Adding Interest to Your Deck or Patio Design | Remodeling and Construction Bloomington / Twin Cities MN

The key to a successful remodel project involves starting with an excellent design — this goes for patios and decks as well.  Don’t settle for a bland slab of wood or concrete when building an exceptional deck or patio can bring flavor and value to your yard and home. Enjoying Minnesota summers means getting the most out of outdoor dining and entertaining during the few months we have – so why not create a deck or patio area full of ambiance and relaxation!  Here are a few tips with some great ways to make your deck or patio space amazing:

Layers -  When we picture a deck or a patio, we often picture one open space, but adding layers to you deck or patio can go a long way in adding interest. Layers can come in many forms – stairs, benches, built-in canopies, or additional levels of your deck or patio.

• Creating a side section that drops off might be an interesting design element as well as a great place to keep the grill.
• Consider steps that are wider or longer than average to make them unique instead of just practical.
• If you’d rather build up rather than down, add a side full of built-in seating or one edge of the deck railing that doubles as a fence for growing vines.
• Check out some unique examples of multilevel decks from Better Homes & Gardens here.  Layers, height, and depth can take your deck or patio from average to exciting.

Design Elements – Add some artistic interest through texture, design, and unique materials! Decks don’t have to be all one type of wood facing all one direction, and patios certainly don’t need to keep to one shade of concrete or brick.

• A patio often benefits from a circular design with the feature on artwork in the center.  Patios also lend themselves to beautiful edging designs, or layers of different patio areas done in different materials and color tones.
• Decks can utilize creative touches through the railings, angles, and color of the wood used.  Railings don’t have to match the wood of your deck – consider cable railings, clear glass, or bent iron for artistic touches.  And don’t be afraid to veer from the idea that the wood of your deck has to be the same color and direction.  Peak at the fabulous ideas from Houzz here for mixing up the floorboards of your deck.

Décor — Patio or deck design in place?  Now’s the time to add pizazz. Even the simplest of patio or deck layouts can benefit from the right décor, whether you want the mood to be festive, relaxing, or classic.  Pillows, patio umbrellas, plant stands, fountains, and furniture can all be used in creative and colorful (or monochromatic) ways to give your deck or patio the vibe you want.  Click here to see some creative uses of color that can give your outdoor space a dramatic flair, or here to see some with a more sophisticated and relaxed palette.

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Ready to add or update your Twin Cities deck or patio?  At Homecare Inc Remodeling we provide free estimates, quick service, competitive pricing, and quality work.  Serving Minneapolis, the Twin Cities, and the West and South suburbs including Bloomington, Eden Prairie, Edina, Apple Valley, Eagan, and more!

Project Feature: Bloomington Basement Remodel – New Rec Room & Bathroom

Ready to turn their empty, unfinished basement into a haven for grandkids and guests, these homeowners invited us into their space to make a welcoming transformation!

Basement Remodel Goals:

1) To create an open and durable rec room that could be used for grandkids during holidays and family gatherings

2) To add an additional bathroom to make life easier for guests and visiting relatives

• We started from scratch.  Other than the rough-in of plumbing pipes from when the home was built, the basement of this 1980s Bloomington home hadn’t been touched.  In about two months time we turned this unfinished space into the practical, durable room the homeowners were hoping for!
• The 3/4 bath includes a sterling shower stall with a fiberglass Alumax shower door, Delta faucets, a Gerber toilet, Broan Bath fan, and Midcontinent brand oak vanity with a cultured marble countertop.
• The rec room is the heart of the project, featuring open play space and luxury vinyl flooring that looks remarkably like wood.  The advantage being that it won’t be subject to any problems with moisture that a real wood floor might have, especially in a basement setting.  The floor is durable and striking, and the wood tone brings warmth and coziness to an otherwise wide open space.  Recessed can lights were used to light the rec room, and a closet was built in for games and storage.

See the photos below!
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Ready to turn your unfinished basement into usable space for the whole family?  Connect with us at Homecare Inc for Bloomington and Twin Cities, MN remodels backed by 50 years of experience and care!

Homecare Inc on Referral Buzz + Special Remodeling Offer

We’re now on Referral Buzz!  Click here to check us out!  Being part of Referral Buzz means you can count on us here at Homecare Inc Remodeling to be a trustworthy contractor and remodeler that you and your friends will want to recommend.

We hope that you’ll take a moment to like us on facebook so that your friends who search for a remodeler via Referral Buzz will know what a great experience you’ve had with us here at Homecare Inc!

Considering an upcoming remodel project?  Check out the SPECIAL OFFER posted on our Referral Buzz page (when you sign your remodeling contract before 3/31/13).  Did someone say Free Kindle HD Fire?

We are committed to providing our clients with an exceptional remodeling experience and our team is there every step of the way to ensure a quick and stress-free remodel for you and your family.  Contact us today!

Focusing on Bloomington, Minneapolis, and the surrounding Twin Cities MN areas, Homecare Inc is a general contractor providing complete remodeling and construction services, big or small. We have been providing high quality, affordable remodeling services for 50 years!

5 Top Bathroom Remodel Trends for 2013

Since the average individual spends a good amount of time in their bathroom, morning and night, we think it should be a room you enjoy – serene, organized, well-lit.  As it turns out, most people feel the same way.  Which is why 2013 bathroom style trends are leaning toward making your bathroom experience just that – relaxing. If 2013 is the year to remodel your bathroom, then here are five of the current bathroom remodel trends that you might want to consider as you design your new bathroom:

Tile Crazed:
Glass tiles are especially trendy this year, known for their sleek style and extensive color availability.  Cutting edge wood-print tile and stone-print porcelain tile are ways of bringing an earthy appearance to your spa-like room.  Consider adding a mosaic backsplash behind your bathroom sinks as a way of adding a color and design punch to an otherwise simple room.  Overall newer tile looks are bold, but still natural looking.

Natural & Spa-Like:
In addition to the wood and stone tile looks, wood-inspired wallpaper is catching on, adding a warm but still airy look to the room.  Wood accents on bathroom fixtures and décor is a beautiful look, and a spa-inspired whirlpool tub can give your bathroom a luxury feel.  Add a natural rain shower head and you have a relaxing bath and shower experience at your finger tips.  And though color punches are still great ways to liven up a bathroom, the trends are leaning toward bright whites and light, airy colors.

Beautifully Lit:
While the standard used to be only over-the-mirror lighting, now bathrooms are making an art of light, and often include overhead chandeliers as well as statement making ambient light over the bath or shower.  Lighting can make all the difference in a room feeling dim and cold to warm and inviting, day or night.  Whenever possible, letting in natural light from larger windows is a special treat of its own.

Simple & Organized:
The one-size-fits-all vanity is not as preferred to the well-designed utilitarian vanity.  Finding a vanity and other cabinetry that include drawers, dividers, internal shelves (or even better, internal shelves that pull out as drawers), is like gold to the tidy bathroom user.  Streamline your bathroom experience by keeping the room less cluttered and more open.

Efficient & Water-Friendly:
Gaining strength each year, the green movement is more than a trend, it’s a new way of doing things, with eco-friendly products and fixtures now accessible to the average homeowner.  Low flow and dual flush toilets are more than just water-friendly, they’re a good investment long-term, as you see the savings in your water bill.  Many sink, tub, and toilet options are intelligently designed with features like new hygienic glazes make them not only efficient, but also easy to clean.

If you’re ready to discuss the possibilities of your own bathroom remodel, or just make a few bathroom updates, Homecare Inc is ready to listen.  We have a long history of excellence and affordability in the in the Twin Cities area and would love to help make your bathroom remodel dreams come to life!  Homecare Inc is located in Bloomington, MN and we serve Minneapolis, Bloomington, Edina, Richfield, and Eden Prairie, as well as the entire South West Metro area.

Homecare Inc Announces Universal Design Certification

We are proud to announce that Steve Earl of Homecare Inc now has his Universal Design Certification. This will enable Steve and the Homecare Inc team to have a broader range of design and remodeling capabilities, improving Homecare Inc’s ability to design for all persons and all living situations!

The focus of the Universal Design Certification program is on being able to adapt mainstream products or environments to particular users, or add features that make that product or environment usable by as many people as possible. Being able to design with this process in mind benefits everyone from a person with disabilities, to an elderly individual wanting to stay in their home, to the average homeowner who wants to make their home more accessible and more valuable for future buyers.

The 7 Principles of Universal Design were developed in 1997 by a working group of architects, product designers, engineers, and environmental design researchers, led by the late Ronald Mace of North Carolina State University.   According to the Center for Universal Design in NCSU, these principles “may be applied to evaluate existing designs, guide the design process and educate both designers and consumers about the characteristics of more usable products and environments.”  These 7 principles include:

• Principle 1: Equitable Use
• Principle 2 : Flexibility in Use
• Principle 3: Simple and Intuitive Use
• Principle 4: Perceptible Information
• Principle 5: Tolerance for Error
• Principle 6: Low Physical Effort
• Principle 7: Size and Space for Approach and Use

Congratualtions to Steve on this achievement!  We are excited to connect with our Homecare Inc clients on how this new aspect of our service can create an outstanding remodeling and design experience with your home in mind. Please get in touch with us if you have any questions on how this concept can enhance your current or future remodeling project.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Christmas is just around the corner and we want to take this time to wish you and your family a very special holiday season!  As you enjoy time with friends and family, relax in your home, and enjoy holiday activities in your community, we hope you will find time to reflect on the joy of the season and renew yourself for the year ahead.

We are so thankful for our own families and for the clients and friends that give us the opportunity to run a business we love in a community we care about.

From our family to yours…

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
-Steve and the Homecare Inc team

Project Feature: Bloomington Bathroom Remodel

This week we’re excited to share the results of a recent bathroom remodel from a 1980s Bloomington home.  The layout was usable, but the features and fixtures were tired and outdated.  In about four weeks time, this bathroom went from stale and gloomy to refreshed and relaxing!

Features worth noting –

Shower: Not only is the new shower roomier and the proud owner of a convertible shower head, but check out the convenient footrest step built right into the shower tile work – a wonderful amenity perfect for women’s shaving needs!

Tub: No more stepping into warm water but leaving chilly!  The owner wanted a new soaking tub, and what we ended up with was even two steps better – a bubble tub with a heater that is set to keep the bath water at a desirable temperature.

Vanity: This beautiful new vanity features a unique paint finish with glazing on the door edges to make it look custom – proof that one feature can enhance an entire bathroom.

Check out the before and after photos below to get a true appreciation for the end results of this bathroom remodel makeover – one of our favorite types of projects!  If you have questions about a potential bathroom remodel or other home project, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Weatherproofing Your Home

With the weather outside just beginning to get frightful, it is time to make sure the temperature in your home stays delightful.  Accomplish just that by ensuring that your home is well weatherproofed with these easy steps:

Dodge Any Drafts: Take a careful walk around your home, lingering near windows and doors and making note of any drafty or cool areas.  Once you have identified problem spots, break out your caulk gun or weather-stripping supplies to get any leaks squared away.  Looking for a quick fix and feeling crafty?  Whip up a draftstopper for placement at the bottom of a door or window.

Warm Up Your Water Heater: Water heating costs amount to nearly 25% of most home energy bills.  With that in mind, every little bit of insulation helps!  To keep your water heater cozy through the cold winter months invest in a water heater blanket.  Particularly effective when used with older units, a water heater blanket can reduce your winter heating bill by 4 – 9%!

Occupy Your Outlets: Often forgotten, outlets can be a key source of home heat loss.  Weatherproof your outlets with the installation of foam outlet gaskets.  Easy to install and designed to be placed between your wall or outlet and the light switch cover, these foam tools can stop drafts in their tracks!  Alternately, you can use insulation foam to fill in holes meant for television or cable or outside faucets.

Choke Your Chimney: Prevent warm air from escaping through your chimney with the use of a chimney balloon.  This draft stopper is inserted and inflated and then fits snugly above or below your fireplace’s damper to help prevent cold air flowing into your home.

Ante Up Your Attic Installation: Attics can be one of the most significant areas of heat loss in the home.  Make sure that your attic is not acting as an energy drain by evaluating your home’s insulation.  Check out this Energy Star guide to help you determine if you have the appropriate amount of insulation in your home.

Don’t delay – most weatherproofing projects will quickly pay for themselves in the form of energy savings!

Home Improvement Projects For The Holidays

The impending holidays are a great excuse to spruce up your home as you prepare for seasonal guests!  With Thanksgiving just a few short weeks away, a full renovation may be a bit out of reach, but here are a few home improvements that can make a big impact for your guests before the turkey hits the table:

• Provide A Warm Stay: Like any good host or hostess you want your guests to be comfortable and cozy while they are visiting.  With that in mind, make sure that your furnace is in working order and that your home has been properly winterized to prevent drafts.  Unsure of your HVAC system’s status?  There is still time to hire a qualified professional to inspect your furnace.  In need of a replacement?  Consider an energy efficient model!

• Welcome With A Wow: Your entryway will likely be the first thing that your guests see when visiting.  Make a lasting impression by renovating your foyer.  When designing your space, consider seating for guests to sit and pull their shoes on, hooks or other storage to hang coats and wraps, and a bright color that both welcomes visitors and complements the rest of your home.

• Spruce Up Your Interior: Brighten your home’s interior by sprucing up your house’s trim and interior doors.  A fresh coat of paint on your trim and doors will not only help to cover hand prints and smudges but also help lighten up your home’s common areas.  Also check your interior doors to make sure their form and function both still meet your needs.  If they are in ill repair consider replacement.

• Repair Your Fireplace: A warm fire on a cold winter night is a holiday temptation that few of us can resist.  To make sure your fireplace is up to fighting form, have your fireplace inspected.  A qualified chimney sweep can check for flammable buildup, chimney blockages, broken dampers, or missing flue caps.

Halloween Happenings Around Town

Are your little ghouls and goblins looking for some holiday fun?  Check out one of these neighborhood area Halloween events:

• Bloomington Halloween Party: Join the City of Bloomington on Wednesday, October 31 at the Bloomington National Guard Armory for a citywide Halloween party!  From 6:00 – 8:00PM, children from preschool age to fourth grade will be invited to trick-or-treat, compete in a coloring contest, and participate in other fun games and activities!  Admission is free but donations to the Volunteers Enlisted to Assist People food shelf will be collected.

• Mall Of America: Visit Mall of America on October 31 for the largest indoor trick-or-treat.  Taking place from 5:00 – 8:00PM, the event will include a costume contest for kids ages 15 and under, hair raising demonstrations, and entertainment.  Or visit Nickelodeon Universe on October 19 – 20 and 26 – 27 to  participate in Blackout 2012.  From 5:00 – 10:00PM each evening. On these nights the amusement park will have unlit rides, black lighting, fog effects, a live DJ, costume contests, black light t-shirt making, glow do’s, glow in the dark airbrush tattoos and more!

• Ghostly Gathering: The Southtown Shopping Center will be hosting a Ghostly Gathering on Saturday, October 29 from 11:00am – 2:00pm.  Visit the center for a free trick-or-treat tote, games and activities.

• Howl-O-Ween: This holiday has gone to the dogs!  Visit the Lucky Dog Pet Lodge’s Howl-O-Ween Party and Dog Adoption Fair on Sunday, October 30 from 1:00-4:00PM at the pet lodge. There will be a canine couture costume contest, face painting, pup portraits and more. There will also be dogs ready for adoption.

However you spend Halloween we hope you enjoy it with families and friends!