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Remodeling your bathroom can give you an in home spa.

Many people consider remodeling rooms in their home as a viable alternative to packing up their family and livelihood to move to a new home, although it’s possible you won’t always save money if you decide to do a remodel. Selecting an under-qualified contractor and inadequate management can lead to a number of problems including poor craftsmanship or financial stress. Having a general idea of what you want to accomplish with the remodeling — whether it’s additional living space, an updated design or a new layout — can help save money and time in the end.

One of the most important things to consider when planning a remodel is working with a design professional, they can save you from the headaches of a typical remodel. After you know how much you’d like to spend a designer can help you choose the best options in executing remodel, which can include your new layout, materials and finishing touches.

Bathrooms:
Everyone views the bathroom as his or her own personal sanctuary within the home. It’s a place where we escape the stresses of our everyday lives with a hot shower or a relaxing bubble bath. During the planning process you need to take into account where you spend most of the time in your bathroom. Do you spend time relaxing in the bathtub or looking in the mirror to get ready for your day? Your answer to that question will help you decide where you should direct most attention in the remodel. Be sure to always spend a little extra on your bathroom hardware, high quality fixtures go a long way to adding to the at home spa feel.

Garages:
It’s a known fact that more that 50% of homeowners have so much stuff stored in their garage they can’t even pull their car in. Today’s garage has become a storage space for many, but that can change with a remodel. If you’re a homeowner that can’t park their car in their garage this should be one of the first places to consider a remodel. Having a professional designer remodel your garage can increase your storage space and help you utilize every corner. As we’ve previously discussed you can even turn your garage into a climate-controlled addition to your house, complete with work and relaxing areas.

A remodeled your kitchen will breathe new life into your home.

Kitchens:
The most difficult and costly remodeling project to undertake is a kitchen. Again, have a general idea of what you’re looking to accomplish helps. Also working with a design professional that can provide you a variety of materials and looks can help make the project flow smoothly. Last you need to be realistic as to how long you can survive with out a fully functioning kitchen since it can be a time consuming project. With the help of a designer your time with out a kitchen will be reduced since they will be managing the project to make sure it’s completed with in the timeline.

Working with a design professional will allow you to stay in tune with each step of your remodeling project. They also have the background and knowledge to help in selection of materials or looks for your finished project. If you’d like to begin working with a design consultant today be sure to make an appointment to visit on of our two Chicago area showrooms.

1. What is your favorite project you’ve worked on and why?

McCune kitchen before

It’s hard to pick a favorite because every single project has been a unique and exciting experience. If I had to narrow it down, I would say the McCune kitchen is one of my favorites. I am still in awe when I look at the before and after photos. The transformation was incredibly dramatic, and the family was thrilled with the results, which always make a project feel like a success.

2. What is your greatest source for inspiration?

McCune kitchen before

The family is undoubtedly my greatest source of inspiration when I am designing a space. It’s really important to me to understand why the family wants to remodel their home and what they are hoping to accomplish with the new bathroom, kitchen, playroom, etc.

At the initial meeting I try to ask as many questions as possible and just watch the interaction between family members. I want the design to fit their needs, desires and lifestyle, and the only way to create a design that accomplishes this is to talk to the family, get to know and understand them, and ultimately look to them for inspiration and ideas.

3. What 5 things does a well designed home need?
Flow
Consistency
Adequate space
Functionality to the occupants
Style

4. What are some of the toughest obstacles you see these days in redesigns and remodels?
Without a doubt, the biggest obstacle standing in the way of home redesigns and remodels is the financial aspect of the process. With the economy in the shape it’s in, people are reticent to commit to spending a large chunk of money on anything, let alone something that could be deemed unnecessary.

I’ve seen more and more clients who have the financial means and the desire, but the uncertainty holds them back. In instances such as this, I try to open up a conversation about the reasons for the redesign (usually, it’s pretty important to the homeowner and something they’ve been considering for years), and then I discuss the of financing options Airoom offers. I like to think that fear can be assuaged when homeowners understand that the reward far outweighs the risk.

5. Where do you think people should splurge on their homes?
I think that people should splurge on creating beautiful kitchens and baths in their homes. When done properly, these rooms add a great deal of value and aesthetic appeal. Clients derive great joy out of a luxurious bathroom or amenity-filled kitchen. Plus, when homeowners want to sell their home, high-end kitchens and baths are at the top of every prospective buyer’s list — it’s just a solid investment.

6. How do you help a client in identifying and clarifying their own personal style?
Some clients have a very clear and well-articulated personal style while others have a difficult time explaining what they like and want. In the case of the latter, I find that you can’t ask enough questions. Even the most insignificant discussion can help you as the designer understand what the client is looking for. Sometimes it’s easier for clients to discuss what they don’t like than what they do like. As the designer, you may have to work backwards — or by the process of elimination — to help them identify their personals style.

7. What are some of the benefits of using a design professional versus a do-it-yourselfer?
When you use a design professional, you’re pulling from a deep well of professional ideas. Professionals know everything that’s going on in the industry and their knowledge base will undoubtedly have greater depth than someone who is taking on the project on his own. That’s not to say that do-it-yourselfers aren’t capable — often times they are — but, a team of one is never as good as a team composed of numerous talented individuals.

In my experience, a do-it-yourselfer is often looking for one of two things: to save money or to derive pride from accomplishing the project. These should not be the main goals of a project, and thus can hinder the quality of the job. A design professional’s job is to pull out the ideas and wishes of the client and provide a clear direction to accomplish them. In the long run doing it right once with a clear direction can actually save money.

8. If you could redo any space past or present what would it be?
If I could redo any space, I would redo my grandparent’s home. They live in a relatively small, somewhat outdated house in northern Wisconsin, with which they are perfectly happy.

But, as a designer, I can’t help but want to make changes to their home that I know would make them happier — especially my grandma. She has little counter space and a single stove, yet she bakes endless batches of cookies for every holiday. I would love to remodel their kitchen and dining area, to give them the space and appliances they deserve.

Over the course of their lives they have spent an inordinate amount of time in this area of their home — she’s always cooking and baking, and he is enjoying the delicious fruits of her labor. I can’t think of two people who deserve or would benefit from a redesign more.

I have to say that Kevin, Marv, Gina and Anna have all been wonderful. Gina was fabulous to work with in making selections for the bathrooms and kitchenette layout. She was also a great resource both in and out of the showroom. She was always ready to answer questions and give opinions about anything, especially the light fixtures. Marv was also a true asset to the project, his knowledge of the scope of the plans and being able to explain things in a language I would understand were invaluable. He was fair in making any adjustments to plans and budget, whether it was from a change in layout to selections and costs associated thereof.

Last but certainly not least, there’s Kevin. Kevin has been an absolute pleasure to work with. Words cannot begin to describe how amazing he has been. Kevin’s professionalism and pride in a job well done is evident especially in his constant presence on the job site. All the tradesmen with whom I have spoken think very highly of Kevin and Airoom, which spoke very loudly to us.

While I cannot deny that there haven’t been a few ‘hiccups’ in the project, I can say with full confidence that Kevin has been there every step of the way as an advocate for us in making sure we are 100% satisfied with the end result. He has gone above and beyond our expectations in each of his recommendations. He worked with our painter in a seamless fashion to get everything done in a proper order.

When a problem came up in an inspection that was as a result of a previous contractor to Airoom, Kevin was right there making sure that they had whatever details were needed to fix the problem so that Airoom could continue the project without further delay. Even the Village inspectors I spoke with spoke highly of Kevin. I feel like we got the best people on the job and would recommend Airoom in the future.

In closing, I would also like to give a special “thank you” to Kevin and the Airoom team for being incredibly respectful of our religious observances by agreeing not to work on Saturdays or holidays. While I understand that this might have drawn out the project a little bit, it was vital to us that this request was honored and we have been deeply moved and pleased that it was.

With much thanks and gratitude,

Batyah and Benji C.

If you’d like more information on a kitchen or bathroom remodel please make an appointment to visit a design center in Lincolnwood or Naperville.

Maybe you’ve turned your basement into a home gym, kid’s playroom or an extension of your house to include a high-end entertainment set-up and wet bar. Basements have been transformed from workrooms or extra storage to a key living space in today’s home. These days, building or remodeling your garage into a custom garage is a new way to combat the loss of space.

It used to be that the only function of a custom garage was to house a collection of cars, motorcycles and workspace. Recently, more home owners are seeking extra workspace for functionality and organization. Here are just a few key components to consider with a custom garage:

Layout: A typical two car garage only has enough room for exactly what it’s meant to store, two cars. When customizing your current garage consider adding an extra level to give you more rooms. If your house has two levels, why can’t your garage? Giving your garage a loft will allow more room for tools and storage. You can even make dedicated work and relaxing areas complete with wall-mounted panel TV’s.

Flooring: If you’re tired of coming home and seeing that dingy and stained garage floor there are some new options. We can install a flooring system that will transform your basic concrete floor into something that will reflect your style and personality.

The choices for flooring include a coating that can be customized to any color you’d like or there are even tiles specifically made for a garage floor available. The floors can be set up with an epoxy coating for easy clean up and to repel the typical garage floor stains.

Heating and Ventilation: There are a variety of heating systems that can go into a garage. To continue with flooring, since Chicago has a severely cold winter season, a heated floor can be a needed feature for your dream garage. Imagine walking out to your car in the garage a day after driving through a snowstorm and not having puddles to step over!

If you’d like to get your car or motorcycle ready for spring by working on it over the winter it’s possible to do it with the garage door closed. You’ll be able to fire up the motor with a full garage ventilation system that removes the hazardous fumes. Also with a custom heating system, you can also keep your custom garage warm so you can get some work done on a sub-zero Saturday.

Depending on what your hobbies are or use for your garage is, there are a considerable amount of customizations that can be made to accommodate you. If you’d like a certain color or type of cabinets or if you need a certain amount of light in key areas we can make that possible.

We’ll also put the finishing touches on your garage and incorporate your hobbies or lifestyle into the final look. Make an appointment with our design professionals and we will begin to customize your garage to make it feel like it’s your very own. If you’d like to be notified of future garage customizations ideas and opportunities be sure to sign up for our exclusive email updates.

Karen and Tom decided to go the home addition route with the help of our design experts and sent us this letter about their experience:

Last month, Airoom finished a family addition and office remodeling project at our home in Naperville and we wanted to let you know how happy we are with the results.

After living in our home for almost six years, we debated over moving because our home seemed too small for our growing family. We especially liked the area surrounding our home and we were torn over the idea of leaving the neighborhood. In working with the great people at Airoom, we were able to create the additional living space needed and the rooms blend almost seamlessly with our homes existing structure. We have already received numerous compliments from our friends and family on the completed job.

We were especially pleased with the carpentry and supervisory work of Chuck. Chuck not only provided excellent carpentry work, he also did a great job of giving us daily updates on progress and upcoming work. Chuck was very pleasant and we really enjoyed getting to know him during the project. We would be happy to give a recommendation for his work, if needed in the future.

Again, thanks to you and your staff for expanding the home we love.

Karen and Tom

If you find yourself looking to expand your home just like Karen and Tom make an appointment to visit an Airoom Design Center in Lincolnwood or Naperville today.

Marty has been with Airoom for 17 years and has been designing and managing remodels for the last 30 years. Previous to Airoom, Marty was involved in custom home building and ran his own custom home design and build business.

1. What is your favorite project you’ve worked on and why?
My favorite projects are whole house expansions and renovations.  I love to take an old house and make it into something new; to take a rundown, tired home and update it and bring in modern design and make it something special. The recent projects I’ve worked on like this would be a residence in Oak Brook and another in Winnetka.

2. What is your greatest source for inspiration?
My client and the home I am working in always inspire me.  I find it hard to design until I hear what my client’s wants and wishes are for their home.  Then I take a look at the house and it tells me what to do (strange as that sounds).  It’s sort of magic.  Not sure where it comes from.

3. What 5 things does a well designed home need?
Family space: A place to gather and share.
Private space: A place to escape and reflect.
Entry space:  A way to enter and feel the home.
Personalization, uniqueness: A statement of the individuals who live there.
Energy efficiently, greenness:  A home should make minimal impact on resources.

4. What are some of the toughest obstacles you see these days in redesigns and remodels?
The number one obstacle is matching your client’s wants with budget.  There is always more wanted than the available to invest in the home.  The choice can be hard.  Put a basement in or re-side and replace the existing windows?  Both would be good choices but what is the right answer?

Zoning is another issue.  Many times you are restricted to size, setbacks, required heights. Building codes also are tough obstacles (i.e. second stair case in Chicago).

5. Where do you think people should splurge on their homes?
People should splurge on anything that makes them feel good.  I have found if you like it, odds are others will too.  Obviously the kitchen, bathrooms and front exteriors get you the most return and the most oohs and ahhs.

6. How do you help a client in identifying and clarifying their own personal style?
If they have a style you will pick it up when you see their home, look at their art or the clothes they wear.  Pictures help as well.  You need to walk them through the picture to make sure you understand what they are seeing.

7. What are some of the benefits of using a design professional versus a do-it-yourselfer?
A design professional will help you see something that you cannot see yourself.  Typically I am able to come up with something the do-it–yourselfer doesn’t see in their home because their minds are set that the house lay out has to stay the way it is.  I can come in and say “let’s put the kitchen over here, or let’s move that powder room.”  I also have readily available the cost and implications to make those changes. Good design is not necessarily more money, it’s knowing what makes the maximum impact.

The design professional should keep you out of trouble by knowing what is required to do the work, knowing the building codes and be able to make sure you understand the scope of work required.

8. If you could redo any space past or present what would it be?
Human nature is such that as soon as a project is complete you can see how it can be improved.  That is very true in the design.  However there is another axiom I have seen is “if you like it on paper you will love in reality.”  The short answer is there is always something I see that I would change, but never felt the project was a failure.

Do I need to hire an architect to put together the plans and bring them to you?

At Airoom we are your one stop shop. We have a design-build philosophy that encompasses all aspects of the design and remodel project. From start to finish we handle the architecture, engineering, construction, interior design, purchasing and financing.

Am I going to be working with each contractor? That’s a lot of people to communicate with.

For each project we assign an Airoom Project Development Manager to work with you. We handle all aspects of the project and funnel them through the manager who will provide you with the appropriate updates. The Project Development Manager’s priority is to also see that everything is completed with in the timeline.

What kind of experience do you have working with historic homes?

We have plenty of experience in remodeling both the interiors and exteriors of historic homes. We understand the importance to preserve the original look. Our relationship with manufacturers allows us to update or add to the timelessness of your house with only the finest building materials.

Once the construction is done am I left to do the painting and decorating?

A visit to our Airoom Design Center with our design consultants will allow you to put the finishing touches on your new remodel or home addition. Our design professionals are also versed in all the latest style and trends. They can incorporate these into your remodel or addition so that it flows with the overall aesthetics of your home. Once the construction is complete and the interior design is carried out we do a final walk through with you for to see that all your expectations were met.

If you’re interested in having Airoom take the stress out of a remodel or addition that you’re planning set up an appointment to visit us at our design showrooms in Lincolnwood or Naperville.