Neal's Home Remodeling and Design Blog

In our climate, summers are great! If you want to take full advantage of sultry warm days, why not vacation at home by creating an outdoor living space for all the activities you enjoy? Add a patio for relaxing, a pool to cool down on a hot day or an outdoor kitchen for entertaining. An outdoor fireplace and hot tub can be a perfect setting for a romantic evening or a place where the family can roast marshmallows and warm up the kids after a swim. A screened porch is an ideal spot to read a book or enjoy a summer’s eve with family and friends.

Tile is the perfect wall and floor surface for a bathroom because of its resistance to humidity and water. Tiled surfaces are generally easy to clean and maintain. When used as flooring, textured tiles can help prevent slips and falls.

People tend to get creative when planning a basement remodeling project and will add features that reflect their interests and lifestyles.  Gone are the days of paneled walls, suspended ceilings, glaring florescent lights, remnants of linoleum and felted rugs. Basement living space is an extension of the upper level of a home. A typical basement remodeling project can involve enclosing mechanicals, adding walls to a 20-by-30 foot unfinished space, adding a 5-by-8 foot bathroom with toilet, sink and shower, recessed lighting, laminate flooring and adding a wet bar.

Do you remember the pink tubs, toilets and sinks from the 1960s? Powder blue 4-inch walls tiles from the 1970s? White laminate cabinets from the 1980s? Sliding door shower enclosures from the 1990s? Bathroom design trends seem to change every ten years or so. There are always new products arriving on the market and new ideas about how to create comfort in this personal space.