Rapid Fire Remodel And Design Questions From My Friends (And All My Answers)

Two of our closest pals are renovating their first dwelling and they’re IN IT. They just lately came visiting for a couple of days and requested me all types of questions, largely wanting my opinion primarily based on my expertise. I’ve most likely written about all of those earlier than however thought it will be enjoyable to doc how I answered all of them casually proper now, in 2023. Keep in mind there are one million methods to do transform and most of design is predicated on private preferences, however I additionally LOVE giving my opinion for these open to it. So right here you go:

Strong Wooden Or Engineered Wooden Flooring?

I’m fairly group “engineered flooring” today – it’s simply gotten SO GOOD and is simpler to take care of. Our Zena wooden flooring is utilized to engineered plywood to make it extra sturdy (much less warping and buckling). For my brother’s home we now have Stuga (shell colour) and it’s lovely (not put in but however the samples are so fairly). A lot of the larger finish ones you possibly can nonetheless refinish as much as 4 occasions. My two fast ideas are steer clear of the pretend hand scraping texture and don’t go too darkish and glossy – that normally means it’s a less expensive product and appears prefer it. However I really like my strong wooden flooring on the mountain home a lot so both may be nice.

Clean Coat Partitions Or Sprayed Orange Peel?

Clean Coat

Orange Peel

This one may be very primarily based on finances as there’s a large worth and time distinction, with orange peel being SO less expensive and sooner. It’s basically masking the drywall seams by spraying a bumpy texture on it, whereas easy drywall takes weeks of mudding, taping sanding, time and again. Clean wall seems to be clear, flat, fairly and better finish, whereas orange peel can look contractor grade. I’m a designer and my pickiness with finishes is excessive so I haven’t opted for the orange peel. However realizing the associated fee and worth distinction I might by no means come down in opposition to orange peel for most individuals. And actually if I had been on extra of a finances in a future venture (not my without end dwelling) I might do a mix – I might seemingly do the rooms you care about (front room, kitchen, and so on) in easy partitions (or gentle hand trowel if it’s widespread in your area – its not in Portland). Then in basements, TV rooms, children’ rooms, playrooms, children’ baths, and so on – the rooms that you just don’t care about as a lot, avoid wasting cash and go for that orange peel. That is what we did on the Portland Undertaking years in the past and nobody observed the orange peel down within the basement (together with the bed room and the playroom). Moreover, steer clear of rounded nook edges except you’re going for a post-modern vibe – as a substitute go for steel nook edges that look cleaner (particularly with orange peel). Two of my finest pals have an superior home, all orange peel and their stuff is so cool that you just do NOT discover it (nor had been they going to pay to have your entire home redone). So when you purchased a home with Orange peel partitions and you are feeling bummed, simply know that when you go extra matte together with your paint colour and have cool artwork, nobody however a designer will discover after which who cares?

Ought to We Hardwire In Audio system For Music?

I do know this appears so particular however my brother and I talked about this SO MUCH as nicely. What he ended up doing is placing in audio system that may work with any system. I personally am fearful of excessive tech completely put in in homes as a result of it may break or date the home very, very simply. However I’m most likely the incorrect particular person to ask as a result of I don’t love loud music and I’m completely pleased with blue tooth audio system when/the place we’re listening to them. Ken and Katie additionally don’t need excessive tech to interrupt or date the home so he mentioned this methods is so primary that it may work with Sonos and the machine itself may be up to date. He’s additionally doing a really excessive finish home, so I get having some good options. In case you hearken to a ton of music all day day-after-day I feel it’s clearly a terrific function. However wiring that by your own home can also be not low cost, FYI. Nothing is affordable 😉

Uncovered Or Closed Treads On Stairs?

I like each! We uncovered the treads within the OG Portland Undertaking and our mountain home as a result of the sculptural form of the person steps can look actually fairly. I feel it’s traditionally been the extra traditional and high-end look. Having an outer stringer that covers the sting of the steps so you possibly can’t see it’s cheaper to execute which is why it’s extra widespread in builder grade homes. It might probably look actually fairly although. I liked how Chris Loves Julia and Sarah Sherman Samuel (clearly far more post-modern in design) did it of their respective entries.

Carpet Or Wooden Flooring In A Youngsters’ Playroom Or Bed room?

I really like each. It actually relies upon if meals and paint are going to be concerned as a result of then undoubtedly don’t go too gentle. I LOVED the carpet in our mountain home play attic (don’t overlook the 1″ reminiscence foam carpet pad). I really like a comfy wall to wall, however if in case you have toddlers and also you assume they could rub their disgusting little marinara palms on every little thing then I’d go wooden + washable rug.

What Paint End Do I Paint The whole lot?

There may be so some ways to do that, however listed here are some basic tips that we did (and ARCIFORM agreed):
Ceiling: Matte/flat as there is perhaps extra imperfections and something with a sheen will present extra imperfections.
Drywall Partitions: Eggshell or matte. Eggshell is barely extra sheen and barely simpler to wash, however they’re fairly shut.
Door and Window Casing: I like this to be barely extra shiny than the partitions, so seemingly satin or semi-gloss. I personally assume that when they’re painted the identical colour in a flat end it seems to be such as you solely needed to tape off as soon as and reveals no architectural/textural distinction.
Wooden Paneling (on Partitions): Satin or semi-gloss. I feel that is largely for sturdiness on the wooden.
Rest room Partitions: I feel flat/matte or eggshell is ok. I don’t love satin or semi on most conventional drywall rooms, TBH.
Doorways: Match the trim/casing (Once more, I like barely extra sheen than on the partitions even when the partitions are flat and the casing/door are eggshell).

I’ve strayed from this many occasions, however that is off the highest of my head what I might suggest proper now.

So depart extra of your questions within the feedback and when you like this submit I’ll do extra like these. And only a reminder, you possibly can actually break each rule, you may make something work, your own home is yours and shouldn’t be a supply of stress. It’s nearly all about private desire and the way you like to reside in your individual dwelling (however when you like this submit and don’t have my e-book but, you could possibly snag it the place there’s quite a lot of information like this in it).

Opening Picture Credit: Photograph by Kaitlin Inexperienced | From: Welcome To Our Bed room + All The Upholstered Beds We Thought of And What We Selected