By Nancy B
We serve many clients who are building and most often they are excited, encouraged, happy, enthusiastic, and anticipating the move to their all-new home. Since my husband and I have lived in the same home for 50 years, I cannot imagine what our clients are experiencing.
At Nancy B’s we get excited helping clients with their selections, but I don’t get butterflies in my tummy as they do. We look at their plans and as we walk through them together, you can tell how thrilled they are.
Now, here comes the other customer who is considering some home remodeling. Often, while they want to be excited, they are full of worry about the project. They know it will all be wonderful when completed but getting to that point is very stressful for them.
Our team at Nancy B’s House of Lights understands and with a little hand holding, we get the home lighting part of the remodeling process going and help them relax and have confidence. No, we don’t sing to them or tell them jokes; we simply listen and not watch the clock. Time is a real gift and is so appreciated by our clients. Treat people like you want to be treated is a good policy to follow.
We have found that many remodel jobs are for the heart of the home – the kitchen. Eating out becomes another expense when your kitchen has been torn upside down, but contractors understand and really do their best to get the job finished in a timely manner. Layered lighting in the kitchen is best; recessed lighting, under-cabinet lighting and pendants all help in making the kitchen well lighted for cooking, doing homework and entertaining.
Bathrooms are number two on the list of remodeling jobs. As you age, the fear of falling is of great concern so bathtubs are being replaced with walk in showers with many energy-efficiency measures which have a real impact.
I saved an article from 2017 when Pat Keegan and Amy Wheeless, contributing writers for Co-Op Living, made suggestions regarding expanding the kitchen. They said it may not always be better. Enlarging the footprint will likely mean higher heating and cooling bills, they said. Maybe a more efficient layout could prevent a need for expansion.
They also offered advice on placement of major appliances. Maybe there are opportunities to shorten plumbing runs to make hot water to the dishwasher and sink more efficient. Placing the refrigerator in a sunny spot or next to the oven will make it work harder and use more energy. They added undertaking a remodeling project in any part of the home gives the chance to make a space work better for your needs and reducing the energy use.
Also mentioned in the article; including other investments such as upgrading the heating and cooling system and ductwork during the same time as your kitchen remodel, could be more cost-efficient than completing two separate projects. So many things to consider with any home remodeling project! At least we have all your residential lighting needs covered here at Nancy B’s!
