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Top Remodeling Tips for Cape Cod Homes 2024

Posted by REEF Builders on Tue, Mar 12, 2024

Discover the top remodeling tips to enhance the charm and functionality of your Cape Cod home.

Preserving the Cape Cod Aesthetic

Preserving the Cape Cod aesthetic is essential when remodeling your coastal home. Cape Cod homes are known for their charming and timeless design, so it's important to maintain that classic look. One way to do this is by preserving the traditional exterior features such as the cedar shingle siding, white trim, and pitched roofs. Consider repainting the exterior in classic Cape Cod colors like soft grays or blues.

DSC00226_27_28_29_30

Another important aspect of preserving the Cape Cod aesthetic is maintaining the interior design. Stick to a light and airy color palette with shades of white and pastels. Incorporate classic Cape Cod elements such as shiplap paneling, wainscoting, and exposed wooden beams. These architectural details will help to capture the authentic Cape Cod charm in your home.

Cape Cod Front Door, REEF Builders

Maximizing Natural Light

Cape Cod homes are characterized by their bright and sunny interiors, so maximizing natural light is crucial. Start by ensuring that your windows are clean and unobstructed to allow as much sunlight as possible. Consider installing larger windows or adding skylights to bring in even more natural light.

Another way to maximize natural light is by using light-colored window treatments that allow sunlight to filter through. Opt for sheer curtains or blinds that can be easily opened during the day. Additionally, strategically placing mirrors throughout your home can help to reflect and amplify natural light, making the space feel brighter and more open.

Water view by REEF Builders cape cod

Utilizing Nautical-Inspired Décor

To enhance the coastal charm of your Cape Cod home, consider utilizing nautical-inspired décor. Incorporate elements such as seashells, driftwood, and rope accents to bring a touch of the beach indoors. Incorporate  artwork featuring sailboats, lighthouses, or coastal landscapes to add a maritime feel to your walls.

When selecting furniture and accessories, opt for pieces that have a coastal or nautical theme. Look for clean, classic patterned textiles, wicker furniture, and weathered wood finishes. These design choices will help to create a cohesive and beachy atmosphere in your Cape Cod home.

REEF Builders Custom Bathroom

Creating Outdoor Living Spaces

One of the highlights of living in a coastal area like Cape Cod is the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors. Create inviting outdoor living spaces that allow you to make the most of the beautiful surroundings. Consider adding a spacious deck or patio where you can relax, entertain guests, and enjoy al fresco dining.

To make your outdoor living spaces even more enjoyable, incorporate comfortable seating options such as lounge chairs, outdoor sofas, and dining sets. Add shade with umbrellas or pergolas to provide relief from the sun on hot summer days. Don't forget to include outdoor lighting to extend the usability of your outdoor spaces into the evening.

Incorporating Modern Amenities

While preserving the Cape Cod aesthetic is important, it's also essential to incorporate modern amenities that enhance the functionality of your home. Consider upgrading your kitchen with modern appliances, such as a stainless steel refrigerator and a gas range. Install energy-efficient lighting fixtures and smart thermostats throughout your home to save on energy costs.

Incorporate technology into your home by installing a home automation system that allows you to control various aspects of your home, such as lighting, temperature, and security, from your smartphone or tablet. This will not only add convenience but also increase the value of your Cape Cod home.

REEF Builders Custom cabinetry Cape Cod

If you are looking for expert design build services for your renovation, remodeling or new home project on  Cape Cod, consider working with the REEF Builders team of experts, with over 37 years of experience in real estate, design, permitting and construction.  Click Here to download our latest Cape Cod Construction Cost guide for an update on the current cost per square foot numbers for our projects.

Tags: renovation, cape cod new homes, remodeling

"Inspired by the Bay" on Cape Cod

Posted by REEF Cape Cod's Home Builder on Thu, Oct 01, 2015

For our Customers, every project is special. Of course! What could be better than a home designed around your lifestyle, with special amenities you just for you, delivered on time, at a guaranteed build cost well within your budget.

Every once in a while, one of our custom homes gets noticed and recognized for the easy living and gracious amenities it offers, not to mention the million dollar view! What makes homes like this so special? Take a moment and enjoy:

"Inspired by the Bay" takes you to a Cape Cod beach house...

Million Dollar Cape Cod Bay view by REEF Builders

"Inspired by the Bay" takes you to a Cape Cod beach house...

Historic look, Modern spaces and amenities by REEF Builders

Tags: remodeling, design, Home Decor, REEF, chatham

Remodeling an Historic Home

Posted by REEF Cape Cod's Home Builder on Tue, Feb 05, 2013

Cape Cod is a charming place, in part because of its historic homes. Sometimes it takes a lot of courage to dive in to an historic project. REEF has done some great work for customers who want to maintain the charm and history of their home, while upgrading the systems and spaces for modern living. Here's a project undertaken by a couple who filled their home with bold colors and additional space.

RWAP historic house remodel s4x3 lg resized 600

Remodeling an Historic House

Tags: renovation, remodeling, Kitchen Remodeling, trends

Island Ideas for your Cape Cod Kitchen

Posted by Matthew Teague on Wed, Dec 12, 2012

 

The kitchen island is the focal point of any home design, combing functionality for cooking and food preparation, with the style and taste of the homeowner.  A Kitchen Island is a great way to express your style, and could be considered a more a piece of furniture than a conglomeration of cabinets.  When designing your Cape Cod kitchen, take the time to look at all of your options, from size, style, lighting, countertops etc. In many of our Cape Cod Homes, we have sen trends towards a kitchen island that is a different color or style than the rest of the cabinetry. If you are planning to Remodel, Renovate, or Build a Custom Home on Cape Cod, a stunning kitchen island is definitely something to consider.  To see how REEF can help you design your next project, please CONTACT US today.

Here is an article from Decoist.com with some ideas that just might inspre you: Kitchen Island

Cape Cod Kitchens

Tags: Cape Cod Kitchen, remodeling, Interior Design

Risks with Hiring an Unlicensed Contractor for your Home Remodeling

Posted by Matthew Teague on Tue, Dec 11, 2012

    We have been asked several times to take over jobs started by homeowners or unlicensed contractors.  Most of the times, these jobs were started without plans, permits, engineering or any of the other prerequisites for a legal construction project.  After a town building inspector has been notified of an illegal project, they will issue a "stop work" order, bringing the New Home, Remodeling, or Renovation project to a halt.  The time and money a homeowner might save by skirting the permit process is far outweighed by the headache, embarrassment, and costs associated with correcting un-permitted work.  In general, the homeowner has to start from scratch, and usually ends up removing any of the work that was done so the critical items can be properly inspected.

   So if you are thinking of performing your own work, and not hiring a contractor, or even worse, if you are thinking of hiring an unlicensed contractor to do your work without a permit you are setting yourself up for failure.

Don't make this mistake, because you will regret it in the long run.  Sometimes people are unable to sell their homes because of poor workmanship, or discovery of un-permitted work. 

If you are thinking of a New Home, Renovation, or Remodeling Project on Cape Cod, click below to download our guide to hiring a contractor! Here is an article from MSN.com that talks about the risks: Work Without Permits

Click meHiring a Contractor

Tags: remodeling, building a home, building code, Hiring a Contractor

Planning your Cape Cod Addition or Remodel

Posted by Matthew Teague on Thu, Dec 06, 2012

   Planning an addition to your home can be a fun and exciting process.  The dreams of new and additional space for you Cape Cod Home can allow room for entertaining and guests, especially in the busy Summer season. There are some things to think about as part of the Remodeling, and Addition process, that can prevent problems down the road.  Here are some factors we take into consideration when designing and building an addition here at REEF:

  1. What are the real needs for the additional space?
  2. Does it make sense to "built out" or "build up"?
  3. Is there sufficient space on the lot for the desired addition?
  4. Do you plan on living in the house during the project?
  5. Are there other impacts on utilities, grading, or the septic system?
  6. Does the project make sense given the condition of the existing structure?

All of these factors come into play as part of our comprehensive planning process, and can mean the difference between a successful project that meets the owner's budget and design expectations. Sometimes, depending on the size and cost of the addition,  it may even make sense to look at tearing down the house and building a complete new home.

 

Here is an article we found from HGTV.com that has some other tips about planning your addition: Building Up or Out

Cape Cod Addition

Tags: remodeling, addition, 2nd Floor

Tearing Down a House on Cape Cod vs. Remodeling

Posted by Matthew Teague on Fri, Sep 28, 2012

  Many of our projects for New Homes and Remodeling, involve tearing down all or a portion of the existing home.  With the changes in structural, energy and mechanical codes that have come into existence over the last few years, it is often times less expensive to tear down a house instead of remodeling.  The major factor in this decision is labor.  Labor continues to be one of the largest expenses in construction, and when you figure the labor involved in disassembling an existing home, and then re-building it to the new standards, the costs just don't make sense.  Tearing down an average home takes less than a day, and can cost as little as $7,000.  Once the tear down is complete, the project starts from a clean slate, guaranteeing a predictable, high quality result.  Oh yeah, and it is kind of fun to watch as well. Here is a video of a house we tore down yesterday in Dennis

Tags: remodeling, building a home, tear down

Laundry Room Design?

Posted by Matthew Teague on Wed, Sep 12, 2012

  The Laundry Room is probably the least thought of room in a house.  Unless of course you have a few kids, then doing 6 or 8 loads a day can be a real chore, especially if you have the washer and dryer down in a dark corner of the basement like most people. In most of our Renovation, Remodeling, and Custom Home projects, we try to place the laundry room or closet on the main floor of the home.  We have even put the laundry machines on the 2nd floor, which most people think is a fantastic idea, since it is up close to the bedrooms! We came across an article from Decoist.com that provides several design ideas for your next laundry room. These designs range from simple to wild, but they all share the following features: convenience and storage.

Click Here to see the full gallery: Laundry Room Designs

Laundry Room by REEF

Tags: remodeling, Interior Design, laundry rooms

8 most overrated home Renovation and Remodeling projects,

Posted by Matthew Teague on Tue, Sep 11, 2012

Planning your New Home, Remodeling or Renovation project can be a fun and exciting process. We often tell our customers to make a list of "wants" and "needs" and to always make sure to prioritize the needs first.  The internet and television are full of trendy ideas that look good at first, but can be both impractical, and a waste of money.  We found an article from msn.com that provides a list of the 8 most overrated home improvement projects. Items such as home theaters, and large jacuzzi tubs are just a few of the things that they describe as items that look great, but never get used and cost a lot of money.  There is  also a list of suggestions for projects that do make sense and can enhance the look and value of your next home project.

Here is the full article from MSN.com: 8 Overrated Home Improvements.

If you are thinking of getting your project started on the Cape Cod. Click below to download our Critical Planning Guide:

Click me

Tags: renovation, remodeling, Project Planning, custom building

50 Great Ideas for your Home Office

Posted by Matthew Teague on Fri, Aug 24, 2012

  We came across this list of 50 Great Ideas for your Home Office inspired by Pinterest... The home office is a very important feature in New Homes and Renovation Projects, and is quickly replacing the formal dining or living room in homes. 

Click here to see the full article: http://www.onlinecollegecourses.com/2012/08/23/50-fabulous-pinterest-ideas-for-your-home-office/

Home Office by REEF

Tags: renovation, remodeling, home office

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