Basement Finishing

Basement finishing is a great way to add extra space to your home by cleverly utilizing the existing space you already have. Finishing a basement can be a fairly simple process and shouldn’t cost as much as building an extensive home addition. The basics are already there: walls, flooring, and probably some windows as well as electrical and plumbing.

So, once you decide to go ahead with your basement remodel, these are the basics that we at  Planese have come up with for you to think about:

• Do you need to install plumbing?
• Do you need to install or re-wire the electrical circuits?
• Do you need a new furnace or air conditioner to meet the needs of this new space?
• Do you need to add new windows?

Once you have the basics worked out, you will need to plan how you want to use the space. What extra spaces does your family need? How will they fit in with the style of the house? Some common uses for a finished basement include:

• An ‘annex’ – a self contained set of rooms for visiting guests or older teens
• Kids’ playroom
• Game or rec room
• Den
• Home office
• Home theater
• Guest bedrooms
• Wine cellar
• Mud room
• Craft room

After you’ve decided on what you want to use the basement space for, you need to plan the layout. This is the most essential part of the design process and being thorough during this stage will ensure the best possible outcome for your basement remodel.

• Think about window placement. Most basements have at least one to three walls that have no windows, so if you don’t plan to add any then make sure you place rooms that don’t require windows on these walls. Bathrooms or even a home theater can be placed in these areas.
• Try to place extra bathrooms or your kitchen area underneath rooms on the main floor that already have plumbing. The less distance you need to run new plumbing, the more money you’ll save.
• If you’re going to have a multi-use basement then think about individual spaces in relation to each other. For example, placing the kids’ playroom right next to a guest bedroom isn’t the best idea! Also think about noise from rooms above: placing a bedroom under the entrance hallway will mean it is affected by the noise of people coming and going.

Once you have come up with the perfect basement finishing idea and created a set of room addition floor plans, you can get to work! Finishing a basement can help you make the most of the home you already have and you’d be surprised just how inexpensive the process can be.

For more information on how to save money when you remodel, check out our post on pre-built kitchen cabinets, and to help you plan your remodel, download our FREE Planese app and get help every step of the way with your remodeling project.

Room Addition Floor Plans

Room Addition Floor Plans                               photo by Adrienne Dufficy

When you’re embarking on a new home remodeling project, you should have as clear an idea as possible about the final result you want, and part of this can be getting yourself a good set of room addition floor plans.

Although interior decorating ideas are important, it’s better to start off knowing exactly what dimensions your home addition will have. The general shape and layout of the addition as well as the placement of doors, windows, power outlets, and fixtures and fittings should be set before work begins. This is especially important if you’re building a kitchen or bathroom addition, where getting the best kitchen layout is essential.

If you’re working with an architect or designer, it’s a good idea to have done some initial sketches yourself of the space and how you want to use it. Take measurements of the space and compare that with sizes of furniture as well as fixtures and fittings. What can you comfortably fit into the space you have to build onto?

There is also the question of personal taste. Matching up between the existing and newer parts of the home is essential so that it all adds up to a cohesive whole. The height of the ceilings and doors, as well as the style of windows and the type of materials used should all complement each other.

One great tip for building a home addition is to take a part of your remodeling budget and use it to upgrade the older part of your home. Giving a fresh new look throughout your whole home will mean that your home addition adds value to your entire house – not just the new part. This can also help the newer addition blend in seamlessly with the existing part.

This is also important if you plan to sell your home as potential buyers won’t appreciate stark differences between what they see as the ‘new’ and ‘old’ parts of a house. A seamless remodel shows that you’ve taken care and attention with the property they might buy.

Whatever type of addition you want to build, be sure to get a good set of room addition floor plans so that the remodel will really be the best answer to your needs. To help you plan your remodel, download our FREE Planese app and get help every step of the way with your remodeling project.

Space Saving Tricks for Small Kitchens from House Beautiful

Anyone looking to start a kitchen remodel should undertake a thorough research project and collect as many kitchen photos as they can. Whether it’s browsing kitchen remodel ideas using the Planese remodel app  or collecting photos from a kitchen remodeling Pinboard on Pinterest, there are plenty of places to find design inspiration.

The snag is that most of us don’t have palatial homes with huge, open plan kitchens. We have a limited space to work with and might not have the resources to embark on a remodeling project that involves bumping out and building an addition.

Fortunately, House Beautiful’s article on space saving tricks for small kitchens provides some great tips for anybody looking for quick and easy ways to increase the space in their kitchen. According to House Beautiful, “a well-designed kitchen has minimal clutter and maximum efficiency”, so you don’t necessarily need a ton of money and a huge kitchen to get the most out of the space.

Some of House Beautiful’s great tips include:

• Adding mirrors
• Stacking cabinets to the ceiling
• Choosing armless chairs
• Installing a spice rack cabinet
• Using open shelving

Simple tips like these can really improve the way you use the space in your kitchen. For example, installing cabinets that go all the way up to the ceiling gives you extra storage space for items you might use less often – maybe that’s the good china or extra dishes you only use during the holiday season. The combination of mirrors, armless chairs and open shelving can also create the illusion of a bright, airy space that doesn’t feel to cluttered.

Read the full article and see the beautiful pictures at House Beautiful. You can also find a wealth of pictures to inspire you on our kitchen remodel ideas Pinterest board.

Thinking of a kitchen remodel? Check out our article about how much it costs to remodel a kitchen.