Adjustments for Aging in Place Home Design

If you’re like most homeowners, you’ve not only made your house a home by adding furniture, colors, and décor, but you’ve also filled the space with memories. 

A house truly becomes a home when we can picture ourselves staying long term. Whether you’ve built your home from the ground up, or bought your dream home and are remodeling, there are a few changes you can implement to keep your home safe and accessible as you age.

According to Susan Wright from the AIA New York Chapter Design for Aging Committee, “subtle design choices can have a profound impact on how long you can comfortably live in your own home, without compromising your aesthetic aims.”

Adding these small changes sooner will not only save you time and money in the long run, but it will allow you and your partner to stay in your home longer, which has been proven to help seniors have greater health and happiness outcomes.

Read the full article about adding aging in place elements to your design with a home remodeling company on our website!

How can Alpha Design + Build Help with Aging in Place?

Our professional designers are passionate about what they do. We’ll help you imagine new ways to live in and love your space! If you’re an empty-nester, we can help you consider aging-in-place principles when renovating that will not only look great, but make your life easier.

Our design team has the knowledge and expertise to help you, and our project managers, carpenters, and tradesmen have the skills to get the job done. At Alpha Design + Build, we believe that a properly designed project is less expensive, completed more quickly, and has fewer cost overruns than a project done “on the fly”. Our process puts you first!

Contact us today to set up a consultation, and start creating your dream home.

Design Tips for Aging in Place

Do you live in your dream home?

Do you dream of living there well into your golden years, or passing it down to a family member?

Staying in your home as you age is a possibility when you make design changes to make your home a safe and secure place as you get older.

According to Susan Wright from the AIA New York Chapter Design for Aging Committee, “subtle design choices can have a profound impact on how long you can comfortably live in your own home, without compromising your aesthetic aims.”

Adding these small changes sooner will not only save you time and money in the long run, but it will allow you and your partner to stay in your home longer, which has been proven to help seniors have greater health and happiness outcomes.

Aging-in-Place Remodeling Checklist

First – don’t panic at the idea of making your home accessible! Accessibility can also be aesthetically pleasing, and many of these upgrades won’t be obvious to your guests.

First, for the overall floor plan:

•    Consider making your main living space on a single story, including a full bath
•    Get rid of any steps between rooms/areas on the main level
•    Hallways should be wide and well-lit
•    Add plenty of windows for natural light, but make sure they have easy to operate hardware

Read the full article about hiring a home remodeling company in Ann Arbor to help with aging-in-place on our website!

How can a Home Remodeling Company in Ann Arbor Help with Aging in Place?

Our professional designers are passionate about what they do. We’ll help you imagine new ways to live in and love your space! If you’re an empty-nester, we can help you consider aging-in-place principles when renovating that will not only look great, but make your life easier.

Our design team has the knowledge and expertise to help you, and our project managers, carpenters, and tradesmen have the skills to get the job done. At Alpha Design + Build, we believe that a properly designed project is less expensive, completed more quickly, and has fewer cost overruns than a project done “on the fly”. Our process puts you first!

Contact us today to set up a consultation, and start creating your dream home.

Don’t Overlook Kitchen Cabinet Fittings!

Almost done designing your dream kitchen? 

Double check that you haven’t forgotten to decide on fittings!

You may think a door handle is just a door handle, but handles and other small pieces of hardware can add a unique feel to your cabinets.

When choosing a door handle or cabinet knob, consider:

• Color
• Design
• Finish
• Materials

For example, a modern cabinet with an old-school handle can help bring your kitchen into a transitional design rather than traditional, while classic wooden drawers with modern touch-to-open hardware can help bring a traditional design into more modern territory without seeming out of place.

Kitchen Design from the Experts

Feeling overwhelmed? That’s where Alpha comes in. We have the experts to offer you an extra pair of eyes and help you make the right choice for your space.

Read the full article about kitchen design on our website and contact us today to get started! 

We have the knowledge and access to bring a world of exciting materials and fixtures to your door while helping you stick to a budget. Whether your kitchen simply needs a new look, or you want to tear the walls down and start over, our interior designers can bring beauty and functionality into this key space. Contact us today!

How to Choose the Right Cabinet Doors

Trying to decide among hundreds of cabinet door styles?

Can’t make up your mind about which style is right for you?

Cabinet doors immediately tells onlookers what style of kitchen this is and can draw the eye. 

Cabinet doors can stand out and be the main feature, or be downplayed, depending on your overall design style.

So, how do you choose? All the options available can make this process overwhelming.

First, decide on a design style:

• Traditional
• Modern
• Minimal

Then, decide on finishes and colors. Do you like white, black, or wood cabinets? Do you want a solid slab door, a recessed square door, or a raised arch door? Materials and finishes should match your overall style, so consider how they’ll pair with your other materials like the countertop and appliances.

Need more help? Read the full article about kitchen design on our website!

Kitchens Built on Great Design

A great kitchen design begins with a great plan, and we have the knowledge and access to bring a world of exciting materials and fixtures to your door while helping you stick to a budget. Whether your kitchen simply needs a new look, or you want to tear the walls down and start over, our interior designers can bring beauty and functionality into this key space. Maybe you're looking for low-maintenance flooring, upgraded countertops, or built-ins for added space. Many problems can be solved with the help of a new set of expert eyes.

Contact us today to get started!

How to Sustainably Remodel Your Home

With increasing concerns around our impact on the environment, many considering home remodeling are looking for ways to not only reduce their carbon footprint, but also make their home more energy efficient.
 

1. Start small: Try to begin with little improvements. Installing energy-efficient appliances and implementing solar technology can increase your home’s sustainability while lowering electric and heating bills.
2. Use light colors: White or off-white walls make lighting more effective and reduce the amount of time lights need to be on. (A residual benefit is that lighter walls can improve your mood when compared to darker walls!)
3. Conserving water in the bathroom: Low-flow sinks and showers are a more sustainable option to go with when remodeling a bathroom. Installing dual-flush mechanism toilets are another way to save water.
4. Re-use and refresh: Repurposing items to reduce waste and increase longevity can be very useful if you are willing to get a bit creative. Home features like cabinets, molding, and light fixtures can take on new roles when remodeling.

Read more on our website!

Our team understands the importance of sustainability in the home remodeling process, and has the experience necessary to guide you along the way in creating a more energy efficient home. Here at Alpha Design + Build, we want to put you first, and will do everything we can to meet your sustainability goals. Contact us today to meet with a designer and take your first steps in environmentally focused remodeling.

Feng Shui Principles for Home Design

What exactly is Feng Shui?

Feng Shui is the historic Chinese process of arranging objects and space in a place with the goal of creating harmony and balance. Achieving proper Feng Shui in a home can revitalize the property and completely change the experience of living there.

When it comes to home remodeling, this can seem like a confusing principle to apply but following these tips will make you an expert in no time:

1. Emphasize natural light: Having well lit rooms and entryways is important for things like mood and energy, but bringing in natural light is even better.
2. Bring in plants: Adding green life to any room immediately improves the energy in a room as well as the air quality.
3. Face beds and desks towards doorways: By always facing a doorway, you are able to be in a more commanding and powerful position. Facing away from doorways leaves more room for vulnerability and unpredictability.
4. Keep rooms clear of clutter: Clean, organized rooms allow for easy, organized thinking. Messiness in general can decrease the Feng Shui of a room, as it can translate to clutter in your head.

Read more about Feng Shui on our website!

Remodeling can be a long process, and it’s easy to keep changing things in your home. With that being said, it’s important to keep in mind what you are trying to accomplish. This could be a more open floor plan, or more entertainment space, or even just a brighter home. With a goal in place, you will be able to improve what matters the most.

Contact us today to talk to our team of designers so you can achieve Feng Shui in your house.

Tubs vs. Showers: Pros and Cons

Trying to decide between a tub or a shower for your bathroom remodel? 

A big deciding factor that will impact the overall look and layout of your bathroom (and your budget) is the choice between installing a tub or shower only. 

Having a hard time making the decision?

Both offer a variety of styles, both come in multiple materials, and both offer therapeutic water flow options. So how do you choose?

1. Is budget a big factor? If so, tubs are often cheaper to install.
2. Worried about space? A standard walk-in shower or stall takes up only nine square feet on average.
3. Tubs are still a big part of resale value. 51% of homebuyers are opposed to a master bathroom with only a shower, according to the National Association of Home Builders.

Need more help deciding what to do? Read the full article on our website!

Bathrooms designed for lasting use and aesthetic delight

You begin your busy day and wind down at bedtime in this often-neglected room. A well-designed bathroom that is comfortable for users of many sizes and abilities can also be the loveliest bath on the block.

Whether you're dreaming of a luxurious, spa-inspired master bedroom retreat or a simple main-level powder room, our interior designers will take the same personal and thoughtful approach, considering functional needs and universal design as well as aesthetic appeal. Contact us today to get started!