l Renovating, remodeling or redecorating resolutions can be done on any scale; from minor do-it-yourself cosmetic alterations to major construction that requires the assistance of a professional. Projects costing more than $750 in materials and labor generally require the expertise of a licensed contractor.
l Winter is a good time to check for proper drainage in the yard; water leaks in the roof and attic; and insulation failures around doors and windows. Any problems found should be put at the top of the Fix-it Resolutions list.
l Check gutter and downspout seams; furnace and plumbing vent pipes; flashing connections; door frames and window casings, and around the dryer vent, TV antenna wire entrance and pipe feed-through holes. Many of these problems can be corrected with a tube of silicone caulk to stop drafts and leaks.
l Another easy fix is weather stripping. To check for heat loss, hold your hand at the edge of a window or door frame on a windy day. If there is a draft, it's time to add or re-apply weather stripping.
l It's also a good time to check the roof for proper seals around all vent caps. Also look for any punctures, breaks or cracks in the roof.
When they moved into their 1980s-era home in rural Placer County, Rod and Donna Lee pledged to make remodeling the master bath a top priority. Four years later, they made good on that oath, with the help of general contractor Mark Gentry.
Owner of Mark Gentry Remodeling, Gentry spent three months transforming the Lees' 200-square-foot inefficient, dated bathroom into a stylish, practical lavatory. Using Rod's detailed conceptual sketches as a foundation, the trio collaborated on the initial design, as well as the additions and revisions made during the installation phase.
"It's a 20-year-old home and the space plan for the master bathroom was fine 20 years ago," Gentry explained. "But there was no tub, a very large shower, and the toilet was enclosed by a half wall. And all the tiles and fixtures were that dusty rose color that was so popular back then."
The Lees wanted a private commode room, jetted tub, pantry-style cabinets and a smaller shower that still would be spacious enough to accommodate two heads and dual controls. And the double-sink vanity had to stay centered under the dominant architectural detail - a circlehead window at the apex of a vaulted ceiling covering one end of the room.
That requirement forced a redesign of the corner whirlpool tub during construction. Keeping the vanity centered meant having to scale down the tub surround.
"A couple of things came up as we went along - like the glass blocks," Rod recalled. "We knew we wanted a glass-block window in the shower wall that would let natural light into the commode room. After that was done, we decided to add the blocks to the sides of the shower entry, too."
Now, bullnose glass bricks edge the end walls, reflecting the light pouring in through an octagonal exterior window in the open-ended shower cage. That small touch adds a big punch of sparkle to the space.
The color scheme was another thing that changed in progress. Originally the Lees wanted two tones of green on the walls, which would also be used in the adjoining master bedroom.
"The bedroom draperies were kind of our inspiration for the color schemes," Donna said.
But the difference in light sources illuminating the two rooms made it nearly impossible to harmonize their hues. The team compromised, settling on a combination of pale green and cream-colored walls in the bath that complement the bedroom's palette.
While Rod took charge of the initial layout, "which was pretty much just the logical things to do," he said, Donna made most of the decisions on finishes.
She selected 36-inch-high, 24-inch-deep kitchen cabinetry with a rope trim in a medium-dark finish for its heft, scale and flexibility of arrangement. And she opted for bow-front vanities that add even more interest to the furniture-style cabinetry.
They bump up the bath from a plain restroom to a salon with sass.
But the attractive features have practical points, too: The porcelain tile floors have hidden radiant heating. A tankless water heater was added. Above the vanity, the two outer mirror panels swing open to provide handy rear-view reflections.
Pull-out hampers on one end of the vanity keep soiled laundry out of sight, while electrical outlets hidden inside the toiletries cabinets eliminate counter clutter.
That's a good thing when the countertop is a handsome slab of Uba Tuba Brazilian granite. The same muted black and green-flecked stone also tops the tub surround and crosses the threshold of the shower, uniting all the major elements in the room.
The octagonal shape of the shower window is repeated in accent tile. Even the brushed nickel faucets, drawer pulls and lighting fixtures tie components together visually.
The final alteration was taking a small, chandelier hanging in the home's entry hall and repositioning it over the spa tub.
The result is, "just what we envisioned," Rod said.
"I can't think of a thing we would change," Donna agreed.
Gentry said the success of the project is due to the Lees carefully thinking through the design process; researching what's available on the market; and clearly identifying their wants, needs and goals.
His advice to other homeowners with remodeling on their minds is: "Plan. Plan. Plan."
"And stay flexible," Rod suggested. "Sometimes you have to go with what is most important."
The cost of the Lees' job was about $45,000, Gentry said
But getting a major home improvement resolution crossed off the list is priceless.
