Does Mom Deserve Something Extra Special for Mother’s Day This Year?
Mom has handled the last year like a pro.
First, there was toilet paper shortage where she successfully scored enough cushy rolls to last a global pandemic.
She captained the front lines of making sure everyone’s hands were always sanitized.
Day after day she tirelessly entertained with stay-at-home crafts, took over the schooling duties, and managed to find enough recipes to use up (most) of those beans you stocked the cupboard with in April (even though she begged you not to buy 50lbs of dried beans).
2020 was crazy for everyone. But let’s give an extra shout out to the moms this year- who now, more than ever, deserve a real round of appreciation. Am I right?
So let’s talk about Mother’s Day 2021.
What do you have planned?
I’m guessing you didn’t do a lot of celebrating in 2020- and mom understands. She was pretty happy with the gallon of hand sanitizer you scored at Costco last mother’s day. But shouldn’t this year be extra special?
Sure, you could wait until May 8th, run to Walgreens, and promise yourself you’ll do something extra nice next year.
Or you could be Champion of Mother’s Day 2021. All it takes is a great idea- and a little planning. You could make mom feel like the most wonderful woman in the world. Which, she is, right?
Let me help. As a mom myself, I’d like to think I have special insight into the things that unlock the core thing all great gifts have in common: the memories they make.
After all, at Martin Roofing & Siding, our crew builds the stage for memories into our client’s homes every day.
Is this something we can do for you? Absolutely. But now’s the time to get on the schedule if you want to book a project for Mother’s Day.
Need help finding a good fit? Steal one of these incredible ideas for yourself and light up her world this spring.
“Home Renovation? Is that really a gift???”
If you’re worried that your home renovation idea will be the equivalent of getting mom a vacuum- no stress.
The key is choosing a project around her interests. When you take care of this first, you get the dual benefit of both increasing your home’s value as an asset, but that intangible value of having a place that’s just right for you.
Still not convinced?It’s such a popular idea, they’ve even made a show around gifting home renovations. My Houzz pairs with celebrities to create the perfect space for their family members. Take Ashton Kutcher for example:
He designed a space just to say thank you to his mom.
The best news? You don’t have to have a celebrity budget to make beautiful changes that mom will adore. This list of Mother’s Day Home Improvements ranges from full renovation to completely free.
Scroll through and, hey, maybe pass the phone over to mom herself to take a look.
1. Front Porch for the Southern Hospitality Mom
Is your mom a social butterfly? The woman who’s always hosting the book club and having the neighbor over for morning coffee? 2020 has been rough on extroverts. Pennsylvania’s winter, cooped up inside the house, doesn’t help either.
If your wife or mom:
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- Loves to chat with the neighbors
- Spends hours at a time on the phone with friends
- Looks forward to catching up with family at holidays
She’s the social type. Honor her love language by giving her a space to spend time with those who matter most. And there’s no better place for hospitality than the front porch.
Best of all- when you schedule your build now, mom will be able to enjoy her new spot all summer.
Need some design inspiration? Here you go:
Does she gravitate towards a more simple, but elegant look? This white wraparound porch is chic, without being too extravagant:
Historic homes look great with a renovated porch. Take this historic home in York, Pennsylvania for example:
The porch matches the original Queen Anne design of the house and still offers a great space to sit and catch up with friends.
Add a touch of green and boost curb appeal with built in planter boxes, like this house:
Fill the planter boxes with flowers that attract butterflies. Marigolds and coneflowers are a great choice. You can even buy special flower mixes designed to bring butterflies to visit.
If she’s the social butterfly of the family, she doesn’t want a space just for herself. She wants somewhere to enjoy everyone she loves. And a great front porch? What a perfect way to let her love shine.
2. The Outdoor Kitchen for Her New-Found Bread Hobby
Have sourdough starters taken over the kitchen counter? Have you given up on getting in shape because trying to resist the warm, oven-fresh creations she’s always making is impossible?
And really, you’re not complaining. Being her bread-recipe tester has some delicious benefits.
Imagine your wife’s face when she sees the plans for a wood-fired oven out back. If your family already loves entertaining outside, how about creating an outdoor kitchen? (Even better, make the perfect grill pit and celebrate Mother’s and Father’s day together!)
If she loves to bake, this style of outdoor kitchen is perfect. There’s plenty of counter space for rolling out dough. Add a fridge for bread starters and keep meats fresh and you have a dream in the making!
The countertop and stools are great for additional seating while maximizing space and keeping her wonderful creations center-stage.
If grilling is more her forte, design an outdoor space with that in mind! This built in gas grill is perfect for summer bbqs:
Your whole family will love this: check out this outdoor pizza kitchen-
An outdoor kitchen increases more than just cooking space. It also adds to your home value! In fact, it’s estimated that homes with outdoor kitchens can see a return on investment by as much as 200%.
The best part about designing an outdoor kitchen? You get to enjoy it too! This is the perfect gift to say thank you for loving, (and feeding) your whole family.
3. Plant a Tree Together
Mom invests so much in helping your family grow.
…tying shoes…
…chauffeuring to sports practice…
…making snacks and helping with homework…
Honoring her role in your family’s growth by planting a tree together is a beautiful way to celebrate her work.
I’ve always loved the way weeping willows look in the front yard. They add a dramatic touch and also offer shade and a place to sit and read on warm days.
When choosing a tree, find something that is personal to her. Apple trees can create autumn traditions when they bear fruit, flowering trees celebrate her beauty in the spring, and solid oaks pay tribute to her steadfast love.
Make an event of your tree planting together by:
- Planning a picnic next to your new addition
- Writing a tribute note of why you choose this tree for mom
- Or planning special landscaping (or a bench!) around the base
Just do us a favor and don’t plant your tree too close to your house. (Why? See how this and other landscaping mistakes can cost you here)
4. The She-Shed Conversion
Everyone needs some peace and quiet- especially mothers with younger children in the home.
Surprise her this Mother’s Day by converting your detached garage into her own private room!
In the past, detached garages were a great solution for storage problems…but not a cozy place to hang out.
Modern detached garages are different. These small spaces can be easily converted into beautiful getaway spots: perfect for a cozy retreat, a guest bedroom, or housing mom’s favorite hobby.
How do you start? The best way to design a garage remodel for Mother’s Day is to keep in mind what she needs out of the space.
Has working from home been a challenge for her? This could be the perfect office:
This garage-turned-workspace gives the distraction-free space she needs to get her job done.
Speaking of which, if she needs a place to just relax and catch up on reading, check out this design: 
Looking for more inspiration on converting your detached garage? You can read here for more suggestions.
5. Garden Window Inserts
Is your lady a #plantmom? Have her succulent babies outgrown every windowsill in the house?
GIve her the best Mother’s Day Gift EVER with a garden window conversion:
This small scale greenhouse both showcases her plants, keeps the house feeling “alive” during the worst winter storms, and also is a great place for spring garden starts.
Our supplier Simonton, creates extremely energy efficient and low-maintenance garden windows. That means if you’re replacing a window that’s already a little drafty, you’ll also be saving money on your heating and cooling.
A standard-size garden window + installation will cost between $3-4k and can be installed in just a day! Book a call here and reserve your space on our schedule for this perfect Mother’s day gift.
6. The Attic Conversion
When you ask her what she wants for Mother’s Day, does she respond with, “a clean house?”
(That’s a silly question…Don’t we all?)
Well, instead of booking a cleaning service or shoveling the toys in your coat closet for the night- how about creating a kid-free zone that will make her feel like the elegant homeowner she is?
In short- let’s give her back her grown up space by creating a dedicated “kid area” to keep the toys contained. Not sure if your house has any more space to give? The Martin crew specializes in additions and conversions. Renovations like: turning your attic into a finished space both mom and kids love.
By converting the attic into a playroom, you’re giving the toys a home of their own. An extra space for playing and creativity keeps toys out of the living room makes it so much easier to keep a clutter-free home.
And it won’t matter if the playroom is a mess. Unlike your living space, if it’s not picked up, you can just shut the door. Out of sight out of mind, right?
An attic conversion is great for moms whose kids have left the nest, too. Create a room just for her to explore her hobbies.
If she’s a big DIYer, always scrolling through Pinterest for her next project, give her a craft room, like this:
Or maybe she just needs a space to relax with a good book. This attic conversion to reading nook is the perfect design for her:
You can read more about attic conversions in our earlier post for more ideas for this Mother’s Day.
7. Outdoor Improvements for Garden Loving Moms
Another one for the Greenthumb Moms. Is your Mother’s Day tradition heading to the garden supply store and finding a new addition for her plant collection?
This year- make it extra special. Give her a gift designed around her talent by creating the perfect garden space for her!
This can be as simple as helping her build extra planter boxes for her budding vegetable garden to designing a floral wonderland filled with beautiful year-round blooms.
Planter boxes are always a win:
Raised planter boxes have so many benefits, such as:
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- Protecting against weeds
- Warm up faster in spring for earlier planting
- Keep animals out easier than a regular garden
And when you build them yourself? You can customize them to your wife’s style. This planter has separate spaces for different plants, as well as a built in compost bin:
Another great gift for the gardener? Adding an outdoor utility sink. Cleanup, transferring, repotting, etc are all made simple with a dedicated outdoor sink. Plus, mom will appreciate anything that keeps the mess outside.
8. Add Outdoor Lighting to Her Favorite Spot
Our family loves spending time on our screened porch. One of my favorite “spring tasks” is doing a quick clean, washing down the furniture, and getting the space ready for family dinners.
All too often, porches go unused because they aren’t well lit. Adding an outdoor electrical outlet for lights- or having permanent lighting hung- completely changes the atmosphere of a space.
Even better? It’s a simple fix a contractor can take care of in just an afternoon.
String lights are a simple, chic way to transform a deck or patio.
Or- go for dramatic elegance with outdoor chandeliers.
Take this patio for example:
What a beauty!
Do you have a backyard firepit- but need flashlights to get to it? These solar powered planters are great for showcasing flowers and helping little ones get safely from the back door to the marshmallow roast:
Outdoor lighting makes it possible for her to enjoy the patio late into the year with welcoming warmth that brings happiness (even when the sun sets at 4:45pm).
9. More Sunshine in Her Favorite Space
Updating a space doesn’t always mean a full-scale renovation. Sometimes a project as small as installing new windows can make a huge difference.
This Mother’s Day, brighten up her favorite indoor spaces with new- or bigger- windows.
New windows make a world of difference. Take this house for example:
These homeowners knocked out a few cabinets and swapped out their small windows for a wider style. All the extra light completely transforms the room. It doesn’t even look like the same kitchen as before!
Picture windows (or “fixed” windows that don’t open) are another great way to let light into the house. They create an open and modern feel by letting in the maximum amount of light without any visual disruption.
Can you imagine how dreary this room would be without these showcase windows? Changing out (or adding in) windows can be a night-and-day design difference.
New windows make a big impact for the budget. Costs can be kept down by choosing low maintenance styles and new windows continue to “give back” by lowering utility costs.
Plus if you make the switch to a picture window, you get the drama and light for about half the cost of a standard double-hung style.
How can you turn “new windows” into an amazing Mother’s Day present? Start with a room she loves. Whether that’s adding a picture window with a sunset view in her masterbath or finally getting good natural light into her back-room office, choose a place that matters to mom.
10. A Garage She Can FINALLY Park Her Car In
Picture this:
It’s snowed all night long. The plow trucks go by a few times throughout the night. The roads are safe enough to drive on, but the driveway needs shoveled.
Her car? Completely covered in snow.
It’s ok, she understands. Your car goes into the garage because you have the early morning commute. Still, she’s out there at lunch stuck shoveling when she needs to run an errand. And it makes sense that “her” half of the garage is where the kid’s bikes and the lawn tractor are safely stowed for the winter.
She’d never ask for it- but she’s always wanted it: a garage that’s clean and organized enough to finally house her car, too.
Does your garage look like this:
Wouldn’t you rather it look like this:
The best part of this gift? It doesn’t need to cost much. You can DIY some great storage and give her a spot to pull in out of the rain in just a weekend. Enlist the older kids to help sort unused items for donation and give the floor a good wash.
There are a few things that can make organizing easier, like:
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- Install shelving to store things that need to stay in the garage
- Hang the bikes on bike racks to keep extra floor space clear
- Purchase cubbies to keep sports and outdoor toys
Still no room for the car? It happens- sometimes you just need more space!
The solution:
A new shed.
A shed is the perfect place to store spare lawn equipment and other bulky items that don’t belong in the house but won’t fit in the garage.
It’s time to use the garage for what it was meant for- and nothing says “I love you” more than letting her have the better parking spot.
Make 2021 Your Best Mother’s Day Yet with a Home Improvement Mom Will Love.
We’d love to be a part of making the woman of your house feel extra special this year. But in order to do that we need to start planning with you now!
Most small improvements we can take care of before May 9th. If you’re making a big beautiful mom-centered home investment? We can create project mock-ups so you can tuck that “wow” reveal right into your Hallmark card.
Call my husband Vern at 570-345-0406 to get started- or, if you want a woman’s help planning your perfect surprise, ask for me: Jenny Martin. There’s nothing I love more than bringing joy into the homes of our clients.
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