Benefits of a Garage Addition

Could you, or your family, benefit from extra space? A garage addition is a great way to add more storage space, a play room, a work room, and more. There are many benefits to building a garage addition, which include:

Benefits of a Garage Addition

Storage

The most obvious benefit of a garage addition is the extra storage. After all, when you own a home it is easy to accumulate many items. While a garage addition is an obvious place to store cars, it is a also a great location for mowers, tools, holiday decor, and recreational items such as bikes and sporting equipment. There are many storage solutions to choose from for your garage, including built-in cabinets, shelves, and the like. Be sure to ask your garage builder about storage solutions.

Protect Your Vehicles

One major benefit of a garage addition is that it protects your car from the elements. With the consistently-inconsistent temperatures in Virginia, having a garage is a great way to keep your car in the best condition possible. In addition to better maintenance, you no longer have to deal with an uncomfortably hot or cold car in the summer and winter months. This includes scraping off ice or snow while waiting for your car to warm up in the winter, and cranking the AC to have your car cool down in the summer.

Increase Home Value

While it is true that nearly any project that adds space onto a home will increase its property value, a garage addition is a great investment. After all, many potential buyers expect homes to already have garages. Thus, your home will be that much attractive when it comes time to sell.

A Workshop Space

A garage addition is a great space for any hobbies, including woodworking, gardening, crafts, and more. If needed, you can even temporarily move the car outside of the garage if you are working on a project that requires a bit more open space.

Garage Addition Specifications

Now that you know the benefits of a garage addition, it is important to start answering a few questions about what you want from your garage.

Attached vs. Detached

First, do you plan on having an attached or detached garage? Each has its own benefits. Detached garages allow more flexibility in size and location. Additionally, a detached garage keeps out dust, fumes, and dirt away from the main house. This is especially nice if you do work or hobbies that produce dust. On the other hand, attached garages don't have as much flexibility in size and location since it has to be sized to the existing home. However, an attached garage is especially convenient for those rainy, cold days when you don't want to go out into the bad weather in order to enter the house.

Air Conditioning

Another factor to consider for your garage addition is if you want it to be air conditioned. If you plan on spending a lot of time in your garage, it will make sense to install air conditioning. After all, air conditioning will make a huge difference in making the space comfortable spend time in. One suggestion would be to install a mini-split system. We covered mini-split systems in a previous blog here and we highly recommend them.

Size and Style

The overall size of your garage addition will be completely dependent upon what you plan to use the space for. If you are using the garage as a workshop space exclusively, you could probably get away with a smaller size. However, if you want to use the garage to store cars, we suggest considering the size of your car, as well as whether you want to have any additional space, to help determine the best size. As a general rule, we suggest that the garage addition match the style of your existing home-whether it be a detached or an attached garage. That way, the garage will blend seamlessly with the rest of the home.

Overall, a garage addition can provide many advantages to you and your family. If your family could benefit from a safe place to store cars, or other belongings, then consider Balducci Additions and Remodeling for your garage addition project.

Creating a Cooking Focused Kitchen Design

Do you enjoy cooking? While some homeowners aspire to have a clutter free kitchen, perfect for entertaining, others want a kitchen built for cooking and preparing food. Surprisingly, cooking from scratch only ranked #4 in homeowner interests, according to the 2018 Houzz Kitchen Trends Study.

Although not everyone may not enjoy cooking from scratch, we believe creating a kitchen with cooking in mind can be beneficial for any home.  Thus, here are our top tips and trends for a cooking kitchen for 2018. Whether you are a cooking connoisseur, or if you plan on cooking more frequently for economical reasons, we hope that you'll get some inspiration from this post.

Creating Cooking Zones

When creating a kitchen for cooking, it is important to create a good working layout. This includes creating wider walkways to allow room for guests to pass by and perfecting the appliance zones. These include the sink, range, and refrigerator areas. By perfecting these zones, it will allow for a more efficient work flow and more enjoyable cooking experience.

Sink Zone

While there are many sink styles available on the market, we recommend farmhouse style or prep sinks for cooking kitchens since they often have larger basins. Installing a prep sink is a great option since it can have space for cutting boards, strainers, racks, and other accessories on the side. Along with a great sink, this zone should also house the dishwasher. In some larger kitchens, a dual dishwasher might be useful.

Range Zone

As for ranges, gas is often the most common choice for gourmet style kitchens since it provides the most control and accuracy while cooking. Depending on the amount of cooking you plan on doing, as well as the number of people you plan to cook for, it could be beneficial to upgrade from a 4 burner to 6 burner range.

Additionally, ranges with oversized hoods are becoming a big trend in recent kitchen design. That is because they can be personalized to the homeowner's style; in a sense, they can serve as as a sculptural piece of art in the space.

The range zone would also house any ovens, warming drawers, and microwaves.

Refrigeration Zone

If you have the space, it could be a good idea to invest in two refrigerators. The second refrigerator's main purpose would be dependent upon the type of cooking you plan on doing. A second refrigerator could be a great addition for extra food, such as homemade soups and sauces, or for bulky items that take up a significant amount of room in the main refrigerator.  On the other hand, if you tend to cook while company is over, it could be beneficial to install a refrigerator for beverages. This allows guests to serve themselves without getting in the way of meal preparation.

Another placement to consider, that is often in this zone, is the trashcan. There is nothing worse than a guest having to reach around you to use the trashcan while you are preparing the meal. Two separate trashcans are ideal - one where guests may be walking by, and other in the prep/cooking area. However, this isn't feasible for many kitchens. If you kitchen layout doesn't support two trashcans, place the trashcan between the cooking area and walkway for guests to also access.

Materials and Finishes

As far as materials go, it is important to choose items that will withstand daily wear and tear. This is especially true for the countertop, which is why 42% of home renovators splurged on this item. While granite was the leading material choice for kitchen countertops for many years, only 34% of homeowners chose it for their remodels in 2017-2018.  In comparison, quartz was favored by 43% of home renovators during this time. Quartz is a great option for a cooking kitchen since it is durable and requires less upkeep than granite.

Interested in quartz? We covered the advantages and disadvantages of quartz in a previous blog, read it here.

As far as appliance finishes, silver stainless steel continues to lead in kitchen trends for 2018. However, some manufacturers are coming out with black stainless and matt-black appliances. These are great options since they minimize the appearance of finger prints that often appear on silver stainless appliances, which is a large concern for most homeowners.

While there are many design tips that you can implement to make your kitchen more "cooking friendly", there is no one right way to design your kitchen. After all, your kitchen should work for the way you prefer to cook and bake. If you have any questions about getting started on your kitchen design, feel free to contact us. We proudly offer free estimates!

Sunroom Addition with Skylights

Sunroom Addition with Skylights

We are proud to finally show off this home addition! Our team at Balducci Additions and Remodeling recently finished this beautiful sunroom addition in Mechanicsville, Virginia.

Our clients wanted a multi-functional space that their family could enjoy year-round, as well as for entertaining guests. The project included demoing and removing the screened porch. Initially, the clients wanted to keep the existing structure, add on extra square footage, and convert the screened porch into a sunroom. However, the existing structure could not support additional square footage. Our team made the call to completely remove the screened porch and start from scratch.

Before

Before

One of the main reasons our clients decided to go forward with the addition was to have a space for in-laws visiting, as well as for other guests from out of town. The clients made sure the sunroom had enough room for a day bed for any overnight guests.

This sunroom addition allows lots of natural lighting; after all, the room features 14 windows! The sunroom addition includes two skylights in the vaulted ceiling, as well as triple single-hung windows to the left and right walls. The back wall features a large picture window with a set of double single-hung windows on either side. To keep the wall from looking too overbearing in comparison to the other windows, we installed a decorative window above. As an added benefit, all of the the single-hung windows can be opened to allow fresh breeze to come in.

The sunroom addition also includes a full bathroom with a tub/shower combo, perfect and convenient for visitors and for anyone enjoying the space.

The new space also includes an informal dining area to the right corner. This area is perfect for sharing a meal with family on a nice summer evening, or for guests to enjoy a private cup of coffee in the morning.

Our company also installed a mini-split system to ensure that the space will be comfortable year round for family and friends. Balducci Additions and Remodeling highly recommends installing mini-splits in room additions since they are a cost effective way to provide heating and cooling. Additionally, they can even save you money since they can be turned on and off as you are using the space. To read more on mini-split systems, please check out this blog post.

The addition also features a living/family area with a media center for family movie nights, and the like.

Since the sunroom does experience direct light midday, the clients decided it was best to add shades to the windows. That way, the harsh sunlight can be easily blocked out so that the room can be enjoyed throughout the day.

To see more photos of the addition, please check out our Houzz page.

Celebrate National Escape Day: Spa Bathroom

Have the winter blues set in? Need a break for yourself? You're in luck. January 30th is National Escape Day, which means it's the perfect excuse to take some time for yourself.

“Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is relax.” - Mark Black

While you can celebrate National Escape Day a thousand ways, why not take some time to yourself in your in-home spa (aka, your bathroom)?

Here's a roundup of our top 10 most relaxing bathrooms. Which space appeals to you the most?

10. Shower with beige tile. The beige tile with dark accents creates a warm and inviting feel.

9. Soaker tub with a large glass block window. This deep soaker tub is the perfect place to unwind after a long day.

8. Walk-in corner shower. This clean, minimal shower gets extra light through two accent windows, which helps the space feel more airy.

7. Jetted tub and shower with accent tile. The blue and tan accent tiles resemble coastal color schemes, which enhance the calming atmosphere of this space.

6. Gray tiled shower with glass enclosure. The glass enclosure and streamlined design keep this bathroom looking like something that would be seen in a spa.

5. Separate shower with a freestanding slipper soaker tub. This vintage inspired in-home spa includes a slipper tub and leg tub filler, which exude timeless elegance.

4. Contemporary brass and brown double vanity. Lighting is an important aspect of any spa bathroom and is done effectively in this home addition.

3. Turquoise spa bathroom with rain shower head. The shower in this bathroom features two shower heads to create a spa-like feel, including a rain shower head.

2. Classic granite with separate soaker tub and shower. The neutral colors of the tile and accent in the shower display an elegant look, which makes this space relaxing.

1. Freestanding tub with a nature view. This beautiful bathroom feels as though it is outside with the two large windows, which creates the perfect spa-like experience.

Interested in a creating your own spa bathroom? Balducci Additions and Remodeling is happy to help you create a bathroom that you want to escape to. Contact us to get started!

Porcelain Tile Design Trends

Porcelain is a type of ceramic tile that is made of finer, denser clay. Since porcelain is denser than ceramic tile, it is also harder and less porous. This makes it very stain ad water resistant. Porcelain is available in several textures including: natural, smooth, polished, and textured surfaces. Porcelain tile is offered in glazed and un-glazed options; however, un-glazed tile requires more frequent cleaning. As a bonus, porcelain is much lighter than marble and granite  - meaning easier installs.

porcelain tile bathroom renovation

The versatility of porcelain is almost endless. Porcelain tile can be incorporated in several places of the home, including the kitchen, bathroom, and even fireplace. It has recently emerged into the bathroom design scene since it is low maintenance and can handle moisture and daily use.

A great thing about porcelain is that it is available in several "looks." It can even be made to look like metal, wood, and stone. Additionally, it can be used indoors and outdoors. With advancing technologies, porcelain is now available in larger segments.

Photo: Houzz

A recent trend in bathroom design is covering all of the walls with porcelain slab tiles. The large tiles can help to make the room appear larger due to the little number of grout lines. This creates a minimal look with little upkeep. Porcelain slab tile is a great option for those who want to create a glamorous look without the high costs since it is cheaper than marble. Although porcelain slab tile may be currently seen as a luxury item, it is expected to come down in costs as it becomes more popular.

Porcelain is a great option for flooring, backsplashes, walls, and other accent areas in the home. It is a durable and stain resistant, which is a plus for any family. One of the major advantages of porcelain is that it is extremely versatile since it can be used in several areas of the home, as well as outdoor spaces. Porcelain tile is also available in many styles and can mimic the look of wood and metal.

Tub Shower Combo Ideas

Tub shower combos are great for those who like to indulge in the occasional bubble bath, or for those with a smaller bathroom. Recently, many homeowners have been foregoing the bathtub and have been replacing it with a walk in shower instead. This is a great option for those who don't use their bathtub. However, having at least one bathtub in the home is better for resale.

There are a couple of different tub shower combo options available. The most well known option is the prefabricated fiberglass tub shower combo.

Prefabricated models are available in a variety of designs - from basic models, to high-end looks, to completely custom designs. They can also be customized with extra features such as shelves and grab bars. A great way to make a prefab bathtub appear more sleek is by installing a glass shower door. A glass shower door will help to make the bathroom look larger and brighter. While one piece kits are the most waterproof, they are very bulky and often cannot fit between doors. One piece tub shower combos are most popular for new homes and additions since the kit can be set in place before the walls.

While prefab models are the most common, another way to include a tub shower combo is by adding shower fixtures with a freestanding tub. The freestanding tub you choose for a tub shower combo is up to your personal preferences. You can choose anything from a farmhouse style clawfoot tub - to a sleek and modern soaking tub. One major thing to keep in mind when choosing a freestanding tub is the width and height of the tub. Make sure that the bathtub is comfortable to step in and out of and stand in.

If you decide to go with the freestanding tub turned tub shower combo route, you will have to consider your shower curtain option to prevent water from going everywhere. Many homeowners with this type of tub shower combo install a ceiling mounted shower rail with a custom shower curtain to keep the shower water from running all over the bathroom and causing possible moisture damage.

A tub shower combo is a great option for many homeowners because of its versatility. They can be installed as prefabricated units, or they can be incorporated through a free standing tub and shower component. A tub shower combo can work with an endless array of design styles and is perfect for those with a smaller bathroom, or for those with younger children.

Home Addition: In-Law Suite

An estimated 60.6 million Americans now live in multi-generational homes, defined as “a household with two or more adult generations,” and it shows no signs of slowing down. There are many reasons for a household to turn into a multi-generational home.

With a large number of baby boomers that are financially able to include their parents or adult children in their homes, it allows for families to strengthen relationships with one another while living under the same roof. For many, it gives a “peace of mind” knowing that they can see their parents or children at home.

Some reasons why in-law suites are beneficial:

• Cut down on childcare costs
• Spend more time with family
• Peace of mind

Some things to consider when building an in-law suite:

Accessibility

By building the addition on the first floor, it will make it more accessible for the in-laws. Even if your parents or in-laws do not currently have mobility issues, it is a good idea to think ahead in the event that mobility becomes an issue.

Privacy

A separate entrance is typically preferred since the transition of moving in with a parent or in-law can be tough in some cases. Adding in a separate entrance to the suite can be a good solution.

Amenities

A large factor to consider when designing an in-law suite addition are the amenities. It is extremely important to assess what all needs to be included in the addition, and also note some items that may not be necessary now but could come in handy later on. For example, grab bars for the shower and wider doors could be necessary.

Kitchen

The choice to include a kitchen, or kitchenette, in the addition’s design is huge. It is important to determine what eating arrangements will typically be like for your family. Do you plan to have all meals separately? Eat every meal together? A mixture of the two? This will determine if you need to include a full kitchen with stove, a kitchenette with a microwave and small refrigerator, or no kitchen at all.

When considering building a home addition, whether that be an in-law suite, or just an addition to create more living space for your family, consider Balducci Additions and Remodeling. We have been serving the Richmond, Virginia area for over 30 years. Visit our page at balducciremodeling.com or call us toll free at 804-730-0982 to schedule an appointment for a free estimate.

Tips to Update Your Home Office

According to globalworkplaceanalytics.com, telework has grown about 94.8% in for-profit companies from 2005-2014 and we don’t see that number slowing down anytime soon. As the number of telecommuter jobs increases, so does the demand for a home office. We briefly mentioned home office spaces in our previous blog post: More Living Space: 5 Great Garage Conversion Ideas. A home office is beneficial for those who get distracted easily by things around the house and need more privacy to get work done at home. Don’t think updating your home office is worth the investment? Bank Rate claims that 44% of buyers would pay an extra $1,920 to pay for a home that includes a home office. A home office doesn’t have to break the bank. Here are some tips on creating a functional office space in your home:

Raise your computer to eye level. Many of us working desk jobs are hunched over day in and day out. Over time, this causes havoc to our health. A stand for your laptop will keep you neck and back straight.

Upgrade your desk chair. Traditional desk chairs can be dated and don’t provide much personality. Opt for an upholstered dining chair instead. Pick one that you love and you will want to sit there each day and get some work done! We like this one from West Elm:

Saddle Office Chairs – West Elm

Add some life to your space through plants or other greenery. We recommend low maintenance succulents for an effortless look. If you decide to go the floral route, try to avoid too much fragrance. This can cause a headache-definitely something that you want to avoid while working!

Curate your desk space. You should be leaving only the items that you use regularly out on your desk. All other items should be stowed away. In regards to the items that remain on your desk, these things should spark your creativity and inspire you to be productive.

Work Space – Photo: maryjanemorrisphotography.com

Want to see some inspirational home offices? Check out our “Home Office Inspiration” Pinterest board!

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