Home Improvement Blog

Increase storage space with kitchen remodeling.

Kitchen Contractors in Ma Will Help You Increase Storage in Your Kitchen and Add Value to Your Home

July 28, 20160

If you’re tired of clutter in your kitchen and piles of stuff lining your countertops because there is no dedicated home for it, you will be amazed by the dramatic improvements you can enjoy from a project like kitchen remodeling in MA. Here are just a few of the benefits you can expect when you hire a kitchen specialist to help with your custom built home plans in Scituate,

Look Up for More Storage

If you are blessed with an abundance of accessories, dishes, barware, decorations, collectibles and more, you may struggle with where to put your bounty. Especially when your items are seldom used or solely decorative, you can get away with storing them in hard-to-reach places. Consider adding one or two shelves above your cabinets or refrigerator to store your salt-and-pepper shaker collections, cake stands, beer steins and other rarely used items. The shelves will draw the eye up and make your ceiling appear higher. If you’re meticulous about staging your belongings, the shelves will be as inviting to look at as they are functional. Another way to create storage near the ceiling is to hang a decorative pot rack. If you love to cook, you may find having a visual on all your pots and pans helpful and convenient.

Utilize your space with the help of kitchen addition contractors.

Kitchen addition contractors help you utilize your space.

Look Inward for Hidden Storage

If you have a kitchen island, it is the ideal spot to add drawers, cubbies and shelves to hold table linens, silverware, crayons or whatever else needs a home. If your kitchen doesn’t have an island now and you’re planning to design your own home in Scituate, do yourself a huge favor and make sure the kitchen includes one! Also make sure your kitchen contractor knows you want to take advantage of the storage opportunities an island presents. Islands are great for adding storage, extra seating and prep space, and they also serve as a pretty focal point of your room.

Look Down for Storage and Seating Combined

If your kitchen has a bank of windows or, better yet, a bay window, consider having a storage bench or window seat built in. Not only will you be adding more seating, you’ll enjoy a considerable amount of storage. Simply lift up the seat’s lid and you can store anything and everything. Have you always puzzled where to store your nonperishable purchases from the bulk warehouse? A storage bench could be just the place!

Remodeling your kitchen is a win-win, in the short-term, while you are still living in your house, as well as when you choose to sell later. When your kitchen is functional and uncluttered, you’re more likely to spend more time cooking, entertaining and enjoying the heart of the home. If you are looking for skilled, responsible, courteous, affordable kitchen addition contractors in MA, contact us at Colony Home Improvement before you contact anyone else!

Change the look of the room with bathroom remodeling.

bathroom remodeling, home additions

Need a Bathroom Update But on a Budget? Colony Home Will Create the Perfect Remodel

July 21, 20160

When you embark on any remodeling project, you have options galore in terms of the construction materials you’ll use, the layout of the space, color scheme, accessories and more. If you want to pursue a project in bathroom remodeling in MA but are on a tight budget, you are fortunate most area bathrooms are small spaces. That in itself saves you money. Don’t make the mistake of deciding to do it yourself. More often than not, you will end up hiring a professional to correct your DIY fixes. You can afford to hire a pro when you heed some of these tips for remodeling your bathroom without breaking the bank.

Use Tiles Strategically

Most home addition contractors in MA will encourage you to use tile on your bathroom floors. Not only is it attractive, but it can withstand moisture and the frequent cleanings it will likely be subject to. Any home improvement store will offer a decent selection of affordable floor tiles. Unfortunately, unless you find them on sale or clearance, decorative tiles often used in bathroom showers and on bathroom backsplashes are usually expensive per square foot. Instead of tiling an entire wall in your shower, consider tiling a strip in the center so it will tie the room together, but save you money on materials.

Consider Repurposing Your Tub or Shower

If your bathtub and/or shower are structurally sound, consider having them re-glazed or relined instead of replacing them. You’ll save a significant amount of money and achieve the updated look you want.

Discuss tiles with your home improvement contractors.

Talk to your home improvement contractors about adding tiles.

Splurge on Plumbing Fixtures and Lighting

Even if you decide to go with stock rather than custom cabinets and a tile or Formica countertop rather than granite or marble, you can add elegance with strategically placed luxury finishes. Choose a statement piece, perhaps a small chandelier, as your main lighting source. Splurge on higher-quality sink and tub/shower faucets. Instead of boring contractor-pack cabinet knobs and pulls, look for unique options. You can find stunning, unique cabinet hardware that will transform the feel of your space for less than $10 each.

Paint Is Your New Best Friend

A fresh coat of paint (professionally applied, of course) is the least expensive way to change the look of any room. Ask Newton home improvement contractors for photos of bathroom remodels they have done and look at home improvement magazines and websites to get inspiration. Don’t overlook the ceiling! There is no reason your ceiling has to be painted white! A light color that complements your wall color can create a warm, inviting space. Make sure to splurge on high-quality, mold-resistant paint that is designated as bathroom-friendly.

For Small Bathrooms, Consider Pedestal Sink

Many custom built home plans in Newton include powder rooms or half bathrooms. If you want to remodel such a bathroom or any small bathroom, ask yourself if you really need a full countertop. Installing a compact pedestal sink instead of a traditional sink and countertop combination will make your bathroom feel significantly larger and roomier.

If you are underwhelmed by your current bathroom, dream of having it remodeled, but assume you can’t afford to do so, you may be pleasantly surprised! Contact us at Colony Home Improvement to discuss your project. If you’re on a tight budget, we’ll work with you to get the job done beautifully and affordably.

Consider adding an island with kitchen remodeling.

home additions, 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!