A combination of tough times and an aging population have played a part in increasing the number of households with multiple generations living under one roof.
In 2000, 5 million households were multi-generational. In 2010, the number has grown to 7.1 million households. Families are sticking together, whether caring for a grandparent or accommodating adult children who want to remain at home until they marry. Remodeling projects are therefore on the rise. People want bigger rooms, more space, and a great kitchen and bathroom.
Areas in the house that need remodeling
1 Is giving the wall a coat of paint the only thing to be done? Usually if a bathroom is only five years old, it may not need much more. But today’s bathrooms have become state-of-the-art and people want to do much more with it now. If you are cramped for space, you might remove the old bathtub and install a shower pan and a shower with glass doors, and a cute little small bath in which your whole body can be immersed. For a bathroom, tiling is better than carpeting as carpet traps hair and other dirt. You want to be able to mop the floor after each shower. Does your bathroom shower have a slip-resistant surface or safety bars to minimize falls? You might be pleased to know that using bright paint colors like lime green, citrus yellow, butterscotch yellow or cream can create an illusion of space and make a small bathroom look bigger. A nice mirror on the wall also helps.
2 Use spring and summer to do all necessary repairs, like replacing broken windows, fixing old doors, replacing handles and knobs, varnishing wooden window frames, all painting that the house needs, which is good during this season. Decide if you are ready to install energy-efficient windows and doors with cordless blinds, or shades-between-the-glass that are easy to operate and safer for homes with children and pets.
3 Are you spending more time in the yard since your flowers have started to bloom? Create a new patio area off the kitchen or dining room for entertaining. Invest in vinyl patio doors to save energy. Go green and replace all the drafty single-paned windows with more energy-efficient wood, vinyl or fiberglass windows. You may be able to claim a US energy-efficient tax credit from $200 to $500 on certain Energy STAR qualified windows installed in 2011.
4 Make sure that you hire the right contractor. Ask for referrals for a reputable licensed, bonded, insured contractor and check credentials.
5 Consider moving interior walls to create extra space in high-traffic areas such as kitchens or bathrooms.
6 Choose bronze finishes like oil-rubbed bronze when replacing missing or broken hardware on windows or doors. Bronze is also popular in bedrooms, home offices, and kitchens.
Home Improvement Ideas for Flooring
How do you find the right flooring when you have so much to choose from?
Front Yard Landscape
Did you know that a well thought-out front yard landscape is worth more in terms of value of your house than a kitchen or bathroom remodeling?
Small Home Improvement Projects That Add Value to Your Home
With the real estate industry in a slump, many homeowners are looking for ways to add value to their homes. The process needn’t be expensive. Just installing stylish interior doors and replacing old exterior trim will make a great difference. New doors add style.
