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Top Three Home Addition Regrets

Additions are a great option for homeowners who need some extra space, but want to stay in their current neighborhood. However, there are a few items to consider before moving forward. Here are three of the biggest home addition concerns that many homeowners encounter, and tips from Normandy Designer Vince Weber for how to avoid them.

An Undersized Addition – Sometimes, you just want a little more room. But there is a fine line between not adding enough space and doing too much.

“Size is a double-edged sword,” said Vince. “While your decision has an effect on the cost of the project, it also affects your future enjoyment of the space and the overall investment of your home.”

Not Matching the Existing Style of Your Home – In terms of interior choices, it is
important that the addition be a continuation of your current home. Therefore, all the trim should match and there should be a continuation of your current flooring.

“Matching the existing exterior materials and style will help make the addition look as though it was original to the home,” noted Vince. “Cutting corners with cheaper materials or choosing a drastically different style for the addition will do more harm than good, as it creates a more jarring appearance between the existing and new area.”

Brick versus Siding – If your home is comprised of brick, consider matching the existing look as opposed to selecting siding.

“Oftentimes, if the addition is in the back of the home, siding is preferred because it is a less expensive option. However, siding screams addition,” said Vince. “I recommend starting with the idea of having the addition look like it was built on the home, to begin with. Start there, look at cost, and then make changes if you need to find some savings.”

Set up a time to meet with Vince for more information on adding a seamless addition to your home. Or, register to attend one of our upcoming addition seminars to learn more about the home addition renovation process. You can also see our photo gallery of beautiful additions and follow Normandy Remodeling on Facebook and Instagram for design tips, trends, and inspiration.

What are Distressed Cabinets?

Black island with distressed finishThere are a variety of ways to tailor your kitchen cabinetry to your taste, and if you prefer a vintage-inspired look, distressing can be a great selection for your home. Distressing is a process that gives cabinets an old and weathered appearance. There are many different distressing techniques that can be used to create small chips, dents, or scratches on the surface of the wood. Overall, this technique creates the illusion of age, allowing new cabinetry to look as though it was found at an antique shop.

“The process of distressing is done by the cabinet manufacturer using a variety of different tools. Some cabinets are distressed before the finish and some are done afterward,” said Normandy Designer Kathryn O’Donovan. “A sign of good distressing is that the marks are random, with no consistencies in the wood.”

eclectic kitchen with brick backsplash and a distressed island

Ways to distress wood cabinets include:

Worm holing – This style of distressing mimics the look of small wormholes within the wood.

Rasping – With rasping, the wood is given the appearance that it was hand cut by acraftsman.

Cracking – This technique mimics cracks in solid wood, creating the effect that the wood has gone through years of changes in temperature and humidity.

Wearing – In this case, the doors are sanded down at the edges to give the appearance that the wood has been worn.  The wearing also allows for a two-tone effect. The top finish is worn away to show the wood finish underneath.

Scraping – Scraping simulates the wear and tear of wood that had items fall and ‘scrape’ against it.

Gouging – Gouging looks as though pieces have been physically notched out of the wood.

“Once distressed, glazing is an option that can help further accentuate your cabinetry,” added Kathryn. “The glaze will get stuck in the recesses, helping highlight the uniqueness of the door.”

Set up a meeting with Kathryn to talk about your renovation project and the details of distressed cabinetry. Or, you can learn more by registering to attend one of our free remodeling seminars. You can also follow Normandy on Facebook and Twitter for the latest trends and design ideas.

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