To gain more living space, you tend to look to finishing the basement or the attic. Both are great ideas, and there are important things to consider before moving forward with these types of remodeling projects.

For basements, review the Hidden Details of Basement Refinishing. If you’re thinking attic, here are some important points to ponder:

Stick-Built or Truss Roof?
If your roof rafters form an A-shape with an open area in the middle (typically in homes built before 1960), you can potentially remodel this space. If it is a network of W-shaped frames, this is truss roofing, and it may be more cost-effective to build a room addition than to re-engineer the attic.

Take a Walk
To support the weight of you and furniture, floor joists must be 2×10. Anything smaller than that will need a new floor deck built above it.

How Will You Get Up There?
A straight-run stairwell will take up 10 to 14 feet of floor space in the attic. A stairwell with an intermediate landing between two runs needs about 8 feet on the lower level, while spiral staircases use approximately 5 feet of space. But which type will work best for you depends on your age, your ability and what kind of furniture will be moved up into the new space.

Don’t Bump Your Head
In a finished attic, layers of drywall and finishing materials will eat up some height, and the goal is for adults to walk through the space without instinctively stooping over.  Also consider how the lower slopes of the wall will work with the intended function (built-in storage, or a bathtub, perhaps?) when planning the space.

How to Gain More Head Space
You can create more headroom and get more natural light with dormers, which are, essentially, additions that raise the roof over a portion of the attic. These also create nooks perfect for built-in furniture or storage.

Let the Light In
If you want to remodel the attic into a space you use daily, more light and views are recommended. Consider adding new windows, skylights or solar tubes to the plan.

Be Comfortable
This will become a new level that requires heating and cooling, so reevaluating your HVAC system to properly supply the attic is a must. Updating the insulation and ventilation is also part of the plan to be comfortable and safe.

Plumbing Logic
If your attic remodel will include a bathroom, you may reduce costs and the need to cut a hole for a new vent stack if you locate the new plumbing above a bathroom on the floor below. Sending water into a new place may require an upgrade to water service so you have adequate supply.

The Light Bulb Moment
If you plan to add even one more light fixture than is already in the attic, you may need upgraded power. Have your current electrical service analyzed to assure you will have proper power.

Hidden Secrets
Chimneys, plumbing and vent stacks that go through the attic to the roof need not ruin the look of your remodeled space. Simply hide them inside a new closet so they’re out of sight but still easily accessible.

All of the above are important details Mosby Building Arts designers and builders take into consideration when transforming your attic into a new level of living. To explore the possibilities of remodeling your attic, call the Mosby office at 314.909.1800 or contact them here.

Though no longer required to cook with or heat our homes, we retain an eternal attraction to gathering near a fire, which is why fireplaces remain an integral feature in the home.

But you are no longer bound to the traditional wood-burning fireplace to have an open fire. And an existing fireplace need not hamper the design of the room it’s in because it can be remodeled. Let’s explore options for adding a fireplace to your home, or updating the look of an existing fireplace.

I’d Like a Fireplace But  I Don’t Have a Chimney

You no longer need to have a chimney to watch the dancing flames. You don’t even need to take up lots of floor or wall space to have a fireplace. Imagine a fireplace mounted on the wall of your dining room or master suite, or a portable fire feature that can be placed wherever you’d like. How is this possible? By using a different source to create a flame.

• Gel Fuel Fireplaces – Ecologically-safe gelled alcohol fuel cells (which typically burn for 2-3 hours each) make it possible to have fire anywhere. Models include wall mounted, stand-alone (above), corner or bookcase models. These do not give off much heat, so are more about the romance of a flickering flame and creating ambiance. They are smokeless, easy to use, light-weight and come in styles to fit every décor.

• Wall Mounted Electric – Imagine a fire happening with the flip of a switch. Electric fireplaces are light-weight for wall hanging (above) and plug into a standard outlet. You control the amount of heat and the height of flame with a remote control, receiving many of the benefits of a traditional fire without the smoke or soot. Because they can deliver substantial heat, consideration must be given to where they are mounted, but that still gives you more options than a standard fireplace.

I Have a Wood-Burning Fireplace but Seldom Use It

The beauty of a wood-burning fire does come with a lot of maintenance, which is why converting them to gas-burning is an attractive idea. You can purchase a natural gas insert, which is a self-contained box with a glass front, a burner and ceramic logs that fit inside your existing firebox. They do not create smoke, fumes or soot, so there’s no mess to clean up, and you have full control of the flame size. But they do require a chimney for venting. And because you are running a gas line to the fireplace, this is not a DIY project; stay safe and have a professional install the gas insert.

I Love My Fireplace But Not the Way It Looks!

A fireplace adds distinction to a room – if you like it. If you don’t like the way it looks, it can feel like it dominates the room. Just as you would a kitchen or bathroom, a fireplace can be updated or completely remodeled.

In the example shown above, the entire look of the room is transformed by removing the wall paneling that surrounds the fireplace, and refreshing the mantle with coats of white paint. This is a simple update that delivers immediate results.

In this example, the dated look of the brick fireplace dominated a family room. For this fireplace remodel, the firebox and chimney remain in place while everything around it is completely reimagined. The family gains wall and floor space, as well as a clean modern look for the space.

Sometimes the fireplace is simply in an inconvenient place. As seen above, the original fireplace was nestled between two small windows, robbing the family of views to their backyard. They love having a fireplace, but also wanted more natural light, better views and a “wow” fireplace.

By building a wrap-around fireplace in the middle of the room, they gain drama, storage and a division between the living room and kitchen. The spot where the original fireplace was became a wall of windows. This is a good example of how a room need not conform to the fireplace because it can be rearranged to better suit your needs.

If you’d like to add a fireplace to your home or remodel an existing one, the Mosby Building Arts design team is here for you. The three examples shown above are Mosby projects, and they can have you cozying up to a roaring fire by calling the Mosby office at 314.909.1800 or contact them here.

As summer comes to a close, thoughts often turn to the end-of-year holidays. If you’ll be hosting any holiday parties or guests, it’s natural to cast a critical eye over your home and long for some improvements. But what remodeling projects can realistically be completed in time for the holiday season?

What’s Not Possible

Major projects like a full kitchen or master bath remodel, a room addition or a finished basement typically require 2 – 3 months of planning and design before construction begins. The end of summer many times is a perfect time to begin the design and selections process so that construction would start right after the New Year, and these are perfect indoor remodeling projects whose timelines will not be affected by erratic winter weather.

Please beware of promises to do the impossible in a short period of time, as it can mean short cuts will be taken that can undermine the integrity and value of your remodel.

The holidays are also the perfect time to pay close attention to how your home performs when filled with lots of guests and activities. Areas to analyze include:

• Is there good flow from room to room?
• How many people can comfortably be in the kitchen at one time?
• What kitchen layout would make food preparation more efficient for you?
• Is there enough storage and organization to suit your needs?

If you keep track of the answers to these questions, you will have a working list of problems that can be solved while working with a design team during the holidays.

What Is Possible

For your kitchen, an update of existing materials – like countertops, a new sink, flooring or paint – can be completed in time for Thanksgiving if you begin the selections before the Fall.

For bathrooms, if you concentrate on the hall bathrooms and powder rooms that get used the most, these can be thoroughly updated in time for holiday guests if you go with an accelerated program like The Right Bath. When you choose from a select group of designer materials and accessories that can be ordered quickly, installation on a standard bathroom can be done in 5 – 10 days.

For the exterior of your home, September is also the perfect time to get your home ready for winter. Take advantage of the next couple months of good weather by having a new roof or siding installed, and ordering new windows or doors now can have them in place before the weather turns cold.  In anticipation of another drastic MidWest winter, this is also the time to design and install a heated driveway, or clean and seal your concrete to protect it against damage from the freeze/thaw cycle and make it easier to remove snow and ice.

Other projects that can be completed in time for the holidays include new flooring, painting and wallpapering, a new fireplace surround, new trims and molding, and the staining and sealing of wood decks and stair railings.

When remodeling is done right, it is a process that begins with an exploration of solutions, followed by the design and selections phase, and ordering all the items so they are readily available when construction begins. It’s important to understand how the process works so that a realistic timeline of completion can be created and all expectations are met successfully.

The design-build team at Mosby Building Arts is the perfect one-stop-shop for assessing, creating and completing all your holiday home improvement needs. The Mosby planning and design team will work with you to create an honest schedule of what is possible now so that the Mosby construction crew can have you finished and cleaned up in time to carve the Thanksgiving turkey. Call the Mosby office at 314.909.1800 or contact them here.

The success of a remodeling project is measured by how it meets or exceeds your expectations. Builders work from construction documents, and the more precise these drawings are the more satisfying the finished result will be. While construction is about accuracy, the design phase is more creative, and seeing floor plans and materials selections may not fully help you visualize what the space will actually look and feel like. So how do you get the precision in design that is inherent in construction?

3-dimensional architectural design software lets you see your project fully-rendered in the materials and colors you’ve selected, giving you the ability to “walk through” the spaces virtually. You can experience every detail, experiment with different ideas, and make changes in a cost-effective and immediate way. 3D rendering helps you to fully understand the project from the start, and  puts you and your remodeling team on the same path to achieving a shared goal.

Let’s walk through the 3D design process of an actual remodeling project to see how valuable this tool is for getting exactly what you want. The rendering above is one of two ideas the architectural planner presented to the homeowners wanting a breakfast room addition on the rear of their home.

Here is the second idea, showing a variation on the addition’s shape and its relation to the home. Note that the agreed upon materials (cedar shingles and brick) have remained the same, but the team has the freedom to test different designs.

Here is the final, as-built result.  An interesting aspect of this project was that it was the interior space that eventually informed how the exterior should be. Let’s review the interior design process, below.

The project scope was to remove the rear wall of the kitchen to add a new room that would serve as both a breakfast room and home office space. One programming idea was to make the built-in desk a direct extension of the kitchen, and directly accessible from the outside through the new back door so the family could easily drop off and pick up their laptops, phones and such.

The other idea was to move the entry to the middle of the addition, creating two distinct areas in the room. This placement gave the office space even more storage space with the built-in wall cabinet seen to the left of chair.  This configuration made more sense to the family; when they walked through it in 3D, it felt more in tune with their lifestyle.

The client-approved 3D plans were converted into construction drawings, and what was built is exactly what the family expected.

As for the causal dining aspect of the project, here was an idea for the banquet seating when the plan called for a rounded addition.

The logical need for direct access to the kitchen in the form of a counter with open pass-through changed the shape of the floor plan. The homeowners took a virtual walk through this new plan and loved the views out the windows and how easily they could move through this space and into the kitchen. Because they experienced it in a way they could relate to, they were confident in their final decision.

And here is the completed project.

The flexibility of 3D design software is perfect for deciding the finer details of project before construction ever begins. This rendering reflects the final floorplan, but as they explored this space, the middle column of the custom millwork arch felt “in the way.” Aesthetically and structurally, one grand arch was the preferred option. But that middle column was designed to have storage cabinets; if the column is removed, what happens to the storage?

As seen above, the designers found a way to keep the hidden storage and the single arch. And it’s these kinds of functional details that can become costly change orders while the project is under construction. But with the ability to zero in on every detail of a room in 3D, this detail was discovered and resolved long before the first hammer swung.

See more photos from this project here. And you can experience this kind of remodeling confidence when you work with the Mosby Building Arts planning and design team. To explore all your possibilities, call the Mosby office at 314.909.1800 or contact them here.

A family was ready for a sunroom and porch addition to the rear of their Central West End home in St. Louis City. The home was originally built in 1892, and the photo above is the back porch that would eventually be demolished to make way for the room addition off of the kitchen.

Take a close look at the right column, just above the flowering bush, and you’ll see a brass bell hanging there.  It was there when our client’s moved in, and we’re guessing it’s been there for decades, because the faceplate was painted over and the bell no longer rang because its clapper was rusted out.

During the demolition of the porch, the Mosby construction crew were charmed by the bell, and saved it for historical sake. Dan Leuker (above) took the bell home and set about refurbishing it on his own time. It cleaned up beautifully, and was ringing for the first time in ages.  The production team then set it aside to present to the homeowners’ as a project completion gift.

Here’s the new back porch. If you’d like to see more photos of the inside and outside of the sunroom addition, click here.

And here’s the refurbished bell installed on the right column of the new back porch, linking the home’s past to its future. The owner’s were pleasantly surprised by this gift, and thrilled to learn how gorgeous this artifact really is.

Between record-low unemployment and massive storm damage in Missouri and Illinois, there has been a surge in homeowner’s being ripped off or misled by unqualified and unscrupulous home improvement contractors.

Now more than ever it is crucial that homeowners hire only bonded, licensed, insured and accredited tradesmen. Tough times create new conditions, requiring special attention.

Layoffs have created many new freelancers willing to take reduced rates and often work outside their field of expertise. Storm damage has created many opportunities for rip-off artists disguised as repair contractors to take advantage of those in need. It is now vitally important that you have proof of trust and competence for the people you choose to work in and on your home.

Do Your Homework

Check out a company before you hire them. The Better Business Bureau is a good place to start, as it will help verify a company address, years in business and customer service record. Consumer groups such as Angie’s List are a great source of usable information, making it easy for you to research company accreditations. Reputable trades are proud of the industry organizations they belong to, and make it convenient for you to know their affiliations. Also, you can ask the company at hand for references to help your research.

If It’s Too Good To Be True, It Probably Is

An earnest sales pitch will not make up for inferior work. A rock-bottom low price on a service you know to usually cost much more can be a red flag.  To avoid falling for a false promise, ask questions until you’re satisfied with the answers. Professionals with the knowledge and experience love to talk about their work. They understand your trust and comfort is part of a good working relationship, so they are happy to fulfill any request that proves their expertise.

Get It In Writing

Knowledgeable and experienced tradespeople know exactly what it takes to do the job right. Before a project begins, there should be a contract with a written scope of work. The scope of work avoids shortcuts by detailing exactly what tasks, materials and labor will be performed for the price paid.  Professionals who take pride in their work and customer service rely on the scope of work so that expectations are met for both the homeowner and the contractor.

Accredited professionals include a written scope of work and contract as standard procedure. If a contractor you’re considering doesn’t offer this, ask for one; if they resist your request, consider this a flashing neon sign to choose another company.

Everyone prefers to save money, so it’s tempting to go with the part-time plumber your brother-in-law knows who just lost his job and is willing to work cheap. But if the work is not up to basic standards and codes, you will pay again in the future to correct it.

If your home has been damaged by a storm, the need to repair quickly is understandable. But if a fly-by-night “company” takes your money and runs, you’ll have lost the money and still be in need. Even when it’s urgent, please take a moment to protect yourself by doing your homework, verifying the truth and getting it in writing.

Be safe by hiring only proven professionals with a track record of doing it right the first time in a trustworthy manner. Mosby Building Arts can take care of all your home improvement needs in the Metro St. Louis area, or can refer you to trusted trade partners. For the assurance and quality you deserve, call the Mosby office at 314.909.1800 or contact them here.

Just because there are standard configurations of kitchen cabinets doesn’t mean you have to use them that way, or even use them in the kitchen.

In essence, cabinets are wood boxes with doors or drawers made so you can store things out of sight. When they are given special designations – such as bathroom vanity, kitchen base cabinet, or wall cabinet – what is really being detailed is the standard measurements for the intended area.

For instance, the standard kitchen countertop height is 36” while bathroom vanity heights range from 29 – 31”. But what if you can no longer bend over as easily to wash your face and would like a taller vanity? Then the taller standard height of a designated kitchen base cabinet is a perfect solution in your bathroom.

When you concentrate on desired measurements and storage needs rather than room designations, you can place any type of cabinet anywhere in your home. That’s literally thinking outside the box!

Kitchen Cabinets in the Bathroom
Kitchen base cabinets are generally 24” deep by 36” tall, while bathroom cabinets are 18”-21” deep and 29”-31” tall. Used in the bathroom, these will provide more storage space and lift the sink closer to you, but that also pulls you 3” further away from the mirror when doing your makeup or shaving.

If you prefer the bathroom sink at a standard height (they’re much easier for little children to use), but fell in love with the look of kitchen cabinets, consider using the 24” tall over-the-fridge model. To gain the proper height, a 6” toe-kick can be added to the bottom or go with the ultra contemporary floating vanity look (shown above).

Kitchen Cabinets in the Living Room
In the photo above left, over-the-sink cabinets leave the kitchen to become an inviting window seat with great storage. Above right, a homeowner repurposed kitchen wall cabinets as sleek storage for DVDS and CDs in the living room. In both cases, a new top surface (cushions or a thin slab of granite) is what ties them together and gives them new life.

Reuse Kitchen Cabinets in the Garage

When remodeling your kitchen, what will you do with the old cabinets being removed? If they’re still structurally sound, you could set them up in your garage. The base cabinets are already the perfect height for a workbench.  The upper cabinets give you much-needed storage, and make the garage well-organized and attractive. Plus, re-using those cabinets in your home rather than sending them to a landfill is the greenest form of recycling!

Once you’re thinking outside the box about cabinetry, the possibilities are endless. But there are many structural and ergonomic details to consider when using a cabinet in a different way. For expert help in using kitchen cabinets in other rooms of the house, rely on the design and building professionals at Mosby Building Arts. Call the Mosby office at 314.909.1800 or contact them here.

January is a cruel month for Metro St. Louis homes because it exposes all the problems that are easier to overlook other times of the year. This is why this winter month is the prime inspiration for undertaking home improvement projects.

Packing away the holiday decorations many times reveals walls and trim that need to be painted, or electrical outlets that need updating. Being stuck in the house for extended periods sometimes makes things that were slightly annoying downright hard to accept – like old carpeting or a chaotic kitchen pantry.

This urgency to undertake home improvements can lead to undesirable or sloppy results because proper planning and preparation can easily be overlooked. For example, prep work for painting would include questions like these:

• Exactly what areas will be painted and how much paint will it require?

• Have you properly patched holes and cracks?

• Are you using the correct primer for the type of paint you want?

• Are the surrounding areas protected from paint spatter and spills?

• Do you have the correct tools for the job?

Once you have answered these questions, then you can apply the paint and know the results will be worth the investment of money and time. Read more about painting the right way.

The need to get organized also requires some pre-planning. Before you haul everything out of that hall or bedroom closet, be sure to have an understanding of your needs. Here are a few questions you may want to ask yourself:

• Who will use the closet and for what purpose?

• What are the exact dimensions of the closet?

• What type of storage would function best (bins, drawers, shelves, etc.)

• What is the budget?

• Can you do this work yourself?

A clear understanding of the goal creates a plan that assures you will have the organization you desire. Read this piece on how to get the master bedroom closet of your dreams.

Are you wanting new carpet? Or maybe you’d like to completely change the type of flooring? Floors are the most-used part of the home, so choosing the right material for the job is just as important as properly installing it. Questions to ask include:

• How much traffic does this floor get?

• Will it be subject to tracking dirt or water?

• What level of maintenance are you willing to do?

• Can the subfloor accommodate the floor covering?

• What is the budget?

Once you know the appropriate flooring for the area to be covered, you then have the pleasure of choosing the exact look to compliment the room, and can shop with confidence. Read this primer on how to choose the right flooring.

The difference between doing a home improvement and doing it right the first time comes down to knowledge and preparation. Before undertaking a seemingly simple update, talk with the designers and planners at Mosby Building Arts for professional advice and tips.

Answers From Mosby Designers

Would you like home improvement answers from design experts? E-mail your questions about interior design and remodeling to designers@callmosby.com.

As their schedules permit, the Mosby Planning & Design team will provide the answers you need to remodel with confidence. Should your question be one of interest to many homeowners, Mosby will share the Q & A on their Home Improvement Library and on their Twitter and Facebook pages. Or if you need a quicker response, please call the Mosby office at 314.909.1800.

Even the most modest of homes have a master bedroom, which is a large bedroom with its own full bathroom. Though it is essentially a private space, it is an important place for escape, sanctuary and preparing yourself for each day.

When you add walk-in closets, a seating area and access to an outdoor deck or patio to a master bedroom it becomes master suite. Think of it as creating a private apartment within your home, and there are a few good ways to create this kind of luxury for yourself.

Remodel Existing Space

New flooring, windows and paint colors will automatically brighten an existing space. Consider rearranging furniture to create a seating area, and work with designers to bring more organization and space to the closest.

A master bathroom can transform into a spacious luxury spa within the same footprint by introducing new cabinetry, flooring and lighting. Upgrade to a whirlpool tub and a new shower with bench seating for ultimate relaxation.

Click to see a good example of updating a master bathroom.

Borrow More Space

If you have an extra, unused bedroom next to your master bedroom, consider co-opting that space to create a larger master suite. Walls can be removed and the spaces reconfigured to give you the walk-in closet or dressing room you’ve always longed for. It’s also a good opportunity to create His & Hers bathrooms or closets. Professional designers and architects can analyze your space to help you realize what is possible.

Add More Space

Master Suite additions are a popular remodeling project that adds proven value to home. Here is a floorplan example of building a new addition and reconfiguring the existing master bedroom to create a luxury suite:

For this project, the existing master bathroom was doubled in size and the existing master bedroom was converted into His & Hers walk-in closets flanking a hallway into the new master bedroom addition. The addition gave the couple more breathing room and more windows so natural light could pour in. They also added a deck with a hot tub off the back, which extends their luxury space to the outdoors.

Click to see more photos of this addition remodeling project.

If you have been contemplating an updated or expanded master suite, talk with a Mosby Home Consultant to explore your options. You will benefit from their decades of design and building experience, and work with certified designers and architects to create the sanctuary you’ve always longed for. To begin your master suite journey, call the Mosby office at 314.909.1800 or contact them here.

It makes sense to price shop for certain items like clothes and groceries, while trying to find the cheapest surgeon sounds odd because your health is too valuable for bargain shopping.

The health of your home is just as important as your personal well being, yet when it comes to home repairs and remodeling, price shopping is considered the norm. But bargain shopping for a contractor often leads to expensive and reoccurring problems that could have been avoided if price were not the main criteria for which contractor was chosen in the first place.

Do It Right The First Time

There is no value in continually paying to correct a problem. The benefit of paying upfront for quality is that you pay for it once. Correcting bad work requires double the time to equal and/or surpass the original price offered by the professional company who pride themselves on doing it right the first time. To see the consequences of not doing it right the first time, watch any episode of HGTV’s Holmes on Homes; host Mike Holmes is an experienced craftsman who demonstrates the benefits of using knowledgeable professionals for home repairs and remodeling.

A professional takes into consideration all the details of a job to come up with a fair price for expert work backed with a warranty and assurance of future support to you.  And the enduring value and service you want many times comes with a higher price tag; consider the price and quality difference between Macy’s and Walmart, and know that the same applies to the companies who work on your biggest investment – your home.

There Are No Short-Cuts

Knowledgeable and experienced tradespeople know exactly what it takes, and how long it will take, to do the job right. Anything less than that is a short cut, and a shortcut is making a conscious decision to not do the job correctly.

Before a home improvement project begins, there should be a contract with a written scope of work. The scope of work avoids shortcuts by detailing exactly what tasks, materials and labor will be performed for the price paid.  Professionals who take pride in their work and customer service rely on the scope of work so that expectations are met for both the homeowner and the contractor.

Accredited professionals include a written scope of work and contract as standard procedure. If a contractor you’re considering doesn’t offer this, ask for one; if they resist your request, consider this a red flag to choose another company.

If It’s Too Good To Be True, It Probably Is

A catchy sales pitch will not make up for dashed expectations and inferior work. To avoid falling for a false promise, ask questions until you’re satisfied with the answers. Professionals with the knowledge and experience love to talk about their work. They understand that your trust and comfort is part of a good working relationship, so are happy to fulfill any request that proves their expertise.

You Get What You Pay For

You deserve honest work for an honest price, but if that price is far lower than those being offered by other companies then chances are good you’ll get low quality. If you’ve checked a company’s credentials, received good answers to your questions, have a written contract and scope of work, and feel a sense of trust, then the cost of the project will most likely be worth every penny.

The care and value of your home is far too important to focus on finding the cheapest price. Investing in quality and doing things right the first time saves you time, money and valuable resources. Don’t judge a contractor solely on price – buy on proven knowledge and performance.

For a remodeling and repair company that meets the standards of knowledge and performance you can trust in, look to Mosby Building Arts. They have over 60 years of experience improving every aspect of homes in Metro St. Louis, and their team of home improvement professionals will help you make wise choices for your home. Call the Mosby office at 314.909.1800 or contact them here.