Deciding to do a home remodel is one of the biggest decisions you can make as a homeowner because of the commitment involved – of finances, time, energy, and disruption to your daily routine. Because of this, it’s essential that you are equipped with as much information as possible to make the right decision for you, your family, and your home. Below you’ll find information on common mistakes to avoid when remodeling your home, the difference between a design-build firm and a remodeling company, and misconceptions about the design-build remodeling process.

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.

The start of a new year is an opportunity to take a fresh look at your home and at your life. It’s the perfect time to let go of the past and embrace something new. In life, that might mean starting a sustainable routine or setting some new goals. And in your home, that means finding ways to update your interiors to those that better match your style. If you’re looking for some inspiration, keep reading for 2022 interior design trends, or check out our remodeling portfolio for visual references!

When you are ready to undertake a major remodel or addition to your Portland home, you will be faced with a choice of approaches to take: hire an architect or designer to draw up the plans, and then find a builder to execute them (design-bid-build); or contract with a design-build company, such as COOPER Design Build, which will provide full-service remodeling from design to completion of the job.

These are two competing approaches in the construction industry, and it’s important to understand the difference. If you have ever wondered, “What is design-build?” or you’d simply like to know the benefits of hiring a design-build company, we have plenty of answers for you.

What Is a Full-Service Design-BUILD COMPANY?

A full-service design-build company offers you the comfort and convenience of designating one team to handle your remodeling project, from start to finish. One of the major problems with the design-bid-build process is that the architect or designer is separated from the building team. It might seem like a great idea at first, especially if you’ve got a complicated plan in mind. But once the design is complete, you have to find a remodeling team willing and able to meet the terms of the design. It is harder than you might think, which is why construction is largely abandoning the design-bid-build approach.

When you hire a full-service design firm, your designer and building team are involved from the beginning. The designers can discover everything you want about the space and build a design that solves all your problems. With a design-build contract and your final approval, the company can start the construction process with no worries about delays or communication difficulties between different professionals.

To learn more about our approach to remodeling a home, download our eBook.

What IS The Ask Cooper Anything Q&A Series?

We asked our community to anonymously send us any questions they had regarding remodeling, interior design, or general home improvement. 

You may not have known that the beginning of the year would change your life in so many ways. With the passage of COVID-19 throughout the world, people everywhere are rethinking what it means to live, work, learn, and have fun. Your sanitation regimen will never be the same, and maybe that’s a good thing. If your home isn’t keeping up with these changing times, however, you might need to improve it to work with your new normal. Try out these home improvements that will help make your day easier now and continue to provide great value in the future.

Do you know that scene in Cinderella — the one where the Fairy Godmother taps her wand and turns Cindy’s dress from pink ruins to a perfect ballgown? With a capable designer and builder, that’s what a good remodel can be like: a transformation, the shedding of an old skin for something new and better suited for your life as it is now. In this case, we’re talking about a remodel designed to match your lifestyle and personal style. 

As you design a custom home for your family or a major remodel, it’s hard not to think about how the house will sell when it’s time to move on. But we think you should keep your own needs at the front of your mind, design a knockout house that fits your needs, and trust that the quality and attractiveness of the home that you build will appeal to buyers down the road.

In the same way that gardeners brighten the dark, rainy days of winter by poring over brightly colored seed catalogs, homeowners use this dreary time to plot their summer remodeling projects. When the rain starts tapering off in late spring, contractors in Portland get busy, so now is the time to get on the builders’ calendars.

Taking the plunge, so to speak, into remodeling the master bathroom in your Portland home? Make sure you’ve thought through these eight major considerations.