Home UpgradeYou’ll ‘Never Regret’

 

Lay tile in an interesting pattern

This kitchen looks bright and contemporary.

(HGTV)

When designing the kitchen, Hall and James Bender, the design project manager, show Danny and Nicole a beautiful option that includes blue cabinets, quartz countertops, and a textured white backsplash tile. The homeowners love the look and are especially impressed by the “double herringbone” pattern Bender suggests laying the tile in.

This design is “something different” and “it gives you more of a design-y look,” he says.

This tile backsplash provides a fresh take on herringbone.

(HGTV)

While this pattern might take longer to put up (and cost a little more in labor), unique tile designs don’t require buying any extra materials. Sometimes, a different tile pattern can be the special touch a kitchen needs.

Vinyl flooring can look just like wood

Before: The living space featured dark flooring and two different levels.

(HGTV)

Danny and Nicole want to raise their sunken living room and update the tired flooring.

Hall gives them two great options for luxury vinyl flooring, and the pair select the design that has a lot of texture and looks just like real wood.

After: This new flooring brings warmth to the whole home.

(HGTV)

The homeowners like the pattern, and Danny loves the way this warm flooring looks next to the cool-toned blue cabinets and white counter they had selected for the kitchen.

“The warm and cool mix very nice together,” agrees Hall.

It’s a good lesson that no matter what features homeowners decide to add, it’s important to make sure everything looks great together.

A dog food station is a great addition to an island

This food and water station is the perfect spot for the family dogs.

(HGTV)

Before the project is finished, Danny and Nicole tell Hall and Bender that they want to add something special for their three beloved dogs. The designers come up with an idea to add a food and water station to the island, complete with the same quartz counter.

“We’re going to take the existing slab that you have for your counters and put it on the bottom so that it will protect the wood from the water,” Bender explains.

They also plan to add a stylish tile on the back and side walls “just to give a little pizzaz,” he says.

Give the fireplace a face-lift

Before: The homeowners didn’t like this old fireplace.

(HGTV)

One feature that definitely needs some updating is the fireplace. Danny and Nicole hate the existing fireplace’s midcentury stone look, so they decide to replace it with a long electric fireplace and a massive TV over the top.

“That’ll create, like, a very modern-looking wall,” Hall says of the fireplace and the TV.

Once the fireplace is in, it does give the living room a sleek, modern look.

After: This electric fireplace makes the room look more modern.

(HGTV)

A bi-fold door is the ultimate upgrade

These bi-fold doors look great and they let in lots of light.

(HGTV)

Partway through the renovation, Danny and Nicole mention that the sliding door that leads to the backyard seems a little small. They’d like more light to come into the home, and they’d like to show off their beautiful backyard.

While Hall says the team could simply install a longer sliding door, she notes that bi-fold doors would be a better, though more expensive, upgrade. The price difference is significant: $5,000 for a longer slider versus $15,000 for bi-bold doors. Still, Hall knows it would be worth the money.

“If you have it in your budget, it’s something that I truly feel like you would never regret doing,” Hall says.

The homeowners end up splurging on the bi-fold doors, and the feature looks amazing. Not only do the doors let in a ton of light, but they also make the whole house look more high-end.