Melton Design Build

Archive for May, 2012

For Non-Traditional Families, Architects Design In More Livability

May 30, 2012

One of the things that residential architects do well is to design homes that are right for the specific families that will live in those homes. Increasingly, however, those families aren’t so traditional any more. Did you know that families of Mom, Dad and two kids for which most homes were – and continue to be — built now only account for about 20% of US households? Clearly, a “one house fits all” approach just doesn’t work. If you’re part of the other 80% —single adults, couples without kids, blended families and multi-generation households, an architect can help you redesign, build, or remodel these traditional homes for much more livability.

For example, in households with blended families, architectural design might emphasize spaces with flexibility. Flexibility might mean that the architect can design the home so that bedrooms that don’t get used every day to serve other purposes as well. Or, the gathering areas of the home can be designed so that they offer cozy seating for a few or open up to welcome the whole big family all at once.

For multigeneration households, the architect might place an emphasis on designing a good balance of public and private space for all family members. Working with a design/build remodeling approach, for instance, the architect and construction team might work together to find the best solutions for equipping the existing home not just with larger gathering spaces but also with features such as separate entrances, kitchenettes, and bedroom suites.

The bottom line is that whether you’re building a new home or remodeling one, having an architect work directly with the construction team means you’ll get a home that’s not just “built for you,” but architecturally designed to optimize livability for the make up of your household.

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: Architecture

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New Concepts for Home Remodeling

May 29, 2012

No matter how much you’re planning to spend on a home remodel, taking a look at high-end “concept homes” is a great starting point. Sure, the house remodeling contractors have been given sizeable budgets to approach these home renovations. But the creativity of each home – construction, layout, design and products – can spark ideas that we can translate for your own budget. The secret is looking not just at the high-end execution, but at the smart thinking behind each of the design elements you love. Let’s take a look at what you can discover from a concept home.

As a home remodeler, we’ve seen many clients want to do a major remodel when the kids leave home. We felt the recent BUILDER 2012 “Gen X” home was filled with great ideas not just for empty nesters, but for families that include kids – and perhaps even elderly parents. Plus, the ideas can be scaled for new home construction down to simple home remodeling projects. Here are some examples.

Double-purpose spaces. The house remodeling contractor for the BUILDER 2012 home did a great job of building a courtyard that doubles as an impressive entryway and as a spacious outdoor seating area. Even if you don’t have the space or the budget for the fountain, fireplace and other amenities in the concept courtyard, renovations can still create a private entryway that’s perfect for welcoming you home and for outdoor entertaining.

Simple yet elegant details. The interior doors in the concept home remodel the traditional six panel door into a more clean and contemporary look by using handsome molding to frame the smooth surface of the door. The takeaway might not be the actual door, but what it represents for your home – renovation that emphasizes sleeker, simpler design.

Exterior textures. The stone veneer on the concept home resembles saw-cut limestone. Even if you don’t like this particular material or think the look is wrong for our own area, the takeaway is that if you’re doing a major remodel, let us do our job as your house remodeling contractor and help you explore all the new materials and possibilities that exist for creating a distinctive look for your home.

Construction that blurs indoor-outdoor boundaries. On the Gen X home, we loved the 90-degree seamless corner window. It takes that open floor plan and literally opens it out to the exterior living spaces. Even if your home remodel won’t involve something as dramatic as the concept home’s large, floor-to-ceiling glass corner, we can find way for bringing the outside in – on any budget.

So don’t “pre-compromise!” Go ahead and look at all the upscale concept homes you can. Bring us the ideas you like and we’ll use our years of experience as a home remodeling contractor to translate them into beautiful spaces and cool new features for your own dream home.

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: Home Remodeling

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Great Products for Your Bathroom Remodel

May 19, 2012

When you’re planning your bathroom renovation, take some time to explore new products being offered. Some may surprise you and some could be just the thing to create that spa-like feeling you’re after.

As a bathroom remodeling contractor, I get a chance to attend the home shows and see what types of products are being offered. I wanted to share just a few that I feel can really make a difference in the way your bathroom looks, feels and functions for years to come. Maybe they’re not all for you, but you may well find some ideas you love!

  1. Heated floors. Imagine never stepping onto an icy-cold floor in the bathroom! Remodeling that includes electric or radiant heating keeps even those tiles nice and warm.
  2. Mirror defoggers. Installing a new mirror as part of your bathroom remodel? Include a defogger that automatically warms the mirror so it stays clear, even through hot, steamy showers.
  3. Mirrors that tilt. As a bathroom remodeler, I especially loves ideas that make one bathroom work for everyone in the family. Tilting mirrors do just that — kids may not even need stools to see themselves, and no more stooping or standing on tiptoe for tall or short adults.
  4. New shower systems. From rainfall showerheads to multi-jet shower systems, make sure your bathroom remodel takes full advantage of the great products on the market. Those rainfall showerheads, for example, offer a soothing, gentle downpour while multi-jet systems can also offer high-pressure flow to massage achy muscles.
  5. Hands-free faucets. Motion-activated faucets are a great way to save water and save elbow grease when it comes to cleaning the bathroom. Renovation that includes these fixtures rewards you for years – kids won’t accidentally leave the water running, teeth brushing won’t waste water, and you can rinse your hands without getting shaving cream, soap or hair dye on the faucet. Delta also has a nice line of faucets you can touch anywhere on the spout or handle with your wrist or forearm to start and stop the flow of water.
  6. High-arc spouts. For a pedestal tub or a sink in the bathroom, remodeling with high-arc faucets can create real visual impact. The high arc also makes it easier to wash your face without bending so far down over the bathroom sink. They’re an especially good choice for above-counter sinks. Finishes we like include the always-popular chrome plus satin nickel, bronze and even brushed gold.
  7. Towel warmers. We know people who wouldn’t be without these! As part of bathroom remodeling, we can include warmer bars or drawers just like they have in spas. The drawers are great for warming bathrobes and slippers, too.

Visit our site to find more information about our bathroom remodeling services!

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: Bathroom Remodeling

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How to Do a “Back to Basics” Kitchen Remodel

May 17, 2012

Like many kitchen remodeling contractors, we’re seeing a back-to-basics trend with kitchen renovations. Now, basics doesn’t mean bare bones, Far from it. Homeowners still want a beautiful kitchen with luxurious extras, but they want kitchen remodeling to focus on functionality and personal style rather than on a “statement” kitchen remodel that features high-end everything and ornate flourishes everywhere.

Here are a few examples:

Streamlined cabinets and shelving. Cabinets make or break the look of your kitchen renovation. Even if you’re committed to repurposing as many elements as possible, chances are you’ll still want to make new cabinets part of your kitchen remodel because it can be surprisingly costly to repair, refinish and repaint existing cabinets. Open shelves are an increasingly popular option that can also save considerable money. The shelving itself can be anything from sturdy wood to elegant glass. In terms of style, even homeowners who prefer traditional style to a more contemporary feel are leaning toward sleeker cabinets without a lot of embellishments.

Something simpler. Granite countertops continue to be the standard for upscale kitchen remodeling, but more homeowners are telling kitchen contractors that polished granite countertops are too “showy” and too predictable. Quartz (Zodiaq, Silestone, Caesarstone) offers the look of stone, but without the maintenance of granite. The cost, however, is about the same as granite. Beautiful countertops also can be created from eco-friendly recycled glass and cement. As to hardware, kitchen remodelers often specify prefer cabinets without pulls. Where pulls do show, they’re simple and chrome is often chosen instead of the more expensive brushed nickel finish.

New flooring choices. I’ve been a kitchen remodeling contractor for a while, and it’s interesting to see more homeowners asking about wood flooring for the kitchen rather than tile which has been popular for so many years. I think wood is popular for two reasons: it helps unify the kitchen remodel with the surrounding spaces in an open floor plan and it adds a warm element to a kitchen design to balance very sleek cabinets, lighting and counters.

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: Kitchen Remodeling

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