 ou want to change the look and feel of your house, but you also want your
remodeling job to look fresh for a number of years while complementing the
existing features of your home. How do you choose the right project and design
for you and your family?
First, make sure you take your family’s lifestyle into account when selecting an area of your home to remodel. For
example, if you get a lot of traffic through the house, consider hardwood
floors. Families who frequently entertain in the kitchen may want to expand the
room and add an island or some comfortable chairs. If your bathroom is the
place where you escape the world, add a whirlpool tub or a deluxe shower.
After you’ve chosen an area of your home to remodel, the wide array of project options can
be both dazzling and intimidating. To get started, consult the resources below,
which can give you specific ideas on how to turn your house into the dream home
you
’ve always wanted.
Magazines: Magazines that cater to home improvement, lifestyle and remodeling can be an
excellent source of ideas.
Page through publications such as Home, House Beautiful, Better Homes and
Gardens, Southern Living, Food and Wine, Ladies
’ Home Journal, Houston Lifestyles and Homes and Good Housekeeping to identify
projects and materials that might work in your home. Additionally, you can
request a wide range of free or inexpensive literature by completing the
mail-in coupons inserted in such publications.
Web Sites: Surfing the Web is a great way to find ideas and research projects. Many
remodelers, manufacturers and magazines host Web sites that feature project
photos, buying guides and product information. Web directories also can help
you find professional remodelers in your area.
Sketches and Floor Plans: No two remodeling projects are the same, but you can gain some insight into
how another homeowner solved a space problem by carefully studying sketches and
floor plans. If, like most people, you are easily confused by plans and
drawings, imagine yourself in the middle of the room or space on the plan.
Books: Browse a bookstore with a well-stocked home improvement section, but beware of
books telling you to be your own remodeling contractor. Most remodeling
projects call for a level of skill and work
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hours beyond those stated in these books. The job of a professional remodeler
requires experience and competence in a wide range of disciplines, and unless
you are highly skilled and licensed in all the trades, you can quickly get in
over your head.
Remodeling Professionals: One of the advantages of choosing a remodeler early is gaining access to an
extensive library of resources prior to starting a project. Once you
’ve chosen a contractor, he or she usually can offer you a wide variety of
materials, including product manuals, magazines, brochures and blueprints.
Manufacturers and Suppliers: The most obvious place to find information about new products and how to use
them is on manufacturers
’ Web sites and in magazine ads. Lumberyards, hardware stores and other suppliers
also can be valuable sources of information. Many suppliers now offer home
planning centers, where you can browse comfortably among the following:
•Plan books
•Product manuals
•Sourcebooks
•Building tip sheets
•Magazines
•Brochures
•Directories of local remodelers
and builders
Firsthand Observation: Keep a loaded camera and some extra film in your vehicle. You never know when
a trip to the grocery store might provide you a glimpse of just the right
exterior door or window trim, so always be prepared.
Amy Ahlbrand Robinson
Fort Bend Publishing Group
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