Summer is for more than grilling, hitting the beach, and hiking. Summer makes a great time for home improvements and renovations.
First, there are a lot of things about summer that make it a great time of year for scheduling your projects.
Make Mother Nature a Friend
When cooler temps and inclement weather aren’t as likely, like in the summertime, homeowners can open doors and windows to air out the home of dust and paint fumes during construction.
Pleasant weather also means an outdoor grill and table can ease temporary kitchen disruptions, while a picnic at the park or beach can be a welcome distraction from the project as well.
Days are longer during the summer, which means more natural light to work in. This can be especially important when picking colors, paints, and finishes for the project.
Time is On Your Side
Summer also tends to be a time when homeowner schedules are more flexible. While flexible doesn’t necessarily mean less busy—not with summer weddings, social events, and other family commitments—it can mean you are more able to meet with builders, designers, suppliers, and visit showrooms when you want or need to. After all, the kids are out of school, which means there are scarce school-related evening or weekend activities demanding your time.
Many families also take vacations during the summer. That leaves the home empty—often for a week or more, which can be a perfect time for renovations. Just get things started with your contractor before you leave and when you get back your new kitchen (or other space) may be done or close to it.
There are also fewer family holidays to contend with during the summer months. This means builders and homeowners can work toward completion without stressing over deadlines due to family commitments and celebrations like those related to the major fall and winter holidays.
Second, now that we’ve established summer as a great time to schedule projects and renovations, summer can also be a great time to find inspiration for the project.
Natural Inspiration
When you’re seeking some design inspiration, often thinking about the season you’re in can help let loose your creative muse. Imagine your best summer day. What do you see? Chances are your mind’s eye conjures bright colors, natural lighting, and carefree, pleasing patterns.
Granted, you’ll want a design to work in any season, but summer thoughts can help you imagine ways to add warmth and natural light to your space.
That said, here are a few summertime projects you might consider to add some summertime wow to your home.
Accent Lighting
Pendant lights serve multiple purposes in the home. They come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. They can be single or grouped (usually in triplets) and, depending on the material and how they’ve been crafted, they can give rooms an industrial look or a sleek and modern feel. They’re also great for adding eye-pleasing accents to a space, especially in rooms with high ceilings.
Backsplashes and Countertops with Pizzazz
One way to give your kitchen a pop of much-needed color is to replace worn or neutral backsplashes with mosaics and patterns that add warmth and a bit of spark to otherwise lackluster palettes. Going a step further, today’s best countertops come in a variety of colors and patterns, ranging from those that reflect natural light to those that add some much-needed color.
Range Hood
The kitchen range hood is one of those kitchen design opportunities that is often overlooked. While a classy stainless-steel finish is often hard to beat, range hoods that feature patterns and metallic finishes are easy ways to add design flair to a kitchen that ties in to other decorative elements.
Dedicated Wet Bar and Beverage Station
Imagine how a wet bar could boost your summertime entertaining factor, especially if its location could accommodate both guests indoors and out—your very own waystation between the patio and living area! Just add a sink, a mini-fridge, and/or a wine organizer with room for glasses and accessories, and you’ll be entertaining in style in no time.
Coffee and Tea Station
With summer’s early mornings, you and your guests are bound to be up earlier in the day than you are at other times of the year. A dedicated coffee and tea station, as a natural adjunct to your kitchen or living area, is a great way to create a nook that caters to early risers. Add custom cabinetry for shelving or an appliance garage that conveniently stores your coffee or espresso maker, and you’ll have a space for prepping morning beverages and after dinner coffees that’s the envy of all your guests.
Custom Cabinetry
Whether it’s in the kitchen, the living room, garage, laundry room, bathroom, your home office, or practically any space in your home, custom cabinets can add distinctive look and design opportunities as well as important functionality. Off-the-shelf cabinets just don’t compare to how custom cabinets can be adapted to match the colors, finishes, and overall look and feel of your home’s aesthetic—not to mention be built to fit specific storage needs for practically any room in the house.
Kitchen Island or Outdoor Patio Rattan Seating
Bring a little sign of summer into your home (or at least onto the patio) by adding summer-themed seating, such as rattan chairs. Perfect for island-themed décor, outdoor seating can even be brought inside when the weather turns cool.
Add Some Color
A new coat of paint is one of the fastest and easiest ways to add color and a new look to your living areas. New colors can also boost your mood. Inside or out, turn neutral whites or grays into something with a little more pop—or add a bit of wallpaper with a floral pattern that matches your favorite summer flowers.
We’re Here to Help
For all your kitchen, bathroom and other custom cabinetry design projects, Holland’s Custom Cabinets is here to help. We have years of expertise and insight to share for new home construction, remodeling, and renovation projects of all types and sizes. For more information, contact us today for a quote or to discuss your project.
