Home Improvement Blog

How Many Bathrooms Should You Consider When You Design Your Own Home?

August 13, 20150

Design your own home with the right number of bathrooms.

Consider the number of bathrooms when you design your own home.

Many older homes are known for having a single bathroom that had to be shared by everyone in the home. Today, this idea is practically unheard of in newer construction. When you design your own home in Dover, you need to consider how many bathrooms you want to build in your home. A home improvement contractor can help you make the right choices as you create your custom built floor plans in Norfolk County.

Cost of the Bathrooms

One of the biggest concerns many homeowners have is how much money the project will cost. Even when you design your own home, there are certain elements you may have to decide to eliminate for the sake of using that money elsewhere. However, keeping costs low doesn’t mean you have to get rid of a bathroom you’re planning. You may be able to cut back on your costs by making changes to your plan. For instance, perhaps a half bath will serve the purpose, allowing you to save space and money.

Long-Term Use

The number of bathrooms you add can be determined by how many of your bedrooms have long-term use. Your Dover home improvement contractor can help guide you through the process of making this decision. While it may seem like a good idea to create a separate bathroom to go along with your guest room, it isn’t often a cost-effective choice. Instead, consider placing a joint bathroom between the guest room and a family member’s room so it gets use at all times. There’s no point in spending a lot of money on a bathroom that may only be used once or twice a year.

Ask your home improvement contractor about the number of bathrooms.

Your home improvement contractor can help you choose the right number of bathrooms.

Specialty Use

Another primary deciding factor in choosing the right number of bathrooms for your home is the presence of specialty rooms. For instance, perhaps you have a bedroom or recreation room in the basement where someone may spend a lot of their time. In this situation, installing a bathroom in your basement will make access easier. If you are adding a pool house or a separate apartment above the garage, another bathroom may be needed in these areas as well. In any of these situations, consider whether you need a full bathroom or if a half or three-quarter bath will be suitable.

Many homeowners want more than one bathroom in their home, despite the old trend of one bathroom per home. However, it can be difficult for the typical homeowner to determine how many is appropriate. A Dover home improvement contractor can help you evaluate your needs and make the right choice. It’s always less expensive to add a bathroom during the initial building phases, rather than trying to add one in the future.

If you’re interested in designing your own home in Dover, contact us. We can help you decide how many bathrooms, as well as what other features you want for your new home.

Innovative Ways to Increase Living Space in Your Ranch Style House

August 6, 20150

Your ranch style house plan can increase your space.

Learn to increase the space in your ranch style house plan.

If you have a Brookline, MA, ranch style house plan, you may feel like you are limited on the amount of living space you have. However, with the right home improvement contractor in Norfolk County, you can find new ways to maximize your space and feel more comfortable in your home. Whether you consider room additions or other renovations, you will be able to transform your home into the one you’ve always wanted.

Build Up

One of the best ways to make the most of the space in your Brookline, MA, ranch style house plan is to build up. These one-story homes are often attractive for that reason. However, if you’re looking for more living space, considering a full or partial second story addition can be a great option. You won’t lose any of your yard space but will still add desired square footage to your home.

Open the Floor Plan

An open floor plan may not add a lot of usable space to your home, but it can create the illusion of more room. For instance, as long as the wall between your living room and kitchen isn’t load bearing, you may be able to remove part or all of it to create a larger room. Separating the areas with furniture can give you defined spaces without making the room feel too confined.

Increase your living space with the help of a home improvement contractor.

A home improvement contractor can help you increase your space.

Transform the Basement

Instead of room additions, some ranch style homeowners choose to transform their basement into livable space. The basement is the perfect place for many types of rooms. If you’re running out of bedrooms for your growing family, building one in the basement can be an excellent alternative. You can also create a recreation room, extra bathroom, hobby room and more, all within the space you already have.

Room Addition

A room addition for Brookline and the surrounding towns can still be the right choice, especially if you have a lot of yard space. A home improvement contractor will help you determine if you have the amount of room necessary to stay within zoning regulations and recommend the right location for the addition. This method of increasing your living space allows you to keep your home on one floor.

When you first purchased your ranch style home, you may have had plenty of space, but as your needs change and your family grows, you may be looking for ways to increase the amount of space you have to work with. There are many ideas from which you can choose if you have a ranch style house plan. These changes will help you create the home you’ve always wanted without having to think about buying a new home instead.

If you’re looking for a home improvement contractor in Norfolk County or the surrounding area, contact us. We can help you find new ways to add space to your ranch style home.

What to Consider When Your Home Addition Includes a Master Bedroom Remodel

July 30, 20150

A master bedroom makes a great home addition.

Consider a master bedroom for your home addition.

The most popular room addition when remodeling is adding a master bedroom. Sometimes older homes don’t have a designated master bedroom and the homeowner wants to add the common amenities usually associated with master bedrooms today. For other homeowners, it’s a case where the kids have finally all gone off to college and you have the house to yourself so you want to make changes to accommodate your new living environment. No matter why you are choosing a master bedroom for a home improvement project, here are a few things you’ll need to discuss with your Dover home improvement contractor.

Where Do You Want to Put Your New Bedroom?

The first factor to consider is where you want a new master bedroom. Some homeowners feel like the location of a master bedroom is one of the most difficult decisions they have to make in the process of adding on. It’s important to know how the new room is going to fit in with the rest of the house, both inside and outside. Another important consideration is privacy.

How Accessible Are Doors and Windows?

Once you know where you want the bedroom to be located, the next question you’ll need to answer is how you will access it. Do you want all indoor access, or do you want a door allowing you entry to an outdoor garden or patio? Depending on your answer, you then need to choose the styles of doors you want.

Windows are also important since they provide natural light and a view. You will want to make choices that allow the right balance of light and dark because the room is used for sleeping, but you don’t want it to be dark all the time. Position windows so the view is pleasant. Being able to see into pool areas, gardens or backyards can all provide visual appeal.

Ask your home improvement contractor about a master bedroom.

Your home improvement contractor can add a master bedroom.

What Kind of Lighting Do You Want?

Before you begin your project, it’s essential to determine the type of lighting you want for your master bedroom. You can use windows to provide some natural light, but of course, you’ll need alternatives for when it’s dark. Candle holders, crystal chandeliers and accent lighting are all decorative options that look great in a master bedroom. You can always put dimmer switches in for providing low lighting for more intimate settings.

Do You Want to Include Entertainment Features?

For many people, a TV is an unnecessary feature in a bedroom; for others, it’s essential. Consider whether you want to include a built-in entertainment center. You may also want to think past television and consider including a stereo and other entertainment features for your home addition in Dover.

We can help you decide on the perfect design for your master bedroom addition. Contact us to explore the many options you have available.

Need More Room to Live? Consider a New Room Addition by Building Out

July 23, 20150

Get more living space by building your room additions outward.

Building out with room additions can give you more living space.

Sometimes after you’ve lived in a house for a few years, it can start to feel a little cramped. Maybe your family is growing, or even your interests. Most homeowners make the best use of what space is available, but when you simply don’t have room for guests or need a larger living area, it might be time to contact a Massachusetts home improvement contractor to discuss your options.

A popular option today is building out instead of adding another level onto your house. It can be more feasible, as well as affordable. Before getting started on any project, consider these factors.

Is There Room to Build Out?

Some homeowners may not want to build out from their house because they have a nice sized back yard they are not willing to sacrifice. On the flip side, you may not have enough yard to provide room to build out. However, if you do have plenty of room, it is possible to design it around backyard features and make the best of a smaller yard.

Will the Addition Complement or Complete the House?

Consider how a new room will change the floor plan of your house and whether it will adequately solve your square footage problem. If there isn’t enough space on the bottom level of your house to create a design that solves the problem, consider other options like the basement or adding a second story.

Your home improvement contractor can help you build out.

Talk to your home improvement contractor about building out.

Is Building out Feasible and Cost Effective?

Of all the room additions in Brookline, a build on can be one of the least expensive options. Discuss the available options with your home remodeling contractor to see which ones will be the most reasonable for your home and situation. Adding a lot of extras will drive the cost up even more so figure out what is needed and what is most practical and discuss how to accomplish it with the contractor.

Is It Possible to Match the Existing Exterior of Your Home?

When adding to the exterior of a house, it is important to make the addition match the original. It doesn’t have to be a perfect match since it’s cosmetically complementary to use stark contrasts, making one part stand out without clashing. Just make sure the room addition is an aesthetic match.

How Big Does the Addition Need to Be?

In some cases, it doesn’t take a large addition to solve a space problem in a home. Sometimes it’s enough to add three or four feet onto a small, cramped space to open it all up. If a smaller addition will serve the purpose without having to frame a roof for it, you can save money and time. Just build on what is needed.

Are you ready to explore the options for an add-on to your house? Contact us to discuss the details and possibilities.

Avoid These Design Mistakes by Hiring an Experienced Contractor for Your Bathroom Addition

July 21, 20150

Get the job done right with a contractor for home additions.

A contractor for home additions will get the job done right.

When starting a bathroom remodeling project, there are many minute details to consider. It can be easy to overlook what seems like an insignificant point and end up with a design disaster. Because of this, it’s important to cover every detail in the planning stages so you don’t end up with a major problem later on. Even though the bathroom is typically a smaller room, it can take a lot more effort when it comes to designing. Hiring a home improvement contractor can help you avoid these common design mistakes.

Include an Outside View

One of the most common mistakes is forgetting to include a window on an outside wall. Providing natural light helps people relax in the space. It can also be a source of fresh air, which can help prevent the growth of mold and mildew. If it isn’t possible to include a window in the bathroom, make plans for a skylight or solar tube to allow natural light.

Line of Sight

When possible, avoid placing a bathroom where it is in the direct line of sight to other rooms like a kitchen, living or dining room. Sometimes there is no way to avoid the bathroom being right off one of these rooms. In these cases, use a small alcove, partition or passage to mask the room so the toilet is not seen from an outside room. No one wants to see into the bathroom from the dining room table so plan ahead.

Doorway Disaster

Planning bathroom space can be tricky, but the proper design can help you avoid a doorway disaster. The door should not knock into a toilet, tub or vanity when it is opened. People should not have to squeeze in or out of a bathroom. Be sure to allow adequate space for a door and ease of passage. A Westwood contractor for home additions can take the proper measurements and help you avoid this mistake. They can also offer alternative solutions, such as a sliding pocket door, which takes up less space than a traditional door.

Create the ideal bathroom with the help of a home improvement contractor.

A home improvement contractor knows how to create a great bathroom.

Center Stage

Try to place the toilet so it isn’t the first thing you see when you walk in. The toilet and the shower should be out of direct sight. If possible, place the sink or vanity between the toilet and the rest of the room. If the bathroom is smaller, use design strategies so anything but the toilet is the first thing you see when you enter the room.

Bigger Is Not Always Better

The bathroom design should be a priority over the size of the fixtures and features. The bathroom should be designed to be functional, rather than trying to squeeze fixtures into a small space. The most important feature is functionality.

When you are ready to discuss your options for a room addition in Westwood and the surrounding areas, contact us. We can help you avoid design disasters.