Forget the Open Floor Plan--It's Time to Bring Back Walls

If you want to give a space an update, rest assured that you can do so on a budget and still be trendy with these six tips  on renovations to consider: 1. Traditional prints in modern spaces. 2. Curved sofas. Curved sofas have been trending in 2020. This style combines a modern look with a comfy twist that can fit into most design styles. 3. Dark kitchens. Dark colors are growing more popular in the kitchen. Try this trend on a smaller scale by giving your cupboards a new lease on life. Sand them down, and use wood paint to achieve the color you’re looking for. Don’t forget to use a primer and a top coat for the perfect finish, and try changing up your handles to complete the look. Avoid emulsion or generic paints, as these will be too thick and could become gloopy on the wood. 4. Grandmillennial style A design that’s been a hot topic this year is the “grandmillennial style.” Combine classic looks with a contemporary edge. This look can be tailored to every color palette and prefer...

  1. Assemble a Good Team Don’t jump to hire the least expensive designer, architect or builder unless they also come highly rated, well-regarded and positively reviewed. Have a thorough chat with their past clients to make sure there are no red flags. Ask to see examples of recently completed projects to make sure they have a proven track record. Jennifer Ott Design Hiring the best team may mean having to cut back on something to make the budget work. But I guarantee it will be money well spent. And often you’ll save more money in the long run than if you had simply gone with the lowest bid. On a related note, it’s a good idea to bring together professionals who have prior, positive experiences working together. Ask your architect or designer to recommend builders they’ve previously worked with. Or if you have a great builder on board but need an architect or designer, ask the builder to recommend someone they have a proven track record with. Think of it like a good marriage — you...

Residential designers (architects, interior designers and others) bring a wealth of knowledge and skills to make sure all aspects of remodeling and custom home projects go as smoothly as possible. Talk with almost anyone who’s ever tried to do a construction project without pro help, and you’ll likely hear one statement over and over again: “I wished I had hired a designer.” Even in smaller projects, like a one-room remodel, once you open up those walls, situations arise for which only an experienced professional can apply his or her creative problem solving to save time and money. Neumann Mendro Andrulaitis Architects LLP Why Hire a Designer? 1. You’ll Save Time You may not know how structural choices can impact the installation of the mechanical system. Or about options for new materials or technologies that might be cheaper, better or more appropriate than what you are familiar with. Figuring those things out takes time, and lots of it. A skilled professional will have this informat...

The pandemic has influenced so many areas of our lives these past few months. It’s not surprising that it’s also affecting the design of our homes. Let’s look at some of the biggest home design trends influenced by the pandemic. 5. The waning appeal of open floor plans. A growing complaint with the open floor plan: It’s noisy. As many people transitioned to remote work, a lack of barriers to buffer noise became a real problem. The open floor plan combines the kitchen and living space to form one big, open room. It isn’t exactly the best for privacy or concentration. Add in hardwood flooring, and sounds can really echo. But homeowners aren’t rushing to add walls just yet. Instead, they’re turning to privacy screens to section off areas, or they’re adding in large area rugs or artwork to help absorb noise. If the open floor plan really wanes in popularity, it will become apparent first in new-home construction and then in home remodeling. In new homes, we may start to see more pocket doo...

Is it any wonder that kids’ schoolwork seems to get done more often on a comfy sofa or at a bustling kitchen island than in a dedicated hidden-away study space? Being closer to the action of the household means it’s easier to ask questions and get help — a decidedly good thing. But without a clearly defined place to land, books, notes and school supplies can easily become a chaotic mess. If your house has a homework problem, read on to get ideas for beautifully folding study areas into the busiest spaces of your home. Clare Gaskin Interiors Dining Area Additions The dining table can be a great place for spreading out big projects — but such a big surface also can mean a bigger mess. In this space by  Clare Gaskin Interiors , a slim bookcase and low cabinets with deep drawers make cleanup easy — when it’s time for dinner, schoolbooks can simply be shelved and papers stashed in a drawer. re:4m LLC design build Removable Drawer Organizers If the kitchen table is where schoolwork gets ...