Renovating First Impressions
In the age of the popular home makeover television shows many homeowners may be intimidated by home 'makeovers' or renovations. But they don't need to be. Homeowners should look forward to the added curb appeal outside or the improved livability inside with modern-day textures, appliances and features. Renovations and remodels improve the way a space is used. They breathe life into a home, giving it new energy and comfort.
Homeowners who live in a residence more than 10 years old likely have several smaller home improvement projects on their list, maybe new appliances or an updated vanity; more ambitious do-it-yourselfers may be thinking of their dream kitchen or a whirlpool tub. Often the question is, where do you start?
Your answer will depend on a couple of factors: how long you plan to stay in the home, how much money you have to invest, what you find least satisfying about your house, and what changes might add curb appeal and greater comfort to the home.
Whether you're selling or not, a prime place to begin upping your home's appearance is with the entryway, where guests form first impressions. The entrance is often a home's focal point. It should warmly welcome guests and invite them inside. And it can be a relatively modest investment that improves initial impressions, flow and livability.
'Homeowners can dramatically reshape their entryways relatively easily with the wide choices in materials, styles and finishes,' says Jeff Kibler, of manufacturer Peachtree Doors & Windows. 'With a window in the door panel, sidelites flanking both sides of the panel, and a transom or picture window over the top, homeowners can flood their foyers with natural sunlight.'
Homeowners can choose from a range of door panel options such as a raised-panel door without a window to door panels with a full-length rectangle or oval-shaped window. Panel windows, sidelites, transoms and picture windows can be dressed up with grilles, a cut-glass look or decorative glass, which is available in elaborate geometric or floral patterns.
The patterns in decorative glass are formed by using different types of glass, glass chips and caming, which provides the distinctive outline to the patterns in brass, zinc or patina. For the look of decorative glass at less cost, Peachtree now offers acrylic caming that forms decorative patterns by applying a thin bead of acrylic directly to the glass. This technology also allows you to create a custom-designed pattern or incorporate multiple colors into the design for a fraction of the cost of true decorative glass.
The door panel itself can be constructed from fiberglass, steel or wood. Textured fiberglass entry doors have grown in popularity because they offer a rich look of wood and increased energy efficiency and durability over wood doors. Multiple wood-grain textures, including oak and mahogany, panel styles and several stain finishes, allow you to tailor a new entryway to mission or craftsman or practically any architectural style.
If you want a smooth, painted door to match other exterior trim, fiberglass doors are also available in smooth-skinned models. For the best of both worlds, Peachtree offers the Duo-Choice fiberglass door that has one smooth side and one textured side. You can have a painted exterior to match other exterior trim, and a stained interior that works well with the home's interior decor.
Once you've dressed up your entry door, don't hide it with an unsightly screen or storm door. Retractable screen systems are available for most common-sized entry doors. When not in use, these screens coil inside a housing chamber mounted to the door frame.
Transoms and sidelites can take your remodeled entry from beautiful to stunningly gorgeous. They are the finishing touches. A transom is the window immediately above the entry door. You can find them in rectangles, half circles, ellipses and many custom shapes. Sidelites are the windows on either side of an entry door and further help draw the eyes to the entry. An operating sidelite, available through select manufacturers, provide an additional 12 or 14 inches of space, giving you ample clearance to move large objects in and out of the home. Beautiful and practical.
From the curb or the foyer, a renovated entryway will shape favorable first impressions with your guests and make you proud every time you come home.
Homeowners who live in a residence more than 10 years old likely have several smaller home improvement projects on their list, maybe new appliances or an updated vanity; more ambitious do-it-yourselfers may be thinking of their dream kitchen or a whirlpool tub. Often the question is, where do you start?
Your answer will depend on a couple of factors: how long you plan to stay in the home, how much money you have to invest, what you find least satisfying about your house, and what changes might add curb appeal and greater comfort to the home.
Whether you're selling or not, a prime place to begin upping your home's appearance is with the entryway, where guests form first impressions. The entrance is often a home's focal point. It should warmly welcome guests and invite them inside. And it can be a relatively modest investment that improves initial impressions, flow and livability.
'Homeowners can dramatically reshape their entryways relatively easily with the wide choices in materials, styles and finishes,' says Jeff Kibler, of manufacturer Peachtree Doors & Windows. 'With a window in the door panel, sidelites flanking both sides of the panel, and a transom or picture window over the top, homeowners can flood their foyers with natural sunlight.'
Homeowners can choose from a range of door panel options such as a raised-panel door without a window to door panels with a full-length rectangle or oval-shaped window. Panel windows, sidelites, transoms and picture windows can be dressed up with grilles, a cut-glass look or decorative glass, which is available in elaborate geometric or floral patterns.
The patterns in decorative glass are formed by using different types of glass, glass chips and caming, which provides the distinctive outline to the patterns in brass, zinc or patina. For the look of decorative glass at less cost, Peachtree now offers acrylic caming that forms decorative patterns by applying a thin bead of acrylic directly to the glass. This technology also allows you to create a custom-designed pattern or incorporate multiple colors into the design for a fraction of the cost of true decorative glass.
The door panel itself can be constructed from fiberglass, steel or wood. Textured fiberglass entry doors have grown in popularity because they offer a rich look of wood and increased energy efficiency and durability over wood doors. Multiple wood-grain textures, including oak and mahogany, panel styles and several stain finishes, allow you to tailor a new entryway to mission or craftsman or practically any architectural style.
If you want a smooth, painted door to match other exterior trim, fiberglass doors are also available in smooth-skinned models. For the best of both worlds, Peachtree offers the Duo-Choice fiberglass door that has one smooth side and one textured side. You can have a painted exterior to match other exterior trim, and a stained interior that works well with the home's interior decor.
Once you've dressed up your entry door, don't hide it with an unsightly screen or storm door. Retractable screen systems are available for most common-sized entry doors. When not in use, these screens coil inside a housing chamber mounted to the door frame.
Transoms and sidelites can take your remodeled entry from beautiful to stunningly gorgeous. They are the finishing touches. A transom is the window immediately above the entry door. You can find them in rectangles, half circles, ellipses and many custom shapes. Sidelites are the windows on either side of an entry door and further help draw the eyes to the entry. An operating sidelite, available through select manufacturers, provide an additional 12 or 14 inches of space, giving you ample clearance to move large objects in and out of the home. Beautiful and practical.
From the curb or the foyer, a renovated entryway will shape favorable first impressions with your guests and make you proud every time you come home.
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