Basements are common in homes, but far too often, these spaces are underused in a way that prevents them from living up to their full potential. If your basement is unfinished, ...

What do you need to know about permits, zoning, and code enforcement before you start a renovation? The extra space you need might be right under your feet. Basement remodeling is ...

How do homeowners make design choices for home remodeling in 2025? Many are researching online at Houzz or Pinterest, and also using analog methods like a simple look through ...

I recently sat down with my sister, Leanne Mitchell, a local Realtor, to discuss what to know before buying a home in Massachusetts. This article shares her experience and my ...

There are many reasons to consider an accessory dwelling unit (ADU). You’ve been having conversations with aging parents who are looking to age in place with family nearby. Is ...

When you can’t get out on the links, it would still be great to have a way to work on your game. If you are eyeing the potential for finding space for a golf simulator in your ...

When a home runs out of space, there are several options: move, renovate unused or underused space, or construct an addition. Deciding what's best for your "bursting at the seams" ...

So much goes into a home addition, from the thought, “we could really use more space,” to move-in day. Some elements of the process are visible, like roofing, siding, flooring, ...

When homeowners decide they want to build a luxurious sunroom, a second-story balcony or even a bay window extending their breakfast nook, there are some essential things to ...

Remodeling that adds square footage to a home begins with a need. You might be looking for a nicer and more spacious home for entertaining. Or, the family is growing, and the ...

After moving to New England from Hawai'i, one family wanted to create an addition that fit well into the region and allowed for an effortless flow between indoor and outdoor ...

A home addition creates opportunity beyond the added square footage. Mechanicals, electrical and plumbing (MEP) systems will all be affected. Updating MEP systems will be a ...

It's decision time: you need to move to a bigger home or build an addition. Planning a home addition seems less disruptive, but questions must be answered. What is possible for ...

Homes here in New England can be anywhere from nearly new to literally hundreds of years old. When blending old and new, getting it right takes a lot of knowledge, planning, and ...

One of the most popular home renovation questions we get asked all the time here at Mitchell Construction Group is, “ Which home remodeling ideas will have the greatest impact on ...

You are just trying to sneak downstairs for a midnight snack, and the floors in your home give away your exact location! At first there was just that one spot in the upstairs ...

If it always feels like a “dark and stormy night” in your older home, it may be time to update your lighting. If there are certain rooms that just don’t seem to brighten up no ...

Good deck design depends on the materials and construction methods used. Decking materials have come a long way in the past few years. You might think of them as nearly ...

If you own an older home in New England, the staircases may be charming, but they can also be downright unsafe. Older homes in our region are notorious for staircases that were ...

You are probably not surprised to hear that your older New England home likely does not comply with current local building codes where you live. But you might be surprised at how ...

You bought an older home for the history and charm, but now it’s up to you to take care of it properly. Here in New England, it doesn’t have to be Otis House or JFK’s birthplace ...

When your older home was built — say sometime in the 1800s — people had a few changes of clothes that would fit neatly into a wardrobe cabinet or a steamer trunk if they were to ...

What lurks behind the walls, in the ceilings, and the various other materials and systems of your older home? If I were a comedian (I’m not, as my kids will be more than happy to ...

One legend has it that the first instance of balloon framing was a warehouse built in 1832 by George Snow along the Chicago River. Regardless of how it truly started, the style of ...

You’ve found an old home in the perfect neighborhood. Now what? Or perhaps you own an older home and you are fairly certain it is in need of a bit of TLC. How do you know if an ...

When you look at your home, you see brick or stone, siding that might be made of aluminum, vinyl, or even a composite cement material. You see shingles, drywall, carpet, and wood ...

A new layout, cabinets, paint, trim work, lighting, and plumbing fixtures are what most homeowners are excited about when considering a renovation. But behind the walls, the ...

Living in an older home in New England has both its charms and its challenges. One major challenge is how to fix or replace old windows in your unique home. Some of the windows in ...

When you bought your home, the seller’s disclosure gave a clean bill of health regarding lead paint, and there was no mention of asbestos or any other hazardous materials. The ...

Remember when you drove through your neighborhood for the first time? Next door was some amazing Victorian era trim details on the porch - spectacular! Then there was a ...

What comes to mind when thinking about renovating an older home? Likely things like: Can we save the hardwood we found under the 50-year old carpet? Will the kitchen cabinets we ...

You've decided you are overdue for a significant renovation of your home. The immediate question: How will we finance the project? What kind of construction loan for home ...

There’s nothing exactly “wrong” with the primary suite/kitchen/living room (take your pick) in your home. But nothing is exactly right about it either. You know it needs a ...

When you are considering a home renovation project, you may be thinking about negative experiences you, a friend, or family member have had in the past. You have heard the horror ...

Interest rates are up and prices for materials are constantly fluctuating. Your home layout is overdue for an update, but is a home renovation project the right decision for you? ...

During what feels like a bygone era, a home office was a nice thing to have, not a necessity. A LOT has changed in a few short years, making remodeling for a home office a top ...

It’s a familiar conversation. The kids are growing up and they don’t want to share a room anymore. Plus, there is just not enough room for entertaining indoors with that cramped ...

In a previous post, I shared in some detail what goes into the construction of cabinets. How can you make sure you are choosing the right materials for the style of cabinet you ...

An island is often at the top of the list of changes homeowners want to make when they renovate a kitchen. But is there room for an island, even in your redesign? If you shoehorn ...

How much help do you really need to pick out the right cabinets for your kitchen, bath, laundry room, or other areas of your home where renovation will involve cabinetry? Can’t ...

The design/build team here at Mitchell Construction Group recently undertook a major renovation project that required imagination, attention to detail, and meticulous ...

There is no getting around the fact that a home renovation project will take your family out of its normal routines. The good news is you can minimize that disruption with a ...

You can see it in a drawer that glides smoothly closed. You can see it at the corner of a wall, where crown molding, drywall, and baseboard all meet at a perfect 90-degree angle. ...

The most exciting part of a home renovation or new home construction for many people is to put on those finishing touches. When you are choosing the interior paint colors, you are ...

When is the right time to renovate your home? On one hand, there will always be reasons not to renovate. Getting to the beautiful and functional end result takes time, money, and ...

“This space just does not work for us anymore.” That statement is one of the main reasons homeowners come to us for a renovation project. To fix an unworkable space, designers ...

The list of home improvement projects is getting longer and longer. The kitchen and bathrooms are really starting to show their age. You’ve never exactly loved the siding you ...

While the phrase “plumbing trends” may not set your heart to fluttering, the end results of a kitchen or bath remodeling project often highlight the exciting results of those ...

When seeking inspiration for your remodeling project, you may look through hundreds of photos online and in design magazines. One aspect that often gets overlooked — but is always ...

One of the fundamental truths about life is that we’re all growing older. For many of us, the question that will arise as we age is, “Where will I be able to live?” Fortunately, ...

You may see home renovation as a seasonal activity — something that’s got to be done between spring and fall here in New England. The truth is, the right time to start is when you ...

When considering updates and additions to your current porches and patios, you are looking for space to enjoy your home's fresh air and views. Well-proportioned, well-conceived ...

Mudrooms and laundry rooms are not the first areas most people think about when it comes to home renovation. But these spaces should not be overlooked. A well-designed mudroom ...

When you’ve got dinner guests and the kids are loudly playing video games in the next room, your main floor living space begins to show its limitations. Or maybe over the past few ...

A luxury bathroom may seem more like a necessity these days. As the pandemic forced many of us to stay at home for long periods of time, the bathroom became a sanctuary, a place ...

A house does not truly become a home until it reflects the unique character and personality of the family that inhabits it. Here at the Mitchell Construction Group, that concept ...

Anticipating a home renovation project is exciting for most homeowners. Once they decide to make the leap from dreaming to doing, a range of emotions can kick in as they ...

Many home interior designers would agree that the master bedroom is simply the largest and most desirable bedroom in a home and is typically where the head of the household ...

If you live in New England, you know how important your home heating system is. And because our heating systems work extra hard to keep our homes warm and comfortable throughout ...

The pandemic has created a home remodeling and renovation boom that has many contractors struggling to keep up with demand. As a result, some are rushing through the planning and ...

Kitchen makeovers are, far and away, one of the most popular home remodeling projects because they are often the heart of any home, where family and friends gather for a wide ...

The holidays are a time for family and friends to gather, celebrate, reminisce, and look ahead to the New Year and a brighter future. For some homeowners, it’s also a stressful ...

Kitchens are by far the most popular room in the home for remodeling and renovation. It can be the most fun and most challenging all at the same time because of the number of ...

Human nature makes it difficult for most of us to pass up a bargain, and home renovation is no exception. One homeowner might “know a guy” who’s pretty handy with a hammer and is ...

Homeowners who are faced with an aging home or one they have outgrown are faced with a difficult decision: should they remodel or move? This is both a financial and emotional ...

The pandemic has created an increased interest in home renovation and remodeling and one of the most popular renovations is window replacement. One of the biggest reasons is ...

Mention “home renovation” to some people and watch the color drain out of their faces. For many, there is nothing more stressful (and for good reason) than to have some strangers ...

Frustration. Anxiety. Confusion. These are the words that many homeowners unfortunately associate with home renovation projects because they’ve worked with a home remodeling ...

We all find ourselves frustrated from time to time when faced with the dilemma of reconciling what we want with what we need, or perhaps more accurately, what we can afford. The ...

Nobody likes to spend more than they absolutely have to on home repairs. It’s bad enough when things break and you have to struggle with the inconvenience and disruption they ...

A home renovation project can be a highly dynamic event full of excitement, anxiety, anticipation and, yes, stress. Of course, no homeowner wants to pay any more than absolutely ...

One of the first questions we get as a home renovation contractor is “How long will this project take?” Any reputable, experienced contractor could immediately reply, “As long as ...

If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s how to relax at home and get outside more. The popularity of outdoor living has grown leaps and bounds over the past year and a half ...

If your home has an unfinished basement, you’re sitting on a gold mine of additional living space, flexible entertainment and relaxation options, more efficient storage, and added ...

If there was one thing the pandemic was good for, it was helping homeowners discover every poor design element and floor plan weakness in their homes. As people spent more and ...

A recent study by the Pew Research Center has revealed that growing numbers of buyers are looking for homes that will accommodate more than just a single family. Shifting ...

A homeowner’s relationship with their home – like any relationship – can change over time. Just like marriages, friendships, and partnerships, your relationship with your home can ...

Remodeling a kitchen is a lot more than just new cabinets and appliances and a different color scheme. Effectively renovating a kitchen for more functional efficiency requires a ...

Home renovation and remodeling projects come in all shapes and sizes, but except for the very simplest, virtually all of them require structural and aesthetic changes. Some ...

One of the most frustrating challenges many homeowners face when considering a home renovation project is difficulty visualizing specific changes to improve their home’s ...

Virtually every level of home renovation – from simple room redesigns to kitchen remodeling to home additions – involve an equal level of emotion and stress. Homeowners undertake ...

Renovating your home – whether you’re just remodeling a bedroom or renovating your entire house – is a highly personal project. The old saying is true: “Home is where the heart ...

The kitchen is the central hub, the heart, of almost every home. Even people who aren’t especially fond of cooking use their kitchens for a multitude of activities – whether it’s ...

The simple truth about home remodeling and renovation is that successful projects require proper planning. Period. There are no shortcuts, no miracles, and no depending on good ...

Renovating your home is a big decision involving a lot of elements, some of them emotional and others operational. As a result, sometimes homeowners make decisions for the wrong ...

One of the first questions we hear from homeowners when discussing a renovation or remodeling project is “How long will this take?” And while it’s certainly understandable that ...

One of the first questions many homeowners ask when considering a renovation project is: “Will this project provide a good return-on-investment and boost the resale value of my ...

One hard and fast rule in home renovation is, "Don’t start a remodeling or renovation project without a realistic budget." But getting to a realistic budget requires a detailed ...

In 2018 it seemed like the world fell in love with farmhouse interiors and bright and white kitchens that took over everyone’s homes. While we’re still loving this look, 2019 is ...

This once cramped and poorly functioning kitchen was converted into a gorgeous, bright, and airy space that is perfectly suited for a large and active family. The existing kitchen ...

Home sweet home! Our homes are one of our biggest monetary investments, but how much do we really know about them? How to properly care for them as they age? How much attention do ...