If you’ve decided to give your outdated, old bathroom an overhaul but aren’t sure what design style to choose, one way to find inspiration is to look at the latest trends in bathroom remodeling.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:
If the idea of interior painting sounds intimidating to you, then read on! Refreshing your home with a beautiful coat of paint is much easier than you think – and fun, too! The truth is, you really can save the cost of hiring a professional painter while achieving the same great results. Here’s how:
Follow these 7 easy steps to get your home looking fresh and new without breaking the bank!
Clean the ceiling and wall surfaces that you plan to paint using water, a mild dish soap, and a cellulose sponge. Removing all dust, dirt and grease spots ensures a smooth finish!
Remove all electrical switch and outlet covers, wall sconces, picture hangers, and any other wall fixtures or attachments. Tip: Keep track of outlet screws by taping them to the covers as you go, something that I have learned the hard to do the hard way!
Start with the ceiling. Use painter’s tape to mask around windows and woodwork such as baseboard, ceiling moldings and door frames. Once you apply the tape, run a plastic tool or putty knife along the tape to secure it firmly at its edges, and keep the paint from seeping underneath.
Once you have masked everything you don’t want to paint, it’s time to “cut in.” This means using a brush to cover the areas you can’t reach with a roller. Starting at the corner of the room, use a 2-inch or 2.5-inch trim brush to “cut in.” Apply a three-inch wide strip of paint around the perimeter of the room where the wall and ceiling meet.
Using a roller, you will now begin to paint your ceiling. Remember to remove any excess paint on the roller by slowly rolling it back and forth over the ridges of your paint tray. Begin painting in a corner of the room, blending the paint into the line you created in step 4. Paint across the width of the ceiling rather than the length of the ceiling. Tip: Avoid straining your back and neck by rolling with a motion across your body (left to right).
Once your ceiling is dry, you can begin to paint the walls. Return to the same corner where you started to paint the ceiling. Use a trim brush to carefully cut in along the wall-ceiling line. Extend that line two to three inches out from any windows, doors, or moldings. Once you’ve cut in around an entire wall area, use a roller to fill in the field. Tip: For efficiency, start in the corner of a wall and roll on a three-by-three-foot W pattern, then fill it in without lifting the roller. Continue in 3-foot sections until you’re finished, and only paint one wall at a time.
Once the walls are completely dry, apply painter’s blue tape where the trim meets the wall. Paint the moldings, baseboard and the door and window frames with a two-inch angled brush. Paint the tops of the doors and windows first and work your way down so that you can remove any runs as you go. Baseboards should be painted last.
It’s that simple! Remember to take your time throughout this process and enjoy your home’s fresh new look!
Before you get started on your interior painting project, be sure to stop by GNH Home & Lumber for all your painting essentials!
Your windows should help keep your home feeling comfortable and looking its best. As time goes on, your windows’ performance gradually begins to fade. Weather stripping is damaged, the seals begin to fail, and the various parts of your windows get brittle and break. So, how exactly do you know when it’s time to finally replace your windows? While some of the signs are obvious, others are harder to catch before it’s too late. Thankfully, there are 5 telltale signs that let you know that it’s time to invest in replacement windows for your home.
We’ll start with one of the most obvious signs you need new windows: How comfortable the climate in your home is. If one or more rooms in your home are overly hot in the summer or frigid in the winter, it’s likely that your windows are one of the largest factors. Aside from yourself, pay attention to your pets as well! If even Fido needs a blanket every time the temperature drops outside, it’s time to start looking into replacement windows. New windows, especially versatile and resilient vinyl windows, are made of stronger materials than older windows, and can help keep your home feeling comfy and cozy – no matter the season.
Minor aesthetic damages usually aren’t anything to be concerned about in terms of the state of your windows. However, significant physical damages usually point to failing windows. For example, if your windows constantly have foggy panes, that’s a sign that gas is escaping from between the panes and condensation has formed inside. Over time, that heat and water can loosen the seals on your windows. Similarly, chipping paint and an inability to hold a new coat of paint can mean water damage has set in. This water damage can also lead to moldy smells, another sure sign that your windows need replacing!
If your windows aren’t performing at their best, doesn’t it make sense that your energy bills would go up? It’s true – leaking or inferior windows lead to your heat and air conditioning filtering outside, reducing their efficacy inside and wasting your energy. Even if you can afford the extra money, heating and cooling the outdoors is wasteful and consumes more natural resources than is necessary. If you’re not sure what your fuel and electricity bills should be, ask your neighbors what they pay. If their house is built like yours and their family is a similar size, their bills should be roughly the same.
Even though it may seem obvious, if your windows are either too hard or too easy to get open/through, they’re probably at the end of their shelf life. And replacement windows aren’t just there for quality-of-life improvements, they can keep you safer as well. Windows that are too hard to open are a safety hazard, especially in the event of a natural disaster or other emergency. On the other hand, windows with weak seals, gaps in the caulking, holes, etc. allow bugs and other pests easier entry into your home – it’s one of the many reasons why new windows are so helpful!
There’s a lot more people in the world now, and a lot more noise to be heard, especially in crowded neighborhoods. Another sign of failing windows is more of that noise creeping into your home. Windows that are improperly sealed or are older can let in much more outside noise, and that means more difficulty sleeping or holding a conversation indoors. Thankfully, modern windows can be fitted with three panes of glass and special laminations – so you don’t have to shout to be heard anymore.
Even if you’re just looking to upgrade your windows and give your home a new look, we encourage you to get out and do it! Let us help you find the best choice so you can increase your home’s curb value and save on your energy bills.
A kitchen is one of the most important rooms in a home. We spend a lot of time in our kitchens – preparing meals, eating and entertaining. When choosing colors for a new kitchen or a remodel, there are many elements to consider. There’s wall colors, cabinet colors, countertops, backsplashes, flooring and even hardware to consider. You want to choose colors that work well together and highlight focal points.
Here are some color trends to incorporate into your kitchen design:
Using dark colors in select areas such as your island or lower cabinets adds contrast and drama. Try a dark green, navy, charcoal or black. Plus, dark colors are great at hiding dirt!
For a timeless kitchen, us white, gray and neutral tones throughout. To add dimension, experiment with different types of finishes. In fact, in any monochromatic kitchen, having a variety of finishes is key.
Combine muted green cabinets with soft white walls for an earthy vibe. These colors work well with hardwood floors.
Bold colors in small amounts make a huge impact. Try bright a bright red, yellow or teal for a small accent wall in your kitchen. When paired with whites, it will really pop! You can also make your cabinets the focal point of your kitchen with a vibrant blue.
Embrace the coastal look with mint green cabinets. This color pairs really well with neutral tones and light-colored natural wood.
Accent walls are an easy to way to add personality to small kitchens with white cabinetry. Try a dark green, muted wine or gray. For something brighter, try a red-orange or a coral.
For a truly unique kitchen, try pairing a warm red with a pale gray, a cool lavender with a soft yellow, a cool light blue with peach, or a vibrant green with a soft pink.
Don’t be afraid to use multiple shades of the same color to highlight different aspects of your kitchen. For example, light blue cabinets pair nicely with a cool blue-gray wall, as does light blue-green cabinetry with a dark teal.
Ceilings don’t always have to be white. For a calming look, try a light green ceiling with deep blue walls. Or go for a full coastal vibe with a light blue ceiling, blue-gray walls, and white cabinetry and trim.
Using a rich, warm brown on your cabinets will add depth to your kitchen.
Similar to ceilings, window frames do not necessarily have to be white. Make your kitchen window a focal point with a black frame, surrounded by white walls and cabinetry. Don’t have a window in your kitchen? No problem! You can use a black and white color scheme in any kitchen. Try sleek black countertops and black cabinets with white walls for a modern look.
Soft pinks work surprisingly well as a neutral and pair nicely with darker colors and natural elements like wood, stone and granite.
Having trouble deciding on a color palette for your kitchen? Work with the GNH Design Team to build the kitchen of your dreams!
Kitchens are often central to a home, both in terms of their physical location and with regards to their importance. It’s where we prepare our morning coffee, make the kids’ packed lunches, bake birthday cakes, and gather when hosting holiday dinners. So, why tolerate a dark and gloomy kitchen?
Instead of letting your dull, outdated kitchen get you down, give yourself the bright, new kitchen you really want to spend time in.
There are several kitchen elements that can be brightened up with a fresh coat of paint, including:
You would be amazed at what a difference it will make to replace your fluorescent lights with incandescent lights.
Florescent lights cast a darker tint around the room, while incandescent lights cast a pure white light.
Updating with bright white lights and adding about 10 can lights in the room will make your kitchen much brighter. Also, don’t neglect dark corners with your lighting design, and add more ceiling lights where it’s possible.
If you’re working with a dark room, chances are you don’t have a lot of natural light coming in, but it’s important to make the most of what you have.
If your windows are covered with dark shades or blinds, you’re blocking out your best chance for brightening up the room.
If you’d like more advice or you have some questions about how to brighten your kitchen, stop on in one of our GNH locations to meet with a professional. It’s a proven fact that humans respond, act and feel better in a home that is bright and open. Brightening up your kitchen is a great start to feeling better and inspired!
