I am so excited to get started on some refresh projects in the Missouri City area this month and wanted to explain what those projects entail and the motivation behind creating a construction program specific to the space that lives between a remodel and status quo.
This will be my tenth year in the construction industry (fingers crossed for diamonds and not tin or aluminum…ha!) and as such I’ve been privileged to cross paths with dynamic professionals from all trades, who have been willing to share their tips and insight along the way. Sometimes, the advice didn’t come until AFTER something went wrong, but in both construction and life, it’s true that experience is what you get when you didn’t get what you wanted. One such professional, Jennifer Hilton, is a fabulously talented (and immensely funny) interior designer and I give her full credit for the “refresh” concept. She is very much about working within your means and always finds a way to stay on budget – no small feat in the design industry or new construction in particular. She believes that simple changes can make a big impact and are within reach for most people. A fresh coat of paint, updating trim or moldings, adding cabinetry hardware, or switching out a light fixture are all part of her repertoire due to their price point, level of complexity, and the fact that they don’t leave much of a mess behind. Besides the refresh possibilities mentioned above, you may consider:
I’ve included photos below of similar projects but have found that the most meaningful ideas have come from those looking to improve their own space – the clients themselves. If you are thinking about a refresh of your own, please contact the Ashbury Construction Company today for a site visit and price. Good advice included at no charge.
0 Comments
It’s day two of extreme rain fall in Houston complete with flash flood warnings, school delays, closed interstate highways, and abandoned cars. I hope you’re safe and dry and if you hail from parts north of the Mason Dixon line, are likely glad all of this rain isn’t snow. With rain comes spring and thoughts of renewal, of a fresh start. This often turns to thoughts of what needs to be cleaned, fixed, or improved at home. If you need help to remedy your house because of flood damage, please contact us for a fast response and site visit. If your needs are (fortunately) more of an enhancement nature, we would love to assist with this as well.
Living in a production-built home has its benefits and I’m proud to call my digs home, but can we please talk about the paint? Lord. There’s a reason the model homes are decked out in beautiful colors – I don’t believe any builder could sell these homes if the buyers were greeted with builder beige. There’s an old joke that the standard color is “mix” – as in the builder mixed all of the leftover paint together – but the shade can be fairly overwhelming for many and is often the quickest and least expensive way to personalize your home and make a large impact. Standard builder-grade paint quality could be better, as evidenced by many nicks, scrapes, and chips. If you have young kids and/or pets, repainting with a higher-end product will make a world of difference. Often, the trim and ceiling colors aren’t the most desirable either but they too can be altered during a refresh for a major improvement. The Ashbury Construction Company can assist with your repainting project, whether it’s a simple room refresh or painting your entire home. We recommend quality paint from Sherwin Williams and can color-match any brand, including Farrow & Ball. I will tell you that the results aren’t perfect; I’ve compared a Benjamin Moore match versus the exact shade of their own paint and there was a difference, but it can work if you are willing to accept that it won’t be replicated absolutely. We are fully insured, licensed, and manage your project from start to finish. I’ll end with a photo of one of my all-time favorite paint jobs. The light, the shade, the application all came together to create a flawless finished product. The color is Bunny Gray 2124-50 by Benjamin Moore and it is perfection. If you’d like something like this in your home, please contact us now! Happy New Year! Here’s to a bright 2017 and the realization of your professional goals and personal wishes, no matter how grand they seem from where you’re standing. The start of the school year and the start of a new year are always incredibly inspiring for me and I’m both grateful and humbled for the opportunity to look back as well as the chance for yet another shot. Last year was tremendously challenging for many (myself included) and I feel seriously connected to anybody proclaiming this will be their year.
The last quarter of 2016 was busy and ended on a good note. We were privileged to have taken on a few smaller projects in Sienna Plantation and appreciate those clients reaching out and allowing us the opportunity to serve them. If you find yourself needing some work done at your home in the Houston area, we would love to be a part of it. Feel free to contact me directly via email or text/phone so that you can be counted among our growing legion of satisfied customers! I was hopeful that there might be time to build some shelving and cabinetry in my own living room but that wall must have grown between my imagination and the measuring tape – when I took the dimensions and realized it was nearly 13 feet long my vision of a quick and dirty project vanished. So the wall remains naked…for now. We’ve also been busy prepping a lot in the Quail Valley neighborhood of Missouri City for construction of a new home. It’s taking some time to get the plan just right – the lot backs on to a golf course and I want to ensure the spectacular view is showcased to death. Pretty sure the designer is tired of hearing about it, but I’ve rushed through plans before and regretted it. I’ve learned the hard way too many times how much faster, cheaper, and easier it is to make the changes on paper rather than on site. Once the design is finalized, I will share it here as well as on our upcoming projects page. As it is being built on spec (that is, without a buyer) it will likely be listed for sale on MLS fairly quickly as well. I will leave you with an image of the view I’m enjoying these days – my office. I have never had a space outside of my home or one entirely to myself and it feels incredibly luxurious. I’ve added this to this list of what I’m grateful for and know that it will contribute to continued success this year. |
AuthorJulie Monkhouse Archives
April 2020
Categories |