Neal's Home Remodeling & Design Blog | Cincinnati

5 Practical Ideas for Remodeling or Adding a Family Room

Posted by Frank Kuhlmeier on Mon, Jun 8, 2020

Family rooms have evolved over the years. The concept was first introduced in the 40's, but didn't really come into vogue until dens were included in home designs along with the wider-spread ownership of television sets which homeowners didn't want in their formal sitting rooms. In the 1990s, family rooms were included in many new home designs as a "great room" that combined the kitchen, dining room and family room as one open space- a home design style that's still being used in newly built homes. Today's family rooms are designed according to the lifestyle needs of modern homeowners. A family room can be located in a central area of a house but also on a second story or basement, ideal for homes in which there is limited space for a family room on the main floor. Homeowners are also building home additions to provide space for new dens or family rooms. Often a family room addition will be built off a kitchen to create an open and functional space for the family and guests.

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Topics: Lower Level, Home Remodeling, Lighting, Storage

Smart Home Technology

Posted by Alan Hendy on Tue, May 19, 2020

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. We might still be a few decades away from the types of high-tech, futuristic home technology portrayed in the movies these days, but smart home technology has certainly come into its own in the past few years. The ability to control the way our homes operate through intuitive and innovative apps or interfaces can have a positive impact on many areas of our lives and the ways in which we use our houses. Keep reading for some of the ways smart home automation can be added to your home.

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Topics: Home Remodeling

5 Ways to Design Spaces for Entertaining

Posted by Steve Hendy on Mon, Dec 23, 2019

The ability to host groups is a trait that many Americans look for in a house. Having family and friends over for gatherings, large or small, plays an important role in the dynamic of many families, so it makes sense to ensure that remodeling projects in your home account for the need to accommodate the types of gatherings you like to hold. More than just knowing where to put your furniture, or making sure you have a stocked fridge, truly functional entertaining spaces that help to create traditions in the home start in the design and planning process.

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Topics: Design Trends and Ideas, Lower Level, Home Remodeling, Hiring a Contractor, Design-Build, Additions

Improving Your Home's Curb Appeal

Posted by Frank Kuhlmeier on Tue, Feb 19, 2019

There are many factors that go into the curb appeal of any given home. Style of the neighborhood, look of the home, taste of the homeowner, size of the yard or home, color, budget, climate... the list goes on. While there's no easy "curb appeal formula" that can be applied across the board, there are some standard things that factor into the curb appeal of any home.

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Topics: Outdoor Living, Design Trends and Ideas, Home Remodeling