Archive for the ‘Resources’ Category
Hudson Remodeling News
Taking a look at ‘modern farmhouse’ design
Posted 30 January 2019 by Team Hudson
Home. For so many people, it’s a place of comfort, a place for family, a place to gather around the big dining room table after a hard day’s work and laugh and play with friends. Home is a well-lived-in, well-loved place of coziness and relaxation.
This feeling, this idea, is what people often are aiming for when they decorate in certain styles. Remember “shabby chic” and its focus on things like antique furniture, distressed-wood touches and built-in cabinets? Or the “classic farmhouse” style with its sturdy, practical furniture, apron sinks and natural wood accents?
Lately, we’ve been seeing a number of customers with new takes on these classic decorating styles. They’re going for more of a “modern farmhouse” look, which in many ways is a direct descendent of both shabby chic and classic farmhouse styles. Let’s take a look at a few modern farmhouse elements. Maybe you’ll find yourself incorporating some of these in your home!
Farmstead elements: We’ve done a number of interior door installations lately in the barn style. It’s a classic look that evokes feelings of simple living and brings with it a practical touch. These sliding doors are great space savers, akin to the pocket doors of yore, for spaces where a large swinging door wouldn’t quite fit. This door was made from locally sourced recycled wood, but you can also purchase pre-made doors at places like Home Depot. As a matter of fact, that’s where we got the barn doors for this bathroom remodel.
Rustic meets contemporary: In a nutshell, this is the core of modern farmhouse design. Distressed shelves and exposed wood beams paired with the clean, glossy feel of embedded windows create a look that is both sophisticated and traditional. More common examples of this pairing can be found in kitchens that combine stainless steel appliances, granite countertops and apron-front sinks in the farmhouse style. This kitchen even takes that a step further, with sleek appliances, modern lighting, shiny black granite countertops, bright wooden cabinets and, to add an extra modern touch to a classic kitchen centerpiece, a farmhouse-style sink in black.
Neutral palette, uncluttered space: The farmhouse look, whether classic or modern, is all about natural, neutral colors and fibers — leather chairs, natural wood furnishings, cotton fabrics, white walls. This 1909 logging bunkhouse in Lynden was brought into the modern age while retaining the classic touches that give the home its lived-in character.
What do you think? Are you considering the modern farmhouse look in your home? With its shabby chic and classic farmhouse heritage combined with contemporary touches, the style has become a comforting, inviting and modern take on interior design.
Posted in Design, Resources | No Comments »
You might be wondering… Three tips for a successful home remodeling project
Posted 27 September 2018 by Team Hudson
A home remodel is probably something you’ll do only once in your life. Nobody expects you to be an expert at it.
After all, that’s why you’re considering hiring a professional to do the work, right?
If this is your first time through the home remodeling process, there probably are a thousand questions swirling around in your mind about how the construction and renovation process will go.
Based on Hudson Remodeling’s prodigious experience in Bellingham and throughout Whatcom County, here some tried-and-true answers to a few important home remodeling questions.
When is the best time to conduct a Bellingham home remodeling project?
The best time of year to remodel your home depends a lot on the type of work being done. Any time of year works well for indoor remodeling and upgrade projects, but there are certain tasks that can’t be completed during the rainy season. Roof replacements and exterior painting jobs, for example, are best done under the sun. Most other projects — bathroom remodels, kitchen upgrades, deck installations and more — are great to complete all year long.
Hudson Remodeling is booking projects now for the spring, so if you have an exterior project, now’s the time to get on the list for the spring/summer dry period.
Can I live at home during the remodeling project?
Whether your family should continue to live in your home while it’s being renovated honestly depends on the extent of the work. If the area to be remodeled can be isolated from the rest of the home, such as a basement renovation with exterior access, then it’s OK for homeowners to remain in the house.
However, for safety reasons, contractors would prefer that people don’t walk through an active job site. If we’re talking about a whole-house remodel, it’s much better for the homeowners to move out, if at all possible, as it’s much more efficient for the contractor to have access to all rooms at once. With unfettered access to the home, the plumbers, electricians, sheetrockers, painters and carpenters can limit the number of times they need to access the home. That will help the project get done much faster, which of course means that the homeowner can enjoy the work that much sooner.
How much should I communicate with the remodeler or contractor?
Good communication is a major key to a successful home remodeling partnership. Great relationships are ones where the homeowners are willing to provide the contractor with insight into their goals and priorities for the construction project. For example, on many projects, some compromises might need to be made. In these cases, it’s important that the remodeler know what’s important to the homeowner so they provide sound remodeling advice and help the homeowner make the best choices.
Communication doesn’t always have to be with words, either. After all, a picture is worth a thousand! If you find a photo that captures your vision for the space, please feel free to share. Your home remodeling contractor will appreciate the clarity and the insight into your vision for your beautiful new home. Feel free to browse photos from past Hudson Remodeling Bellingham home renovations for inspiration.
How can I tell which home remodeling bid is the best one?
Hudson Remodeling’s lead carpenter, Dave James, weighed in on that during a recent Q&A. Check out his answer here.
Posted in General, Resources | No Comments »
A few home remodeling projects can make it easy to age in place
Posted 28 June 2017 by Team Hudson
Independence.
As we age, the word takes on a different meaning. At the approach of our sunset years, we begin to think of things that could prolong — or stand in the way of — our ability to be independent.
Independence is always top of mind at Hudson Remodeling. Our craftsmen have years of experience in Whatcom County remodeling homes to improve flow and reduce barriers so that individuals and couples can confidently grow older in the homes they love.
Here are a few tips we’ve picked up over the years that can help maintain independence at home while aging in place.
Consider a step-in shower: Hudson Remodeling recently completed a remodel in which we swapped out a small, high-sided bathtub for a roomy walk-in shower complete with grab bars. The previous tub was a constant trip hazard, and the new shower is incredibly easy to get in and out of. It occupies the same footprint as the bathtub, too, so the replacement job was simple. For those who want to age in place, a bathroom remodel like this is one of the best choices to make. And for those who like an occasional soak, Best Bath also makes a tub with a door that swings open to allow safe, step-free access.
Add grab bars to existing bathroom features: Even those who love their current bathroom setup can benefit from a sturdy grab bar or two. Great for their help in preventing falls, grab bars can be installed for shower stability and to help anyone safely maneuver around the bathroom.
Widen doorways and other paths to reduce tripping hazards: Narrow doorways, hallways and galley kitchens can present access challenges — or be plain impossible to navigate with a walker or other mobility device. Knocking out a wall or two to provide more space — or even widening doorways where possible — can improve the feel of a home in addition to ensuring access.
Reduce trips up and down the stairs: Often, this means an interior remodel. If the master bedroom is on the second floor, for example, the homeowner could make many trips up and down the stairs every day. Adding on or remodeling a ground-floor space into a master suite puts an end to frequent navigation of stairs. It is another critical change to a home in the interest of aging in place.
Add a step-free exterior entrance: In the Pacific Northwest, it’s common to see homes with porches and/or decks at both the front and back doors. They look great, but they can be quite a nuisance to people wary of falls. Independently (or as part of a ground-floor master suite remodel), Hudson has ideas for ways to install stair-free access to a home from the outdoors.
The experts at Hudson Remodeling are Certified Aging-in-Place Specialists and can be a go-to source for Bellingham and Whatcom County homeowners who would like to create a space that is accessible for all ages and all abilities.
Tags: Aging in Place, Bathroom Remodeling, bathroom remodeling ideas, Bellingham contractor, Bellingham remodeler, Bellingham residential remodeler, Best Bath, construction contractor, Fairhaven remodeling contractor, Ferndale remodeler, grab bar installer, home additions, Master Suite Remodeling, remodeler in Lynden, remodeling contractor, Universal Design, Whatcom County remodeler
Posted in Aging in Place, Bathroom Remodeling, General, General Contractor, Products and Services, Resources | No Comments »
Ideas for improving your home’s exterior
Posted 24 May 2017 by Team Hudson
Every home could use a pick-me-up now and again, and it’s never too late to return a home to its former beauty. Here are a few tried-and-true exterior remodeling options that can help any home look its best.
New siding: Is it time to replace that old aluminum or vinyl siding with something that looks a bit more natural? Or is the old wood siding so worn that the boards are warped and nails are popping? Few things like fresh siding can restore the beauty of a home — and add to its longevity. Worn siding can very quickly lead to problems with water damage and pest infiltration.
New windows: Not only are updated vinyl windows beautiful, they’re also much more energy-efficient than the wood or aluminum windows they typically replace. New double-paned windows can add decades of energy efficiency to a home. Energy savings can be as high as 50 percent!
New doors: It’s incredible the facelift that something as simple as a new front door can provide. A fun, colorful door can add character to an otherwise plain facade, or a timeliness wood door can better match a home’s Craftsman character. There are many ways to be creative with doors, too. A set of French doors to replace the old sliding door can add loads of character, for example. And adding a new door to open access — a set of French doors leading to the side yard, for example, inst ead of that picture window — can improve the way a house flows.
New porch: What often happens in the Pacific Northwest is that, over the years, porch wood can rot and become spongy. Often, this happens without the homeowner even noticing — the change happens slowly, and the homeowner doesn’t spot the incremental changes. But taking a close look at that aging front porch might reveal that it’s time to replace it with something new and beautiful — for the sake of both looks and safety. A composite material such as Trex can provide a beautiful, long-lasting look that doesn’t even need to be painted or stained. Subtle changes to the roofline over a front porch can also add a ton of curb appeal.
A new deck: Consider the possibilities a deck could provide: evening barbecues with friends, relaxing in the sun while the kids frolic in the yard, and a hot cup of morning coffee on a crisp Pacific Northwest morning. Sounds amazing, right? Building a new deck or expanding an existing one just might be the best idea you’ve had in a long time.
For help with these or any other exterior remodeling ideas, contact Hudson Remodeling.
For help with these or any other exterior remodeling ideas, contact Hudson Remodeling. The Hudson team has years of experience providing stellar remodeling services to homeowners in Bellingham, Ferndale, Lynden and throughout Whatcom and Skagit counties. They’d be happy to consult with you on your project or stop by and take a look at your home.
Tags: Bellingham remodeler, Bellingham residential remodeler, deck installer, Fairhaven remodeling contractor, Ferndale remodeler, home additions, remodeler in Lynden, remodeling an older home, remodeling contractor, siding installer, Trex deck installer, updating an old house, Whatcom County remodeler, Whole House Remodeling, window installer
Posted in Design, General, General Contractor, Products and Services, Resources, Universal Design | No Comments »
CAD renderings add an extra touch to design/build work
Posted 26 April 2017 by Team Hudson
Are you sure you put the microwave in the right place? Is there enough space around the island? Might those pendant lights get in the way of the cabinet doors?
Looking at a flat blueprint, the answers to these questions are sometimes hard for clients to imagine.
That’s why Hudson Remodeling uses the latest computer technology to help clients visualize the changes to their homes.
Susan Silva
, who designs and manages design/build projects at Hudson Remodeling, creates computer-aided design (CAD) drawings for many kitchen jobs — and a lot of the bathrooms, too — that Hudson works on.
It’s a worthwhile service, Silva says, because it helps clients imagine the changes that will be made to their spaces. In addition to blueprints of plans, the Whatcom County remodeler’s clients can get a virtual walkthrough of their new room and thus are better able to contribute to the remodeling process and make design decisions on the fly when needed.
When clients hire Hudson Remodeling, they get much more than a simple project manager. They get an entire team dedicated to making sure their remodel project goes as smoothly as possible — and that they are equipped to make design choices as the project proceeds.
Because Silva works alongside Hudson’s lead carpenters to provide estimates, create remodeling plans, research supplies and order materials, she knows what each project will look like and how it will proceed. And because she’s able to put that information into a CAD rendering and walk through it with clients, they know, too, just how their home will look.
For example, look at these renderings from a recent kitchen remodel in Bellingham. The work required reconfiguring some cabinets in a kitchen the clients had enjoyed for many years. Because they had the CAD renderings, it was easy for them to look beyond the kitchen they were familiar with and imagine the kitchen of their dreams.
If you’ve been considering a remodeling project for your Whatcom County home, give the team at Hudson Remodeling a call. In addition to kitchens and baths, Hudson Remodeling handles master suites, exterior projects and even whole-house remodeling.
Tags: Affordable Remodeling Projects, Granite Countertops, Kitchen Remodeling, Master Suite Remodeling, Traditional Home Remodeling, Whatcom County Contractor, Whatcom County general contractor
Posted in General Contractor, Kitchen Remodeling, Products and Services, Remodeling Photos, Resources | No Comments »
7 tips for choosing the right remodeling contractor
Posted 22 April 2015 by Team Hudson
Tags: Bellingham Remodeling Projects, hiring a contractor, remodel, Whatcom County Contractor
Posted in Products and Services, Resources | No Comments »
Charlie Hudson featured speaker at aging-in-place event
Posted 27 January 2015 by Team Hudson
Whatcom County senior citizens can learn all about aging-in-place and housing options during a speaking event February, 25, 2015 at the Bellingham Senior Activity Center.
The event features Charlie Hudson, owner of Hudson Remodeling and certified aging-in-place specialist. Ed Meideros, board member of the Seattle Phinney Neighborhood Association will also be speaking. A variety of breakout sessions with housing and in-home care specialists will also be included in the all-day event.
Tags: Aging in Place, Charlie Hudson, Housing Options As We Age, Hudson Remodeling, Universal Design, Whatcom County Contractor
Posted in Aging in Place, Events, Hudson Remodeling In the News, Resources, Universal Design | 1 Comment »
Increase your home’s value with outdoor construction projects
Posted 2 June 2013 by Team Hudson
With summer on its way, now is the perfect time to start planning outdoor construction projects that will increase your home’s value and curb appeal. Maybe you want to paint, replace old siding, or entertain more on a new deck. Whatever your project is this year, Hudson Remodeling is here to help.
Here are a few things to keep in mind as you plan for outdoor construction projects this summer:
- Ready to replace the siding on your home? Consider material selection carefully. We recommend and frequently install HardiPlank, a fiber-cement siding that is durable (it can last 50+ years), looks like wood, and is insect-resistant. HardiPlank holds paint incredibly well so future maintenance costs will be lower.
Inspiration: pinterest.com
- Time to repaint your home? Remember to keep the color scheme of your doors, windows and even the roof of your house in mind. You’ll want to choose colors that complement those features. Keep in mind that darker paint colors can absorb heat, which may be beneficial during Whatcom County’s cold winter months, but not during warmer summer months.
Inspiration: pinterest.com
- Need to build a new deck or repair an existing one? Make sure you allow enough space to accommodate tables, chairs, a BBQ and people comfortably. Being in the lovely Pacific Northwest we can rarely guarantee sunshine – consider adding a cover to your deck so you can still enjoy the outdoors without getting wet. You will also want to consider what decking material will best fit your needs. Maintenance, durability, overall look, and sustainability are a few we consult with people on during the planning phase.
Inspiration: pinterest.com
As a licensed general contractor in Whatcom County, Hudson Remodeling crews are ready to help with any deck or HardiPlank siding projects you’d like to undertake this year – our customers love our work and so will you!
Contact Charlie Hudson for a detailed estimate today.
Tags: Bellingham Remodeling Projects, Deck Construction, HardiPlank Siding, Whatcom County Contractor
Posted in Products and Services, Resources | No Comments »
