Choosing a capable builder is the number one most important thing you can do to set your home remodeling up for success. To make the right decision for your project, you need to understand the different kinds of construction professionals out there. COOPER Design Build can help with that. In this blog, we explain the difference between a design build remodeler and a general contractor. 

Preparing for the holidays is a whole affair. There are guests to invite, presents to buy, meals to cook, family traditions to uphold, and then, there’s the matter of getting your house holiday-hosting ready. All these chores can feel overwhelming and suck your joy out of the most wonderful time of year. But don’t worry; COOPER Design Build is here to help!

Take it one task at a time, using our tips on getting ready for the holiday and how to prepare for guests. 

People love stuff: food, clothes, tools, decorations — you name it. Stuff helps us accomplish our goals. It gives us nourishment and safety. The sillier stuff makes us happy. But, it’s possible to have too much of a good thing. With only so much space in their home, many homeowners discover this truth for themselves. 

A beautiful home needs beautiful, comfortable furniture to complete the look. So, when COOPER Design Build works with a client on a whole home remodel, we help them achieve every aspect of their vision, from the layout to the lighting and, yes, the furniture. 

You look around your kitchen, and all you see are needed improvements. Scratched cabinets and floors require replacing, your faucets have water stains, and past-their-prime appliances rattle in protest every time they're in use. Whether you want to fix up your kitchen for your family — or future buyers — the number of possible kitchen upgrades is almost limitless. But the same isn't true for your wallet. So, you need to prioritize. 

Building an addition is one of the most significant home improvement projects you can undertake. Most of the time, you're adding everything new, from the walls and HVAC to the furniture and flooring. The good news is that big changes lead to big results. As such, you must ensure that everything about the addition supports your home and how you want to use it. Begin the process by considering why you want an addition to enlarge your home in the first place.

Modernizing a historic home is a delicate dance. You must strike a balance between bespoke period-accurate details and the design features that enable twenty-first-century living. We know because, in the Portland design and build industry, historic homes are everywhere. With patience, preservation, and practice, COOPER Design Build has learned the ins and outs of how to modernize an historic home's interior — view our historic homes portfolio pictures to see for yourself! Or keep reading for our tips on bringing your historic home into the modern-day. 

Outdoor living space is a luxury. It invites you to slow down, disconnect from the daily hustle, and tune into what matters — plus it adds to the size and value of your home. Many homeowners have already taken the first step and invested in an outdoor living space addition for these reasons. But what comes after that? 

Throughout life, what you need out of your home changes as you and your family grow. The problem is that your home doesn't change with you — at least not on its own. Only you, as the homeowner, have the power to update your home to fit your current and future needs. A remodel might do the job, but often reconfiguring your current space simply isn't enough; to achieve a home that truly meets your needs, you require more space.