As the annual round of home and garden shows begin to wrap up around the country, it’s a good time to look back at some of the top tips we gathered this year.
The Louisville Home and Garden Show offered a wealth of home project resources, including Louisville Handyman & Remodeling, which has been serving local homeowners for more than 20 years.
President Joe French and designer Denise Mangeot talked with the Louisville Courier-Journal about some of the top home design trends they’re seeing this year. Here are a few to consider if you’re looking to renovate.
Functional flooring
While hardwood will always remain a timeless flooring choice, it is also a pricer option that requires more maintenance. It’s no surprise, then, to see luxury vinyl plank (LVP) and luxury vinyl tile (LVT) installations on the rise.
“It’s coming along more and more every day with beautiful colors and selections that make it very appealing to a lot of people — on different levels of budget and different levels of taste,” Mangeot said.
Budget is often a determining factor, as LVP and LVP typically cost 50% to 70% less than hardwood. But these vinyl options aren’t just friendly on the wallet — they are also durable, making them ideal for high-traffic areas or throughout homes with pets and children.
“So many people grew up with vinyl floors,” French said, “and I think in some ways … the word ‘vinyl’ casts this perspective in people’s minds. They think of the floor they grew up with, (but it’s) nothing like what is out there now.”
He adds that they’ve installed LVP and LVT into seven-figure homes simply because it’s the better choice for those abodes.
“It’s a great product and something people really need to look at and consider,” he said.
Better bathrooms
Floating shelves can now be found in just about every room of the home, including in kitchens, living rooms, and bathrooms.
“It’s just a fun way to add a different look to things,” French said.
He adds that another common bathroom request includes replacing corner tubs; this goes for homes of all sizes. Homeowners are often replacing these tubs with a shower, which makes for better use of the space in rooms with a smaller footprint.
“Now, if they have a bigger footprint,” French added, “we’ll (often install) a soaking tub of some variety. But if you’re space constrained, it seems like the rules are gone — the primary bath doesn’t have to have a tub in it.”
These new showers also often feature stylish grab bars. French explains that grab bars used to be known as unsightly and purely functional; but the fixture companies of today offer a plethora of options to enhance any bathroom aesthetic.
“In most cases, we’re going to go ahead and do grab bars as part of the project,” French said, adding that having grab bars in your bathroom doesn’t have anything to do with age. Anyone with a twisted ankle or a knee injury will quickly understand how helpful a grab bar can be.
“It kind of amazes me … that we have all kinds of code changes to protect us from everything under the sun,” French exclaimed, “and we all know that the number one source (of injury) of people who are aging is a slip and a fall — but we don’t require grab bars. … We always encourage it, and many people take us up on it.”
Optimal organization
Another common request the Louisville Handyman & Remodeling team often sees is to incorporate special accommodations for pets. This can include anything from a pet wash station in the laundry room or special doggy doors so Fido can enter and exit as he pleases. These requests are typically combined with other organizational asks.
“Thinking through that whole laundry room area,” French said, “(we’re) just making sure it’s super organized.”
This could mean installing a hall tree or cubbies and hooks for little ones to store their backpacks and coats. “It’s just trying to say, how do we make the most out of this space and make it functional for their family?”
He adds that regardless of what a homeowner envisions for their remodel, they can see what it will look like before making any final decisions. Using a home design software called Chief Architect, French and his team generate a 3D rendering for review. This allows homeowners to consider different colors, countertops, fixtures, and more before signing off on their renovation project.
“It just gives them an added level of confidence,” French said, “and it lets them be a part of the design process, which people love.”
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Bathroom remodel, flooring design tips for a home renovation
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