My sons house burnt to the ground?

I'm sorry to hear about your sons house. This actually happened to my parents a few years ago. First, he'll have to see what the insurance says. A lot of times they give options for what materials will/can be used or they will give you a budget for each area of the house. Once you know the budget, you can start seeing what you can afford in those prices and go from there.

Hi Carol! I, too, have known people who lost their homes to various disasters. Rebuilding is a process. I hope his insurance is helpful. One thing I would suggest, is for him to consider what worked for the old house and what didn't. We get used to the little quirks of a home, living with them, even when they aren't convenient. Did the layout of the old kitchen work? How about the bathroom? Were there enough closets and other storage? Once the budget is in place, have him look at the many options available. Wood floors are nice, but, are they practical for this home? A basic color scheme, even neutrals, will give you the starting point. Flow of space and colors can make a house feel so much bigger. When our new house was renovated, a lovely, neutral cream color was painted on the open floor plan walls and upstairs hallway. Bathrooms, and bedrooms were painted a light gray. All the trim is a glossy white and the doors are all a dark grayish brown. The floors are a pretty gray. I have shades of blue on all the windows, red accents, and neutral furniture (except for my barstools, which are a pretty red). It is peaceful, attractive and feels like home. I pulled my color choices from my favorite pieces of art, and found except for the barstools and window coverings, things I already had work well. In other words, use the colors you love.

So so sorry to hear that! A very stressful time for the entire family and friends. Hopefully the new build will lift everyone's spirits.

Work within the parameters of the budget provided by the insurance company unless they have money for upgrades. My suggestion would be to go with a neutral palate, as you can introduce color in art, decor and furnishings. Grays are trendy, but purely a personal choice. I started using grays in my current house 18 years ago, and I found it to be too depressing, dreary and painted it over in the short term. Just get the best quality of everything within the budget, including hardware, countertops, faucets, toilets, appliances and furniture.

Might I suggest he and his family visit kitchen and bath showrooms and get a handle on what is available. Chat with the designers as they can help put together raw supplies into a cohesive design and it is free advice without having to hire a designer to consult with. If they have money for a designer, by all means hire one. Wander through high end furniture stores to get ideas for color texture and layout. Take photos wherever you can for reference. Shop elsewhere to get a bargain.

In times of stress it is hard to make decisions to pull it together. Get a trusted family member or friend that has good taste that is one step removed from the situation to help with decisions if need be.

Design School who had to work on projects, such as mine, in order to graduate. We was very inexpensive and yet knowledgeable about I needed.