3 Ways to Focus on What’s Important

When you’ve been spending a lot of time at home, you probably notice things that you would love to improve someday. Instead of letting them bother you, set aside a few moments now to start planning to make them better.

Here at T&K, we can suggest three ways of focusing on what’s important when you find yourself dreaming of the home you’d love to have.

#1 Every Moment Counts: Low Maintenance

Photo courtesy Trex Decking

Wouldn’t it be nice not to have to spend a lot of time or energy on home maintenance when there are more important things to think about? Fortunately, switching to some low maintenance engineered building materials that are available now will require less of your time later.

Quartz countertops are a popular substitute for granite and are the first choice of many homeowners today. These composites are as sleek and shiny as granite, but virtually maintenance-free. Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) and Luxury Vinyl Planking (LVP) are not like old-fashioned sheet vinyl flooring. They are beautiful, durable, water resistant, comfortable underfoot and easy to maintain. LVT and LVP flooring can be had at an affordable price and used in place of wood, tile, or stone for any room, including the basement.

When selecting exterior products, many materials require much less maintenance than wood. Man-made materials such as engineered siding, trim and decking can save you time and money on future upkeep.

#2 Every Family Member Counts: Universal Design

Custom kitchen by T&K Contractors

While your whole family is under one roof, you may realize your home needs to be comfortable and convenient for everyone from toddlers to seniors. Following the principles of Universal Design throughout the home means adding wider halls and doorways, lever handles on faucets, adequate task lighting, and increased lighting on stairways. Make it easier for everyone to help themselves in the kitchen by adding pullout shelves, multiple counter heights, and an undercounter microwave. A finished basement provides plenty of elbow room both for kids to play and adults to relax. Even your pets can have their own built-in nooks or crates for sleeping.

The “healthy home” aspect of remodeling is important for all family members as well. Thoughtful building material choices can help indoor air quality, chemical sensitivities, and protect against allergens, mold, and mildew.

#3 Every Square Inch Counts: Organization

Photo courtesy Rev-a-Shelf

Everyone needs more storage space. There’s no excuse anymore for inaccessible kitchen cabinets. Custom cabinet organization can make blind corners and hard-to-reach upper shelves accessible and eliminate the chaos created by leftover containers and precariously stacked pots and pans.

Updating a bathroom wouldn’t be complete without vanity storage options like fitted drawers, pullout shelves, hidden outlets for hair dryers and charging stations for shavers. A built-in tile niche or shelf in the shower will keep shampoos and body washes handy while eliminating unattractive plastic or wire organizers.

Since feeding your dog or cat is a daily chore, make it easier for everyone by adding a slide-out bin in a kitchen cabinet to store food. It’s so much more convenient than dragging around a huge bag of kibble at mealtime.

We hope you can use these three criteria to make your home as beautiful as it can be, while taking into account the comfort of all members of your family, your precious time, and your budget.

We are here for you if you want to talk or bounce around some ideas. Contact us today!