A recent analysis by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) sheds light on who holds the most sway in selecting building products within the construction and remodeling sectors. On average, 60% of builders report having the most influence over product choices across 24 categories, while 49% of remodelers claim the same. Both groups indicate that subcontractors, dealers, suppliers, and architects have similar levels of influence. However, customers play a more significant role in remodeling projects, with 26% of remodelers acknowledging customer input as the primary influence, compared to 16%…
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Continued Gains Projected for Remodeling Amid Economic Uncertainty
The Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies’ latest Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity (LIRA), released on April 17, 2025, projects a 2.5% year-over-year increase in homeowner spending on renovations and repairs, reaching a record $526 billion by the first quarter of 2026. This modest growth follows a period of decline after the pandemic’s peak expenditures, with recent upticks in existing home sales contributing to the anticipated steady rise in remodeling activities. Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies Despite supportive factors like high home values and strong economic indicators bolstering homeowner…
Read MoreRemodel of the Week: Stunning Whole-House Renovation in Middleburg, Va.
BOWA’s recent whole-house renovation in Middleburg, Virginia, exemplifies a transformative approach to modernizing a dated property while preserving its original footprint. The homeowners, recognizing the need for extensive updates, collaborated with BOWA and Studio 360 to reimagine the space. Key enhancements included reconfiguring walls to improve flow and natural light, replacing all doors and windows, and refreshing wood flooring throughout the home. The kitchen was expanded with a bump-out and a new service station featuring a wine cooler, while the first-floor powder room was relocated for better accessibility. Additional touches,…
Read More2025 Remodeling Impact Report Highlights Homeowner Satisfaction and Cost Recovery
The 2025 Remodeling Impact Report, released by the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) and the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI), reveals that homeowners derive the most satisfaction from adding a primary bedroom suite, upgrading the kitchen, and installing new roofing—each earning a perfect Joy Score of 10. In terms of cost recovery, replacing a steel front door offers the highest return at 100%, followed by closet renovations at 83% and new fiberglass front doors at 80%. These findings underscore the value homeowners place on both personal enjoyment and…
Read MoreTop Remodeling Projects for Homeowner Satisfaction and Cost Recovery
The 2025 Remodeling Impact Report by the National Association of Realtors® and the National Association of the Remodeling Industry highlights that homeowners derive the most satisfaction from projects like adding a primary bedroom suite, upgrading the kitchen, and installing new roofing, each earning a perfect Joy Score of 10. In terms of cost recovery, replacing a steel front door offers the highest return at 100%, followed by closet renovations at 83% and new fiberglass front doors at 80%. While personal satisfaction drives many remodeling decisions, Realtors® often recommend projects such…
Read MoreRenovated Neglected Home Turns Into Coastal California Dream
Anders Lasater, owner of Anders Lasater Architects, and Sandra Vila, owner of Sandra Vila Design, saw one man’s neglected 1960s hillside home as a treasure to be restored. This breathtaking oceanfront property defies expectations and exists as a testament to what can happen when creative limitations spark extraordinary design. “This house is special because it shouldn’t exist,” says Lasater. “By all rules, it ought not to be there anymore, but we were able to transform this little ’60s cracker box tract house into the beautiful estate it is today.” According to Iconic Life, The…
Read MoreMidtown Memphis Remodel Rebuilds the Dream
In Memphis, Tennessee, a Midtown family sought a remodel after having lived in their 1912 home for about 20 years. With lives, functionality and ability changed, as well as children leaving the nest, the dwelling’s limitations became clear. And rather than seeking out a new place to call homes, the family thought it best to pursue a renovation of their current residence. “The kitchen was very small,” say the homeowners (who asked to remain anonymous). “We really didn’t have much of a family room, but a very small area where…
Read MoreInnovative Solutions Transform a Dated Farmhouse Kitchen in Recent Renovation
According to Apartment Therapy, If there’s one piece of advice homeowners provide time and time again for major kitchen renovations, it’s to plan for extra: extra time, extra materials, and, of course, extra budget needed to finish the project. That rang true in Rebecca Reece’s kitchen transformation. When she and her family were planning their kitchen reno, they had only seen photos of the space and didn’t realize exactly how much work it would take to give the kitchen a new lease on life. “Have a very big buffer pot!” Rebecca…
Read MoreComplete Overhaul of Urban Los Angeles Home Incorporates Playful Design
California design studio ByBen took up a remodling project of a Los Angeles home weathered with quite a bit of wear dating back to the 1920s. The ByBen team, spearheaded by architect Ben Warwas, worked to reimagine the 1,220-square-foot property, focusing on elevating the interior and increasing the sense of space and light, as well as reworking the exterior landscaping. According to the project page on ByBen’s website, The Bagel House is a full house renovation in the Glassel Park neighborhood of Los Angeles. This project keeps the over all programmatic…
Read MoreSeattle Home Transformed From Compact to an Open Floorplan With Functional Design
This Seattle, Washington home, whose project name became The Black Sheep Remodel when Seattle-based design studio SHED Architecture and Design took on the challenge, dates back to 1921. The clapboard bungalow was originally designed to house the area’s burgeoning workforce, equipped with a compact, rectangular floorplan broken up into smaller rooms that aren’t conducive to today’s modern living. SHED undertook the project to integrate the home’s 2,380 square feet of living spaces to establish an open-flow interior while also overhauling the property’s exterior to create a visual connection from the…
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