Flooring Options To Avoid In Your NW DC Bathroom

Posted on April 30, 2012 by admin

The bathroom floor is more than just a surface on which to stand or walk, it is an important design element of the room that deserves as much consideration as the color of paint on the walls. While some flooring materials will work in a bathroom environment, some are better suited than others in terms of safety and durability. Knowing the differences between flooring options before you make the investment is the first step in making the design choices easier down the road. Even thought it is relatively easy to change the cosmetic appearance of the bathroom with new accessories and a fresh coat of paint, the floor is one aspect that requires more than a quick investment of time.

Of all of the flooring options available, most are suitable for any room in your NW DC home, but there are two that are better left out of the bathroom: carpet and hardwood. If it is absolutely necessary for some reason, either of these materials could be installed in the bathroom, but keep in mind carpet is likely to get wet and retain the moisture, while hardwood flooring is likely to become warped and deteriorate quickly as a result of the constant exposure to moisture.

Let’s talk about why carpet in the bathroom is a bad a idea, just for a moment; then we will move on. As the carpet gets wet, the water seeps into the carpet pad beneath it, which will eventually grow mold and can likely cause health problems for some. Beyond that progression of water damage and potential health concerns, the water can eventually seep into the sub-flooring causes weakness and rot. All-in-all, if you must put carpet in the bathroom, invest in a high quality ventilation system as well.

For more information and design tips when remodeling or building a bathroom, contact Hanlon Design Build. The expert architectural and custom design build firm has more than 60 years cumulative experience assisting customers in the Northern Virginia and Washington DC areas.

 

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Have You Considered The Benefits of Custom, Luxury Homes

Posted on April 28, 2012 by admin

No matter if you have a specific home in mind or want to keep your options open to ensure you get the home of your dreams, unless you consider the advantages of building a custom, luxury home you may be missing out on more than you ever imagined. The ideal home for your world is probably not the same as the ideal home in another’s mind; and that is to be expected — your dreams do not have to be the same as your Spring Valley Washington DC neighbor. Creating the perfect, custom, luxury home of your own allows you to design the space, organization and entertaining options you desire without making unnecessary sacrifices.

When you build a custom-built house, you are able to create a living space that meets your needs in terms of both function and quality. Luxury, custom built homes offer nearly endless choices in terms of floor layout, room sizes, flooring selections, lighting, cabinet selections and every other aspect of your Palisades Washington DC home.

Many contractors and designers today use the least expensive materials available to reduce costs where possible. And while that is a reasonable approach to doing business, working with a design build contractor such as Hanlon Design Build allows you to minimize expenses in some areas to allow for a larger investment in areas of  your luxury home you are truly interested in. Taking the custom design a bit further, you also have the opportunity to choose energy-saving features as well that will make your home not only your dream home, but a dream of Mother Nature as well.

For more information on building a custom home in Washington DC, Chevy Chase, or Bethesda, contact Hanlon Design Build. Hanlon Design Build builds houses with a signature-one-of-a-kind appeal; we never use standard construction templates in our projects. Hanlon Design Build is built upon the talents of professional artist Chryssa Wolfe and engineer Jake Hanlon.

 

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Considerations For Custom Home Additions In Washington DC

Posted on March 30, 2012 by admin

Employing the talents of a design build contractor team for your custom, luxury home addition in NW DC is the best approach a homeowner can take. An experienced design build team completes the custom home additions you really want, and typically can make them even better than you imagined.

Considerations are plentiful, and sometimes you may not know where to begin your quest for the perfect custom creation that will be your home. Begin the heart of the home — the kitchen. Experienced professionals across many different industries such as designers, real estate professionals and contractors, all recommend beginning your home additions in the kitchen where you are more likely to see the biggest return on investment in your home. Typically, homeowners who centralize the work to their kitchen realize a return on their investment of up to 85 percent when selling their Spring Valley Washington DC or Foxhall Road Washington DC home.

Creating a custom home addition — specifically in the kitchen — should always look for the biggest bang for your buck; translated, this simply means the size of the kitchen. At one point in time, kitchens were mainly a place to prepare meals and little else. But as family life has evolved in the United States, including in the NW DC area, kitchens are now the heartbeat of the home and function as the central point of nearly all interaction. Working closely with your design build contractors to incorporate the features you want and need to function appropriately in your home is essential to not only enjoy the reward of the the kitchen remodeling, but also to seeing the largest return.

Serving customers throughout the Washington DC area, including NW DC, Bethesda, MD, Chevy Chase, MD, McLean, VA, Georgetown, Palisades, Spring Valley, Foxhall Road, Edgemoor and Wesley Heights, the design build team at Hanlon Design Build provide knowledge, vision and expertise in the home additions field. Give us a call today and start working toward your dream home and dream kitchen.

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Back To Basics In Your Bedroom

Posted on March 20, 2012 by admin

At the end of the day, nothing says comfort, relaxation and a private sanctuary like your luxury, custom master bedroom. Your Foxhall Road Washington DC home is unlike any others, as it is your — you have taken the time to personalize each room, carefully thought-out each detail of the kitchen, living room, guest bathrooms and even the entertainment room; but what about your master bedroom?

More than just a place to lay your head on a pillow at night, your NW DC bedroom is the one place you can get away without outside intrusions and irritations. Rightly so, you should just as much thought into this “private” area of your home as you would into any “public” area of your Wesley Heights Washington DC luxury home.

Keep these tips from Chryssa Wolfe, our on-staff designer, at the forefront of your mind when designing and decorating your master bedroom, and you are sure to enjoy the result and relax in never-before-known comfort.

  • Never include office equipment in your master bedroom. Remember, this room is the one room of the house where your workday is done. Your bedroom is for enjoyment and relaxation, not work and stress. If you absolutely must have access to your work equipment, make sure it’s portable (such as a laptop) and can be stowed away when your last-minute email is sent.
  • Choose an appropriate bed. Not only is the bed often the focal point of the master bedroom, it also is the one splurge item you should never ignore. More than just a mattress and sheets, your bed should be the epitome of relaxation for you. Investing in high-quality sheets to cover the mattress is also worth the extra money. The softness of a high-quality thread count sheet will make you appreciate every moment in your custom, luxury master bedroom even more.
  • Select color palettes that are soothing and comforting rather than jolting and excitement-driven. Soft blues, greens and browns are comforting colors, whereas bright colors like red, yellow and primary green have the opposite impact.

For more information and design tips on creating the perfect master bedroom getaway for your NW DC home, contact Hanlon Design Build today.

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Green Renovations Are About More Than Just A Color

Posted on March 14, 2012 by admin

Remodeling your luxury home in the NW DC or Palisades Washington DC area provides you with the opportunity to make a difference. Not only in your living space and comfort level, but also on the environmental impact you personally make. Thinking about ways to “go green” in your remodeling efforts should begin with choosing a design build contractor that specializes in eco-friendly building practices. The “green” elements can focus on the building practices and construction materials alone, or you can go all-out and  include environmentally friendly furnishings as well.

Discuss everything with your contractors, including what to do with the materials you are removing. For example, when remodeling your the bathroom in your McLean VA home, rather than simply throwing the old vanity and toilet in the dumpster, consider donating it to a worthwhile cause. Habitat For Humanity operates several Restore locations, in fact, locations are available in Alexandria, VA and Chantilly, VA for your convenience. Not only will you keep the materials out of the landfills, you also provide others the opportunity to purchase quality merchandise at a reduced rate, and the proceeds help a great program. This is a great opportunity to take green remodeling to another level.

Consider other ways to reuse materials in your home in different ways. Rather than demolishing the brick fireplace in your living room, why not re-purpose it into a brick path in the backyard? Again, using existing materials for other projects is an excellent way to consider the environment when remodeling your custom luxury home.

Choosing to lead environmentally friendlier lives does require dedication, and at times, a greater expense. But when you work with qualified and experienced design build contractors like our team at Hanlon Design Build, we will happily walk you through the process and help you make the tough decisions when needed. Give us a call and learn more about how we can help you reduce your environmental impact.

 

 

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Cabinet Talk — Is Boring Really Better?

Posted on February 6, 2012 by admin

Kitchens in the NW DC area are not alike; sure they all have the same basic features, but does that really make them the same? Kitchens are the new heart of the home, so when you are designing your kitchen — either for the first time as part of a newly built home in the Georgetown Washington DC area, or as part of a kitchen remodeling project — think about more than just the essentials. While the appliances are important, think about how the overall design of the kitchen makes you feel – you will after all be spending a lot of time in there.

Let’s focus on kitchen cabinets for your luxury kitchen. Rather than installing every cabinet in your kitchen at the same height, typically flush with the ceiling, consider staggering their alignment. By installing cabinets at differing heights you break-up the monotonousness horizontal lines in the kitchen that can get boring. Staggering the heights creates interesting lines, as well as added opportunity for decorations and other personal touches.

If you are a baker, consider including a baking center in your new Chevy Chase, MD kitchen complete with a lower surface to work at (30 or 32 inches in height rather than the standard 36 inches) and separate baking storage.

When choosing the materials for your cabinets, do not be afraid to mix and match your cabinet finishes either. Rather than choosing one type of wood for all of your cabinet faces, consider instead mixing the finishes for an added bit of flare. Take it one step further and install some cabinets with glass doors as opposed to all solid fronts. The break in cabinet doors adds an unique design element that will greatly enhance the aesthetic of your newly remodeled kitchen.

If your kitchen includes an island, consider using an entirely different color on the island cabinet. For instance, choose a bright color such as barn red or deep blue for the island cabinet door while using maple for the rest of the cabinets.

Cabinets are utilitarian in nature, but that does not mean they have to be boring either. Have fun choosing different colors, textures and finishes for your Foxhall Road Washington DC home. It is your home, let it speak to your personal style.

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Choosing The Right Materials For Your Kitchen Remodeling Project

Posted on February 3, 2012 by admin

Nothing sets your custom, luxury kitchen apart from others like the materials you choose. Whether you seek the elegance of custom granite counter tops to coordinate with your fine oak cabinetry, or the modern look of stainless steel appliances and cabinets, the choices you make for your Georgetown Washington DC  define your personal taste.

When assessing your options, never allow yourself to be swayed by the input of others, unless of course you do not want to make the decision for yourself. If that is the case, you should always interview several interior designers to ensure you really like their style and they listen to your input. But, now back to making choices on your own.

One of the hottest trends in kitchen remodeling throughout the Palisades Washington DC and Chevy Chase MD region is mixing your materials. Of course the materials should always coordinate nicely, but have you considered the alternative of changing materials for the countertop and backsplash? Nothing says they must the be same, and you shouldn’t be apprehensive about mixing them up.

For example, consider using a neutral solid surface material for the counter tops, and reserve the more expensive granite for an island in the center of the kitchen. Using a slab of marble for the baking counter while topping the wet areas of the kitchen with ceramic tile or laminate provides variety and elegance to your custom kitchen remodeling project.

Don’t forget about the backsplash. While tradition indicates it matches the counter, who says you have to follow tradition while redesigning your Edgemoor Washington DC kitchen? Install a stainless steel backsplash behind the range, but use ceramic tile around the perimeter of the rest of the countertop. You then have the classic and modern looks combined to create your unique workspace.

Your home is what you make it, and why not make it what you like? If you’d like assistance or guidance in making design choices, give us a call. Chryssa will provide information on the latest trends, advice on color coordination and just about anything else you’d like her input on.

 

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Geothermal Heating and Cooling…the Wave of the Future Available Now

Posted on January 26, 2012 by admin

The energy costs associated with heating and cooling your NW DC home can be high during peak seasons. Whether it is heating your home in the winter or running the air conditioning throughout the summer, the energy used associated with it can bring shock and awe to some homeowners. Obviously, the larger the home, the bigger the heating and cooling expenses and you may wonder how best to reduce that expense. If so, have you thought about the advantages of geothermal heating and cooling?

We are currently constructing a new, luxury home on Galena Place in NW Washington, DC, which includes a geothermal heating and cooling system. We know many homeowners have questions about this type of system, and since it requires a rather specialized area of expertise to install, let’s take this opportunity to discuss it.

Geothermal energy is one of the least expensive renewable energy sources available on the market today. While geothermal energy can be used to produce electricity, that is a different system than those that are used to heat and cool your home.

Geothermal energy is taken from the earth using the heat exchange process with geothermal heat pumps. Since the temperature of the earth is pretty constant (below the freezing depth obviously), a heat pump can extract heat or cold as needed to adjust the temperature of your home.

Don’t worry about the expense of running the heat pump, as the energy used in the extraction process is a mere fraction of the energy output — making it a wise investment for your Georgetown DC home. Geothermal energy is available everyone, around-the-clock, regardless of weather conditions, making it more reliable than other types of renewable energy sources. As long as your home has electricity, your geothermal heat pump will work properly.

But how does it work? To extract geothermal energy from the earth, a geothermal heat pump is used by pumping a special fluid through the ground heat exchange cables below the ground. The cables are typically an average of seven feet below the surface, or deeper if necessary.  After the liquid returns to the geothermal heat pump and circulates once again, the ground source energy is taken from it by using the difference between the temperature of the ground and your desired temperature.

If you are ready to learn more about geothermal heating and cooling for your new, luxury custom home, give us a call. We are here to help and can walk you through the process step-by-step.

 

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Choosing The Right Accessories Makes All The Difference

Posted on January 16, 2012 by admin

Decorating your home takes your custom home design to the next level in the Georgetown Washington DC area. No matter how much time and energy is put into the overall structural design of the home, unless the accessories compliment the design aesthetic you are frankly wasting time and money.

Rather than discussing each and every room in your Spring Valley Washington DC home, this blog post will focus on what is perhaps the most overlooked room in the home — the bathroom. Bathroom accessories contribute a great deal to the decor and feel of any bathroom, no matter its size. Through proper selection, accessories in the bathroom you can turn your bathroom in an inviting, cozy and warm room — just like you would in any other room of your luxury custom home.

The availability of bathroom accessories is vast, and finding just the right ones can be daunting for many. But when putting these tips to work, you will quickly discover it does not have to be an unaccomplished task.

Start by considering the space that is available and the plan or theme you are going for. If your current bathroom, or your newly remodeled bathroom, has a simple look you should choose plain bathroom accessories with clean and straight lines. But, if you have a luxurious spa-like bathroom with high-end fixtures and features, more intricate accessories with flare are more appropriate.

Remember that your fixtures, such as sinks, showers and faucets are accessories as well. Bathroom sinks are available in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and materials these days, you are no longer forced to choose only the color of the boring, traditional sink. Consider your options when choosing a sink; glass, metal, plastic, composite materials and natural stone sinks are all available, and the style you choose will perhaps be the foundation for the rest of your bathroom accessories.

Don’t forget about the lighting. Lighting is perhaps the most important element of bathroom accessory design since it can completely transform the look and feel of the room. Choose lighting fixtures that illuminate the bathroom effectively, while also adding to the overall design. Always place a light directly above the mirror to allow for optimal convenience while shaving, applying make-up or styling your hair.

And last but not least, the other accessories in your luxury bathroom include the soap dish, cabinets, towel rods, shower curtains or doors and even the small somewhat insignificant toothbrush holder is an important accessory. Make sure every accessory you put in the bathroom has a purpose to avoid a cluttered appearance.

 

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Choose The Right Kitchen Appliances For Your 2012 Kitchen Remodeling Project

Posted on January 12, 2012 by admin

Homeowners in the NW DC and Palisades Washington DC, area often want help from us designing their new luxury kitchen during a remodeling project. We give advice and the cabinets, flooring, fixtures, sinks and the backsplash by request, but in most cases, our clients do not think about the appliances that will be installed. We decided it was time to provide general assistance in that area as well. Use these tips to choose the right kitchen appliances for your Foxhall Road Washington DC home and you will be happy and satisfied for years to come.

  • Choose a refrigerator based on your lifestyle rather than the bells and whistles a particular model offers. Evaluate your needs and how your family lives and really think about how many times you cook and eat from home, the number of people living in the home, and exactly how much cold storage you need. Obviously, the more people in the home, the larger capacity you will need, which may also contribute to some of the other amenities you’d like your refrigerator to offer. For example, dual refrigeration, energy efficiency, in-door ice and water and on-door controls may make your large family life easier. However, singles and those who rarely cook at home may opt for a smaller style refrigerator for their luxury kitchen remodel to allow for additional space for other elements. Wine lovers may choose a model with a built-in wine cooler to accommodate that facet of their lives.
  • An oven or stove should be chosen based on some of the same considerations — along with a few others as well. Again, look at your lifestyle and purchase an oven based on what you need. If you are an experienced cook, you may opt for a model that offers a professional quality cooking experience. However, if you have trouble boiling water, you may instead choose a more basic design. Bakers may want to include an additional built-in oven, but if energy conservation is your primary goal, you are likely better suited for a conventional oven rather than a convection oven. The energy source you choose is also tied to your cooking preference and experience level. For example, an electric stove slowly heats-up which is very forgiving for inexperienced cooks, while a gas stove provides instant heat that is preferred by many expert at-home chefs.

For more information on choosing the right kitchen appliance for your Washington DC area kitchen remodeling project, consult our experts and know you can trust their opinions. Kitchen remodeling can rejuvenate your entire home and should be approached with an open — but focused — mind. Let us help you gain that open-minded focus today.

 

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