interested in creating a home additions floor plan in Brookline or the surrounding area, contact us. We can help you create the home of your dreams.

Create More Space with a Second Floor Addition to Your Ranch Style House

April 28, 20150

Make your ranch home bigger with a second floor addition.

A second floor addition makes your ranch home bigger.

Ranch style homes are extremely popular and offer a number of advantages over two-story homes. However, when you’re thinking about your ranch style house plans in Dover and the surrounding areas, you should consider a second floor addition to create more living space in your home. This allows you to remain in your existing home, while increasing the space you have and creating an entirely new layout you can enjoy.

Consult with a Professional

Before you finalize your custom built home plans in Dover, it’s important to consult with a professional who can let you know if a second floor is a feasible option for your existing structure. Some homes don’t have a foundation capable of handling the weight of a second story. An experienced contractor will be able to evaluate your home and consider all the elements necessary to help you decide if a two-story home is the right choice for you.

Don’t Forget about the Stairs

One element many homeowners don’t think about when considering a second floor addition is the staircase. Ranch style homes don’t have a designated area for a staircase, which means you’ll need to give up some space on your main floor. For instance, a hall closet may need to be removed to make room for access to your second floor. Your contractor can help you find the ideal location without disturbing too much of your current layout.

Create a second floor with ranch style home plans.

Ranch style home plans can create a second floor.

You May Need to Upgrade

When you purchased your heating and air conditioning system, for instance, you probably bought one that exactly accommodated a ranch style home of your size. Adding an entire second floor will increase the demand on your unit, either overworking your current system or forcing you to upgrade to a new one. Your contractor can help you pick an HVAC unit that will provide the perfect amount of heating and cooling for your new home’s size.

Find Another Place to Stay

Unfortunately, second story ranch style home plans in Dover will require the removal of your roof, leaving the interior of your home relatively unprotected. This means you will most likely need to move out of your home for the duration of the project, at least until the exterior aspects of the structure are complete. While you may be able to keep some items inside your home during construction, anything valuable or breakable should be removed and placed in storage to prevent accidents or theft.

Ranch style homes are ideal for many situations, but they don’t always offer a lot of extra space. If you find you need more room for your family, a second floor addition can be the ideal option. Creating custom built home plans in Dover will allow you to maximize the use of your property by building up instead of out.

If you’re interested in creating ranch style house plans in Dover or the surrounding areas to build a second story, contact us. Our experienced Massachusetts contractors can help you add more space to your existing home.

Author: Lenny