25 Most Bookmarked Remodeling Guides of 2012
Seems like Houzzers couldn't get enough advice on renovating basements, kitchens, showers and even laundry rooms this year
Houzz Editorial Staff
Houzz Editorial Staff More »
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Remodeling has never been easy (just ask those who have lived through it), but preparing yourself as much as possible can help. Houzz readers wanted to learn about everything in 2012: from shower drains and shopping for materials to Japanese wood treatments and more than you'd ever think you could know about interior trim. These top 25 bookmarked remodeling stories on Houzz cover it all — take a look and see if you can get some insight for your next remodel.
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| 1. Homeowner's Workbook: How to Remodel Your Kitchen It's easy to know when you need (or want) to remodel your kitchen. The hard part is figuring out where to start. Houzz readers bookmarked this straightforward guide to a kitchen remodel, which steers through the process, including inspiration, planning and hiring a professional. |
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| 2. How to Choose the Best Drain for Your Shower Who would've thought choosing a shower drain could be so complicated? This ideabook helps Houzzers figure out what drain would work best for their family, house and shower needs. |
3. 10 Top Tips for Getting Bathroom Tile Right
Written for pros and novices alike, these tips encourage planning ahead of time and taking precautions to avoid mistakes. For homeowners not planning on doing their bathroom tiling themselves, this ideabook helped them communicate with a professional.
Written for pros and novices alike, these tips encourage planning ahead of time and taking precautions to avoid mistakes. For homeowners not planning on doing their bathroom tiling themselves, this ideabook helped them communicate with a professional.
by AMI Designs
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4. How to Size Interior Trim for a Finished Look
Trim is often subtle, unless it's done wrong. For Houzzers who love traditional, modern or contemporary looks, these guidelines offer trim recommendations and solutions for all home styles.
Trim is often subtle, unless it's done wrong. For Houzzers who love traditional, modern or contemporary looks, these guidelines offer trim recommendations and solutions for all home styles.
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by Janet Paik
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| 5. Contractor Tips: Top 10 Home Remodeling Dont's The to-do list on a home remodel can seem endless! But what not to do ends up being just as important. The first in our "Contractor's 100" series gives homeowners professional tips on how to sail smoothly through a remodel. |
6. Interior Trim: 8 Must-Know Elements
To the unfamiliar eye, trim all looks about the same. But this guide shows otherwise. Baseboards, chair rails, crown molding and window casings all get their shining moment in this ideabook.
To the unfamiliar eye, trim all looks about the same. But this guide shows otherwise. Baseboards, chair rails, crown molding and window casings all get their shining moment in this ideabook.
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| 7. 15 Ways to Design an Easy-Clean Home For those of us who spend an inhumane amount of time cleaning our homes, this guide came as a welcome surprise. Houzzers couldn't wait to learn about how to design with concrete, central vacuum systems, moveable furniture and other easy-clean ideas in mind. |
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by Meg Padgett
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| 8. Build a Beautiful Platform Deck in a Weekend This DIY breaks down building a simple deck for those Houzzers who don't even know where to start. Step-by-step instructions and smart tips (like making sure the best sides of your boards face up) made this worth bookmarking. |
9. Top 10 Tips for Choosing Shower Tile
Shower tile comes in as many variations as there are shower designs. Even if your budget and overall look are set, you may still find yourself overwhelmed. This shower tile guide takes shape, style, feel and cleaning needs into account, making the choice easier.
Shower tile comes in as many variations as there are shower designs. Even if your budget and overall look are set, you may still find yourself overwhelmed. This shower tile guide takes shape, style, feel and cleaning needs into account, making the choice easier.
by Amoroso Design
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10. Contractor Tips: Countertop Installation from Start to Finish
When it comes to countertops, choosing the material you want is just the beginning. This checklist helps make sure that everything goes smoothly, advising on things like putting in the sink first, accounting for overhangs and deciding on the right counter height.
When it comes to countertops, choosing the material you want is just the beginning. This checklist helps make sure that everything goes smoothly, advising on things like putting in the sink first, accounting for overhangs and deciding on the right counter height.
11. Contractor Tips: Wise Advice for Laundry Room Design
While laundry rooms used to be seen only in basements, they're now found on virtually any floor of new houses — which means they need to look better and be more efficient. This story covers all the basics, including adding storage, making sure your doors swing in the right direction and soundproofing the space.
While laundry rooms used to be seen only in basements, they're now found on virtually any floor of new houses — which means they need to look better and be more efficient. This story covers all the basics, including adding storage, making sure your doors swing in the right direction and soundproofing the space.
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| 12. How to Choose and Use Ecofriendly Kitchen Appliances Gone are the days when consumers scratched their heads at energy labels on appliances — today's homeowners are savvy and want the most bang for their buck in the long and short term. Choosing ecofriendly appliances — particularly in the kitchen — can help, which is why so many Houzz readers bookmarked this ideabook. |
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by Janet Paik
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| 13. Contractor Tips: How to Shop for Your Remodel Costs for materials end up accounting for almost half of a remodel's budget, so it's no surprise that homeowners try to cut down in this area where they can. In this second installment of our "Contractor's 100" series, Houzzers learn about where they should and shouldn't try to save money on materials. |
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| 14. How to Choose Tile for a Steam Shower Steam might feel soothing on your skin, but it's much more invasive and damaging to a shower than water. That makes choosing materials extra difficult. Tile size, material and layout for a steam showere are all discussed in this comprehensive ideabook. |
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| 15. 'Shou-Sugi-Ban' Is Setting the Siding World on Fire Translated as "the burning of Japanese cypress" (sugi), shou-sugi-ban is a process that chars the surface of exterior wood, creating a dark material that is actually extremely durable and maintenance free. This unique method is now making headway in parts of the world outside Japan — which made it worth noting to Houzz readers. |
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| 16. 3 Steps to Choosing Kitchen Finishes Wisely Houzz discussion boards are full of readers asking about the best way to coordinate their kitchen finishes. These tips — compiled from three Houzz kitchen professionals — help homeowners figure out what they should prioritize and how to make everything work together. |
17. How to Settle on a Shower Bench
Built in or freestanding, you want a shower bench that's comfortable, durable and safe. Choosing the right material — or the right model — is now easier, thanks to this ideabook.
Built in or freestanding, you want a shower bench that's comfortable, durable and safe. Choosing the right material — or the right model — is now easier, thanks to this ideabook.
18. How to Read a Floor Plan
Ever looked at an architect's or contractor's desk and seen nothing but a bunch of mumbo jumbo? This guide to reading floor plans could help you with your next remodel and make communication with your professionals go more smoothly.
Ever looked at an architect's or contractor's desk and seen nothing but a bunch of mumbo jumbo? This guide to reading floor plans could help you with your next remodel and make communication with your professionals go more smoothly.
19. Pro Finishing Secret: Aniline Dye for Wood
This professional tip for fixing up old wood furniture was another of Houzz readers' favorite remodeling ideabooks from 2012. Instead of using a stain, which treats only the surface, many professionals recommend using aniline dye, which soaks into the wood to create a layer of color.
This professional tip for fixing up old wood furniture was another of Houzz readers' favorite remodeling ideabooks from 2012. Instead of using a stain, which treats only the surface, many professionals recommend using aniline dye, which soaks into the wood to create a layer of color.
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| 20. 10 Tips for Renovating Your Basement Although they often end up as extra storage space, basements offer homeowners potentially valuable square footage — if they're used correctly. These 10 professional tips inspired Houzzers to get the ball rolling on a new, useful basement space. |
21. Doorless Showers Open a World of Possibilities
With doorless showers becoming more and more popular in bathrooms worldwide, this ideabook became a valuable addition to the Houzz remodeler's arsenal. Valuable tips for limiting spillage and splashes and how these showers are universal design friendly felt particularly relevant to readers.
With doorless showers becoming more and more popular in bathrooms worldwide, this ideabook became a valuable addition to the Houzz remodeler's arsenal. Valuable tips for limiting spillage and splashes and how these showers are universal design friendly felt particularly relevant to readers.
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| 22. Find the Right Oven Arrangement for Your Kitchen Today's oven arrangements go far beyond the traditional stovetop-above, oven-below combination. This ideabook helps make sense of the myriad combinations of wall ovens, warming drawers, double ovens and more. |
![modern kitchen by thirdstone inc. [^]](http://st.houzz.com/simgs/b011c19c0f0c7a30_4-7100/modern-kitchen.jpg)
by Living2Design
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23. Get What You Need From the House You Have
Sometimes a full remodel just isn't in the cards, no matter how badly you need or want it. Houzz readers appreciated how this ideabook encouraged them to make the most of their home with some simple and much more affordable adjustments.
Sometimes a full remodel just isn't in the cards, no matter how badly you need or want it. Houzz readers appreciated how this ideabook encouraged them to make the most of their home with some simple and much more affordable adjustments.
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by Wentworth, Inc.
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| 24. A Gloomy Basement Lightens Up This inspiring basement's before and after photos presented Houzzers with tips on how to turn a dark and damp basement into a pristine living space. While the structural work on this space was intense, a simple palette and an emphasis on strong materials resulted in a clean and durable design. |
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| 25. Contractor Tips: Finish Your Basement the Right Way Houzz readers clearly wanted to read about basements this year! This ideabook talks about all the basics and more from the contractor's point of view. Houzzers appreciated all of the tips, like talking to an insurance agent and taking important steps to prevent flood damage. |
Ideabook updated on Dec. 27, 2012.
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I want that top spot for next year.
All the best to the Houzz team for 2013. Thanks for building and growing the best online source for design information and inspiration.
Next year is going to be a great one.
Best,
John Whipple
By Any Design Ltd.
North Vancouver