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Remodel for a Relaxed Retreat

 

Well do you know how you live, what you like?  In 2005, some of the common themes throughout my articles were to remodel for your lifestyle.  Articles featured tips from selecting colors for your home to knowing what questions to ask a contractor to turn your home into a haven.  What makes people the happiest is helping them determine what they like and what works best for their lifestyle.

 

So how do you discover what can be done in your home? Become an educated consumer. People, who invest in art, don't spend their money until they've learned something about the topic. Then they feel comfortable spending their dollars on the best they can afford-even if it's only a pencil sketch.

 

Begin by looking at the company portfolio. Ask how they created the solution to a particular remodeling problem.

 

Don't rely on photography alone. Professional photography can make almost any project look wonderful. Take the time to visit a project or two to see the details up close. Oftentimes, the details are where the creative juices really shine.

 

Talk about your budget and your vision for the project. Let the remodeler recommend the medium to use. Sculptures may be created out of clay, bronze, or gold, but do you really want to pay the price for gold? The artist may recommend the bronze which will give you the impact you want at a smaller investment.

 

Let the remodeler be creative. After all, we spend our working lives designing projects that will help make the most of the possibilities. Don't dictate the direction of the project. Suggest what you had in mind, but let us demonstrate our skills.

 

Some things to think about:

 

When remodeling rooms, determine how you want your room to function, deciding what cosmetic issues need to be addressed and assessing what you like and dislike most about your current room is a start to discovering its potential. For example, in a bathroom, what is the condition of the sink, toilet, and tub/shower? What type of bathtub would you like? Does your tub include a shower? One can easily be added with a tub shower valve. Maybe you like the tub and shower separated. How about creating a shower enclosure with glass blocks? You'll retain warmth and maintain an open feeling. What would be your perfect bath? Once you have listed all the luxuries important to you, you will begin to see what will work best with your budget.

 

When choosing colors, select color to set your room's atmosphere. Think about the room's functionality. Is it a place where you would like to relax? If so, what do you enjoy doing that makes you relax? Maybe you like the great outdoors and a beautiful clear day provides peace in your busy life. Think about painting your room a sky blue or and outdoor green.

What colors do you like to wear? Why not dress your room in these colors?

 

Select exterior shades that harmonize with your homes surroundings-steer towards the earthier shades (i.e. a grey-blue versus a bright royal blue).

 

When viewing paint samples, look at the chip sizes proportionate to how they will ultimately be used (i.e. if the wall is to be taupe, with a red accent, view a larger sample of the taupe paint against a smaller sample of the red).

 

Character can be added by using paint, coverings or architectural details to mingle your furnishings, accessories, walls, and floors and give your space a new individuality.

Changing your home through remodeling can be one if the most rewarding decisions you'll ever make. Make the right choice, and you'll look at a masterpiece every time you open your door.

 

Bobby Sanders is a Certified Graduate Re-modelor™ (CGR) with an exclusive professional designation designed to emphasize business management skills as the key to a professional remodeling operation.

The CGR designation requires that graduates meet prescribed standards of business practice, possess a minimum of five years remodeling industry experience, have a proven track record of successful project management, complete a comprehensive education curriculum, and pledge to uphold the program's code of ethics.