This one is a perfect 10 if you ask me. I found the picture at one of my favorite haunts Houzz.com, and the kitchen is by Valerie Pedersen who works in the SF Bay Area.

Wow! I love, love, love it! I was searching for window seats and I came across this shot. I really love the built-in seating (storage inside would be cool). And while we’re talking seating… I love that bench seat too! The whole thing just works for me.

A Closer Look

I see much more than just the seating here though. One great thing about this kitchen is that it’s timeless. not much here is going to be outdated in five years. The white cabinets and black granite look awesome with that white subway tile wall splash.

(trivial info: traditionally, the “backsplash” was only a few inches above the counter. When the whole wall between the upper and lower cabinet was done it was referred to as a “wall splash”… not so much nowadays)

I also love the farm sink in this kitchen. To me, the whole kitchen almost has to be designed around a farm sink for it to look right. This one looks great! Great faucet too.

Great Trimwork Too

One of the other things that make this room look great is the use of “normal” but beautiful trimwork.

• Standard 5.25″ Crown
• Simple window casing
• Upgraded, but simple, baseboards
• Small Crown on upper cabinets

Some Great DIY Ideas Here

When I look at this picture, I see a list of individual projects that most beginners can handle.

• Painting – the biggest thing in this picture almost gets missed. That is a great contrast between wall color and cabinet and trim color. You can do that right now in your house!
• Light Fixture – the next step-up the DIY difficulty ladder is installing a cool light fixture. Installing a fixture is something you can learn to do with a Google Video search. It makes a huge difference (just don’t skip the “turn off the breaker” step)
• Cabinet Hardware – Maybe easier than the light fixture is to change out your pulls, knobs, and hinges. Heck, once all that is off, maybe you want to spray paint your cabinets!
• Run that trim! You can so do this! Start with the easiest thing, probably the window casing; maybe the baseboard. When you want to try crown molding, do that little crown on the cabinets first so you can figure out how to hold it upright in your saw for easy angle cuts.
• Build A Window Seat! – Once you get your skills to the point where you can run that crown, you can tackle the window seat. Then you’ll be in high-style!

Have fun!

This is more of a home improvement blog. I was given orders a long time ago to stay away from the “decorator-ey” stuff. I guess somebody was scared I’d take over!

But, despite my efforts at hiding my feminine side, sometimes I just have to run with it! Like now…

Check out this GOURDjus flower arrangement!

Isn’t that cool! Talk about eco-friendly! I never even knew there were “Swan Gourds”. I was never in that crowd. But I like railings, and so does this Gourd, so we’re hanging out. Ha. Made myself chuckle.

Not all Gourd decorating should be publicized. Some is just painful. Check this out:

Gourd help me! This is just too much for me. Maybe this is why I can’t be an official member of the Fab 5 (there could be other reasons). I just don’t have the eye. All I see here is a horrible, heart-wrenching, display of butchered architecture! I’d bet my pink toolbelt that there were decent years left in those balusters.

But, when they died, they got to sit next to Gourd!

For more gourds, see this BHG.com article and for some beautiful white pumpkin decor, check out Kim’s post on Forever…Wherever!!!.

I love to talk about door casings, crown moldings, wainscoting, and baseboards! And that’s exactly what I’m doing today in my guest post at Hooked On Houses!

Head on over there to check it out! Julia has some really great stuff at her blog and you don’t want to miss any of it! But you already knew that.

If you’re just over here from Hooked On Houses, welcome to Remodeling Guy! I’m glad you’re here and I hope you don’t leave a stone un-turned as you browse around. You can use the menu bar up at the top, or the category buttons along the right side to get where you want to go!

If you’d like to say hello, please go ahead and leave a comment! Thanks!

~ RG

A Good Start

Next time you go to brush your teeth, or take a shower, take a look around. Actually absorb your environment a little bit and pay attention to your surroundings.

How does it make you feel?

I’m a huge believer that the surroundings we create for ourselves have a real impact on how we live! If we feel inspired, comforted, safe, and happy in our home, then that will have an impact on our everyday life even when we are away from home. Our environment affects our attitude!

It all starts with the Bathroom!

For most people I know, the bathroom is the first stop of the day. Well, there may be a detour to let the dog out, but you get the point! Making a few simple improvements to the bathroom will start the day off right.

Here is the great news: Remodeling a Bathroom is Cheap! (er)

Compared to the cost of larger rooms, you can make more impact with fewer dollars in a bathroom than anywhere else in the house. In today’s world that’s huge! We need to find ways to make our lives feel better without spending thousands upon thousands of dollars. Here are a few possibilities:

• Replace your bathroom vanity (or paint it!)
• Replace your bathroom fixtures (or some of them)
• Learn to do your own tile work – replace your tile (or accent)
• Get some cool bathroom accessories (easy!)
• Replace your bathroom lighting (as low as $20.00!)
• Paint your bathroom in a hot new color! (attitude!)
• Or just a new shower curtain! (how easy is that?)

The great news is that none of these ideas have to be expensive! There are endless ideas available online for all of these things! You can find great deals on fixtures, cabinets, lighting, tile…all of it! Just look around a little! Get some inspiration and find yourself a how-to video and get to it! For much less than you think you can change the way your life feels by changing the first room you visit every single day!

Sounds like a plan to me!

Hi Everyone! I’m glad you’re here today! I have a really cool room to show you! Check this out:

Pretty visually stunning isn’t it! I know it’s not for everyone but this look is up-and-coming! Whether it’s perfect for you or not, there are some neat ideas that you can incorporate into your next remodeling project.

Take a look at this short video and I’ll tell you more about it! Oh, and this one IS short; only 2:00 minutes! 

I hope you liked it! The great thing is that even if you didn’t like this, you’re still closer to your dream remodel having watched it. Now at least you know one more thing you don’t want!

Personally, I like the look but wouldn’t want to live in a place so “sterile”! But I really like the use of the bumped out wall sections! I can see using that in an outdoor entertaining area, a kids bedroom, along a long hallway, any number of places!

What are your thoughts? I’d love to hear them!

Room additions have always been popular. The idea of making the house a little more spacious and giving everyone a little more room to spread out has almost universal appeal. The obvious goal:

More Space

On of my all-time favorite projects!! (after)

As families grow, the need for space increases. When my wife, Kim, and I were fist married, we lived in an apartment that was about 400 square feet. Even with just two of us, we wanted more space pretty quickly!

Bring kids, friends, dogs, and twenty years of collected ‘stuff’ into the mix and most people start to feel like they are bursting at the seams. In a recent post on making best use of small spaces I talked about how to maximize the space you already have.

Some of you probably react to that something like this “Look, Remodeling Guy, yeah, yeah, yeah…I understand the whole efficient use of space concept; but you don’t understand, I need a room for guests to sleep in, a room for kids to play in, and a room to do my work in…I can’t do these things under my bed, no matter how creative I get!”

Point taken. Many folks are in a situation just like this. They usually have two options: buy a new house, or build a home addition.

Just after “Before” (does that make sense?)

The Economy of Additions

The current gloomy state of the housing market is having a major impact on these decisions. The option of buying new is fading away for many people. This is happening for a number of reasons:

• Existing house value has depreciated
• Outlook for an acceptable and quick sale is weak
• Access to credit is squeezed

Of course, at the same time, if some of these issues aren’t a concern for you, now might be the absolute best time to buy a home. There are some great deals to be had.

The result of all of this is that more people are considering additions.

The Real Reason for an Addition

Economy is one thing, but it’s not the biggest reason people add-on. I know from experience (I’ve built hundreds of additions) that the main reason people add-on is this: “I love the neighborhood!”

The real reason for an addition isn’t negative at all. It’s 100% positive. People love where they live, so when life circumstances change and they need more space, they start making room addition plans.

My honest opinion is that the challenges of the economy will actually force many people into doing what they really wanted to do anyway. I’ve seen people move out of a neighborhood they love simply because they were afraid of the process of building a room addition.

Here are the major steps:

The major steps of an addition follow the same sequence as any other project, just in a bigger way. Regular Remodeling Guy Crew know that these consist of four categories: Dream, Design, Build, Live.

Dream

The first step in building an addition is to develop the vision you have for the project. Know what you want it to be. Know what you need to accomplish. Know your limitations, but don’t place false limits on the project.

Let me tell you something: The Dream phase is the true “foundation” of the project, well before the first concrete is poured. Don’t rush through it, don’t take it for granted, and don’t let someone else do it for you.

Design

This is where the dreams are put on paper. The design phase looks with a creative eye at how to make those dreams come true. During design, all of the home addition costs are considered. Building permit considerations are dealt with. Real working drawings are developed.

Build

A work in progress!

When it comes time to finally build something, people get very excited! The day has come, the end is near. But of course the build process has to start with a long list of decisions such as “should I hire a contractor?”, “should I contract this myself, or DO this myself?”.

People consider contract related questions and insurance related concerns. The list goes on, and on, and on. This is the part that many people don’t get past. The fear of the unknown can paralyze homeowners who have a great vision and a design in hand!

It can be done. There is no real need to be paralyzed and if approached in the proper manner, this needn’t be so tough.

Live

For those who make it past the first few stages, the ultimate enjoyment arrives eventually! One of my favorite compliments at the end of an addition is “I just wish we had done this sooner! The extra space makes a huge difference!”

Consider the following list of a few addition types:

• Garage Addition
• Second Story Addition
• Family Room Addition
• Bedroom Addition
• Bathroom Addition
• Sunroom Addition
• Bonus Room Addition

These are just a few types of space that can be added if you want to add room to your home. The list is as long as your imagination!

Need Help?

I can help you with this. This is one of the areas where I have unique experience and due to the amazing relationship building of blogs, I can get to know you and help you with your project.

Just stay in touch through the email Newsletter, and the regular subscriptions to the blog itself.  You can also email me with your questions and I’ll do my best to answer.

Want to see the inside?

Interested in a couple of pictures of the inside of the job shown at the top? Here ya go:

This is a two sided fireplace!

You’re seeing two sides in the pictures!

The roof-top deck is a great place to hang out! Just step out of the Master bedroom French Doors.

Add-On your thoughts!

How about some additions to this post?  Let me know your addition thoughts or questions right in the comments!

Looking For A Wow?

I have a few today; here is the first:

Is this amazing or what? Glass tiles are a wonderful material and they’re truly one of my personal favorites. As you can see in the picture above, glass opens up new ways to be creative. And glass tiles are often very colorful.

Not Just For Millionaires

Glass tile used to be really very costly, and much of it still is. But, you can find good glass tiles now for $5.00 – $10.00 per square foot. I know that’s still quite a bit, but this stuff is like Godiva chocolates, you don’t need to pig out to get some enjoyment!

One of the things I talk about often and really intend to focus on quite a bit is how to create an environment. I also talk about how to do more with less, especially in the current economy. Glass helps with that.

Glass Inspires a Feeling of Luxury

Even in small amounts glass tile can make you feel like you’re in an upscale resort! That’s what kind of environment I want to create! Don’t you? Look at this:

There is probably 150 square feet of glass in this bathroom, counting the shower, the counter, and the cool wrap around the mirror. If the cost was $3.00 per foot more than an alternative tile, you’re looking at $450.00 more in materials. Maybe less than that because glass tile usually does not need bullnose tiles at the edge, which can add substantially to the cost of a “normal” tile job. I think it’s worth the $$.

Just Do a Detail

Maybe you don’t want to rip out the whole shower! No problem, pick a small detail and try your luck with that.

This is a great way to start if you’re a part of our D.I.Y. Crew! Check out the tile around the mirror. Doesn’t that add some pizzazz! (not to change the subject, but now I want a pizza… I should have said it added flair!)

Anyway, back on point. A small job like this can be done in a total of maybe ten hours work max. Four or five on one day and a few on the next to grout it. Way cool!

You can apply a small amount of this directly on top of your drywall. You probably want to paint it with bonding primer first though.

Check with the tile supplier to make sure you’re using an adhesive that works well with glass tiles. Remember that the glass is transparent, so you want to keep the color of your setting material in mind. Don’t just grab the gray thin-set!

You Need Some Basic Tools

A notched trowel, some spacers, and good setting material are about all you need for a simple job like a mirror surround.

One thing to keep in mind is that glass is hard to cut, and REALLY hard to cut nicely. That’s why professional installation on this stuff can get pricy. You’re better off working out a layout that avoids cuts if you can.

Go Nuts with Color!

Glass is great about color. There are thousands of colors and the sheen of the glass makes them very vibrant.

Mix it In

One of my favorite tricks is to mix a few colored glass tiles in with either an all one color glass tile job, or into another material.

Like concrete! We’ll get into concrete counters and tables in the future, but just think about how a few small pieces of colored glass set into a concrete counter would look!

Nice color in this floor!

Make A Splash!

Glass tile makes a great wall splash!

How Creative Are You?

If you really want to get creative, this is the material for you. Maybe you want to make some waves:

The Grand Finale!

Look at this work of art:

WOW!

You can do this! It may take you a few weeks of nights, but wouldn’t it be worth it? You can draw out the pattern on the wall with a pencil to help guide you. Usually a job like this is set one tile at a time. If you look closely, you can see that this artist has used slices of natural stone, like geodes, in the pattern. Cool. And this is a wet bar, so more glasses!

How Cool is THAT!?

It’s Friday night! You deserve some time out! Let me tell you how this night can begin your remodeling adventure on the right foot!

Step One

Here is where you need to go:

Step Two

This is what you need to grab:

Bring your spouse or a freind. You might need help carrying them all. Pick-up every magazine that looks like it might even remotely have some house stuff that interests you! Don’t worry, I’m not going to suggest you buy them (well, not ALL of them).

Step Three

Find the part of the store that looks like this, find a table, dump your armload of magazines, and get yourself something really nice to drink.

You might even indulge in a pastry!

Step Four

Just sit down and start flipping through the pages. It’s more important that you look at the pictures than review the content of the text. Look at the ads and the photography in articles. Both are equally great sources of inspiration.

Make two stacks (sometimes I’m overflowing onto the floor at this point, and you will generate some stares). One stack for the losers (nothing inspiring) and one for the winners (the ones that made you suck in some air or spit out your coffee blurting “oh my!”, or “Wow!”).

Important Note: Don’t let the annoying little voice that says “you might as well stick that in the “losers” pile because there ain’t no way you can afford that, honey!” have any say at all. Shut him/her up however harshly you need to. This is a creative excercise, not a budget meeting!

Step Five

Go through the winners again, more slowly this time, and pick out a few that really get your heart pumping. It doesn’t matter if the pictures you love have any resemblence to the project you want to do… you might find an outdoor kitchen you LOVE when you’re thinking you want to do the guest bathroom…no matter. Ignore that. Buy the ones you love.

It may cost a few bucks. My average is $100.00 when I do this! But you, being infinitely more sane and reasonable than I, should be able to get out for less than half that! This is a worthy investment and very likely to save you thousands in the long-run!

Step Six

Use these:

After you’ve read the magazine and you’ve finished it, go ahead and cut out the pictures that inspire you. Use sticky-notes or a Sharpie to make notes as to what, exactly, you love about the photo. You’d be surprised how often you can look at a picture in three months and not be able to remember what it was you liked… “maybe it was the little legs on the cabinets…” won’t help you later!

Put it all in a file labeled “Remodeling” … feel free to add “Guy” if you wish!

This is important stuff and it will play a huge role in my upcoming article: Part One of Developing Your Dreams.

I’ll show you how these pictures will impact every aspect of your project, from architecture and interior design, to budget and contractor selection.

If you decide to be a DIY crew, then you’ll be REALLY glad you took this first step.

Besides, you can get a great cup of coffee and enjoy a night out!

Now THAT is Homework!

Thanks to Julia at Hooked On Houses for letting me link-up to the “Hooked On Friday’s”  blog party so I can spread this crazy additiction to magazines.

Oh, one more thought, maybe two:  If you can’t make it to Barnes & Noble or someplace similar, many of these magazines have great websites and you can do this same excercise in the comfort of home…but it really doesn’t work as well.  Second, I’m still trying to get the word out about RemodelingGuy.net, so if you think others might like this blog, please use the ShareThis feature just below (green button).  There, you’ll find options for emailing, twitter, StumpleUpon…more stuff than I would know what to do with!