Deb Reinhart Interior Design Group Inc.

Browsing Tag: kitchen remodel

Home Improvements: That Will Pay-Off for Resale

If you are getting ready to sell your home, or will sell your home in the future here are some great tips.  Maintenance to your home and some upgrades will greatly improve your resale value as well as saleability. Having a updated home is crucial in the current real estate market, especially since we are still in a recovery state.

“2012 shows signs of an improving housing market as the U.S. economy continues its forward-moving yet slow road to recovery. Although there are economists projecting housing prices will decline further, aided by distressed property sales that sell at a greater discount, these prices are expected to rebound considerably later in the year and continue into 2013.” – Keller Williams Realty

Here are some suggested improvements from Real Simple magazine that do & don’t pay off for resale.

Improvements that do pay-off:

  • Painting (Interior & Exterior)
  • Adding Siding
  • Building a deck or patio
  • Updating a kitchen
  • Replacing windows
  • Modifying a bathroom
  • Landscaping
  • Installing central-air
  • Remodeling a basement

Home Improvements that DO NOT pay off:

  • Home office (if you convert a bedroom to an office)
  • Concrete patio
  • Bold counter-tops (such as green marble or granite)
  • Tennis & basketball courts
  • Wall-to-wall carpeting

Please contact us at Deb Reinhart Interior Design Group for advise on your home remodeling project.  Having a trained professional will help get the most out of your remodeling project.

Updating a kitchen can get up to 83% return on investment. Although we do recommend advise from a profession interior designer or kitchen designer, to get the most value from your remodel. Project featured, Streeterville Condo.

 

Updating your drafty windows, will not only save you money on energy bills but have a better re-sale value, around a 81% return (depending on expense).

Upgrading a bathroom can be a 63-73% return. Although, your design should focus on a time-less look & not anything too trendy. Deb Reinhart Interior Design Group can help you with your bathroom remodel.

Kitchen and Bath Remodeling – Bigger Does not Have to be Better

This vanity which includes a sink, faucet and countertop is high style-very compact solution for the smallest of  bathrooms.

 

In the rehabbing of our clients homes, we often utilize odd areas for powder rooms. Converting a small space under stair wells, carving out a bathroom from a closet, or creating a powder room from a former mud room is often challenging space planning for the fixtures. Once the plumbing issues are solved [waste stack and water] ,this vanity would make a design statement which is unique as it is functional. Parietal is a sink-faucet and towel rack in a mere 17″ x 10″“ size.

Color pops each model red, blue,  lime, yellow, black and white.

Easy maintenance-high style and terrific impact for the compact remodeling of a small powder room, this item is a winner for decorating.

Retractable Kitchen Island – Controlled by iPhone

This kitchen island designed  by Tim Thaler who wanted more open usable space in his kitchen. The designer used Ikea boxes for the island and custom walnut front cabinets to give it a completely custom feel.  The electronics & movement of the island is are completely controlled by a iPhone.

Retractable Island: Down

In Motion

Island Fully Extended

 

“A hydraulic scissor lift is at bolted to the cement, and then a small frame is built on top of the scissor lift table. On top of that is a subfloor, flooring, and then the island. The cabinet doors are on the other side, and have safety push button switches that kill the electricity from the Smart Home Insteon switches, and prevent it from moving when the doors are not fully closed. This lift can easily lift over 1,500lbs, so it was an important safety feature!”

- Tim Thaler, designer

See the entire youtube video here.

 

Better Homes & Gardens’ Annual Survey: Consumers’ Home Priorities

This blog post features an interesting article from Better Homes and Gardens’ featuring their annual survey which “shows shrinking interest in smaller homes and continued emphasis on affordability and energy efficiency”.

Click her to read the full article from Better Homes and Gardens’ .

According to BHG’s survey, the top-ranking features that consumers want in their next home include:

  • High-efficiency heating and cooling systems (89%)
  • High-efficiency appliances (85 %)
  • Deck or patio (84%)
  • Low-maintenance exteriors (79%)

Although square footages may be slowly creeping upward again, consumers are still prioritizing living spaces. For their next homes, the survey found consumers most want:

  • Separate laundry room (81%)
  • Additional storage space , such as walk-in closets or built-ins (79%)
  • Home office, workspace, or family computing center (67%)
  • Outdoor drilling or living area (67%)
  • At least one additional bedroom with an ensuite bathroom (65%)
  • Everyday eating space in or near the kitchen (64%)

67% of consumers want a home office or workspace in their next home purchase.

67% of consumers want a everyday eating space in or near the kitchen.
85% of consumers want high-efficiency appliances.

No More Avocado Appliances: Designer Tips for a Successful Kitchen or Bath Remodel

Remodeling a kitchen or bathroom is one of the most complex projects in the Interior Design profession.  The statistic above 90% or 102% rings true, IF the design composition of the remodel is congruent with the home, space and is pleasing to view.

The amount of technical detail to accomplish the remodel or design is very extensive. Note some of the decisions:

Lakeshore Drive Condo Kitchen

Kitchen

Electrical:

  • GFI outlets are regulated by local code requirements.
  • Do you have enough power for the various new appliances?
  • Lighting: task, ambiance or reflective?
  • Decorative fixtures, ceiling cans or low voltage

Appliances:

  • Gas or electric?
  • The appliance packages can range from a few thousand up to $70,000
  • Critical to appliance choices—include the following criteria:

How do you cook? How do you entertain? How long will you live in this space?

Plumbing:

  • How difficult is it to move water-or drains?
  • Do you need more than 1 sink? Pot fillers over the stove?

Flooring:

  • Maintenance – Tile is two times as hard as wood?
  • Alternative floors cork and bamboo are gaining popularity

Which trade is scheduled first? last?

streeterville Contemporary Master Bathroom

Streeterville Contemporary Bathroom


Bathrooms:

  • Are you remodeling in the same foot print?
  • Will you be  changing the wet items, the sewage stack is a critical consideration.
  • Light your face-not the top of your head.
  • Tile can range from $4-$5 a sq foot to $500 a square foot.
  • Finish schedule for your bathroom – choose colors and textures which you will  like in 2, 4 , 6  years?

Do you remember avocado appliances?

Deb’s tips:

  • Hire a professional—in selecting these expensive and permanent choices
  • Remember-the expense is not just a bathroom or kitchen –it is a home equity purchase.
  • Save the pop ideas-or trendy looks for transitional products—towels in the bath or tea kettle in kitchen
  • Classic installation in the kitchen and bath will pay for them selves.
  • The accents can then be traditional or contemporary.

Save money, invest in a professional who can stretch your dollars-eliminate mistakes AND improve the value of your home. An interior designer is your advocate and translator to accomplish a smooth remodel.

High-Rise City Beach House Kitchen

Streeterville Contemporary Bathroom

Streeterville Contemporary Bathroom

Streeterville Townhome: Kitchen Remodel

Our next focus on this Streeterville town home is the kitchen remodel.

The island was completely rebuilt to give the homeowner more storage and better use of the island.  The hood from the cook top was moved so it is no longer visible. In it’s placed 2 Asian panels where placed inside of the custom built-out ceiling along with layered lighting to add function and one of a kind charm to this space.

New stone was placed on the kitchen counters & a waterfall stone design was added to the island. A new mosaic back splash  replaced the old large tile this gives “face-lift” to the entire space without requiring a lot of labor.

Please view the before & after pictures of this amazing kitchen transformation.

Kitchen: Before Remodel

Kitchen: Before

Kitchen After 1

Kitchen: After

Kitchen: After

Kitchen: After - Asian Panels Inset in Dropped Ceiling

Please check back soon and we will include photos of other areas of this excited project!