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Oct 06
Love0

Welcome to Austin: The Live Music Capital of the World

By Art, Inspiration

Welcome to Austin: The Live Music Capital of the World

Austin is known for many amazing attributes but we are most proud to boast our incredible live music scene. The “live music capital” slogan became famous in 1991 after it was discovered that the ATX had more music venues per capita than anywhere else in the United States. However, the “live music capital of the world” is more than just a slogan. Live music is a way of life here in Austin, Texas. You can find an incredible live music show any night of the week in some of the venues that make our city what it is. Broken Spoke, Antone’s Nightclub, The Saxon Pub, The Continental Club, and Historic Scoot Inn are some well-known local gems trusted for showcasing local and touring talent. However, this list barely begins to scratch the surface of all the noteworthy music venues in the heart of our city.


AHR’s Live Music Roots

Ronnie Jackson, owner of Austin Home Renovations, is one of the musicians who makes Austin’s live music community the magic that it is known for. He is a singer, songwriter and guitar aficionado who creates songs about life, love and The American Dream. Ronnie can be found playing music at The Saxon Pub or Broken Spoke when not overseeing AHR job sites. Whether he is playing music for a crowd or enjoying a show as a fan, Ronnie is an integral part of the Austin music scene. In addition to home improvement, music is a way of life for Ronnie, as it is for many other Austinites.

“When God created Songwriters, he pulled out all the stops. Songwriters are a unique and special class of human beings. They are warm and fuzzy, serious and passionate. They are creative, fun loving, caring and emotional,” said Ronnie.

You can catch Ronnie live around the Austin music scene or listen to his newest song “Making It Up As I Go” from the comfort of your own home here. We highly recommend you get out and embrace the culture of The Live Music Capital of the World, whether you are new to the 512, or if you are a long time resident who reminisces on the “Old Austin” days.

Aug 05
Love0

How To Get Your Austin, Texas Home Refinance Ready

By Inspiration, refinance, Resources

You’ve probably been hearing the word “refinance” a lot these days if you’re a homeowner in Austin, Texas. This comes as no surprise. It’s a great time to re-finance your home here in the proclaimed Live Music Capital of the World. There’s much to prepare for in order to do it the right way and maximize your ROI. It should come as no surprise that getting your home ready for a re-appraisal is incredibly important in the refinancing process. So, just how do you get ready for a re-appraisal? We’re glad you asked!

A combination of research, cleaning and home renovations can help you raise your home’s re-appraisal value in order to get your home refinance ready. The condition of your home at the time of appraisal actually plays a big role in its determined value, which ultimately affects your refinance rate. Remember the $500 rule. This mean that most appraisers measure a home’s value in increments of $500, so for all minor repairs left for the appraiser to find, such as broken doors or holes in the walls, could add up very quickly when multiplied by $500. If possible, take care of all small and relatively affordable problems on your own before having an appraiser out. It could end up making a huge difference in your determined home value.

Upgrades and renovations can also greatly affect the reappraisal value or your home. We found this list of renovations that contribute most to home value by Realvals incredibly insightful. Amongst the list are: Remodeling kitchens and bathrooms, landscaping to improve curb appeal, adding a deck or outdoor kitchen, installing a new roof and opening up some walls (if they are not load bearing).

Keep in mind that the updates which add the most home value can vary housing market to housing market. It’s also a good idea to speak with a realtor in your neck of the woods about what renovations are catching the eye of homebuyers in your city! Local realtors are usually experts on this subject. 

We’re happy to help you get refinance ready with the renovations and upgrades necessary for maximizing your home’s determined value. Contact us today for a free quote!

Jun 14
Love0

Top Austin Staycation Spots

By Inspiration, Resources

You probably already know that you might need to make alternative lodging arrangements if you’re planning a large-scale renovation project for your Austin Home. It’s probably not ideal to tip toe around in-laws or impose on neighbors for the entirety of the renovation project time. It’s also not always realistic to plan a long out of country vacation during renovation time. Luckily, there are plenty of amazing Austin staycation destination spots that don’t require too much travel or time away from work and school. These awesome staycation spots can serve as an alternative to staying with friends and family during your home renovation time. 

Lakeway Resort and Spa 

This relaxing and gorgeous resort overlooks the beautiful Lake Travis, and boasts multiple lake-view pools for an amazing getaway. One of the pools is for adults only and complete with a swim-up bar, which is perfect for a fun and romantic adult vacation; the other pool is kid friendly and complete with an epic water slide! The resort is also known for its amazing spa services. This stunning location is a beautiful and relaxing spot to occupy during your home renovation project time, whether you book an exciting excision or divide to stay at the hotel for the duration of your visit.

Cypress Valley Treehouses

Cypress Valley Treehouses are a perfect place to staycation during your home renovation project time if you’re looking for a getaway that switching things up from the ordinary. That’s right, you get to literally stay in a gorgeous treehouse that has been converted into a dream hotel room of the wildest imagination. There are several different treehouse lodging options depending on your needs: some are more suitable for families with children, while others are a perfectly suited for a romantic couple’s staycation. This gorgeous, unique, and breathtaking spot is located in Spicewood, Texas, which is only an hour outside of Austin.

Austin Motel 

South Congress is known for its funky and eccentric music venues, foodie restaurants and fun clothing stores, which makes it a true heart of Austin staycation spot to consider during your home project time. The Austin Motel adds to the overall “Keep Austin Weird” vibe with its charmingly funky aesthetic, and staying here puts you a short walk away from all of the fun that South Austin has to offer! Bonus points: The motel’s courtyard has a pool that is well known for it’s fun-filled nighttime pool parties with DJ’s and neon lighting. 

Hotel ZaZa 

Hotel ZaZa is right in the heart of downtown Austin. The hotel manages to be artsy, eccentric and upscale all at the same time. You’re only a short walk away from all of the best of Austin nightlife, and the hotel itself has multiple cocktail bars and happenings as well. The pool is complete with a cabana bar and view that overlooks the entire city! This is a great staycation option for your home project. 

We hope you found this list fun and helpful, whether you need a staycation for home renovation time, or just for a nice getaway. We are proud to serve the Austin area! We’d love the opportunity to help you make your dream home a reality. Contact us today for a free quote!

May 24
Love0

Summer Renovation Ideas and Tips for Austin, Texas Homeowners

By Inspiration, Resources

Austin homeowners know how exciting and fun, yet hot Texas summers can truly be. Despite the hot temperatures, summers can actually be a great time for Austinites to dive into home renovation projects for a number of reasons, such as:empty homes due to family trips, as well as more need for backyard entertainment spaces. We’ve put together a handy list of must-know summer home remodeling ideas and tips for Austin, Texas homeowners.

Focus On Windows 

Natural sunlight can really elevate the look and feel of a home by creating an inviting atmosphere. We suggest modernizing windows in a fashion that matches your home’s overall feel. We also highly recommend doing your research and committing to windows that are built to keep the cold out and warm in — you’ll be happy you did so when the temperatures reach 100 degrees in the summer!

Refinish Outdoor Surfaces 

A nice gloss on a wooden deck protects it and makes it looks like new — its a double win! Since summer usually entails backyard BBQ’s, its definitely a great time to refinish your decks, re-oil wood and scrape off old paint to repaint outdoor surfaces. Impress your friends and family with an updated and beautiful backyard oasis. 


Elevate Your Kitchen With Quartz Countertops 

Quartz makes a kitchen feel sleek and updated without a high cost. We recommend replacing old countertops with new quartz ones: the stone looks nice, is relatively affordable, and is easy to take care of!


Upgrade Your Flooring

New floors go a long way, and summer is a great time to switch out dated carpet or tile! Vinyl plank flooring is a great and affordable option that can save you from a big hardwood splurge. 

Install An Outdoor Kitchen in Your Own Backyard 

Outdoor kitchens are an exciting addition to any backyard area and summer is a great time to get them installed. They’re particularly great for homeowners in Austin, because of the many unique elements to our city: from the warm climate to the eccentric culture. Backyard kitchens increase home value, are wonderful for entertaining, and are easy to clean. 

This short list barely begins to scratch the surface of summer home remodeling tips, but we hope that it has been informative for Austin, Texas homeowners. We are happy to answer your additional questions, and help you make your dream home a reality. Contact us today for a free quote today!

Jan 28
Love0

Kitchen Renovation Inspiration for 2021

By Inspiration

New year, new kitchen! Home renovation projects usually begin with the new year, and this year is no exception to that trend. We’ve put together a list of kitchen renovation ideas for 2021 to spark your creativity. Whether you’re seeking small changes like color scheme, or a big kitchen remodel, we’ve got many ideas that are sure to spark your inspiration. 

Lighting – Ambient, Natural, Task Lighting

Lighting is a very important aspect that determines the mood of a room. This is the case with kitchens as well.  A combination of both natural and task-lighting creates a welcoming ambience to any kitchen. This can be achieved through properly placed windows and overhead task-lighting. The balance between the two does wonders for the feel of a kitchen.

Accenting – Natural, Warm Hues

Warm hues such as browns, beiges and grey started trending last year, because they remind people of the warmth of a sunny day outdoors. We suggest taking this trend further in 2021 with things like wood textures and brick. Light fixtures with warm golden and copper tones contrasted with said textures further achieve this look. 

Kitchen Islands – Vibrant 

The addition of island counter space to kitchens have long been a popular choice. Now, colorful kitchen islands are trending to bring an extra bit of flavor to any kitchen. They really stand out with white cabinets and other light hues. 

Appliances – Statement Colors

On the note of colorful, vibrant appliances like fridges and ovens can really bring a kitchen to life! When treated like statement pieces it is important to try to make sure all the colors coordinate. Pro-tip: vibrant appliances look fantastic in a kitchen with white cabinets and lots of natural lighting.

We hope this list got your creative renovation juices flowing. We are happy to help you with all of your kitchen and home renovation goals for 2021. Contact us today for a free quote!

Jan 19
Love0

8 Hilarious Home Improvement DIY Fails

By Inspiration, Resources

Who doesn’t love a good DIY project? DIY home improvement projects have been particularly popular during the days of quarantine and social distancing as a form of entertainment for so many people stuck in the house. These types of projects can also be great for saving money. However, DIY projects can also be costly and even dangerous if the person doing them doesn’t actually know what they are doing. These 8 hilarious home improvement DIY fails show us that some projects are best left up to the professionals!

DIY Fail 1 – This Stressful Bathroom

Where do we begin with this confusing DIY project? There is a lot going on in this bathroom remodel. We wonder if they left it like this.

Credit – InspireMORE

DIY Fail 2 – This Shower Conversion

This bathtub to shower conversion gets points for creativity and an “A” for effort. We would still be weary to use it. Should we take bets on how long this brilliant idea lasted?

Credit – TNI Press

DIY Fail 3 – This Wrong Sized Door

Spoiler Alert: Not all doors are created equal or the same size.

Credit: Reddit 

DIY Fail 4 – This Wrong Sized Ceiling Fan

Another pro tip: Not all ceiling fans are the right size either. Make sure to measure before buying and installing. These poor walls; this looks like it hurt them.

Credit – Imgur 

DIY FAIL 5 – This Perfectly Situated Toilet

We’ve got to give another “A” for effort, but this is clearly not going to work out. We all want more privacy than this!

Credit- Reddit

DIY FAIL 6 – This Unique Sink

Well, that is one way to get the perfect temperature in your sink water. It’s definitely not pretty, and we have no idea how long this homemade contraption will actually work.

Credit: Reddit

DIY FAIL 7 – A Poorly Planned Kitchen Remodel

Someone’s kitchen storage space just majorly decreased. Theres no way they just left it this way…right!?

Credit – Instagram 

DIY Fail 8 – This Failed Kitty Door

Cats can jump pretty high, right? Maybe this person’s cat can jump high enough to make it out. We’d love to watch that attempt!

Credit – Reddit

We hope you got some good laughs out of this hilarious list of home improvement DIY fails. As you can see, some projects are best left up to the professionals. We’re happy to help you with those home renovation goals. Contact us for a free quote today!

Jan 07
Love0

Top 4 Home Renovation Ideas for 2021

By Inspiration, Resources

We’ve officially made it to 2021! It’s safe to assume that we speak for most of us when we say a new year couldn’t have been more welcomed this time around. With every new year comes new home renovation and home decor trends. Below is our list of the top 5 home renovation ideas that we strongly believe will trend throughout 2021.

Home Office Conversions

There’s no telling when some of us will return to the office, so work from home spaces are continuing to get more extraordinary. The pandemic has continued to challenge us to discover new ways to maximize every bit of space in our homes, and we predict this trend to not slow down in 2021. We’d love to help you convert unused parts of your home into a home office sanctuary that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

Backyard Oases

Spending more time at home doesn’t have to be boring, and an oasis in your own backyard provides quality entertainment. Outdoor kitchens and backyard decks have become all the rage, because they allow even more room for safe social distancing when entertaining at the house. If you want to get extra fancy with it you can add cozy outdoor furniture and drop down screens to protect against mosquitos. Outdoor kitchens, backyard patios and other home renovations that create true backyard oases will continue to trend throughout this new year; we’re happy to help you create your own!

Bathroom Facelifts

The spas may be closed, but you can create your own personal spa with a bathroom facelift. A beautiful bathroom sanctuary can actually help reduce stress. According to a 2020 Houzz Bathroom Trends Study, two in five homeowners (41%) who renovated a master bathroom say they rely on their new space for rest and relaxation. This means that a bathroom facelift can also help you through some pandemic stress! All of these reasons are why we predict 2021 to be full of bathroom facelifts.

In Home Entertainment Spaces

In addition to spas being closed, many movie theaters and entertainment facilities are closed as well. But have no fear — you can create your own entertainment space in your home. Media rooms, home gyms and other in-house entertainment spaces will continue to trend throughout 2021. Now is the perfect time to make your home the fun, functional and relaxing place that you’ve always wanted it to be!

We’re happy to help you with your ambitious home renovation projects any time of the year. If you’ve been waiting for inspiration to make you dream home a reality, contact us for a free quote. We can’t wait to begin working with you and your home!

Dec 31
Love0

Goodbye & Good Riddance 2020

By Holiday, Inspiration

The countdown to 2021 has started! The end of the year is always a time for reflection, and with a new year comes hope in a fresh start. I know we speak for most of us when we say how excited we are to say goodbye and good riddance to 2020. This year has been challenging for many of us, so let us toast to a less challenging road in the new year ahead. We all deserve a fresh start in 2021. 

A fresh start in the new year doesn’t have to mean something drastic like moving across the country, a big career change, or even buying an entirely new home; sometimes it simple means completing those pesky house renovations that have been put off for years. Even the smallest projects can go a long way when it comes to re-creating a home space. New year, new you and a new space. 

If you decide that 2021 is time for a fresh home renovation start, then Austin Home Renovations happy to help you with your ambitious home projects any time of the year. If you’ve been waiting for this inspiration to make you dream home a reality, contact us for a free quote. We can’t wait to begin working with you and your home!

All of us here at Austin Home Renovations wish you and your loved ones a happy and prosperous 2021. Thank you for continuing to trust Austin Home Renovations with your homes!

Dec 22
Love0

Holiday Joy!

By Holiday, Inspiration

The days are shorter, the weather is cooler, and the city of Austin skyline is bright with Christmas lights. It’s the best time of the year to enjoy life’s simplicities, even while social distancing, as most of us are during 2020. Austin (and all of Central Texas) is known for its mild winters, so make sure to enjoy as much outdoor time as possible during the holiday season.

We know the holidays are going to look different for a lot of us this year, so Ron Day and I wrote a new Christmas song dedicated to our first responders, medical personnel, members of the armed forces, and all those not able to be with friends and family this Holiday Season. Things are going to look different this year, but we’re going to have a merry Christmas anyway!

We hope you all stay safe, warm and cheerful this holiday season! Whether you decide to get together in a social distance manner, or keep your time with loved ones virtual, we hope that you find a special way to enjoy the holidays with the people you care about most. May you be able to continue on with old holidays traditions with your loved ones, and start all new traditions during these weird times as well.

All of us here at Austin Home Renovations wish you and your loved ones a very merry Christmas! Thank you for continuing to trust Austin Home Renovations with your homes! We look forward to the new year of 2021 and hope to be able to see more of ya’ll in person when things get back to normal.

 

Oct 26
Love0

Happy Halloween from Austin Home Renovations

By Holiday, Inspiration

We at Austin Home Renovations want to take the time to wish you all a wonderful kick off to the holiday season, starting with Halloween. We know that holidays are going to look and feel a lot different for the majority of us this year. However, we believe its important to keep our spirits high and mentality festive now more than ever (within health guidelines, of course). 

Whether you plan to enjoy an evening in with your family with scary movies, host a small socially distanced costume party on your backyard deck, or attend a virtual party from the comfort of your own home, we hope you spend Halloween surrounded by fun and loved ones. There are a lot of different ways to enjoy the holiday and we wish that you do exactly what makes you most happy. 


Halloween and the holiday season as a whole seemed to creep up during the sheer chaos of this unprecedented year. Is your home ready for all of the upcoming holidays? We’re happy to help you with home improvement projects to get it ready to entertain over the holidays. Contact us for a free quote. 

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