Home Improvement Blog

Choosing the Right Indoor Paint for Your Custom Built Floor Plan

October 22, 20150

Choose the right colors for custom built floor plans.

Custom built floor plans need the right colors.

One of the last considerations you make when designing custom built floor plans in Brookline is the colors you will choose for your interior paint. This is because painting is often one of the last tasks completed by your Brookline, MA, home builders. These tips will allow you to choose the right colors to create the atmosphere you want for your home.

Don’t Go Too Dark

Darker colors are currently trending in the interior paint market, but it’s important to make sure you don’t choose a color that makes the overall room seem dark. Many professionals recommend using a darker color on just one wall. The bottom line is if the colors on the walls make you turn on your lights earlier than you otherwise would, it may be best to consider a lighter shade instead.

Room Size Does Matter

While most people claim size doesn’t matter, this isn’t true. In fact, when it comes to choosing the right paint colors, size does, indeed, matter. Smaller rooms require lighter shades to help them feel bigger. Darker colors should be reserved for larger rooms that have plenty of natural light to help keep the room bright.

Your Furnishings and Décor Play a Role

You may have a good idea what you want from your paint colors, but have you really considered what they will look like with your existing home décor and furniture? There’s a reason paint companies offer color strips you can take home and hold up against the elements in your home to help you make the right choice. You will notice the color on that little sheet of cardboard changes when you hold it next to your couch, curtains or other décor elements.

Get help with colors from your home builders.

Home builders can help you choose the right colors.

Colors Affect Perception

What you see and the rest of your furnishings look like can be greatly affected by the colors you choose. For instance, in a bathroom or bedroom where you may be looking in the mirror, it’s important to stay away from all but the warmest shades of green and avoid gray altogether. Neutral tones are often the best choices in areas where you will be looking at yourself. Other areas of your home, such as the dining room, are more likely to benefit from more trendy colors.

Choosing the perfect colors for your home addition floor plans may be the last step in the process, but it’s no less important. You want your home to reflect positively on you and have an atmosphere you will enjoy. Following these tips will help you select the colors and hues that will best complement the rest of your décor and furnishings and ensure you are happy in your home for many years to come. After all, who wants to paint again in a couple of years when you can get it right the first time?

If you’re looking for Brookline, MA, home builders to help you select the right paint colors, contact us. Our professional team can make the paint selection process easier.

Your Westwood Kitchen Remodel Can Be Highly Functional and Fit Your Personality

October 15, 20150

Get a functional and stylish room with a kitchen remodel.

A kitchen remodel can make this room functional and stylish.

Your kitchen should be your own, which means you should have a say in how it’s designed. After all, your personal cooking habits can play a significant role in the functionality of your kitchen. When you work with MA home improvement contractors for room additions in Westwood and the surrounding areas, you will have a hand in creating a kitchen that best meets your needs and your sense of style at the same time.

A Workstation Layout

Older kitchen designs implemented a triangular pattern between the sink, cooktop and refrigerator, creating a functional design for solitary cooks. However, today’s families often make cooking a family experience. In these situations, it’s best to create a workstation environment with a separate area for prep, cooking, staging and cleanup. This layout makes it much easier for everyone to work together without worrying about getting in the way.

Plenty of Storage

One of the key factors in designing an incredible Westwood kitchen remodel is to implement plenty of storage. Not only do cooks need space for their dishes, pots and pans and other utensils, but they also need spaces designed to keep non-refrigerated foods within easy reach. There are plenty of options available for kitchen storage, from the cabinets you choose to the pantry your MA home improvement contractors design for you.

Turn to contractors for room additions for help with your kitchen.

Contractors for room additions can help with your kitchen remodel.

Islands Are In

One of the most popular Westwood kitchen remodel features available on the market is the island. These islands can serve as a food prep area, a serving area or even an eating area. They are extremely versatile and help improve the functionality of your kitchen. These islands come in a variety of heights and sizes to best fit the overall size of your kitchen and the purpose for which it will be used.

Don’t Forget the Lighting

Good lighting should be the focus of any kitchen remodel design. Contractors for home additions in Westwood and the surrounding areas can provide a vast array of ideas to help bring light to your kitchen spaces. Whether it’s natural light through the use of windows and skylights or it’s installing the right light fixtures, they can help you create a kitchen you can be proud of and will be able to cook in with ease.

Creating the ideal kitchen require the expertise of a professional, along with your own personal sense of style. When it comes to a Westwood kitchen remodel, you will find there are plenty of options to consider. Professional contractors understand what makes a great kitchen and can help you achieve the functionality you want, while preserving your own personality in your home.

If you’re looking for MA home improvement contractors to help you handle your kitchen remodel, contact us. We have completed a number of kitchen remodels and can help you achieve the look and function you want.

Adding Storage Space to Your Room Additions: Our MA Home Contractors Are Specialists

October 8, 20150

Create new storage solutions with MA home contractors.

MA home contractors can create new storage solutions.

Storage is one of the most important elements in your home. If you are lacking this space, it’s important to work with MA home contractors to create room additions in Weston that can help implement new and creative storage options. Sometimes there are underutilized areas in your home that can quickly be transformed into a usable space to help reduce clutter in your home.

In the Wall

Walls are great for hanging décor and separating your rooms, but other than that, they don’t serve much of a function. In a room that lacks natural storage space, installing built-in shelving units can be the perfect solution. These room additions won’t take up any additional floor space and will provide plenty of storage, especially when installed from floor to ceiling. The beauty of this project is it can be fully customized to fit in just about any space and looks great in any room of the home, whether you need shelving in the bathroom, a bedroom or anywhere else in your home.

Under the Stairs

If you have a staircase that leads to a second story or up out of your basement, you will find the space beneath the stairs often feels wasted. Even if you do store items under the stairs, they are exposed and can create a cluttered look to the room adjacent to the stairs. This is why many staircases have a storage room underneath. Unfortunately, storage rooms can quickly become sloppy and disorganized. Instead, talk to your MA home contractors about installing shelves or fitting drawers under the stairs. It will create a more finished look and keep your belongings more organized.

Room additions can include storage under the stairs.

Other Unusual Locations

Your home is filled with areas that could be transformed into the perfect storage spaces. For instance, have you considered installing drawers right into your staircase? These drawers are perfect for storing smaller or flatter items that may not be used much but should be easily accessible. Other unusual locations for built in shelves or drawers can include around doorways, under a window seat, in your closet and in smaller hallways or entryways where there isn’t much additional space. Each area can serve a unique function, whether it’s decorative or for storage purposes.

A lack of storage space is one of the leading reasons many homeowners turn to room additions. However, in many cases, you don’t have to add on to your home in order to make better use of the space you already have. In fact, if you look at room additions before and after in Weston and the surrounding areas, you will begin to think differently about the various areas in your home.

If you’re thinking about adding storage space to your existing home, contact us. We offer the services you need to transform more of your home into usable space.

Accommodate a Growing Family with an MA Home Addition

October 1, 20150

As your family grows, you may find the home you originally bought no longer fits your needs. While many people take this as a sign they need to move, others consider a Massachusetts home addition in Wellesley and the surrounding areas. Building onto your existing home will ensure you have all the space you need and is often less expensive and less disruptive than moving your entire family to a new home.

A One-Room Addition

Sometimes you just need a little extra space. Perhaps you had another child and don’t have room in any of the existing bedrooms. Regardless of the reason, a Wellesley home improvement contractor can provide you with the plans you need to expand your home outward. As long as you have the yard space, this type of addition can often be the least disruptive to life in your household and may even cost less as well. It all depends on exactly how much room you need and for what purpose.

A Second Floor Home Addition

Another great option for many homeowners who have a ranch style home is to add on a second story. Adding an entire second floor is a great option if you need more space than just a single room would provide or if you don’t have the space surrounding your existing home to fit a first floor home addition. This addition can be a full one that covers the entire first floor or it can be partial to provide only the additional space you need. Your home improvement contractor can help you create a plan that works best for your needs and your budget.

Consider an Exterior Space

Sometimes exterior space can be the perfect MA home addition to give your family a little breathing space. Adding a sunroom, outdoor kitchen or any other exterior living space can help get everyone outdoors in the good weather and frees up a little space inside your home at the same time. In addition to offering more room, this type of home addition Wellesley and the surrounding areas can increase the value of your home.

When your family is growing, whether you’re adding children or your young ones are growing up, you may find the home you purchased no longer offers the space you need. In these situations, you can work with an experienced Wellesley home improvement contractor to help you put together a plan for adding to your home. These home additions will provide valuable space you didn’t previously have and can even increase the value of your home, making this option more lucrative than trying to sell your home and buy another.

If you’re interested in making home additions to add space to your home, contact us. Our experienced team can help you choose the ideal option for your home plans.

Home Improvement Contractors Can Turn the Attic in Your Ranch Style Home into a Great Living Space

September 24, 20150

Renovate your attic space with the help of home improvement contractors.

Home improvement contractors can help you renovate your attic space.

Ranch style homes are known for being designed on one floor, which can be beneficial for many people. However, this doesn’t mean you are limited in the type of improvements you can make. In fact, home improvement contractors in Wellesley and the surrounding areas can help you create a ranch style home plan that maximizes the use of your space, including transforming your attic into a great living space you can use.

Improve the Entrance

If your home is like many other ranch styles, the entrance into the attic isn’t much more than a hole in the ceiling that may use a ladder to gain access. When your Massachusetts home improvement contractor creates a livable space in your attic, you need a better entrance. A staircase is often the preferred method, but space may be an issue. To maximize your space, your contractor may recommend installing a spiral staircase. This design takes up less space and achieves your goals of getting into the attic more easily.

Reinforce the Flooring

One of the biggest issues relating to the addition of livable space in your attic is the integrity of the floor. To ensure the best results, it’s critical to work with experienced home improvement contractors in Wellesley and the surrounding areas to ensure your safety. They also need to make sure any flooring changes are up to your city’s building codes.

Learn what to expect from your attic space by talking to a home improvement contractor.

Talk to your home improvement contractor about what you can expect from your attic space.

Brighten Up the Room

Once the floor is safe for walking and adding furniture, it’s essential to find ways to brighten up the room. Most ranch style home plans don’t originally include windows in the attic because there is no need. However, if your goal is to spend significant time there, regardless of its use, you need to consider lighting. A lack of windows can mean higher energy bills as you attempt to use lamps and other forms of unnatural light. A dormer can be a great way to bring in some natural light while maximizing space and keeping your costs down.

Uses of the Attic

There are many uses for your new attic addition. In fact, this can be a valuable use of your space without drastically changing the overall layout of your home. For instance, the attic can be the perfect place for an extra bedroom as your family grows. In addition, this area can also make an ideal office, playroom, media room, hobby room or anything else you can imagine. This area of the home is likely to be quiet and can give you a number of advantages.

A ranch style home can offer a number of benefits, including keeping everything on one floor. However, when you’re ready to expand, you can work with a Massachusetts home improvement contractor to create a ranch style home plan that makes use of your attic space.

If you need the help of home improvement contractors in Wellesley or the surrounding areas, contact us. Colony Home Improvement can help you transform your attic into a livable space.