Tips

Key Decisions and Trade-offs in Layout | Expand or Move?
In the previous chapter, I briefly discussed the early preparation and general process of the entire remodel. However, ultimately, the deliverable is a product. This product requires: Client: Family and self. Contractor: Budget, designer, and GC (General Contractor). Compliance: Various permits and inspections from the City, as well as third parties providing relevant data. These three collaborating parties will all restrict our creativity, but the first problem we need to solve is what the first "client" (family/self) wants. Simply put, what will the finished product look like? This is the... Read more...
Cash Flow and Milestones | Payment, Arrival, and Node Linkage
Payment schedule: Design - Start of construction - Halfway point - Completion - Retainage Delivery scheduling: Lock in times for long-lead equipment and critical materials Risk plan: 10% contingency fund for unforeseen circumstances and changes At the beginning, you are often at a loss, thinking it's like shopping on Amazon—you send the money, and the house suddenly drops down. In fact, it is more like a series of processes: acceptance, payment settlement, and continuous cycles. If these processes can be well-arranged, a lot of costs can be saved. Although interior... Read more...
Priority Order and Breathing Zone | Sensation First, Aesthetics Second
Prioritization: Envelope and Airtightness > Traffic Flow and Zoning > Kitchen and Bathroom > Interior Decoration and Lighting Breathing Zone: Core area, optional items, deferred package Rule: For any new item added, you must answer "Will I feel it every day?" Return on Remodel: Increased Home Value + Increased Happiness. Don't be too fixated on the 'influencer-style' design you see online. It's either impractical or extremely expensive. For example, large floor-to-ceiling bathroom windows. They look great, but consider daily use—unless you are on a very high floor, you will generally... Read more...
Pain Points | Unclear budget, scope creep, change order overruns
Common Problems: Pain Point 1: Total budget is guessed at, increases as the project goes on. Pain Point 2: Scope creep, "just do it while you're at it" derails the timeline. Pain Point 3: Change orders lack documentation, leading to uncontrolled costs and timelines. Goal: Distinguish between needs and wants, and appropriately consider the cost of future modifications. Spend money on areas that provide a "noticeable daily difference," and keep the process manageable and traceable. Following up on the last chapter: what exactly needs to be remodeled? What area needs... Read more...
Chapter 1 | Why Renovate?
We bought this house in 2020 for our child's schooling. It was built seventy or eighty years ago, renovated once in the 1970s, and had the roof replaced later. The interior is about 1450 square feet, and the yard is quite large. When we first moved in, there were only two bedrooms and one bathroom. With six of us, it was very cramped. We didn't have much money, so we didn't dare to undertake a major renovation, only doing what would have an immediate effect: adding one bathroom, temporarily using... Read more...