This is an introduction to our new ebook on home remodeling. It is available on Amazon KDP at this link: Eguide to Home Remodeling.
Below this introduction, you will find the Table of Contents for this eguide. This indicates its extent.
eGuide to Home Remodeling
Philosophy of the Guide
This Guide applies a unique philosophy of home remodeling. It focuses on the purpose of the home as a lifestyle platform designed for the people actually living there, not for the benefit of a hired decorator.
This approach combines forward-looking individual planning with the application of the long-standing design principles of function, form, and color. It embraces the modern concept of Universal Design and the ancient precepts of Feng Shui.
This remodeling philosophy espouses timeless beauty, proven trends, and solid innovation over passing fads. And the result is the creation of a pleasing, safe, healthy, and practical living space tailored for a household of all ages. The Guide emphasizes aging in place as the prime application of Universal Design.
The Extent of the Guide
The Guide covers the remodeling of the whole house, kitchen, and bathroom in detail with extensive checklists. It analyzes the appliances and other components that go into kitchens and bathrooms. It also advises on the living room, bedroom, home office, laundry room, home gym, a zen zone, accessory dwelling unit (ADU), yard & garden, and the home exterior.
A wide range of topics includes hard finishes, lighting design, circadian rhythm lighting, home automation, home health, air quality, aromatherapy, home maintenance, safety, security, home defense, and disaster planning. And there is guidance on choosing professionals, finding financing, and avoiding mistakes.
The Guide maintains that awareness and consideration of these topics are important to the proper prior planning of a remodel project, even if you find them not relevant to your own situation. This knowledge will help you protect the value of your property.
What this Guide is Not
This Guide is NOT a DYI manual. It does not tell you how to lay tile or do the rough electrical for a kitchen. These things are important details but have nothing to do with the conception and planning of your remodel project. You will find great info on these “how-to” subjects elsewhere, especially on YouTube.
Organization of the Guide
The Guide is set up as an informal work of reference. It is not a textbook. It is a large compendium of standalone Chapters organized into modules, with hyperlinked cross-references and a hyperlinked Table of Contents.
This allows you to find topics that interest you easily and jump from one to the other at will. There are also many outbound hyperlinks to further information on the Internet. These are for inspiration and the sourcing of materials.
You will find some repetition of information but this is due to the common philosophical threads that permeate the whole Guide and its nature as a compendium of standalone Chapters.
The content in some of the Chapters in this Guide first appeared in the author’s blog. But it has been rewritten and repurposed for easy reference in compendium form here, along with never-before published information.
The Approach of the Guide
The Guide emphasizes the importance of thorough pre-planning and research as the key to a successful remodel project outcome, saving money, and minimizing personal stress.
It strongly advocates the use of a Renovation Planner and methodically keeping detailed notes. It urges that most of this work should be done before you even call a contractor or pick up a hammer. In any case, this prep work is essential to managing and working well with the professionals you choose for your project.
Author of the Guide
The author is a retired California remodeling contractor and cabinet company owner with a lifetime of experience in real estate and construction in the US, UK, and Hong Kong.
Get your copy of the guide here: Eguide to Home Remodeling.
Table of Contents
About
Ch 1: About This E.EGuide
Ch 2: Using This EGuide
Design
Ch 3: Universal Design
Ch 4: Aging in Place
Ch 5: Interior Design Overview
Ch 6: Design Elements & Principles
Ch 7: Color in Design
Ch 8: Color in Culture
Ch 9: Room Color and Mood
Ch 10: Remodel Trends
Ch 11: Fad vs Trend
Ch 12: Feng Shui for the Home
Execution
Ch 13: Remodel Overview & Checklist
Ch 14: Finding Inspiration & Materials
Ch 15: Interior Lighting
Ch 16: Smart Home Technology
Ch 17: Flooring Material
Ch 18: Countertop Material
Ch 19: Integrated Countertop and Sink
Ch 20: Pets
Ch 21: 37 Remodel Mistakes
Ch 22: Hidden Remodeling Costs
Ch 23: Financing Options
Ch 24: Loan Broker or Direct Lender
Ch 25: Working with Professionals
The Kitchen
Ch 26: Kitchen Remodel EGuide
Ch 27: Kitchen Overview & Checklist
Ch 28: Kitchen Layout
Ch 29: Kitchen Design Trends
Ch 30: Kitchens for the Elderly
Ch 31: Kitchen Feng Shui
Ch 32: 20 Kitchen Remodel Mistakes
Kitchen Equipment.
Ch 33: Kitchen Components
Ch 34: Kitchen Islands
Ch 35: Kitchen Cabinets
Ch 36: Kitchen Sinks
Ch 37: Kitchen Faucets
Ch 38: Dishwashers
Ch 39: Refrigerators
Ch 40: Wine Fridges
Ch 41: Cooktops & Ranges
Ch 42: Range Hoods
Ch 43: Oven Selection
Ch 44: Microwave Oven Selection
Ch 45: Drawer Microwave Ovens
Ch 46: Over-the-Range Microwave Ovens
Ch 47: Countertop Microwave Ovens
Ch 48: Built-in Microwave Ovens
The Bathroom
Ch 49: Bathroom Remodel EGuide
Ch 50: Bathroom Overview & Checklist
Ch 51: Bathroom Layout
Ch 52: Bathroom Design Trends
Ch 53: Bathrooms for the Elderly
Ch 54: Bathrooms on the Cheap
Ch 55: Bathroom Feng Shui
Ch 56: 36 Bathroom Remodel Mistakes
Bathroom Equipment.
Ch 57: Bathroom Remodel Components
Ch 58: Bathroom Vanity
Ch 59: Bathroom Vanity Sink
Ch 60: Bathroom Faucets
Ch 61: Toilets.
Ch 62: Bidets.
Ch 63: Bidet – Background & Benefits
Ch 64: Bidet Toilet Combo
Ch 65: Bathroom Safety Grab Bars
Ch 66: Bathroom Shower
Ch 67: Shower Heads
Ch 68: Soaking Tubs
Ch 69: Air Tub vs Jetted Tub
Ch 70: Home Spa.
Ch 71: Indoor Sauna
Ch 72: Steam Shower
The Living Room
Ch 73: Living Room
Ch 74: Fireplaces
Ch 75: Living Room Feng Shui
The Laundry Room
Ch 76: Laundry Room
Ch 77: Washers and Dryers
The Bedroom
Ch 78: Bedroom Design
Ch 79: Bedroom Feng Shui
The Home Office
Ch 80: Home Office Design
Ch 81: Home Office Feng Shui
The Yard
Ch 82: Backyard Granny House/ADU
Ch 83: Yard & Garden Remodel
Ch 84: Garden Feng Shui
The Exterior
Ch 85: Home Exterior Remodel
Maximizing the Makeover
Ch 86: The Healthy Home
Ch 87: Air Quality in the Home
Ch 88: Indoor Air Quality & VOCs
Ch 89: Aromatherapy
Ch 90: Water Filtration Systems
Ch 91: Circadian Rhythm Lighting
Ch 92: Reasons to Declutter
Ch 93: Decluttering Tips
Ch 94: Home Health Feng Shui
Ch 95: Zen Zones
Ch 96 Home Gyms
Ch 97: Home Maintenance Checklist
Ch 98: Home Automation
Home Safety
Ch 99: Home Accident Prevention
Ch 100: Home Defense
Ch 101: Designing for Disaster
Afterword
Copyright Notice
