Finishing Touches to Make or Break a Remodel

To keep costs low, many builders use basic wooden balusters to complete staircases. The result is a lack of grandeur, which staircases are meant to add to entryways. To make a bigger impact, it's best to invest in custom or higher-end balusters made from fine woods, welded steel or forged iron. Although there's no major ROI (return on investment) associated with a high-end staircase, it will elevate the overall taste level of a house.

The front door is the crown jewel of a home's exterior. While extra attention is often paid to exterior wall materials and roofing styles, it's the door that really adds architectural interest both outside and inside of the home. Most home improvement stores offer custom-made front doors at affordable prices and with an average lead time of eight weeks. To save money on a remodel, consider sourcing a new front door yourself. This will help you avoid general contractor markups and project management fees.

Adding decorative details to a front door can boost your home's personality and accentuate its architectural style. Instead of choosing the highest-end door available, consider upgrading the middle-of-the-road option with a few special touches. Here, iron studs and a forged iron grate break up the heavy look of the solid wood door.

If you want your porch or patio to feel more like an indoor living space, start by addressing its ceiling. Rather than simply leaving the ceiling covered in basic building materials like pressure-treated plywood, consider cladding it with something more architectural, such as beadboard or V-groove wood plank. Once painted in a color that coordinates with the rest of the home's exterior, the updated ceiling instantly becomes a key feature.