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Month: July 2025

6 ways to make your Seattle home more energy-efficient

It’s hot. Let’s help you save some money

As we live through the warmest months, we’re often asked how Seattle homeowners can make their house more energy-efficient to reduce cooling and heating costs? Here are some great ideas for how to get started:

Optimize your HVAC

For the biggest savings, start with your heating and cooling systems. Install a programmable or smart thermostat, consider a heat pump, insulate your ducts and stay up to date on maintenance and changing your air filters.

Stay out of (super) hot water

Standard water heaters are huge energy-suckers. Set their temp to 120 degrees and consider a heat pump or instant-on hot water heater. Also, wash your clothes with cold water, if possible. While you’re at it, dry your clothes on a rack or outside in sunny weather.

Better windows, bigger savings

It can be a big investment, but replacing old windows with ENERGY STAR-certified double-pane windows can save you a bundle. Consider swapping out your old drafty doors as well.

Mind the gaps

Little air leaks can add up to big energy bills. Seal your ducts, caulk or use foam insulation around windows and doors, close or seal off your fireplace flue and ensure your attic door is properly sealed.

Insulate, insulate, insulate

Keep your home warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer by insulating the attic, floors and walls, especially if you’re already planning a remodel.

New appliances, lower bills

That old fridge in your garage could be costing you a bundle. Look for high-rated ENERGY STAR models if you’re shopping for appliances.

Need help getting your Seattle-area house ready for the season? Axiom Home Services offers handyman services from our home experts. Get started

 

What remodeling projects will give me the biggest return on my investment?

Maximize your Seattle home value with ROI-driven remodeling choices

Unless you’re about to sell your home, it generally isn’t a good idea to solely plan your remodel on resale value. Trends and needs come and go and Seattle-area buyers may suddenly be looking for things that weren’t top priorities in the past, like office space, central air or smart home features. That being said, here are some of the biggest return-on-investment (ROI) projects in home remodeling these days.

Consider curb appeal and exterior living spaces

In terms of dollars spent vs. return, exteriors are a great place to start. Upgrades like garage and front door replacements; fresh exterior paint, new durable siding or stone veneer; new energy-efficient windows; and low-maintenance, eco-friendly landscaping are big draws to homebuyers right now.

Whether in the front or the back of the house, outdoor living spaces are also increasingly popular and important to buyers for those precious Seattle summers. Decks can return as much as 80% of your investment, but patios, outdoor kitchens and fire pits also provide great ROI.

Mid-range home upgrades are key to ROI

There are kitchen remodels and then there are major kitchen remodels. The latter is absolutely worth it if you’ll be in your home for awhile and have home chef aspirations. But in terms of ROI, less extensive kitchen remodels will mostly pay for themselves. Updating cabinets, appliances, lighting, paint and countertops can make your kitchen feel brand new, without the additional expense of going down to the studs and reconfiguring the layout, plumbing and electricity.

Like kitchens, bathroom updates vs. full bathroom remodels deliver the best ROI. Fresh paint, new fixtures, updated cabinets and new tiling look great and typically won’t break the bank.

Get more room for less money

Sometimes it’s worth it to add a floor or bump out your existing floorplan, but if you’re looking for more space for less money, a garage or basement remodel is the way to go—just make sure there’s adequate ceiling height or your project can be a turn-off rather than a feature. If you have the right size lot and a bigger budget, a detached accessory dwelling unit, or DADU can also provide a good ROI, both to Seattle homebuyers down the road and as potential rental space right now.

Be realistic, but put your needs first

Before embarking on any remodeling project, try to see your home through a buyer’s eyes. A small house will still be a small house, no matter how beautiful you make it. Replacing both bathtubs with walk-in showers will make your place more appealing to some buyers and less appealing to others. And location will almost always play a huge factor in resale value.

It’s important to keep these resale limitations in mind and not remodel far beyond the value of comparable properties in your neighborhood. But at the end of the day, if your dream project or higher-end materials will improve your life now and you’re not looking to sell anytime soon, it’s probably worth it.

Need more guidance on your Seattle remodel? As a full-service Design Build firm, Axiom has designers ready to help you hone your vision. Let’s talk

Have a smaller project? Need home maintenance or repairs? Axiom Home Services is here to help. Get started here

How can I update my older Seattle home while preserving its character?

How to modernize a vintage house without losing its original charm

There’s just something about older Seattle homes. From classic craftsmans and charming Victorians to midcentury moderns and Hollywood bungalows, the wealth of architectural styles in the Seattle area is a vintage-lover’s dream.

While we love older homes, we recognize that sometimes they need updating. Gorgeous, 100-year-old leaded glass windows can buckle and fail. Plumbing and wiring from the 1950s isn’t always safe or functional. Some pre-war homes had “unfortunate” things done to them in the 1970s and 80s and need restoration to their original style.

Whatever the issue, the key to a successful historic home remodel is to focus on preservation, reuse and restoration.

Budget more for reuse in your vintage home remodel

If reuse is a priority and you have the budget for the extra labor involved, you can ask your contractor to try to save special woodwork, built-ins or cast-iron bathtubs. You can also find period-appropriate replacement pieces from reuse stores like Ballard Reuse, Earthwise Architectural Salvage and Second Use Building Materials.

Vintage-inspired fixtures for period homes

When reuse is impossible, unsafe or just not cost-effective, look for new, vintage-inspired pieces from retailers like Schoolhouse or Rejuvenation. Whether you’re working with an in-house design team at a firm like Axiom or DIY-ing it, aim for a blend of old and new when you’re picking your fixtures and design elements.

Some general tips for maintaining your home’s character:

  • Try to find period-appropriate fixtures for kitchens and baths, including sinks, bathtubs and toilets. Even big box retailers often have vintage-inspired fixtures that will look at home in your older house.
  • Reproduction and vintage-inspired appliances do exist, and if you have the budget for them, they can add color and style to your kitchen update.
  • Incorporate vintage-inspired design elements, like subway tile, classic cabinetry, chandeliers and sconce lighting.
  • Choose period-appropriate paint colors or opt for wallpaper. For the commitment-phobic, there are countless peel-and-stick wallpaper options these days.
  • If you’re planning on altering the layout and creating more open spaces, consider adding French doors or large pocket doors to maintain the aesthetic and possibility of divided rooms while getting the open feeling you’re after.
  • Use wireless smart home technology to avoid having to go into original plaster walls.
  • Visit second-hand stores and antique shops to find unique vintage décor, furnishings and design elements.

Finally, work with designers and contractors who understand older homes and preservation techniques. Explore their portfolio of past projects or ask to see examples of what they’ve done with older homes.

To explore some of Axiom’s vintage home remodels, go here

If you’d like to start planning your own Seattle remodel, reach out!