When remodeling your home you have a lot to choose from in terms of design. One element that is sometimes overwhelming is choosing the style and finish you want for your fixtures. The finish of fixtures in a living space can give a room a completely different look. Here are a few finishes that give different looks: Metal fixtures come in a variety of colors and textures. The materials range from iron, chrome, nickel, stainless steel, brass, bronze, copper, and pewter. Each of these materials has different finishes that give of a certain style. For instance, choosing a stainless steel finish opposed to a bronze would give the room a more contemporary modern feel while the bronze would give more...Read More
After the historical Fourth of July storm hit Minnesota and Wisconsin this past week we are all taking a look at how well our houses are prepared for those treacherous winds and debris falling everywhere. Living in Minnesota you never know when your weather is going to do a 360 on you. That is why having the piece-of-mind in knowing your house is built with quality materials is crucial. Making sure your roof is in good shape is storm proofing job number one. Your shingles should tell you whether or not you need a new roof, or that leak dripping from the ceiling in the kitchen. The next crucial thing to take a look at is your windows. Windows get...Read More
Being an adult has many perks: you get to eat whatever you want (well, if health weren’t a concern maybe), stay up late into the night (unless you have to get up early for work the next morning), and decorate your house exactly as you see fit (taking the other household members into consideration too, of course). But as much freedom as adulthood brings, it also comes with a lot of responsibilities, and that can put a drain on your creative energy. As an adult, it’s easy to fall into somewhat boring paint patterns. Neutral tones and non-offensive tones are great, but when you start to notice your house is looking more like a doctor’s office than a home bustling...Read More
Now that spring has arrived it’s time to take off that coat and take in the outside world—without five layers of fleece in between it. Many people already use spring as the perfect excuse to get outdoors and get their body back in shape after months of winter hibernation, so why not apply the same principle to your home? Spring is a great time to renovate the exterior of your house and give it that extra little facelift before the lazy days of summer roll around. Here are a few ideas to get you started: Spring Cleaning We all know that spring is the time to clean the interior of your house, but why not clean the exterior as well?...Read More
When Susan and her husband picked Andrus Built out of the phonebook, they had no idea what a serendipitous moment it would turn out to be. The couple’s 1999-built home was in dire need of some renovation work, they wanted more room for family get-togethers, and Susan wanted to convert an extra bedroom into a space for her sewing and crafting. When they contacted Andrus about their needs the response was prompt and positive right from the start. “Doug came to our home the next day and gave us all the information we requested at the first meeting. I called a couple of his references and got glowing reports,” said Susan. Work on the remodel, which included renovations on the...Read More
A fresh coat of paint can do wonders for any room of your house! Give your existing shade a lift or paint an entirely new color. This little change can help you bring new excitement into your home. With so many paint color options, there is something for everyone these days, from bold to very light neutrals. We know that painting isn’t always easy or on the top of your list of fun, so here are some tips to help your project go as smooth as possible. And if you don’t want to do it yourself, give us a call! Painting Prep You will need to move all the furniture to the middle of the room and cover it with...Read More
Having worked in the remodeling business since 1989, we’ve seen a lot of trends come and go. One thing that will always remain in style, however, is a comfortable, stylish bathroom that you and your family love spending time in. Though no bathroom will ever be as entertaining as a living room fully equipped with HD TVs or as comfortable as a well-furnished bedroom, with the right design your bathroom can be a lot closer than you think. True, the main purpose of a bathroom is functionality, but that doesn’t mean that it can’t serve as an oasis of comfort as well. Ever woken up in the middle of the night and been shocked into consciousness by cold bathroom tile...Read More
When the kitchen water pipe in her aging St. Paul house unexpectedly burst, homeowner Sherrie knew she had her work cut out for her finding the right contractor to repair the damage. The house was built in 1953 and was beginning to show major signs of aging despite the 1000-2000 square foot addition that had been built on in 1962. On top of peeling, discolored wallpaper and a kitchen ceiling which sagged due to water build-up from a leaky roof, the water pipe in Sherrie’s kitchen had been slowly leaking for some time without her knowledge before it finally burst one day. The resulting damaged walls, uprooted ceramic tile floor, and demolished basement ceiling only added to the years of water...Read More
Every year around this time professionals in the remodeling and design industries put together their ideas about what was popular in the past year and what to look forward to in the coming one. Jillian Burton, an interior design project analyst for the Wisconsin Kohler Company, spoke with Remodeling Magazine about some of her ideas for what’s hot (or not) in 2011. Here’s a recap of what she had to say: Fashion According to Burton, now, more than ever, fashion is making its way into the remodeling world. Bright colors and playful prints are seeping into walls and furniture everywhere. Though personal tastes certainly differ across a wide variety of areas (not everyone is into animal prints, after all), Burton...Read More