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Posts Tagged ‘Storage’

Spring Cleaning Starts With Clutter Control

by admin, 3:39 PM on April 4th, 2012, Comments Off

Spring sunshine often motivates homeowners to get a fresh start with a good, thorough spring cleaning.  The first swipe of the dustcloth or sweep of the broom can run into a roadblock, though.  Shoes left by the back door, electronics stacked high on a TV case and clothes piled on the closet floor can make spring cleaning feel overwhelming and impossible.  Effective storage and organization can open any room in the house and make spring cleaning an easy, rewarding experience.

Living areas

Electronics, books, video games and toys all need places of their own.  Many of them can, and should, be stored together.  For example, a custom built-in entertainment center can house electronics, video games, DVDs and CDs all in one convenient place.  Bookshelves can include baskets, closeable doors or drawers to control book collections and toys.

Bedroom

Organizing clothing can be one of the biggest challenges in any home.  Keeping clean clothes orderly and wrinkle-free is critical to looking and feeling good.  Dirty clothes can scatter throughout the bedroom if they don’t have a convenient place to go at the end of the day.  Spring is the perfect time to re-evaluate your wardrobe and your storage needs.  It’s a great time to store your heavy winter clothes and bring out the light, breezy summer wardrobe.  It’s also a good time to decide which clothes you can live without – lots of charitable organizations take clothing donations in the spring.  This process can also help you decide the best way to store and organize your clothes. Do you need more space for shoes?  Do you need a better way to hang dress clothes?  A custom closet system or walk-in closet could help make your wardrobe more accessible and functional.

Bathroom

Typically the smallest room in the house, the bathroom presents some of the biggest storage challenges for homeowners.  Linens, personal products, hairdryers and all the other daily essentials need a place to live that’s easy to reach.   Custom medicine cabinets and linen closets in or near the bathroom can ensure that towels, soap and toothpaste are all conveniently located.

Talk to our design team today to build a plan that helps get the clutter under control and opens your home to the sunshine of spring!

Adding A Home Office

by admin, 3:57 PM on March 14th, 2012, Comments Off

More than 33 million workers in the U.S. — including employees, contractors, and small business owners – work at home at least a portion of the time.  That number has risen more than 17 percent since 2006.

Designing a home office is a big undertaking.  Prior to designing a home office, we will assess how you will use it and what requirements it must fulfill. Will this be your primary workspace, or a secondary space?   You may spend eight or more hours a day in the space we create, and the decisions we make today can enhance the success of your work.  Here are some key considerations for a home office design.

Location

This is one of the most important considerations of home office planning. Your basement may offer a quiet, isolated space, but natural light may be limited.  Do you have young children?  An office off the foyer may not work. Do you meet with clients or receive frequent deliveries? An upstairs bedroom might not be best.

Organization

A functional home office needs to include space for computer(s), file storage, printer, phone and possibly a project area for non-computer activities.  Having computers and peripherals within easy reach makes for a more functional workspace.  One element that often gets overlooked is wiring – power and computer connections.  A good home office includes plenty of electrical outlets and allows for convenient, yet tucked-away access to cords and cables.

Light

Window placement in home offices can dramatically affect your work.  South-facing windows give direct light all year long, but can create glare in fall and spring.  North-facing windows reduce overall natural light and demand more artificial light in the room.  East and west-facing windows can brighten a room early and late in the day.  We’ll consider your light sources when we design your home office to maximize natural light and minimize glare.  Task lighting is also important.  Consistent natural light may not always be available, so bright under-cabinet or recessed ceiling lights can improve home office lighting.

Health

If you are working from home for someone else, they are required to ensure that you’re working in a safe and comfortable environment, meeting all the federal and state requirements.  If you are working on your own, it’s up to you make your workspace as comfortable as possible.  We’ll make sure your new space is as ergonomically designed as it can be.

A home office can add to your productivity.  Contact our design team today to start designing your new workspace.

Preparing For A Home Remodeling Project

by admin, 12:43 PM on February 9th, 2012, Comments Off

Home remodeling projects are exciting.  The dream of a new kitchen, bathroom or family room brings smiles to the whole family’s faces.  But remodeling projects are disruptive by nature.  A favorite coffee cup can go missing, cooking meals in a microwave gets old and the loss of that convenient shower can be frustrating.

A few easy prep steps can dramatically reduce the disruption of any home remodeling project.  The better you prepare your home for the displacement, dust and traffic in your house, the smoother your project will be.

1.  Gather supplies. You will need boxes, newspapers, packing materials, packing tape, masking tape, quart size and gallon size plastic storage bags and markers.

2.  A week before the project begins, start packing up the contents of your cabinets, beginning with the least-used items.  Unpack in reverse order – it will streamline the process.  If you’re remodeling your kitchen, pack eating utensils in the gallon size plastic storage bags. Use a bag each for knives, forks, spoons and cooking utensils.

3.  Take down window treatments and wall decorations. Put the hardware in plastic storage bags and label them.  This is a good time to clean and dust the items if you will be using them again in the remodeled room.

4.  Move any pictures, mirrors, furniture, and other items in neighboring rooms away from walls adjacent to the room to be remodeled. Vibrations from the construction could knock them off and break them.

5.  Set aside things you don’t use anymore for donation. Make a list and estimate the value before you take them to your local donation center. Throw out anything broken or unusable. This is a great time to reduce clutter.

6.  Protect what you can’t remove; floors should be covered, dust curtains hung and a pathway defined for workmen to enter and exit the workspace. Use plastic sheeting and tape to seal off doorways into other rooms and cover bookshelves, furniture, and electronic equipment.  If you have a basement below the demo area that is open, cover anything there as well.

We’ll do our best to make the remodeling process as pleasant as possible.  With a few extra steps, you’ll be enjoying your new room in no time!

Create A Castle For Your Kids

by admin, 2:39 PM on February 3rd, 2012, Comments Off

Many basements become playrooms by default.  Why not design a unique, creative play space for the kids that brings their imaginations to life?  Kids love to have their own spaces.  A playroom in the lower level gives them the perfect place for projects, playtime or just “hanging out”.

Kid Size It

Adult rooms can be overwhelming, especially for young children.  High shelves, tall furniture and big storage containers make kids feel like they’re living in the land of giants.  A kids’ playroom really shines when built-in bookcases and shelving units are built at kid height.  Kid-sized tables and other furniture make it easy for kids to sit, stand or lay around comfortably.

Keep It Comfy

Plush furniture and cozy flooring keep kids comfy and safe.  Carpeting or cork flooring are warm under bare feet and make the floor an inviting place to lie down with a good book.  Overstuffed chairs and a stuffed animal will keep kids company for hours.  These design elements also help keep young kids from skinning knees and bumping elbows on hard surfaces.

Make A Secret Space

Every kid has made a “fort” with blankets pillows and furniture.  A corner of a fun playroom can be transformed into a built-in castle, playhouse or just a simple cubbyhole with a curtain where kids can dream up big adventures, play hide and seek or just curl up for a nap.

 

Every kid dreams of their secret hideaway.  A lower level playroom can make that dream a reality.  Call our design department today to start designing your kids’ castle.

Open Your Home To New Remodeling Trends

by admin, 3:53 PM on January 6th, 2012, Comments Off

As we embrace the New Year, we are excited by a number of unique trends in home remodeling.  Openness and practicality are the key elements in contemporary home design.  Whether a remodeling project starts in the kitchen, includes the common spaces or revitalizes the bath, openness and practicality will drive much of the design decisions.

Common Spaces in 2012: Floor Plans Open Up Again

Today’s active families are looking for an open family room. An open floor plan will typically combine the kitchen, living room, and dining room. Spaces are often separated with furniture instead of walls. One room instead of many also has a positive effect on energy consumption, requiring less heat or A/C.

Computers have become a household item, and it’s not uncommon to place one in the kitchen. A lifestyle center is a place for kids to do homework, while mom or dad can make sure they aren’t playing on the internet. It can also be used as a place to work from home and pay bills. Combing these functions into one area adjacent the kitchen, reduces the need for a formal office.

Baths in 2012:  Large/Steam Showers Replace Soaking Tubs

Soaking tubs used to be a must have for homeowners remodeling their bathroom.  Homeowners remodeling their bathroom now focus their budget on a larger and more comfortable shower. Steam showers have risen in popularity because they can be justified for their therapeutic effects.

Kitchens in 2012:  Open Storage Enlarges The Room

Storage space is an important element in modern kitchens New kitchen designs should include large and practical storage.  Simple wall shelves are retro-modern kitchen ideas. Small house plants, herbs, bowls, mugs or small appliances (Home appliances, yellow-silver stove concept) on shelves create a beautiful display and become wonderful wall decorations. Solid wood shelves with large sliding panels made of frosted glass add more interest to contemporary kitchen interiors.

Regardless of the goals of your project, the design experts at Roberts Residential Remodeling can help you make your new living spaces open, practical and inviting.  Contact us today to learn how.

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