Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Life

Tag: renovations

  • Ask a Pro Q&A: Preserve or Renovate

    An open space increases the sense of expansiveness in a room. Dream Team member and interior designer Jennifer Adams explains the considerations for this renovation, such as building codes and historical preservation. Give your home an area to relax and entertain without putting a cramp in your style.

    Question: I’m in a small apartment (625 square feet) in New York City. Is it better to open a wall and expand the kitchen into the living/dining area or keep the original footprint?

    – Laura L.

    Call a licensed contractor and open up that wall with as large of an opening as possible! The only reasons not to might be if there are structural requirements of any type, if you’d be losing too much storage, or if there is some historical significance to your building. Even then, there are probably ways to work around the issues.

    Before swinging a hammer to DIY the project, talk with licensed contractors and your building management and/or HOA, as there is most likely more to this project than you might realize.

    In any size place, especially a small apartment, opening spaces to let them flow together will help make your life better. Seeing a continuous space makes a place feel bigger, airier and less cramped, so you’ll be happier and perhaps less tempted to move. Plus, the openness will make entertaining easier and more fun, even if it’s just you and a friend or two.

    -Jennifer Adams

  • Bathroom Renovation Ideas that Pay Off

    It’s no secret that the bathroom is one of the most expensive rooms to renovate. It’s also the most frequently used room, so bathroom renovations are often necessary. The good news is that bathrooms have the power to increase the appeal of an entire house, as they are a key selling point for many homes. As such, bathroom makeovers can also provide a significant increase in the return on your investment. Even if you have no intention of moving anytime soon, doing some bathroom renovations can still bring more value to your house if you decide to move in the future.

    However, if you don’t want to completely rip down the walls and redo a bathroom in its entirety, you may be wondering which bathroom remodeling ideas will bring the most value. The following bathroom upgrades are worth considering:

    Bathroom Renovation Ideas that Pay Off - bhgrelife.comFocus on Repairs

    The kinds of renovations that will always bring the most value to your home are repairs. Focus your bathroom remodeling efforts on simply repairing what needs to be fixed. Additionally, ignoring repairs can result in a worsening of your problems – and as a result, they will get much more expensive. So fix that leaking roof, dripping faucet, and flickering light. These little things can go a long way to increasing your home’s value.