New Summer Trends: Style Your House With Up-To-Date Designs
Summer is the time of year when people often feel inspired to renovate and remodel their homes. This makes a lot of sense since the nice weather and long hours of daylight means that projects will be much easier to complete - especially if they are outdoor projects. It’s also the perfect time to take inspiration from nature and find ways to bring the outdoors in.
Modern lifestyles lend themselves to a constant flow between indoor and outdoor living spaces - especially in warm summer months when the transition between indoor and outdoor is most natural. But, that doesn’t mean you can’t find ways to bring that feeling of summer into your home to make you feel summer’s warm glow all year long. We’ll give you some ideas to take advantage of summer renovation trends that will update your style and how you feel in your home.
Put the Outdoors on Display
One of the easiest ways to bring the outdoors into your home is through the windows. Lots of natural light make a space seem bigger. If you can see trees and flowers through your windows, all the better. These days,replacement windows are more energy efficient than ever, and they offer customization options that provide both convenience and privacy. For example, perhaps you’d like to get windows with the blinds between glass panes so that you never have to worry about dusting them. It’s an option that many homeowners find appealing.
Even if you are skipping window treatments, a good set of windows can add character and peace of mind. Thermal break and UV protection are important for protecting your floors, artwork, and furniture, and are both offered in modern replacement windows. Whatever your window choice may be, make each window a focal point. Pair them with wall colors that will evoke the setting of your home.
Bring the Indoors Outside
Nowadays it is much easier to get outdoor furniture that looks and feels like your cozy living room furniture, while withstanding the weather. Why not make an outdoor living area that you can use the same way you do your family room? Decks and patios are the perfect choice and can be easily customized. Awnings and pergolas can give shade and shelter, and a comfy seating arrangement on a bright sisal or other outdoor rug can give your entertaining space an intimate feel your family and friends will appreciate.
Play With Color
Paint color is an easy tool to use to bring the brightness of summer into your home year round. Pops of bright color can make a room cheerful, even on a grim winter day. Painting an entire room a bright color (especially some of the really hot summer colors like coral, teal, and cobalt) can be overwhelming. But, an accent wall or a colored pattern on a neutral background can really make a room come alive.
Go Beachy
Everyone loves the beach in summer, but sometimes it can be hard to incorporate the beach without it feeling kitschy. Ditch the kitsch, and bring that driftwood vibe in with cool neutral greys. Add a nautical edge with accents of navy. Brass accents will provide you with a timeless but on-trend look you will love.
Want the look of weathered, sanded and reclaimed floors without the hassle and price tag of new hardwoods? Choose laminate flooring in gorgeous, distressed grays. Or, to get the look without the worry of wood, choose a wood-look tile. It will be able to stand up to just about anything, including anything you bring back from the actual beach.
Go Bright White
There’s something about summer that makes you want to get down to essentials and reduce the clutter of daily living. A bright white space lends itself to minimalism and calm. Kitchens and bathrooms especially lend themselves to the all-white design trend. Something about an all-white space transcends time-of-year and feels inherently clean.
Some Things to Remember
Before you remodel your kitchen, bathroom or any other part of your home, there are things you need to consider. Obviously remodeling in a way that is trendy is important for how you live and feel in your home, but always consider resale value. Be careful to not over-personalize your home in ways that aren’t easily fixable when it comes time to sell. Someone else may not want to pay for the gadgets or pool you love when it comes time to make an offer. Paint is easy, and certain built-ins will always be on trend, but check out our handy guide before you make a costly mistake in your renovations.
RWC has been relieving home improvement stress since 1959. Call us today or visit us on the web for your free consultation!
Increase Your Home's Value With These Fun Renovations
When you purchased your home, it was probably the home of your dreams. It fit all of your needs and was just right for your family. Time has moved on, and you’re starting to notice that your home doesn’t fit your needs like it used to. You may even be thinking about putting it on the market and finding a new home, but you may not have to take that drastic a step just yet.
It may be time to look at some fun renovations that can make your home fit your needs once again. Even better, it can increase your home's value for when it comes time to take out an equity loan or get better bids when you sell your home. Here are some fun renovations that will put the sparkle back into your home while helping your home increase in value in the long run.
Kitchen
Some people advise to skip an expensive kitchen remodel, and it’s true that going overboard with a luxury kitchen remodel may not earn you the return on investment you’d like, but a kitchen remodel can still offer a great deal of value if you focus on the important aspects. U.S. News and World Report had an article on renovations that showed that homeowners who perform a minor kitchen remodel can see an 82.7 percent return on investment.
One of the reasons you may be unhappy with your home is that the kitchen feels cluttered and the flow is wrong. Some areas to focus on with your kitchen remodel include layout, cabinetry, adding an island, and making more space for storage. These minor renovation projects will help improve the flow of your space, and make it more useable for your family. You’ll be able to finally pick up the extra gadgets and gizmos you’ve always wanted for cooking, but never had a place to put. Plus, people love updated kitchens.
Bathroom
People love kitchens, but they also love bathrooms. This is where you go to relax in a hot shower or get ready for the day. A bathroom remodel is another excellent investment to increase value in your home. You can install a new bathtub or even an enclosed shower, add beautiful tile, get a new countertop, update your fixtures, and more, to give your bathroom a facelift that makes it feel more like a luxury spa than a room in your home.
Not only are you increasing your home's value and the usefulness of the space, but you may also be saving yourself money in the long run. New shower, sink, and toilet fixtures are often more efficient than your old fixtures when it comes to water conservation. This means that your family will be using less water in their daily routines than before, and your water bill will decrease.
Curb Appeal
Maybe you’re pretty happy with your home’s layout and setup. You might even think that nothing needs to be done with it and that there aren’t any ways to improve the value of your home. Perhaps it is time to stop thinking about inside the home, and step outside.
Your home’s entryway may need an update. Believe it or not, the same article from U.S. News and World Report shows that front door replacements net a 96.6 percent return on investment with just that one small update.
Real estate agents aren’t crazy when they talk about curb appeal. The way your home looks on the outside influences the first impression that others will get from your home. If it doesn’t look welcoming or inviting, potential buyers may not even step inside to see how amazing it looks. Giving the front of your home a facelift not only helps to increase your home's value for that day when you may put it on the market, but it also gives you a home you can be proud to show off.
RWC is here for you when it comes time to finding ways to increase the value of your home. Our company is different in that we take the time to listen to what our customers need and want, and help you to find the solutions that will work in your current home that makes it better. We handle everything in-house for you, and all of our installers are factory trained to know the right way to go about your installation.
No matter if you’re looking to complete a small project, like a new door, or large project, like revamping your kitchen layout, we’re here for you. Check out our services to see how we can help you to turn your old home into the home of your dreams.
RWC has been relieving home improvement stress since 1959. Call us today or visit us on the web for your free consultation!
Use Designer Glass to Beautify your Home
Every house has glass elements. Since they are so commonplace, we often overlook them. However, that is a mistake. Instead of just viewing the glass in your home as utilitarian, you need to start seeing it as an extension of your personality and your home’s aesthetics. Adding designer glass highlights to your home is an easy way to create additional visual interest without breaking the bank. The following are some examples of ways to add designer glass to your home to increase its visual appeal.
Do not let the words “glass blocks” scare you. Although you may still have nightmares about the hideous frosted glass blocks that were popular in bathrooms in the 70s and 80s, glass blocks have come a long way since then. So, get that image out of your head and the frightened look off of your face. Today's glass blocks are modern, sleek, and innovative. They can break up a dark space to make it seem lighter; be used as a display piece, such as a vase, or serve as a room divider that doubles as a conversation piece. There is no shortage of ways in which glass blocks can add beauty and interest to your home.
Sliding glass doors are the traditional way to get from the inside of your house to a patio or other outdoor living area. However, these doors are normally just huge pieces of plate glass - totally boring. Your sliding glass door doesn’t have to be dull and mundane. Try thinking about your sliding glass door as an extensive empty canvas. Replacing the original glass with some designer glass is the perfect way to add some style and personality to a seemingly bland background. The right designer glass can add a personal touch to an area, provide an excellent view of the outdoors, or even add some privacy indoors. The choices are endless and are only limited by your imagination.
Glass staircase
If you are looking to add an ultra-modern touch of flare to your home, consider installing a sleek glass staircase. A glass staircase can add light and dimension to a home. It can also give a smaller area the illusion of additional space. Glass staircases are the perfect excuse to use designer glass to make an ordinary space look grand by combining functionality with modern beauty. A beautiful glass staircase can dramatically change the way an entire room feels. So, if you don’t have small children, swapping out your tired, old wooden or metal stairway for one made from designer glass could be a great way to give your entire home a face-lift.
If you are looking for a more subtle change than what you will get with a glass staircase, there are plenty of ways you can scale it down a bit. One way is to add some simple etched glass to your home. Etched glass can be added to both interior and exterior windows and will provide a lantern-like appearance when it is illuminated. It provides a milky-white appearance that cannot be penetrated. Using etched glass is a great way to add some privacy to a room without sacrificing the aesthetic appeal of the area.
Adding designer glass to your wet bar is a great way to show off your beautiful and colorful bottles of libations. If you look at your bar with a discerning eye, you will notice that it is a world full of varying colors and textures that are just waiting to be highlighted. Designer glass is the ideal material for shelving in your bar. The colorful liquids in the bottles will reflect off the glass and create a spectrum of colors that will be eye-catching to everyone who walks by. You can even turn it up a notch by switching out the commercial bottles for original containers such as bell jars and apothecary jars.
Add a backsplash in your kitchen
Nothing adds visual interest to a kitchen like a backsplash. Gone are the days when a backsplash was nothing more than ceramic tiles. Now, you can use decorative glass to create a magnificent mosaic. Painted designer glass serves as the perfect medium to create a backsplash that is charming as well as functional.
Your home should be an outward expression of your true self. Adding designer glass is an excellent way to turn your entire home into an object d’art. RWC has a wide variety of designer glass choices to fit every homeowner’s style. Whether you are looking for something simple, like etched glass cabinet fronts, or something ornate like, a domed ceiling, RWC has you covered. RWC is a family owned company that has been in business since the 1950s. We offer a wide product selection and unparalleled service.
Contact RWC today. One of our representatives will be happy to assist you in finding the best designer glass to fit your needs.