Neal's Home Remodeling and Design Blog

Faced with an expansive backyard with no character and a rolling slope, the homeowners had a very simple objective: make the yard a party space. Beyond this clear objective, the homeowners had a wish list of key elements, including a pool, an outdoor living room, and lots of comfortable space for a crowd. The result is a space that takes full advantage of the back yard while keeping scale, space and views at the forefront of the design. The resulting transformation is a 2016 NARI Contractor of the Year Residential Exterior Winner.

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We might still be a few decades away from the types of high-tech, futuristic home technology portrayed in the movies these days, but the smart home concept has certainly come into its own in the past few years. With "always-on" mobile technology already helping us organize our time and entertain ourselves, it makes sense that we should look to our homes to provide the same kind of on-demand possibilities. But what exactly is a "smart home", and how can it make our lives better? Keep reading for a look at the three primary areas that modern smart technology is improving the home experience.

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One of the best parts about remodeling your home is the opportunity to reflect on the changes you made by comparing before and after photos. When it comes to bathrooms, which typically look radically different with even minor changes, the differences between what it used to look like and what you changed it to can look like completely different homes. We've looked through our library of images and found 6 Before and After bathroom transformations that show just how much a bath can be changed.

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The mark of a successful kitchen remodel is that it stands the test of time, and doesn't feel dated inside of 15 years. There are many facets to a kitchen's design that contribute to this, but one area that can make or break the kitchen's style longevity is the backsplash. There is a time and place for trendy tile installations, and when installed with long-term appeal in mind, they can still feel on-point a decade later. That isn't for everyone, however, nor every home. Instead, consider these five tile design ideas that can feel contemporary and trendy, but are still classic backsplash solutions.

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