OUR BLOG
OUR BLOG
Check out what’s happening with Myers Constructs as well as the latest news and trends in home renovation.
Retirement Planning: Design With an Eye to the Future
Here in our office, we are seeing an uptick in calls from prospective clients who are preparing for retirement. Some are planning ahead for "aging in place," if they plan to live in their homes long term, while others are making modifications for their aging parents or special-needs children who live with them. Our challenge in these projects is determining how to successfully update these older homes to make them more accessible and accommodating while factoring in the changing needs of the families who live there. Here’s a look at our process. The first step is conducting a survey of the house to learn how it currently works. We then interview the homeowners and any in-home care providers about the pros and cons of the existing space. This allows us to learn how the house fits the needs of the people living in it and what changes need to be[...]
Your Home and the “Polar Vortex”
The wild temperature swings we've experienced on the East Coast this week really test a house and all of the systems that make it feel comfortable — a place you want to be in, in all kinds of weather. Let's take a look at a few of them: Windows — Windows are essentially holes in the walls of your house, so make sure you've invested in good ones to keep warmth in, to keep heat and destructive UV rays out, and to block drafts. But a great window, even an expensive one, is only as good as its installation. Modern windows have complicated installation procedures and are rated "not for beginners." There are two additions being done in my neighborhood now. One addition looks like a master suite pop up addition to the house's 2nd floor. Those homeowners really skimped on the windows, by selecting very small vinyl models that[...]
Making Your Holiday Home Improvement Checklist (and Checking It Twice!)
Most people spend their holiday season making all sorts of checklists, including those for shopping, baking, gift-giving, entertaining, and so on. What they often don’t realize is that this is also a great time of year to begin a home renovation or repairs “checklist” to plan for their home-improvement needs during the coming year. At our house, we recently sat down to make our own list. Here is what we found. Re-purposing rooms — Right away, we noticed that we have not been inviting older family members to the house because we don’t have a comfy bed for them to sleep on. So we put together a plan for turning unused office space into a proper guest room. Since we also recently renovated our master bedroom, we’ll take some of the furnishings we replaced and put them into the new guest room. They include a queen-size bed and mix-and-match dressers[...]
Home Inspections: You Get What You Pay For
In our line of work, we see a lot of home buyers who try to save money in the purchase process by either skipping a home inspection or shopping around for the lowest-cost option. Interestingly, we see this across the purchase price spectrum, from small homes priced at $150,000 to luxurious properties valued at over $1M. This is a huge mistake with serious potential repercussions. A home purchase is the largest investment most people will ever make, so it is very important to do thorough due diligence before signing on the dotted line. You can expect to spend several hundred dollars on a professional home inspection, and the price will vary based on the inspector's credentials and the size and location of the home. This is money well spent! Negligence during this phase of a home purchase can mean having to deal with serious and expensive problems down the line.[...]
A Day in the Life of a Kitchen Remodel — Step 13: Tile
This week, we're completing the finishing touches on our Mt. Airy kitchen. The crew installed this beautiful ceramic tile backsplash, which serves as a nice transition between the upper painted glass-front cabinetry and lower cherry-stained cabinets. As you can see in the close-up view, the tile pattern features a combination of rectangular and circular shapes in gradated shades of blue — providing a nice focal point for the space! In the next few days, we will wrap up the last bits of this project so the clients can enjoy their new kitchen for the holidays. Revisit previous updates on this project: Step 1. Planning Step 2. Demolition Step 3. Insulation and Framing Step 4. Prepping for Inspection Step 5. Pre-Closing Step 6. Drywall Step 7. Cabinetry Step 8. Cabinetry Pre-Installation Step 9. Cabinetry Completion, Countertop and Flooring Prep Step 10. Final Installations Step 11. Detail, Trim Work, Appliances Step 12.[...]
‘Tis the Season for Home Improvements
If you're like most people, you're preparing to spend time during the holiday season entertaining friends and family in your home, and you may even have out-of-town guests planning to stay overnight. As a result, you may find yourself wishing that you had upgraded some areas of your house in preparation for the festivities. While the window may have closed for completing any major professional projects before the holidays arrive, the good news is that this is the perfect time to start planning ahead for those renovations you've been dreaming of all year long. Take advantage of any extended time you may have off from work and the less-demanding daily family schedules to meet with a home-improvement professional and get the planning process started. Similarly, if you plan on wintering in a warmer climate, have that trusted professional complete the project while you are are away so you can come[...]
A Day in the Life of a Kitchen Remodel — Step 12: Finishing Touches
Panorama View of the Kitchen We are excited to announce that we'll be taking the wraps off of our Mt. Airy kitchen project today or tomorrow. The only outstanding item, at this point, is the beautiful backsplash tile, which is expected later this month. Our carpenters are now busy packing their equipment and materials off site as they tackle the last small hardware items and other details. Revealing a finished room can feel a little like opening a big gift on Christmas morning. Exciting stuff for both us and the clients! We look forward to seeing how the homeowners "move in" to their new space, which incorporates plenty of open shelving, room for artwork, and expansive counter spaces. Stay tuned for the final finished photo later this month! Revisit previous updates on this project: Step 1. Planning Step 2. Demolition Step 3. Insulation and Framing Step 4. Prepping[...]
New Life for an Old City Condo
We're in the process of wrapping up a large-scale makeover on this sunny condominium in Philadelphia's charming Old City neighborhood. The homeowners, who have lived here for at least 15 years, recently retired and wanted to make some upgrades as they begin the next phase of their lives. Because the condo was built in the 1980s, some of the elements — particularly in the kitchen and bathrooms — were feeling dated to our clients. Paint throughout the entire unit Cherry-colored maple cabinets GE appliances Stone style ceramic tile flooring in the kitchen and entry, which will keep these high-traffic areas easy to clean Cherry floating engineered flooring throughout the bedrooms and main rooms Bathroom vanities, sinks, toilets, granite counters, and new chrome fixtures and accessories New lighting layout, including attractive ceiling fans for the larger rooms Closet organization systems Now that these larger pieces of the project are complete, Tamara[...]
Don’t Get Tripped Up On These Common Design Decisions
When working on project homes, we find that most of our customers can breeze through selections for countertops, faucets, flooring, and even appliances. But there are three elements that will typically cause a hitch in the selection process and can often lead to expensive change orders or delays: Cabinet color, especially if the cabinet line is custom (with sky-is-the-limit selections!) or a stock item that comes in more than a small variety of wood shades or paint colors Tile selections Paint colors for wall and trim Here are our suggestions for avoiding getting stuck: Have a few magazine tear outs of kitchen cabinets you love — as well as some you hate. If you are going with a custom cabinet, you can have any wood species, any stain color, and any paint color you like. These cabinets are expensive, so rely on your designer for direction! If you are working[...]
A Day in the Life of a Kitchen Remodel — Step 11: Detail, Trim Work, Appliances
Now that the cabinets are installed in our Mt. Airy kitchen, the project is coming to a head. Here is what's happening this week: Installation of extra bits and bobs on the cabinets, such as spacers and trim Minor drywall/carpentry work Installation of a transom window, a window to the outside, and three doors Trimming out the windows, baseboards, and plumbing and electrical work Installation of appliances This is what we call "a hatful" of work. We depend on everyone being on schedule and working together to get it done. It is important for everyone to work cleanly and carefully so no damage happens to the finished products. This is also the second most stressful time for the customers because they can see all the nice shiny new stuff, and their room looks like it should be ready to use, but it's not quite there yet. All of these wee[...]
