renovating Archives - Versa Style Design

Have you been thinking of renovating but felt a little daunted by the process, and don’t really know where to start? Your home has a direct impact on your quality of life, so home improvement is not to be taken lightly or even neglected. On the contrary, proper planning will save you time and money in the long run. I cannot repeat too often to my clients: Renovating a house or condo with a happy ending requires careful planning right down to the smallest detail.

The home improvement projects most in demand by my clients are:

Kitchen renovations
Bathroom renovations
Basement renovations

I suppose it must be because they are such central spaces to family life,
and are high traffic as well.

Kitchen, bathroom and basement renovations are a smart investment

Good News! Kitchen, bathroom and basement renovations are what give home owners the highest return on their investment. If these spaces are properly done, you can get back as much as 75% – 100% on your money, if not more.
Real estate agents agree that a seller should concentrate on these three rooms to sell their homes. So even if you intend on living there for many more years, you know that the eventual market value will be considerably higher than it is now!

The 3 phases structuring a home renovation project

Phase 1: Dream

Because we all forget the daily irritations triggered by our dysfunctional spaces , and because we don’t recall all the nifty items we come across or read about, you should keep a running list of ideas and photos in a file, for months if need be! Sometimes it is easier to write down what is NOT working in our space before we can put a great wish list together.

You should surf the net and visit suppliers in order to familiarize yourself with new products and materials newly released on the market to make life easier, and more stylish! Purchase decoration magazines and visit inspirational websites such as Houzz and Pinterest and keep the photos that have elements that catch your sense of style or practicality. A picture is worth a thousand words.

Phase 2: Recruit and plan

Get help from an Interior designer

Interior designers are specialists in planning great interiors. They also provide technical plans, and supervise renovations but they have the added bonus of being creators of environments, personalizing spaces from a functional and practical point of view .

With the help of your designer, establish your priorities as well as short, medium and long term goals with a logical sequence to avoid back-tracking and undoing previously done work. This professional can also help you when comparing various price quotes and ensure the entrepreneur is conforming his work to the plans!

Choosing the right trades-people

Always get the name from a satisfied client, designer or architect for the right person for YOUR project. Every trade and professional has their strong points and specialties, so make sure the match is right. I always get a good grasp of a client’s plans before knowing which entrepreneur or contractor would be perfect for the scope and type of home improvement project.

They should be established for several years, and possess all the proper permits, insurances and industry requirements, as well as having worked on the same type of project as yours. They should provide a clear and prompt price quote, references, and a proper contract. Don’t forget to get your plans approved by your municipality before progressing. The municipal codes and regulations vary from one municipality to the next.

kitchen renovations, cabinet renovations

The right timing

If you are able, try to schedule these people well enough in advance (with a contract and deposit), or plan your home renovation project during a quieter time of year. The busiest times of year in the home improvement industry are spring and autumn.

During the hottest summer weeks they take their vacations, however, it is often too quiet in this sector of activity in the colder winter months after the holidays. From January through March these trades are often looking for work, so it’s a good time to book them and perhaps negotiate a better price. They want to work, they are passionate and they are excellent!

Phase 3: Action

Ordering

With your designer and entrepreneur, consider the waiting times for each order to avoid unnecessary delays, and coordinate this aspect carefully. For instance, the floor covering must be delivered and installed before the kitchen cabinets or that new bathroom vanity.

To conclude

We can clearly see all the benefits to a well-planned home renovation project. Apart from the aesthetic side, renovating even just a room will introduce greater comfort, a higher level of security, a practical and functional living space, and generally improve every family member’s quality of life.

Statistics have demonstrated that certain home improvement projects increase the market value of the property.
Now all that remains is for you to dream of your new living or work space!

Kitchen Renovations

Basement Renovations

Bathroom Renovations

You would like to adopt some of these ideas in your own space
but you don’t know where to start?

Contact us to transform your home or office according to your style, your budget and your specific needs. By discussing your project we can provide you with relevant information concerning our services, the process and our design fee.

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A well-planned home renovation

Kitchen, bathroom and basement renovations are a smart investment