4 Ways to Jazz Up Your Front Entry

Front Door

Tired of the same old song and dance when you arrive home every day? A simple but effective way to change the rhythm of your home design is to renovate the front entry. This can be done in a BIG way, with lighting and raised ceilings and high-end finishes, or with just a few simple changes. It all depends on your budget and the style of your home. Here are 4 ways to jazz up your front entry.

Front Door
This front entry was part of a home addition and whole home remodel we recently completed in Brandon, Florida.

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How to Choose the Right Flooring for Your Home

It isn’t always easy selecting finishes for your home.  For many homeowners, one of the most difficult items to choose is the flooring.  There are so many options on the market, how do you know which one is right for you?  How do you ensure you make the right choice for your budget, your design, and your own personal comfort?  We’ve helped select and install many different types of flooring over the years, and we’ve learned a lot of the pros and cons of each.  Here are a few key things you need to know about how to choose the right flooring for your home.

Tile floor
Our clients selected a unique ceramic tile for the back entry and mud room of their home in Clearwater.

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How to Spot and Handle a Sinkhole

 

If you live in Florida even a few weeks out of the year, you know what a paradise it is – endless sunny days, breathtaking sunsets, and soft sandy beaches. And while that beautiful sugar sand feels amazing between your toes, it can become a real liability when it starts to give way under the foundation of a home. Hence, a Floridian’s (and insurance adjuster’s) worst nightmare: Sinkholes.Before you start shuddering at the thought of your home being swallowed up by the earth, know this: there is an exact reason that a sinkhole occurs.  Additionally, if you know how to spot the signs, you will be able to catch it before it becomes a serious problem. We recently completed a major sinkhole repair project in Largo, and we learned a lot! Here are a few things you should know about sinkholes.

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Fireside Chat: What Kind of Fireplace is Best for Your Florida Home?

Luxury Homes in Florida
Fireplaces in Florida
                             A custom gas fireplace we designed and built on Island Estates as part of a whole home remodel.

Are you a fan of the hearth? Do you love the idea of curling up next to a fireplace with your family, telling stories or playing games? Or perhaps a quiet evening warming your toes, watching the sun set? The idea of a fireplace in a sub-tropical climate may seem contradictory, but it’s very common to see both wood-burning and gas fireplaces in Florida homes. But how do you get started? What if you have an existing fireplace that doesn’t fit your style? Read on for some design and construction advice on installing the right fireplace for your home.

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Three Things We Learned from Hurricane Irma

Most of us in the Tampa Bay area were fortunate to make it through Hurricane Irma with minimal damage. Even with a Category 2 hurricane, however, there was much to overcome in the aftermath – power outages for days and even weeks, heavy debris to clean up, and major roof damage. Although we at Nelson Construction and Renovations were fully prepared for the worst, we still learned some important points to remember for future weather situations, particularly regarding what to do after a hurricane. Here are three things we learned from Hurricane Irma:
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What’s Hot – and Not – in 2017 and 2018 Home Design Trends

When it comes to home design, trends can ebb and flow with the predictability of the ocean tides.  Each time, however, cyclical trends come back with new flair and new meaning.  So what innovations does 2018 have in store for homeowners creating their custom homes?  And how does it tie in to the design trends of 2017?  Read on to find out what’s hot – and not – in 2017 and 2018 home design trends.  

Kitchen Design Trends

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Five Ways to Make Your Custom Home Project Cost More – and How to Avoid Them

 

Custom Home

When you’re building or remodeling your home, you’re not buying towels or dishes.  In most cases, it’s one of the most costly purchases you’ve ever made.  So when it comes to budget, you probably want to figure out the best places to save money right off the bat.

There are many parts and pieces to a renovation or a construction project, and many ways to save money.  That’s the beauty of working with a qualified Design-Build company, as their professionals usually have years of experience on pricing and can guide you in the right direction on which design items to select to stay within your budget.  We often save our clients thousands of dollars by finding them finishes and fixtures that still look good and are in keeping with their tastes, but are far less expensive than what they might find on their own, as a consumer.  

When we sit down with our clients for their initial design consultation, there are five major areas we like to discuss before we proceed.  These big-ticket items can make or break the bank when it comes to a custom home project, and the direction we take depends on finding that balance between budget and aesthetics.  You have to decide – are these items so important to your custom home that you are willing to stretch your budget a little?  Or does budget take priority?  Is there a middle ground in any of these areas?  These are all important aspects of the design and planning process.

Here are five places where you can sway your budget considerably on a custom home project:

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Brass is Back – But Not in Overkill

Brass interior design

Not since the height of the 70’s have we seen brass so strongly embraced in interior design. Along with its other warm metallic counterparts (copper and bronze), brass is enjoying a huge revival. Beaten, folded or polished – designers are celebrating its luxurious, yet industrial appeal, making everything from chandeliers, pendant lights, tables, dressers, chairs, bath and kitchen fixtures and decorative accessories out of this ancient metal.

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Experienced Design & Build Contractor Offers Custom Homes & Remodels

We understand that it is a big decision to build a custom home or undertake a home renovation. As a seasoned design & build contractor, we would like to take the pain out of this process and offer our services to you, starting with design.

We have an experienced and reliable team of designers and craftsmen to handle your new custom home design – then construction or renovation. Even if you don’t have a full concept of what you would like, we can help. Our designers are great at duplicating what you need and want – then translating it into a beautiful and functional design.

Once the designs have been completed we plan out the construction or remodel down to the last detail with you. No surprises here.
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