“Open Up Your Home” with an OPEN FLOOR PLAN!

CREATE A “GREAT ROOM” in your home.  Take advantage of the most-used spaces in your home without adding an addition, by considering an “open floor plan.” Wait…what IS an Open Floor Plan? An open floor plan takes existing rooms (typically a kitchen and/or dining room and living room) and combines them into one larger, open […]

The HRD Process Page… because life is a series of STEPS!

Life is a process of STEPS.  Steps to success, including processing the pictures in your head.  Here’s how it works: Our goal:  to create happy homeowners. Your goal:  to create a newly-remodeled room (or rooms) in your home that you’ll love. HERE ARE THE STEPS TO SUCCESS, to get things started properly… AND quickly: Step […]

HRD’s “Bill of Rights” and what you get from us!

At Handyworks Remodeling and Design (HRD) in Wallingford CT, we take our business practices very seriously, and we apply our practices to ALL clients, on ALL projects.  That’s one of the key reasons why HRD is a recognized leader in the home remodeling industry. In fact, we created the “HRD Bill of Rights” to make […]

Creating a new home… IN your home!

Remodeling rooms IN your home creates a brand-new experience.  Consider improving any room, including… KITCHEN remodeling: How about a re-configuration of your kitchen with a larger island to improve efficiency. appearance, and more cabinet space, too? BATHROOM: We remodel bathrooms!   Give yours a complete remodeling.   Two bathrooms?  Consider transforming one into a master bathroom. Other […]

Shop Smarter! What do YOU look for when choosing a remodeling company? (with video)

———————————————————————- HRD QUICK VIDEO:   Click here ———————————————————————– Checking out various remodeling companies?  Great idea!  Learn how to search the web for the best companies, plus get some fast facts from Handyworks Remodeling and Design (HRD) in Wallingford, CT. Before selecting a remodeler, do your homework first!  Make sure the companies you’re calling have a good […]

HRD Holiday Party – Handyworks: a “True Team”

It’s that time of the year again…December!   We sit together.   We talk. We laugh.   We listen.  We share stories and experiences.                     We are the people of HRD, Handyworks Remodeling and Design in Wallingford, CT.  When it comes to working together, we are a true team. […]

Get rolling with your Project Planning Process! (with video)

———————————————————— HRD QUICK VIDEO:  Click here ———————————————————— Remodeling Reality:  Save money, even before you begin!   Heading OUT of the pandemic (more and more), I’m sure you’ve noticed that prices or nearly everything are going up.  What’s going up most?  You’ve already seen the slow increases in prices of gas, groceries, products and services, rent, even […]

Expand Your Home from the INSIDE!

An “Open Floor Plan” greatly smooths out communication paths from area to area   Need an addition to your home?  Think again.  Maybe the additional room you need is already inside your home!    Looking at the most active rooms in your home and how they interconnect with others could be your next growth path for […]

A Warm, Comfy Future… For Your HOME

Ahhhh, yes.  A warm, comfortable home.  That’s what you’ve always wanted your home to be, right?  And, chances are, that’s what you have… but is it warm and is it comfy in EVERY room?  There may be some opportunities you may have overlooked. Consider the parts of your home that could use a little more […]

“Let the Sunshine In” …and what happens when you do!

That well-known phrase, “Let The Sunshine In” is part of the title of the well-known R&B song from the internationally famous group The Fifth Dimension, called “Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In” from 1968.  By the way, we realize that promising “world peace and understanding” is a bit ambitious for us, especially as we wrap up yet […]

FIVE FUNCTIONAL IDEAS To Add Décor Depth To Your Home  

1 of these 5 might be the best way to roll! by Keith Santora, Handyworks Remodeling and Design (HRD)  When you think about your home from a different angle, new possibilities “pop up”, to improve the space you already have.  Sometimes, what your home NEEDS may be something you’ve never thought about before… but it […]

The Big Wedding:  “Design” marries “Build”!

(Estimated reading time = 2 minutes):  Yes, it was a marriage between DESIGN & BUILD, and it still is, and YOU are the “wedding planner” at your home!  That’s right… the bond between the design ideas PLUS the building ideas are “married”, and like a great marriage, that bond lasts and lasts.  That happy couple […]

A Design of the Times! (with video)

——————————————————————- HRD QUICK VIDEO:  Click here ——————————————————————– Plan projects before you begin Indoors or out, upstairs or down, if you’re considering upgrading or remodeling any part of your home this year, make sure it’s planned properly and professionally for best results.  Handyworks Remodeling and Design in Wallingford CT makes your plans become reality quickly… AND […]

Take A Hike… A Handyworks Hike through a Wide World of Ideas! It’s Easy, Fast, and Fun!

(Estimated reading time = 5 minutes):  WALK THROUGH THE HRD “GALLERIES OF INSPIRATION”: Ready? Let’s take an easy, fast and fun stroll through the photo galleries of Handyworks Remodeling and Design. LINKS THAT LAND at projects completed by Handyworks! As we walk around, get ready to find designs to learn more about, or even some […]

All Remodeling Firms are NOT Created Equal! (with video)

————————————————————————- HRD QUICK VIDEO:  Click here  ————————————————————————– What makes one remodeling company different from another?   Can the company you’re talking with handle your remodeling project?  What makes them different?  Often, there are DRAMATIC differences between companies.  Chat with two or more companies and you’ll discover remodeling companies are NOT created equal… in how they talk […]

“Seeing Spots” in Your Home?

  Which of these top home "spots" are yours?  Do they need a "fast fix"?   Throughout the year, people contact us, and they're “seeing spots”!  The "spots" are real!  They are areas of their home they’d like Handyworks to fix up in time for their next event, birthday party, retirement party, baby shower, whenever friends [...]

Are You A “Door Detective”?

Do your doors do their duty?  Find out fast.   Leaving for work.  Getting home after a long day.  Sending the kids to catch the school bus.   Saying hello to visitors.  Going out to mow the lawn.  Just a few of the uses for the doors in your home. Since your doors get used day after […]

Remodeling Your Home? Remodel Your Approach!

[Part 2 in a series, “To Get the Right Remodeler, Ask the Right Questions - Here's What to Say”] In progress... Back in Part 1, we explained how to narrow your search for the right remodeler. Here in Part 2, you start making calls. BONUS:  Below is a handy list of questions PLUS a handy [...]

Finding the Right Remodeler: Easy as ABC!

[Part 1 in a series:  "To get the right remodeler, ask the right questions!" THREE THINGS TO KNOW, to find a remodeler in your area!  Just type these three things, all on one line, in Google:   THING #1:   In Google, type remodeler or remodeling (this shows Google what you're looking for in general), then one space. THING #2:  Then, [...]

Welcome to Bethany! [part 3 of 3]

A Handyworks "Whole-Home Remodel" Completed! Part 3 of 3 in our series "Remodeling an Entire Home" Whole-home remodel in Bethany, CT [click to enlarge) Bethany is a quintessential New England town in south central Connecticut.  Let's take a stroll through this beautifully-remodeled, contemporary colonial, located deep inside of a woodsy cul-de-sac, completely remodeled by Handyworks [...]

Idea-Starters:  A Remodeling CHECKLIST

Popular Projects... Customized by YOU! As you make plans for this year, make sure to focus on the remodeling projects you want most.  Select ideas to get rolling with, and here at Handyworks Remodeling and Design in Wallingford, we can discuss each with you, to help turn your ideas into reality. Here are 3 of the top remodeling [...]

Helping Homeowners: One Page At A Time

The 4 links below go directly to the State of CT Consumer Protection Department's website. Got a home improvement idea?Know this:  there are LOTS of regulations from Connecticut's Consumer Protection Department to protect you, the homeowner. The bottom line: ANYONE working on residential property is required to register with the CT Department of Consumer Protection.  This [...]

You Can’t PLAN Without Having a PRE-PLAN! (with video)

HRD Quick Video:  Click here The RIGHT steps, in the RIGHT order:   In remodeling, before you execute your plan, you need to "do your homework" by creating a "pre-plan" to determine what's most important.   Here at HRD, Handyworks Remodeling and Design in Wallingford, CT, we'd like to give you the basics of pre-planning any project.  [...]

What Matters Most: Friends & Families

The People Who Make Other People Happy L to R: Handyworkers Jack, David, Ricardo, Nate, Keith, Joe, Donavan and Chris [click to enlarge] get together to celebrate their lives and the lives of those around them.  Celebrating successes, facing challenges, and planning for the future. At Handyworks Remodeling and Design, we’re just like you! We’re [...]

Hello, Goodbye: Quality ENTRANCES & EXITS make homes “sing”

  Visitors view your front entrance from a distance, and admire it as they approach (click to enlarge). Including a music video from the Beatles…really! Hello!  Goodbye!  People say those words all the time, at the entrances to your home. It's important to "set the stage" for a warm and welcoming home, whether people are [...]

9 Kitchen Makeover Ideas BEFORE Launching Your Listing

Adding undercabinet lighting to brighten things up. About ready to list your home?  Wait!  Hold it!  A better kitchen always contributes to increasing the sales price of a home, so be sure your kitchen helps your home sell for the best possible price. Before you list your property, improve your kitchen first with any of [...]

PROGRESS UPDATE: Whole-Home Remodel

Part 2 of 3 in our series, "Remodeling an Entire Home" In phase 2 of our "Whole-Home Remodel" in beautiful Bethany, CT, done by HRD (Handyworks Remodeling and Design), things are moving rather quickly. As of Part 2 of this blog, our Handyworkers are midway through the project.  Let’s find out what they've been working on: Exterior, BEFORE: [...]

Make the Most of Your Master Bathroom

>>  Fixtures & Faucets:  Plumbing & Power Finished! YES!  IN MASTER BATHROOM REMODELING, you CAN have it all, with HRD, Handyworks Remodeling and Design of Wallingford, CT.  Be sure your plans include any FIXTURES you want replaced , plus the physical LOCATION of where you want each fixture, if re-arranging is needed. For example, let’s say you [...]

How to Handle a Home… All At once!

Part 1 of 3 in our series, "Remodeling an Entire Home" Handling a Whole-Home Remodel You're invited to join us for a journey:  to watch an actual project-in-progress. Here at Handyworks Remodeling and Design (HRD) of Wallingford, CT, we handle bathroom makeovers, kitchen redesigns, roofing, siding, even creating a new patio or backyard deck from scratch, but [...]

Building a Better Bathroom Faster, while Saving on Costs All Around

Think Twice... BEFORE Your Remodeler Starts Remodeling! Wait a minute…before you rip out your entire bathroom to renovate into a new and better one, just pause for a moment and consider this fact: You can save money, time and tempers by using elements that can make a dramatic statement quickly. For example, if your remodeler [...]

TURNING IDEAS INTO ACTION — The Battle of Budget vs. Design!

When People SAY They’re Ready… but they’re not. Ok, it’s done. You’ve got it…it’s right there, in your head. Finished! (deck added) It’s your next home remodeling project in Wallingford, Hamden, North Haven, Cheshire, or anyplace throughout South Central Connecticut. You can SEE it; the finished project, in your mind, just as if it really existed!  You [...]

Siding Solutions for Spring & Summer

New siding PLUS new doors and windows, too. A Siding Secret PLUS a Siding Tip (...if you can't wait, see bottom two paragraphs) Springtime and Summertime is SIDING time, changing the look of homes across Connecticut.  Just select the materials and the look you like, and you’re off & running, with new siding from Handyworks [...]

Do It Yourself… Or Not? (with video)

HRD QUICK VIDEO:  Click here    Why You Should Avoid DIY "Do It Yourself" Projects Before... Over the decades that the talented professionals in my company and I have spent in the remodeling & home improvement business, we’ve learned that a SMALL point often has a LARGE impact on your project!  So, from your friends [...]

Why replace WINDOWS or DOORS in your home?

What do old windows & doors have in common?  They’re almost never replaced with the same model or material anymore.   Did you ever try to find parts for an old car? Very often, the parts you need are no longer available because the model is long off the market and nearly impossible to find exactly what [...]

Insurance “Assurance” (with video)

HRD QUICK VIDEO:  Click here     What you NEED, before you PROCEED! Here in Connecticut, before hiring a contractor, you need to know they have the proper insurance.  Specifically, the contractor needs ALL THREE of these coverage types shown below to be a safe bet.   BUT there's a fast way to get this info.  [...]

DECK CHECK! Upgrade your deck/patio to shine this summer

Finished! "All Decked Out":  Now, you've got someplace to go...YOUR house! One of the most attractive upgrades to your house is to renovate the deck. Some new decks last literally years longer than other new decks. Why? We’ll explain what your choices are in “Deck Check”, this week’s blog from HRD, Handyworks Remodeling and Design in Wallingford, CT. [...]

Is BEST Price the RIGHT Price? Probably Not! (with video)

[Part 3 of 3 in our series, "Choosing the Right Remodeler"] “Have that talk” with the remodeler of your choice. ___________________________________________ HRD QUICK VIDEO:   Click here to learn how HRD handles changes in the economy.  ____________________________________________ Did you read that headline? Read it again.  Getting the BEST price is NOT the end of the story. [...]

A Remodeler’s References AND Reputation: Check BOTH before you hire

Part 2 of 3 in our series, "Choosing the Right Remodeler" Finding and hiring the right Connecticut remodeler for your next project includes two critical checks: (1) their reputation, and (2) their references.  Here’s how to accomplish both checks, in a few quick steps: Finished! (living room) REPUTATION checks: look for a local company with an frequently-recommended reputation. Ask around. You [...]

Remodeling? Talk to YOURSELF first!

Part 1 of 3 in our series, "Choosing the Right Remodeler" Question:  When you talk about improving your kitchen, bathroom or deck, who hears you first?Answer:  The remodelers and contractors are very often the first people that hear you talk about your idea.  In fact, you may find yourself talking to a remodeler even before you have fully thought through [...]

Clearing a ROOM clears your MIND

Basement ready for furnishings. Spring:  A perfect time for changes at home With the dull, cold and harshness of a Connecticut winter behind us, and the color, warmth and anticipation of spring all around us, many people decide that this is an excellent time to fix-up the family room, renovate a bathroom, or upgrade the back patio. [...]

3 Hot Keys to Kitchen Remodeling: Planning! Planning! Planning!

"Abe Lincoln said, “If I had 8 hours to chop down a tree, I’d spend 6 hours sharpening my axe.” What does that mean in the fast-paced world of remodeling?  Planning! LOOK at this split-level, 3250 sq. ft. home in southeastern Wallingford CT, purchased with an 11 x 18 ft. kitchen. On the south side [...]

National Good Neighbor Day

Every September 28th, neighbors celebrate the importance of a good neighbor.  And what's wrong with that?  It's a great idea. In fact, we at HRD, Handyworks Remodeling and Design in Wallingford, CT, take this even further by defining “neighbor” as a fellow human being. We make it our business to treat our past, current and potential clients [...]

National Remodeling Month!

Every year, May is National Remodeling Month! Here at HRD, Handyworks Remodeling and Design in Wallingford, CT, we’re ecstatic to announce we’ve provided remodeling, improvements and repairs for our Connecticut clients and customers in these towns: Finished! (addition) Branford, Cheshire, East Hartford, Guilford, Hamden, Meriden, Middletown, New Haven, North Haven, Northford, Plantsville, Portland, Southington, and [...]

Hamden CT – One Person’s Trash is Another One’s Treasure / Vintage Appliances

Remodel and Improvement of Hamden Property We were hired to remodel and improve a home in Hamden, CT, over the winter. After walking through a house for the first time, one of the first things we do is rent a dumpster and get rid of the trash. This time, we were greeted with a surprise—the [...]

Kitchen & Bathroom Remodel in Cheshire

The first 2 photos show the old, outdated kitchen & bathroom, BEFORE our renovation. Walk through this newly-renovated kitchen & bath in Cheshire, CT, part of a whole-home remodel handled by HRD, Handyworks Remodeling and Design in Wallingford, CT. Being not quite sure about the leap forward, we found a nice compromise. We installed slate appliances […]

Staircase Remodel in Wallingford CT Ranch Style Home

A history of the wall-encased staircase of a 1950’s, ranch-style home—the first remodel, and then… OURS! See how Handyworks Remodeling and Design (HRD) transformed an eyesore into a focal point! View the before and during remodeling pictures below: The project:  Remodel a 3-bedroom, 1950’s ranch-style house in Wallingford, CT, in addition to remodeling the bathroom [...]

Wallingford, CT – Garage, Basement & Exterior Renovation

Handyworks Remodeling and Design (HRD) completed a "whole-house renovation" in Wallingford, CT.  In a previous blog, we displayed how we updated a kitchen and bathroom on a tight budget. In this post, we will show you how we finished the renovation by remodeling the basement and the detached garage and updating the exterior. The basement is a [...]

Kitchen & Bathroom Remodel – Wallingford, CT

HandyWorks Remodeling and Design (HRD) recently finished remodeling the kitchen and bathroom of a ranch house in Wallingford, CT. We know many ways to make a small house and a small budget look fabulous without spending a ton of money and we accomplished exactly that, with this home remodeling project. Bathroom, kitchen and basement remodeling are usually the [...]

Insurance 101 Basics: Know Before You Hire (with video)

HRD Quick Video:  Click here "Fully-Insured" does NOT always mean "fully".  Learn more now:  Insurance is a very expensive part of doing honest business.  What people don't realize is that here In Connecticut, contractors/remodelers with no full-time employees (including themselves) do NOT have to carry Worker’s Compensation insurance!  Many contractors offer lower prices because they have not [...]

Welcome to Our Website (with video)

HRD Quick Video:  Click here for a one-sentence description of our company!   Here at HandyWorks Remodeling in Wallingford, CT, part of our continuous-improvement process includes our website. Finished! (sun room) We want to make sure our web pages provide you with fast facts on what we do in a user-friendly manner, always-changing, always updated. [...]