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Sheri Lemire

Interior Design

- From Dreams To Reality

For many people in Vancouver, Surrey and the rest of the Lower Mainland, one of the hardest parts of upgrading your home is deciding exactly what room or rooms you want to improve and how extensive your makeover should be. Although you may have something in mind or you may have seen something in a book or online that inspired you, putting together all of the specifics can be a little frustrating and time consuming. If you are having difficulty deciding what you want to do or what is even possible to do, you have the option of looking around for ideas and making plans to accomplish what you want or you can throw caution to the wind and simply wing it.

Open Kitchen Design
Created by SDL Designs – Interior Design Firms Serving Vancouver BC and Lower Main Land

In the end, a specific room design doesn’t have to be perfect. When you love something, it’s going to be perfect for you. You shouldn’t worry too much about color schemes, most people know when something looks right, or doesn’t. When hopelessly lost or overwhelmed, you can always find an interior designer to hire as a consultant, such as independent and affordable, SDL Designs (Interior Designers Vancouver), even if you want to do most of design and work on your own. Professional interior designers have the experience and expertise to advise you on what colors will work and what won’t. As professionals, Interior design firms can even give you some ideas on opening up a room or making a larger room feel a bit more cozy.

If you are remodeling a room design for your children, Ideally you should find out what they like. While you may have a good idea about what you want to do, many parents are at a loss when considering a room design for a teenager. In this regards, it is often best just to ask them. You may not like what they want to do, but, with patience, you can usually find something they like and something that you can live with. If compromise can achieve harmony instead of rebellion everyone will be happier when the room is completed.

There can be many reasons for starting a remodeling project, everything from a simple paint or wallpaper make-over to a full kitchen or bathroom renovation or adding a new or replacement fireplace. You goal may simply be to spruce up the old homestead or prepare the home for sale on today’s real-estate market. Depending on the scope of your plans and the extent of your remodeling desires, you may be able to “do it yourself” or you may need the help of an interior design firm and experienced design consultant or contractor. Before you get too involved, if the renovation is extensive or requires construction or electrical or plumbing modifications you will probably require knowledge of the local building codes and safety regulations. If this is the case, unless you have remodeling experience or have completed a course in remodeling and interior design, it is probably in your best interests to leave any complicated jobs to professions who have the knowledge and experience for such work.

Ideally, your home design ideas should reflect who you are as a person or as a family. While you may think a sophisticated look might be just what you want, you need to consider if such an idea will be really practical for your home. While a design may look nice in a picture or a book, in reality, it may not have the feel you want when you are done. If your heart is set on a particular style, to actually make it fit with your home and your personality you may need to tweak it a bit. You may also want to think about blending two different styles to come up with something unique that may please you more than anything else. In the end you want to end up with a design style that not only fits your pocket book but also reflects you and your families character and compliments the character of your home.

On the other hand, if the reason for remodeling your home is to prepare the house for resale on the open market, you need to really be cautious about styling changes. Any design changes that radically alter the basic concept of a house can radically affect the final selling price. Styles that may work well for a house selling in the upper millions of dollars would not work well for a house selling below a million dollars — and visa versa. Large expensive houses have the room to express expansive design concepts smaller and lower priced houses do not have the room for grand designs, and potential buyers will shy away from obvious styling blunders. When in doubt, you really should consult an experienced interior design consultant from SDL Designs (Interior Designers Vancouver). These remodeling and renovation specialists have the knowledge and expertise to know what works and what does not.

Sheri Lemire

The Pros of Kitchen Remodeling

When many people in Vancouver, Surrey and the rest of the Lower Mainland consider renovating, especially something substantial like a major home improvement project, they are unsure of how or even if they should proceed. When it comes to planning a course of action, they try to organize their thinking by focusing on the good and the bad points or pros and cons of the process. If remodeling your kitchen is on your mind, you may be wondering what the positives, or the pros, for doing such a project are. Well, if you are considering revamping your kitchen, your in luck. There are a large number of benefits you can gain by having your kitchen upgraded.

Of course, one of the greatest pros for having your kitchen remodeled is the potential for increasing in your home’s value. Statistically, in most cases, any home renovation tends to increase a homes value and kitchen renovations are a major contributor to those statistics. However, although a large number of homes see an increase in their value following a kitchen upgrade, not all of them do. Any significant increase in home value, ultimately depends on the extent and quality of the renovations done. In fact, if the design, planning and quality of the work are poor, or the renovation could later lead to additional problems with the home, you may find that a home’s value will not increase, but it might even show a decrease. To ensure a proper return on your investment of time and money; contact independent and affordable, SDL Designs (Interior Designers Vancouver).

SDL Designs Custom Kitchen With Range Hood
Created by SDL Designs – Interior Design Firms Serving Vancouver BC and Lower Main Land

Another pro benefit associated with a kitchen renovation, is that, once the work is completed, you will end up with a new kitchen. While some homeowners only choose to remodel a small portion of their kitchen, others go all out and renovate everything. So, whether you simply change your kitchen countertops and cabinets, or replace countertops, cabinets, sink, stove, oven, fridge, electrical fixtures, floor tiles, and wall paint, your kitchen may appear to be brand new. As a homeowner, if the remodeling is done properly and meets your expectations, you will not only be happy with the over all looks of the change but also appreciate the convenience and efficiency of the improvements.

There is one particular pro advantage to renovating your kitchen that you might not have thought of. That pro is — the homeowner is the boss. As a homeowner, you are in charge and have complete control over what work should done and who can do it. You make the decisions. If you prefer to do your own kitchen remodeling, it’s up to you. If you haven’t the time or the skill required to do the job yourself, you can decide to hire a professional interior design consultant or contractor to do it for you. In any case, you will have complete control over who you hire to remodel your kitchen, as well as how much you want to pay. Being in complete control is one of the many pros associated with kitchen remodeling. Even if you can’t do the job yourself, when you hire one of the Vancouver interior design firms with the skills and expertise to do the job for you, you are still the boss.

As mentioned before, as a homeowner, you are ultimately in complete control over what happens in your home. In addition to deciding if you yourself or one of the professional Vancouver interior design firms will handle the rebuilding of your kitchen, you also make the decision about which type of renovations are done. If you only need to fix a few repairs or remodel a small portion of your kitchen, you are the boss. If you would like to give your kitchen a complete face lift and remodel your whole kitchen; the decision is yours to make. You are the boss. You decide what and how much of your kitchen gets remodeled. For instance, if you are interested in replacing your kitchen counter, you can pick and choose what materials, supplies, and designs you want to use. Being the boss and choosing what features you want and how much work you want done is just one of the many pros to kitchen remodeling.

Even though there are plenty of pros associated with remodeling your kitchen, a number of cons also exist. The biggest cons or disadvantages to renovating your kitchen is the fact that it can be quite costly and time consuming. Of course, recuperating your kitchen remodeling costs is possible, if and when you sell your home, but there are no guarantees in the housing market. So, before deciding to rebuild your kitchen you need to carefully consider all of the pros and cons and decide which course of action is best for you. Do the pros outweigh the cons?

Sheri Lemire

The Cons of Kitchen Remodeling

Are you one the many homeowners in Vancouver, Surrey and the rest of the Lower Mainland with remodeling on your mind? When it comes to renovation, the most often updated room in a home is usually the kitchen. One of the reasons for that is the number of advantages or pros for having a kitchen remodeled, such as increasing the homes value. Unfortunately, there are also a number of disadvantages to consider. These disadvantages are often referred to cons. If you are thinking about renovating your kitchen, you may be wondering what the main cons of upgrading your kitchen are.

Perhaps, the biggest con of kitchen remodeling is the fact that it costs money. Of course, the amount of money needed will depend on how much of your kitchen you plan on renovating, as well as the fixtures, appliances, supplies and materials that you want to upgrade. If you decide to replace only your kitchen countertops, you will find it easier to afford than a larger remodeling project, such as replacing countertops, cabinets, lighting, major appliances and flooring. While it is always possible to renovate your kitchen on a budget, you may find it a bit difficult to do. The cost will be relatively high regardless of whether you do your own renovations or if you could contact independent and affordable, SDL Designs (Interior Designers Vancouver).

Created by SDL Designs – Interior Design Firms Serving Vancouver BC and Lower Main Land

Besides the cost of remodeling your kitchen, you will also find there are a number of other cons or disadvantages. One of those cons is the amount of time it takes to remodel your kitchen. No matter how much of your kitchen you choose to remodel, you will still find the process time consuming, especially if you have little remodeling experience. If you have the time to devote to the job perhaps this kitchen renovation con will not apply to you. However, if time is an issue or you are trying to fix up your kitchen on the side, you may find it difficult to complete the job in a reasonable amount of time. If this is the case, an alternative that you may want to examine is professional assistance from a remodeling expert.

One huge benefit for upgrading the kitchen in you home is the fact that the value of your home could increase; however, notice the keyword “could.” A home will only increase in value if the remodeling job was a success. Any renovation job that looks unattractive or unprofessional is not likely to increase a homes value. In fact, the value of the home may even decrease a noticeable amount. Basically, this means that if you plan on fixing up your own kitchen, you will want to make sure you do it right. If you do not have any home improvement experience, it may be a good idea to seek a professional interior design firm or contractor or at least take a kitchen remodeling course.

One aspect of kitchen upgrading most home owners never consider is the technical requirements of actually doing the work. Proper planning is essential. Not only the design and measurement aspects but also knowing the electrical, plumbing and building codes required in Vancouver and across various Lower Mainland locations. Changing a kitchen sink is one thing but replacing countertops and cabinets, building a kitchen island or adding light fixtures or other major renovations is something else again. These types of jobs should be left to professional interior design firms and contractors. They have the expertise and knowledge required to make major alterations properly.

Another con of remodeling own your kitchen is the fact that it can be unsafe. This con only applies to homeowners interested in doing their own kitchen upgrade. One of the reasons professional interior design contractors from one of the Vancouver interior design firms are able to get renovations done quicker stems from the fact that they have lots of experience doing what they do. One misconception many homeowners make, when remodeling their own kitchen, is believing that they can do the work as quickly as a professional. Unfortunately, this belief often leads to hurrying; hurrying, not only can affect your work, but it could also place you in serious danger It doesn’t matter whether you are making yourself a new kitchen counter, replacing your kitchen cabinets or replacing your light fixtures, remodeling your own kitchen can be dangerous. That is why it is important that you take the time to work safely.

Although the number of kitchen remodeling cons are concerning, it is also important to remember that there are also a number of pros. When it comes to making an unformed decision, you need to compare both the pros and the cons. Doing so may help you decide whether or not renovating your kitchen is a good idea.

Sheri Lemire

The Pros of Bathroom Remodeling

Are you a homeowner in Vancouver, Surrey or the Lower Mainland who is considering having your bathroom remodeled? If so, you will probably examine your options thoroughly before taking any action. As with most things in life, on the subject of bathroom renovations, you will find that there are a number of advantages and disadvantages. These positives and negatives are often referred to as pros and cons. If you are like many homeowners in your situation, you may want to know what the upside is to renovating your bathroom, in other words, you may be wondering what the pros are

SDL Designs Custom Bathroom
Created by SDL Designs – Interior Design Firms Serving Vancouver BC and Lower Main Land

When it comes to fixing up your bathroom, you will find there are a number of different reasons why so many homeowners end up making the decision to remodel. One of the biggest pros to upgrading your bathroom is how happy you will feel with your new, modern, bathroom. Two of the most common reasons for bathroom remodeling include dissatisfaction with grubby old fashioned fixtures and bathrooms that are unhealthy or potentially unsafe. If you are unhappy with the current condition of your bathroom, a bathroom improvement project can help to change that. Whether you decide to only remodel a portion of your bathroom, such as your bathtub, or you make the decision to renovate the whole room, you will likely be pleased with your decision to do so.

The available choices that you have are another one of the pros to remodeling your bathroom. As a homeowner, you have complete control of your home, as well as fixing up your bathroom. For instance, if you were looking to upgrade your bathroom, but you were on a limited budget, you could decide to limit your renovation to specific items, such as the bathroom tub. If money is not an issue, you may even make the decision to fix up and remodel your whole bathroom. In addition to deciding which parts of your bathroom you would like remodeled, you also have complete control over the different products and materials used. For instance, if you want to replace your bathroom toilet, you get to choose the make, model and style; so you’ll more likely end up with the bathroom of your dreams.

Another one of the many pros to bathroom remodeling is that many parts of the job are relatively easy to do. So, if you have prior home improvement experience, you may prefer to renovate your own bathroom. Doing so will not only ensure that your improvements turns out exactly the way that you wanted, but you may also save yourself money. Although you can save yourself money by doing your own remodeling, you may not have the time or experience to do so. If that is the case, you still have a choice. That choice is seeking assistance from a professional interior design contractor such as independent and affordable, SDL Designs (Interior Designers Vancouver). Despite costing a fairly decent amount of money, your bathroom will be remodeled professionally and often in less time. Therefore, you have a number of viable options when it comes to fixing up your bathroom, no matter what you want or need to do.

Of course, one of the biggest pros to having your bathroom remodeled is that bathroom upgrade projects can help to increase a home’s value. Consider the resale value of a home with a grubby old fashioned bathroom and a home with a fresh looking modern bathroom. The increase in value, if there is one, will depend on a number of different factors. Those factors include the over all scope of the remodeling job and how well it is done. Whether you choose to hire the services of a professional bathroom remodeling expert from one of the Vancouver interior design firms or if you have prior home improvement experience yourself, the decision to remodel your bathroom could increase the value of your home.

Every home is different and although there are a number of pros to bathroom remodeling, there are also a number of cons to consider.Those cons mainly include the cost of the renovation, the inconvenience and the time involved. When it comes to deciding whether or not you want to proceed with renovating your bathroom, you will need to make up your own mind; however, when doing so you may want to keep the above mentioned points in mind.

Sheri Lemire

The Cons of Bathroom Remodeling

Every year, thousands of homeowners in Vancouver, Surrey and the rest of the Lower Mainland think about having their bathrooms remodeled. They may be depressed with old worn out bathroom fixtures, tub or vanity and want a fresh modern bathroom make-over. Perhaps they are looking to sell their old house or they’ve just bought a house that needs an upgrade retro fit. Unfortunately, even though many homeowners would love to remodel their bathrooms and there are plenty of pros to warrant upgrade renovations, there are also a number of cons. If you are thinking about a bathroom renovation project yourself, these cons may make you want to rethink your decision.

For most people, one of the biggest cons or obstacles to fixing up their bathroom is the actual cost of doing the job. Of course, the cost of a renovation project will all depend on how much remodeling work you want done. The more extensive your ambitions, the more your renovation will cost. In addition to the cost of supplies and materials, you also need to consider if there will be any additional costs. For example, if you lack the skills required to do the work yourself, you may need to have your bathroom professionally remodeled. Although a professional interior design contractor can produce the best results, you will find the cost of hiring one fairly high.

Created by SDL Designs – Interior Design Firms Serving Vancouver BC and Lower Main Land

One aspect of bathroom renovations most home owners never consider is the technical aspects of actually doing the work. Proper planning is essential. Not only the designs and measurements but also knowing the electrical, plumbing and building codes required in Vancouver and across various Lower Mainland locations. Changing a bathroom sink is one thing but replacing a bathtub, shower, toilet or light fixture is something else again. These types of jobs should be left to professional interior design firms and contractors such as independent and affordable, SDL Designs (Interior Designers Vancouver). They have the expertise and knowledge required to make major alterations properly.

In addition to the cost of the bathroom overhaul itself, it is also important to consider the time it will take to complete the work. How long a bathroom remodeling project lasts will all depend on how extensive the renovation project is. If you are simply looking to replace your bathroom toilet, you can expect the remodeling to take less time than if you were planning on rebuilding your entire bathroom. Of course, the time required for the remodeling will also depend on how much time can be devoted to it. If you make the decision to hire a professional interior design contractor to remodel your bathroom, the remodeling will likely be done quicker. In addition to knowing exactly what they are doing, professionals can usually devote more time to work than someone who is only doing the work on the side.

Another one of the many potential cons to remodeling your bathroom is how it can affect the value of your home. While it is possible and even likely for this type of project to increase the value of your home, it is not guaranteed. Whether your home’s value actually increases will all depend on how much upgrading was done and the quality of final results. A professional interior design contractor from one of the Vancouver interior design firms is likely to produce the best increase in value. Before you start, you really need to consider how a badly done remodeling project can affect the value of your home. There is a chance that a poorly thought out and executed bathroom renovation project could decrease the value of your home. The chances of that happening may be slim, but there is always a chance.

As previously mentioned, you have a choice of doing your own remodeling or a have a professional interior design contractor do it for you. When it comes to bathroom upgrades or remodeling, you will find that are more cons for “do it yourself” bathroom remodeling. One of those cons is the risk of injury. When repairing, remodeling, or new construction occurs, there is always a risk of injury. Even experienced professional contractors injure themselves; therefore, the possibility of injury to an inexperienced “do it yourself” homeowner is far greater. The best way to avoid injury is to familiarize yourself with your surroundings and the materials and tools that you will be using. The risk of injury significantly decreases if you know what you are doing; therefore, it may be best if you have prior home improvement experience, even if it is only a little bit.

In making your decision to remodel your bathroom there are a number of very important negatives for you to consider. While these cons may make it seem as if it isn’t worth it to upgrade your bathroom, there are also a number of bathroom remodeling pros. These pros include a fresh new bathroom design with new modern fixtures and the possibility of increasing your home’s value. If you are interested in remodeling your bathroom, only you can decide whether or not it would be worth it.

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