Home Improvement Blog

Consider adding an island with kitchen remodeling.

A Kitchen Remodel Modernizes Your MA Home, and an Island Makes It Easy

July 14, 20160

People often say, “The kitchen is the heart of the home.” In many cases, that is entirely true. The kitchen is where amazing meals are prepared and friends and family gather to enjoy them. If your kitchen is cramped, dated or not as functional as you wish it was, you can benefit from a kitchen remodeling project. Here are five compelling reasons a Needham custom built floor plan that includes a kitchen island is the way to go.

1. Provides Extra Storage

A major reason so many MA kitchen remodeling projects include islands is because many homeowners covet additional storage space. You can design an island that includes drawers, shelves and cabinets to store things like kitchen accessories, table linens, kids toys, cookbooks or whatever you like to keep out of sight. Some islands also include slide-out trash cans and recycling bins!

2. Provides Extra Seating

If you’ve never lived in a home with a kitchen island, you may not realize how convenient it is to accommodate guests. Keep stools on-hand and you can quickly accommodate unexpected dinner guests or kids working on a class project. Many homeowners use their kitchen islands for a lot more reasons than just preparing food.

A custom built home plan should include an island.

Consider an island in your custom built home plan.

3. Can Be a Beautiful Focal Point for Your Kitchen

Undoubtedly, one of your main reasons for researching home addition floor plans in Needham is to make your home more attractive. In the kitchen, you can create an island that’s made out of granite, marble, wood, tile or metal. There are options galore for creating an island that will be not only functional, but truly beautiful. Consider it a work of art for the kitchen!

4. Ideal Gathering Place

A huge reason to pursue home additions in MA is to make your space more livable. When you’re comfortable and happy with your surroundings, you’re more likely to invite friends and family over to your home. In the kitchen, an island lets you visit with your guests while you are cooking or cleaning. They can simply pull up a stool and keep you company!

Additionally, an island is a convenient place for your kids to do their homework while you’re making dinner. You can get what you need to get done while still being able to help them when they need it.

5. A Movable Island Delivers Flexibility

Many people incorrectly assume they must have a large, open-format kitchen in order to have a kitchen island. That’s not necessarily the case. Movable islands are ideal for smaller or galley-style kitchens. You can park the island away in a corner when you don’t need it, then wheel it out to provide extra prep space or seating.

If you’re considering a kitchen remodel, make sure you choose a contractor you can trust. Our staff at Colony Home Improvement has decades of experience completing beautiful home additions and remodels for clients in Needham and the surrounding areas. Contact us today to see how we can help build the kitchen of your dreams!

Improve its function with bathroom remodeling.

bathroom addition, bathroom remodeling, home additions

Five Reasons Your Hingham Home Addition Should Include a Bathroom Remodel

July 7, 20160

If you have outgrown your home and want to add square footage, your Hingham home improvement contractor will probably amaze you by explaining all the options you have. You can:

Build up, build out or even tunnel down
Incorporate a sun room and/or a dormer addition
Spruce up your kitchen
Enlarge your master bedroom
Build a dedicated playroom for your kids

Regardless of the direction your Hingham home addition takes, here are five compelling reasons you should also have your contractor remodel your bathrooms as part of the project.

1. Add Stylistic Updates to Modernize Your Bathroom

Did you inherit a bathroom with dirt-brown tile you can’t stand? Worse yet, is your bathroom carpeted? Are you tired of your Formica counter tops or avocado-green toilet? If you’re undergoing a home addition, that’s the ideal time to remedy an ugly bathroom. You will have contractors working in your home anyway so why not banish the ugly bathroom?

2. Make the Layout of Your Bathroom More Functional

If you’re adding on to your home, you’re taking a major step toward making your home work better for you and your family. Do the same with your bathrooms. If multiple people use one bathroom, consider walling in the toilet so one person can use it and close the door while others bathe, dress or use the sink.

Remodeling your bathroom? Talk to a home improvement contractor.

A home improvement contractor can help with your bathroom remodel.

3. Install a Spa-Like Walk-in Shower

If one or more of your home’s bathrooms include bathtubs that are never used, a knowledgeable contractor for bathroom remodeling in MA will be able to replace an unused tub with a nice walk-in shower. Most people shower daily or every other day (many people shower twice a day). If you use your shower often, why not make it larger, more functional and more enjoyable? From incorporating bench seats to multiple shower heads to beautiful fixtures and back splash and more, you can design the shower of your dreams!

4. Add a Soaking Tub

If your idea of relaxation is luxuriating in a scented bubble bath, but your tub is old, discolored and uninviting, a bathroom remodel is an ideal time to upgrade your tub. Many home addition contractors in MA report an increased demand for tubs that are positioned in the center of the bathroom and surrounded by intricate tile or beautiful marble or granite. This approach elevates the tub from a utilitarian object to a focal point of the room.

5. Make Your Bathroom High Tech

Bathrooms and gadgets don’t sound like a match made in heaven. That’s changing. Now you can purchase things like these:

Water-resistant sound systems
Electronic shower systems that allow you to change water temperature and pressure with a touch of a button
Gadgets to alert you of a leaky toilet or faucet

If you are interested in a home addition and/or bathroom remodeling project, choosing the right contractor is critical to your project’s success! At Colony Home Improvement, we have decades of experience completing beautiful additions and remodels for homeowners in Hingham and the surrounding areas. Contact us today to discuss your project!

Include skylights when you design your own home.

home additions, skylights

Five Reasons to Add a Skylight to Your Custom Built Home Plan

June 30, 20160

When you make the decision to design your own home in Duxbury, you have the unique opportunity to incorporate all of those special touches you’ve always admired in others’ homes. Once you have chosen a southeastern MA premier home remodeling specialist, you can peruse examples of other homes they’ve designed and gain inspiration. Whether you want a deck, dormer, sunroom or finished basement, you can have them all in your custom home. You can also incorporate skylights into your space, an improvement you may not have considered before. Here are five reasons to consider adding skylights to your new home design.

They Lighten and Brighten A Room

Whether you have a dark kitchen, bedroom, family room or bathroom adding skylights will bathe the space in natural light. Lighting instantly transforms the ambiance of any room. A skylight can transform a dreary, uninviting space into a room you will want to spend time in. Sunshine is an instant mood booster! Incorporating built-in blinds or horizontal curtains into your skylights or choosing a skylight with comfort glazing will allow you to regulate the amount of light coming in to suit your personal preference.

They Add a Unique Architectural Element

Skylights are available in a vast array of sizes, styles and shapes, ranging from rectangular to tubular. When done right, skylights will look like windows in the ceiling and will blend in seamlessly with both the exterior and interior elements of your home. A knowledgeable builder will help you identify where on your roof to place the skylights for optimal aesthetic appeal.

Add skylights to your custom built home plan.

They’re Good for Your Health

One unexpected benefit you’ll realize if you add skylights to your custom built home plan is you’ll be able to get your recommended allowance of vitamin D safely in the comfort of your home and without taking supplements! Vitamin D is known as the “sunshine vitamin” because exposure to sun causes the body to produce vitamin D. Vitamin D deficiency can lead to osteoporosis, heart disease, cancer, depression and insomnia. Install a skylight and soak up the sun!

They Discourage Mold and Mildew Growth

Mold and mildew thrive in dark, damp environments like bathrooms and basements. Not only are mold and mildew unsightly, but they can also contribute to asthma, allergies and chronic respiratory illnesses. Sunshine from a skylight is a natural disinfectant and keeps mold and mildew from growing.

They May Lower Your Utility Bills

When you install a skylight, you enjoy natural lighting and will probably turn on your lights less frequently, reducing your electricity costs. In winter, the sun’s rays will warm your room naturally so you’ll be able to turn your heater down, again saving on utility costs.

If you are ready to begin work on a custom built floor plan in Duxbury and the surrounding areas, contact us at Colony Home Improvement. Our skilled team has designed outstanding homes and home additions for eastern Massachusetts residents for decades. We would be honored to have an opportunity to do the same for you!

Create a beautiful space with a deck remodel.

deck remodeling, home additions

Use Qualified Home Improvement Contractors in Eastern MA to Remodel Your Deck

June 23, 20160

The weather in spring and summer in eastern Massachusetts is usually pleasant. It’s no wonder on any given weekend, on any given block, you’ll recognize the sounds and smells of backyard barbecues. Whether you love to entertain family and friends or prefer to relax in peaceful solitude, you probably spend a significant time in your backyard. If you don’t, wouldn’t you love to have a reason to! A deck remodel in Brookline, MA, will inspire you to go outside and make your outdoors time much more enjoyable. Here are some deck remodeling ideas that may motivate you to spruce up your outdoor space.

Build Storage Solutions into Your New Deck

If your existing deck seems to be a repository for clutter, such as lawn tools, dog brushes, bug spray, sunscreen, toys and grilling tools, incorporate built-in storage benches into your deck. They allow you to conveniently store and retrieve items so you can keep your deck neat. A bonus? When not in use, they double as extra seating.

Incorporate Color

Whether you’ll be building a deck using a man-made material like vinyl or wood, you can incorporate color. Man-made materials are available in a range of colors, and wood can easily be stained whatever hue suits you. Get creative! You can stain railings and banisters one color and the flooring a contrasting color or you can go for a cohesive look and use one color for everything. If you choose a neutral hue for the deck itself, you can add color through bright potted plants, rugs and colorful cushions for your outdoor furniture.

Consider changing your deck with the help of home improvement contractors.

Home improvement contractors can help you beautify your deck.

Add a Pretty Pergola

As spring turns to summer, you’ll appreciate the shade provided by a pergola. Pergolas block the sun’s harsh rays but still allow airflow. To maximize shade and greatly enhance the aesthetic appeal of your deck, consider planting a colorful vine like wisteria, bougainvillea or lush green ivy.

Add Warmth

It’s not advisable to have a bonfire in your backyard, but you can still enjoy the warmth and beauty of dancing flames if you add a fire pit to your deck. This multipurpose addition provides warmth on a chilly evening, light and ambiance and a kid-favorite opportunity to roast marshmallows and hot dogs!

Add Lighting

Most home improvement contractors in Brookline, MA, have certified electricians on staff who are qualified to wire your deck for electricity so you can install ceiling fans and lighting. Spending a pleasant night under the moonlight is great. Add in twinkling white lights and your evening suddenly becomes magical. Well-placed lights not only add ambiance, but they enhance safety. Lighting on railings and stairs can help prevent tumbles.

If you are looking for a skilled, experienced Brookline, MA, home improvement contractor to help you remodel your deck, contact us at Colony Home Improvement. We have more than 40 years of experience helping eastern Massachusetts residents improve their homes and enhance their quality of life. Remodeling your deck is a great way to do that, especially this time of year!

Ask your roofing contractor if your roof is causing issues.

home additions, roof contractor

Warning Signs Your Dover, MA, Home May Need a New Roof

June 9, 20160

You probably take your home’s roof for granted and don’t think too much about it until something obvious goes wrong. It’s true most roofs are built to last for decades unless they become damaged by external forces. Considering the important function of your roof, namely protecting you, your family and your belongings from the elements, it’s smart to have a trained professional evaluate it annually just to be safe. Is it time to hire a roofing contractor in southeast MA? Read on to learn the warning signs you might need a new roof.

You Haven’t Replaced Your Roof in Decades

If your asphalt roof is approaching the 20-year mark, it’s time to consider replacing it. Especially if your exterior roof was installed over past roofs, it probably will begin to fail around the 20-year mark if it has lasted that long. Decades of exposure to the elements take their toll. Eventually shingles will break down and allow moisture to seep in. When that begins happening, it’s important to fast-track a new roof.

Troubleshoot your roof with the help of a home improvement contractor.

Your home improvement contractor can help you troubleshoot your roof.

You Notice Distorted Shingles

If your once-flat shingles appear to be curling at the edges or you see areas where the roof appears to be buckling, that is a roof red flag. It’s time to call a Dover home improvement contractor who specializes in roofing.

You Have Water Stains Inside Your House on the Ceiling

Arguably, this is the most telling sign you may need a new roof. While the reason your ceiling is wet may not be roofing related (it could be an overflowing AC drip pan or leaking pipe, for example) an interior leak should be checked out thoroughly as soon as it’s detected.

You Notice Sandy Granules on Your Gutters, Exterior Window Sills and AC Unit

Traditional shingles are coated with course granules that protect them from the sun’s damaging UV rays. As the roof approaches the end of its useful lifespan, it will shed granules. These granules look gritty, almost like sand but larger. If you find granule deposits around your home’s exterior, it’s time to call a roofing home improvement contractor for Dover and the surrounding area.

You See the Sun Where It Shouldn’t Be Shining

Head up to your attic during the day and look toward the sky. If your roof is in good working order, you should see darkness. If you can see sunlight peeking through the boards of your roof, that’s a bad sign. If sunlight can get through, so can rain, snow, wind and bugs.

If you are in need of roof installation in Dover, MA, or if you suspect you might need a new roof but aren’t sure, contact us at Colony Home Improvement. Our friendly, skilled, experienced team will evaluate your roof and let you know if it’s time to replace, if it’s possible to repair or if it’s just fine and working as it is designed to work.