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| Coastal New Jersey |
Like many of my clients, D. had a shore home that was the center of summer life at the New Jersey shore. And even though it was renovated after Hurricane Sandy, there were a few areas in the home that needed to be revised.
For instance, the upstairs bedrooms were small and cramped. There was no en suite bath for the Master Bedroom. If there were to be changes inside the home like new windows and sliders, it would affect the exterior of the house as well.
A renovation like that can take months. And, it all had to be accomplished in time for the summer season. The summer season is so important to families and there was no time for fear, hesitancy or indecision.
When we first met to discuss the remodel plans I knew that the goal had to be achieved to have the home ready for summer family and friends. I also understood that there were important changes that must be made to the floorplan to make the project successful.
However, one of the first decisions that needed to be made was the selection of siding and roofing. I implemented an app that allows you to see how a different siding, roofing or trim color will look on the exterior of the home.
We used the existing house as a template and then applied various siding colors to see which selection would work best. Once the decision was made we followed a plan to check off the next item on the list.
First, we started with measuring the second floor existing space and discussed the addition of higher ceilings that would significantly enlarge the living area in the Master Bedroom. Within a few weeks, the floorplan was complete and now we were ready to obtain the approvals to begin the construction phase.
Throughout the project my client was available to communicate with all on a daily basis. In the meantime, her husband had assembled an expert construction crew. So within a few busy and productive months, the shore home was ready for the season.
Any remodeling or construction project will be successful if you follow my prescription below:
- Determine what is the most important feature/s to be changed
- Have a concrete budget and time line to accomplish the renovation
- Hire only licensed and insured contractors
- Include a floorplan with furnishings drawn before construction begins
- Encourage open communication with all involved
- Understand there will be problems encountered, but alternatives will often work better
- Don't worry be happy and create a positive vibe throughout the process
For additional information on renovations, and construction, visit my blog posts below.
Kitchen Remodel
The most important part of the project
Are you overwhelmed? Read this first!
Mary Alice Smith - 732 608-7583
Residential and Commercial Interior Design
Allied Member ASID
Website: http://masmithinteriordesign.com
Serving Coastal New Jersey homeowners and businesses for twenty years
