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Thinking About a Home Remodel? Here’s Where to Start
Begin by carefully considering what you think you want and how you can get it. Weigh your wish list against what you’ll probably pay to fulfill it.
Planning a Home Remodel
If you’re adding new rooms, making substantial changes to the existing floor plan, or dealing with complex structural or functional questions, you’ll need to hire professional design help. There are several design options and combinations of options.
How to Check Out Contractors
Some homeowners leave contractor vetting and selection to their architects or house designers, but most make the call themselves, and rightly so: It’s the most important step.
Buying Kitchen Cabinets
Cabinets and countertops are central to kitchen makeovers—and usually account for the biggest chunk of budgets. Here's advice on how to get the kitchen you crave for the least amount of hassle and money.
Trends in Cabinets & Countertops
You’ll probably redo your kitchen only every 10 to 20 years, so select cabinets and countertops that you love—with an eye toward finishes that stand the test of time. Here’s how to get a space you’ll enjoy for years.
Countertop Suppliers & Installers
When shopping for new countertops, shop for the best price to save. Consumers’ Checkbook's undercover shoppers found huge cost differences when they collected quotes from companies to supply and install countertops using the exact same design.
Tips for Planning Furniture Purchases
Start by plotting out various furnishing arrangements. Consider your budget, how you will use the furniture, and how long you expect to keep it.
Where to Buy Furniture
At some furniture stores, well-informed helpful staffers make shopping pleasant and guide you to good choices. They quote accurate delivery time frames, and your stuff arrives as promised and as expected. But subscribers send us many, many complaints about abysmal furniture-shopping experiences. Fortunately, you can avoid common pitfalls.
How to Get the Best Furniture Deals
Price comparisons are extraordinarily difficult for furniture. Many products are sold exclusively by a single chain or by only one or a few stores per region. But there are some strategies you can use to save on furniture purchases.
