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

Project Tour: Multi-Purpose Basement in Western Hills

Posted by Laura Webster on Tue, Apr 7, 2020

This Western Hill's client desired a basement space in the home to entertain both family and adult friends. The existing basement wasn't quite able to keep up with the variety of needs for the new space. With several rooms and alcoves off the main area, the floorplan provided a good opportunity to maximize the function of the space. Key to achieving success in the new lower level design was to define the purpose of each zone and unify the entire basement with a cohesive design.

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Topics: Project Spotlight, Lower Level

15 Creative Basement Remodel Ideas and Designs

Posted by Alan Hendy on Tue, Feb 18, 2020

For many homeowners, having a home with a basement is like winning the square footage jackpot. This space, whether it's already finished or not, offers an entire category of possibilities that are often separate from the needs of the home above. Whether the basement is a lower level walk-out with easy access to the exterior, or if it has few windows and a lower ceiling, there are many tasks that it can be designed to accommodate. Options for a basement remodel include considerations for entertaining, family hang outs, storage, home office space, laundry rooms, and home gyms. Keep reading for great ideas from our local basement remodeling projects to inspire you in your basement redesign.

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Topics: Lower Level

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