Practical upgrades pay off in kitchens and bathrooms

(ARA) – Practical pays off when it comes to kitchen and bath renovations. Gone are the days when virtually every kitchen or bathroom remodel involved top-of-the-line luxury upgrades and a budget big enough to fund an Ivy League education. Today’s homeowners want more value for their remodeling dollars, and that means turning to improvements that make both functional and fiscal sense.

If you’re contemplating a kitchen or bathroom remodel, here are some pointers for keeping it practical:

Be like the Swiss . . .

That is to say, stick with neutrality in both the bathroom and the kitchen. Choose neutral colors for the walls and for parts of the room that might be especially costly to change later if your taste in bold colors doesn’t play well with the preferences of potential buyers. Keep fixtures such as sinks and toilets, tiling and flooring in neutral tones and use accessories like shower curtains, towels, artwork and small appliances to put your personal color stamp on the room.

Reflect action

No matter how big your bathroom feels to you, there’s no downside in making it feel bigger. Use mirrors to make the room appear larger than it is. Wall-to-wall, counter-to-ceiling mirrors, free of frames or bevels, fit with contemporary styling and can make a modestly sized bathroom feel much larger.

Sink into it

Sinks play a pivotal role in the usability and desirability of both bathrooms and kitchens. In baths, replace dated, single-basin vanities with dual-sink models, which are in high demand by homebuyers. For kitchen sinks, which are on display in your home 24/7, opt for a blend of practicality and beauty. Kohler’s Vault family of fabricated stainless steel sinks blend form and functionality. The sinks can be installed as undermount or self-rim, so they work with virtually any decor. Log on to www.kohler.com to learn more.

There’s a place for us . . .

Storage is a significant issue in virtually every American home, and both homeowners and home buyers are acutely aware of how much – or how little – storage the average bathroom or kitchen has. In both rooms, adding cabinets and shelving can improve the room’s livability and practicality. Storage is so important, you may want to consider replacing a powder room pedestal sink with a modestly sized vanity. If you really want to make a storage splash in a bathroom, add a shower storage unit.

And speaking of showers . . .

A great shower isn’t just a luxury, it’s a practical concern as well. Americans rely on their showers for more than just cleanliness – a shower is also a spot to relax and decompress. It pays to shell out a few more dollars for touches – like a good showerhead such as the Kohler Flipside Showerhead — that will turn your shower space into a more welcoming experience. Shower surrounds have made it particularly easy to upgrade an existing shower. Sterling has introduced the Accord seated shower, with a seat that is movable and removable. The seating area is the largest available to consumers, and allows you to relax in a seated position, leaning against the shower wall. Log on to www.SterlingPlumbing.com to learn more.

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Whether you’re renovating to attract potential buyers, or to improve your enjoyment of your house, sprucing up the master bedroom has multiple benefits. Buyers will likely pass through your bedroom to reach the master bath, so a great master bedroom helps set the tone for your master bath. And since most of us spend about eight hours a day (or night) in the bedroom, refurbishing the room can help us get better rest and feel better about our home.

Investing just a few extra dollars to install luxury designer touches like good linens or an eye-catching wallpaper mural can ensure you get the most bang for your renovation buck in the bedroom. Whether you have a few hundred dollars or a few thousand to spend, you can make the most of your money by adding high-quality, high-impact touches like these:

Designer (or at least designer-look) linens

The bed should be a focal point for a well-designed bedroom. The easiest way to make yours look fresh and powerful, even if it’s the same frame you’ve had for 10 years, is to dress it up with great linens. Go for the whole enchilada here – skirt, accent pillows, duvet and shams. Linen designers have made it very easy to create a pulled-together, luxury look by providing ensembles that work together.

Since you’ll spend several hours a day in contact with your linens, it’s probably worth spending a bit more for comfort as well as great looks. Look for all-cotton sheets that have a high thread count. Generally, the higher the thread count the softer and more comfortable they’ll feel. Thanks to designers’ partnerships with popular retail chains, it’s possible to score a good-looking, good-quality ensemble for a couple hundred dollars. Throw in a few hundred more and you can buy name brand linens in a top-of-the-line department store.

Wallpaper murals

Designers have been using murals to make a major impact for centuries. You can achieve the power and appeal of a hand-painted mural for a lot less money and work when you opt for a wallpaper mural like those found online at www.muralsyourway.com. In a bedroom, a mural can be used as a subtle backdrop for grand or posh bed and furnishings, or as a focal point to make a dramatic statement. You can create a soothing effect with a pastoral or floral scene or rev up your design with a modern, edgy black and white graphic. Or, personalize your mural by submitting your favorite photo to muralsyourway.com; they’ll turn it into a custom mural to fit your size specifications.

Vinyl wallpaper murals are easy to install – well within the abilities of most do-it-yourselfers. And now, you can really make a luxury touch by opting for a canvas wallpaper mural.

Hide the high-def

When that massive flat screen TV is in your living room, you want it out there for everyone to see and admire. In your bedroom, however, you might want it to look less intrusive. A TV has become a staple of bedroom furnishings, and more people are making the move to high-definition, flat-screen TVs. You could mount yours on the bedroom wall, but then it might draw attention away from other elements of the room that you want to emphasize.

Consider installing a cabinet that allows you to lower the TV inside it – and hide the high-def – when you’re not using it. Cabinets are available that look like high-end pieces of furniture, or even fireplaces. Another option is to purchase a movable mirror or piece of art. These items are specially designed to hang in front of the TV when it’s not in use and move easily out of the way when you want to view it.

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While bathrooms often are among the smallest rooms in your home, they’re often the most used and valued spaces in our homes, and are among the smartest remodeling investments in terms of return of investment.  Beyond the practical, day-to-day routines, for many people bathrooms are a sanctuary – a place to escape the stresses of daily life, even if only for a few moments at a time.

However, since most homeowners are working with small spaces and because there is a fair amount of water involved (sink, toilet, shower and bathtub), there’s a lot of potential for a bathroom remodel to go horribly wrong. Here are 10 tips from The Tile Shop, one of the nation’s largest tile retailers for do-it-yourselfers, on how to create the bathroom of your dreams:

Get ideas. Start with a visit to a premium tile or cabinet store that offers bathroom displays showing the latest in bathroom design, including the use of floor, wall and shower materials such as floor tiles, stone and granite, as well as bathroom fixtures such as lights, cabinets, toilets and tubs. Another great place to get ideas is to visit model homes to see the latest in bathroom design from today’s homebuilders.

Have a plan. Whether your bathroom remodel involves some light fix-me-ups or is a down-to-the-studs project, it’s important to consolidate your ideas and create a remodeling plan and a budget. If you’re going to remodel it yourself, don’t be afraid to get help and seek out information on the latest in remodeling standards. For example, The Tile Shop offers how-to videos on its web site, www.tileshop.com, and offers hands-on seminars at its stores.

Bring it up to code. Check your town or city’s website to review or download building code requirements related to bathrooms – in particular codes related to plumbing, electrical and windows. Remember, building codes mean meeting the minimally allowed standards required by your city or state. It may not matter now, but it can be a big deal when you try to sell your home. Spending the extra dollars to bring your bathroom up to at least code, especially in the areas of electrical and plumbing, versus doing simply cosmetic changes, will bring peace of mind, enhance resale value, and avoid problems down the line.

Include popular features. Including popular features in your bathroom remodeling project will help at resale time, and make your bathroom feel more contemporary. Second sinks, decorative glass and stone tile and accents, replacing tubs with showers, more storage space, better lighting, extra-wide wall tiles, and heated floors are among the most popular features in today’s new home construction and upscale remodeling projects.

Make it easy to clean. No one likes cleaning a bathroom, so why complicate matters by making it difficult to clean? For example, avoid vanities with space underneath the cabinet that attracts dust. Don’t place vanities, toilets and other items too close together to create tight spaces that are difficult to clean. Use large wall tiles to eliminate grout lines. Invest in shower doors that keep water in a shower or tub and don’t show soap build-up. Consider adding storage to free up valuable counter-top space.

Keep it elegant. Your bathroom is not the place to express your secret passion for Star Wars with movie-themed wallpaper. Focus on using materials and fixtures that exude quality, offer an intimate, contemporary feel, and are timeless. To create an elegant look, consider downscaling a crowded full bath to a comfortable half-bath; mix tile textures, sizes, colors, types (natural stone, ceramic, porcelain, glass); and embrace neutral colors and whites.

Water is the enemy. Water and moisture are the greatest enemies of a bathroom. Make sure to adequately ventilate your bathroom to vent steam and humidity generated from showers. Add a window, if possible, and replace an old fan with a more powerful, quieter version. Replace traditional sheetrock with water-proof cement board and use tile and stone materials to further reduce the risk of water damaging wood.

Enough light. Out of all of the rooms in our homes, it’s in the bathroom where we take care of our grooming needs as well as life’s little medical emergencies. When remodeling, pay close attention to the lighting of your bathroom and if necessary, add more lighting options, especially around the vanity to reduce shadows and glaring.

Make it safer. Slick surfaces in a bathroom pose a serious risk for falls. Shower stalls and bathtubs should be outfitted with slip-resistant finishes on floors, rubber mats, and grab bars. Consider rounded counter-top finishes versus corners with sharp edges. And keep electrical outlets away from water, such as bathtubs.

Make it greener. Green is in and is here to stay. When remodeling your bathroom, consider using fixtures that save water, replace old windows with new energy efficient windows, and consider counter tops and flooring made from recycled materials, such as recycled glass mosaic tile. Natural stone products act as a natural insulator — keeping cool in and hot out during the summer, and keeping your bathroom warmer longer during the winter.

For more bathroom remodeling tips, visit www.tileshop.com.

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Why?

Because you can’t afford to make a costly mistake!  Whether you’re doing your own remodel job or hiring one of the fine Columbia MO remodeling experts, you need to make sure the work is done well and according to plan.

Part of the reason could be that mid-range kitchen and bathroom remodels now recoup more at sale time than do up-scale projects, according to the National Association of Realtors’ Cost vs. Value Report. “A mid-range kitchen remodel brings an average 72.1 percent return on investment, while an upscale kitchen re-do returns only an average of 63.2 percent of the money invested,” the NAR reports on its website. Mid-range bathroom remodels recoup an average of about 71 percent, while upscale projects return only about 61 percent, the site says.

“Given the decline in ROI for major remodels, it makes sense to get the most value out of upgrades for the least amount of money,” says Joe Patrick of skylight manufacturer VELUX. “Installing a skylight is one cost-effective, energy-efficient upgrade that’s becoming increasingly popular for kitchens and baths.”

Kitchens and baths are logical candidates for natural lighting and passive ventilation upgrades. Along with laundry rooms, they tend to have higher moisture and humidity levels than other rooms in the home, making them among the most popular locations for venting skylights.

“Skylight installations can start around $800 each or range up to more than $2,000 each for electric venting models with remote control and blinds. The complexity of the shaft and other application specifics make a difference too, so it is best to get a qualified contractor or skylight specialist to give a detailed quote,” Patrick says. Adding a skylight can help lower energy bills by reducing the need for artificial light in a kitchen or bath, and, when used for ventilation, can help remove humidity, cooking smells and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

“Venting skylights in a kitchen can release hot air and odors, lessening the need for energy-consuming mechanical ventilation, while providing better light for brighter days and more pleasant cooking and dining,” Patrick points out.

Another kitchen- and bath-specific issue that skylights help address is the need for privacy. “Light from windows is rarely enough, especially in places where lot sizes are small,” says Jennifer Powers of design firm Scott-Ulmann. Many modern homes have been built on small lots, in very close proximity to neighboring houses.

“A clear window in your bathroom might fill it with natural light, but it can also give your next-door neighbor a view you don’t want to share,” Patrick says. In fact, 65 percent of homebuyers request skylights in their bathrooms, according to a National Association of Homebuilders survey.

“In bathrooms especially, venting skylights reduce condensation build-up while providing a beautiful view of the sky above, without affording anyone the opportunity to see in,” Patrick says. “You get privacy plus the use of wall space, where a window isn’t necessary, for decorating, storage, or another form of space utilization.”

Modern skylights also eliminate one of the biggest fears of homeowners considering the upgrade – leaks. VELUX markets an Energy Star-qualified “No-Leak Skylight” that is guaranteed for 10 years not to leak when installed according to instructions. Today’s skylights also contribute to energy efficiency with light and heat control as much as with ventilation by offering easily installed accessories to adjust and control light, as do vertical windows.

“Venetian blinds are available to adjust light, as are roller blinds to diffuse light and blackout blinds to block light,” Patrick says. “And the accessories, as well as the units themselves, can be operated by remote control.” Solar blinds are also available that qualify for a 30 percent federal tax credit.

“From an economic standpoint, venting skylights admit light from above and reduce energy costs. It’s also a way to stretch dollars,” Patrick says, “with a one-time purchase that pays long-term benefits by reducing energy bills.”

For skylight selection or installation information, visit veluxusa.com. For government information on window and skylight energy efficiency, visit energystar.gov, and for independent agency information visit nfrc.org or efficientwindows.org.

Courtesy of ARAcontent