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 Finding Design Ideas for Your Remodeling Project
You want to change the look and feel of your house, but you also want
your remodeling job to look fresh for a number of years while
complementing the existing features of your home. How do you choose
the right project and design for you and your family?
First, make sure you take your family’s lifestyle into account when
selecting an area of your home to remodel. For example, if you get a
lot of traffic through the house, consider hardwood floors. Families
who frequently entertain in the kitchen may want to expand the room
and add an island or some comfortable chairs. If your bathroom is the
place where you escape the world, add a whirlpool tub or a deluxe
shower.
After you’ve chosen an area of your home to remodel, the wide array of
project options can be both dazzling and intimidating. To get started,
consult the resources below, which can give you specific ideas on how
to turn your house into the dream home you’ve always wanted.
TV Shows
Home & Garden Television (HGTV) features a number of shows on topics
ranging from decorating to home improvement. To spark your creativity,
watch projects evolve from start to finish on shows like Building
Character and Dream Builders; check your local television guide for
listings.
Magazines
Magazines that cater to home improvement, lifestyle and remodeling can
be an excellent source of ideas. Page through publications such as
Home, House Beautiful, Better Homes and Gardens, Southern Living, Food
and Wine, Country Living, Ladies' Home Journal and Good Housekeeping
to identify projects and materials that might work in your home.
Additionally, you can request a wide range of free or inexpensive
literature by completing the mail-in coupons inserted in such
publications.
Web Sites
Surfing the Web is a great way to find ideas and research projects.
Many remodelers, manufacturers and magazines host Web sites that
feature project photos, buying guides and product information. Web
directories also can help you find professional remodelers in your
area.
Sketches and Floor Plans
No two remodeling projects are the same, but you can gain some insight
into how another homeowner solved a space problem by carefully
studying sketches and floor plans. If, like most people, you are
easily confused by plans and drawings, imagine yourself in the middle
of the room or space on the plan.
Books
Browse a bookstore with a well-stocked home improvement section, but
beware of books telling you to be your own remodeling contractor. Most
remodeling projects call for a level of skill and work hours beyond
those stated in these books. The job of a professional remodeler
requires experience and competence in a wide range of disciplines, and
unless you are highly skilled and licensed in all the trades, you can
quickly get in over your head.
Newspapers
Most newspapers publish regular sections devoted to real estate, home
design and remodeling. Also, twice a year—usually in the spring and
fall—many papers print special home improvement supplements. Each of
these sections contains timely articles and useful advertisements on
remodeling, home improvement, repair and maintenance.
Friends, Family and
Neighbors
Do you know someone who has recently remodeled their home in a style
you admire? He or she may still have product manuals, magazines and
other helpful information you can borrow, as well as practical advice
drawn from his or her own experience.
Remodeling Professionals
One of the advantages of choosing a remodeler early is gaining access
to an extensive library of resources prior to starting a project. Once
you’ve chosen a contractor, he or she usually can offer you a wide
variety of materials, including product manuals, magazines, brochures
and blueprints.
Manufacturers and Suppliers
The most obvious place to find information about new products and how
to use them is on manufacturers’ Web sites and in magazine ads.
Lumberyards, hardware stores and other suppliers also can be valuable
sources of information. Many suppliers now offer home planning
centers, where you can browse comfortably among the following:
- Plan books
- Product manuals
- Sourcebooks
- Building tips
- Magazines
- Brochures
- Directories of local remodelers and
builders
Firsthand Observation
Keep a loaded camera and some extra film in your vehicle. You never
know when a trip to the grocery store might provide you a glimpse of
just the right exterior door or window trim, so always be prepared.
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Remodeling Professional |