It’s probably no surprise to homeowners everywhere, that the trend for several years now is to open the home up by reducing the amount of interior walls. The idea is to create one large living space consisting of the dining area, kitchen and living room. Outdoor areas are even being connected to the kitchen to…

If you have been in your home for a number of years, no doubt there are things about the home that are dissatisfactory and you would love to change them. Where to start? It’s a good idea to be practical and focus on things your family needs first. If there are several things that are…

This is an interesting collection of information; we often think of the bath and the kitchen as the primary remodeling projects for homes, but not all remodeling delivers the highest return on cost. Garage door replacement Manufactured stone veneer. Minor kitchen remodel. Fiber-cement siding. Vinyl windows. Vinyl siding. Surprised? As for the garage door replacement,…

This depends on how many clothes and shoes you have, doesn’t it? There are some of us who prefer keeping our supply of clothing minimal, but for the majority, we need clothes for specific activities, and that means more closet space. Clothing for work, for recreation, for formal occasions, the space and organized storage needs…

We built an addition on the second floor of a home in the Blaine area; it had been a second floor deck, looking out to the  bay, but the owner wanted more enclosed space, and what could be better than a sunroom? We sealed the floor, which been leaking, and built an enclosure with plenty…

Well, it will be 2021 before you can snap your fingers, but it’s never too late to update your home. A popular remodel is removing old flooring and having wood, bamboo or a wood look-alike installed. Flooring takes a beating, and after many years, it can have an outdated color or pattern, plus damage from…

Those crazy people that make us turn our clocks back and forth; now it’s getting dark by 5:00 pm! Hmm . . .  no more outside activities in the evening. So you see the spiders in the corner up by the ceiling and those funny stringy web things they make that gather dust . .…

It’s always tempting to try to save money, and lets face it, home maintenance and upgrades can be expensive. That said, it is way to easy to assume we can “do that”, by watching an online video or two and buying the materials ourselves. Not to mention, injuries from electrical mishaps, climbing on our roofs,…

In spite of the 16 hour nights we have in Bellingham during winter months, we do not want the lights on full blast! What works best is incremental and task lighting, better known as workspace lights and dimmer switches. Lowering the level of lighting makes the contrast between pitch dark outside and a lighted inside…

There are fireplaces, and then there are awesome fireplaces! If yours is just not “doing it” for you, and you just don’t enjoy sitting in front of it and gazing at the warm flames like you used to, it’s probably time to have some updating done to that fireplace. Fireplaces basically come in two types;…

Transform your dreary,  unfinished basement into a space everyone can enjoy. Even a mostly below grade basement can be brightened up with window wells. These nifty constructions allow you to have windows installed with a manufactured “well”, usually of sheet metal (but can be made of almost anything!) that is built out a couple of…

Now that we have had to turn our clocks back, it is getting dark really early! Now is the time to assess the state of your home and decide what it may need to turn winter into a cheery, pleasant time of year. How often do you have your home painted (inside, that is)? It…

Everything from food prep to paying bills and charging electronics often happens in the kitchen/ dining area. Today’s homeowners prefer a clean look with small appliances tucked away in drawers and cabinets. Knowing just where to look for any piece of cooking equipment improves efficiency and makes the cooks life much easier! So the cook…

How cold the floor was in the bathroom and shower? Now is the time to get ready for next winter! Heated floors can be installed in the master bath, and a luxury item we all should have, heated towel racks.  Warm, fluffy towels, anyone? The same things that keep your home cool in the summer,…

Most people can find at least one thing in their homes they’d like to change. Here is a list of 8 things most homeowners wish their homes had:   More energy efficiency Repairs of some kind, such as painting, new flooring. Remodeled kitchen Remodeled bath, or a second bath (or third!) Accessibility – modifications to…

When the nights start to get longer, we tend to turn inward into our homes, as we spend more time indoors. Number one is probably light! In Bellingham, it gets dark as early as 4:30 pm during the longest nights. So what your home needs is the ability to provide all the light you want,…

Your home will have your unique touches, of course, but most homes would benefit from starting with the listed elements here: Single level. Yes, we admit, we get quite a few calls asking for a partial second floor to be built over the garage. However, single level homes are great for those who wish to…

Did you know that remodeling is very popular? Hiring your favorite contractor can require planning many months ahead for a large project, such as an addition. Smaller projects, like repairs, can be squeezed in between the larger jobs. That said, are you hoping to have an addition, complete kitchen remodel, or major new deck rebuild…

Kitchen countertops take more wear than the floor! Accidental whacks with that knife, dropping a cast-iron pan, and don’t even get me started on what teenagers can do to a countertop. Cutting board! What’s that? As a result, you will find the need to replace it, and why not? That old countertop is just, well,…

What makes a small bath workable? It can be difficult to determine what will make a small bath look good and how to fit all the necessities into it. After all, while you can store some things in another location, some things must be stored right where they are used. Mirrors and bright accent colors…

Investing in a remodel to your current home will turn it into the home of your dreams. Review your home’s layout; look carefully at how it’s rooms are planned out. You can use a tape measure and draw a diagram (or have your contractor do this!). Pay attention to awkward spaces that don’t work; these…

Sure, backsplashes have a practical purpose – as the name implies, but they can and should be so much more. The right backsplash will be a focal point for your kitchen and tie the whole room together. Here are some ideas for selecting the right material and designing your backsplash to fit your own personality.…

We all want that perfect home that resides in an image in our mind; but no matter how long we look, we never find it. What is the solution? Make your home into that ideal place your see in your mind. Room by room, you can turn your home into that dream house. Kitchens and…

Whew! Horror stories abound, and marriages are sometimes broken on an unrealistic DIY home remodel. Repairing and restoring a home, with a family living in a reduced portion of it, is very fraying on everyone’s nerves. Unless you are a skilled carpenter, electrician and plumber, we recommend hiring a contractor to do the work. After…

If the kitchen needs some work, decide just how much needs to be done. Replacing cabinet hardware can make a big difference; updating the sink and faucet have a large impact as well. In any case, stop and think about what needs replacing and what can be repainted or refinished. Bathrooms are next on the…