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Author: @fl@nsburg

Aging in Place in Your Forever Home

Written by @fl@nsburg on . Posted in Aging in place.

Five Design Ideas to Make Aging in Place Possible

Planning on staying in your forever home for, well, forever? For so many families, the answer is a resounding “yes,” and it makes sense. As homeowners approach their later years, they’re often faced with the decision to either sell their house and downsize into an assisted living facility, or age in place with support coming in as needed.

Financially, logistically, and emotionally, aging in place is becoming an increasingly preferred solution. If your house has been paid off, your support system is nearby, and you’re hesitant to leave behind a lifetime of memories, staying put is not only appealing, but sensible. The question then becomes, how to do it safely?

Most homes aren’t designed with aging residents in mind and can pose a multitude of risks as mobility begins to become an issue. The obvious solutions, like basic grab bars, shower chairs, stair lifts, and unsightly ramps are enough to make any homeowner cringe—just because you choose to age in place doesn’t mean your space has to look like it.

Fortunately, Flansburg Construction’s talented team of designers can help you make all the necessary changes to your space without sacrificing on style. Here are some of our favorite aging in place solutions you can integrate into your home.

  1. Open Floor Plans. First and foremost, a safe space is one that is easy to navigate, and reimagining your main floor’s footprint into an open layout is a fantastic way to make your home easier to navigate. Transition-less flooring, wider doorways, and good lighting will help you move around unrestricted even with a walker or wheelchair.
  2. Reimagined Layouts. When stairs become an issue later on, accessing your primary suite will inevitably become a concern. While some homeowners opt to install an elevator in favor of a stairlift, others choose to simply reconfigure their main floor and move their primary suite downstairs. This allows for visiting family or live-in caregivers to have a quiet and comfortable space of their own upstairs. 
  3. Accessible Bathrooms. Safe and accessible bathroom design has come a long way from walk-in tubs and unattractive grab bars. Spacious showers with custom bench seats, stylish handles, and easy-to-reach shelves provide a beautiful alternative. Non-slip flooring, plenty of integrated storage, and lowered countertops, all work together to create an oasis that is as appealing as it is functional.
  4. Functional Kitchens. When mobility issues arise, a traditional kitchen often becomes too difficult to navigate. However, a few design updates like lowered countertops, wider footpaths, and even appliances integrated beneath the counters rather than on top, can all put home chefs at ease.
  5. Outdoor Accessibility. Whether you love hosting summer get-togethers or just sitting and watching the sunrise with a cup of coffee, an accessible outdoor space adds so much to your quality of life. We’ll help you modify your existing outdoor living area or create a completely new one that is certain to support both your physical needs and your lifestyle. Beyond that, there are several ways to reimagine the entrances to your home to make coming and going that much easier, from custom ramps to wider doorways and larger garages.

Counting the Cost

Between the significant up-front equity required, the moving costs, and the inevitable requirement to downsize, making the move to an assisted living facility costs a lot, especially for a small, cookie-cutter space void of the memories and character your forever home has. For many, it makes better financial sense to put less money into a custom renovation designed to give you everything you need in a house you already love.

Ready to transform your forever home into a space you can enjoy for many more years to come? Flansburg can help! Schedule a consultation today to explore the possibilities.

home additions

Consider a Home Office Addition for the Perfect Work-From-Home Space

Written by @fl@nsburg on . Posted in NJ Home Improvement.

Working from home is becoming more popular than ever. If you work remotely, then you may be interested in how a home addition can become the ideal work-from-home space. When you hire an expert team of residential home addition contractors in New Jersey, you won’t be disappointed! Here’s how Flansburg Construction will ensure you have a remote workspace you adore.

A Comfortable Yet Productive Space

When it comes time to design home additions, our team starts by asking our clients what they want most out of the project. If you’d like an addition that offers a quiet and productive space, then you may want to build off a room in your home that doesn’t see a lot of traffic, like your dining room or mud room. Once you’ve decided where your home addition should be located on your property, we can get started with the process of designing the space and all the nitty-gritty details.

Simple Interior Design

When it comes to a workspace, you may want a simple interior design that doesn’t distract you from your work. Soft wall colors, chic furniture, and plenty of space for a soft rug, a window seat, and storage will come in handy for your day-to-day work routine. Our team will ensure we design and construct your home addition so you can include all the details that inspire you.

Unique Touches

Your job may require you to be on the phone with clients all day or sit glued to your computer. No matter what your career asks of you, a remote office may be what you need to improve your productivity. Would you like our home addition contractors to construct your office with a view of your beautiful backyard? Would you love a standing desk to keep your body occupied while typing away? We’ll ensure all your needs are met when you work with our expert team of home renovation contractors in New Jersey.

According to Today’s Homeowner, Americans were estimated to spend $427 billion on home improvement projects in 2022. That number continues to rise as more and more individuals are realizing the benefits of personalized home additions and more. To get started with our experienced home renovation services, contact Flansburg Construction today.

residential home addition

What Can I Do With a Sunroom Addition?

Written by @fl@nsburg on . Posted in NJ Home Improvement.

Have you made the choice to build a residential home addition in the form of a sunroom? Are you wondering what you can do with that new space? Your options are endless! Let’s take a look at some popular options for your new sunroom.

Create a Conservatory Filled With Plants

Do you love plants and gardening? Most homeowners do, but the front or backyard is not always an ideal spot. You have to deal with weather conditions, pests, and more. If you have a love of gardening and want to see your plants thrive, creating a conservatory filled with your favorite plants and flowers is an excellent idea for your sunroom addition. If you fill your residential home addition with a variety of beautiful plants and flowers, it’ll feel like a garden oasis right in your home.

Turn It Into a Dedicated Music or Art Space

Are you or someone in your family a musician? What about an aspiring artist? If so, you need a space that promotes creativity and tranquility, which is exactly what you get with a residential home addition, such as a sunroom. Say goodbye to the days of art supplies scattered across your countertops or music instruments taking up space in your living room when you create a dedicated music or art space in the form of a sunroom.

Enjoy a Beautiful Workspace

With the persisting popularity of working from home, many homeowners are seeking out remodeling solutions for their workspace. According to Forbes, as of 2023, 12.7% of full-time employees work from home, while 28.2% work a hybrid model. If you’re a part of this number, using a sunroom addition to create a beautiful workspace may be exactly what you need. With ample sunlight and fresh air, you’ll love your new workspace. You can even add a large area rug for extra coziness.

There is no shortage of options when it comes to what you can use your new sunroom for. Did you see an idea you like? Want to get some more inspiration before committing to a design style? Get in touch with our team today at Flansburg Construction. We’ll work with you to ensure you get exactly what you’re looking for out of your residential home addition in New Jersey.

Matte, Modern and Marvelous: West Windsor Kitchen Is a Captivating Take on Contemporary Design

Written by @fl@nsburg on . Posted in Kitchen Remodeling, NJ Home Improvement, NJ home remodeling.

As your family grows, so too must your house to accommodate various changing needs. When our West Windsor clients reached out to us, their home was no longer functioning the way they needed it for their two teenage children, mother-in-law, and the family dog. With cramped and outdated rooms throughout, they knew there had to be a better solution, and our design team was happy to help them find it.

The Pain Points

Some of the biggest issues our clients had with their existing space included a lack of functional design—there wasn’t enough storage or seating in the kitchen, the appliances weren’t convenient for the layout, and the flow definitely didn’t work well. In addition, there simply wasn’t enough square footage (or bathrooms!) for this family of five to comfortably coexist.

Expanding the Home

To give our clients the space their family desperately needed, we created a design plan that included a full kitchen remodel with all new electrical work, an 800-square-foot addition, two new bathrooms, and a bedroom refresh, before finishing the exterior off with new siding on the whole home.

Flow was a big issue, so to solve that, we designed a new layout by removing the wall between the kitchen and dining room and relocating the laundry closer to the bedrooms.

Creating the Ultimate Gathering Space

As the hub of the home, a kitchen must function flawlessly—and look good while doing so. For this design, we leaned into our clients’ preferred contemporary style to create a dark and dramatic space that has everything on their wish list.

The clean lines of the matte black laminate cabinets give the entire room a sleek look that allows details like the flooring, fixtures, and quartz countertops to really pop. Integrated appliances, including a flush refrigerator, spacious wine fridge, warming drawer, and range hood keep sight lines clean. A hidden coffee bar ensures that even the smallest of appliances are tucked neatly away.

Since the home’s original kitchen didn’t have much room for the family to gather together, we made sure to add plenty of seating with a custom redwood peninsula that sits just off the island.

To balance out the dark cabinets, we made sure to incorporate as much natural light as we could with a custom feature window behind the range that looks out onto the deck and backyard, as well as a new patio door directly across from the peninsula, which makes hosting outdoor parties easier than ever.

For the home chef, this space is truly a dream. From top-of-the-line appliances to endless prep space and more closed storage than ever before, this kitchen was made for cooking meals that the whole family can enjoy together. And for after those meals? A deep sink and paneled dishwasher make cleanup a breeze, while the wine fridge and (hidden) coffee station ensure the drinks will keep on flowing.

Finally, we added integrated under-cabinet lighting to make life a little easier for late night snackers to navigate.

A far cry from the home’s original, small kitchen, this new space is proof for our clients that they can have it all–ample storage, room to gather, major style, and lots of luxury. With a bit of creative ingenuity (plus that much-needed extra square footage), our design team was able to give this family everything they wanted, plus a few extras. Now, this house truly feels like home for this family to enjoy for many years to come.

Ready to reimagine your space? Flansburg Construction’s team of experts can help bring your vision to life! Schedule a consultation to get started today!

Why Go With a Design Build Firm for Your High-End Basement Remodel?

Written by @fl@nsburg on . Posted in Uncategorized.

As we get further into the new year, more and more homeowners are looking for ways to add luxury additions to their homes. It’s also time to hire a design build firm to turn your basement into anything you can imagine. Let’s go over some top reasons you should move forward with a one-stop-shop solution for your home.

You Want Luxury

If luxury is a major goal of your extensive basement remodeling plans, a design build basement remodeling company is the right choice. Additions such as a home theater or a wine cellar can transform your basement into one of class and elegance. Consider having high-end features such as custom stone floors, classy lighting, and integrated cabinetry and shelving. These luxurious features are sure to stand out and be a talking point amongst friends and family.

You Want Seamless Project Management

If you want a smooth, easy process from beginning to end, working with a design build team is your best bet. In a traditional construction project, the design and build aspects will be handled by different teams, resulting in a disjointed approach to construction. Design build incorporates every aspect into one seamless process, with each step handled by one team. This cohesive process will allow your project to be completed efficiently, with minimal confusion throughout.

You Want Enhanced Enjoyment

Having a beautiful new basement can increase the overall enjoyment you get in your home. Design build companies understand the nuances of basement design and can craft spaces that are tuned to your interests and personal style. When your basement reflects your unique personality, you will fall in love with your space.

You Value Experience

When you’re investing in a brand-new basement, you want an experienced team that can do the job right. A design build basement remodeling company will have extensive experience in turning their clients’ dreams into reality. You don’t want an inexperienced team taking on a project as big as a basement remodel.

According to Comfy Living, 80% of homes in the United States are at least 20 years old, meaning they’re in need of remodeling. When you’re ready to turn your New Jersey basement into one of luxury, reach out to Flansburg Construction. We look forward to working with you.

A New Porch in Princeton: How We Built this Sweet Escape Surrounded by Nature

Written by @fl@nsburg on . Posted in NJ Home Improvement, NJ home remodeling, Uncategorized.

Nothing adds character to a house quite like a porch. From the sprawling wraparounds that give a welcoming nostalgia to enclosed versions that allow for access to nature throughout the year, porches have a way of injecting both personality and functionality to your space.

This is definitely the case for our recent clients’ Princeton home, where we reimagined their back deck into a gorgeous custom rear porch—the perfect quiet retreat.

Blending In

As empty nesters looking forward to life’s next phases, this project was part of our clients’ efforts to remain in their beloved home for many years to come. To honor the history of the structure, they asked for our designers to create a space that looked as if it had always been a part of the home’s architecture, and we were all too glad to take on the challenge.

One key to making this design work was blending the new porch’s roof lines into the rest of the house. While this was a bit of a challenge, we made it work in the end with the help of some creative ingenuity. We also made sure to match the siding and trim colors to help with visual continuity.

Striking a Balance

One of the prime motivators for the homeowners to convert their existing deck to this porch was the stunning natural view surrounding their property, which they loved to enjoy. However, the lack of sunlight due to all the trees—and the seemingly endless insects that also call the area home—nudged our clients in the direction of a more enclosed space where they could enjoy nature in comfort.

As a result, the porch is completely screened in with a side door to access the patio. To help create a seamless feel with an extra layer of protection from the elements, we opted to use ipe, an exotic hardwood from South America, for the decking material. Extremely weather and insect resistant—even without extra treatment—and among the hardest wood on the planet, ipe was a natural choice for durable flooring in this space. As an added bonus, its rich, variated tones make the floor look original to the house.

Quaint Details

This house already had a lot of character, so we wanted to give the new space the same feel. Cedar shake siding in the same sage green as the rest of the house lines the interior while white trim and painted exposed ceiling joists lend to the room’s bright, airy feel. A surround of screens on three sides allows for cross-ventilation and a low-profile ceiling fan provides support on particularly hot days. Two glass doors leading into the living room and kitchen provide separation from the main part of the house without feeling disconnected and allowing for sight lines into the yard.

With 160 square feet now available for a few seating areas—and easy access to the patio— this new space is an ideal extension for evening cocktails with friends, enjoying the outdoors over a cup of morning coffee, or curling up with a good book on a lazy Sunday afternoon. The views of the natural backdrop give cottage-in-the-woods vibes that promise to make this spot a fast favorite for both our clients and their guests.

Our clients couldn’t be happier with their new space! More functional than the original deck, and a seamless addition to their home, this back porch is exactly what they wanted as they continue to enjoy their home for many years to come.

Wondering how your outdoor or transitional space can better suit your needs? Flansburg can help—contact us today to schedule a consultation and see what’s possible!