Category Archives: Remodel

New Home Addition Kitchen

How a New Home Addition Can Give You the Perfect Living Space

Sooner or later, many families encounter the dilemma of needing more space or, perhaps, a rearrangement of the existing rooms to be more functional. The desire for a new family room, bathroom, storage, or even an extra bedroom often triggers a need to sell and purchase another, more expensive home.

However, if you love your neighborhood or do not wish to uproot your kids from their schools, you have a better option. You can create the expanded living space needed with a new home addition.

A well-designed, aesthetically compatible addition to your home can create a notable improvement to your space. It can also enhance the exterior and create the feeling of a new, yet still familiar home. Here are some things to consider as you get started on your new home addition.  

Designing Your Addition

Working within the restrictions of your lot, a design build specialist can help. By determining how much living space you can add to the existing structure. Armed with this information, you and the designer can weigh your needs and budget to identify options for your addition. The design build specialist will also aim to maximize your improvement budget.

The final design may present a different solution than what you first anticipated. For example, while a new ground floor master suite might be your dream, you might add a new family room onto the home while converting the old family room into the master suite. 

White kitchen with a new home addition dining area.

Maybe your old kitchen is too small, and you need more space and additional storage. Perhaps you’d even like an adjoining dinette area. You could consider expanding the existing kitchen space by taking out the exterior wall and extending the space outward. Your new kitchen could provide more natural light, counter space, and storage. Not to mention ergonomically-situated appliances and perhaps even a center island with plenty of accessories.

Influencing Factors for New Home Addition

As you and your design build expert begin to envision your living space addition, specific considerations are important. Some of these include:

  1. Identify the addition’s footprint limitations based on lot lines and zoning setbacks to ensure everything will fit. If your plan does not work, you might consider building up rather than out. 
  2. Check with your Homeowners Association. They often have rules limiting alterations, presumably, to protect the value and appearance of the whole neighborhood.
  3. Consider ways elements like wind and temperature might affect the interior of the home with the new addition.
  4. New space means higher HVAC demand. Make sure your existing system has enough capacity to manage the entire home. If not, a supplemental or upgraded system may be required.

Working with Your Design Build Expert

A company that works with you to design the addition while also executing the construction offers many advantages:

  • While designing your new space, the design build professional understands the real cost of labor and materials. This knowledge will eliminate “budget shock” when you take your design plan to a separate builder. 
  • Communication is improved. The designer stays with the project from beginning to end to ensure your ideas are executed as you hoped.
  • Design to build is seamless. You experience no confusion of intent as designs are transformed into reality.
  • Project disruption is less because the designer can create a strategy to schedule all phases of construction to minimize interruption.
  • Your design should incorporate compatible rooflines and angles to have the addition complement the homes’ existing design. 
  • The total cost of a design build addition is usually less since it involves only one profit center.

Contact Master’s Design Build Group for Your Professional Home Addition

Headquartered in Hatfield, PA, award-winning Master’s Design Build brings almost two decades of experience to creating beautiful remodels, additions, and home improvement designs in homes throughout Buck and Montgomery counties in Eastern Pennsylvania.

For an initial in-home consultation to discuss your dream addition, call Master’s Design Build Group at 1-215-723-6162. 

Or, simply leave your name, phone number, and a message on the Contact Us Page of the website. 

Considerations-for-Remodeling-Your-Laundry-Room

Remodeling Your Laundry Room

When guests arrive, do you hurry to shut the door on a drab and disorganized laundry room so no-one can see inside? Consider remodeling your laundry room. 

In most instances, the laundry room is the most aesthetically challenged space in a home. Whether this important space is cramped and stifling, or just unsightly, homeowners everywhere are making changes.  

Remodeling a laundry room can mean improving its functionality with new countertops, or storage. Or, you might consider adding some dazzle to complement your otherwise beautifully furnished home. 

Furthermore, reimagining a different space in your home to create a comfortable, and user-friendly laundry room is the objective. 

Steps to Remodeling Your Laundry Room

Step 1: Expert Design Consultation

A refreshing remodel of any kind begins with your idea of what you want to accomplish. With these wishes in mind, a professional designer can offer suggestions that:

1) Improve the existing space. 

2) Expand the room to create more space.

3) Move the laundry room to another part of your home.

A laundry room does not have to be over-sized. However, the room should be well-organized, well illuminated, and ergonomically arranged to eliminate unnecessary bending, toting, twisting, and searching.

A significant laundry room remodel may include:

  • Additional counter space for easier sorting and folding
  • New, more efficient and attractive appliances
  • Built-in laundry bins 
  • Improved lighting 
  • Upgraded cabinetry
  • Additional shelving 
  • More electrical outlets
  • Ample closet rods for hanging clothes
  • An additional or upgraded sink and fixtures

Step 2: Choosing the Best Laundry Room Plan

With a clear understanding of your budget requirements, an experienced design-build professional can convert your laundry room wish list into a practical plan to renew your tired or outdated laundry room. 

Therefore an ideal laundry room remodel design should:

  • Fit within your budget.
  • Incorporate your dream features
  • Makes laundry a more manageable task with the ergonomic placement of workspace, storage, lighting, and appliances 

Once you have an idea of your ideal laundry room requirements, the design-build professional will make a plan that fits into your home. Either utilizing your current laundry space or recommending a new solution.

Step 3: Deciding on the Plan

Once the design-build professional has developed a plan that fits your budget and incorporates your dream features. You must approve the project to move forward. An experienced company like Master’s Design Build of Hatfield PA will work with you to create your plan, then seamlessly prepare to execute the remodel with their professional construction crew. 

Translating a detailed design into a beautiful creation works best when the same company is responsible for both the design and execution. In this situation, there is never a breakdown between the designer’s intent and the remodeler’s performance. 

Throughout the process, you will be communicating with the same individuals. This advantage translates to lower project costs, more efficiency, less confusion, greater accountability, and a shorter time from beginning to completion.

Step 4: Construction Phase

Once the project is a “go’, the design-build company should create a completion timeline that fits your schedule for the laundry room construction.  Additionally, all phases of the remodel, from scheduling the delivery of materials to adding the finishing touches should be planned to minimize disruption of your regular schedule with as little intrusion as possible. 

The design-builder will be communicating with you at each step, making the process as smooth as possible.

Step 5: Walk-Through

The remodel is complete only when you join the design-build professionals to inspect all the improvements you anticipated and to determine that your new laundry room is ready to go.

Contact Master’s Design Build

Serving Montgomery and Bucks Counties in Eastern Pennsylvania, the professionals at award-winning Master’s Design Build bring decades of experience in making homeowner’s remodel dreams come true.

Since 2003, when Brian and Cheryl Martin opened their business, Master’s Design Build has built or improved hundreds of laundry rooms, kitchens, bathrooms, family rooms, outdoor living spaces, master bedrooms, home interiors and exteriors and more throughout the surrounding communities.

To learn more about some Master’s Design Build transformations, visit the Master’s Gallery of finished projects. 

To schedule your initial consultation, visit the Master’s website, or phone +1-215-723-6162.

Remodel-Lighting-Design-Tips

Remodel Lighting Design Tips

When planning a remodel of your kitchen, bathroom, or family room, lighting considerations are essential. Whether natural or built-in, lighting must be both functional and mood-setting. Consider the following remodel lighting design tips.

In the process, the designer for your remodel or new addition should add significant detail to the lighting strategy, making sure you achieve the precise effect you are seeking for the room.

Layering Light

Your lighting systems should incorporate “layers” for overall illumination, task-related activities, and for accenting elements of the room. The design should be able to establish the right degree of lighting for every situation. 

No single lighting fixture can provide all you need. For example, the lighting required for preparation and cooking in a kitchen is significantly different than the more subdued lighting needed to create a more dramatic aura to the room.

Similarly, the lighting for reading in the family room will differ from what you prefer for entertaining, relaxing, or even watching television.

Creating Ambient Lighting

The first layer of light should illuminate the room without producing uncomfortable glare or excessive shadows. During the day, you may blend natural light from the outside with soft lighting within. 

The degree of interior light potential to illuminate an entire room depends on many factors. Those being a time of day, and the placement and types of lights. Also, the lumens of visible light capability that your artificial light sources produce.

Your design specialist will be able to recommend options for lighting the entire room while eliminating glare. Options may include chandeliers, pendant lighting, or flush mounted ceiling light fixtures. Attractive track lighting recessed into the ceiling is another option, while wall sconces and flexible LED tape lighting hidden in the ceiling recess can be a nice architectural touch.

Task Lighting

For reading, sewing, food preparation, or other close work, the light needs to be focused on a single area. In a den or office, light from a portable desk or floor lamp can complement other room lighting to allow for easy recognition. 

In the kitchen, under-cabinet lighting will illuminate workspaces and countertops. This option emphasizes the contours of the room and is shadow-free if properly placed. 

Additionally, pendant lighting suspended above a center island will make food preparation easier. As well as adding focus to the center of the kitchen.

Accent Lighting

Soft or harsh, lighting can significantly impact the mood you wish to project.

Use accent lighting to create a focal point in a room while creating a warm, dramatic effect in a newly added or remodeled area. 

Wall sconces and picture lights highlight certain areas of a wall without producing a harsh, glaring effect. And, dimmable, recessed lighting can be adjusted to create the exact mood you are seeking. 

Designing the Lighting Systems

Work with your designer and use these remodel lighting design tips to achieve the lighting effects that are required. Indeed, in a remodel or new construction, installing your lighting preferences in advance is far better. As well as less costly than trying to add them later. 

Contact Master’s Design Build

Serving Eastern Pennsylvania, Master’s Design Build is a premier home design and remodeling company. We have over a decade of experience serving Bucks and Montgomery Counties and nearby Pennsylvania communities. Master’s specializes in helping homeowners realize their dream homes.

Check out the Master’s Gallery of past projects to view some of their beautiful creations that have delighted previous clients.

Master’s Design Build is both a design expert and a foremost builder noted for exquisite craftsmanship. Thus, your project will move seamlessly from concept to completion. 

To discuss your design upgrades, including your lighting installation and remodel needs, contact the professionals at Master’s Design Build. We are located in Hatfield PA for a consultation at +1-215-723-6162.

Open-Concept-Design-Tips-for-Remodeling-Your-Main-Floor-315

Open Concept Design Tips for Remodeling Your Main Floor

Considering a home remodel? These open concept design tips can help you. In recent decades, many homeowners have started choosing to remove barriers and partitions. Especially between kitchens and family rooms or dining areas and living rooms to create a more open and sociable environment. Many realtors contend that open floor plans will increase the value of a home. As well as enhancing the traffic flow and social interaction within the home.

Continue reading →
Winter Remodeling Projects

Winter Remodeling Projects

Most remodel projects are undertaken during spring and summer when the weather is hot. But there are some advantages to remodeling during the offseason when the workload for the contractor is light.

The contractor will have the time to focus on your job and make it their priority.

There will be more time to work on your home, so your remodel should take less time.

If you’re planning to go to Grandma’s for the holidays, it’s a perfect time to remodel while you’re out of the house.

Here are some of the remodeling projects that should be considered in winter:
Continue reading →

Home Remodeling Projects That Add Value To Your Home

Home Remodeling Projects That Add Value To Your Home

 

When homeowners renovate their houses, they want to make that it’s more comfortable and that it adds value to their property. While renovations can be costly, if you increase the value of your home you’ll recover a good portion of your investment if you decide to sell.
Continue reading →

Adding on a Granny Flat

Adding on a Granny Flat

Secrets to multi-generational homes

Many houses stand on large plots of land that can be challenging to manage. The addition of a small cottage or granny flat can have numerous benefits, as long as it’s planned correctly.

It can be used to house elderly relatives, or it can be rented out to generate extra income. Use it as an office, saving time and money on a commute.

Continue reading →

Ideas for Stunning Kitchen Cabinets

Ideas for Stunning Kitchen Cabinets

It’s a big decision to remodel your kitchen. You’ll need to drop some money into your house with a promise to see a higher selling price when, down the line, you decide to sell your home.

It will also take emotional resources; putting up with not having a kitchen for cooking and all the remodel mess. Kitchen remodels can range from $18,500 on the low end to $50,000 to 60,000 for a major kitchen remodel.

The only real limit is your wallet. While that maybe a lot of money to spend on one room, most times owners see a rise in the value of their home after the remodel is complete.

kitchen cabinets

What will you be doing in your kitchen? Do you like to cook? Will you be entertaining? Do you have large dinner parties or small family gatherings? All these questions will influence the layout of the kitchen.

For example, if someone likes to cook a lot, the fridge, sink, and range will be close together to make preparing meals easy. If the homeowners like to entertain, the kitchen may be more spacious and luxurious.

The point is for the homeowners and designer to come up with a layout that works for the household. One major piece of your kitchen is your cabinets. They’re on most of the walls and lend a lot of character to your kitchen decor.

kitchen cabinets

A Game of Space

One of the most prominent deciding factors of the layout is the amount of space there is to work within the kitchen. A small kitchen means that the cabinets will have to function in a way that maximizes space.

Open shelving and glass doors makes a small kitchen feel open and airy.  Adding a lazy susan to corner cabinets can give access to areas that were previously black holes.

577_BM-QT-cooking-area-Final

Island or No Island

If the kitchen has an open floor plan a kitchen island can offer storage space, a place to sit and looks stylish. In a large kitchen floor plan often, the island will create a galley like feel adding a sink or range top to the bar.

Most islands include some type of eating area. Small kitchens may not fit a traditional island, but having a connected bar area offers some of the same benefits.

345_Brian--120-Kitchen---Front-View-of-Range-area--1000-x-767-

Custom Ideas

Homeowners can add some custom cabinet elements to their kitchen. Appliances can be hidden from view with cabinet fronts. Microwaves can be built into the cabinets. Other ideas include furniture feet and industrial accents.

Decor

Material Things

Stainless steel kitchen cabinet are gaining popularity in industrial style kitchens. Other options include enamel covered colored cabinets and cabinets created with antique furniture.

Remember that you’ll need to clean those cabinets frequently so choose a style and finish that cleans easily.

You should love your new kitchen. With all the options available, you should be able to create the kitchen of your dreams within your budget. The kitchen is the most important area of your home, and it should be treated that way with quality cabinets and a winning design.

Please feel free to contact us if you’re thinking of remodeling your kitchen. We’d love to talk with you about all the styles of kitchen cabinets available.

Image courtesy of decor cabinets.com