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Hot Trends in Kitchen Design for 2013

January 31, 2013 //

Trends in Kitchen Design for 2013

Is your kitchen begging for an update?
Does that old tile make you cringe on every trip to the fridge?
If so, now might be the time to explore the latest trends in kitchen remodeling.

According to the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA), planning out exactly what you want out of your kitchen remodel will help you set realistic budgets. And if you’re still not sure what you want or even where to begin, don’t panic. Here are some hot ideas for a kitchen remodel this year.

Trend #: Refacing Kitchen Cabinets

Do you want a fresh look for your kitchen cabinets, but don’t want to go through the hassle of actually replacing them?

Good news: Refacing cabinets – not replacing – is in! This trend is in because people are watching how they spend their money. And since refacing is the process of just changing cabinet doors while maintaining the original cabinet structure, it’s a much less expensive option.

When refacing cabinets, a clean, simple contemporary look is winning out, both from an updating standpoint, and a trend to eliminate unnecessary clutter and fussy details that equate to high maintenance and complicated living – both non-popular trends.

Trend #: Stone and Solid Countertops

Are you dreaming about a new countertop to spruce up your kitchen?

Consider quartz countertops, which is the material of choice in 2013 due to its durability.

Stone countertops are losing ground to quartz composite countertops that are no-maintenance and the closest thing to bullet-proof countertop materials available today. Another reason for quartz’s popularity is that it has less different patterning than granite.

But quartz isn’t the only trendy material for counters in 2013. More homeowners are asking for concrete countertops to create a custom and eye catching look. With concrete you have endless colors to choose from, the ability to shape the surface as you see fit, and you can even embed materials right into the surface.

Trend #: Hardwood Floors

Are you thinking about replacing your worn and ripped kitchen linoleum with gorgeous hardwood floors?

That’s awesome! Because hardwood floors remain a hot kitchen remodeling trend for 2013, with a few new developments. We are starting to see lighter shades of wood floors again – something that hasn’t been seen in a while. The washed wood floors are back but, with a twist – wider planks and hand scraping, giving a lighter look.

[Need help installing new kitchen floors? Click to find the right contractor now.]

But hardwood floors can be a lot of work in terms of both installation and maintenance. Luckily, there are some options to give you that classic wood floor look – without the hassle. There is a trend in hardwood-looking floors made from durable and easier-to-install materials, such as engineered wood flooring, which is made from a plywood base with a real hardwood veneer. Engineered wood continues to be popular, but so is porcelain tile that looks like wood, with less maintenance and better water tolerance.

Trend #: Stylish Sink

Adding a stylish sink can drastically change the look of your kitchen. So what will be trending in 2013? Deep kitchen sinks!

There are endless possibilities with today’s sinks, large, deep kitchen sinks to accommodate larger pots and pans. The debate between single or double bowl is still in full effect. Obviously, if space is at a premium, a single bowl can preserve counter space because it does not have to be as wide as a double.

[Planning to remodel your kitchen? Click to find the right contractor now.]

The next thing to consider is the material of the sink which it didn’t change from prior years: stainless steel sinks is the most popular choice for kitchen sinks. They’re attractive, easy to clean, and they don’t stain or rust. They aren’t as expensive as other options like cast iron, granite composite or cooper, and it’s easy to choose one that meets your qualifications.

Trend #: Hot Appliances
If you’ve been thinking about investing in new appliances, this could be the year to justify buying that commercial stove. Incorporating commercial-style stoves and other useful built-in appliances in kitchen remodeling projects is a hot trend for 2013.

Commercial stoves and stainless steel appliances continue to be used and enjoyed.

In addition, features that save homeowners time and space are becoming increasingly popular like for example, a hot water dispenser plumbed right into the water source!

Kohler Product Number K-9607-R-CP

Make instant coffee, tea, oatmeal, or soup in seconds. They are a little pricey but it saves you time especially if you have a busy life style.

Kitchen features that do double-duty and save valuable kitchen space are also must-haves for 2013.

This includes microwaves that double as second ovens and warming drawers,

and refrigerators with convertible drawers that can act as the fridge, freezer, or wine fridge. Multi-taskers that serve more than one need are hot.

Trend #: Mixing Cabinet Colors and Materials

Trend #: Transitional Style: modern but with a classic take

Trend #: Updated Layout

Trend #: Docking Stations and Clever Use of Space

Top 8 Kitchen Design Mistakes to Avoid

August 1, 2012 //

Planning your Kitchen Design

A kitchen makeover can add to the value of your home and make your time cooking more efficient and enjoyable. There are lots of reasons to update your kitchen, but beyond the siren call of the glossy design magazines and those shiny appliances you’ve been eyeing at your local home improvement store, there are some lurking pitfalls and design gotchas that you should be aware of.

Kitchen design is considered to be most important area of home design. Careful planning and measurements are needed to design a kitchen as it may save you lots of money. While designing kitchen you need to be aware of common mistakes made by careless contractors and homeowners. Your kitchen is a hub of activity, and with so much going on, it can be a challenge to create a space that will be all things to all people. The good news is that most of these problems are easy to avoid if you do a little planning. Here is a list of…

Top 8 Kitchen Design Mistakes to avoid:

Kitchen Layout

Draw a Kitchen layout before you start working on the kitchen. Not having a Kitchen layout is a big mistake which is made by homeowners. In kitchen activity areas such as sink and gas stove should have unobstructed access to both of the locations. Wrong placed kitchen island or some other furniture that you decide to place in the kitchen may cut off direct access to these areas so once you have the Kitchen layout on paper, you can avoid such mistakes.

Proper Kitchen Layout

Measurement

Inaccurate measurement is another pitfall. Most of the home owners who design the kitchens themselves get over confident about the measurements of various appliances in their kitchen. Not taking right measurement of kitchen cabinets and countertop may cost you a lot of money in fixing these mistakes later on. It may be possible that cabinets, kitchen appliances or even sink will not fit right. Countertop height and width is very important because after completion of work it is hard to correct the things. Make sure you have the measurement of refrigerator and other big appliances and draw them on the floor of the kitchen before you start the work, this way you can have some sense of the space available once everything is complete. Give these dimensions in writing to your contractor and before finalizing the final amount with contractor make sure that the contractors work is according to the measurements provided.

Take Accurate Kitchen Measurement

Material

Wrong material selection can be another big mistake of kitchen design. Keep in mind that cheap counter top may chip off after some time. When purchasing a countertop material keep in mind durability and maintenance of countertop. Laminated countertop needs more maintenance than a granite countertop. Ceiling and flooring material is also equally important, skid proof floor material should be installed in kitchen. Ceiling of kitchen needs more maintenance than other rooms so choose a ceiling design that requires less maintenance. If you are planning for a false ceiling, avoid coves in the false ceiling as the coves are hard to maintain in the kitchen.

Be sure to select proper kitchen material selection

Countertop space

One of the common mistakes about the kitchen is lack of countertop space. While you are on the planning stage, the home owner thinks that they would keep many of the kitchen appliances on the countertop. This reduces the available space on the countertop.So again make a list of all items that you must keep on the counter top and then see whether you have enough space on the countertop.

Small Kitchen Countertop Space

Lighting

Kitchen generally requires illuminated light, task lights and accent lighting. Most kitchens have general lighting on the walls or ceiling but not sufficient task lighting for particular task. Evaluate the each work station in kitchen where you may need more light and highlight each area that is used for specific task. Once you have the list of the places with you, put provision of task light in those areas. Natural lighting is equally important for kitchen and try to create window where ever possible to get natural light in the kitchen. Kitchen sink and gas stove area should have dedicated lighting so keep that in mind. .

Example of a Kitchen with Perfect Lighting

Ventilation

Ventilation is also as important as other aspects of kitchen designs. Proper ventilation is necessary to remove the odor and heat from the home which will help you to improve indoor air quality. While planning ventilation, kitchen chimney are probably something that everyone has in their mind but home owners tend to forget that your refrigerator and microwave ovens also need ventilation so check the manual provided by your vendor and implement sufficient ventilation.

Example of a Kitchen with Perfect Ventilation

Too Big Island

Islands are very exciting but home owners tend to forget that Improper island is also a big mistake that can eat up the space in your kitchen. Kitchen is a work area and a wrong placed island or an oversize island can choke the movement between various important areas of the kitchen, i.e. Stove, refrigerator, cleaning station etc. Island that obstructs the flow of work to or from kitchen sink, gas stove or refrigerator will be big hassle.

Example of a perfectly sized kitchen island

Storage

Another big problem of kitchen design is not planning storage space in kitchen. While planning a kitchen design, kitchen storage should be planned according to the need of kitchen storage. Note down all the items in your existing kitchen and make a mental note as to where you would place them in your new kitchen. Sufficient storage cabinets should be installed in kitchen for storage. There can be cabinets for kitchen appliances; proper dimensions are necessary for that. Evaluate what you really want in your kitchen and how do you want to access this storage area. This will help you to utilize space of your kitchen.

Gorgeous Kitchen with well-planned storage space

Last, and maybe most important, remember that this is your kitchen, so don’t be swayed by someone else’s opinions or design sense. When the dust settles, literally, you’re the one who’s going to be living with the results. Kitchen is the heart of your home so make it functional. Just make sure not make these mistakes while designing your kitchen.

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Manhattan Small Kitchens

July 7, 2012 //

Manhattan Small Kitchens

These kitchens might be small on space, but they’re big on style and efficiency. See more of our best kitchens, and get tips for making your kitchen green and eco-friendly!

It might be difficult to imagine a big-time cook in a small kitchen, but the truth is smaller kitchen it’s much more efficient. A Bosch dishwasher, a Liebherr refrigerator, and a Sub-Zero freezer are tucked beneath the countertop, made of Petit Granit, a Belgian stone. The goosenecked Easton Classic faucet makes it easy to fill large pots.

Homeowners of this 1935 house in Sugar Hill in Manhattan have decided not to expand the small kitchen because “its size is appropriate to the age of the house,” but they did update and spruce it. The floors and cabinets got the handmade look and feel of the originals. Upper cabinets were replaced with open shelves, and stainless-steel drawers were installed to balance the stainless steel of their appliances. Simple and traditional.

This tiny New York City kitchen has a place for everything: a mirrored backsplash, an electric cooktop that doubles as countertop, and simple cabinetry help give the illusion of grandeur.

A trio of backless stools can be slipped under the counter to save space. Their cream color blends in with the island, unifying the room. You don’t want the eye to stutter in a small space, so the solution is simple: match seating to the wall color.

A mirrored kitchen backsplash in this shabby-chic Manhattan apartment gives the illusion of more space. The kitchen opens up to the living room on one side and the family room, where we eat and watch TV, on the other. The idea was that it should be an extension of both these spaces.

Since space was tight, the only solution was stacking the cabinets and the results is this charm cabinetry. The ceilings are 9 feet high, but note that not every cabinet touches the ceiling — that way they look more like furniture.

Click here to see more Kitchens Projects or to know more About Us

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Purple goes with Everything

July 2, 2012 //

Purple goes with Everything

Purple is the color of good judgment. It is the color of people seeking spiritual fulfillment. It is said if you surround yourself with purple you will have peace of mind. Purple is a good color to use in meditation.

Purple has been used to symbolize magic and mystery, as well as royalty. Being the combination of red and blue, the warmest and coolest colors, purple is believed to be the ideal color. Most children love the color purple. Purple is the color most favored by artists.

Put some PURPLE in your life when you want:

to use your imagination to its fullest
to re-balance your life
to remove obstacles
to calm overactivity or to bring energize to your home

Pools and Feng Shui Tips

June 12, 2012 //

Pools and Feng Shui Tips

Gorgeous Swimming Pool Feng Shui Friendly

Swimming pools are a wonderful addition to any home. They create an instant place for fun, relaxation, and exercise. Plus, water is extremely beneficial in any landscape. However, swimming pools possess a great deal of energy in Feng Shui terms. Since most swimming pools are often located at the rear of the home, that is extremely inauspicious according to Feng Shui.

Even so, there are some instances when pools are a benefit to the homeowner. This would include a pool that is correctly shaped, sized, and positioned. In Feng Shui, certain pool shapes and sizes can create problems, such as sharp edges shape directed at the house, which can be harsh points of energy.

Bad Feng Shui – a pool with sharp edges pointing to the house

On the plus side, pools positioned in certain locations can actually benefit homeowners. These are pools that are placed according to flying star Feng Shui. At their best, pools can be positioned to tap the “wealth star” – the secret location of prosperity that is tied to the direction of the front door. Another benefit of flying star placement is to overcome negative energies, as pools can offset negative energy from poor star placements.

Look at placing your pool in a well-thought location and follow Feng Shui’s design criteria to make sure your pool gives you great Feng Shui! Positioned right, swimming pools can add tremendous wealth luck to a home! If not, though, it can be a very negative influence that can harm your wealth. To be sure about your pool positioning, consider checking in with a Feng Shui consultant.

The top 5 Feng Shui pool rules:

1. Select a shape that is favorable.

The best shapes for pools are round, oval, kidney, or curving. This is because none of these shapes have any hard points or edges that can create a poison arrow effect that square-shaped pools often do. Other good choices include figure-eights or octagons.

Octagonal Shape Swimming Pool – Feng Shui Friendly

2. Keep your pool size proportional to the size of the home.

Pools are better if they are not overly large. If they are too large for the home, they can “overwhelm” it, imparting much negative energy. Better to go with a smaller pool than one that is too large. Kidney-shaped swimming pool is best.

Kidney shape pool – Good Feng Shui

3. Place pools at the sides of the yard.

If possible, it is better to position swimming pools at the side of a yard rather than directly in the middle of the back of your house. If that can’t be accommodated, then do try to avoid having a pool that is directly in line with the rear center of the house. Pools that do can become menacing, as water behind you is considered bad Feng Shui.

4. Pools that embrace a home bring good luck.

These pools appear to wrap around a home or curve toward the home. These are a good design choice as they don’t have hard edges pointing at the house. Most recommended: oval or eight shape above ground with deck surround.

Swimming pool in 8 shape figure for great Feng Shui

Swimming pool in 8 shape figure for good Feng Shui

5. Incorporate the five elements around your pool.

Pools should be mixed with the other elements, such as metal (décor, electrical equipment), wood (plants, gazebos), earth (rock, wood decking or cement surroundings), and fire (warm lighting). This helps to ensure that the pool is well-balanced and harmoniously incorporated into the landscape.

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Cheers and Enjoy the Summer!!

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10 Home-Maintenance Tips for Spring

March 7, 2012 //

10 Home-Maintenance Tips for Spring

After a long, dark winter, spring’s bright sun and warm winds are, well, a breath of fresh air. The only downside? All that sunshine spotlights your leaf-filled gutters, cracked sidewalks and the dead plants in last year’s flower beds. D. Barnett, a certified master inspector with the American Society of Home Inspectors, shared this checklist to help you target the areas that need maintenance so you can get your chores done quickly, leaving you time to go outside and play in the sunshine.

Check for loose or leaky gutters. Improper drainage can lead to water in the basement or crawl space. Make sure downspouts drain away from the foundation and are clear and free of debris.

Low areas in the yard or next to the foundation should be filled with compacted soil. Spring rains can cause yard flooding, which can lead to foundation flooding and damage. Also, when water pools in these low areas in summer, it creates a breeding ground for insects.

Use a screwdriver to probe the wood trim around windows, doors, railings and decks. Make repairs now before the spring rains do more damage to the exposed wood.

From the ground, examine roof shingles to see if any were lost or damaged during winter. If your home has an older roof covering, you may want to start a budget for replacement. The summer sun can really damage roof shingles. Shingles that are cracked, buckled or loose or are missing granules need to be replaced. Flashing around plumbing vents, skylights and chimneys need to be checked and repaired by a qualified roofer.

Examine the exterior of the chimney for signs of damage. Have the flue cleaned and inspected by a certified chimney sweep.

Inspect concrete slabs for signs of cracks or movement. All exterior slabs except pool decks should drain away from the home’s foundation. Fill cracks with a concrete crack filler or silicone caulk. When weather permits, power-wash and then seal the concrete.

Remove firewood stored near the home. Firewood should be stored at least 18 inches off the ground at least 2 feet from the structure.

Check outside hose faucets for freeze damage. Turn the water on and place your thumb or finger over the opening. If you can stop the flow of water, it is likely the pipe inside the home is damaged and will need to be replaced. While you’re at it, check the garden hose for dry rot.

Have a qualified heating and cooling contractor clean and service the outside unit of the air conditioning system. Clean coils operate more efficiently, and an annual service call will keep the system working at peak performance levels. Change interior filters on a regular basis.

Check your gas- and battery-powered lawn equipment to make sure it is ready for summer use. Clean equipment and sharp cutting blades will make yardwork easier.

Well, I hope you enjoyed our article of the week and if you do please don’t forget to LIKE us or share these tips!

Designing White Bathrooms

February 19, 2012 //

Designing White Bathrooms

Most of us think of white as a classic color that matches everything and never goes out of style. But not all whites are created equal, especially in the bath.

At one end of the scale is pure white, which is often called “stark white,” or “paper white.” Beyond the basic, there’s a wide variety of other white hues with names such as biscuit, white satin, white cliffs and earthen white.

White hot, cool pale

At first glance, the differences between shades of white may seem difficult to determine. A closer comparison, however, reveals the key to their seemingly subtle variations.

All colors are either blue-based or yellow-based, and whites are the same. You can see the difference immediately when you look at the whites together and see that one is very warm and the other is very cool-looking.

White on white

Popular at least since the early 20th century, the white-on-white bathroom remains strong today. People are drawn to all-white bathrooms because we associate white with purity, and things that are healthy and hygienic. It looks so clean and that’s what we do in bathrooms, we get clean.

If you’re thinking about using an all-white scheme for your bathroom, consider using a broad palette of whites instead of just one. And don’t be afraid to mix whites, as long as you stay in the same family.

We wouldn’t hesitate to use biscuit fixtures and a whiter white on the countertop or the backsplash, and accent with accessories in alabaster or clear glass.

Decorating with texture

Another way to successfully use white on white is to take advantage of textures.

When you’re working with whites, you want to look at honed, brushed and tumbled as well as shiny surfaces. You can combine those textures relatively easily in an all-white bathroom.

For example, if your toilet, sink and bathtub are glossy white, you could use a matte-finish tile for the tub surround and backsplash, and perhaps a tumbled stone tile for the countertop.

Fixtures are also available in texturally interesting whites, such as Dune, a soft neutral inspired by desert sands, and Honed White™, a matte surface inspired by the smooth texture and natural appeal of worn river rock. Other options, like Sea Salt™, offer a three-dimensional pattern on the smooth surface of Cast Iron sinks and bathtubs. The combined neutral colors and organic materials add extra depth and character to traditional white fixtures.

Another way to create visual interest is through the use of decorative glass shower doors. By gently obscuring the transparency of the glass with subtle patterns, the play of light, shadow, steam and water, combine to achieve beautiful effects without a hint of color.

Accents with white

If you’re thinking about combining colors with white—either using colors as an accent in your primarily white room, or using white as the accent in a color scheme—you’ll want to keep warm and cool color families in mind. If you want to use blue as an accent in your bathroom, for example, choose a cooler—or blue-based—white. These shades work best with cool colors such as blue-greens, blue-reds or purples.

On the other hand, warmer, yellow-based whites are nice complements for warm colors, such as reds, oranges and yellow-greens.

If you are using a yellow, or a yellow-based green (such as olive), then your white would need to be a yellow-based white, rather than a blue-based one. If you chose a blue-based white, it would look gray against yellow-based colors, and a yellow-based white against blue could look dirty.

Which came first?

If you’re starting from scratch and plan to use white as the main color in your bathroom, choose the white you like best. Once you’ve selected a white, look for accent colors that coordinate with its yellow or blue base. Add a blue tile tub surround and countertop, for example, or maybe just a few blue decorative tiles in the backsplash.

Or you can keep all of your bathroom surfaces white—walls, tile, fixtures and flooring—and add color with rugs, the shower curtain, towels and art. That way, you have the option of changing accent colors whenever the mood strikes you.

Pure white

A note about using pure white—like the white of a sheet of paper: It’s a difficult color to work with because it’s so stark. If you get a true white—a paper white—it will go with anything, but it’s an uncomfortable color because the contrast might be too strong.

We then recommend choosing a softer white, or softening it with texture, which can sometimes read as color. That’s one of the reasons we tend to use neutrals. They’re comfortable to live with.

Hopefully you enjoy our blog today, and if you did just click LIKE or feel free to share about this article below. Comments are always welcome!!

Strategy to Keep your New Year’s Resolutions

January 1, 2012 //

Strategy to Keep your New year’s Resolutions

The statistics on New Year’s resolutions are pretty dismal: As few as 2 percent of resolution-setters actually achieve their goals by the year’s end, we’ve heard.

No matter what your goals, we want to help you achieve them.

Organize yourself for success.

Take time to evaluate last year. Make a list of the things that went well and those that didn’t.

Take a moment to celebrate your successes. Then consider why you were successful. What lessons can you extract from failures?

Write down your goals in a notebook.

The few minutes it takes to consider and physically write something down is the minimum length of time necessary for thought to be processed as a lasting, more easily retrievable memory, neuroscientists say. Writing also helps you focus.

Keep your written goals where you can see and review them at the start of every day. Script your moves for the first 30 days. Shifting momentum is often the most difficult part of making a fresh start. Make it easier on yourself by assigning one to-do each day for the first month, so all you have to do is follow the path you’ve already charted.

Start small. Make one goal for each week. Break your big goal into four weekly goals for each month.

Plan to fail. That sounds depressing, but it’s not. Nobody is perfect. The key to success is expecting failure and planning ways to bounce back from it.

As few as 2 percent of resolution-setters actually achieve their goals by year’s-end.

Try some if/then statements. New York University psychology researchers have verified the power of simple if/then statements in getting people to follow through on their intentions. For example, if weight loss is your goal, repeat to yourself this kind of statement: “If I go to a restaurant tonight for dinner, then I will order a salad.” You might surprise yourself when you order a salad, as if on autopilot.

Stoke your emotional attachment to your goals. Put up quotes and images on a bulletin board. Keep them handy so that when you are tempted, you can look at something and immediately feel a strong sense of connection to your end goal.

Pick one or two metrics to measure and track your progress every day. Look back at your progress each week and month — and celebrate!

Make a public statement. There’s nothing like committing to a goal publicly to keep you honest. Post on your Facebook wall, send an email to friends and family, or tell all of your colleagues what you are going to accomplish, by when. Encourage them to check in on you and heckle you if you are not living up to your end of the bargain.

Pat yourself on the back once a week. It can be easy to get swept up in busyness. But celebrating your progress each week is critical to staying on track. Take five minutes every Friday afternoon or Sunday evening and write down at least three things you did (or learned) that brought you closer to your intended goal.

Don’t compare yourself or your rate of progress to anyone else. Focus instead on doing the best you can do today.

Reward your self-control. Keep a little sticker or star chart on an index card you can keep your wallet.If you don’t have one, improvise and make your own index card!

Every time you exercise self-control related to your goal, give yourself a star. Each time you hit a certain number of stars, say 10, reward yourself with something like a pedicure (if you are man reading this, you’ll be surprise the number of men going to the pedicure lately! ) …or just get yourself a yummy smoothie.

Find someone successful to imitate. Repeat, repeat, repeat. Repeating tasks is the way to mastery. Repeat one or two of the same tasks crucial to your desired change each and every week. Before you know it, you’ll be able to do these on autopilot.

Be still once a day.

If you have had a good day, consider this an opportunity to energize and tap into your insight and creativity.

If you haven’t had a good day, a quiet moment serves as a fresh start.

Clear your mind, clean your slate and begin again!

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Bath Remodel: Before and After

December 16, 2011 //

Before and After: Bath Remodel