Ideas for Summer Home Improvements

According to the Zillow Digs Summer Home Improvement Trend and SpendingSurvey, 60 percent of homeowners plan to make a home improvement or addition this summer. Again, at the top of America’s 2013 renovation project list are bathroom and kitchen remodelling. Some of the most popular summer home improvement projects are:

• Outdoor spaces (40 percent)
• Bathrooms (17 percent).

Cynthia Nowak, trend expert at Zillow Digs has this to say, “As we head into the long days of summer, we are seeing increased interest in outdoor spaces with very natural elements such as stone fireplaces, as well as bringing more light into bathrooms with clear glass on the walls and shower enclosures.”

Below are a few summer home improvement ideas that might encourage you to take the plunge while the going’s good:

Update your outdoor living space

Create an outdoor retreat with a camp-like setting in your backyard! Install additional windows or doors along the path to the retreat so that there is a smooth transition from the home. A stone fireplace and rustic-looking furniture will provide necessary warmth and coziness.Installing a solar-powered water fountain will provide that soothing touch of nature to help you relax.

Another way to expand your outdoor space is to build a deck in a spot that will complement the architecture of your home. Decking materials available today are tough and versatile. They come in many styles and colors and besides being UV-resistant, do not fade, warp or splinter like wood does and so require minimal maintenance. If you live in a place with a mild climate, you may prefer a wooden deck.

Kitchen remodelling

Changes in the kitchen go deeper than just a fresh coat of paint. Redesigns often present unique challenges, but latest trends can help transform your kitchen into the most-loved room in your home.In today’s homes, the kitchen is often an extension of the living area, blending function, space, style and energy-efficiency to create an inviting hub for family gatherings that are often centred around eating!

Widen your kitchen area by dispensing with dividing walls. Whiten and brighten your kitchen by painting the cabinets white, add recessed lighting between the cabinets and install a kitchen island with a breakfast bar and unusual seating arrangements around it.

Since one of the biggest trends for 2013 is greater attention to sustainability, use green products like composite stone counters, reclaimed wood cabinets and bamboo flooring which are green alternatives that don’t sacrifice style. Check out glass backsplashes made with recycled materials that look great and are eco-friendly. Install low-flow faucets that still provide enough force to clean dishes.

Bathroom remodelling

If space permits, consider adding an additional bathroom or remodel your guest bathroom. Even updating faucets, showerheads and other bathroom fixtures with more stylish ones and changing the lighting fixtures will help to make your bathroom more open and light. The current trend is to use beautiful glass tiles on the walls to create the same effect, so you can consider that – if your budget permits. Accentuate with the right bathroom accessories to give your bathroom the perfect touch!

Replace your windows with energy efficient ones

If your home still has the old, single-glazed windows, now is the time to replace them with Energy Star-rated, multiple glazing, low-e coated and inert-gas insulated widows. You can now get a wide selection of high quality, energy-efficient windows from a reputed manufacturing company like Champion Window. The manufacturers have excellent replacement windows that will suit your budget as well as your home’s architectural style. Replacing your windows with these could help you significantly reduce your energy bills.

Beef up your home’s insulation

Installation of high performance insulation will greatly impact your heating and cooling costs this summer, especially if you have a home with an open or closed attic system. Take the time to conduct an energy audit of your home in order to assess air leakages and plug them with quality insulation. Consider applying spray foam insulation to the underside of your roof deck as it will actually prevent warm air from penetrating the envelope of your home, reducing interior temperatures by up to 30%!

Conclusion

There is no dearth of ideas for home improvement online. Mobile, local, social and other technologies are now flattening the world of renovation and design. The borders that formerly limited a homeowner’s ability to get information, ideas and exposure to a wide range of talent and expertise around the world have come down. Homeowners are empowering themselves with knowledge, making them more confident about being active participants in the remodeling and design process.

Sources:

http://info.houzz.com/rs/houzz/images/Houzz%20%26%20Home%202013%20Report.pdf

Michael has spent 7 years in the home improvement business. He loves to write and share information from his experience in roofing, replacement windows and doors, siding, constructing patio rooms and sun rooms. He has written articles for Champion Windows Dallas and other home improvement companies.