McClurg's Home Remodeling Blog

The economy and caregiver relationships have created more households where families are sharing a home and expenses.  Many young adults are living at home with their parents as they deal with college debt, divorce, single parenthood or unemployment. Parents are moving in with adult children as they cope with the loss of a spouse, health issues related to aging or to lend a helping hand to a young family. Immigration is also a factor in the increasing number of multigenerational households.

Today's guest blogger is Lauren Szczygiel. Lauren is a graduate of Cazenovia College with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Interior Design. She began work at McClurg Remodeling and Construction Services as an intern. After graduating she was hired as a Project Designer. She is presently preparing to be certified by the National Kitchen and Bath Association and for the National Council of Interior Designers' Qualification. She was promoted to the position of Project Consultant in May 2010.

Central New York winters can be long and harsh. Even if you ski or snowmobile or hunt, we typically spend a lot of time indoors at this time of year. For some, this is a good time to focus on their homes and undertake updates or repairs they’ve been deferring. Others will escape the cold and snow by heading south. Some homeowners we’ve worked with have found the time when they’re away to be an ideal time to undertake a remodeling project. Having the work done while you’re away means your home life won’t be disrupted.

We all know Central New York’s weather brings a mixture of every possible element. We also know they tend to make their way into our homes starting at our entryways. Who hasn’t had snow, salt, rain, mud and leaves dragged into their home at some point?

Most people begin a kitchen remodeling project with a “wish list” – everything you NEED and WANT in your dream kitchen. To help start your wish list, we’ve developed this handy A-to-Z guide of features you’ll want to consider as you plan and budget for your project:

Decks are a great way to add outdoor living space to your home. A deck can be as simple as a grade-level platform that stands on its own a few inches above the ground or as intricate as multi-tiered structures with steps, railings, pergolas, trellises and built-in features such as tables, benches, planters and hot tubs. If you are planning to add a deck to your home consider the following:

The majority of home owners view their home as their most important investment. We're always considering ways to improve our homes to accommodate our lifestyles. Popular remodeling projects include new kitchens with up-to-date appliances, luxurious bathrooms, home offices or media rooms. In Central New York, with our frequent cloudy days, many people add a sunroom to ease the drudgery of winter. Basement renovations add living space and improve a home's function. But which projects add value to a home investment when it comes time to sell?

Spring is almost here! The ice is melting and the time has come to do a check up on your home, put together a "to do" list of repairs and home improvement projects, and visit the CNY Home and Garden Show at the NYS Fairgrounds, March 18-21, 2010.