Annual Homes & Design Issue 2017

Small Updates Big Impact

Anna Baker, Stone Source Inc.

Replace Your Backsplash

Replacing your backsplash tile is the quickest way to update your kitchen. Backsplash tile design has changed over the past 10 years. We used to design focal points over stoves and sinks with lots of accent details and moldings. Today, we are doing cleaner looks with simple field tiles in a single pattern all around the kitchen. Sonoma Tilemakers has revamped their Stellar line with new, exciting shapes and patterns: hexagon, trapezoid, chevron, and fan. Walker Zanger has launched a new line of dimensional cement tiles called Kaza. The line features unique patterns with three dimensional surfaces. A backsplash can be replaced in a few days and dramatically changes the look of your kitchen.

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Kim Campbell, Chattanooga Closet Company

Update Your Entryway

Making small updates in your mudroom, entry hall, or utility room can make a big impact. Getting a nice bench to sit on while putting on and taking off shoes is helpful. Shoes can then be stored under the bench, either on the floor or in baskets. A great place for your coats and hats is a shelf with hooks below it. Additional hooks can be used for purses, backpacks, and dog leashes. A nice little table with a tray for sunglasses and keys is another nice touch, and don’t forget to add a mirror, so you can check how you look on the way out the door!

Matt Hullander, Hullco

Renovate the Exterior

According to Remodeling magazine’s Cost vs. Value Report, exterior renovations yield the highest return on investment (ROI). New siding installation, garage door replacement, and entry door replacement top the list. These improvements boast ROI ranging from 101% to over 150% in the Chattanooga area. Projects like adding a family room or master suite offer lower returns (as low as 50%) at resale. Less costly exterior renovations, like replacing an entry door, offer energy efficiency, added security, and curb appeal.

Janet Bischoff, Interior Design and Sales, The Lighting Gallery

Install New Lighting

Lighting is one of the most overlooked, yet important elements of a living space. Good lighting sets the tone and creates the atmosphere in a room. By varying the light sources with a new chandelier, vanity light, sconce, or portable lighting, the mood and ambiance of a space can be easily changed. Determine the use for a room or outdoor space and then apply the relevant lighting to guarantee it functions well and meets your needs. The right lighting can add new life to any room.

Kermit Purcell, Sun Catchers Blinds, Shades and Shutters

Replace Window Treatments

The window treatments you choose reflect your personal style and your lifestyle. Wood blinds and shutters have been classic window treatments for some time now. But if you really want to make an update that will make a big impact, you can try out the latest window treatments that are multi-functional and motorized – Silhouettes, Pirouettes, Duettes, Luminettes, and Sonettes have arrived. They are sleek, energy-efficient, and light-filtering. They even integrate with the new smart home technology. Draperies are not a thing of the past – they are simply sharing the window show from “the sidelines.” Side panel stationary draperies are framing the picture for your primary window coverings. Window shades provide a softer ambiance to your room and give you the opportunity to control the light that you love, share the view that you paid for, and spare your furnishings and floors that you care for – now all at the touch of a button.

Kristen Swanson, ASID, Industry Partner, Ferguson

Make Your Home Smart

Technology has become more prominent in our lives, not only at work but at home too. Did you know you can add a Wi-Fi system to your home, allowing you to control your lighting from a remote location? Refrigerators can now send a picture of their inside contents to your phone – while you’re grocery shopping – so you can see what you need to buy! Hands-free faucets in the kitchen offer convenience and cleanliness. Upgrading to a bidet seat in your master bathroom adds comfort and ease, as does a heated seat. Adding these technological updates will make a huge impact and enable you to enjoy your home even more.

Shana Cooper, East Chattanooga Lumber & Supply Co.

Update Your Door Hardware

An easy and economical way to give your home a shiny update is with new door hardware! Those old tarnished door knobs can really show a home’s age. By replacing your exterior and interior door hardware, you instantly update the style and shave years of age off your home’s appearance. Best of all, installation is simple so most homeowners can do it themselves in a weekend! There are a multitude of finishes available, so whether you want to keep your existing finish, or change it up to one you’ve recently fallen in love with, you can find just the right look for most any budget.

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