Helpful Hints
THINGS TO CONSIDER…
Inside: Kitchen |
Kitchen/Bathroom Cabinets |
Master Bathroom |
Bedroom |
Living Room |
Dining Room | Interior Paint
Outside: Decks |
Exterior Paint
Kitchen
- Have a message and bulletin board built in so it is part of the design, not an afterthought.
- Wire during construction for phones, cable, computer, alarm and satellite.
- Build in a storage area for garbage and recycling.
- Put the dishwasher on the side you want to load/unload to.
- Specialized cabinet interiors with projected usage in mind. Consider sliding pot drawers, knife racks, spice drawers, tray slots, garbage and recycling and pantry cabinets.
- Installing a trash compactor cuts down on garbage.
- Have a built in soap dispenser put through the counter or sink apron and pull down cabinet installed in the front of your sink to help alleviate clutter.
- When determining your cabinet height (typical cabinets are 36"), consider what parts of the cabinet you can reach and also keep them in proportion to your room.
- Make sure that adequate ventilation is provided for your stove.
- Make accommodation for pet bowl placement. Consider a cut out in the base of a cabinet to keep the bowls out of the way.
- Consider putting in under cabinet lighting to help with food preparation and other special task areas.
- Consider different eat-in options, countertop and table if your kitchen has the space.
Kitchen Cabinets / Bathroom Vanity
- If you're looking to replace your existing cabinets, there are three cabinetry lines on the market - stock, semi-custom, and custom.
- Custom cabinetry occupies the high end of the market. Custom cabinets are fabricated to your exact Kitchen or bathroom dimensions. They offer special sizes, custom finishes, and cabinet accessories to meet your specific needs. If you have the budget and the time to wait, usually 10 weeks or longer, custom cabinetry is a one-of-a-kind option.
- Semi-Custom cabinetry is built to order according to the style and finish you select. Although semi-custom cabinets are fabricated in the same 3-inch size increments as stock cabinets, they do offer more opportunity to customize the interior with such accessories as rollout shelves, cutlery dividers, and recycling enters. In addition, many of the semi-custom cabinetry lines are now offering special woodworking details (roping, pilasters, furniture bases, etc.), which were typically only offered in a custom cabinet. Because they are built to order, expect to wait at least 8 weeks for delivery of your cabinets.
- Stock cabinets are the least expensive option. They come pre-assembled and offer limited options in style, finish, and accessories. Stock cabinets are fabricated in sizes of 3-inch increments (from 9" wide to 48" wide), which might mean you'll need large filler pieces if the cabinet sizes don't coordinate with your overall Kitchen plan. The advantage of stock cabinets is that there is less wait involved and they are less expensive. At home improvement centers, you can literally buy them off the shelves.
Master Bathroom
- Consider putting a temperature controlling mixing valve on your shower and tub to avoid burns.
- Make sure before you order a large tub or 1 piece shower that it will fit through your doors and up any stairs and turns on landings.
- Consider putting in two sinks if you are sharing your bathroom.
- Consider 2 shower heads with different controls if you have a large shower and like to share with a partner or young children.
- Consider making your counter height higher than the standard 30-32" if a taller counter would be more comfortable.
- Neutral color plumbing fixtures, white or off-white are recommended as colored fixtures quickly date a bathroom.
- Plan for adequate storage space in your bath for towels, toiletries, medication and make-up.
- Make sure that you have adequate electrical outlets placed where you need them for TV, telephone, shavers, curling iron and more.
- Put in adjustable lighting for your make-up application and other hygiene tasks and dim lights for that relaxing bath.
- Decide before you build where you will store soap, shampoo and other necessary items. Tile in shelves and soap dishes, build recessed areas or choose decorative items.
- Make sure you have left enough wall space for a towel bar.
- Make sure you have designed an out of the way place for the trash basket.
- Get a shower curtain rod that screws into the wall rather than the tension bar type.
- Glass doors for showers should open out for safety.
- Non-slip tile should be used in the bottom of showers.
- Consider wiring needs in your bathroom before you renovate so the wires can be easily hidden.
Bedroom
- Make sure to consider functionality when planning lighting.
- Put dimmers on your main lights to help with mood adjustment.
- Wire your bedroom for all of its future uses: telephone, TV, cable, satellite, stereo, computer and alarm.
- Consider carpeting at least part of your floor to keep it warm in the cooler months and also to eliminate noise downstairs.
- Make sure that your closet space is designed to give you all the functionality that you need.
- Consider putting a gas fireplace in a master bedroom. It enhances your property value and the enjoyment of the room.
- Plan for a hidden place for your dirty clothes hamper.
- Consider building in bookshelves if you have a lot of books, pictures and personal memorabilia.
- If your bathroom is attached to your bedroom try and place the toilet where it is not in the direct line of sight of the bed.
- When designing your bedroom make sure that all your furniture fits and that you have adequate room to walk around the bed, open drawers, sit at a dressing table etc.
- If you share your bedroom and you and your partner have different sleeping or waking hours consider putting the entrances to the bathroom, closet and main sleeping room as far away from the bed as possible.
Living Room
- When designing your family room make a list of the functionality of the room first to make sure that you are incorporating all of your needs into the design. Consider if you will be using the room mostly for entertaining or reading.
- A fireplace in the room adds warmth and helps to make the living room a welcoming place for guests. It is the one room in a house that people expect a fireplace and it can impact resale if you don’t have one.
- When designing the lighting of the room, make sure to allow for mood lighting. Put lights on dimmer switches and allow for switched floor or table lamps.
- Lighting should also be designed keeping the natural light of the room in mind. Large windows will significantly increase the daylight to your room.
- When designing the room carefully consider what your furniture placement will be. Make sure that there is enough uninterrupted wall space for all of your big furniture pieces and make sure that you have enough seating for everyone in your family to gather.
- Consider putting decorative wood or stone flooring in this room.
- Wire the room for stereo while you are renovating.
- Make sure that there are ample electrical outlets where you need them.
- Floor and crown moulding are appropriate in the living room and enhance the value of your home.
- Consider installing display shelves for collectibles and other items that you would like to display.


