How to design a functional walk-in closet

How many times have you stumbled into your closet in the morning agonizing over what to wear? With a well-planned and designed closet, your mornings will go a lot smoother.

When your closet is intuitive and easy to use, it’s less tempting to toss clothes onto a chair or leave them piled up in the laundry basket for days on end.

Think about clothing stores. New items are nicely organized and spread out under pleasing lighting. Sale items, however, are often stuffed into a small space in the corner, making it tricky to spot a nice piece of clothing or items that match. It’s the same in our home closets. When we organize with care, it’s easier to pull together a great outfit.

When you’re starting from a clean slate, follow these tips for designing a functional walk-in closet:

1. Hanging

Placing your clothes on hangers keeps them wrinkle free and makes them more visible and approachable. Consider hanging most of your clothes, except ones made from stretchy materials, which should be folded.

Make clothing rods adjustable to double the hanging space and divide hanging areas by sections that are each about three feet wide. For example, divide clothing by type (i.e. sweaters, shirts, and dresses), by how often you wear them, by color, or by any other way that makes sense to you.

Avoid wire hangers. They can damage clothes by causing irreversible stretch marks. Hangers are designed to mimic our shoulder line; wire hangers are just too thin.

Allow about 65% of your closet for high and double hanging.

TIP: Stackable hangers are great space savers!

2. Shelving

Above your hanging areas, add shelves for folded items. Fold all of your knitwear. If you have space, you can also fold casual clothes made from durable fabrics like jeans or corduroy.

Design shelving by the entrance to your closet. That gives the closet a more open and airy feeling. Shelving is great for large accessories like handbags or shoes. Slanted, open shelving makes it easier to select and put away shoes.

Make sure you have a good lighting source that lets you see inside shelves. We like to install three types of lighting in custom closets: ceiling lights for general lighting, a chandelier above an island (if a closet is large enough) for an ambient lighting, and strip LED lighting under each shelf as task lighting.

Allow about 25% of your closet for shelving.

TIP: Top shelves are great for seldom-used items like hats, luggage, or seasonal clothes.

3. Drawers

Drawers add a lot of cost to your custom closet and they take up space. If you’re on a budget or working with a small space, skip the drawers.

Otherwise, make them a focal point of your closet by placing them in the center or in a chest style in front of the entrance. Drawers are great for storing small accessories. Use dividers to keep your jewelry, scarves, or ties neatly organized.

Drawers will take up the remaining 10% of your closet space. If you decide to forgo drawers, divide that 10% between hanging and shelving space.

TIP:  Avoid drawers in closet corners; use hanging instead to eliminate dead spots.

What we learned from working with contractors

Houston’s floods the last few years have taught us a lot about best practices for new builds and renovations in our area. Unfortunately, the floods have also dredged up inexperienced and sometimes unscrupulous contractors and subcontractors who’ve taken advantage of people affected by the flooding.

Two years after Hurricane Harvey, complaints about contractors and builders are ongoing and have been well documented in the news. After the flooding, a lot of people saw new opportunities and jumped into the field regardless of their experience. As a result, we still meet heartbroken people that trusted their contractors or subcontractors and were shocked to be abandoned mid-project, get substandard work, or have contractors just take off with their money. It’s a situation that’s left a lot people out a good deal of money and with little trust now for contractors.

In Texas, a builder or a contractor doesn’t have to be a licensed professional. That makes it hard to prevent unprofessional contractors from continuing to work, even after they’ve wronged multiple clients. It’s as easy as changing their phone number or their business name, and soon another client will be in the same unfortunate situation.

Of course, nobody can trust in anyone 100%, and there are force major events—ones that are just unforeseeable. But, by being careful and looking for a trusted contractor or builder with experience, you can help avoid getting taken advantage of.

We know first-hand how stressful the building or remodeling process can be, with its array of decisions and the big costs involved. Choosing a responsible and a reliable contractor or builder will make the process much smoother and less stressful.

We went through the process of picking sub-contractors for our business and we learned lessons that can also be applied to choosing a great contractor or builder. As you embark on your project, consider the following:

1. Get a referral. References are crucial when looking for a contractor. A beautiful website and number of years in the business aren’t enough. Your decision can’t be built solely on these factors, especially when faced with charismatic salesmen who often have great negotiating skills. Best of all is a reference from someone you know—a friend, family member, or a neighbor. When that’s not possible, check reviews. Don’t just skim to see how many positive and negative ones there are, read the full reviews. Also, unfortunately in today’s day and age, fake reviews are common. Businesses can even buy fake reviews. Be wary of reviews with tons of grammatical mistakes—many fake reviewers are based on foreign countries—and a sudden addition of positive reviews.

2. Be smart about payments. We learned that when a subcontractor asks for money for materials, unless you know them very well, offer to buy the materials yourself or pay the subcontractor when they deliver the materials to your property. This lesson can be applied to choosing a contractor as well. Know that if you’re a new client, an experienced and responsible contractor won’t ask you for a down payment on your first project. You should be able to pay the first installment once they’ve completed a portion of the work.

3. Make sure progress matches money paid. As your project progresses, try to make sure your level of payment and the level of progress your contractor has made is about equal. As the contractor invoices you, make sure invoices are for work completed. If part of the project is only halfway done, you should only pay for half.

4. Wait for the final payment. As you reach the 80% mark on payments, your contractor will have covered all of their costs. To complete the project, they should remain incentivized, so only make the next and final payment at project completion.

5. Push for a solid contract. A successful project starts with a detailed contract. It will help you avoid any misunderstandings as your project gets underway. Most contracts cost more to litigate than the cost of building or renovating, so in most cases it doesn’t make sense to hire a lawyer to draft one. Instead, work with your contractor to create a clear document outlining both of your obligations. Describe your project’s scope, payments and termination terms in detail.

We’ve found that subcontractors who are proud of their job are keepers. That also applies to contractors. Find one who takes pride in their work and you’ll be well on your way to having an enjoyable homebuilding experience.

How a Specs Document Can Transform Your Home Build or Remodeling Experience

Here’s another way to save time and money on your custom home build or renovation project—make sure you have a detailed and thorough “specs” document in place.

All construction projects, no matter how complex, should have this document. It’s also known as a project specification document, and it’s something you’ll have in addition to your architectural and engineering plans.

Specs describe in detail your preferences and everything you’ve asked your contractor and subcontractors to do as you build your custom home or renovate a smaller space. For example, a spec for bathroom plumbing fixtures could include information on the exact sink type and color and details on where the sink should be placed.

Good written specs can save you time and money. They can also help keep you calm throughout the construction process by making it less likely you’ll have to make changes to your project or quick, last-minute decisions. With everything laid out, it’s easier to understand the scope of work and make sure you get exactly what you asked for—the right paint color in the right place, the right type of trim, or crown molding exactly where you want it.

Specs also:

·      facilitate communication between everyone involved in construction. For example, between the trim carpenter and painter regarding stain or paint grade wood and finishing.

·      help you more accurately budget for your project

·      help prevent expensive change orders, or last minute project modifications

Any project, no matter its size, should have written specs. It’s a document you should thoroughly review before the work gets started.

For larger, more complex projects, you’ll need the help of an architect or designer to create a specs document—the vast amount of details demand an experienced eye. For smaller projects like a bathroom makeover, however, you can write your own specs, especially if you know the exact materials and finishes you want.

If you’re doing a bathroom makeover, to start, have a contractor look at your tile choices and ask about the installation process. What additional materials will the project need? Then, you’ll be able to research the material options and choose the best one for your project. There’s nothing more frustrating than having to make a hasty decision about materials. We often regret those quick, uninformed decisions.

Sometimes, the sheer amount of product options can make the design stage of a home build or renovation feel overwhelming. A designer can help you whittle down the options so you can make a smart decision based on your style and budget. Ask a designer for help if you’re feeling the pressure of too many choices.

At Arieli, for every project we work on, we prepare specs before we get started so we can be on budget and in line with our clients’ expectations. Our clients have found it makes for a happier home building process. Contact us to learn more.

Is all white paint right for your space?

You want to paint your walls white, but you’re afraid—of scratches, of dirt, of fingerprints. Kids’ grubby hands and pets running amok make you think that maintaining white walls will be a total nightmare.

But that's not necessarily true. White walls can be a great design choice and they’re relatively easy to maintain. Here are a few things to keep in mind when you’re mulling over whether to use white paint in your space.

White walls give your home a fresh, clean and modern feel. When your walls are a blank slate, other parts of your décor can really pop out—your rich architectural details, artwork, a special piece of furniture, or even a beautiful rug.

White paint also makes your ceilings appear higher and your space look bigger overall, especially if your trim and your ceiling are also painted the same shade of white. Not having sharp horizontal lines tricks the mind by extending your view.

White walls might even be the trick to sleeping better at night. The Better Sleep Council says that while vibrant colors might be appealing, they don’t help with relaxation. Neutrals, like white, can help you wind down because your space feels calmer.

When you’re deciding whether or not to go white, you’ll want to consider your climate. That’s because the outside environment affects how your interior walls look. A climate with a lot of sunny days makes white walls feel warm. But white walls can feel cold in chilly and snowy climates with frequent grey skies.

Also important is how much natural light your home gets. If you have large windows on the southwest side of your home, you’re probably getting a lot of natural light. That warms your space and makes white walls look soothing and serene. On the other hand, if you’re turning on lights every time you enter a room, it’s better to steer clear of white.

So, what do you do when the inevitable happens and your white walls get smudged or scratched? Don’t fret. Stains on white walls can be easily cleaned using a Magic Eraser sponge. Or, you can retouch the paint in minutes with a little extra paint.

White paint shows patches less than any other color, especially when you’re using a flat finish, so you don’t have to worry about your beautiful white walls ever looking splotchy. If you’ve been leaning toward white, take the plunge!

The hardest part? It will be choosing from the hundreds of shades of white paint out there. To best see the nuances—white paints come with blueish, reddish, yellowish and even greenish undertones—take a trip to your local paint shop.

Designing your dream kitchen? Make room for a second dishwasher. Here’s why.

It wasn’t long ago—the 1960s—when most homeowners washed their dishes by hand and dreamed of owning just one dishwasher. Since then, dishwashers have become more affordable, and also more technologically advanced.

Recently, more and more homeowners have opted to install a second dishwasher, a move that’s making life more convenient, and cleaner. Adding a second dishwasher can also add value to your home. Even if you’re planning to stay in your custom build for years, installing a second dishwasher can help with resale down the road.

So, what are the benefits? Imagine this. Your dishwasher’s clean, your sink is full of dirty dishes, and you have company coming over in an hour. You’re prepping hors d'oeuvres and tidying up and you’re dreading having to put away clean dishes. With a second dishwasher, it’s easy to hide the mess. You can let the clean dishes be and load the second dish washer with the dirty dishes. It makes kitchen clean up seamless.

A second dishwasher is also a great amenity for families with kids who know how dirty dishes can multiply. If your kids are young, they may not be using many dishes. However, they’ll be teenagers before you know it, and teenage get-to-togethers can produce a lot of dirty dishes. With a second dishwasher, you’ll always have room for family and friends to take care of their own dirty plates. There’s no room for excuses.

Second dishwashers come in handy as well if your dishwasher breaks—you’ll always have a backup and you won’t waste time washing dishes by hand. Many people with second dishwashers choose to put their plates, bowls and utensils in one machine, and their pots and food prep containers in the other.

People who keep kosher use one dishwasher for dishes that have touched meat and the other for ones that touch dairy. Other homeowners use both dishwashers for dishes. They use clean dishes out of one instead of taking the time to put them away, and loading dirties into the other.

Two dishwashers make an excellent addition to an open floor plan where family and friends frequently gather. Two machines keep the heavily trafficked space always looking neat and clean.

When it comes to design, you have options. You might install one full-sized dishwasher and one dish drawer. Or, you could opt for two full dishwashers. Some people choose to purchase one less expensive dishwasher and splurge on a second with more bells and whistles. You’ll also want to think about location. Many homeowners like to have their dishwashers flank the kitchen sink. Others separate them based on work zones.

At Arieli, we can easily help you fit two dishwashers into your kitchen design based on your unique needs. Contact us to learn more.

Open floor plans upend kitchen design and styling

Open floor plans first became popular in the 1990s, and they’re still going strong. With both new builds and remodels, most people still opt for an open floor plan.

At the center of it all, the kitchen has long been a place where friends and family members gather. Open floor plans have made that even more true. A contemporary kitchen offers homeowners much more than simply an area to prep and cook. As part of an open floor plan, a kitchen can include a home office space, a place for the kids to do their homework, device charging stations, a casual dining area, a coffee center, a bar, or even a second working kitchen in a scullery.

As the kitchen becomes even more of a hub, its materials and colors have spread beyond the butcher block and into a home’s broader living space. This change helps unite the look and feel of your entire living space. One example of this blending effect is with cabinetry.

A popular design trend is to unify cabinets throughout your open space with custom-made cabinetry. More and more, appliances are being built in, or integrated, into cabinets, giving the room a seamless, sleek look. For example, an undercounter beverage and wine chiller can be built in to an island. Kitchen cabinets carry into your living area, where you can use the same materials you're your entertainment units and bookshelves.

In addition to cabinetry, we’re also seeing changes in flooring choices for open floor plans. Using just one flooring material in your entire open space makes the area look even bigger than it actually is. Wide plank hardwood flooring or oversized tiles reduce seams and help make a larger room feel overall more balanced and proportionate.

Best Neighborhoods in Houston: Why buy now in Meyerland and Bellaire?

For many years, the lofty prices of older homes in Meyerland and Bellaire have been a barrier for people interested in building new homes in the area.

But that’s all changed in recent years. In 2015, 2016 and 2018, Meyerland and Bellaire were hit by three major floods, leaving many homes for sale at lot value. At the same time, the Harris County Flood District has embarked on an aggressive infrastructure project to protect the area from future flood damage. 

With the risk of future flooding low, residents have been rebuilding or raising their homes. For people looking to sell their damaged homes, it’s often at a discount. As new construction ramps up in the area, home values will inevitably rise—and drastically—with demand increasing due to the limited supply of available lots. Now is a rare opportunity to invest in one of Houston’s most desirable neighborhoods at a fraction of the cost. 

Over the next several years, the neighborhoods will continue to evolve. As more and more young families move in to take advantage of the area’s top-notch schools, you’ll see more children riding their bikes through streets and playing in cul-de-sacs. Meyerland and Bellaire will continue to thrive, as families from Houston and beyond flock to the safe, central and diverse communities.