Laundry with Ease

            Busy, busy, busy! That’s what this time of year is. School is winding down and traveling is starting to crank up. Your home is a revolving door for visitors and your kids are constantly off to the next big adventure. It’s amazing how much laundry all of those comings and goings generates!

 

            One of the hot design trends right now is direct access laundry rooms. Connected to the master closet or bathroom, this location provides easy access for getting those mountains of laundry done. If you are considering repurposing your space to add a closet near the master bedroom, here are a few things to consider.

 

• Use a pocket doors instead of a traditional hinged door. It can be left open and out of the way for everyday use or closed to hide a messy space.
• Insulate the room so that any noise caused by the washer or dryer doesn’t keep you awake. Who doesn’t do laundry at night?!
• Ensure you have adequate lighting so you can tell the darks apart from the lights.
• If this isn’t your main laundry, a sink is not a requirement, but a folding surface is.
• Upper storage cabinets are a must to store detergents and extra linens from the master bedroom and bathroom.

 

            Whether you are remodeling your home or building a new one, stop and consider if the main laundry or secondary laundry room should be connected to the master closet or bathroom. This summer you are going to need a break and who couldn’t use a little easier way to do laundry.

Kitchen ROI

            Last week we discussed the ROI value of bathroom remodels and additions. This week we will focus on kitchens. After all, they are the heart of the home. Or as I like to say, your kitchen is where life’s most important conversations take place.

 

            Remodeling magazine’s cost vs. value report for 2011-2012 shows that if you spend between $5,000 and $25,000 on a kitchen remodel, you can expect to recoup 75% of your investment. If you spend $25,000-$100,000 on your kitchen remodel, you could expect to recoup 71.1%. These are great numbers! Even with the shape our economy has been in, it is good to know money invested in your kitchen is not lost, but highly valued.

 

            Now is the time, with interest rates holding at their low rates, to take the plunge and make the investment into your kitchen. Your family will thank you, you will thank you and you will have an enjoyable space to enjoy over the months ahead. I would love to hear how your project goes.