As a newlywed, this design topic really hits home for me. Based on life in my own home, and drawing from my experience designing spaces for homeowners who have been together from three months to more than 30 years, it’s safe to say that one of the secrets to a happy home is the ability…
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Is it just me, or are we all busier today than we were five years ago? As I meet with customers, I reaffirm my stand that young families, empty-nesters and newlyweds alike are all busier than ever these days with careers, school, extracurricular and volunteer activities… the list goes on. What’s great about our industry…
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When you sign an agreement with a remodeling contractor, it’s much more than a work order—it’s the beginning of a relationship. And like any relationship, the key to success is having two parties that are equally committed and well balanced. The best way to find the ideal fit is to interview contractors first. Of course,…
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You wouldn’t take a weekend road trip without packing an overnight bag. Similarly, you shouldn’t dive into a home remodeling project without planning ahead before the demolition begins. A big part of that preparation is understanding the scope of work—and how that is going to affect life in your home during construction. On HGTV, we…
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I’m a planner. I feel more on top of my game when I know what lies ahead every day. My penchant for organizing meetings and project schedules is more of a blessing than it is a curse in this business: As a builder, planning is the all-important first step to any successful project. When we…
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There’s something about discussing money that can make people feel a bit uneasy. So often, we find that customers are leery to share their thoughts about budgets in advance. When asked if they have a budget number in mind, most homeowners say that they don’t know, simply because they’ve never managed a remodeling project before.…
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These long, warm summer days and comfortable evenings are what we wait for all year long in Northeast Ohio. At Dover, we are seeing more homeowners add on outdoor living spaces to gain more practical square footage while taking advantage of the outdoors during our beautiful spring, summer and fall seasons. In terms of investment,…
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Located just off of the kitchen and overlooking the backyard, the sunroom in this charming home was anything but sunny: It had dark paneling on the walls making the room feel outdated and small. Our main charge was to create a continuous and inviting space that flowed effortlessly from the newly-remodeled kitchen . Bright and…
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Today’s new-build home designs feature master baths as part of a master bedroom suite—but that was not the case 70 years ago. In my experience as a designer, I see modern-day homeowners re-interpret space and get creative with remodeling projects to make the most of the good stuff that they have in their older homes.…
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For this three-part renovation project, we began with the most labor-intensive and time-consuming segment of the job first—the kitchen. As you can see in this photo, the kitchen had been remodeled, yet functional cabinets, work space and countertops were non-existent. Soffits with lighting elements brought the ceiling lower and made the space feel small and…
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