Rotating walls, mysteriously dimming lights, and spontaneous combustion by remote control. It sounds like a cross between a haunted mansion and James Bond’s house, but it’s really just an intelligence home, and it’s coming to a neighborhood near you, maybe even your own home.

The designers that created James Bond’s houses weren’t that far off about how a home of the future would function. But the smart homes of today aren’t just designed to look high-tech and make life easier; a main goal of the smart home is to decrease energy consumption by increasing energy consumption awareness.

Once you start looking for a reliable contractor to oversee a home remodel project, everyone seems to have a horror story to tell. But you don’t need to let renovation nightmares scare you away from your home remodeling dreams.

The key to a successful remodeling project is establishing a good relationship with your contractor by educating yourself about your rights and theirs, and it varies by state. You’ll avoid a remodeling nightmare by finding the right person to oversee your project, but as the folks in the following examples will tell you, that’s easier said than done.

Don’t forget to share your own remodeling horror stories and successes with our readers at the end of this post. Your remodeling story could be featured in a future Case Design blog.

It’s no secret that the reality of your own space goes out the window once kids come into the picture. The space that’s allotted for your own stuff gets smaller and smaller as both children and the family itself get bigger. But Baby Boomers and Gen-Xers alike are taking back their homes through remodeling projects once the kids are off to college or living in homes of their own.

Options for using vacant spaces include creating guest suites, relaxation rooms, hobby and art studios, home offices, and specialty rooms. Even if you don’t do a major remodel, home improvement projects such as fresh paint, replacing old, worn out furniture, and redoing floors in high-traffic areas can help make your home look new again and give it some much-needed updates.

This week’s blog is a follow up to a recent post in which I discussed integrating kitchens and living rooms. The premise of the post was that living rooms are underused, and creating a “great room” by combining the kitchen and living room helps the living room get more use and the kitchen gain some much-needed extra space.

That post only addressed the advantages of great rooms, so in today’s related post I’m discussing open floor plans and the advantages and disadvantages of having one. This post may inspire you to create an open floor plan during your home remodel, or to make an existing open floor plan into several separate rooms, depending on your household’s needs.

This week I’m discussing the technology savvy “smart house” because I’ve been receiving so many questions from clients about how they can begin converting their houses into smart homes. But first let me begin by explaining what a smart house is, how one works, and what it’s purpose is in the first place.

Smart homes are automated so that everything in the home is streamlined electronically. They’re a lot like the futuristic homes we used to see in 1970s science fiction movies, where everything is high-tech and controlled with a keypad.

Any substantial home remodeling project should come with a warranty. They essentially serve to guarantee the contractors work, and they leave the home owner feeling confident that their home remodeling project will be done right – the first time. Not all home warranties are created equal. It is important to carefully read through your warranty before signing any type of home remodeling contract and before any type of remodeling work begins on your home as a lot can be hidden in the fine print.

A good home surround sound system is an imperative addition to any music lover’s home no matter the age group or genre of music preference. To ensure countless hours of entertainment with your surround sound system, it’s important to consider things such as budget, wireless options and type of speakers to help maximize your music experience in your home.

When deciding what rooms to remodel in your home, families who love to entertain should look to those rooms where most of their entertaining will take place. Whether the entertaining is family oriented for those of all ages or more mature entertainment, there are a lot of options that can maximize the entertainment potential either in a smaller area such as a family room or a larger area such as a full basement.

Once you make the decision to undergo a major home renovation, arranging financing and hiring a reputable contractor is high on your must-do list. There are, however, some other first steps to consider.

Before any contractors cross your threshold, draw your dream home layout out on paper or in a software program, plan for problems, protect your valuables, and rid yourself of clutter.

A home remodeling project isn’t complete without adding the final design touches, including paint colors, window treatments, lighting fixtures, and home accessories to name a few. A homeowner taking on a home remodeling project has a lot to consider. Adding a touch of flare to the finished look of their remodel should not be one of them. A professional designer can bring a lot to the table and will allow the homeowner to sit back and let someone else handle all of the details. Here are some of the many benefits of hiring a professional designer to top off your home remodel with their expert design skills: