Remodeling: Updates

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Can’t afford adding on square footage? Streamline the storage you have, and it will feel like you’ve scored more space. To get started, note dedicated storage compartments in your house, including kitchen and dining cabinetry; built-in shelving; coat, utility, and bedroom closets; and attic, basement, and garage space. Next, list supplementary storage—bonus rooms, porches, and other spots where stuff piles up. The goal? Economize dedicated storage areas and eliminate supplementary storage. Here’s how:

Call In the Closet Pros
Hire a closet system company to assess your existing storage. A pro can explain height, weight, and depth standards (i.e. 12- to 16-inch shelf depth in linen closets, eight-inch shelf with four-inch clearance for children’s shoes), and guide you on what needs to be stowed, from utility closet items to out-of-season clothing.

Build In Cabinetry
Work with an interior designer or cabinetmaker (or both) to evaluate dead space in your existing floor plan. Develop a cabinetry plan with vertical storage, window seats, media cabinets, and mudroom cubbies.

Make Storage Accessible
You won’t use space you can’t reach. Investigate easy-stow ladders and step stools. If your attic is difficult to get to, talk to a contractor or craftsman about altering its entrance. Also, remember to update your lighting in hard-to-reach areas.

From the Experts

“Spaces underneath stairs offer hidden storage for coats or utility items.
We often construct hidden doors with touch latches that look exactly like the walls, complete with baseboards, shoe molding, and chair rail. Just remember that you’ll need to obtain a permit for any structural work you do inside your house, even storage.” —Bud Hay, Palmetto Craftsmen, Inc.

Glossary of Windows

Replace old, non-functioning windows to dramatically improve air quality and light in your home

Bay Window: Ideal for carving out a window seat or breakfast nook, bay windows typically have three windows that project out of the home.

Casement: First used in medieval England, they feature side hinges and open outwards using a crank.

Awning: Windows open outward from the bottom and are useful for drawing in cool air. Also, you can leave the windows open while it’s raining.

Double-hung: These windows have two separate sashes, so the bottom half opens while the top stays shut, or vice versa.

Picture: These are designed to allow maximum light; with no moving parts, the window doesn’t open but can be designed for most any size and shape.

Build Your Best Deck

1. Map It Out. Design your deck footprint for easy, sensible access from your house, how you’ll use it, and the sun exposure you crave. For example, will you use it most for early morning coffee, midday sunning, afternoon cookouts, or all of the above?

2. Do Your Homework. If you’re building it yourself, get schooled before you buy your first 2 x 4.  Most hardware stores stock deck-building resource books, and Lowe’s or The Home Depot websites offer free, five- and six-step video series online.

3. Choose the Right Materials. Good deck-building materials for our climate include pressure-treated pine, ipé, and composite decking. Pressure-treated woods are less vulnerable to the elements, though they aren’t totally weatherproof and will still expand and contract. Ipé (tropical hardwood that grows in central and South America) is the highest quality option but can be cost-prohibitive and should be ordered through a reputable company that can verify environmentally responsible harvest practices. If creating a low-maintenance structure is a priority, investigate composite decking materials made from wood fiber and durable plastics. Most can’t pass for the look of real wood, but will never shrink, split, splinter, rot, or fade.

4. Get a Permit. You’ll need a permit to build, which you can apply for through your county’s planning and zoning department.