Professional Builder columnists

Wendy A. Jordan

Wendy A. Jordan is senior contributing editor of Professional Remodeler magazine, and the author of numerous remodeling books for contractors and homeowners.

Recent Columns from Wendy A. Jordan

Outside Chances
For clients who want to enjoy the outdoors, there is a ''better mousetrap'' than the screened porch. It's the outdoor room, a screenless, no-walls, open-air charmer that is surprisingly versatile and functional.
7/26/2006

Outside the Box

7/12/2006 7:55:00 AM

Kitchen a la Carte
Today's homeowners might not even know it, but they are ready for kitchens with zest. Designers and kitchen product manufacturers now offer such a vast menu of choices that there's no reason for homeowners to make do with dull.
5/9/2006 11:44:00 AM

Big Impression
Most owners of small houses are limited more by lack of innovative remodeling ideas than by lack of space. To stand apart from your competition and really help your clients, it's important to bring creative ideas as well as construction know-how to the...
8/24/2004

Whole House
Salvaged Materials and Creative Concealing Restore Character to 18th Century House
8/1/2004

Master Suite
High-tech treats and fine detailing create a luxurious home-within-a-home
8/1/2004

Attic Attraction
Here's a formula that adds up to big business for remodelers: Tight space downstairs + underused attic = compelling opportunity for a top-story pop-up.
6/22/2004

Clean Sweep
Designing a dual-personality bath requires a balancing act, with practical necessities such as storage, bathing and prep space on one side of the scale and aesthetic factors such as clutter control and fine finishes on the other.
4/21/2004

Little Jewel Box
Small remodeling jobs can present giant challenges because they have to accomplish so much in so little space. This Foster City, Calif., solarium addition is a perfect example.
3/24/2004

Sitting Pretty
The kitchen serves as the action center in most homes, but that doesn't mean all the action should be in the center of the kitchen. The answer: a kitchen sitting nook.
2/20/2004

The Everything Room
What do you do when your clients want it all? Give it to them, of course. Introducing one of the most sought-after additions to the home: the 'everything room.'
12/18/2003

Going With the Flow
Homeowners are going with the flow -- the flow of traffic into the kitchen. Many kitchen remodeling clients want the walls to come down, opening the kitchen to adjacent entertainment space.
10/30/2003

The Sweets in Master Suites
Little things make all the difference in master suites. These bed-and-bath suites remain big business for remodelers, but client demand has shifted from showy spreads to smaller, elegantly customized getaways.
9/23/2003

All in the Family Room
Family rooms are not just for families anymore. They are for hosting parties, entertaining a few friends or simply relaxing alone. In other words, they are 'everything rooms' - and every home needs one.
7/1/2003

Customer-Pleasing Home Office
Remodeling clients recognize the importance of their home office and are ready to give it the design attention it deserves. They want a customized space that fits their business needs and organizational style. But that's not all: they want the office t...
6/6/2003

Kitchen a la Carte
Today's homeowners might not even know it, but they are ready for kitchens with zest. Designers and kitchen product manufacturers now offer such a vast menu of choices that there's no reason for homeowners to make do with dull.
5/1/2003

Outside the Box
No longer extras, decks are combining with family rooms to form polished indoor-outdoor living areas that make any home feel bigger and function better.
4/1/2003

Master Bath: Personal Best
Remodeled bathrooms are to our business what laptops are to the computer industry: They are usually small but loaded with style, convenience and smart ideas. And they are hot sellers.
3/3/2003

Top-Flight Basement
Whether upgrading basements in old houses or completing unfinished lower levels in newer houses, remodelers are showing that, unlikely as it might seem, underperforming basement space can be turned into stylish extensions of the living area.
2/7/2003

Command Not-So-Central
Homeowners want their kitchens to shine and are springing for show-stopping appliances, cabinets, countertops and fixtures. It's no surprise that a remodeled kitchen often is the star of the house.
12/30/2002

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