Renovation Archives - House Lift

The Steps to a Home Remodeling Project

September 5, 2023
By House Lift
In Home Value, Renovation, Tips & Tricks

Embarking on a home remodeling project? The process may seem daunting, but with some step-by-step planning in place, you can create a smooth transformation for your home. Here’s how to plan your home makeover. Define Your Project Scope Make a list of the things you want to change or update in your home. Be as specific as possible, detailing the changes for each room and the materials you envision. Remember to consider the practical aspects, such as plumbing and electrical work, along with the aesthetic ones. Your defined project scope will serve as a blueprint guiding your decisions and actions throughout the remodeling process. Hire a Remodeling Contractor Choose a dedicated remodeling contractor who is licensed, insured and has a strong portfolio. Schedule a consultation to share your desired project scope and give them a chance to walk through your space. Then you’ll be ready to work out key details and a plan of attack for your project. Develop a Detailed Plan and Timeline When you and your contractor begin to map out the plans for your home remodeling project, make sure to bring your planner with you. Start by identifying key milestones based on your project’s scope. These might...

How To Orchestrate the Perfect Kitchen Remodel

Here in the Midwest, you’d be hard-pressed to find a family who doesn’t consider the kitchen to be the heart of the home. So, when the kitchen is looking and feeling outdated, the whole house feels off. A successful kitchen remodel may seem like an overwhelming task, but with the right approach, you can pull it off beautifully. Make Your Wish List Identify the parts of your kitchen that aren’t cutting it for you, which you would like to change or upgrade: cabinets, appliances, flooring, lighting fixtures, counters, etc. Then prioritize them based on the most important to least important. As you’re making your wishlist, make sure to think about the kitchen layout and flow of traffic as well. Choose a Design Style Find some inspirational photos that show exactly what you’re looking for in the design of your new kitchen. From overall-theme pictures to specific elements (such as faucets or counter finishes), these photos will be an invaluable tool for you and your contractor. Ask your contractor for design visualizations, material samples and product cutsheets to envision the finished kitchen before work begins. Measure Once, Twice, Three Times Providing prospective contractors with precise schematics will give them a clear...

Everything You Wanted to Know About Luxury Home Remodeling

Beauty, personality and functionality are ideally just some of the reasons to purchase a luxury home. So when it comes to enhancing those characteristics, a remodel becomes an exciting endeavor to upgrade your living space, whether it’s adding a new room, renovating a bathroom, revamping a kitchen or a full reinvention of the entire house. A remodel can be a complex process, however. Here’s a step-by-step on everything you need to know about luxury home remodeling, from start to finish. Planning Crucial to the success of any home remodeling project (especially a luxury home remodel), you need a blueprint of which direction to go in. Start by outlining your goals and objectives for the project. Do you want to create more living space? Upgrade your appliances? Modernize your home’s design? Add a new wing, or reinvent existing rooms into something else? Once you’ve defined your goals, determine the scope of the project and the projected timeline. Keep in mind that a proper renovation will need to include materials, labor and permits (particularly if it involves expanding past your property line). You’ll need to work closely with a contractor to ensure all your goals are feasibly met. Selecting a Contractor Look...

Spruce Up Your House With These 3 Renovation Ideas

Spring is coming, and what better time than now to spruce up your abode? Taking the opportunity to renovate and reinvent comes with a host of benefits, like giving your home a fresh, new look with aesthetic appeal, and even increasing the value of your property. However, not every house renovation is created equal, and some can be more impactful than others. For inspiration, here are three renovation ideas that are functional and reflect your personal style and taste. Update Your Kitchen The kitchen is often referred to as the heart of the home, and for good reason, where people gather to cook, eat, socialize and make lasting memories. Kitchen updates can make a big difference in the overall look and feel of your home. Consider replacing your old appliances with new stainless steel models, and add a fresh coat of paint to the cabinets to give them a new look. You can also update the cabinetry and countertops with granite or quartz, and add new tile or hardwood flooring. For the kitchen, the amount of renovation ideas is endless. Add a Bathroom Refreshing a master or guest bathroom is a go-to option if you must pick one room in...

The Best Designs for a Kitchen Renovation in 2023

When it comes to renovating what’s (in)arguably the most important room in the house, there are kitchen remodel ideas, and then there are kitchen remodel ideas. It’s a bona fide make-it-or-break-it situation, since choosing the former could run the risk of sinking money into the wrong renovation effort (and maybe diminish the value of one’s abode). But choose the latter, and the most tastefully done kitchen renovation ideas can be statements combining artistics and aesthetics, a wise Investment — with a capital I — into your home for years to come. Should you switch out your seating? Restyle your wood? Yes, and yes. Which other directions should you take your kitchen to give it some modern-style upgrades that are beautiful, family friendly and make all the difference in giving it that “wow” factor? Thankfully, you don’t need to swap out everything including the kitchen sink (though you could do that, too), to give your space some new life. Read on for some renovation inspiration. The Best Kitchen Remodel Ideas for 2023 Prioritize your needs when thinking about a kitchen remodel, since some upgrades may be superfluous to your space. Does a certain upgrade serve a functional purpose? Does it make...

The Aesthetic Benefits of French Doors

Interior and exterior French doors have become a popular staple in home design over the years and they are easily recognizable by their rectangular window frames that extend down the door’s length. French doors made their first appearance in architecture in the 17th century and as France’s Baroque period flourished, so did the exploration of new artistic and architectural styles. Back then, French doors were really just full-length windows that led onto balconies. They were later modified into operable doors, which allowed access to the balconies while letting in plenty of natural light. Their versatility and beauty makes them an ideal choice for patios and more. Thinking of adding an interior or exterior french door to your home? Read on as we discuss a few reasons why you should make them a part of your dream home makeover. French Doors Provide Functionality French doors were originally created to make small balconies accessible, but today, they aren’t only used for exterior purposes. Interior french doors can be used to connect rooms in your home and enhance the visual flair of your space. They can make rooms feel and look more spacious when opened up and create a cozy, comfortable space when...

Getting the Most Out of Your Home’s Natural Light

June 28, 2022
By House Lift
In Inspiration, Renovation, Tips & Tricks

If you own a home, learning how to increase its natural light is likely on your wishlist. A home flooded with natural light is welcoming and makes us feel rejuvenated. Exposure to daylight has been linked to better moods and overall well-being. Increasing the natural light in a room makes colors more vibrant and décor more eye-catching. For many people, natural light is a “must-have” feature in a home, followed by a large garden and an open-plan kitchen or dining room. Poor natural lighting is often a reason why homeowners feel unhappy with their home’s appearance. Homebuyers also tend to find brighter homes more appealing than darker ones. When it comes to home design, we are always thinking of ways to boost natural light. If you are considering a dream home makeover, read on for the best ways to add more light. Update Your Flooring You’d be surprised how much of an impact the right flooring can have on your home’s natural light. Flooring can be transformed into light-friendly reflectors by choosing wood, ceramic or stone with a polished finish. Light wood floors, especially whitewash wood floors, have been around for centuries. Home renovation companies often suggest wood flooring because...

How to Transform Your Porch Into a 4-Season Space

One of the main benefits of updating or remodeling your home is maximizing your available space to suit your lifestyle. Transforming unfinished attics and basements into enjoyable, fully-furnished spaces are smart ways to accommodate your growing family. However, you shouldn’t limit yourself to what you can update inside your home; it’s time to think outside of the box and extend your living space outdoors. When you are sitting outside, you want to enjoy the scenery, but you also want to be comfortable. But what do you do when it’s freezing during the winter and blazing hot during the summer? A four season porch is the perfect solution. Read on to find out how to make that a part of your dream home makeover. Enjoy Nature’s Beauty in Comfort A four season porch functions as an interior room made almost entirely of glass and windows that allows you to take in the views of the outdoors year-round. It is equipped with permanent heating and cooling, and it is included in the finished square footage of your home. This distinguishes it from a three season porch because three season porches are not equipped with any internal heating or cooling. What Your Four Season...

From Idea to Breaking Ground – Steps to Remodeling Your Home

Remodeling is a great way to invest in your home. Remodeling projects not only add property value, they can help you find greater enjoyment and better use of your space. The popularity of home improvement programming shows that many people daydream about how they’d upgrade their houses, and the renovation and remodeling industry continues to grow. When homeowners get inspired to change things up in their home, they can quickly become overwhelmed by the logistics of the project. With the right planning, pacing and professional support, remodeling can be much easier to navigate than one would expect. House Lift has provided remodeling and renovation services for more than 30 years. Keep reading to learn about the steps you can take for a smooth remodeling project, from idea to breaking ground. 1. Organize Your Inspiration Before you start sizing up your space, vetting contractors or pricing materials, it’s important to know what you want. Assess which rooms and areas of your home you’re interested in remodeling. Start by listing what you love about each existing space and what you’d like to change. This will help you prioritize your goals for your home renovation. Next, find style inspiration to inform your remodeling...

Renovating to Solve and Prevent Moisture Issues

There are clear signs when you have excess moisture in your home. Sometimes, simple changes can reduce the amount of moisture. Other times, more major renovations may be required to make your home safer and more comfortable. Take care of excess moisture issues as soon as possible with a complimentary consultation with the House Lift team. What are the signs of moisture in my home? Excess moisture in a home shows up in many different ways. One of the more obvious signs of too much moisture is condensation on your home’s windows, especially in the colder months. You may see the telltale spots of mildew or mold growing in your bathroom or in the corner of a closet or the kitchen. Mold in your basement is another sign. Peeling, cracking, or blistering paint can also indicate a moisture issue. What are the forms of moisture? There are three states of moisture: solid (ice), liquid (bulk water), and gas (airborne moisture or vapor). All three can affect your home. Ice is typically found on the exterior of your home in the form of ice dams, which can cause water to leak into the interior. If your windows are in poor condition,...

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