Tag Archives: houzz.com

Pergolas to Enhance the Look and Comfort of an Outdoor Living Space

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If you’ve been thinking about how to add more elegance to your terrace, patio or deck, a pergola could be the perfect choice. This beautiful structure is a wonderful way to define your outdoor space without closing it in. Pergolas are classic, architectural features that often covered the walkways in Italian Renaissance gardens. A pergola makes a versatile addition to any outdoor living area because it can be customized to fit the style of your yard, whether it’s formal or casual. Pergolas don’t provide full shelter, but their openness is what provides that look of simple elegance. Continue reading →

Tips for Replacing Window Trim and Molding

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Functionally, interior window is the transition and gap covering of the space between a window frame (jamb) and the interior wall covering (typically drywall). Aesthetically it is an outlining adornment like the frame and matting for a picture. Continue reading →

Outdoor Living Space with a Portico Overhang and an Open Air Room

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Outdoor living spaces have become the poster project of staycations. A staycation is a period of time that an individual or family takes time off and relaxes at home.

Outdoor living spaces can be defined by any or all of an outdoor kitchen, patio, deck, portico covered area, screen or sun room, in-ground pool, spa tub, backyard sports or activities, and as much more as you can imagine. Continue reading →

Home Library Designs for Style or Function

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In designing and developing many several home addition projects, requests to the Design Build Planners for a home library to be incorporated has increased. Some designs have been for full rooms, while others just a nook. Others have requested built-in cabinetry for book storage and display in great rooms.

Research has shown that many Americans read less these days. Plus those that read often opt to do so electronically via a computer or a Kindle, Nook, or other reading device. Others turn to audio books as a multi-task time saver. We even have a client, who is an avid runner that has replaced her iPod music with Fifty Shades of Grey. Continue reading →

Sunroom Addition Adds More Than Just Light To a Home

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No matter what the weather’s like in your part of the country, seasonal rooms and sunrooms can be a welcome and flexible addition to your home’s layout. Whether the sunshine is constant or only an occasional visitor, get inspired by one of these spaces to create your own sensational sunroom, full of natural light.

Sunrooms tend to be a very popular, bonus room in a home. Regardless of the planned use, a sunroom becomes place of relaxation and enjoyment. Continue reading →

Fireplace Mantels Add Extra Warmth to a Home

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There’s just something about a room that has a fireplace and a mantel that changes the entire feeling of a house. Transforming it from a place to hang a hat into a real home, a warm fireplace with a beautiful mantel can be a wonderful sight to behold at the end of a long day. Unfortunately, a lot of fireplace mantels are just plain ugly, unusable or in a state of disrepair – especially in older homes.

Fortunately, there are lots of great fireplace mantels that can be used as replacements and even those that can be handcrafted to add an extra touch to a room. Those looking to replace their fireplace mantels will find there are lots of ideas out there. They include: Continue reading →

Basement Finishing Design Tips and Ideas

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Basement finishing design calls for a highly specialized set of skills. Because of the qualities unique to a basement, such as the absence of natural ventilation or lighting, a professional specializing in basement remodeling would have to consider a lot more than one who does ordinary rooms.

Training for basement finishing design may be achieved by enrolling in a design school with course specific to basement finishing design principles, or by working with professionally trained individuals who have had years of experience in this field. Continue reading →

10 Tips For Selecting Bathroom Shower Tile

This entry was posted in Bathrooms, Jason Parsons, Neil Parsons, Remodeling Industry Information, Remodeling Project Photos and tagged , , , , , , , on by .

From Houzz.com and John Whipple

Many factors come into play in choosing the perfect shower tile, and often the shower’s design will dictate the type of tile that can or should be used.

For example, if you love a curved shower bench, you will need to use a smaller tile. That might seem like an easy task, but remember, you need a tile that is suitable for floor and wall use. This same tile also needs to be approved for a wet location. So when it’s installed, 95 percent of the back side of the tile needs to be in contact with the thinset (tile concrete). Often, thinset is installed with a notched trowel, and not all tiles — such as many mosaic tiles — can reach 95 percent coverage. Continue reading →

Game Rooms, Pool Tables and Room Sizes

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Homeowner requests for game rooms in newly built space and existing room remodeling is on the rise again. Game rooms can be the center of many potential activities: poker, darts, video games…etc. The most desired item is a pool table. An important early consideration should be table size and adequate room size. A “regulation” pool table is 4.5′ wide and 9′ long. Many styles are available, typically in six inch increments, and a smaller, but common size is 3.5′ by 7′.

Here is a pool table view in a Monmouth County, New Jersey basement renovation project completed by Mark of Excellence Remodeling.
For calculating a comfortable room size for a particular pool table know that a standard cue is approximately 58″ long. Double that length and add to the width and length of the table to determine an ideal room to table scenario. Therefore, the standard 4.5′ x 9′ pool table should be in a room that is at least 14’1″ x 18’6″. The smaller 3.5′ x 7′ table could be placed in 13’1″ x 16’1″ room. Continue reading →

Interior Trim and Molding Size Guideline

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One of the most important questions that we all have about trim is, What size should it be? Getting the size and proportions of trim correct can make a huge difference in how a room is used and enjoyed. If the trim is too small or too large, it can be like a clown wearing a minuscule hat or supersize pair of shoes. Continue reading →