15 Luxuries Worth Considering in Your Remodel: Remodeling 101 - Remodelista
The most fun part of every remodel In our book Remodelista A Manual for the Considered Home we polled members of... ...the Remodelista Architect Designer Directory to come up with a list of extras large and small that are worth the splurge Photovoltaic (PV) panels integrated into a standing seam metal roof. The favorite roofing material of every architect we polled? 1. A standing seam metal roof If you’re looking to reduce your energy bills and carbon footprint, the time may be right to go solar. Dinesen meets radiant heat flooring. If you’re just embarking on a renovation or building a new house, consider installing radiant heating (also known as underfloor heating), an energy-efficient way to keep warm throughout the cold months. The Sloan White Vertical Double-Panel Radiator by UK company Hudson Reed. Imagine a heating system that isn t seen or heard writes Remodelista s Janet of flat panel radiators The embodiment of quiet... ...gentle warmth and minimalism these European designs now making inroads in the US free up floor space operate efficiently and look good too A minimalist fireplace in a house remodeled by Napa, California, designer Carolyn Leonhardt, who recommends making “at least one spectacular change” per remodel. A fireplace can have enormous impact as an architectural detail, and a woodstove is a significant and efficient heat source, points out Seattle architects Malbouef Bowie. 5. A fireplace or woodstove Sheila Narusawa’s neatly organized pullout pantry. Photograph by Matthew Williams for Remodelista; see more in Kitchen of the Week: A Streamlined Cape Cod Classic. For storing appliances and pantry items, architect Sheila Narusawa suggests installing pullout shelves. 6. Pullout shelving in kitchen cabinets Photograph by Matthew Williams for Remodelista. In Julianne Moore’s NYC kitchen: a La Cornue range. The race cars of the kitchen, a beautiful range is what we recommend for when your midlife crisis hits. (For more, see Behind the Scenes: 5 Design Lessons from Julianne Moore.) 7. A top-of-the line range Have a large family or love entertaining? BAR Architects of San Francisco suggests adding a second dishwasher to handle overload. A San Francisco design by bathroom expert Malcolm Davis. Architect Jordan Parnass of Brooklyn, New York, recommends installing antifog bathroom mirrors; they save time in the morning, especially if two or more showers need to be taken. 9. Antifog bathroom mirrors Photograph by Matthew Williams for Remodelista. The powder room in A Hardworking Brooklyn Kitchen by Architect Annabelle Selldorf. 10. Acoustic insulation for bathrooms As charming as open-plan loft spaces are, it’s not always charming to use the bathroom in one. According to Specht Architects of Austin Texas the job of an architect is to consider things like solar position... ...at different times of day reflectivity of materials acoustics and many other items owners might not be thinking about For hands-free dimmers, consider investing in a smart model, like the Belkin Wemo Wireless Light Control Switch, shown here; see Remodeling 101: Smart In-Wall Dimmer Switches. Sheila Narusawa suggests adding dimmers to all light switches. See also: what we’ve deemed The World’s Most Beautiful Light Switch. 11. Dimmers on the light switches A Dublin kitchen by architect Peter Legge, who used self-closing drawers with rectangular cutouts in lieu of drawer handles. Photograph by Sean Breithaupt and Yvette Monohan. 12. Self-closing cabinet drawers Brooklyn architects Made LLC always installs self-closing cabinet drawers. An electronics charging station incorporated into a Henrybuilt closet system. Bay Area architect Jennifer Weiss is proactive about suggesting details that clients don’t think to ask for, such as charging stations for laptops and cell phones. 13. An electronics charging station Interior shutters, rather than curtains, keep a petite dining room uncluttered. Old-fashioned wooden shutters are a great alternative, says San Francisco designer Kriste Michelini. In a Brooklyn Heights apartment by General Assembly, storage platforms double as walkways for the owners’ cats. 15. A designated area for your pets’ things Another tip from Made LLC Factor your pets and the way they live into your design plans If you don t want a cat scratcher... ...in the middle of your hallway or a dog bed on your living room floor take the time to think this through during your remodel