Nursery Room Designs You Will Fall In Love With

September 13, 2015January 17, 2023

While it’s tempting to think that your nursery is designed with your baby in mind, it’s more accurate to say that these rooms are designed for the parents. After all, you’re the one that will be interacting with the room all day, from rocking and changing to organizing and storing. At the same time, you’ll want to create a décor and function for the room that can grow with your child, becoming a space they can enjoy later on. To help you achieve these goals, there are numerous furniture pieces and design elements on the market now aimed at just this use. Try fitting any of these into your new nursery to make the most of the Richmond home addition.

nursery room richmond

Comfort Design

A rocker or a glider is an absolute essential in every nursery. This doesn’t mean, however, that you need to use an old fashioned wooden rocker or even a wooden glider with some tied on cushions. Today’s gliders look and feel more like a comfortable arm chair, with the gliding
mechanism hidden below. You can rock for hours in perfect, cushioned comfort while a decorative slip cover means that you can either change out the color and pattern of the chair whenever you want, or you can simply toss it in the wash if spills or stains occur.

To get the ultimate in comfort and style, be sure to pair this glider with an overstuffed ottoman as well. Now you’ll be able to put your feet up, have an extra place to sit temporarily, or give baby one more soft and comfortable item to pull up on when the time comes.

Striped Ceiling

The ceiling is one of the most overlooked areas of the home when it comes to style and design. Many people simply leave it a flat, painted white and are done with it. This doesn’t have to be the case, however; you can use the ceiling to add a lot of color and interest to the room design. This is particularly great in small or narrow nurseries because it means that you can introduce some playful color and pattern, without overwhelming the space as a whole.

Consider either a solid color stripe that will pick up an accent color for the bedding or a throw rug, or use a mixture of different colors and sizes. Stripes of all varieties are very hot in interior design right now, and what better place to create a colorful and fun display than in the nursery?

Stripes also allow you to visually elongate or widen a room depending on which direction you run them. For additional fun, you can also angle your stripes to meet at a point just above the crib to create a sunburst effect.

Built-In Shelves

It’s amazing just how much stuff you’ll accumulate during your baby’s first years. And all of this stuff will need a place to go that’s easily accessible, and easy to organize. Keep the floor of the room clutter free and easy to maintain by installing some built-in shelves on the walls of the room. You can use these shelves to hold books, diapers, toys, or decorative
elements. Have the shelves built at a variety of heights so that your little one can reach some to access their books and toys while keeping more fragile decorative elements out of reach.

For the most versatility and sleekest design, mix your shelves in with wall cubbies or cubes. This will help break up the walls visually, while ensuring that you have storage of every size. To help make your cubbies a little more playful, line the backs with decorative contact paper that coordinates with bedding, rugs, and linens in the room.

Double Duty Furnishings

One of the toughest parts of designing a nursery is to make sure that it can accommodate your baby now, and as she grows. This is what makes furniture that can pull double duty so appealing; it can help grow with your child so your overall nursery design can get more years out of it.

To that end, look for long, double dressers that are roughly 32- to 34-inches in height, and place a foam changing pad on top, rather than investing in a separate changing table. Use one half of the drawers on the dresser to hold diapers for now; it can be used to hold extra clothes or craft supplies later.

Convertible cribs are also a nice design option to consider. Don’t be fooled by cribs that are designed to eventually convert to a double bed; they often don’t hold up that long. A crib that can become a toddler bed, and that has a solid wood head and footboard, however, can keep your nursery looking great for longer.

If you invest in an ottoman for the nursery, consider opting for one that has a top that lifts off for extra storage. Over time, you can convert it to a toy box for extra functionality.

Create a Lasting Design

The ideal nursery combines form and function to create a space that’s playful, but that can grow with your child as well. Consider investing in any of these design elements to help create the perfect nursery for your baby, and look forward to watching your baby and the nursery grow together.

For any other tips on how to make your home remodeling a breeze, Classic Construction is available for all your Richmond remodeling services. To learn more, give us a call at 804-776-5070 or fill out our online form for a free consultation.

Author: Classic Construction

Established in 2001, Classic Construction has since become one of the leading Richmond remodeling companies. With decades in the home improvement industry, Brian Holder, company president, is intimately involved with every project and works with our vendors and installation crews to ensure every job runs smoothly and meets our high standards of quality and customer satisfaction.

3 Interior Paint Colors That Are Now Trending

July 8, 2015January 17, 2023

Trends in interior design change dramatically about every 10 years. During that time frame, you’ll often see subtle shifts, however, with certain colors or patterns beginning to emerge that help set the stage for what comes next. Trends of late have been moving to focus on a more natural look for the home, including the use of colors and materials that won’t date the space the way that Harvest Gold or Eisenhower Pink do. Therefore, if you’re looking to give your home an update, our Richmond home remodelers urge you to consider using one of these three paint colors for any room of your home. They’re guaranteed to give your home a fresh new look, without ensuring that it will be obsolete in just a few years.

Shades of Gray

Gray is the hottest and latest neutral color for any room of the home. While beige was once the go to color for those that didn’t want stark white, but didn’t want to commit to a true color either, many shades of gray have moved in to take its place.

The reason that gray is working well as a paint color right now is the way that it can have so many different undertones to it. For example you can find a gray with a warm, tan or brown undertone to it that will help it fit into a room with lots of natural wood and soft colors. You can also find a gray with a cool, nearly blue undertone that will make it the perfect complement to rooms with a cooler toned palette including white, blue, green, or purple.

Look for very dark, stormy grays for bedrooms and accent walls, and much lighter shades to use on living areas and entryways.

Blues

Like gray, many different shades of blue are also emerging as a hot shade to use throughout the home. Blue is a nice choice for homeowners that want to use some color, but want that color to be a “safe” choice. Blue is popping up everywhere in the home right now, from Country Blue in kitchens to very dark, midnight blue in bedrooms.

The key to using blue in the home is to make sure that what you’re using is a true blue. In other words, not a blue that is mixed with other colors like green. You want to avoid colors like turquoise, which was popular a few years back, and stick to richer and more saturated blues of all shades instead.

Nature-Inspired Greens

The third hottest trend in paint colors right now is going hand in hand with another interior design trend – the natural look. Rough stone counter edges and lots of natural wood are being found everywhere right now. And to complement them comes a palette of colors inspired by nature, including many shades of green.

The key here is to find greens that are found outdoors near your home. Think the green of pine trees, olives, and sunlit forests. Avoid greens that aren’t truly found in nature despite their names, such as seafoam green, as well as greens that are mixed with too much blue or yellow. The idea behind using green in the home today is to mix it with lots of natural wood to invoke the feeling of being outdoors, while you’re inside. Many of these greens are a little more on the subdued side, so if you’re wondering which direction to go, think darker or muted, rather than vivid and bright.

Use Color Well

The key to using many of today’s hottest colors is to think long term, and to blend colors seamlessly with the rest of your belongings. Lots of monochromatic color schemes are hot just now as well, for example using a lighter shade of blue on three walls of a room, and a rich dark blue as an accent wall. You want to create a color scheme that complements your home, rather than calling attention to itself in a way that will become dated in just a few years. Consider updating your home with a few of today’s hottest paint colors to give a big boost to your entire décor.

Author: Classic Construction

3 Reasons To Follow Your Contractor In Social Media

May 25, 2015January 17, 2023

Twitter, Facebook, Instagram; it seems like everyone you know is on social media these days, including your contractor. And while you may think you want to limit your social media contacts to just friends and family, there are some benefits to following your contractor as well.
Contractor In Social Media

Contractor Due Diligence

Everyone knows that you should be checking up on your new contractor before you sign anything and he gets to work, but too often this kind of thing gets overlooked. At the very least you ought to be checking with references and asking to see examples of previous work. This can help you get a feel for whether or not this contractor is right for the job; does his style match yours, what is his personality like, how does he run his business, etc.?

Following your contractor on social media is a great way to get to know him. You may see pictures of previous jobs that can help you get a sense of his competency and style, you may learn some of his philosophies, and just get a sense of how well you’ll be able to work together over the course of your project.

Depending on what social media platform your contractor is on (LinkedIn will have a lot more info than Pinterest will) you may also be able to review things like his license status and what kind of work he’s done in the past. All of this makes it a lot easier for you to determine if this is the right person for the job you’re able to undertake.

Tools Contractor Deals

If your contractor is having any kind of specials during a slow month to drum up business, or if he’s connected with a company or supplier that’s having a sale, you may hear about it on social media.

Sites like Twitter and Facebook are designed to help people make connections, particularly by businesses. By following your contractor, you’re letting him know you’re interested in what he may have to say. In return, he may point out things – both good and bad – about the suppliers or jobs he’s working on. For example, if he installs wood floors and learns of a big sale coming up, letting you about it not only helps you save money, it means that he’s more likely to get the work he’s after in the future.

Contractor Trade Tips

One thing that a lot of businesses tend to do on social media to interact with their customer base is to offer industry tips, information, or stories. Some contractors may offer tips on what you should look for before signing a contract to avoid getting scammed. Others may offer checklists of things you should be looking for around the house to help increase your energy efficiency.
By helping you out, your contractor may be hoping that you’ll remember him favorably when the time comes to do the job. In the meantime, though, you can be learning a lot about the industry and ways that you can maximize the success of your next home improvement project.

Start Following Now

You have a lot to gain and little to lose by following your contractor on social media. So look him up today and find out what you could be missing.

Author: Classic Construction

3 Secrets to Create the World’s Best Master Closet

December 24, 2014January 17, 2023

It’s something that nearly every homeowner dreams about at one point in time or another; a well-organized and spacious master bedroom closet. No matter how much or how little space you have, it is possible to achieve this dream. All you need to know are the three secrets that all great Richmond master bedroom closets have to get the closet you’ve always wanted.

You may think that you need to wait until you can renovate your existing space to get the closet you’re after, but there’s a lot you can do with the space you already have, provided that you’re using it wisely.

Compartments

No matter how much space you’re working with, dividing it up into compartments is one of the best ways to organize and maximize your space. Start with dividing up your belongings and making groups of everything that you need to store in the closet. For example, divide up your pants, your shirts, your sweaters, and your belts until you have a good grasp on how many different compartments you need, as well as the size and configuration of each one.

You can now start planning out the space. For example, you can purchase foldable pants racks that let you store numerous pairs of pants, all in perfect uncreased rows. These racks fold back out of the way when not in use to take up less space. You can also find belt racks, tie racks, shoe racks, as well as baskets and shelves for storing things like folded sweaters and accessories.

By carving your closet up into compartments each designed to hold a separate set of items, you can gain a lot of unexpected space in the closet. Remember that compartments can be built from floor to ceiling, as well as on the short walls of the closet, so you can get more things in there.

Shelving

A lot of people get hung up on creating the perfect closet by coming up with compartments for hanging clothes with lots of pull down bars and possibly some drawers for storing shirts and sweaters. The very best closets, however, may use these things, but also make very good use of shelves.

Shelves are far more versatile than rods or drawers. They allow you to see everything at a glance, and they give you a lot of different storage options. For example, you can put up a shoe rail, or place storage baskets on the shelves. You can also often place a shelf or two in areas that a rod or drawer just won’t go, such as at the very top of the closet or down toward the bottom beneath hanging clothes.

Good Lighting

It doesn’t matter how big or how well organized your closet is if you can’t see anything inside of it. Good lighting can make all the difference in a closet, enabling you to find things easily, and see the true color of items like socks, belts, and blouses, so you don’t need to remove them from the closet to find out if they’re going to match.

Start by investing in some good overhead lighting for the entire space. This is your overall or ambient lighting, and it will help brighten the space all together. Next, have some specific lighting to the larger cubbies, compartments or areas of the closet. For example, if you have a separate hanging area for pants, put a specific light above them to illuminate them better.

Finally, if you have small or out of the way areas of the closet, consider some small task lights. You can turn these on individually as you need them, so that you can better see things like ties or socks. You can also find some task lights that turn on automatically when you need them, such when you slide open a drawer or open a door.

Design the Closet of Your Dreams

With all the many different closet organization systems and components on the market today, it’s possible to create a closet that can suit your needs no matter what size you’re working with. Just be sure to include these 3 secrets to ensure your success.

Author: Classic Construction

Key Features of a Roof That Will Last a Very Long Time

November 26, 2014January 17, 2023

Your roof is one of the most important components of your home. Not only does it contribute to your home’s curb appeal, it helps protect your home from the elements, keeping out the rain, wind, sun, and snow that could damage your belongings.

newroof

Everyone knows that roofs are also one of the more expensive things to repair or replace on your home. Therefore, when it’s time to take care of your roof, you may want to consider investing in Richmond roofing materials and installation methods that will ensure it lasts as long as possible. After all, with everything you have riding on it, it only makes sense to ensure your roof returns the investment you put into it.

Your Roof’s Longevity

There are many factors that can contribute to how long your roof lasts. These include:

The material your roof is made of; slate, copper, and aluminum roofs will last longer than asphalt roofs.
The location you are in; areas with more moderate climates tend to have roofs that last a little longer than those in areas with a lot of sun, wind, hail, or rain.
The kind of maintenance you put in; regular roof maintenance is key to ensuring that your roof lasts the maximum lifespan. Maintenance includes regular inspections, removing snow in the winter, keeping your gutters clear, removing moss and algae, and replacing missing, broken, or curling shingles.

Ensuring Your Roof Lasts

When the time comes to repair or replace your roof, there are several things you can do to help ensure that it lasts as long as possible.

Get Attic Ventilation

You may wonder what your attic has to do with how long your roof lasts, but proper attic ventilation can go a long way toward maintaining the integrity of your roof. Attic vents help keep air moving. This ensures that your attic doesn’t become super heated in the summer, or that the warm air rising in your home doesn’t become trapped there in the winter.
Without the buildup of heat below it, your roof will not get as overheated in the summer, which will help prevent early deterioration of your shingles. And without a warm attic in the winter, the snow on your roof is less likely to melt, run to the edge of your roof, and refreeze into an ice dam that will force water to back up under your shingles.
Most attics are under ventilated, and many roofing contractors will also install attic vents at the same time they replace your roof. Investing in additional vents will not only help your roof last longer, they’ll help your home stay more comfortable as well.

Stripping Old Shingles

It is possible to layer a set of asphalt shingles over an old set. And some homeowners choose to do this to cut down on the cost of roof replacement. Unfortunately, this can cause some problems that may eventually lead to your roof deteriorating faster.

shingle removal
First, you can only layer shingles once. So if you already have two layers, you risk the third layer not adhering as well to the roof, and causing problems with leaks.
Second, many roofs aren’t redone all at once. So if you only need a partial reroofing, the newer section and the older section probably won’t match one another at the peak. The ridge cap has to be modified to help disguise this, which can lead to potential leaks in this area down the road.
Finally, if the original set of shingles was in poor shape, you won’t know what was going on below them if you don’t pull them up. Wood rot, mold, and mildew are all issues found with a leaking roof. When you seal all that in with a new layer of shingles, you could be risking the integrity of the roof deck, and leading to much higher repair bills down the road.
By stripping the old shingles, you can ensure that there are no problems with the roof deck before you reroof. You can also ensure that the new shingles go on properly and that the correct underlayments are used so you have fewer leaks in the future.

Using Good Materials

Depending on the type of home you live in, and the climate your house is in, you may want to consider one of a few different roofing materials to help ensure the longevity of your roof.
Architectural shingles, for example, last on average about 10 years longer than standard shingles. They’re thicker, with a different installation method than the standard three-tab shingles, which gives them a better appearance and a longer life.
Standing seam metal roofs are also growing in popularity amongst homeowners for the simple reason that this type of roof can last for a lot longer with less maintenance than a traditional asphalt shingle roof. If you have a modern or rustic home, this style of roof fits right in and can last twice as long as an asphalt roof. Metal shingles are also available to give you a more traditional look, but with the same longevity as well.
If you have an historic home, and want to put the money into it, copper and slate roofs can last for a hundred years or more. These materials are expensive and difficult to find a contractor for, but their longevity and relative low maintenance combined with their beauty makes them well worth it for many homeowners.

Invest in Your Roof

There’s a lot riding on your roof, from the way your house looks to how well it holds up to the elements. Make sure your roof lasts as long as possible by investing in these methods. Over time, you’ll find it more than worth the effort.

For any other tips on how to make your home remodeling a breeze, Classic Construction
is available for all your Richmond remodeling services. To learn more, give us a call at 804-776-5070 or fill out our online form for a free consultation.

Author: Classic Construction

Super-Smart Lighting Ideas to Brighten Your Home

November 17, 2014January 17, 2023

Everyone knows that lighting is one of the most important parts of an interior design. A room without a lot of natural or artificial light can feel dark, cramped, and oppressive. In other words, it becomes a place that no one wants to be in.
There are three general types of lighting that you need to consider when designing a room’s interior
1. Ambient lighting
2. Accent lighting
3. Task lighting
Using all three together is the best way to brighten up any room. To ensure that your room’s design is as bright and functional as possible, try combining a few of these super-smart lighting ideas throughout your home.

1. Ambient Lighting Ideas

Ambient lighting permeates the entire room. Richmond replacement windows give you ambient light, as do lights that are installed on or in your ceiling. This is the light that you turn on as soon as you enter a room, and no matter what other light you may have installed there, ambient lighting is usually always on when you’re using a space. Good ambient lighting should illuminate the entire area evenly, yet be in the background of the design at the same time.

kitchen lighting
A few tricks to ensuring that your ambient lighting is up to the task of brightening a room include:

Using mirrors opposite natural light sources in dark rooms to double the amount of natural light in the space
Using a combination of recessed lighting and domed ceiling lighting fixtures within the same room – recessed lighting gets you some of the best ambient lighting around, while a few well placed domed fixtures give your room a little extra style and interest
Using dual fixtures in one room – this used to be a no-no, but new trends in lighting are emerging that say that it’s totally fine to install two fixtures – even if they don’t match – at opposite ends of a room to bring in more light
Using decorative track lighting in modern homes – follow the lines of your furnishings, counters, or cabinets with the track to add style as well as light

2. Accent Lighting Ideas

Accent lighting is the additional light that brightens a room while decorating and highlighting the space at the same time. Accent lighting can take on a few different personas. Sconces on either side of your bathroom mirror, pendant lighting above a kitchen peninsula or dining room table, and recessed spot lights above wall art are all examples of accent lighting. They are illuminating a specific spot in the room to help show it off and brighten a smaller area.

A few new trends and smart ideas in accent lighting you can try in your home include:

Hanging drum pendants in sleek, minimalist designs as part of the trend sweeping through kitchens and dining areas of modern and transitional homes
Using sconces and pendants that have a white finish to them – the white color is not only unobtrusive and unlikely to go out of style, it also makes the entire space look brighter
Making your accent lighting part of your décor by using industrial and global inspirations such as art glass, etched metal finishes, and warmer metal tones to draw the eye to the fixture and make it more than just a source of light
Using lanterns designed for the indoors – people have been bringing outdoor lanterns in for years and manufacturers have finally listened with a brand-new line of indoor lanterns that really cast a lot of bright light, while adding a unique accent and style to a room

3. Task Lighting Ideas

Task lighting is one of the most important, and yet overlooked types of lighting in the home. This is the light that illuminates only the area that you are currently working in – and nowhere else. Under cabinet lighting in your kitchen or a reading lamp on your desk are great examples of task lighting. The idea behind task lighting is that you while you could use the space without it, why should you have to? Task lighting makes it easier to see areas that may get cast into shadow, particularly during times of day when there isn’t any natural lighting around such as in the evening.

taks lighting
Smart ideas and trends in task lighting include:

Using bright white light fixtures in areas such as under cabinet lighting to provide the most natural looking light to darker areas
Installing long lights or tube lights beneath cabinets rather than small recessed or touch lights, because they give you more even lighting over the entire area
Installing adjustable sconces on or just above the headboard of your bed to give you perfectly placed reading light
Using bathroom sconces that have long, flexible necks to allow you to move the light closer or further from the mirror so you can get the right amount of lighting for the task at hand

Enhance Your Interiors

Lighting is one of those areas of design that don’t get nearly as much emphasis as they should. The best lights are the ones that illuminate your home so perfectly that you never feel like you’re in the shadows, regardless of where or when you’re working in the home. In addition, good lighting should complement the rest of your décor, fitting seamlessly into your interior design. Pay a little extra attention to your lighting choices throughout your home and make better use of your entire space.
Please share with this with your social media contacts and leave us your questions and comments below!

For any other tips on how to make your home remodeling
a breeze, Classic Construction
is available for all your Richmond remodeling services. To learn more, give us
a call at 804-776-5070 or fill out our online form for a free consultation.

Author: Classic Construction

How to Create a Tech-Ready Home

November 6, 2014January 17, 2023

How to Create a Tech-Ready Home
As home technology becomes more and more important to day to day living, have you given any thought to how tech-ready your house is? Many people assume that all they need is a wireless internet connection, maybe a cable and phone connection, and they’re set. This is far from the case, however.

Today’s tech-ready home opens the door to dozens of different possibilities, including giving your TVs and gaming systems internet access without the restrictions and lag time that wireless can bring. Best of all, making your home tech-ready is much easier – and less expensive – than you may think when you work with our Richmond home remodelers.

What Does It Mean to Make a Home Tech-Ready?

Despite the massive changes in home technology that have occurred over the past 30 years, most homes are still being wired to regulations and standards set in the mid 1980s. This means that you have electrical outlets in every room, probably a minimum of five phone jacks, and maybe a few cable outlets as well. One of these cable outlets may be dedicated for your internet usage, allowing you to plug a modem into the wall that you can then use to either get wireless internet from, or to plug your computer into.
A tech-ready home is different. These homes have hard-wire internet capabilities in every room of the house, letting you plug your computer, TV, or gaming system straight into the wall. No more lag time when you’re playing a game, and no more buffering when you’re streaming on Netflix; hard-wired internet connections have far fewer delays when processing large amounts of information.
In addition, tech-ready homes are also optimized for other home technologies, including:

Audio systems that lets you play music through speakers in any room of the house and send new music to any of your collections seamlessly
Integrated security systems that help protect your home
Automation of your security cameras, lights, and heating cooling systems with access from your Smartphone
Home networking that lets you connect all the devices and printers in your home on one network so you can get things done faster

What’s Included in a Tech-Ready Home?

To ensure that your home is tech-ready there is a basic set of components that you should have installed. This ensures that no matter where you go in the home, you can access the technologies you need. At a minimum, a tech-ready home will have:

A cabinet or HUB, with many homes having two
Five telephone wires or five phone jacks
Five television wires or cable ports
Six internet or data wires or internet jacks
One prewire for a security system

Getting Your Home Tech-Ready

If you’re ready to get the latest in home-technology, the whole process is much easier than you may think. The national average cost to get your home tech-ready runs around $5 a square foot, with fluctuations occurring depending on where you live and what additional services you may require.
Most electricians and home technology contractors can wire your home in less than a day. That means that you could wake up one morning and have trouble streaming the news, and go to bed that night listening to music from your hardwired bedrooms speakers while you effortlessly stream Apple TV.

Get Tech Ready

Having a tech-ready home means that your home is wired to the specifications made by companies like Panasonic, Sony, and Apple so that you can make better use of their devices. Don’t settle for home wiring systems that are stuck in the 20 century; make better, smarter use of your home technology by having your home tech-ready, and be prepared for the future.

Author: Classic Construction

6 Ways to Reduce Energy Costs In Your Home

October 22, 2014January 17, 2023

6 Ways to Reduce Energy Costs In Your Home
As energy prices continue to rise and authorities predict another winter with record cold temperatures, your thoughts are probably turning to your energy bill and what it’s going to look like in a few months time. But what if your bill could be lower in just a few months, rather than higher?

According to studies done on home energy improvements, for every dollar that you spend on home improvements to reduce energy costs in your home, you’ll save about seven. That’s a big savings in your pocket every month just by investing in these six home energy improvements.

Energy improvement can be made throughout your home. The type of returns you’ll see will depend largely on the age of your home and the shape it was in prior to the improvements. These six energy cost reduction methods should help you see lower bills year round.

Improve Attic Insulation

Most homes have inadequate insulation. Some older homes never had enough to begin with, and in many homes the insulation has degraded, been moved by contractors, or been rearranged by pests and animals. This means that you’re probably losing heat from the places you need it most.

Attic insulation can help your home hold onto heat in the winter. It can also prevent the super-heated attic air in the summer from sinking through the ceiling and into the rest of your home. You’ll notice lower energy bills and a more comfortable temperature year round just with this one improvement.

Don’t Forget Crawl Space Insulation

Crawl spaces, nooks, crannies, and walls all need to have adequate insulation as well, or your hard earned money will just pour out of the house. If your home is older, chances are these places have no insulation in them at all, so adding some will give you a major boost in energy efficiency and comfort.

Newer types of insulation can be blown right into your walls and crawl spaces as well, so the whole process is minimally invasive and less time consuming than you may think.

Install Thermal Windows

Windows are one of the biggest sources of energy loss in the home. It’s estimated that poorly insulated and sealed windows could be losing you as much as 40% of the energy you use to heat and cool your home. New advancements in window technologies can lower your energy bill by 20% just by switching out your old panes for new thermal versions Richmond replacement windows.

Thermal windows have double or triple paned glass, often with a Low-E coating that helps them insulate better. Windows with argon gas between the panes also insulate better to help save you more money.

If you already have thermal windows, make sure you check them for air gap. Air gap or a poor air seal accounts for the other 20% of energy lost through windows and doors. Having them sealed up will seriously lower your energy bills.

Use High Efficiency HVAC Systems

The system you use to heat and cool your home is responsible for a large portion of your energy bill. If yours is 10 years old or older, you can see a very significant reduction in your energy bill by upgrading to a new model.

For air conditioning units, look for a high SEER number. SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating and each point you go up in SEER saves you about 10% on your energy bill.

For your furnace, look for the Energy Star logo. Every certified furnace is guaranteed to save at least 4% on your energy bill over older models.

When you have your system installed, be sure to have your ducts checked and cleaned as well. Dirty and leaky ducts can lose as much as 20% of the energy your HVAC system is putting out. So get them cleaned and sealed to stop the energy loss.

Replace Your Toilets

Think about how many times you flush your toilet each day. Now consider how much water your toilet is using with each flush. Most toilets use about 1.6 gallons of water with each flush, but if your toilet was installed before 1994, it could use 3 gallons or more per flush. Newer models use roughly 1.3 gallons and some high efficiency models by Toto use only 1 gallon per flush. This may not sound like much of a reduction, but by switching you can save up to 4,000 gallons of water per year in a normal household. That’s a major savings on your water bill each month.

Replace Your Showerheads

Think about how long you stand in the shower each day. Now think about how long each member of your family uses the shower for. Multiply every minute of shower use by seven – the average number of gallons per minute that most older showerheads put out. That’s a lot of water going down the drain each day.

Newer water saving showerheads use 2.5 gallons of water per minute. Do the math again, and you’ll find a major reduction in water usage each day from this one small change. And don’t worry; new shower technology means that you won’t notice a reduction in pressure or flow from the switch, although your wallet certainly will.

Reduce Your Energy Costs in Home Today

Name: Classic Construction
Price range: $$
Rating: 5

Most of these changes don’t take a lot of time to do, and remember that nearly every investment you make in improving your energy usage will pay for itself over a very short period of time. Make the change today to start improving your energy usage and see what kind of savings you can accrue.

For any other tips on how to make your home remodeling
a breeze, Classic Construction
is available for all your Richmond remodeling services. To learn more, give us
a call at 804-776-5070 or fill out our online form for a free consultation.

Author: Classic Construction

Hot, New Trends in Kitchen Appliances

October 9, 2014January 17, 2023

Kitchen appliances are integral to every Richmond kitchen remodel. They’re what you use to cook your food, keep it cold, and clean up after you’re done. These aren’t the only things that kitchen appliances can do, however; from spicing up your style to offering you newer amenities, today’s kitchen appliances do it all and more.

Seven New Trends in Kitchen Appliances

While natural materials and finishes are making waves in other parts of the kitchen, these seven trends are heating up the appliances. Take a look to find out what’s in store.

Copper Finishes

Finishes throughout kitchens are turning warmer and moving away from ubiquitous stainless steel. Say hello to copper stove fronts, hoods, and appliance pulls instead. The key here, though, is that while you can find copper showing up on appliances all over the place, it’s the bespoke items – the ones that you have made just for you – that are really gaining traction. Invest in a new copper hood above your stove and watch its living finish age with time to always stay on trend.

Bold Colors

In addition to copper, bold and unusual colors are sweeping across kitchen appliances everywhere. Unlike Harvest Gold or Avocado Green, however, these colors are not likely to date your kitchen any time soon. Colors like cool turquoise blue and bold red have been found on Aga’s for years. Now, they’re turning up on nearly every brand and coordinating with the hot new colors and finishes found in the rest of the kitchen.

Hi Def Refrigeration

A TV in the kitchen isn’t exactly new, but a refrigerator that offers you high definition viewing built right into its front is. One of the hottest trends in kitchen appliances today are those that pull double duty, like the HDTV Refrigerator by LG. It offers a 15-inch screen complete with remote access, and the ability to hook up cable or a DVD player so you don’t have to miss a thing while you’re making dinner.

Retractable Stove Tops

Anyone that spends time in the kitchen knows that there’s nothing like cooking with gas. The fast and even heating of a gas cooktop just can’t be found on electric models. Unfortunately, for the last several years home chefs have had to choose between the function of a gas stove, and the easy cleaning and sleek style of glass-topped electric stoves.
Now you can have both, with new gas stove tops that have retractable burners. The latest models by Fisher & Paykel are in stores now. They have a flat, black surface that extends to offer you a natural gas burner which retracts when you’re through. Now your cooking and your cleanup can be a breeze.

Counter Refrigeration

Stop trekking down to the wine cellar every time you want a bottle, and invest in some counter refrigeration instead. Wine fridges have been around for a while, but newer models are quickly gaining steam by allowing you to install them beneath or on top of your kitchen counters. They can maintain the temperature to an extremely precise degree offering superior wine storage capabilities as well. Now you can keep your wine at the perfect temperature right inside your kitchen, no wine cellar necessary. And if wine isn’t your thing, you can use a counter refrigerator for a host of other beverages and foods that may need climate controlled refrigeration as well.

Invisible Appliances

While contemporary kitchens are showing off their appliances in hot new colors with cool new gadgets, formal and traditional kitchens are taking a different route. In these kitchens the invisible appliance is the one making the most headway. Appliance panels that match the rest of the kitchen cabinets and details are installed on top of the appliance doors. The result is that the appliance fades away into the background of the kitchen, letting other details take center stage.

Better Food Storage

With the emphasis that more people are placing on healthy, fresh foods in the home, appliance manufacturers are beginning to take notice. New refrigerators like the GE Profile are available that have dual cooling systems to help your food stay fresher for longer, so you can invest more in healthy produce.

Catch the Latest Trends

Make sure that your kitchen is up to the minute on style and function by paying attention to the hottest new kitchen appliance trends. Many of these can fit beautifully into several kitchens, so why not yours?

Author: Classic Construction

How To Create The Addition Of Your Dreams

September 20, 2014January 17, 2023

Have you seen the hit TV show on HGTV “Love it or List it?”

It is the show where a homeowner does extensive renovations and then must make the tough choice to stay or move. In most cases the owners “Love it” and want to stay! The reason is simple, it is expensive and so much work to move to a new house.

That is the beauty of a Richmond home addition.

Are you tired of not having space for your expanding family?
Tired of not being able to tie your indoor and outdoor space together?
Tired of not having your man cave?

These problems are easier to solve then most homeowners realize. The key is to design and maximize additional space that meets the needs of your family.

Sometimes you will want to add space on the back of your home.
Sometimes you will want to add space on the side of your home.
Sometimes you will want to add a second floor.
Sometimes you may want to to convert your attic into a master bedroom suite.

That is the whole key! It starts with your needs for a new master bedroom with a giant walk in closet and spa-like mater bath. Or maybe your need for a nice man cave in your basement where you and your buddies can watch football and play pool. Or maybe you change your deck into a sun room!

An addition is like a white paper and you are free to create the space of your dreams. There are a lot of considerations once you know what you want including permits, materials and final design selections.

The key to making that piece easier is your contractor!

Your contractor must be able to understand your vision, your goals and your needs and then transform your input into the addition of your dreams. Your contractor can guide you to materials that look awesome, but also save you money. Your contractor can guide you to the best “green” materials that help you save the environment while also saving you costs on your energy bill.

Your contractor also needs to clearly communicate with you on design and material selections along with the overall timeline and permit requirements.

If your family is expanding and you need more space, just add it with the perfect addition.

Check out this before and after on this home we recently transformed. What details do you notice in the renovation addition? Leave us your comments below on what you see & what you like about it.

Before

After

For any other tips on how to make your home remodeling a breeze, Classic Construction
is available for all your Richmond remodeling services. To learn more, give us a call at 804-776-5070 or fill out our online form for a free consultation.

Category: Construction 101

Author: Classic Construction

Popular Post

Categories

Shades of Gray

Blues

Nature-Inspired Greens

Use Color Well

Author: Classic Construction

Popular Post

Categories

Author: Classic Construction

Popular Post

Categories

Author: Classic Construction

Popular Post

Categories

Your Roof’s Longevity

Ensuring Your Roof Lasts

Get Attic Ventilation

Stripping Old Shingles

Using Good Materials

Invest in Your Roof

Author: Classic Construction

Popular Post

Categories

1. Ambient Lighting Ideas

2. Accent Lighting Ideas

3. Task Lighting Ideas

Enhance Your Interiors

Author: Classic Construction

Popular Post

Categories

What Does It Mean to Make a Home Tech-Ready?

What’s Included in a Tech-Ready Home?

Getting Your Home Tech-Ready

Get Tech Ready

Author: Classic Construction

Popular Post

Categories

Improve Attic Insulation

Don’t Forget Crawl Space Insulation

Install Thermal Windows

Use High Efficiency HVAC Systems

Replace Your Toilets

Replace Your Showerheads

Reduce Your Energy Costs in Home Today

Author: Classic Construction

Popular Post

Categories

Seven New Trends in Kitchen Appliances

Copper Finishes

Bold Colors

Hi Def Refrigeration

Retractable Stove Tops

Counter Refrigeration

Invisible Appliances

Better Food Storage

Catch the Latest Trends

Author: Classic Construction

Popular Post

Categories

Author: Classic Construction

Popular Post

Categories