Casting a Vision for your Whole Home

A few weeks ago we put our house up for sale, accepted an offer, and put in a bid on our next house. It’s always a weird time when you’ve made offers and plans but haven’t closed yet, because you know that sometimes crazy things happen and something doesn’t work out and you have to start over. This is not a time to order furniture. But this is a time for something besides collecting boxes and hating yourself for not decluttering for the past five years.

Maybe you’re not moving, but perhaps you’ve lost your way a bit when it comes to your home as a whole, or you just need to jump start your creativity. This practice is for you, too.

First, consider the spirit, character and bones of the house.

It can feel a little difficult, especially if you’re considering your future home and someone currently occupies it. But it’s worth it to begin the decorating and dreaming process by simply paying attention to what’s already there.

One of the most rewarding parts of creating, decorating and making a home your own is pairing your unique style within the unique style of the home. That’s always the challenge and the fun of it!

Here are a few questions to consider:

Does the house have a specific style?

What words would I use to describe the house?

What features do I love and want to highlight?

What features might I want to downplay?

And here’s what I do: I create a dedicated pinboard for the house as a whole. In the past, I’ve talked a lot about creating a pinboard for every single room in your home–and you should as you work through making decisions in each particular space. But when you are moving to a new home, or casting a fresh vision, it can be helpful to set the mood and try to capture the vibe by creating a whole home board to get you jump started.

If the house has an identifiable style: Craftsman, Victorian, Mid-Century Modern….I’ll search that to look for examples of similar style homes decorated the way I like. If it has a strong, bossy element like orange pine floors, a two story brick fireplace or fancy trim work, I’ll search that to find more examples and pin what I like. If the home has specific types of rooms like a sunroom, vestibule or large foyer, I’ll search those as well.

As I’m happily pinning away, I’ll look back at videos I took while we toured and check out the MLS listing, for the zillionth time, paying attention to the bones and character of the house or any details I missed. Then, when I’m pinning, I consider the house style paired with my own style. Newsflash: I still love neutrals!

Whether you are moving to a new house soon, or maybe want to cast a fresh vision for your current home, creating a whole home Pinterest board might be a step in the right direction.

One final tip, as I begin to pin images to my whole home board, I don’t look at the board as a collection until I get at least 100 pins. It’s always exciting and eye opening to me once I’ve worked out the kinks to find that I actually DO have a vision for the house and it’s beginning to be repeated over and over.

The Best Kitchen Remodeling Contractor

How to Select the Best Kitchen Remodeling Contractor
Searching for and finding a trustworthy kitchen remodeling contractor who does exceptional work is beyond overwhelming.

If you’re excited when you imagine your newly remodeled dream kitchen but not sure how to choose your Remodeling Contractor, Read this

With that in mind, we’ve created this handy guide for taking the stress out of your search for the best home remodeling contractors for your project. From figuring out what you want to ask for that final quote, the 7 tips below will help guide you in your journey in getting that dream kitchen you’ve always wanted!.

  1. Develop a Plan Before Starting Your Search

You’ve got to have a general idea of what you want your dream kitchen to look like before you start your search for a contractor. Whether you start with appliances, floors, cabinets, or countertops…sketch out a plan

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of the style, colors, materials, and layout you are drawn to. Whether you will be doing minimal cooking or lots of meal prep. Entertaining or having a houseful of kids on the daily.
Having this info in hand will help the contractors you do contact better be able to determine if they are a good fit to move onto the consulting and estimating phase with you.

  1. Ask Friends, Family, Co-workers & Neighbors for Referrals

Before you go online or look to other sources to find a contractor, you have the best chance of finding one through your personal network. A reliable home remodeling contractor will leave a great impression with each project he completes, and referrals will follow. Check with your friend, family, co-workers, neighbors, and fellow church members for local contractor referrals.

  1. Do Online Research of Referrals Received

Along with any referrals you get from your personal network, you’ll also want to do an online search for “best remodeling contractors near me.” This search will return a ton of search results from trustworthy review sites like Birds Eye, Facebook, Google Biz, Yelp, and more.

Read the reviews for all the contractors on your list and check out those with the top reviews in your area. Also, if there is any negative feedback left for a contractor, see how they respond to vaginosisbacteriana.org their client. This will give you an idea of their problem-solving and communication style.

  1. Research Industry Related Websites for Home Remodeling Contractors

Additionally, you can search for local contractors on industry-related websites such as Home Advisor, Houzz, and Angie’s List. You’ll find vanguardbuilds on all three sites along with great reviews from our happy remodeling clients.

  1. Check BBB Ratings, References, Certifications, & Insurance

When you narrow down your search to a few contractors, ask for their registered business name, certifications, insurances, and bonding documents they carry. Confirm they are up to date on everything required to remodel homes in your state and locale. Further, check with the Better Business Bureau to see if they are in good standing without confirmed complaints. vanguardbuilds carries all the proper insurance, certifications, and bonding required to remodel homes in Houston and the surrounding areas.

  1. Request a Free In-Home Consultation

Once you’ve found a contractor or two with great credentials and reviews, request an in-home consultation. Any trustworthy remodeling company will offer free consultations to prospective clients interested in retaining them for a remodeling project. These consultations typically consist of the contractor visiting your home to view your kitchen, hearing your ideas and requirements for the remodel, budgetary goals, and asking further questions about the project.

We offer free in-home consultation for our kitchen remodeling services, call today!

vanguardbuilds -Remodeling Company Near Me

  1. Ask for an Initial Quote & Timeline

Once your consultation is a wrap, you’ll want to get an initial quote and timeline from the contractor(s) to get an idea of what you’re looking at in terms of budget and the time it will take to complete. Make sure to ask for an outline of the project phases and the order in which they will occur. What retainer will be due up front and if there will be an installment due along the way, or a final payment at the end?

Reach out to vanguardbuilds to learn more about estimating your kitchen remodeling project!

We understand your search for home remodeling contractors in Houston can be intimidating as there are so many companies from which to choose. However, we are sure you will find our company is one of those that you will find stand out in your search online and within the community—as we are known for our commitment to providing our clients with the most trustworthy service and 100% project satisfaction guarantee.

In your search for the best Kitchen Remodeling Contractor, consider vanguardbuilds. We’ve been providing kitchen remodeling services to Houston and the surrounding areas for over 10 years. Visit our remodeling contractor website to learn

4 Top Tips To Avoid Home Addition Delays & Disruptions

How to Avoid Home Addition Delays & Disruptions
Hire the right contractor. Who is the right contractor? There are a lot of things to think about when hiring a general contractor for your project. Do they have experience with the type of work you’re looking to have done? For example, if you’re building an addition, you shouldn’t hire a roofing contractor. Are they trustworthy? Research the contractors: look for reviews online and ask them if they are willing to give you references. Are they qualified? Does the work you’re doing require a licensed professional? Doing your research in the beginning will help you to find a qualified professional – not an amateur.


Plan (and plan and plan… and plan). Most addition disruptions and delays simply come from poor planning. Make sure before you begin any addition project that your contractor completely understands what you are looking for and has detailed all of it in your contract so that there’s no confusion. But remember, planning involves both the contractor and you. If you have new ideas halfway through the project, there will be a delay, so be an active part of the planning process to make sure you ask for exactly what you want early on.

Get relevant permits. Your contractor breaks down your wall… and then someone from the city shows up. If you and your contractor haven’t paid attention to your area’s building codes and gotten the necessary permits, your project will be halted. But this is an easily avoidable delay! Your contractor should have an understanding of building codes (if they don’t, go back to square one and pick a new contractor!). Once they have a full understanding of your project, your contractor should know what permits are necessary and should help you get them. No contractor should begin work without the proper permits.

Make the project timeline clear. Once you and your contractor have a plan, salgen.it they should have an idea of when the job can be completed. Your contractor should be able to lay out a general timeline of when each piece of the addition will be completed. Understand that this won’t be an exact timeline – some delays just can’t be avoided. Unexpected weather (like spring snowstorms!), a backup at the permit office, or waiting on shipments of the right material for the job can and will slow things down even if you’ve planned perfectly. However, having a general idea of the timeline will hold your contractor accountable so your project doesn’t end up taking several years!

Taking the Next Step
A home addition can help to make your home exactly what you’ve dreamed of, but it’s no small commitment. While you can’t plan for everything, planning ahead can help you avoid foreseeable delays and disruptions so you can enjoy your project on time (and on budget). The best thing you can do is work with a trustworthy general contracting company. When you work with someone who has experience with projects like yours, you can feel confident. Vanguardbuilds has experience building additions (on time and on budget) and we would love to help you create the addition of your dreams. If you’re ready to take the next step toward building your addition, request your free consultation today.

Kitchen Redesign

Experts in Kitchen Redesign Service

Vanguardbuilds is a NJ contractor that installs custom-designed kitchens at a reasonable price. We can manage every aspect of your kitchen remodel or kitchen renovation.

Our NJ team of expert kitchen designers, project managers, and installers will transform your kitchen into a masterpiece. You will enjoy years of enjoyment and value from your kitchen’s installation.

Vanguardbuilds has kitchen products and design ideas that will make your dreams come true. You have many options for kitchen renovations, including countertops, flooring, and accents.

There are many options available to suit any budget. We’ll also give you a detailed estimate so that you know exactly what to expect. We’ll come to your home and show you affordable solutions for kitchen remodeling that will keep your project on budget.

Kitchen Contractor in NJ

It’s not enough to have a great kitchen. Your New Jersey kitchen is the heart of your home. However, everyone uses it differently and has their own style. Our staff will work closely with you to consider every aspect of your home renovation project. Remodeling your dream kitchen is about space, budget, taste, and lifestyle.

Vanguardbuilds proudly partners with top cabinet manufacturers such as Modern Cabinetry, Fabuwood and Candlelight. They also install high quality plumbing fixtures from Kohler and Elkay.

We also offer 100% financing for kitchen remodels, with low monthly payments. Call us at T: 201-277-7161, or fill out the request form to schedule a free estimate for your kitchen. We will explain all of our options and pricing. Our kitchen remodeling costs are affordable and our workmanship is outstanding. We appreciate you considering our company!

Designing Your Kitchen

We will use dedicated computer-aided planning software to create a three-dimensional virtual walk-through as part of your custom kitchen, bathroom or bedroom design. We can create custom plans, elevations and full-color graphic images for your kitchen, bedroom, or bathroom. You can also see exactly how the final design will look in great detail. It allows you to make small adjustments until your vision is realized. Planning and design services include advice on kitchen work surfaces and kitchen flooring as well as the best kitchen appliances. Contact us if you are looking for Clapham kitchen renovations.

The heart of a modern home is the kitchen. It should be tailored to your lifestyle and tastes. Our kitchen planners will ensure that your kitchen is a perfect fit for you. Planning a kitchen can seem daunting. Vanguardbuilds highly skilled kitchen planners will make it as easy as possible to incorporate your design needs.

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