by emcd | Nov 13, 2018 | Blog, Recent Work
This is our 4th blog post on this gorgeous Winchester home, but with all the work our team did, it’s worthy of each and every post.
On the blog, we have shared the work our team has done, including adding a 3rd-floor suite, remodeling a guest bath and a master bath, and updating a beautiful master bedroom with custom closets. Today we’re sharing the remainder of the house… including custom closets and cabinets, updated doors and windows and refurbishing the outside porch. Check it out –
Custom cabinets and updated windows:
Porch:
Talk about a gorgeous porch and home! We’re so thankful that the homeowners trusted our team to bring this home back to life.
Thanks for following us along,
McDonald Contracting
by emcd | Sep 22, 2017 | Blog, Tips
We’re so thrilled to partner with Red Door DesignWorks on this blog post. This talented team is located out of Arlington, MA and specializes in home staging, renovation assistance and interior design. We worked with them on an attic renovation last year and are excited to share their design tips with you. Enjoy… These ladies know what they’re talking about! Often times, homeowners start to consider furnishing and styling their newly renovated space once construction is complete. We are here today to say: HOLD UP… Thinking about decorating AFTER you renovate is too late!
1. Plan Around Your Must-Haves
Your renovation should perfectly accommodate both your lifestyle and your favorite personal belongings. Do you have a huge piece of art that you want to feature? Do you have a long dresser you love and want to keep? You will need designated walls for all these items.
- On the functional side, there are many seemingly mundane but vital considerations. Here’s one we have encountered over and over again—now that I’ve renovated my bathroom with amazing tile, windows and huge countertop… Where am I going to hang my towels?! Don’t forget to plan for a spot for your towel bar.
2. Reveal Special Features in Advance
Help out your contractor by alerting him or her about ALL the special features you hope to have in your space. By learning about those right up front, your contractor will be able to better plan and guide the team—special features like heated floors, a wall-mounted toilet, and a sink in your kitchen island, can affect the structural build, electrical and plumbing.
3. Mind the Schedule
Renovations move quickly. It’s a great idea to stay in close touch with your contractor about the schedule. This gives you the opportunity to make mindful choices around paint, finishes, tile, lighting and more. Making long-term decisions about these elements under a time crunch is not the best way to design a space that you will love for the duration.
4. Link Your Renovation with Your Existing Space
Renovated spaces should dovetail well with existing spaces… Be mindful of finish selections (don’t select all brass fixtures if the rest of your house is brushed nickel) and paint colors (don’t paint a room red if the rest of your palette is blue and green). By artfully handling your new space, the transition from original rooms to renovated one can be seamless.
5. Reserve Money for Furnishings
Sadly, once your space has been beautifully renovated, existing pieces often no longer fit the bill. If at all possible, try to set aside a small portion of your renovation budget for purchasing new items. We always recommend a minimum of $3K to $5K held in reserve for furnishings.
If provisioning with new items isn’t an option, we counsel clients to consider every accessory, piece of art and furniture in the house up for grabs in the new space. Think of it as a house-wide redesign, and don’t be afraid to move everything into a new location. We often find during the course of such a redesign that our clients already have everything they need to make it work.
Now go out there and have some fun designing your renovation!
Contact us if you need help with your home or business designs and decorations.
– Allison & Andrea
About Red Door DesignWorks: We are a Boston-area firm specializing in Home Staging, Renovation Assistance and Interior Decor. We love color, mixing styles and bringing our artistry to living and working environments. Collaborating with our clients to express their distinct personality is our greatest joy.
Contact us today!
by emcd | Dec 14, 2016 | Recent Work
Our team recently finished turning an old attic into a gorgeous master suite. The remodel was truly a major transformation that gave the homeowners additional space in their own home, including an additional bathroom, bedroom and walk-in closet. It’s always a great pleasure when we can add space (and value) to our clients home and allow them to stay in the town they love.
We also were able to make updates to the office space to make room for a staircase leading up to the master suite.
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Let us know if our team at McDonald Contracting can help you with any home renovation or design projects!
Thanks for reading/viewing!
by emcd | Sep 7, 2016 | Recent Work
We’re sharing a recent home renovation project our team completed for clients in Arlington this past summer. The homeowners wanted to turn their attic space into a great office space that also served as a place visitors could comfortably stay in during the holidays.
We started by tearing out the existing wood paneling, carpet and tile; allowing us to make the space open, cohesive and bright. The newly renovated space now includes 3 large closets, 4 dormers, and a beautiful full bathroom. Check it out the before and after photos –
Before:
After:
