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Author: @fl@nsburg

Basement Design Trends to Watch in 2021

Basement remodeling can have many benefits that go beyond adding more space to your home. According to Home Advisor, the average basement remodel can have up to a 70% return on investment. If you are considering a basement remodeling project, either for extra space or to increase your property value, then check out these top basement design trends.

A Sweet Suite

Transforming your basement into a luxurious guest room is a great way to create a welcoming new space for visiting friends and family. However, these new suites go beyond your traditional guest rooms by upping the ante on space, features, and design. While traditional guest suites include a bedroom and private bathroom, take your full guest suite to the next level by including a lounge area, kitchenette, or living room to give your guests added privacy. Add special touches like quality linens, designer furnishings, and dramatic details to give your guests the best stay ever.

Fancy a Drink?

Adding a bar to your basement remodeling project is a classic renovation that never goes out of style, but today’s best remodels go above and beyond to completely elevate the entire bar experience. Fans of wine may want to include a wine cellar and custom wine racks for storage, along with a cozy tasting area for entertaining. Beer lovers may want to recreate their favorite pub environment, complete with taps, mood lighting, and comfy bar seating. Bonus if you build an at-home brewery to test out your best craft recipes.

Another Day at the Office

One of the top trends in basement remodeling for 2021 is the custom office space. With more people working at home, home offices are going above and beyond the call of duty with personalized spaces that rival even the sleekest executive office. Create a space free from distraction with your own private work area that includes functional storage, comfortable seating, and a kitchenette stocked with everything from coffee to mid-day snacks. Working from home has never been so relaxing!

Your new basement space can be whatever you want it to be with creative design choices that reflect your taste, style, and creativity. Basement remodeling is a smart investment for any homeowner, and with today’s top trends, the sky’s the limit — so start planning your basement remodel today to create the room of your dreams.

Different Types of Residential Home Additions to Consider This Year

Fully 85% of the nation’s homes were built prior to 1980 and are in need of home improvement. If you’re living in an older home, the time may have come when you are considering how to improve your home’s value. Home improvement can be found in many forms, but many homeowners have found that one of the best ways to do this is by building residential home additions, such as adding a sunroom, an extra guest space, or converting their unused garage space. Residential home additions vary widely, but one thing they are almost always guaranteed to do is improve a home’s value and curb appeal. The following list will describe just some of the more common resident home additions that are often added to older homes for a homeowner to consider.

The Traditional

The traditional home addition, or conventional house addition, is a structure that is built onto the existing home and that is open to the entire house. This space is considered to be multifunctional and may even have more than one designated room within it. When these are well-built, the addition blends into the rest of the house.

The Bump Out

A room addition or “bump-out” is a single-purpose room that is added onto an existing structure, such as a guest room, nursery, or bathroom. Often, this can be creating a space within a space (like enlarging a closet to make room for a small half-bathroom). Unlike a traditional home addition, bump-outs are relatively smaller (perhaps adding 50 to 75 extra feet).

The Sunroom

A sunroom is just that — a sun-filled space that is meant to be relaxed in. Unlike the previous two additions mentioned, sunrooms are often not opened up to the entire home and tend to be added to the back or side of a home and closed off from the rest of the house. Sunrooms are often made from pre-fabricated materials and the walls of the room are glass. They are also not as big as a traditional addition, though they may be bigger than a bump-out.

The Conversion

A conversion typically is made to a garage. When the garage is a two-car space, then usually one space gets walled in, central air and heat vents get added, and flooring is put in. Usually, garage conversions are to create a spare bedroom or office space. Homeowners will also convert an unused garage if necessary. Unlike other home additions, however, garage conversions have difficulty blending into the rest of the home, and they don’t increase a home’s value near as much as other types of additions.

3 Benefits of Working with a Design-Build Remodeling Contractor

If you’re considering a home remodeling project, you may have come across the term “design-build remodeling contractor.” While the name may imply exactly what this is, some people are still confused as to why they may consider a design-build remodeling contractor instead of doing a remodel project in the traditional way. There are numerous benefits, however, to hiring a design-build remodeling contractor, but highlighted here are three of the key benefits.

One-Stop-Shop

A design-build remodeling contractor can be likened to a “one-stop-shop” for remodeling. Remodeling projects can be very overwhelming, but what can make the process even more difficult is having to find so many different contractors to work on different and important parts of the project, such as someone for electricity, someone for plumbing, someone for painting, and so on. A design-build remodeling contractor becomes your single point of contact, who then handles the rest of the job so you don’t have to worry about finding all the right people.

Seamless Process

A design-build remodeling firm streamlines the very multilayered process involved in any home remodeling project. Because the remodeling industry is expected to continue to grow 2% annually through 2025, having a more streamlined process can streamline the process. From project design, product selection, through full construction, the design-build remodeling contractor handles it all for you and with you.

Quality Communication

When you forgo hiring just one design-build remodeling firm, you’re left juggling multiple contractors and numerous channels of ongoing communication. This can look like talking with the plumber about the problems found in the sewage system, then immediately picking up the phone to hear from the electrician that a part will cost more than previously estimated. Handling all these queries and requests for input can make an already overwhelming process become too much. The more overwhelmed the customer becomes, the more likely that mistakes will be made due to miscommunication. However, by hiring a design-build remodeling firm, the contractor becomes the homeowner’s main and only point of communication. This will streamline not just the building of the project, but also the communication of the wants and needs of the client. Better communication equals fewer mistakes in the remodeling project.

At Flansburg Construction, we take the drama out of home renovations and will handle every step of your project from design to completion. Schedule a consultation with us today.

Key Signs That You Need to Remodel Your Kitchen

Do you struggle to find enough room in your kitchen to prepare meals? Are you constantly moving one item to get to another, dropping food on the floor, and winding up frustrated by your overall lack of organized space in the kitchen? If so, it may be time to consider a remodel so that your kitchen is better designed and easier to use.

There are several signs it’s time to remodel your kitchen, including the following:

Not Enough Prep Space

Maintaining a healthy diet requires a certain amount of kitchen space. If you don’t have enough prep space in your kitchen, it’s easy to wind up frustrated. After all, it’s difficult to prepare healthy food for your family when you’re constantly running out of counter space and you lack the room to chop fresh ingredients. Remodeling your kitchen can provide you with the prep space to chop, slice, and mix with ease. Kitchen remodeling contractors can evaluate your space and help you create precisely what you need.

You Need Better Lighting

If you’re constantly struggling to see well enough when you’re cooking, it may be time to consider remodeling. It can be difficult, and dangerous, to prepare food when you’re squinting at your cookbook or device, struggling to read labels, or having difficulty finding things inside dark cabinets. Sometimes simply adding more light to your kitchen can dramatically improve your quality of life, making it far easier to prepare food daily.

Not Enough Storage Space

Remodeling can also help you make sure that you have all the space that you need in your kitchen to store food. Whether you need extra space for canned goods, fresh food, or spices, skilled kitchen remodeling contractors can make sure that you have it. Consider adding more fridge and freezer space, upgrading your cabinet space, or customizing your pantry storage to suit your needs. It’s far easier to prepare healthy food when you have everything that you regularly use on hand, stored correctly, and placed in a way that’s easy for you to access.

According to Houzz, one-third of homeowners say they change to a healthier lifestyle after remodeling their kitchen. Investing money in a kitchen remodel can help make sure that you’re cooking healthy food on a regular basis. You and your loved ones will enjoy the additional space to cook and prepare food, and you’ll soon find that your kitchen is one of your favorite rooms in your home. Contact the expert kitchen remodeling contractors at Flansburg Construction today to learn more.

Top Bathroom Design Trends for 2021

Home remodeling has boomed in popularity and the industry is expected to continue growing by 2% through 2025. While there are many rooms in your home that can be good candidates for an update, bathroom remodels have seen an uptick in popularity. If you’re struggling with an uncomfortable and outdated bathroom, here are some of the 2021 trends that you should consider when you work with bathroom remodeling contractors.

Adding Contrast with Black

Last year saw grey become one of the most popular bathroom color trends. This year, however, darker is better. This trend doesn’t mean that you have to go full-blown gothic with your decor choices, but there are some popular design choices you should consider. For instance, adding black vanities, mirrors, lights, and other fixtures can be a great way to incorporate this trend and add contrast into your bathroom.

Bringing Back Vintage

Another great 2021 trend involves incorporating vintage styles of brass and gold. This trend sees homeowners installing brass or gold-toned fixtures along with stand-alone tubs with brass piping. The key to this style is to focus on incorporating warm tones and creams. Accent pieces can also be used to help tie together the theme and bring the vintage flair that your update needs. You can work with bathroom remodeling contractors to find effective ways to incorporate these accent pieces into your bathroom’s design.

Wooden Accents

Wooden accents have also seen a stunning uptick in popularity and they have risen to be another of the most popular trends of 2021. This trend uses warm brown tones alongside blues and greens to create a serene and welcoming space without being overbearing or gaudy. Consider using this trend by installing a wooden vanity as a focal point with a blue or green accent mirror.

Pops of Color

Colorful accent pieces like mirrors, tubs, vanities, and wall hangings can all add little touches of color that help modernize and update your bathroom. Small pops of color can add a modern touch without being overbearing to the eyes. The goal is to create an eye-catching design by incorporating punchy colors against a natural backdrop.

Having an updated bathroom can bring many relaxing benefits. These are only four of many trends coming up in 2021 that can help make your bathroom a serene space for you. When you work with bathroom remodeling contractors, you will be sure to find a trendy design scheme that you’ll fall in love with.

How To Get The Maximum Return on Investment With Your NJ Kitchen Remodel

You’ve decided that you and your family are ready to move. You got a job offer somewhere else, you’re ready to retire, or you just want to be closer to extended family. Whatever your reason, it’s important to make sure your home is ready to be sold.

Sellers are always looking to get the best price for their homes. If you could sell your home for top dollar, why wouldn’t you? That’s why updates to the home are the best way to make sure that you will get the highest offers possible during the sale.

One of the best rooms in your home to update if you want to get more money is the kitchen. Investing in your kitchen is pretty much guaranteed to add value to your home, and an 82.7% return on investment (ROI) can be expected from even small kitchen remodeling.

Don’t know where to get started while updating your kitchen? That’s okay! Here are some awesome kitchen remodeling ideas.

Get Advice

HGTV advises that you speak to professional real estate agents in your area when considering a kitchen renovation design. They have a great understanding of what buyers in the area are looking for. They can tell you what attracts buyers, as well as what repels them. The advice they give you will kickstart your kitchen renovation makeover. For instance, should you invest in sleek, modern appliances or vintage shiplap?

Keep it simple

Although you are probably coming up with kitchen remodeling ideas that are personalized to your taste, you have to remember what is going to add resale value. Neutral colors are typically the best choices for your new kitchen. In addition, try not to pick patterns or textures that are too loud or busy for the typical buyer. You want to make sure your designs will appeal to a wide array of buyers, so not choosing very specific designs is ideal.

Open Concept

If you have ever watched any home improvement shows, ever, all buyers and sellers talk about is an open concept. That’s the biggest trend right now in home design. If you have the ability to open up the space in your kitchen to make it feel bigger, or even open it up to the living or dining room with a bar space, do it. Buyers will love it.

Don’t Go Over the Top

Designers and contractors for a kitchen remodel alike will tell you not to go too crazy when picking features. Do you really need to spend 10 times the amount on cabinets because it’s necessary, or is it for luxury? Don’t risk spending too much on the renovation and not getting the ROI you want.

If you’re looking for kitchen remodeling ideas, remember these tips and tricks to make your kitchen look the best for resale.