Archive for the ‘Finish Carpentry’ Category

It’s starting to get colder, and there might be less sunshine, but it’s still a great time for remodeling projects. Here are my top picks for Fall Home Improvement and Remodeling Projects.

1. Window Replacement
Do you know how old your windows are? Old windows can be a big energy waster in your home. In the fall and winter, when keeping warm air in is important, having old windows that don’t do their job can cause your home to be less than efficient, and definitely not as warm. So why not update your windows before the cold really comes in this winter and keep your house cozy all year long.

2. Kitchen Remodel
With all the cooking and baking that goes on during the holidays, why not spend some time sprucing your kitchen space up. No matter your budget, there are options for making your kitchen feel warmer and more inviting. Try installing new countertops, refacing your cabinets, or adding a kitchen island to create more workspace.

3. Roof Replacement
Fall maintenance is an important part of the season. Having your roof inspected should be one of your top maintenance priorities. The last thing you want going into the colder months is a roof that’s not in perfect shape. If your roof is older, you may find that it lets cold air, or worse, the other elements, leak into your home. If this is the case, it might be time to start a roof replacement before you encounter bigger roofing problems in the winter.

4. Window Seat Addition
One of my favorite ways of enjoying the sun in winter, is to enjoy it from the indoors. Adding a window seat in front of a window that gets lots of sunshine is a great way to still get some sun while staying warm. Any carpenter should be able to create an area for you however you imagine it. Perhaps a bench with built in storage would fit perfectly in your living room.

5. Fireplace Remodel
If you have a fireplace, you’ll likely start using it this winter. Using your fireplace creates warmth, and encourages the family to gather around it. To get your fireplace spruced up for winter, think about giving it a little love this fall. Add a new coat of paint, hire a carpenter to create a custom mantle, or maybe install some interesting tile work around your fireplace. Whatever you choose, adding new life to your fireplace will make it a space to enjoy all winter.

Does anyone else have any winter projects lined up?

Life in this part of the county so easily solicits the input of the great outdoors.  That’s why I’ve been on the lookout for creative and functional ways to connect indoor and outdoor spaces.  Because we all know that when the weather turns, any amount of sunlight is going to need to be maximized as much as possible.

We don’t want to give up life on our decks and patios for the winter months, but sometimes the weather has other plans.  However, if you’ve got the wherewithal, you can outsmart at least a little bit of what mother nature has in store for us. 

Photo Credit: Sunset

Enclosed decks, patios and sunrooms are great places to start, but the really tricky part comes in connecting your indoor and outdoor spaces so they flow and fit the feel of your home.  One way I like that seems to help the transition is pocket doors.  Now, I know that sometimes these sliders get labeled with a bad connotation, either for generally malfunctioning or just looking a bit sloppy, but you may be surprised by what you find if you take a look now.

Sliders and pocket doors have changed a lot in recent years however, and you can find perfectly crafted additions for your home to create the look that fits you best.  French doors are also another great way to create a connected feeling between your patio and your home, and they’re also available pretty much anyway you can think of.

Just stumbled across this amazing backyard on Design*Sponge. It’s the home of Meredith Kleinman, an interior designer and painter, and she has truly made me covet her home.

The interior is beautiful, but it’s the exterior that really got my attention.

The wood deck is complete with shaded sitting area. The three sided bench is a great use of custom carpentry, and takes the outdoor patio to a whole new level, perfect for family use or social gathering. Of course there needs to be a convered dining area too. And don’t miss the concrete work making the floor. 

Then there is the small sunroom with amazing tiny tile work just behind the sitting area. I love the return of tiny tile installation like this.

Then there’s the Japanese style bathhouse complete with outdoor shower. The sunny California weather is perfect for outdoor showers. And this one, complete with wooden Japanese inspired hot tub creates the perfect space.

If this doesn’t inspire you to start creating your own backyard oasis, I don’t know what will!

(Photo Credits: Design*Sponge, Meredith Kleinman)

Ceilings are boring…right? 

Wrong.  Exhibit A:

Photo Credit: Home Building. The Fun Times Guide

Are your ceilings not quite as exciting as this one? Or maybe its just that in general we don’t pay too much attention to them, but they can create a dramatic focal point for a room. 

Ceilings are a great way to focus the feel of a space.  I, for one, am a huge fan of coffered ceilings (pictured above).  There’s something  mesmerizing about this type of ceiling and it can be a relatively easy project. 

If you want to learn how, or if you’d prefer to have a contractor do the heavy lifting for you, you can check out how simple the steps are to obtaining your own coffered ceiling:

http://www.taunton.com/finehomebuilding/how-to/articles/perfecting-coffered-ceilings.aspx

Want to get a similar effect for less expense?  Try out installing crown mouldings around your ceiling in a contrasting color to your walls and watch your ceiling get a new lease on life. 

You might be surprised at what your front door says about you.  Its one of the first things visitors to your home will notice, and such an important impression creator should deserve some of your attention.  Front doors are also thought, in most situations, to set the stage for the rest of the home.  So read up and choose carefully. 

There are all kinds of front doors.  They’re as individual it seems now as the people that own them.  This can make things a bit complicated when you’re replacing yours, because this means there is a lot of contemplation involved when its time to decide on a door. 

While the style of your house can certainly direct what type of door might look nice, you’ve still got a lot in terms of flexibility and design choices as a result of just the sheer numbers of doors available out there for your perusal. 

Photo Credit:C Builders

There are generally three basic types of traditional front entry doors, classified by their composition as either:

• steel
• fiberglass
• wood 

I suggest narrowing down which of these you need first and then looking at the specific styles contained with in each type.  That should help you get a handle on things before you have to start seriously thinking about the design aspect of your front door. 

Another key front door consideration you might want to spend some time on is deciding weather or not you prefer windows in your door.  There are many different schools of thought surrounding the proper window styles for front door, and while this is ultimately your decision to make, you might want to think about things like security and durability in addition to the strictly style aspect of the door.

I’m guilty.  Guilty of under appreciating moulding.  I was spoiled in my previous home, where mouldings abounded, but after the move, well, something is just not right. 

Its likely one of those things you won’t notice until you don’t have it.  And then you’ll be plagued by the feeling that something is conspicuously missing.  Take my word on this one, as a dweller of a now moulding-free abode, it feels different.  The word I’m looking for here is more probably unfinished, because it is. 

Photo Credit: Bob Vila

Managing Moulding Woes

While you may be taking your moulding for granted, or if you’re looking at adding some to make your place feel whole, there are almost too many choices: crown, decorative, chair rail…the list is a potentially very long one.

Moulding is an effective way to make a quick upgrade to your room for a terrific impact.  It’s an easy do-it-yourself or weekend project that packs a really powerful aesthetic punch.  I promise you’ll be surprised if you try out some new mouldings or change existing ones to newer, fresher colors.  You can wake up the most uninspired of rooms and add dimension to lackluster floor plans.  

Take a look at some of the creative ways mouldings can be used:

http://www.mouldingandmillwork.com/inspiration