DIY Quiz - Should you really do it yourself or hire a professional?

Great resource from the National Association of the Remodeling Industry -NARI.

Should you save money by doing the job yourself? Do-it-yourself (DIY) jobs are a popular trend in the home improvement industry; however, before you grab a hammer and start swinging, you should know that this is a trend with a few potential problems. Before you decide to do-it-yourself, the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) recommends taking this DIY quiz:

Take the full quiz over at NARI and see if it's wise for you to tackle your home improvement project yourself or whether it's best to leave it to the professionals. Here's a peek at some of the questions you should ask yourself before deciding to do things like take a sledge hammer to your bathroom...



Yes or No:

• Do you enjoy physical work?
• Are you persistent and patient?
• Do you have reliable work habits—meaning that once the project is started, will it get finished?
• Do you have all the tools needed and, more importantly, the skills required to do the job?
• What quality level do you need for this project? Are your skills at that level?
• Do you have the time that will be required to complete the project? (Always double or triple the time estimated for a DIY project, unless you are highly skilled and familiar with that particular project.)
• Will it matter if the project remains unfinished for a period of time?
• Are you prepared to handle the kind of stress this project will create in your family relationships?
• Do you know all of the steps involved in the project?
• Have you gotten the installation instructions from the manufacturer to determine whether this is a project you still want to undertake? (Most manufacturers will send you installation instructions before purchase to determine whether the product will meet your needs.)

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Re-Designing a Space? How to Create a Design Board

One of the most important things you can do when thinking of re-designing a space is to create a Design Board. This will allow you to get all of your ideas in one place and make sure that all of the elements will be cohesive. The process is relatively simple and Ikea has created a nice article to walk you through the process. They also point out the difference between a design board and an inspiration board.

You have two options when creating your board, you can do a tangible board with real finish samples and fabrics or a virtual board which consists solely of pictures of the finish samples. Either way you choose will give you a good starting place to practice your design ideas before jumping in and throwing paint on the walls.

Some good things to include on your board

• An overall picture of your ideal space, what is the feeling you want to achieve- sleek and clean, warm and cozy, organized and functional, etc.
• Paint colors and samples. Also consider paint finishes such as faux, whitewashing, stippling, etc.
• Architectural details like crown moulding or special trim work
• Fabric swatches in both neutrals and accent colors
• Lighting fixtures
• Furniture and furniture placement
• Accent pieces such as lamps, vases, plants, and other individual details
• Finish samples such as tile, flooring material, wallpaper, etc.

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Less Is More: a new approach in home trends

Here's a great video from the Today Show. It's a good take on the changes we're seeing in home construction. Less is more seems to be the new approach. Plus some great insight from Barbara Corcoran on what home improvements will add value vs the ones that wont.

Does It Add Value? Home Improvement Tips & Insight

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A change in the tide: Renovation & Remodeling trends 2010-2011

As a result of the times people are changing the way they do things in their every day lives and those changes have now translated into the home improvement realm. There is an overall change in the tide with construction these days...

One of the biggest trends we've seen this past year has been the green movement. It started as a catch phrase but has grown into an actual movement since the downturn of the economy and job market. People are changing not only their lifestyles with food choices and exercise plans but they're also desiring a clean and healthy home for their family. Sustainable flooring and recycled building materials are a common request.

The next biggest trend we've seen in the industry is a scaling back of home improvement projects. In the past homeowners didn't put any thought into the future when they splurged on major home renovations. With the economy today homeowners are cautious of the future and want to make sure that they aren't going to lose their investment in their remodeling projects. They realize the possibility that they could become a victim of the poor job market and don't want to find themselves upside down, having to sell their home for less than they've put into it.

So with this cautious attitude we're seeing more and more small scale projects instead of the big home additions. Instead of gutting kitchens, tearing down walls, and purchasing top of the line appliances we're seeing more of a facelift approach. A lot of homeowners are re-purposing and reusing their exisiting cabinetry and flooring, updating only the countertops and fixtures. The same goes for bathroom remodels, adding some tile flooring, a new tub, and a fresh coat of paint is enough to get a noticeable update with a quarter of the cost.

Along those same lines of scaling back the focus of improvement projects has become "maintenance" projects. Replacing siding, windows, roofing, and doors to uphold the integrity of the home are common practice now according to Martin Conneely of Conneely Contracting.

Color is the new black! The color trends that are popping up seem to follow this overall lifestyle change to get back to the basics and back to our roots. The color pallets are broadening and earth tones and deep rich colors are popular. On the design side we're seeing these colors paired with a global influence in fabrics and decor. As the new year approaches expect to see a move toward simplicity and clean lines with more vivid and rich colors. "In 2010-2011, we’ll see a trend toward consumers choosing livelier colours to reflect their optimism in their quest for a brighter future.” says Stéphanie Pelland, Marketing Communication Manager for the Sico brand and member of the international colour forecaster Color Marketing Group.

Check out the Home Renovation Guide for more insight into the upcoming design trends.

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