If you’ve decided to give your outdated, old bathroom an overhaul but aren’t sure what design style to choose, one way to find inspiration is to look at the latest trends in bathroom remodeling.
To help make planning your bathroom makeover a little bit easier, we made it our mission to gather the best bathroom designs we could find.
Find out how to save money on a kitchen remodel from GNH designer, Michele Gregg.Are you dreaming of an updated kitchen but don’t have a huge budget to spend? Maybe you’re thinking of selling and want to bump up the value of your existing kitchen and make a great first impression? Well, you’ve come to the right place! From a few small cosmetic updates to a major reno, GNH kitchen designer, Michele Gregg shares her secrets for how to save money on a kitchen remodel.
If you’re looking to update your kitchen on a tight budget, there are many different approaches depending on the size of your project. There are a few tried and true updates that are low cost with big impact. But if you have a little bit more to spend, a well-placed upgrade can reap big rewards when it comes to resale value.
The best part? All these projects can be completed by a DIY homeowner on a weekend!
Here are some recommendations for cutting costs on your kitchen remodel:
Michele has worked in the home improvement industry since 2012, gaining expertise in flooring, appliances, kitchens, and plumbing. in the fall of 2020 she joined GNH’s Kitchen and Bath Design Team in Windham. Learn more about her design process or set up an appointment to start planning your kitchen remodel today!
The holiday season is upon us again! As the days grow shorter and the occasional snowflake swirls through the air, you may be inspired to create a magical environment for family gatherings this year.
Perhaps you want to create a warm and cozy bedroom, a festive winter wonderland in your living room, or a unique color combination for your dining room. Whatever the mood you’re trying to set, a touch of paint can help you transform your home in dramatic fashion. Here are some ideas to give you inspiration:
Get your painting project started!
Adding the right hue can instantly create a warm and cozy feel for the holidays. Explore Benjamin Moore’s Color Trends 2025 palette, including Color of the Year Cinnamon Slate for inspiration.
And you don’t have to paint the whole wall to create a big impact. “Pops of color can be great ways to add interest to a room in a subtle way,” says Benjamin Moore’s Director of Color and Development, Andrea Magno. “The inside of a bookcase, behind glass cabinets, an accent piece of furniture, or even the inside of a closet or a door—the key is to bring in a pop of color in a location that makes sense with the space.”
Another great way to add a festive touch to your home is by transforming a room into a winter wonderland. A fresh coat of white or off-white paint with silvery-gray or blue trim is an excellent starting point. You can also paint your fireplace in stunning white to help set off your holiday decorations. Plus a big bonus is a white fireplace works well all year-round.
Looking for a unique holiday color combination? Here’s a great tip from HGTV.com: “Take a color cue from holiday gift bags. Incorporating several colors into a space is often a stumbling block for many do-it-yourselfers. By simply perusing the gift bag aisle, you’ll find exciting and unusual combinations that are often easily transferable to your space.”
Did you know that picking the right paint for your interior painting project involves more than just color selection –
You also need to choose the right paint finish. Didn’t even think about the finish, did you? That’s ok! A lot of people underestimate the role paint finish plays in the appearance of your newly-painted room.
Choosing the right finish for your interior project will affect the look, durability, and ambiance of the room. Understanding the basic differences between paint finishes will help guide your selection process.
The most common interior paint finishes are: flat, matte, eggshell, satin, and semi-gloss. Let’s take a closer look at these 5 options:
Flat finish is only available in latex paint. It’s clean, opaque qualities make it a great choice for walls and ceilings. It is also the least shiny finish available. Unfortunately, it doesn’t clean well. So don’t use it for kitchens, bathrooms, or children’s bedrooms. The only way to get rid of drawings and fingerprints on a flat-finish wall is to paint over them!
Matte finishes are also low-shine. It’s perfect for busy areas such as hallways, family rooms, and kids’ rooms. It’s easy to apply, washable, and hides existing wall colors well.
Eggshell finishes are used for decorative finishes because it provides a low shine. It cleans up better than a flat finish would, but probably not as well as you would want in a kitchen or bathroom.
SatinThe most popular paint finish is the satin finish. It has more sheen than eggshell, and cleans better too! This finish is a good choice for woodwork, walls, doors, and hallways. It’s also great for bedrooms and dining rooms. While this finish is washable, it’s not “scrubbable,” so this is another one to skip if you’re painting a playroom.
A semi-gloss finish will give your room a subtle shine. It’s scrubbable without being too shiny. This makes it perfect for moldings, doors, windows – and little Picasso’s bedroom, too. However, because Semi-gloss finishes reflect light, imperfections in your walls are more noticeable. We recommend that you prep your walls and make them super smooth before applying paint.
Not sure which finish best matches your project? Check out this product comparison guide from Benjamin Moore.
Choosing the right paint finish is as important as picking a color. Not only does it impact the appearance of your room, it has a big effect on how well you will be able to clean and maintain your walls!
Now that you know which finishes to use, you are ready to pick out paint for your next project. Still not sure or need more help? Ask a GNH expert in our Greenville or Windham locations. They can help you make the best choice for your home improvement project.
The autumn season is the perfect time to swap out drafty old windows with new energy efficient ones. Investing in replacement windows now will equal savings on heating costs all winter long—and beyond. But how do you choose replacement windows in the first place?
One shortcut is to visit your local GNH Lumber to discuss your window replacement project with our seasoned experts.
Click here to get started now.
To help you choose just the right windows for your home and budget, we recommend considering some common cost-saving options and answering a few common questions beforehand:
Start by considering which windows you want to replace. Do you want to replace all of them, one floor at a time, or just individual units that will save energy and add convenience to a particular room in your home?
Prepare a preliminary budget. This will help you determine how many windows you can replace with the styles, features, and materials you want. Pay particular attention to the window’s thermal performance since this will factor into the cost. Windows that qualify for tax rebates may cost more initially but these costs are offset by rebates and greater energy savings over time!
What do you want your new windows to do? Are they architectural design features or will they provide specific functionality? Do you want the windows to open and close? How they should operate? Vinyl windows like Smarter Windows from GNH Lumber will provide lower maintenance, greater convenience, and higher energy performance than most wood windows.
Finally, discuss energy-efficient window options (like standard insulated glass and low-e glass) with the knowledgeable staff at GNH Lumber. Don’t forget to work the additional cost of these features into the context of estimated savings on your heating and cooling bills. Do the expected savings justify the extra cost? Vinyl window frames are less expensive and do provide more insulation qualities.
Sources: http://www.smarterwindows.com/Page/How_to_Buy_Replacement_Windows
It’s fall season again. The leaves have fallen from most of the trees and the air is increasingly chilled. Like it or not, we all know that winter is close behind. Before the snow starts falling and temperatures drop, it’s a good time to think about things like:
Is your home ready for the coming winter? Not yet? Not sure? Don’t know? Don’t worry! There are a few simple steps you can take each autumn to protect against damage from winter storms and create a more efficient home.
So, let’s start exploring some steps you can take right now to prevent those wintertime headaches:
