home additions ma | Colony Home Improvement

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!

Transform a Room in Your Home into Your Hobby Oasis

March 31, 20150

Create a hobby room with design build plans.

Design build plans can help you create a hobby room.

Taking up a hobby can be a great way to stay busy and meet new people. However, many hobbies are best done with a dedicated space so you have plenty of room to spread out and store all of your supplies. Whether you consider renovating an existing room or creating home additions in MA, design build plans can help you create a dedicated space for your hobby needs.

Consider Your Needs

Before you begin home remodeling in Dover, MA, it’s important to evaluate exactly how much space you need for your hobby. How much storage space is necessary to make sure you have access to everything you need? How much actual space do you need to work? Do you need electricity to operate anything? Is natural light a necessity? What kinds of things will you need to store? The answer to all of these questions will help your contractor create the right design build plans to meet your specifications.

Choose Your Space

The basement can be a great place to set up a model railroad, a sewing room or a scrapbooking area. However, you likely need to have a finished space to make the most of your hobby. Home remodeling in Dover, MA, can transform your basement into the ideal place to work. If your basement isn’t suitable or you prefer space on your main floor, consider using an empty bedroom or possibly home additions in MA. One of the biggest decisions is whether you will use existing space or if you will need a new room.

Create the Plan

It’s always best to do your research and work with a design build contractor before you begin your project. They can help you determine the appropriate layout for the room to make the most of the space and provide you with the ideal area for working on your favorite hobby. If your contractor uses computer technology, you can even see what the room will look like when it’s complete before the project even begins.

Home remodeling can create a hobby room.

If you need a hobby room, home remodeling may be required.

Set It Up

Once your home additions or home remodeling in Dover, MA, is complete, you can start setting up your room. Some important additions to your hobby room can include:

A sturdy work table with plenty of light
Empty cans or other storage containers for smaller items
Magnetic strips to keep metal tools handy
Shelves for storing larger items
A comfortable chair

Your hobby room should be unique, just like your needs. If you don’t already have the ideal space to work on your hobbies, home remodeling or home additions in MA can provide the ideal space. You will have a hand in your design build plans so your room meets your needs and provides you with the relaxing space you want.

If you’re interested in creating a space for your hobbies in your home, contact us. Our Massachusetts contractors can help you design and build the ideal room to meet your unique needs.

A 3-D Design Plan Can Help You Remodel or Build Your Dream Home

March 12, 20150

Ask your contractor about 3-D home plans.

3-D home plans help you envision the end results.

Making changes to your home, particularly home additions in MA, can be a major undertaking. Because of the cost and the work required, it’s important to be sure you will be happy with the end result before you get started. With the help of 3-D home plans, you can get an idea of what your home will look like when the work is complete. This method of design build remodeling is one of the most effective options to ensure you are pleased with your home.

Make Changes in Real Time

While your typical 2-D plans are a good way of putting a renovation or building into perspective, you may need to wait for an architect to make changes to the plans before you move forward. However, when you use 3-D home plans to illustrate the changes, you will be able to work with your contractor to make changes immediately right in the computer program. You can then try several options before settling on the final one for your project.

Reduce the Risk of Additional Costs

As your contractor works on home additions in MA, you may find you aren’t happy with the way things are progressing and you wish to make alterations, sometimes more than once. Every time you make changes, you run the risk of increasing the cost of your project. When you make use of design build remodeling tactics, however, you will be able to see the end result before you even start so you can make the changes then, increasing the chances of a more accurate budget.

Find out if your contractor uses design build remodeling.

Design build remodeling is one of the most effective methods.

Improved Quality of the Design

A flat, two-dimensional drawing of your home renovations may leave much to the imagination. What you envision may be something entirely different from what your contractor is considering. When you work with your contractor to develop 3-D home plans, on the other hand, everything is laid out specifically the way you want it. Not only will the contractor be able to see where everything should go, they can also identify colors, patterns and more. This means you won’t be surprised when you see your home after the work is already done.

Home renovations and home additions in MA can be a great way to change the look of your home and provide the additional space you need to accommodate your growing family. Before you make any changes, though, it’s important to find ways to see what it will look like before investing the time and money into the project. With the help of 3-D home plans, you can get a clear view of what you will get and help your contractor envision the same end result you do.

If you’re interested in design build remodeling, contact us. Colony Home Improvement provides general contracting services throughout the Boston area, as well as southeastern and metro west Massachusetts.

How to Stay Sane During Home Renovations

February 24, 20150

Your home construction project doesn't have to be stressful.

Learn how to relax during your home construction project.

Home improvement projects can be stressful. Eventually, cooler heads will prevail, but it’s easy to lose sight of that when you’re in the middle of a major remodel. Sometimes things don’t go as planned, and it can be easy to lose your cool, especially if your project takes longer than expected or if you have to spend more than you planned. Here are some tips to help you stay sane during your home construction project.

Hire the Best You Can Afford

While price is a major factor for renovation, don’t make it the only factor. The company with the lowest price may turn out to be the one with the unreliable crew that doesn’t show up on time, leaves early or leaves garbage on your property. You should check the references for any contractor you’re considering for home additions in MA. The budget electrician your low-priced contractor brings in may cut corners, which could be a nightmare if things go wrong.

Establish a Temporary Replacement Space

Taking your family out to eat for every meal, every day during your kitchen renovation will get old—and expensive—fast. If you’re going to be remodeling a heavily used room, such as the kitchen, you should set up an alternative to use while the room is out of commission. There are lots of small appliances you can easily put in another room like a microwave, hotplate, crock pot or toaster oven. You won’t have gourmet meals, but your budget, and likely your waistline, will thank you. Unfortunately, if you’re without a kitchen sink, you may need to wash dishes in the bathroom.

Plan your home improvement project to reduce stress.

Are you undertaking a home improvement project?

Accept the Mess

Even the most careful and considerate workmen can’t always help the dust and debris from home construction. Of course, they can prevent some debris from entering areas of your home that aren’t being worked on by using plastic sheets to cordon off the areas under construction. However, you will likely have to deal with your belongings being in disarray for a short time period. If you’re renovating the kitchen, you may have to remove everything from your kitchen cabinets and put the dishes in the dining room or bedroom. You may have to move all of your living room furniture into the garage while you install new floors. It’s best to be realistic about the mess and prepare yourself in advance to deal with some disorganization in your home.

Take a Vacation

You don’t need to run off to some exotic locale, though it’s a nice option if you have the time and the money. Moving out temporarily and staying in a local hotel can help preserve your sanity. The kids will most likely love the temporary digs, especially if it has amenities you don’t have at home like a swimming pool. If you can afford it or can get the hotel to upgrade you, try to stay in a suite. This way, the kids can have a separate bedroom and you can all avoid too much togetherness in a cramped hotel room.

If you are interested in home additions in MA, contact us. We can make your home improvement vision come to life and help keep you sane during the process.

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