Our Blog on Bathroom Remodeling in St. Louis, MO

Design Tips: Living Room Focal Point

The living room feels incomplete without a focal point. It’s the “thing” that draws you in and stands out as the design element in the space. Create a well-balanced living room with a beautiful focal point by incorporating one of these design suggestions into your living room makeover.

  • A fireplace is a natural focal point for your living room. If you’re fortunate enough to have a fireplace already, but it lacks a modern touch, update it with ceramic tiles, shiplap, or a new mantle.
  • A wall of built-in shelves will never go out of style and is a great way to detract from your television as the focal point of a wall. On your open shelving, mix two-thirds books with one-third decor. Also, leave some breathing space to make an object more appealing – so resist the urge to fill every square inch with decorations and books.
  • Create a focal point using wallpaper. A bold wallpaper print can add focus to a room that lacks it. Selecting a beautiful print centered on one wall will grab all of the attention.
  • A gallery wall featuring family photos, a mirror, or a large piece of art makes an eye-catching focal point. Choose one or two larger prints that draw in the eye and fill in the gaps with smaller prints.

For help creating a focal point in your living room, or for kitchen remodeling in St. Louis, MO, you can depend on our contractors for quality craftsmanship. Contact JM Construction / JM Kitchen and Bath by calling us at (636) 332-6800.

 

Fall Home Improvement Projects

Cooler temperatures outside give you the perfect opportunity to focus on projects inside. Your honey-do list for home renovation tasks quickly stacks up over the summer months while you are busy enjoying the beautiful weather and keeping up with exterior jobs. Now that fall has arrived, you have more time to get to those home improvement jobs you’ve been putting off. Roll up your sleeves and tackle those renovations best done once the cooler weather has arrived.

  • Replace or repair your roof
  • Refresh or repair the deck
  • Replace windows
  • Update your HVAC system
  • Paint the front door
  • Power wash the exterior
  • Clean the gutters

Fall is also the best time to hire professional contractors, as it’s less busy than the spring and summer months. If DIY isn’t your thing and you’re looking for a trusted company to complete your bathroom, basement, or kitchen remodeling in St. Louis, MO, JM Construction / JM Kitchen and Bath is ready to get started. Considering all the cooking and family gatherings that go on during the holiday season, now is a great time to make improvements to your kitchens functionally and aesthetics. Whatever your dream kitchen is, we can deliver. Call us today to get started on creating the perfect kitchen to entertain and host family in.

Three-Season vs. Four-Season Sunroom: What’s The Difference?

Wherever you live – whether that’s in the south or the northeast – with the arrival of fall means cooler temperatures for the next few months. For some, that might be a snowy winter ahead or temperatures that only reach 60 degrees instead of 100 degrees. Whatever the case, a sunporch makes for an awesome living space that allows you to feel like your outdoors and enjoying the sunshine but while being protected from the elements.

Before you make your final decision about what type of sunroom will add the most function and value to your home, you’ll want to be sure you know the difference between a three-season and four-season sunroom. We’ve outlined the major differences between the two options.

  • Glass – The glass installed in your sunroom renovation in St. Louis, MO, makes a major difference whether it can be used during warm months only or all year long. Single pane tempered glass windows are used in a three-season room for minimal energy efficiency while in a four-season room, high energy efficient windows are used.
  • Insulation – Insulating the walls, roof, and floor are essential elements in extending the use of a sunroom from three to four seasons. The amount and quality of insulation makes a big difference between using the sunroom when it’s below freezing with snow on the ground or not being able to because it’s far too cold.

Increase Square Footage With An Addition

Bathroom Remodeling St Louis, MOIs your home feeling smaller and smaller every day? Plenty of people feel the walls closing in on them as their family grows in number or as the children get bigger. Your once cozy starter home is now just too small. What do you do if you don’t want to move? The best option is to increase your square footage with an addition.

 

Not only does a room addition give you the space to spread out, but it’s also an invaluable investment. Along with expanding your available living and storage space, adding rooms with desirable features can increase the value of your home. The first step in planning your home addition is finding inspiration. Below are some home and room addition ideas to inspire you.

 

Add A Second Story – While this major renovation to a single-story home can be costly (probably around $100K), it adds significant square footage and resale value to your house.

Garage Apartment – Creating a bonus room or an apartment over a garage is a great way to add extra square footage and keep the construction out of your house. This makes for a great space for older children to hang with their friends, a music space for the drummer in your family, or the perfect in-law suite.

Finish The Basement – A finished basement offers tons of usable living space and is ideal as a family room, game room, home theater, home gym, or an extra guest bedroom.

Expand The Bathroom – Bathrooms are typically the smallest room in the house, but they are an area we spend lots of time. Why not consider bathroom remodeling in St. Louis, MO, to make it a relaxing space to start and end your day. Try extending your master bathroom to include space for a soaking tub or dual sinks. 

 

Once you know where you would benefit most from the extra space, it’s time to get started. Contact JM Construction/ JM Kitchen and Bath to discuss creative ways to improve your home and increase your family’s comfort.

Increase Functionality With A Home Renovation

Kitchen Remodeling St Louis, MOBuying a new home is exciting, especially if it is your first home. In your hunt for the right house, with the correct number of bedrooms and bathrooms, the yard you’ve dreamt of, in the neighborhood of your choice, you need to ask yourself if you’re up for the challenge of a fixer-upper or you would prefer a turn-key home. There are pros and cons to each route, but remodeling a home has its advantages, allowing you to add all of those personal touches that will make the home yours.

 You can transform the main living floor from boxed-in rooms to an open floor plan, design the kitchen of your dreams with a large island and marble countertops, add beautiful sliding glass doors to give the space an indoor/outdoor feel, and turn the master bathroom into a luxurious, relaxing retreat.

 You likely won’t get everything you desire in a move-in ready house, or the move-in ready home of your dreams might be well outside of your budget, but purchasing a fixer-upper in your price range can give you this fantastic opportunity to customize it to fit your family’s needs.

 A renovation is also perfect when you’ve outgrown your home. Do you love the neighborhood but need more space? A renovation will allow you to add on a master suite, finish the basement, or update the chef’s favorite room with kitchen remodeling in St. Louis, MO.

 Remodeling is an excellent way for homeowners to add increased functionality, beauty, and value to their home. Call JM Construction/JM Kitchen and Bath to get started on turning your new or existing home into the beautiful space your family deserves.

For Sale Part II: Bathroom Reno Tips To Close The Deal

When prospective buyers are touring homes for sale, they’re taking a close look at two things – kitchen and bathroom remodeling in St. Louis, MO. In our previous blog, we discussed upgrading lighting to give your kitchen a fresh and modern look that will attract buyers. Below, you’ll find tips on how to update your bathroom on a budget to attract the most potential buyers and land the best deal.

  • Add sophistication inexpensively with wainscoting. A tile or beadboard wainscot will add a timeless, polished, and upgraded look and easily wipes down for a quick clean in the bathroom.
  • Refresh cabinets rather than replacing them. Because of their high visibility, you want the cabinets to look crisp, clean, and fresh. So long as they are in good structural shape, you’ll get a better return on your investment by painting them or even re-facing them.
  • Upgrading fixtures and hardware is a must and is a quick and straightforward makeover option. You’d be surprised how old and outdated your current accessories likely are. You’ll transform the space with new overhead lighting, vanity lights, faucet fixtures, drawer pulls, and handles.
  • Never underestimate the power of new paint. It works wonders! A well-chosen contemporary palette can transform any space, particularly a bathroom. The right shade can make a room look bigger, brighter, and more inviting.

For Sale Part I: Kitchen Lighting Upgrades to Help Sell Your Home

Are you in the market to sell your home? With so many small towns and big cities flooded with inventory, making your home stand out will not only help it sell and sell quickly but sell for the price you’re hoping for. Getting top dollar for your home sometimes requires spending money on kitchen remodeling in St. Louis, MO, now before listing. While that seems counterintuitive, even small upgrades can help set your home apart from an outdated crowd.

For many, the kitchen can be a deal-breaker or a deal-maker when it comes to buying or selling a home. If you are trying to figure out which areas of your home to upgrade, buyers are most interested in the kitchen and bathrooms  – so it pays to upgrade these rooms first. One of the simplest yet effective upgrades you can make in the kitchen is to change the lighting.

Recessed Lighting
If you have an older home, you likely have one ceiling fixture located in the center of the room. Replace it with recessed lighting to create a more even wash of light. In a larger kitchen, you can separate your recessed lighting into zones that can be turned on and off independently for customized lighting.

Pendant Lighting
Pendant lighting is popular in modern kitchen designs because they offer unique style options and functionality. Pendant lights enhance recessed lighting by providing efficient task lighting when hung strategically, like over a kitchen island.

Under Mount Cabinet Lighting
Up your kitchen lighting game entirely by installing LED lights under your kitchen cabinets. This not only makes for great task lighting for your counters but adds a look of style and sophistication to your kitchen design.

LED Lighting
Upgrade your current lighting fixtures with LED bulbs to boost your wattage and increase energy efficiency. Choose an LED temperature that is not too white and not too soft to provide a pleasant glow. This will make your kitchen brighter and more inviting.

Benefits of a Sunroom Renovation in St. Louis, MO

When you decide that your house could use a little more space, you have several options. Home additions allow you to make the most of your property’s square footage while better adapting your house to your needs and preferences. Three of the most popular ways to create more living space are sunrooms, room additions, and garage conversions.

If you want a room where you can relax with plenty of natural light, a sunroom renovation in St. Louis, MO, is the right choice for you. Sunrooms are typically smaller than full-size additions and are often constructed from prefabricated frames. Of course, you can also have a sunroom built from the same materials as the existing structure so that it blends seamlessly with the rest of the house. Either way, you get a comfortable retreat with spacious windows.

Room additions (also called bump-outs) either extend an existing room or create a new one on the side of the house. Typically, these additions involve a new roofline and serve a single-purpose, such as a bedroom or a bathroom.

Many homeowners choose to take advantage of their existing roof, walls, and foundation by converting their garages into an additional living room or bedroom. By replacing the garage door with a solid wall, installing new flooring, and making a few other adjustments, the garage can become a comfortable new room.

Whatever you decide to do, adding on to your home lets you enjoy your property in an all-new way. Make the most of your space with an attractive sunroom renovation in St. Louis, MO.

DIY vs. Professional Bathroom Remodeling in St. Louis, MO

Updating your bathroom is an opportunity to improve the functionality and appearance of your home interior. You can personalize your space with your favorite materials and fixtures. However, should you do it yourself or call a contractor? That is a big question. Here are some things to consider when you are deciding between DIY and professional bathroom remodeling in St. Louis, MO.

The demands of bathroom remodeling daunt Even experienced do-it-yourselfers. To do the job properly, you need to be familiar with carpentry, plumbing, and electrical work, all of which require a certain degree of skill. The project can be intensive and slow-going (not to mention dangerous) for novice DIYers. However, those who succeed can take satisfaction in both their hard work and their cost savings.

Of course, hiring an experienced contractor has numerous advantages. A professional will be less likely to make expensive mistakes that slow down the project, and the work schedule will not be restricted to your nights and days off. What’s more, all installations, plumbing, and wiring will be done correctly for optimal functionality and appearance.

The bottom line is that if you are a working homeowner, you will get better results faster by calling a contractor. Some conveniences are worth paying for, and choosing a skilled professional to transform your bathroom into a more luxurious space is one of them.

Trust our experienced professionals for bathroom remodeling in St. Louis, MO. A qualified contractor will know to do the job right.

kitchen remodeling St Louis MO

Kitchen Remodel: Where To Spend and Where To Save

Not all kitchen remodel tasks are equal. If you’re looking to increase the value of your home by investing your money with a kitchen remodel, you’ll want to focus your budget on some areas and save on others. Here are a few tips on where best to spend money and where to cut back on your kitchen remodeling in St. Louis, MO.

Cabinets – The cost of cabinetry can add up quickly. Drawers, roll-out trays, extra shelves, and extending cabinets to the ceiling all add to the price tag. However, cabinets are a focal point in the room, and all of those bells and whistles are important for storage options and convenience.

Countertops – Countertops are often the focal point of the kitchen, so you might want to spend more there. If you choose to splurge, granite will make a statement and should be the driver for the rest of your design decisions, like cabinetry and wall color.

Appliances – Look for energy-efficient appliances with warranties, but be careful which appliances you splurge on. If you have a large family and tons of dirty dishes, opt for a quality dishwasher. Universally, stainless steel is the most popular choice for home buyers.

Your upgrades should reflect what’s most important to you. For example, a gourmet cook might want to splurge on a professional range, someone who loves to entertain might want a wine cooler and a warming drawer, while a large family might need tons of storage space. What do you value most in a remodeled kitchen?