While everyones trying to book the best deals, the last minute flights, organizing dog sitting and plant watering, you wonder; why do we do this to ourselves? We pay so much to have a home, why not be able to enjoy it? By simply putting the next few vacations aside, the money you would’ve spent on some 1 week all-inclusive resort, you can turn your home into your own at-home oasis. What better treat than to come home from work and kickback in the Refined home of your dreams?

1. Embracing Summer: The Art of Slowing Down with Customized Interior Design

As the sun climbs higher and the days stretch longer, summer often becomes synonymous with endless activity and outdoor adventures. But amidst the rush to seize every moment of sunshine, there's a serene alternative waiting within the comfort of our homes. This season, why not indulge in the art of slowing down and savoring the pleasures of customized interior and exterior spaces? Right in your home, the way you want it, and exactly the way you’ve always imagined it.

2. Creating Your Personal Oasis

Your home is more than just a place to rest your head—it's a canvas for self-expression and relaxation. Summer invites us to reflect this vibrant energy indoors through thoughtful interior design. Whether you're drawn to the calming hues of coastal blues or the warmth of earthy tones reminiscent of a sun-soaked afternoon, your space can embody the essence of summer year-round.

3. Bringing the Outdoors In

While summer beckons us outside, bringing elements of nature indoors can cultivate a soothing sanctuary. Consider incorporating natural textures such as rattan furniture or bamboo accents, or introducing houseplants to breathe life into your living spaces. These touches not only enhance aesthetics but also foster a connection with the outdoors, promoting tranquility and rejuvenation.

4. Curating Comfort and Ease

In the hustle and bustle of summer activities, our homes offer a retreat where comfort reigns supreme. Soft, plush furnishings beckon you to unwind, while ambient lighting sets the mood for relaxation after a day under the sun. Personalize your space with cozy throws, cushions in playful prints, or a hammock chair that invites you to sway gently with a good book.

5. Celebrating Personal Style

Summer is the perfect season to celebrate your unique style and infuse it into every corner of your home. Whether your taste leans towards minimalist chic, bohemian flair, or classic elegance, let your personality shine through in your decor choices. Display cherished mementos from summer adventures or showcase artwork that captures the essence of the season—it's these personal touches that transform a house into a home.

6. Time Well Spent

In a world that often glorifies constant motion, summer encourages us to slow down and savor moments of quiet joy. Embracing customized interior design allows us to create a space where time seems to slow, where we can fully appreciate the beauty of our surroundings and the company of loved ones. Whether it's enjoying a leisurely breakfast by a sunlit window or hosting an intimate gathering with friends, these are the moments that define summer and create lasting memories.

This summer, amidst the flurry of activities and outdoor escapades, take the time to rediscover the tranquility and joy of your customized home. Embrace the art of slowing down, where every corner reflects your unique style and invites you to relax, recharge, and reconnect. Let your home be a sanctuary that celebrates the essence of summer—inside and out.

Contact us or visit our Wilmington or Wellesley location to create your dream home.

Sometimes some ‘zhuzhing’ can do the trick!

In the realm of home design, the principle of less is more can be a great start to finding your home’s style and really help you get rid of that ‘junk’. We know it’s not junk, but is it what you want around your home? Do you want to look at it every day? Embracing this ethos, the art of zhuzhing introduces a minimalist approach that can completely change the look and feel of your home. By decluttering and carefully curating furnishings and décor, a sense of serenity pervades, promoting mental well-being and relaxation. Simple yet stylish pieces take center stage, showcasing individuality and personality without overwhelming the senses. Functionality merges seamlessly with form, with sleek furniture and strategic lighting enhancing the aesthetic appeal. In essence, through the subtle refinement of said zhuzhing, homes attain a harmonious balance where every element contributes to a sophisticated ambiance, proving that sometimes, all it takes is a minimalist touch to achieve timeless elegance.

Does all this happen with simple zhuzhing? No, but it’s a great start. To truly reach your goal of a Refined Home is to reach out to us here at Refined Renovations!

Refined’s Jim and Matt’s Debut on Love it or List it (totally legit & not photoshopped)

Have you ever seen HGTV’s Love it or List it? While one person is ready to stick a for-sale sign in the front lawn, the other is saying they’re being buried next to Bailey their beloved late golden retriever by the oak tree out back. But in February, we all only think about love and compromises… RIGHT?

Let’s reflect. What in your current home brings you the most joy? Where were your favorite memories made? Where do you spend the most time? But now, what drives you crazy? What about your home makes you want to move and never look at it again?

Love where you live. People spend most of their lives making money to afford a house. Once you have that house, time passes, memories are made, and it becomes your home. The home then becomes another member of the family that some people just aren’t ready to leave behind as their lives continue to grow. That’s when additions and renovations come into play. Don’t grow out of your home, let your home grow with you. You laid your roots, so let’s let them grow.

That’s where we come in. We work with you by hearing you out. By listening to your pros and cons, we mediate design and build options, and provide alternatives to compromise for the entire family. We work together to refine your home and make it suit your lifestyle. It could be as simple as repurposing spaces, rearranging furniture, adding color, or removing texture.

What we do to help. Through conceptual design meetings, we render design options for you to review. This helps visualize actual furnishings, to scale, within your space. People say online shopping is so annoying because there’s no guarantee it’ll fit, the return process is annoying, yatty yatty yatta. We’ll they’re not wrong, it is! But here at Refined our designers are excellent at Chief Architect - on which, to scale, they model your home and layout fixtures and furnishings that are guaranteed to fit your home. So time isn’t wasted with will this fit? will that fit? We have the dimensions of what we are working with and we get designing.

Don’t know where to start? We specialize in new construction, renovations, additions, remodels, and interior design. With showrooms in Wilmington, MA and Wellesley, MA, we service all of Greater Boston and around. A few towns we work in are: Andover, North Andover, Burlington, Winchester, Lexington, Concord, Newton, Wellesley, Natick, Brookline, Cambridge, South Boston, Somerville, Arlington, Sudbury, Haverhill, and more. We’re a one stop shop here with an in-house design and build team who project manage and over see your entire project from start to finish. From full blown conceptual designs, to sourcing finishes, to framing additions and custom millwork, we have you covered. Soup to nuts.

So are you still singing, ‘Should I stay or should I go?’ call us this Valentine’s Day to talk your feelings out. We usually have chocolates and delicious lattes right in our showroom. Contact us today and let’s get your home Refined!

Christina Coakley - Refined Renovations