Major home improvement projects are always an adventure. The pandemic, however, has made careful planning for a home remodeling or renovation project more important than ever before. Lead times are longer, materials costs are high, and crews are busier than ever before. That doesn’t mean you should shy away from a remodeling or renovation project. Planning, though, is everything. If you’re beginning your process towards a home addition, we’ve asked one of our architect partners, Rob Busch at drawing dept architecture and design for his top tips on first steps to make the process of major home remodel, like an addition, go as smoothly as possible.

1. Collaboration is key.

   Build a strong team of advocates who have your best interest at heart. A team of close collaborators will allow the project to be viewed through various lenses; design, jurisdictional parameters, budget, schedule, etc. An architect and general contractor are your key allies and they can flesh out the rest of the team.

2. Manage risk.

A good team will never sacrifice vision, vision, and aspirations easily. But those goals should be informed by budget and schedule. Multiple pricing exercises can help manage risk. Consider a very rough estimate from your architect and/or general contractor from the outset. Next, consider preliminary pricing estimate after the design development phase, but before construction documents.

3. Transparency is the best policy.

Be transparent with your collaborators about your aspirations and construction budget. Prioritize your goals and understand what is a must and what is a want. Your team will want to accomplish all of your goals, but if the aspirations and budget are misaligned, there needs to be a plan forward.

Our team is ready to help bring your home improvement plans to life. We’re happy to jump in and work with you or your architect, or we can make help make recommendations as you begin to build your team and plan your project.

The team at The English Contractor is proud to announce this special achievement. We have been named 2021 Contractor of the Year by the National Association of the Remodeling Industry in Greater Cincinnati.

Residential Bath Under $25,000

Photo: Ross Van Pelt

We worked on this project in collaboration with the team at Evolo Design, which included taking an awkward layout and making it amazing, with a corner shower tucked in between two separate vanities. Wrap around mirrors maximized the effect of pendant lighting. Quartz countertops and backslashes highlight the wall mounted faucets. The grey vanities offer plenty of storage, but really bring out the wow factor in the chevron-patterned marble floor.

Residential Bath $75,001-$100,000

Inspired by the homeowner’s love of horses, this owner’s suite bathroom takes farmhouse chic to an entirely new level. Our in-house carpenters crafted this custom vanity complete with a long trough sink and dual faucets. The custom-designed barn door mirrors slide on tracks to give additional storage. The floor adds incredible detail with black and white pattern, but is heated to provide additional comfort.

Residential Interior Under $100,000

This room might be small, but it packs a big punch, serving as a a backdoor entryway, mudroom, laundry room and dog wash. Our carpentry team designed custom cabinetry, which included plenty of storage and easily accessible cubbies. A new dog shower adds a special element for the four-legged inhabitants of this home.

Residential Interior $100,000-$250,000

Photo: Ross Van Pelt

We loved bring the plans made by drawing dept and Jamie McMillan Design to life in this Hyde Park home. The challenge was to modify the layout and add a modern kitchen that would pay homage to this home’s historic heritage. This project included opening up the back of the home, while maintaining special detail, like original wood trim and detailed windows.

Residential Kitchen $100,001-$150,000

Photo: Ross Van Pelt

We partnered again with Evolo Design to renovate this Terrace Park kitchen, which included new Subzero Wolf appliances, upgraded cabinetry, quartz countertops, and beautiful brass and glass open shelves.

Residential Exterior $50,000 - $100,000

Photo: Ross Van Pelt

This project located in a 100+ year old home in Madeira connected the indoors to the fabulous back yard, thanks to exquisite planning from the drawing dept. We added on a large covered porch with a two-sided fire place, and extended the existing patio, giving these homeowners lots of entertaining options. We also converted an existing garage into a fun bonus room, complete with a full bathroom.

Residential Kitchen $60,001-$100,000

Photo: Ross Van Pelt

We were thrilled to be call in to work with drawing dept to bring new life to this kitchen. One of our favorite details are the chartreuse cabinets, which highlight a coffee nook adjacent to the breakfast area.

Residential Landscape Design/Outdoor Living Under $100,000

Photo: Ross Van Pelt

Our final win for the Greater Cincinnati NARI awards was another great collaboration with drawing dept. We constructed an expansive deck, which gave these Hyde Park homeowners lots of outdoor entertaining options, including a gas-fueled fire pit.

The goal of each and every project is to totally delight our customers and show off the talent of our architect, design, and supplier partners. Awards like these are just icing on the cake. Is your home worthy of an award-winning project? We want to hear all about it. We can put together the team to make it happen.

There’s no place like home. We’d agree. But after spending the past few months, you might start to notice all of the opportunities for improvement in your dwelling. And while you might not be ready to have an entire team come into your home to start a major renovation project, like a kitchen remodel or bathroom renovation, that doesn’t mean that it’s not the time to start a new home improvement project. In fact, now is a great time to get started on a plan for your next home remodeling project. There’s so much that you can do to get started before you call in the professional builders and home contractors, like us.

Get Inspired.

As you’ve stayed home, you might have decided that you’re ready for a refresh. There’s a world full of ideas right at your fingertips. Get on Pinterest. Start a board and start saving pictures of spaces that you like. Seeing finished spaces will help you identify your style. Do you like stained wood or painted? Traditional tile or something that makes a statement? Neutral wall color or something cheerful and bright? Once it comes time to make selections, it can be overwhelming to look at all the options that are out there for everything from lighting fixtures to cabinetry hardware. Knowing what makes you tick is going to make this entire process a lot easier. Even if you use a design professional to help guide you through the process, you’ll likely be a lot happier with the end result when you can point to specific elements that you know that you like.

Not a Pinterest fan? There are tons of other websites just full of inspiration. We like Houzz and Decor Pad as well. There are so many home design and decor bloggers as well that will help fill your head with ideas. You can check out some of our favorites like Emily Henderson, McGee & Co and even a video blog like Quintessence, which highlights the homes of interior designers all over the world. There are plenty of magazines out there, of course, but if you’re like all of us, you probably have a lot of catalogs coming through the mail each day. Leaf through those Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware, Ballard Designs and Grandin Road. Sure you can use these resources to furnish your home, but they also provide plenty of design tips and inspiration through their photos of staged rooms. So look at those catalogs before you recycle them!

Understand Your Priorities.

While your brain might be telling you it is time for a whole home remodel, your wallet may be telling you to pump the brakes. The cost of a home improvement project can quickly add up, so it’s a good idea to understand your motivation before starting any type of remodel. For example, you might want to prioritize a kitchen that has a non-working appliance or two or a room that may have an issue like water damage over a bathroom with outdated fixtures. The time you intend to spend in your home may also be a factor. If a move within the next five years is in your future, do you really want to manage a major kitchen renovation, when a quick refresh by changing out hardware or maybe swapping out an appliance will do? By understanding your priorities, it will also help you understand where to focus your time, energy and bank account first.

Identify Your Budget.

Do you have champagne taste and a beer budget? Join the club. Even simple projects can cost more than the average homeowner might think and when budget planning, it is important to have some set aside to cover the unexpected costs. You’ve seen those home improvement shows on HGTV where a project quickly has to be reprioritized when a family of raccoons is found nesting in attic installation or a long undiscovered leak in a bathroom has done major damage to the home. Renovation projects can be filled with surprises, so it’s important to be prepared financially. However, a limited budget doesn’t mean that a home remodel is out of the question. There are ways to scale a project to fit almost every budget. It just means that you might not be able to have it all or may have to make some compromises with materials in order to get the look you want. It may be that you can plan a project that unfolds in phase over the years, like new appliances one year and new countertops and lighting fixtures the next. Understand how much money you are willing to invest in your home first, while will help you plan both the size and scope of your project.

Line Up The Professionals.

A lot of the planning that goes into a home remodel can be done with minimal in-person contact. Almost every project can benefit from a partnership with an architect, who can make suggestions for possible layout and structural changes to your home. Brainstorming and initial budget discussions can take place over the phone. The same goes with an interior design professional, who might be able to help you with the selection of finishes. A home builder and renovation contractor, like The English Contractor, can help you put together ballpark estimates for a project. If you already have architectural plans for your project, our team can even start our more detailed estimates to help nail down the size, scope and cost of your renovation. Our estimates are very detailed and can take a few weeks to put together. If you get us started now, we’ll be ready to go once everyone is back up and running.

Although in some ways the world seemed to stop for a bit as we all managed through the COVID health crises, almost everyone we’ve spoken with has seen an uptick in what’s going inside the four walls of their home base. We’ve seen the lines at Home Depot ourselves and know that so many of you are anxious to spruce up your home. If your home project expands beyond your own DIY capabilities or interests, we’re here to help. We’re happy to help get you started with a quick phone consultation. Give us a call today.

When touring the HGTV home, many people ask us specifics about the finishes and furniture. From working on the project from the beginning to end, we can answer a lot of these questions. When it comes to the nuts and bolts of the HGTV Urban Oasis home, we can take a lot of credit for the craftsmanship of the project. But our job was really to bring the vision of the designer, Brian Patrick Flynn, to life.  And while our project managers receiving training from all different suppliers—from Subzero, Wolf and Cove to Marvin Windows—and have exquisite taste to match, our job is to our job is to listen carefully and lend our expertise to give structure to a designer’s or home owner’s plans. 

That’s the beauty of working on a team of contractor, architect and designer. All of us have the goal of ultimately making the homeowner’s dream come true. As contractors who specialize in high end home renovations, we are constantly exposed to best practices in kitchen and bathroom finishes. We can make recommendations on a counter surface—marble, granite, soapstone, or butcher block—depending on your kitchen use. We’re up to date on the latest technology in the loo—from electronically controlled showers to touchless toilets. By attending trade shows and training, we know what’s coming down the pike. So it’s not all about swinging a hammer. We can certainly work with you and your designer to help you build your dream home—from the studs down to the paint.

Are you ready to tackle a major renovation? The team at The English Contractor is here and ready to help. Let’s connect to discuss your plans. We’d love to be part of your dream team to make the magic happen.

We’ve discussed that the role that each partner plays in a home renovation or custom build. But what if you have a smaller project, like updating a bathroom or renovating a kitchen? How do you know who to call to help with your project? There are many projects that only require a builder or a contractor, like The English Contractor. There are plenty of times, though, when it makes sense to call in the additional professionals, like an architect or an interior designer. Here in the Cincinnati area, there are so many talented professionals. We are here to help you navigate your home renovation projects and are happy to make recommendations when additional partners are needed to manage your new build, addition or renovation.

Do you. . . 

• Know what you want to accomplish?

• Want to update your existing finishes and maybe replace some cabinetry and appliances? 

• Feel confident in selecting finishes, hardware, appliances and more? 

• Generally, want to keep the structure and function of the room the same? 

• Have a general idea of budget and timing? 

• Just want to add bespoke detail to an existing room or structure?

• Have a home problem that you’re trying to solve? 

Then give us a call! We’re a perfect first call to make when you start thinking about a home renovation project. We have a keen eye for design and detail, yet we know when to call in additional professionals.

Do you. . . 

• Want to make a major layout change, like moving the location of a kitchen? 

• Have an idea for a project that may involve moving gas and plumbing lines?

• Want to make major structural changes to your home, like changing the footprint, height of ceilings or grade of the property?

• Own a landmark or historic home?

Then it may be time to call in an architect. An architect can help you identify your approach, solidify an initial budget and create thorough drawings to help your contractor both price out, manage build your project. Do you need a recommendation for an Cincinnati-based architect? Give us a call!

Do you. . . 

• Need help selecting finishes? 

• Want help in planning the functionality and layout of a room? 

• Want to make small tweaks to your layout? 

• Want a professional to help you with interior design? 

You may want to add a designer to the mix. They can help guide you, along with your contractor, in the final finishing touches for your project. We’re happy to help you find a great interior designer to work along side us as we begin your remodel.

Depending on the size, scope and scale of your project, the perfect mix may very well be an architect, contractor and designer. But there’s more to the process than a simple check list. Let us understand your project more and we’ll point you in the right direction. Give us a call and lets get started!

A major home renovation project is often the result of an amazing partnership, a combination of craftsmanship and art, a shared vision, and a well-honed relationship between contractor, architect and designer. Although there are many types of projects of different scope and scale that The English Contractor can act as your full-service provider, there are certain projects that depend on this beautiful partnership. But how do you know what professionals to call in for your home renovation project? First, it is important to understand which role that each professional will play in the process. It’s so much more than a business transaction—it’s an ongoing partnership!

Architect

For large scale home renovations, additions or completely new builds, we recommend that you start with an architect. They’ll listen to you for an understanding of what you hope to accomplish for your new space, as well as your budget, so they can help put together a plan to make it all happen. Additionally, you can hire an architect to manage your project from start to finish, making sure that your initial vision remains in the forefront throughout the process.

Designer

A designer can take your architectural plans to the next level by adding beauty and style to form and function. A designer can help you finalize and customize your floor plan with the addition of details like built-ins or cupboards. What’s more, a designer can often help with color and material ideas—including furnishing the finished product.

Contractor

The job of the contractor is to bring all of these plans to life. Once they have the architectural and designer plans in hand, they can help you nail down the final cost of the project, including labor and materials. They will manage the nuts and bolts of the project, bringing in the right people at the right time, like carpenters, plumbers, and electricians. A contractor will oversee the project from beginning to end, at times working with the architect and designer to tweak final designs. Your contractor is on the front lines of the project, bringing it to completion and tackling hurdles along the way. That’s why we think it’s important for a contractor to have an eye for detail and a bit of creativity, in addition to skilled craftsmanship.

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Of course, there are plenty of home projects that don’t require a complete team. Are you wondering what types of projects are best for the architect/designer/contractor triumvirate and which ones a builder like The English Contractor can handle on our own? If you’re ready to start planning your Cincinnati-area home renovation or new build, give us a call!