Home Additions and renovations in Dallas & Toronto

Karen Homes provides home additions and renovations in Dallas & Toronto

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Why a kitchen remodeling Project must use quality kitchen cabinets

A kitchen remodeling is tricky to get right. You’ve got to strike exactly the right balance between form and function, as nowadays it’s a room that’s used for both practical purposes (preparing food) and for entertainment (dining). So it’s not just about integrating the appliances into the design in a space efficient way or making sure that storage is plentiful and accessible, it’s also about getting the aesthetic just right and creating the right atmosphere in the room. No single feature makes a contribution on all of these levels as significant as the cabinetry that’s chosen does.

During the design and planning stage of a kitchen renovation, our team always emphasizes the importance of selecting quality cabinets for this reason. Want to know what benefits can be experienced if you spend a little more to implement better quality cabinets during your kitchen remodeling? Well keep reading!

More Than a Box and Some Hinges: Our Kitchen Remodeling Experts Talk About Quality Cabinetry

Why are we placing such a high level of importance on the cabinets you select; they’re just boxes with some hinges and a door, right?! Fundamentally, you would be right in saying that, but really, your cabinets are so much more than what they appear. Here’s why you should carefully select your kitchen cabinetry when undergoing a kitchen remodeling project and a few reasons why you would be wise to opt for a quality option!

  • Cabinets Occupy a BIG Surface Area – Your kitchen cabinets will have a considerable impact upon how your new kitchen appears from a visual perspective after a kitchen remodeling has been done. Why? Well, simply because of the sheer amount of space they occupy in the overall design. If you walk into any kitchen, quite possibly the first thing you always notice are the cabinets. Even if the rest of the kitchen’s fixtures and fittings are top notch, if poor quality cabinets are used, they will make the overall design much less impressive. However, choose the right cabinets and the rest of the design often seems to fall into place!
  • They Outlast Lower Grade Cabinets – In today’s day and age there’s a cheap, generic, mass-produced option in every type of market and the kitchen remodeling industry is no different. You can pay as much as you want or as little as you want for kitchen cabinets, but there is a big difference in the quality of the product you receive, most noticeably in terms of longevity. Higher quality cabinets installed as part of your kitchen remodeling can last for as long as 15 years, while lower grade options may need replacing in as few as five. So as you can see, while you may end up spending a bit more initially, you will almost certainly end up ahead in the long run. And not only are the materials more durable, but because they’re higher quality, it’s also usually possible to have these cabinets refinished rather than just replacing them, further lengthening their lifespan.
  • Combined Form & Function – When you opt for a lower quality option, you typically only get one of these attributes or none. This because they are not designed in a way that uses the interior space of the cabinet particularly effectively and while the lower grade materials may be able to imitate more prestigious materials reasonably well for a time, it won’t be long before their appearance starts to look a little worn. However, quality cabinets offer you the best of both worlds, often containing much more complex interior designs to allow for the efficient storage of your kitchen utensils and supplies, while retaining a stunning exterior appearance. After all, nothing looks quite like pine or mahogany than real pine and mahogany does.
  • Irregular Shaped Spaces – No Problem! – Our Toronto kitchen remodeling team must have visited thousands of kitchens in Toronto over the years and we can tell you that many of them had certain areas that could only be described as being “irregularly shaped.” While that doesn’t have to be the end of the world and won’t necessarily ruin the room’s design, it does make it difficult to utilize stock cabinets (the lower quality options typically found in big box stores). These cabinets are made to pre-determined specifications and it’s very, very unlikely you’ll find an option that fits in with your kitchen’s irregular shape perfectly. The result is cabinets that either don’t fit flush to the wall or cabinets that leave ugly gaps that do nothing more than gather dust. In these situations, our kitchen remodeling team would always recommend opting for a higher end, custom solution that can be made to measure. Not only will they perform better, but they’ll make your kitchen look a lot more complete too.
  • Your Own Design – A kitchen remodeling project is your chance to put your own stamp on your kitchen and project your own identity onto it. Perhaps you’ve been living with a kitchen that the previous owners had put in or maybe you’ve always lived in rentals and had no say in the matter. So now that you’ve got the chance to incorporate your own tastes and preferences into the design of one of your home’s most important rooms, why would you choose to use something generic, designed by someone aiming to please the average Joe? With higher quality cabinets you get much more say in the matter and you can influence the appearance and features that your new cabinets possess both inside and outside.

If you’ve decided that you’ve had enough of your current kitchen and would like to update it but don’t know where to start, get in touch with the team of professionals at Karen Homes. We’ve been involved in hundreds of kitchen renovation projects, as well as bathroom renovation and basement renovation work, and we are highly skilled at being able to bring a client’s vision to life in a cost effective manner.

Call Karen Homes today for your Kitchen remodeling project

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Kitchen Renovation Mistakes That Can Turn a Dream into a Nightmare

When people talk about kitchen remodeling and kitchen renovation projects, they tend to focus on things that you should do and tips to help ensure the project is a success. But it’s equally important to be aware of what you shouldn’t do during a kitchen renovation. By knowing what other people have done wrong and how that has ultimately ended up impacting their kitchen negatively when the work had been completed and they came to use their new space, you can increase the likelihood that you won’t suffer the same fate.

We’ve been sharing our knowledge and assisting homeowners in Toronto with renovation projects for over 15 years, sometimes coming in and re-designing their room from scratch and other times cleaning up a disaster left behind by an under qualified contractor. Throughout that period we’ve seen many examples of things that definitely shouldn’t be done during a kitchen renovation and we’re going to share some of those examples with you today.

Avoid These Mistakes to Stop Your Kitchen Renovation From Turning into a Horror Show

This is not a comprehensive list by any means and for best results we would always recommend working with a team of experienced Toronto kitchen remodeling contractors,who will be able to tailor a design to your specific requirements. However, avoiding the following design mistakes is a good place to start.

  • Lighting: Poor Placement & Selection – Many homeowners are guilty of this and it’s not usually one or the other; many times both the wrong type of lighting is selected and it is then put in the wrong place. What we’ve seen on a consistent basis is that the lighting is one of the last design elements to be decided upon – it’s almost like it’s an afterthought – and by this time the homeowner doesn’t have the time, energy or patience left to make a well informed decision. In reality, the lighting should always be decided upon before any tools are picked up and remodeling starts. If you don’t do this, you’re missing a trick, as lighting is relatively inexpensive in comparison to other design features, but it can have a BIG impact upon the finished design, both in a practical sense and an aesthetic sense.
  • Being Too Cheap With Your Cabinets – This is also a common problem. We’ve even visited extremely expensive properties in the Toronto area and found them to have extremely cheap, ugly looking cabinetry in the kitchen and bathroom areas. Under no circumstances would we recommend you skimp on your cabinets during a kitchen renovation. They are quite possibly the most important feature in the entire room, occupying a significant proportion of the space visually and tasked with storing an enormous range of different items. Allocate more of your total budget to the purchase of higher quality cabinetry; it can make an enormous amount of difference to the end result that your kitchen renovation produces.
  • Not Realizing the Importance of the Floor – Another element that many people take for granted during a kitchen renovation is the floor. Just like with the cabinetry, it occupies a large amount of space and has a big impact upon the visual appeal of the room when it’s finished. “But it’s just something we walk on” many people protest; yes, it is, but a sub-standard floor can make the whole room look a lot cheaper. Not only that, but the kitchen is one of the most high traffic areas in nearly every household in Toronto and needs to be able to stand up to that daily wear and tear, otherwise you will find yourself replacing it sooner that you really want to. In many ways, the floor you select is the foundation of your kitchen’s new design.
  • Going OTT With Appliances – I don’t know how many times we’ve seen this one before. Many homeowners seem to feel the need to own every type of appliance that you could imagine, regardless of whether they are actually likely to use them or not. Yes, it’s nice to have a bread maker or a rotisserie machine. They look impressive, but for the majority of people they just aren’t a practical solution. Maybe you don’t have the time to make your own bread or to sit there watching your chickens as they turn, or maybe you just prefer what your local store can offer you. Whatever your situation is, the bottom line is that many people fritter away large amounts of their budget on items they will rarely, if ever, use. This money would be better invested into more fundamental design elements, a couple of which we’ve already mentioned – the cabinets and the floor. Think quality, not quantity, when deciding on the features you want to include as part of your kitchen renovation.
  • Not Including Enough Counter Space – One thing that many homeowners tell us they wish they could change about their kitchen is a lack of counter space. It’s all very well and good having a zillion cabinets, an endless array of sliding drawers and a top of the range hob, but what about workspace? Food preparation can get a bit chaotic for the average homeowner and I’m sure you’ll admit that it’s always good to have plenty of counter space when you’re “mid-cook.” Don’t neglect this aspect of your kitchen’s design during a kitchen renovation. One way that extra counter space can be added to a kitchen relatively easily is through the incorporation of a central island.

If you want to be sure you avoid these pitfalls (and the rest) and end up with the kitchen of your dreams, get in touch with the team of professionals at Karen Homes.

We have decades of combined kitchen remodeling experience and pride ourselves on our ability to produce the best possible results with the budget that we are provided with.

Contact us today for a free kitchen renovation consultation on 416-661-6006.

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Custom Homes: The Right Choice For You?

If you’re in the market for a new home and you’re looking to buy as opposed to rent, you’ve got one main decision to make before you can proceed with your search: Should you opt to buy a production built home, an existing home that’s on the housing market or would a custom home be a better fit for you? The main difference between the first couple of options and the latter is fairly obvious; with custom homes you have total control (although taking heed of the advice of an experienced custom home builder is definitely necessary!) in terms of the design of your new home. You can choose how big you want it to be, how many of each type of room it should have and you can design the floor plan in a way that suits your way of living.

Having said that, customs homes aren’t the best choice for everyone. So, how do you decide whether a custom home is the right option for your situation? Well, that’s what we’re going to discuss in this post.

How to Decide Whether Custom Homes Are the Right Way Forward

Investing in a property, whether that be buying a home listed on the housing market or buying a piece of land and having one constructed to your specifications, is a big deal. As you’re almost certainly aware, it probably represents the biggest financial commitment that you’ll ever make. Here are a few points to help you decide whether your interest in custom homes is worth investigating further.

  • Are You Prepared to Pay More? – One of the most fundamental criteria that needs to be assessed when considering whether a custom home would be a good fit for your situation is the budget you have available. Custom homes will virtually always cost more than the typical production home or one that’s for sale on the housing market, and they are therefore not the ideal solution for anyone that has fairly strict financial constraints. Do you have the financial resources available to be able to pay all of the extra costs? Having custom blueprints drawn up can cost thousands more on its own and you also have to think about the costs relating to acquiring a suitable piece of land. Land prices can vary tremendously depending on exactly where the land is situated and how big it is. There a long list of costs attached to custom homes that’s enough to make your head spin, with land surveys to arrange, permits to obtain, the materials to buy, a general contractor to hire – and that’s just a taste of things to come. We’re not trying to scare you away from the idea of a custom home, but it’s a process that you have to go into with your eyes wide open!
  • Can You Wait? – It’s not just the financial aspects that you have to consider when deciding whether a custom home is a viable option; time is a big issue too. If you go to an estate agent and purchase one of the homes they have listed for sale, you might be able to get moved into and settled in your home in a matter of just a few short weeks. It’s a very different story when investing in a custom home though, which will take at least a few months to complete and it’s not uncommon for the entire process to take as long as a year. Do your current living arrangements permit you to wait so long? Would you have somewhere to stay while your custom home was being built?
  • Prepared for the Added Stress? – Searching for a new home on the housing market can be stressful too. If you’ve been looking for a long time it can start to feel like you’re never going to find a property that meets your requirements, but it’s an entirely different kind of pressure to that often experienced with custom home projects. We make no bones about it – constructing a custom home is a big challenge and it requires a lot of patience. Not only because of the length of the process, but because things can and likely will go wrong at some point. Whether it be a permit that takes longer to obtain than expected or a missing delivery of tiles for your bathrooms, these unexpected events can be testing for even the calmest of individuals.
  • If You’re Sick of Looking – If you’ve viewed what seems like thousands of properties and been to dozens of showrooms for production built projects and have not even come close to seeing anything that you remotely liked, then it may be time to admit defeat and start thinking seriously about custom homes. When an individual has a very clear vision about what they want and that vision is a little different to everyone else’s, it may be near impossible to find what you’re so desperately looking for. Custom homes will allow you to stop searching and to focus on turning your ideas into a reality, first on paper and then right before your eyes on the piece of land you select.
  • Do You Have Special Requirements? – Production homes are built for the average person who is likely to have fairly standard requirements. They can be customized to a certain extent, but there is a limit to what can be done with their design. If you or any of your family members have special requirements, maybe due to a disability, it can be hard to find a home that is suitable. You will likely need to have a big input during the design and construction processes, and custom homes offer you that opportunity.

Custom homes are certainly not for everyone but depending on your specific circumstances they can be a very good fit. To talk to our experienced custom home design and construction team, who have been operating in Toronto for over 15 years, contact Karen Homes today on 416-661-6006.

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Inspire Your Basement Renovation With These Ideas

If your basement has been a space that you’ve continually neglected over the years and you’ve decided that this year you’re finally going to do something to put that right and properly utilize that space, well done. In many, many homes across Toronto, homeowners are really missing a golden opportunity by not making the most of their basement. Do you know how much it costs to add extra living space to a property in the form of home additions? Typically tens of thousands of dollars. And the one thing that many homeowners in the area desire above anything else is extra living space, yet they choose to leave their basement virtually unused, often dark and musty, filled with old clothes, kids’ toys from a couple of decades ago and various other odds and ends.

A basement renovation is one of the best home improvement projects to undertake, not just because of the obvious practical benefits that can be achieved, but because it’s almost unrivalled in terms of return on investment. You see, you’re not creating anything new, you’re just tapping into an existing resource, which is much, much cheaper. Keep reading to learn about some of the most interesting ideas we’ve come across for basement spaces.

Turn a Damp, Dark Space into Anything You Want With a Basement Renovation

Transforming your basement doesn’t have to cost the earth. In fact, there are many basement remodeling ideas that can be implemented very cost effectively and create a new area of your home that you can enjoy. Use the following ideas to inspire and ignite your creative spark.

  • Your Own Bar – Going to a bar after a hard day’s work can be a great way to relax, but rather than dragging yourself into town, why not go to your very own basement bar?! Not only a great space to relax during the week, but by doing your basement out as a bar area, whether with a sleek modern look or more of a vintage pub aesthetic, you have another area in your home which can be used to entertain guests. We’ve seen homeowners have a lot of fun during similar basement renovation projects, using strong influences from their past to create the perfect design.
  • Entertainment Space – One of the most popular uses of a basement area nowadays (or at least one that has undergone a basement renovation) is as an entertainment area. Whether there’s only adults residing in your property or you’ve got several young children to amuse, during your basement renovation you can come up with a design that keeps everyone happy. The fact that a basement is underground means there’s very little natural light that enters the room and outside noise is dampened out too – ideal conditions for a home movie theatre. Put in a large flat screen TV, a surround sound system and some sofas and you’re all set for some fun Friday nights! We’ve seen other people install arcade machines and pool tables too.
  • Home Gym – A basement area is often the ideal place to set up a home gym. It’s typically a large open space that’s tucked nicely out of the way. There’s no outside noise to content with or windows to distract you, and it’s very economical to heat during the cold winters we experience in Toronto. Whether you enjoy pumping iron or want to work on your mental strength through meditation, you can create the ideal space to achieve these goals during a basement renovation.
  • A Storage Hub – Now we know what you’re probably thinking – “But didn’t you say earlier that home basements are often underutilized and do nothing more than store a bunch of long lost possessions?!” Yes we did, but that’s not storage; that’s opening the door and throwing this, that and everything inside in no particular order. And then you can never find anything when you come to look anyway. What we’re suggesting is that as part of your basement renovation, you either allocate most or at least a section of the basement to ultra-organized storage facilities. Incorporate built-in cabinets, sliding drawers and storage bins into the design to provide an area where items not needed in the main part of your home can be efficiently stored and easily accessed at a later date.
  • A Hidden Wine Cellar – Have you got a passion for wine? If so, your basement area is a wine cellar waiting to happen. Basements are ideal storage areas for wine anyway due to the way in which they are naturally cool during the summer months. But a wine cellar isn’t just about storing wine. It’s somewhere to show off to family and friends and can also be used as an entertainment area with a rather special ambience.
  • A Cosy Escape – When it’s freezing cold outside, nothing beats sitting in front of a nice, warm open fire with a mug of hot chocolate and a book by your favourite author. That’s a scene you could easily replicate during your basement remodeling by creating a second living room area. It’s quiet, out of the way and well insulated – perfect for relaxing during those long winter nights.
  • Extra Sleeping Space – One issue that many homeowners encounter, especially those that entertain guests frequently, is a lack of bedrooms. Air beds and sofas are good makeshift solutions, but they’re no match for a good night’s sleep in a proper bed. The trouble is, when space is at a premium in a property, bedrooms are actually a bit of a waste since they’re hardly used when you’re awake. Tapping into your basement area to create an extra bedroom might not be as exciting as some of the other ideas we’ve mentioned, but it can often turn out to be a very wise choice.

Would you like more basement renovation ideas? Or perhaps you have a clear vision and you’re ready to get started? Whatever stage of the process you’re at, call us today for an informal chat to discuss your requirements.

For a Toronto basement renovation project, Karen Homes is the best!

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Basement Remodeling Tips From a Leading Contractor

How many times have you dived right into a project before later regretting the fact that you didn’t set aside some time to better educate and prepare yourself for the decisions that you would likely have to make? The chances are high that you’ve experienced this exact scenario at least once or twice. With some home improvements, it might not mean much if you “mess up,” but with a kitchen renovation or a basement remodeling, the stakes are much higher, as not only is a considerable investment usually required, but the changes made during projects such as these can have a big impact on your home and lifestyle.

When we assist homeowners on basement remodeling projects in Toronto, we look at the project from every angle and make suggestions based on our experience that we believe are in the client’s best interests. After all, our goal is to ensure that your requirements are met and that you are satisfied with the end result. To that end, we’re going to talk through some of our top basement remodeling tips during this post.

Boost Your Chances of Enjoying a Successful Basement Remodeling With These Tips

Basement remodeling is unlike most of the other home improvement projects that take place above ground and presents a number of unique challenges, many of which aren’t overly obvious to the average homeowner and may only be discovered when it’s too late if you’re not careful. Take note of the following points to give your basement remodeling project the best possible chance of succeeding:

  • Two Simple Questions – Before any work is carried out in your basement and even before you get too far into the planning phase, there are two very basic questions that need to be asked. Are there any issues with water and dampness in the basement? And does the basement possess water resistant insulation? One of the biggest mistakes that homeowners and inexperienced contactors make is to progress too far into the renovation, maybe even to the point of installing high-end features and completing the project, only to later suffer continuous issues with moisture. These issues, should they be present, are the first thing that should be addressed.
  • Pay Special Attention to the Floor – Under qualified contractors and unassuming homeowners only pay attention to the walls when looking for signs of moisture in the basement, but careful attention must also be paid to the floor. Basement floors in Toronto often suffer from moisture related problems in the summer, when the outside air is warmer than the air inside the basement. If the outside air is able to make its way inside your basement, it will no longer be able to hold moisture and this will typically result in condensation along the floor of the space.
  • Don’t Try to Do Too Much Yourself – Every homeowner in Toronto wants to get the best deal they can when their home undergoes a basement remodeling, but you have to be realistic, otherwise it can end up costing you dearly in the long run. Just because you have painted the odd room and have put up a shelf or two does not mean you’re qualified to tackle a full blown basement renovation on your own. You can end up doing more harm than good if you don’t know what you’re doing and unless you’re a basement remodeling expert, we strongly recommend hiring one. You can then consult your contractor and ask them if there are any tasks that you are able to take care of in order to reduce the overall cost of the project.
  • Invest in Quality Lighting – The lighting in any room is an important (and often undervalued) feature, but it’s especially important in a basement. There’s often very little or no natural light whatsoever to illuminate the room, so artificial lights become essential to creating the right atmosphere. One of the most popular choices is recessed lighting, which is able to offer the required amount of light without taking up a great deal of space, although the suitability of this option does depend somewhat upon the height of the ceiling. If recessed lighting can’t be used, consider using a combination of wall sconces and table or floor lamps.
  • Remember the Exits – It’s very important to plan at least one safe exit route out of the basement in the case of an emergency, as this is a requirement of most building codes. This could mean integrating a window well into the design of the basement by cutting down the foundation, but by talking to your basement remodeling contractor at the start of the project, you can ensure that this is taken care of and won’t become an issue further down the line.
  • Identify Hazardous Materials – If your property is old, it is quite possible that the basement area currently contains hazardous materials. For example, asbestos was typically used to seal seams in ductwork found in this part of the home and lead paint was also often used. To ensure your own safety and the safety of anyone that is likely to use the room once the basement renovation has been completed, suspected hazardous materials must be tested, and if found to be dangerous, removed and replaced. Your contractor will be able to advise you with regards to this process and ensure everything is taken care of.
  • Think About Sound Proofing – If you’re planning to use your renovated basement as an entertainment centre and a reasonable amount of noise is likely to be produced, you might want to consider soundproofing it to ensure that other parts of your property aren’t affected. Without this, any sound that is transmitted from a TV set or a music player will go straight through wood and right into the drywall above it.

Interested in having your basement renovated but not sure of the best way to proceed? No problem, simply contact our Toronto based team for a free consultation. We’ve been through the whole process from start to finish hundreds of times before!

Call Karen Homes for basement remodeling in today