Should You Do It?

Hello and Happy Spring! This is one of my favorite times of the year, the leaves are coming in full force, the flowering trees are as beautiful as ever and the grass is greening up, I love the rebirth! With so much spring in the air it gets a lot of us thinking about what we need to “freshen” up on our homes. We’ve spent the winter indoors, eyes glued to HGTV and now we’re ready to tackle every project in our homes and, if you ask me, they will all only take a weekend! Micki has learned to deal with my home projects taking longer than planned. If you don’t want to have a spouse thoroughly upset with you let’s look at a few things to consider before starting a project on your home.

First and foremost, SHOULD YOU DO IT? There are certain things that even professionals don’t do themselves, sometimes it’s plumbing, electrical or HVAC. These areas of work can cause the most frustration to a homeowner because they seem so simple, “I can switch that outlet out to a GFCI”, then they realize that their original wiring doesn’t have the proper ground wire, “What do I do now?” Imagine now doing something more complicated like switching out a vanity faucet that doesn’t currently have shut-offs, oh the problems just keep coming! Really take time to ask yourself if you should be doing the work, a lot of times calling in a professional to ensure that your mechanicals are done properly will save you a lot of money, time and frustration.

Next, DO I HAVE EVERYTHING I NEED? Let me answer that for you right now, NO! You almost never have everything you need because you may think that you are going to be able to reuse something and then you find out that it’s 1/16^th of an inch too small. Now, you have to run around to 3 different hardware stores to get that one stupid thing that you must have to complete the project when all you really want to do is stop in and get your favorite beer and stop working! Take time to look for things that may become a problem, if your home hasn’t been touched since it was built in 1957 then you are going to have things that were done differently than we would (and must) do them now. Be flexible and take your time.

I love working on projects around my home and even being in the industry and knowing a lot of people to call, I am still surprised with the things that I learn when I take a project on. I certainly know that there are a lot of do-it-yourselfers/weekend warriors out there and I wish them all the luck I so rarely find! If you don’t have a spouse as understanding as Micki and don’t want to tackle the projects yourself, I’d love to talk with you to see if we can help. Have a wonderful May!

Cale J Kliethermes

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Transitioning Spaces 

Many home entrances are lacking a dedicated space where family and friends may transition between the outside and inside. The front door often opens directly into the living room and the back door into the kitchen. For lack of a better place, raincoats and hats will be tossed on the back of the closest chair, while muddy boots and wet umbrellas are left to puddle on the floor. You and your guests may all feel uncomfortable with this disarray.

Creating a landing space, whether it consists of a separate room or simply a wall inside the doorway, helps get everything organized. Here’s a place where people can wipe their feet as they enter and then deposit whatever they will not be needing until they go back out again. You can make a detailed list of the types of articles that need temporary storage space at each entrance, and then map out a storage solution that works for each one.
 

Most likely your front entrance is where you welcome friends and neighbors as they come to visit. A foyer in this location should be tastefully furnished, since it creates a first impression as visitors enter and it connects to the more formal areas of the home. Guests will need some coat hooks or a closet where they can hang up their outerwear. They will also appreciate a mirror so they can take a last minute glance at hair and lipstick. Also include a comfortable bench where they can sit down to remove their wet boots and a tray where the boots may safely dry off.

Your back entrance also needs a transitioning space before you enter the kitchen. Kids will usually hurry inside after school, leaving their backpacks in a heap on the kitchen floor as they rush to grab snacks. You return home from work or from shopping, tossing your keys and cell phone on the kitchen counter where they soon get buried under the mail. A thoughtfully planned mudroom can help organize all these items, with personalized cubbies for backpacks and shoes, slots for mail, charging stations for electronics, and wire baskets for sports equipment or pet leashes. How you design this mudroom depends entirely on the make-up of your household and its activities. The furnishings chosen for this back entrance mudroom can be more utilitarian, with easy to maintain finishes.

In all cases, the flooring you choose for your foyer or mudroom should be durable enough to withstand constant traffic, grit and moisture. Your best options are tile, stone or sealed concrete—each with a non-slip surface. Apply a breathable, penetrating sealer to the grout to protect against stains. Landing spaces also need to be well-lit so everyone can easily find their belongings as they exit and notice if there is a stray shoe in their path. Carefully plan a layered lighting scheme that includes a combination of ambient, accent and task lighting with a mix of natural and artificial light sources.