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“Should I go with hardwood or laminate flooring?” This is a common question homeowners ask us when planning their home remodel. Maybe you’ve found yourself asking this question. If so, just know that there is no one correct answer. The choice that is right for you depends entirely on your family and your priorities for your home. 

Let’s take a quick look at some of the properties of laminate and hardwood flooring. Laminate is comprised of several layers of synthetic materials. It has a stabilizing layer on the bottom that helps to resist moisture, a layer of fiberboard to add strength, and a unique photographic layer on top to give the look of wood or even other materials such as stone. It’s most valued for its cost, durability, and easy DIY installation. Hardwood is just as it sounds — natural wood harvested from various types of trees or even bamboo. Hardwood is a favorite of many builders and homeowners because of its classic look, longevity, and environmental friendliness. 

We’ve compiled a list of pros and cons to think about, along with a few questions for you to ask yourself when facing this major design decision. 

Hardwood:

Hardwood Pros

  • Can last a lifetime when properly cared for
  • Can be sanded and refinished
  • Adds resale value to you home
  • Easy to clean
  • Classic wood appearance 
  • Environmentally friendly 

Hardwood Cons

  • More expensive 
  • Often requires professional install
  • Not recommended for wet or damp areas
  • Hard underfoot
  • Louder 
  • Sensitive to UV light 

Laminate:

Laminate Pros

  • Easy DIY install
  • Affordable
  • Best for kids, pets, and radiant heating
  • Water, stain, and UV resistant
  • Easy to clean
  • Softer and quieter underfoot

Laminate Cons

  • Can not be refinished
  • Typically lasts around 10 years
  • Less authentic look
  • Does not add resale value to you home
  • Less environmentally friendly
  • Can stain or warp if spills are left too long.

 

Questions to ask yourself:

Do I have pets or kids?

Laminate is often recommended for families with pets or young children. This is mainly due to the fact that it is more scratch and stain resistant than hardwood.

Am I planning on reselling anytime soon?

If you are planning on reselling your home soon after replacing the floors, you should consider hardwood as it typically increases the value of the home.

What is my budget?

Your budget is a big factor to consider when choosing a type of flooring. Hardwood can be expensive, and many people opt for laminate simply because it’s less costly. 

Is the room dry or prone to dampness?

If your room is prone to dampness, such as a kitchen or bathroom, you should consider laminate’s water resistance as an important factor. If it is a dry room such as a living room or bedroom, hardwood will give you a warmer and more authentic feel. 

The best part about this debate is that there is really no wrong answer. Whatever you choose is best for your home, and your family will provide you with many benefits for years to come! 

 

Are you ready to turn your current home into your dream home? We are ready to help!

Click here for your free consultation! 

This amazing 5000 square foot home was built in 1978 and had never been updated. The homeowners wanted to keep the home’s original style while updating the materials and giving it a modern feel. We updated the windows, flooring, millwork, and paint. We also completely remodeled two of the bathrooms, added a Nana Wall, rebuilt the sunroom, and created an entirely new floorplan for the kitchen and dining room.

Some of the standout features include:

  • 4 Panel folding glass wall from Nana Wall 
  • Windows & sliding glass doors from Anderson 
  • Custom oversized front door from Simpson 
  • Walnut interior doors from Lynden Doors 
  • Custom wrought iron staircase with wood detailing by Creative Ornamental Iron
  • Walnut cabinets with solid plywood boxes from Bellmont Cabinets 
  • Solid white oak hardwood flooring throughout the home 
  • Custom cedar ceiling feature in the dining room 

 

Are you ready to turn your current home into your dream home? We are ready to help!

Click here for your free consultation! 

We know that remodeling your home is a big decision and one that you should not take lightly. Remodeling is an investment of time and resources, and it must bring value to your life. Whether you remodel one room or your whole house, you will find that there are many benefits to be enjoyed. Here are three benefits of remodeling to consider.

1. Increased Comfort

One of the most important benefits of a remodel is an increase in your home’s comfort level. Your home is where you and your family spend a fair amount of time – especially this last year! It’s a place to unwind, spend time together, and make memories. Here are just a few ways a remodel increases the comfort of your home.

  • Increases the usable space in your home by maximizing the square footage you already have 
  • Elevates the style and comfort of your home through modern design and technology
  • Gives you peace of mind by replacing old electrical, heating, plumbing, and lighting
  • Makes your home fit your family’s needs through added conveniences and modern technology
  • Creates an oasis that is uniquely yours

2. Increased Functionality

Functionality is essential for keeping your home comfortable and organized. It allows you to de-stress and makes your home a place where you can truly relax. Here are some ways a remodel can increase the functionality of your home.

  • Increases storage space with added shelving, cabinetry, and improved layout
  • Improves the flow of your home by redesigning high-traffic areas
  • Updated appliances provide maximum function and style to your kitchen, bathroom, or laundry room
  • Advanced technology adds convenience to make your life easier 

3. Increased Value

Beyond increasing comfort and functionality, a remodel is also an investment into the value of your home. When you remodel, you instantly increase the desirability and the resale value of your house. Most homebuyers will gladly pay extra if any part of the home is updated.

These are just a few of the benefits of remodeling. Ultimately, we believe that remodeling is an investment into your well-being and your home’s value that you will see benefits from right away. 

Are you ready to start on your home remodel? We are ready to help!

Click here to get a free consultation.

Tell us a little bit about your home:

“It was built in the 70s I think ’74. The original owner owned a lumber yard which is why there is so much wood! And also why everything seems to be really well built.  

We bought the home 2.5 years ago, it was in poor condition. The exterior was mint green with a turquoise roof. There was a chain-link fence around the property and a green bathtub in the yard!  

The interior was also in need of some love. There was no functioning plumbing upstairs and the overall home was quite run down… no doors on any of the closets (weird), and not a single matching door handle in the whole house!  

The previous owner was a single guy who purchased the house when he was 19 or 20 and lived here for 3 or 4 years. He was a fairly famous Youtuber & live-streamed his life playing video games from the house. 

We could tell the house had good bones but honestly, I thought it was too big of a project to take on. My husband was the one with the vision. There were a few houses we were considering & ultimately he got me on board by asking which one I was the most excited to DECORATE?!?! Decorating is my passion and the idea of transforming this house was super exciting for me.  

The house has these grey washed wood walls throughout. I really loved those walls and thought it would be fun to try to build around those – keeping some of the 70s vibe and lumber yard history of the house but bringing it more into the modern-day. 

Before Renewal we did quite a few other projects inside & out – mostly ourselves via sweat equity, haha! We hired out the construction to remodel the 3 bathrooms and had the house re-plumbed. (Our bathroom remodel was a total disaster & made me appreciate how great a job Renewal does even more).”

What was your vision for your home remodel?

“We wanted to transform the 2 largest spaces where we spent the most time – kitchen and living room. We knew we couldn’t do that ourselves so we were excited to work with Renewal on it!

For the kitchen, I wanted more counter space so my kids could spread out after school to do homework, have snacks, do crafts, etc. while we could still cook dinner, pack lunches at the same time. We also wanted to take better advantage of the pretty lake view and configure the eating space to have a view of the lake while still keeping it informal – which I think we achieved by changing the layout of the island.  

For the living area, we wanted to bring it out of the 70s by updating the old stone fireplace. I also wanted to integrate the cabinets into the fireplace (1 focal point vs. 2) and make the cabinets functional (the old cabinet was a pull-out unit full of plastic CD racks that had been turned into a makeshift wine cabinet… again, weird ). Even though I knew it had to go I was a bit sad to lose the coziness of the old stone on the fireplace so I wanted a more rustic mantle to warm up the room.

We also updated the front doors and glass to let more light in!”

What was your experience working with Renewal?

“Really really excellent! The project was managed very professionally and there was excellent communication throughout. Having done lots of renovation projects over the years I can definitely say this was, by far, our best experience.  

Also, everyone we interacted with was so kind – it feels like they have a family dynamic within their office that really comes through. They are all really nice and respectful of one another and their clients. During the initial stages of the project, my husband’s father passed away and they sent flowers – wow!”

How would you define your personal style?

“I would say I’m probably a bit of an “over-decorator”. I love playing around with all sorts of colors, textures, and patterns. What I love the most is mixing unique and personal elements into our home and creating little vignettes to give the space some personality & make it feel special for our family. Overall I think my style is contemporary casual (is that a style??!?). And maybe a touch on the eclectic side.  

For the remodel I knew that I’d want to add color and tons of accessories after, so I tried to keep the big elements more neutral and toned-down so that they would be easy to mix.”

What is your favorite feature of your home?

“I think it’s the kitchen fireplace! Which was a late addition to the plan, I think pulls the space together so well – and kicks some amazing heat that makes hanging out around the new kitchen island super cozy.”

How has the remodel allowed the house to feel more like a home for your family?

“The remodel transformed the places where we spend the majority of our time as a family. I love watching movies in the living room now and staring up at the beautiful fireplace focal point that surrounds the movie. The kitchen feels completely transformed, and has become the “heart” of the home – as a kitchen should be! We spend so much time in there now – baking, eating, doing homework, making crafts – the extra island space made such a difference!”

 Any advice for other homeowners considering a remodel?

“I would say go for it!” 

A special thank you to Melissa F. and her family for taking the time to share their experience with us! And for allowing us to help them on their journey to creating their dream home!

We would love to work with you on your next project!

Click here to get started!

 

We all know, no matter what, everyone inevitably gathers in the kitchen – that’s because the kitchen is the heart of the home. Why not make the space more functional and spacious for you and those around you?

Kitchen islands can serve many purposes and increase the usability of your space. Best of all, they look great doing it!

Below are just a few of the many reasons to consider adding an island to make the heart of your home more comfortable. We hope these kitchen island ideas can spark inspiration in your next kitchen remodeling project.

1. Create a Casual Seating and Gathering Place

It’s nice to have company while you cook, but it can get crowded when people are lingering. The addition of barstools or raised chairs at your kitchen island creates a comfortable space for people to gather, talk, eat, and relax, while keeping them away for your workstation.

Tuck-a-way seating on the island is perfect to create an informal dining area, a homework station, or a place for people to relax and interact with you while you’re in the kitchen

2. Perfect for Additional Storage and Amenities

The addition of an island can add customizable storage space for extra appliances or dishes. More importantly, it can help you better organize your kitchen and keep your countertops clean and tidy.

It is also perfect for additional amenities you might have always wanted, but never had room for. These amenities can include a wine fridge, refrigerated beverage drawer, or warming drawer for food.

Creating space

Adding custom storage drawers makes this kitchen island idea great for chefs to be more efficient and productive. It expands counter space to work on while providing storage opportunities.

3. Get Some Prep and Cooking Space

One of the most common reasons people choose to add an island is that it creates more surface space for them to cook and prep on. This can be highly valuable, especially if you have a smaller kitchen.

A generous kitchen island is ideal for entertaining (especially during the holidays) as it provides extra workspace for food prep, room to serve appetizers, and extra seating for guests.

Kitchen islands don’t just have to be for prep or eating. In this kitchen island idea, add a range hood over your stove and your island becomes the main hub of cooking and entertaining!

Whatever functionality you’re cooking for, our award-winning team is ready to custom-create the perfect kitchen island to fit your needs and provide you with lasting results that you’ll love for years to come.

We can help you get your dream kitchen! Let’s start cooking.

I was invited by Ferguson Plumbing to join several other interior designers in the Seattle and Portland areas to visit the LIXIL headquarters in New Jersey. LIXIL is a Japanese company that pioneers water and housing products and they own American Standards, DXV, and Grohe.

During our visit, we learned the ‘ins-and-outs’ of these brands and what makes their products stand out from their competitors. We started with American Standard by discussing the technology and methods they use for testing their toilets as well as why their products are unique. The brand is truly on the forefront of cleanliness, efficiency, technique, and ingenuity with a focus on sustainability of water use.

Product Highlights

One product highlight for me was a faucet from American Standard. Their MeasureFill Touch faucet has the ability to measure out cups of water with a dial on the side to make cooking and baking easier. This faucet also has touch capability which allows you to turn the faucet on and off with a simple touch of the dial.

American Standard applied their touch capability to a shower head. Their innovative Spectra + Touch 4-Function shower head allows you to customize your shower preferences by simply touching the edge of the shower head to switch between spray patterns. Along with their drench, massage, sensitive, and jet spray options, the shower head also helps save water with a flow rate of 1.8 gpm.

One last plumbing feature that was beyond unique was a bar-prep faucet from Grohe. This faucet has three settings from the tap – filtered water, carbonated water, and a 50/50 mix of filtered and carbonated water! It was so convenient and well designed – every bar sink should have this!

It was such a great opportunity and wonderful experience to be able to join Ferguson Plumbing and gain more in-depth knowledge about these brands and the products they create. The hope is that through furthering the education on these brands, we can speak with more knowledge and understanding as to why these products stand out from others. As a designer, I love learning about new products, features, and little ways to make life easier for my clients. LIXIL is an awesome company and I truly look forward to using and recommending their products to my clients in the future.