Exposed Bulb Lighting – A Very Popular Lighting Choice

Exposed bulb orb pendant lighting over a kitchen island in one of our home remodel projects.

Exposed bulb lighting has become increasingly popular and looks like a trend that is here to stay. Rather than hiding the bulb behind an opaque shade, exposed light fixtures put the simple, sculptured form of the bulb on display, creating an outstanding point of interest.

For those captivated by the look, there are a remarkable variety of options. Pendant lights are one of the most popular and widely available forms.  They are being chosen to replace chandeliers and track lighting and work wonderfully well over kitchen islands.  

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Spring Show Stopping Kitchen Inspiration for 2020

An award-winning show stopping kitchen.

Show-stopping kitchens are the top amenity asked for by homeowners.

Designing a stunning kitchen is more than just updating an old counter-top and appliances and putting on a fresh coat of paint. To truly create a show-stopping kitchen you need to consider all the details that will help bring everything together to make an aesthetic space both you and your loved ones can enjoy together.

And what are “all the details” that you should consider when wanting to create a show-stopping kitchen?  To answer this question, here is a list of some of the top details you can consider adding to your kitchen design.Continue reading

5 Construction Tips When Building or Remodeling Your Home In Florida

When Building or Renovating Your Home in Florida, Consider These 5 tips.

Renovating a house in Florida is not like construction in the rest of the country.  Not only do you have to deal with the humidity (hello, mold), there’s also the hurricanes, termites, frequent rainstorms and beating sun (which lead to dry-rot).  It’s no wonder the construction industry is so heavily regulated down here. 

So what do you need to know to properly navigate the ins and outs of a renovation in Florida?  Read on for five important tips. 

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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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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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Stylish Storage Solutions with Home Renovations

home renovationsOne of the best things about owning a home is, of course, having your very own space and being able to set it up just the way you like. But when you have plenty of stuff and no practical place to put it, that freedom becomes a double-edged sword.

No matter how much space you think you’ll be able to take advantage of when you first move into a home, the classic outcome is: there’s never enough storage. The solution? Some simple and well-planned home renovations will help you put into practice the word that’s on so many lips these days: declutter.

Storage Solutions: One Step at a Time

First of all, be selective. Even before embarking on any home renovations to ramp up the storage, go through your belongings and cull what you really don’t want or need to keep around. The key is to remind yourself that you’re finding a place for everything that matters; jettison the rest (it’s liberating!).

Then take a good hard look at what you have and make some overall categories, such as sports equipment, kids toys, arts andContinue reading

Home Renovations: Better When Your Builder Has a Designer on Board

home designAnyone who’s made the mistake of winging it with respect to the design part of their home renovations probably won’t go that route again, or recommend it to anyone else. Sure, the quality of the actual construction is extremely important, as is the choice of good quality materials, but don’t forget that what will make or break the success of how all of that gets put together is paramount.

Make sure you hire a reliable builder who has a team with the creativity and ability to bring you professional home design services as part of what they offer.

Designer and Decorator: Which is Which?

A surprising number of people think that these two roles are pretty much the same or even identical, but that’s simply not the case. Though you’ll sometimes hear the terms “interior design” and “interior decorating” used interchangeably, they are in fact not the same profession. The fundamental differences are worth getting a handle on, especially if you’re in the market to use the skills of one or the other in the near future. Let’s compare theContinue reading

Home Renovations: Add Your Own Mondo Modern Wine Room

home renovationsAll true wine aficionados know the importance of caring and storing wine properly. If you put yourself in that category, adding a well-designed, personalized wine room is a high priority home renovations investment.

To enjoy and appreciate fine wine at its peak, it’s a given that it must be suitably kept and cared for. Additional benefits to creating an in-home wine room include the opportunity to invite discerning guests to that special place to appreciate your wide-ranging collection. What a bonus for entertaining! Specialized and exclusive home renovations of any kind only enhance the value of your home in the long run, so it’s a good property value investment, too.

Home Renovations and Your Above Ground Wine Room

What comes to mind when you hear “wine cellar”? Do you imagine a brick-walled room with antique furniture and arched entries? A space with wall tapestries and vintage decanters? Or is it a classy, sophisticated space withContinue reading