Kitchens..........

They say the kitchen is the heart of the home and in many families that is really true.  When you are contemplating a kitchen remodel think of the the many ways you may use your kitchen:

• Cooking - Would you like to have a state of the art cooking kitchen that rivals any commercial kitchen space on your favorite TV show?  Or are you more in tune with a low key kitchen?  Do you like granite or tile?  Are you interested in the newest concrete countertops with recycled glass backsplashes?  Think about if you need a double oven as well as a microwave.  What is your preferred cooking method - gas or electric?  How easy do you want clean up to be?
• Eating - Think about breakfast in the morning.  Do you want to have a bar stool area where the kids can eat before school?  Do you want a sunny nook?  Do you want to eat your main family meals in the kitchen?

• Entertaining - Do you need a large area for buffet style entertaining?  Do you want a wet bar in the kitchen area for mixing cocktails or a large wine refrigerator for your collection of wines?  How should the flow of traffic go through your kitchen area?  What is the most people you would try to entertain in your home at one time?
• Homework and Computer Stations - Do your children use the kitchen as a homework station?  Do you need a place for your laptop, your chargers, your mail?  

All of these ideas can help you decide some key design elements you can bring to your architect/builder so they can incorporate these important usages into your architectural design. 

Next up............ Unused space

Once we reach a "certain age" and even some more enlightened younger folk, we come to the conclusion that life is all about balance.

Balancing home life, work life, charity work, family, extended family, friends, and what about self fulfillment?  Life may be calling you to carve out a little time for yourself.  A time to recharge your batteries.  A time to reach out to the world and decide that you have more to offer to the world and to yourself.


At the age of 44, I have taken up the violin.  I know it sounds crazy, but I have always loved the violin.  I have played the clarinet, the piano, sang in choir, but my heart is in love with the violin.  It is my new "hobby" if you want to call it that.

When you are planning your renovation project - take into consideration that you have goals in your life.  There are things you want to do, to learn and to achieve.  For me, it's the violin.  What is it for you?  What space in your home can you and should you claim for what you truly desire as a "recharge" for you? 

Would you like a music room, a gardening room, a conservatory, an endless pool?  Ask yourself these deep questions when you are looking at your project.  Life is all about living.  It is more than a standard family room with an eat in kitchen.  Make your home your own.  Make it yours.  Make it reflect you. 

We can help you find that balance in your design and build the space you were created to have.  My goal is to live my life with joy.  Let Mingioni Construction help you find yours.

www.mingioniconstruction.com

Have you decided that it's time for a remodel - or is your home simply not meeting your needs anymore, but the ability to sell and purchase a new home is out of reach?  It is time to really look at the important decisions that go into planning your home remodel.  Not all home remodels have to include large additions - in fact you can rework the footprint of your existing home and create the spaces needed to meet your new and growing needs. 

I wanted to create this series of posts just to open up some ideas for you.  Put on your thinking caps and lets take a look at this series of 5 posts on the topic.

Design your home based on how you live - hey it might sound basic, but how many of us have unused dining rooms and "formal" living rooms - that really never get lived it?

Think about some of these key points and it might just spark the creative juices to help you when you either meet with your architect or builder:

• What do you love?  Are you a piano player?  Do you love to entertain?  Do you love sports, books, collectibles?  These types of key personality traits can help you decide where and how to spend your money on your remodel.  Do you need a sound proof room for your piano?  Do you want a kitchen that is designed to be a gourmet's dream?  Do you want a large theater style room for watching your favorite NFL game?  Do you need a library to house the books that you love?  Really dream about inspires you.  Your home should be your refuge.  Let what surrounds you inspire you. 
• Where do you live?  Not geographically speaking, but in terms of percentage of time.  Do you spend all your time in the kitchen, the family room, your home office?  You want to make sure to spend the money on the places in your home where you really live.
• What can you reconfigure?  Do you have bedrooms that are unused?  Do you have a dining room or a sitting room that no one sits in?  What else can you do with that space to make it usable and valuable to your family?
• What are your goals?  Do you want to have 3 more children?  Do you love pets?  Do you plan to take up a new hobby?
• What is your budget?  What can you afford to spend on this project?
• How are your choices impacting the environment?  Can you reuse things that you have?  Can you use reclaimed wood, recycled glass, innovative ideas?  Is your insulation adequate?  How can you reduce your energy costs to help offset the cost of the renovation?
  
  I hope that you can take the time to reflect on some of these questions and when you meet with your architect and/or builder you will have a better idea of where and how to spend your money.  

Mingioni Construction can  help you by setting you up with an architect to help you design your inspired dream renovation.  www.mingioniconstruction.com