2 Ways to Design and Build a Beautiful Home Office

Working from home has never been so popular. It had been a growing trend before the Covid-19 pandemic, but when physical distancing became mandatory, many people quickly realized there was no going back to the conventional office routine.

Productivity among employees working from home increased, as did health and happiness levels. People found it easier to focus and stay organized, and there were more opportunities to exercise and engage in outdoor hobbies.

With modern communication and cloud-based technology, the need to commute to an office every weekday is, for many industries, seen as less and less of a requirement. And this in itself changes how we now interact with our homes.

Designing Your Beautiful Home Offices

If you’re settling for a makeshift home workstation, consider the advantages of creating your ideal permanent home office instead.

Whether you’re enjoying a hybrid work model – where you work partly at the office and partly at home – or you’re working from home every day, now’s a great time to design a comfortable and efficient home office for the long term.

Here are two potential ways to go about it.

Ideal Home Office Option #1: Repurpose an Existing Space

beautiful home offices living room

Before redesigning an existing space, it’s important to ask a few basic questions about your office’s intended use. How many people will it need to accommodate? Will the workload be heavy or light? Will you need complete silence for concentration? Will you need a lot of natural daylight?

The simplest, quickest, and most affordable beautiful home offices are using what you already have.

Bring a “Dead Space” Back to Life

home office cozy corner

Throughout our homes, there are spaces we hardly, if ever, use. These “dead spaces” include hallway alcoves, spaces under stairs, empty closets, and various nooks and crannies leading from one room into the next.

Depending on your remodeling budget and your requirements for a work area, you can convert these empty spaces into lovely little home offices. It’s incredible how functional, comfortable, and aesthetically appealing these spaces can be with the right furniture and décor combination.

Change An Area You Already Have

As well as using unused space, you can also transform an area you already use. Examples of this might include a loft space, a basement, a former nursery, or a teen bedroom that’s rarely occupied anymore.

Evolving these spaces into a dream office often requires creativity and flexibility. Renovating above or below all the family commotion, as with a loft or basement, can give you the privacy and quiet needed to get work done.

Create a Partition

home office with partition

You may not have the luxury of a spare room or a functional nook. In this case, you might consider partitioning off a home office area in an existing larger space. For example, attractive room dividers can create a temporary home office environment in a spacious living room or open-plan kitchen.

The dividers can then be folded back at the end of the day or used to hide a computer station.

Create a Hybrid Space

An alternative to separate spaces and partitions is to actively embrace a multi-functional interior. This hybrid approach is where you design a room to be used in two or more ways without necessarily needing to hide anything. In fact, the flexible design becomes a celebrated feature in itself.

You could, for example, incorporate a stylish home office space in your living room, kitchen, or even in the main bedroom, and it would tie in with the rest of the interior design scheme.

Ideal Home Office Option #2: Build an Entirely New Addition

South Lafayette Studio Addition 1

Depending on your needs and budget, now might be the time to take things to a whole new level and create your ideal home office as a stand-alone addition to your home.

The advantages of designing and building from the ground up are many, including having free reign over the layout, style, and functional basics such as workstation comfort, storage, electronics, and even multi-functional use.

Long-term, the most significant benefit could come from your home’s resale value. If current work trends persist, as they likely will, a dedicated home office will be a highly desirable feature for home buyers in the future.

Here are some things to consider:

Choose the Best Spot

The perfect location for a home office addition is where your needs and your home’s existing architecture come together. For example, a home office could be built off a great room in the backyard or as an extension of the kitchen or dining area.

Consider a Multi-Functional Extension

If you decide to add a home office extension, you might want to consider the benefits of an extra floor. The excavation and roofing costs for a two-story extension are similar to those of a single-story.

The additional upper floor can feature a bathroom, a client meeting area, or extra storage and workspace, depending on your work. If more than one family member also works from home, you can even create a second home office above the first.

Build Your Beautiful Home Offices

If you’re committed enough to build a room addition for your home office, then demand nothing less than the desk, chair, and monitor set up just right for your body. Make sure you physically test each component alone and in combination to ensure optimal comfort in terms of position, orientation, storage, and lighting.

Make it Gorgeous and Efficient

home office with shelving

Home offices in the post-pandemic world are more than just places to work. With the barrier between our professional and personal lives becoming less distinct, making the space warm, welcoming, and conducive to a healthy body and mind is essential.

Make your new area not only ergonomic and efficient but also comfortable, fun, and engaging. Add art, family photos, plants, gadgets, and other items you enjoy. With video conferencing a likely feature of your workday, also consider how you can show off your personality in the area behind your chair.

Work With a Qualified Design Build Firm like Riverside Construction

Working from home makes more sense now than ever before, as does the opportunity to create your very own ideal home office.

Family owned and operated, Riverside Construction is eager to responsibly and safely work with you to bring your dreams to life. Now’s a great time to remodel. Riverside is pleased to conduct most preparatory work remotely and effectively; we also help protect your family by conducting all work according to strict EPA lead-safe-certification regulations.

Riverside Construction is Lafayette’s first choice in design-build remodeling. Since 2008, we have provided loyal clients personalized and enjoyable remodeling services, delivered on time and on budget. By listening intently to your needs, we provide the region’s best work.

Take a look at our portfolio, and let’s build your perfect home office!

3 Ways to Let the Sun Shine In: Differences Between a Screened-In Porch, Three-Season Room, and a Sunroom

Spending time in nature reduces stress, promotes healing, and supports peaceful living. But when uncomfortable temperatures or precipitation prevents you from venturing outdoors, you need a protected space that includes natural elements. What better way than with a seasonal room? Three types of seasonal room additions allow you to enjoy the outdoors without going outside. Depending on your needs and your budget, let’s see which one is right for you.

Things to Consider

If you want a space bathed in natural sunlight and cool breezes but are unsure which option to choose, it helps to explore a couple of questions.

How will you use the space?

Do you want a place for you alone to curl up with a good book or movie? Or, do you enjoy hosting the entire family for an afternoon barbeque? And what kind of creature comforts do you need? Running water, power, or heat? Do you want a space to use only during the warmest parts of the year or year-round? Knowing the answers to these questions will help guide you in your design and budget.

Will you add on or repurpose it?

Perhaps you have an existing deck or patio you’d like to enclose. Alternatively, maybe you want to build an addition to your home. Either way, a professional design-build firm experienced in home additions will ask you targeted questions to gather enough information to make recommendations suitable for your home and proposed use. Then, knowing how you want to use the space, how much room you have to work with, and your budget, they can suggest the right plan of action. Not only that, their expertise includes designing the space to fit your lifestyle and personality, so you feel as comfortable in the new space as you do in the rest of your home.

Three Ways to Let the Sun Shine In

Once you’ve decided on a size and purpose and know whether you’ll add on or cover an existing space, it’s time to determine what your new sunny spot will look like. Typically, sunrooms come in three different styles, each suitable for various reasons. But, again, your design-build team will help you choose the option right for you.

Screened-in porch

A screened-in porch is a porch or patio area enclosed with screening. While giving you a clear view of your backyard and allowing for a gentle breeze, screens keep the bugs outside. While a screened-in porch is limited to fair-weather use, the pros of adding one are numerous. A screened-in enclosure is:

  • The quickest and easiest addition project to build
  • Your most affordable option for extending your protected outdoor living space
  • The perfect space to enjoy warm weather protected by the sun’s rays
  • A great place to eat al fresco
  • A protected area to house a hot tub or game table

Depending on the amount of sun and rain exposure, your home’s design, and the square footage, you can furnish a screened-in porch with weather-resistant furniture for dining or relaxing. Additional options include:

  • Added lighting for evening use
  • Electronics to increase the use of the space
  • A gas or electric heater to keep the chill off on cool evenings
  • A television for game day viewing
  • A wet bar for entertaining friends

For a seamless result, keep the overall design of your home in mind when creating the new space. Work with a professional to ensure any changes to the existing deck or patio are fully functional and structurally sound.

Three season room

Canterbury Lafayette Room Addition 3

A three-season room provides more use than a screened-in porch because you have solid windows to protect you from the rain. Choose between vinyl screen covers or single-pane or double-pane windows, depending on your location, intended use, and budget. And while impractical to use the whole year, the pros of adding one abound. A three-season room:

  • Provides more use than a screened-in enclosure
  • Protects from the rain so you can upscale your furnishings
  • Offers more options for locating electronic devices
  • More budget-friendly than a sunroom
  • Can be insulated

A three-season room makes the perfect playroom for small children or spill-over for company. Fill it with plants and other natural elements, and you’ll barely notice the transition to the outdoors. When designing your three-season room, position it for the best views and sun exposure. Also, work with a design-build team to ensure a seamless design that matches the rest of your home.

Sunroom

The final option for letting more sunshine in your home is the sunroom. Also called a four-season room, a sunroom is an addition that includes an expansive view of the outside. One design option for the sunroom consists of a knee wall that allows for baseboard heaters, electrical outlets, and other utilities with continuous, wrap-around glass in the upper portion.

Or, for a more sophisticated style, a sunroom includes a centrally-located picture window surrounded by other large windows and French doors leading to an outdoor living area. Both options give you maximum visibility to the outside while keeping the room comfortable for four-season use. Sunrooms may hit the high end of the budget as a complex renovation project, but the following benefits make it worth every penny.

  • Includes all the creature comforts like HVAC, electricity, and plumbing
  • Fully insulated as any room addition
  • Unlimited options for furnishings, floor and wall coverings, and other design elements
  • Provides a transitional space to the outdoors, with access inside and out

A sunroom can be anything you and your family desire. Taking advantage of the sunlight, filling the room with plants creates a natural habitat for your family to relax, play games, or entertain friends. Confidently choose furnishings that reflect your personality and design style because the space is as protected as the rest of your home.

When you partner with a design-build professional with experience in building sunrooms, they help ensure the best location and position of the room for both sun exposure and the most beautiful views possible. They will also be equipped to advise you on the best options for heating and cooling, floor coverings, windows, and more.

Work With a Qualified Design-Build Firm Like Riverside Construction

If you know you want to include more natural elements in your home but need some guidance, Riverside Construction is ready to help. The award-winning team at Riverside Construction has served discerning homeowners in the Lafayette, West Lafayette, and all of Tippecanoe County since 2008.

Riverside’s go-to professional design-build team specializes in seasonal rooms, kitchen and bathroom remodel, room additions, and basement finishes. They excel at listening to your dreams and making them come true.  They can help direct and guide you and will walk with you every step of the way to ensure your seasonal room is everything you imagined.

View their extensive portfolio of stunning home additions, then schedule a consultation with an expert design-build professional. In the meantime, subscribe to their monthly “Designed for Life” newsletter. It’s full of current remodeling trends and home addition design inspiration.

 

Design the Perfect Sunroom

Let the sunshine in!

Arguably the best season of the year, summer gives us the freedom to relax, soak up rays, visit with family and friends, and enjoy the great outdoors. And, what better way to do all of these activities than by adding a four-season sunroom to your house to be enjoyed all year round.

Sunrooms have become an increasingly popular way to connect with nature while also adding valuable living space and increased value to your home. We know a home addition is a big decision, but gaining this extra space can boost your mood and dramatically increase the enjoyment in your home.

Not quite sure where to get started in adding a sunroom to your home? Here are some key points to consider as you conceptualize and begin designing a sunroom that is right for you:

Agree on the Best Uses of Your Sunroom

Sun Room Addition

Whether you plan to use your new sunroom as a hobby space, a gathering area for entertaining friends and family, a greenhouse, a quiet reading room, or yoga space, you should have an idea of its purpose before you plan its exact location, dimensions, square footage, and interior finishes.

A room designed for reading or working comfortably at home might include storage cabinets, built-in bookshelves, or closets to enhance its functional use. Or, you may want to consider sightlines, outdoor access, and a mini-kitchen if you need your sunroom to function as an entertainment area. Want a sunroom that acts as a private retreat, meditation room, or greenhouse? Make sure to plan a space that gets plenty of natural light, gives you access to the outdoors, and capitalizes on the view of your surroundings.

Plan Your Sunroom’s Size and Location

One common way to create a sunroom without building an addition off the end of your home is through a patio or porch enclosure.

Another option is designing and building a sunroom home addition, commonly off of the kitchen, living room, or family room. Its location should be based on your home’s orientation, property boundaries, and existing architecture. The size and shape will depend on your home’s roofline and its slope, and where you can build an addition off of your home.

Make sure to consider the pros and cons of northern and southern sun exposures and their effect on your home. Consult with a design-build professional early in the design stage to make sure you maximize the value of your sunroom and consider its ideal location for you and your home.

Let the Sunroom’s Planned Uses Dictate Your Needs

Sun Room Addition

It is wise to plan for year-round use following code requirements for ceiling and wall insulation. It’s also smart to plan for more than the minimum electrical requirements. Consult with a design-build professional to make sure your sunroom is not only compliant with building codes but is equipped to handle your family’s activity and equipment needs all year round—including, but not limited to, audio-visual equipment, speakers, large-screen televisions, computer stations, gaming devices, and the like. You will also want to think about the number of dedicated circuits and floor outlets you’ll need.

You’re limited only by your imagination, but remember that it’s always better to plan ahead and build these amenities into your space right from the beginning, with your future needs in mind, rather than retrofitting them into your space years later.

Consider How to Maximize Light, Views, and Aesthetics

A sunroom should be designed to complement your home’s existing structure. Consider how you will access the new sunroom and whether an exterior entrance is feasible or advisable. Also, consider window and door styles. The number of windows and doors used on the perimeter of the sunroom and skylights on the roof will dictate how much natural light you will be letting in—also influencing the design and your planned functional use.

Glass allows natural light to stream into the room, helping you heat your sunroom in cooler months and optimize the views of your natural surroundings. To help cool the room on warm days, windows should also be screened and operable. Consider energy-efficient windows and doors which include double glass panes.

Explore Various Design and Decorating Options

The beauty of a sunroom addition — both literally and figuratively — is that it can become anything you and your family want it to be. It can also be a space that changes as your family’s needs change. It can morph into anything from a playroom to a holiday dining room, a ladies’ “tea room” to a “gentleman’s card room,” a teenage hangout, and a comfortable senior retreat.

In terms of decor, it might contain overstuffed sofas, chairs, and ottomans for the ultimate in comfort, a sleek desk for working from home, or a banquet table that doubles as a game center.

The design options you decide upon should reflect your personality and design style. Whether you install slate or bamboo flooring, soft plush carpet or sleek tile is entirely up to you. Ideally, your new sunroom will adapt to the changing seasons and be usable in a variety of ways throughout the year, bringing delight to you and your family for many years to come.

Are you ready to get started?

Riverside Construction, serving Tippecanoe County since 2008, is your local authority on innovative sunroom additions, bringing light into your life and your home.

Share your sunroom ideas with the design-build remodeling professionals at Riverside Construction. Not ready to reach out? Sign up to receive our monthly e-Newsletter, “Designed for Life” and stay informed on what’s new in the world of home design and remodeling.

5 Tips to Ensure Your Home Addition Blends Seamlessly With Your Home

While naturally adding square feet, room additions are a wonderful investment that allows you to prolong the enjoyment of your home (and your neighborhood) for years to come. But, integrating your addition into your home’s existing architecture isn’t easy. It often involves hiring a design professional to get it right.

Whether you’re building outwards or upwards, home additions are complex projects. Consider these five essential tips when planning your new space. The result? An intelligently-designed home addition that blends beautifully and seamlessly with your home’s original architecture and style.

1. Start with the Foundation

Behind every home addition is a strong foundation and it’s critical to match the floor and roof lines or elevations. It’s also important to make sure the foundation is deep enough to go below the “frost depth” in your geographic area. The depth requirements vary from region to region depending on the local weather. Building above the frost depth will cause the addition to shift over time independently of the main structure as the ground freezes and thaws, potentially causing foundation problems. Moreover, you need to make sure the type of foundation is appropriate for the soil type in your area. Again, failing to do so may cause shifting problems in the long run for your new addition.

For most home additions, it is also best to match the type of foundation used in the existing structure. So, if your existing home is built on a slab foundation, the addition should also be built on a slab foundation. If your original foundation is a crawlspace foundation, then the addition should also have a crawlspace foundation. This way, the addition is strong, level and seamless from the ground up.

2. Match the Exterior Finishes

Start with the roof and move your way down. Your room addition should match every detail on the original home, including trim, windows, siding, doors, hardware and paint colors. If you have a historical home, matching exact finishes can be more challenging, especially if some of the features are no longer in production. Home additions don’t have to match exactly, but the design should always be complementary in these aspects:

  • The roof—The roof on your addition should closely match the rooflines on your existing home. This means mimicking the pitch, soffit style, overhang, eave depth, rafter size, and spacing. It also means you may need to consider an entirely new roof. Older shingles on the existing home may be faded making it hard to match shingle shades on a room addition, for example. If your roof is starting to show its age, this may be a good time to simply update the entire roof.
  • The siding and other exterior finishes—Watch out for siding colors as well. If your existing siding has faded, it won’t match the new siding on the home addition.  Having the same color and style of trim can also go a long way towards tying the two structures together. If you have brick or stone exteriors, these materials can be harder to replace, but there are also creative ways to mix and match finishes that still look beautiful and blend well together. The key is to choose colors and finishes that complement each other.
  • Windows and Doors—These days, it’s becoming easier to find custom windows and doors that meet current Energy Star ratings and building codes, while also coming in historical dimensions and designs that might match those on your existing home. At the same time, exact matches are not always easy to find, so consider designs that work in harmony with the existing style. You can also replace older products with newer replacements to keep the design style consistent.

3. Blend the Interior Addition Design

The new room addition should also feel seamless from the inside. So, as you walk from the older part of the home and into the new space you should not feel a jarring sense of incompatible styles. It will be important to match elements like paint colors, window casings, crown molding and light fixture styles between the older and newer parts of the home.

4. Understand Local Building Codes and Zoning Laws

In every town, including here in West Lafayette, there are local building codes and zoning laws that dictate whether or not you can build a home addition on your property. Before getting too deep into your project, you will need to identify any restrictions that might be on your property. For example, some lot restrictions prevent certain types of home additions; and building codes (or the existing foundation on your original home) may prevent you from building up. A remodeling contractor can help you determine what the restrictions are, and then help you plan from there.

5. Don’t Forget Landscaping

Many homeowners are so excited about the home addition itself that they forget all about the landscaping—particularly the cost of new landscaping. Most contractors in West Lafayette will do some basic seeding around the home addition. Beyond that, homeowners will need to factor other landscape aspects into their home remodeling budget and plan.

If you’re considering a home addition, contact Riverside Construction today for a design consultation, or sign up for one of our home remodeling seminars to discuss your ideas with our design-build team and other homeowners in the area. You can also peruse our home addition portfolio for more ideas. If you’re still researching your next remodeling project, sign up for our newsletter to get new ideas every month. We’re always happy to talk with you, so call us at 765.838.1644.

Your Lafayette Home Addition Guide: How to Add Lifetime Value to Your Home

Sometimes even the coziest of homes can feel a little too cozy. It’s not uncommon for homeowners to love their house and neighborhood but just need more space. A home addition is a great way to get infinitely more enjoyment out of your home.

Some homeowners choose to add on to the ground level, creating a bigger kitchen, a larger family room, a master suite or a sunroom out of a previously unused section of the yard. Others choose to build up—adding living space on top of a garage, putting up an entire second story or converting attic space into living space. Still, others build down, remodeling a basement into a bedroom, family room or office.

The smartest home additions are the ones that you’ll use and enjoy day-in and day-out. In Lafayette, these are the most popular home additions producing maximum enjoyment:

Adding a Sunroom or Enclosed Patio

Do you have a spectacular view or live on a golf course? Do you miss lazy afternoons on the patio in the winter?  If so, then a sunroom addition or enclosed patio is a must-have. An architectural bridge between your indoor and outdoor living space, it will bring that beloved view straight into your home.

You can use traditional stud-and-truss framing and shingle roofs, and build it to your specifications, but of course, the hallmark of any sunroom or indoor patio is the essential glass wall. This visual portal may be a literal exit (perhaps French or sliding doors) or full-length windows, but don’t skimp on its size. Typically, as much as 80% of this outer wall can be glass.   

Adding a Great Room

Photo Courtesy of bitmeerut.club

While a formal parlor has gone out of fashion, there’s still appeal in having a space dedicated to bringing friends and family together. Call it a great room or family room, it’s the place where the kids can do homework and then enjoy gaming. It’s where you relax after dinner or have friends join you to watch a football game. And with the addition of a pull-out couch or rollaway, it can easily double as an informal guest room. No matter what you’ll be using it for, with the time spent in your family room, you’re sure to add both sentimental value and financial worth to your home.

While there are many options for locating a family room, placing it adjacent to the kitchen is a popular choice among homeowners of Tippecanoe County and the surrounding area. When the family room is near the kitchen, it’s a perfect fit for entertaining—joining the two most used rooms in a single location. At the same time, it preserves the peace and privacy of the bedrooms and more intimate space. (Also, if you have kids in the house, the family room/kitchen combo is a great way to keep an eye on them, while you make dinner.)   

Finishing a Basement

Remodeling or finishing a basement can be another way to gain more enjoyment out of your home. Also, because basements tend to be separate from the main living space, the remodel process likely won’t be as disruptive to your daily life.

Basement remodeling projects do have some special considerations, though—particularly related to the age and condition of your home’s foundation and drainage systems, and also to the plumbing, electrical and HVAC systems. Additionally, many basements do not have windows and, particularly if you’re adding a bedroom, you’ll need to find a way to bring in some natural light.

Basement remodels vary quite a bit from home to home, here are details about three basement renovation projects and the costs for each.

Adding on to your home is a decision that can yield tremendous benefits for you and your family. A remodel may allow you to stay in your home and neighborhood, have a loved one move in, or create the space you need to get maximum enjoyment out of your home.

Since most addition and remodeling projects increase the lifetime value of your home, a well-planned and executed remodel can certainly be worth the investment. Contact Riverside Construction today to request a complimentary design consultation, and let us guide you through the process.

For further design inspiration, visit Riverside Construction’s portfolio. You can also sign up to find out about our upcoming complimentary home remodeling seminars: There, you’ll learn how to budget for your remodel, how long your project should take, current design trends, products to consider, how to select a contractor—and you’ll even get a free lunch!

A 2017 Recap: Riverside Construction’s Best Before and After Basement Renovations

In-Law Suites, a Sweet Addition to Your Home

Considering adding an in-law suite to your home? Given the changing landscape of the economy, in-law suites are becoming a popular choice for many homeowners. Particularly, with multigenerational housing increasing as well. Whether you are converting a room, adding a free-standing apartment, or building a bedroom and bath addition, one common attribute is the ground floor accessibility and added sales appeal (generally, in-law suites increase property value).

If you’re like the majority of Americans over the age of 45, you want to continue living in a familiar environment throughout your maturing years. As you think about your parents’ future and those of your in-laws (and even your own), some initial planning can ensure both you and your loved ones are comfortable, independent and safe.

Consider these helpful tips before you build:

1) Location, Location, Location

Decide where to build the in-law suite. You’ll want to assess your home to determine the best possible location. Do you have a garage or enclosed porch that can be converted into a living space? Do you have two bedrooms that can be combined into one, or a basement that can be converted into a separate living area? Or, perhaps you have adequate space to build a room addition?

If a room addition is necessary to accommodate your new in-law suite, you’ll want to make sure that the new space blends seamlessly with your home’s exterior. A design build contractor will work with you to ensure the addition flows with the original architecture of your home.

Basement Remodel 2 Basement Remodel Bedroom 4

2)  Accommodations

Once you have identified where to add your in-law space, you will need to decide what you want to include in the space and how it should flow. Typical in-law suites include a living room, full kitchen and a separate bedroom and private bathroom with adequate storage in both. Ideally, an in-law suite will also have a separate entrance. In this case, zoning restrictions may come in to play and determine what you can or cannot do. Your design/build contractor will help you navigate this process.

We’ve collected some in-law suite ideas for you on our Pinterest board. Enjoy!

Basement Remodel Living Room 3 Basement Remodel Bathroom 5

3)  Universal Design Principles

When designing an in-law suite, it’s important to incorporate universal design principles, to ensure whoever occupies the space is safe, independent and comfortable for years to come. The National Association of Home Builders defines universal design as “the design of products and environments to be usable to all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation of specialized design.” A universally designed space considers aging-in-place needs, whether you are young or old, short, tall, healthy or ill. These amenities include, but are not limited to:

  • No step entries and non-slip floors
  • Wider doorways to accommodate wheelchairs and walkers
  • Wider hallways (36-42 inches wide)
  • Extra floor space
  • Easy open, lever door and drawer hardware
  • Larger bathrooms with hand-held shower heads and level-entry, curbless showers
  • Good lighting to include well-lit outdoor walkways and entrances
  • Lower light switches and thermostat controls, within easy reach of the bed.
  • Easy access to separate heat and air conditioning controls as well as smoke, fire and carbon monoxide detectors.

For questions about incorporating an in-law suite into your home, contact Riverside Construction today! Take the first step by scheduling an in-home meeting with your very own personal design consultant.

8 Critical Remodeling Mistakes to Avoid

It doesn’t take much to run a home remodeling project over budget. If it’s important to you to keep your savings intact, avoid these common mistakes before construction begins.

We interviewed Riverside Construction’s owner, Andy Haste, to find out what breaks people’s budgets when they remodel their homes. Here are some helpful tips to help you circumvent those errors:

  1. Changing Your Mind After Construction Has Begun One of the biggest, most costly remodeling mistakes a homeowner can make is making changes after construction begins. One advantage in working with a design/build firm is that every detail is thought through and even previewed, and fixed to a budget, before construction begins.
  2. Failing to Define Your Project Scope (Not Creating a Master Plan) Every home remodeling project should start with a clear project scope. A professional contractor can help you define your master plan and make sure every detail is accounted for. When meeting for the first time, expect to answer a lot of questions, especially WHY you are remodeling. By flushing out this deeper understanding of your home remodel, a remodeling contractor earns his weight in gold by coming up with creative, cost-effective solutions that you might never have thought of.Other questions you should be prepared to ask are “What are your needs, wants and desires for your new space? What do you love about your home? What don’t you like about your existing space? What is the size of your family? Is it expanding or will you be empty nesters soon? How often do you entertain? Where do you and your family spend most of your time? The more details you can flush out up front, the more precise a professional remodeling contractor can be in coming up with ideal solutions for your new living space.
  3. Choosing a Contractor Solely on Price Everyone loves to save money! But the old adage “You get what you pay for” is never more true than when you hire a remodeling contractor. Choose a remodeling firm that has a stellar reputation in the industry. Start by asking for referrals and evaluate new companies by reading their online reviews and client testimonials. Some companies even provide direct access to their client survey results. Pay attention to the comments and how issues are handled. Instead of choosing a contractor solely on price, pay close attention to the overall value you will receive. Are they likely to still be in business five years from now when something needs fixing? Do they offer a workmanship warranty, and will follow up on their commitment to stand behind their work?Choosing a contractor shouldn’t be so much about “can they frame a wall or put in a sink”. It should be more about whether or not they have established trust in doing the job you need them to do. Emphasis should be placed on HOW the work is done. Will they protect your home? Will they do what they say they’re going to do? What measures will they put in place to protect your family or pets? Can you reliably trust them to carry out your vision?
  4. Failing to Create a Realistic Budget One of the key advantages in working with a design/build firm, in particular, is that they can help you determine a realistic budget up-front before construction begins. Make sure you work with a remodeling contractor that listens to your needs, develops a scope of work, and guides you in a design that really fits your budget. No time or money is wasted when you design a budget that you can afford right from the start.
  5. Taking Too Little Time to Consider Specialty Items The last thing you ever want to experience after spending valuable time and money on a home remodel is regret. “I really wish I’d put in that glass tile I wanted,” or “I’m really disappointed that we didn’t put in quartz countertops,” are statements that a quality contractor will ensure you never say six months or three years after your remodel is complete. Creating a list of ‘must haves’ and ‘nice-to-haves’ is a helpful place to start. A design/build firm will incorporate these items into the design discussion early on, before a conceptual design and budget proposal are presented to you. This allows you to incorporate your needs into your overall plan and specifications right away. Be prepared to address why you want your ‘must have’ items as well. A reputable contractor will want to know WHY you want these items so they can present you with alternative options and steer you in the right direction.
  6. Not Knowing the Process Going Into Your Remodel Having a clear understanding of the home remodeling process you’re about to embark on is a smart and effective way to alleviate anxiety. You should know approximately how long your project will take, what date it will be done, how your home will be managed and protected (both the construction and non-construction areas), when and how your ideas will be incorporated into the design process, and more. When you are looking for a contractor that is right for you, be sure to get a thorough understanding of their design and construction process.
  7. Not Being Prepared for the Unexpected Any time you embark on a home remodel, no matter how old your home, you want to go into your remodel with a clear understanding of what to expect. Be prepared for dust and noise, for starters. And, have a plan in place for your pets. Unexpected situations can also rear their ugly head as soon as you start tearing down walls. Whether there is dry rot found behind a soffit or dangerous electrical wiring that needs to be replaced, it is important that you prepare yourself for these types of surprises also. A reputable contractor will be able to set all of these expectations up front and help you set a realistic budget.
  8. Not Exploring ALL Options for Adding Space in Your Home Don’t want to move, but desperately need additional square footage? One obvious solution is adding a new room addition to your home, but there are other options as well. You can maximize storage and reclaim space by creatively reconfiguring your existing space. Do you have a basement or attic that can be refinished? Do you have a wall that can be knocked down to improve traffic flow? By discussing your needs with a reputable remodeling contractor, you can explore all options that add square footage to your home, without breaking the bank.

Contact Riverside Construction today, for more information.  We would love the opportunity to help you with your next remodeling project.  Take the first step by scheduling a conversation with a design consultant.

ADDING ON: SHOULD YOU BUILD A HOME ADDITION?

Is your house starting to feel small? Does it lack vital amenities, like a spacious kitchen, which is negatively impacting your family? Perhaps you’ve been thinking about moving, but don’t want to take on the added stress and exorbitant costs associated with such a decision. Not to mention you like your neighborhood, the school district and the amenities that are close to home.

If you’re happy with where you live, perhaps building additional square footage is the right decision for you.

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To get started, explore your options

Consult a remodeling professional who can help you explore all of the many possibilities of expanding your house, including alternatives to a major renovation (referenced below).

Building Outward

A true way to “create space” is building out. This new space is unhindered by existing structures and usually pays for itself emotionally and financially. Homeowners don’t typically need to move out during construction.

Building Upward

Arguably better than building out, is building up—“the sky is the limit”. This usually is an expensive undertaking (and often cost prohibitive), but can be worth the investment, and might involve vacating the home for a period of time.

Here are 10 ideas for expanding your house out and up, courtesy of Houzz.

 

Know what you’re getting into

A successful addition is made to look like it was part of the original structure. It involves everything you would find in new home construction, including the foundation, framing, zoning, permitting, flooring, plumbing, electrical, etc.

It’s also one of the smartest ways you can add space to your home. Adding a new space is like designing a whole new house, but without the expense of a whole new house. But, it’s not something you can take on yourself. Ideally, consult a professional designer who can help you determine the feasibility of your vision, making sure your addition will add the desired value to your home.

Alternatives to a Major Renovation

If your home is too small or in need of a new room, there are alternatives to maximizing your home’s existing space without building more square footage. Here are a few examples of how you can simply reconfigure your home’s existing space, to save time and money:

Finish the Basement or Attic—Turning an attic or basement into a guest room, family room, or home office suite is by far less costly than expanding your home. All you )need to do is build finish details inside the shell.

Remove Wasted Square Footage—Take a look at the original footprint of your house and determine whether it’s feasible to remove a wall, eliminate a closet or reconfigure traffic flow to allow for the extra space you need. Designers are trained to help you discover your homes hidden potential.

Knock Down Walls—Many homeowners today are remodeling with an open floor plan in mind. Open layout floor plans foster family togetherness and provide lots of options for entertaining. By eliminating doorways and removing walls that separate the kitchen, dining room and living room, homeowners can obtain the space they need at a fraction of the cost of an addition.

Repurpose Existing Rooms—If you have rooms in your home that don’t get much use, now is the time to consider repurposing that unused room and turn it into space you can use. Turn that unused living room, for example, into a TV/media room; or convert a storage room into a much-needed home office that doubles as a guest room.

Whether you are considering a room addition or an alternative to an addition, Riverside Construction can help you develop a plan that fits your needs.

For inspiration on how to build a room addition onto your home, visit our design gallery. To schedule a free consultation with one of our designers, call 765.838.1644 or fill out our contact form.

We will also be scheduling a seminar on room additions this Spring. Let us know your interest in attending by signing up today.