Since the economy took a backward turn a few years back, many people have chosen to stay in their homes and renovate. Of the first rooms that people choose to renovate, 95% of people choose the kitchen. The kitchen is considered to be the heart of the home, where people congregate together as family and friends. Cooking is done together for family dinners and hosting parties. Therefore, many people want to update their kitchen to have an inviting atmosphere.
Remodeling a kitchen can seem like an easy task when you are just throwing around ideas, but when it comes to actually executing your plans, hiring a reputable design company is highly recommended. The kitchen is also one of the most expensive areas of the home to renovate. A well established kitchen design company can help people take their ideas and dreams and bring them into reality inside their own homes while maintaining a set budget.
A reputable design company will take into consideration the needs of each family — large family, regular hosting events, single parent, compact space — and will make the new kitchen work for them and their specific needs as well as their desires. The design company also pays close attention to the details of the home as well as current trends. By mixing in contemporary kitchen designs with timeless traditions, an established design company can remodel a kitchen to exceed the expectation of their clients.
Find a company that offers expertise in all aspects of kitchen remodeling. From design to installation to reveal, and everything in between, you should be guaranteed that your result will be the beautiful dream kitchen that you have always wanted.
Posted on behalf of J Christopher Design and Construction Services
One area of many homes which often gets overlooked for its potential is the finished basement. This spacious area is often left open and greatly unused, or only used for storage, despite the possibilities for increased living space in the home. With a little help from an experienced basement remodeling contractor, your basement can become the extra family room, play area or even the home office you always wanted.
Finished Basement Remodel Ideas
Your basement can have the potential to add value to your home and add one or more new rooms to your living space. Depending on the size and layout of your basement, you may decide to dedicate the entire area to one type of space or create a few different rooms. Some ideas on how to use this extra space:
A professional basement remodeling contractor can help you make the most of your finished basement, adding more room and value to your home. Don’t let this area be neglected when there are so many ways to use that extra space.
Posted on behalf of J Christopher Services
One of the most dramatic of all home improvement projects is a complete remodeling of the kitchen. A professional kitchen remodeling can also add a great deal of value to any existing home, as in today’s world, people want gourmet kitchens that are well thought out, functional and have sufficient space to act as a gathering place for the modern family.
An experienced kitchen remodeling contractor who offers both kitchen design and kitchen remodeling services is an alternative that should be seriously considered by any homeowner considering such a project. Kitchen remodeling projects are fairly complex projects with long lead times on such things as kitchen cabinets and countertops. In is critical that these items be ordered correctly before the projects starts in order to avoid delays.
An experienced kitchen designer will be able to correctly prepare drawings that will allow the contractor to order the cabinets with confidence that the layout and dimensions are correct. Often delays in kitchen remodeling projects are the result of design issues due to the lack of experience by the designer. An experienced contractor will have the ability to accurately schedule and execute the project, while minimizing the amount of time necessary to complete the kitchen remodeling. They will have access to the best and most experienced subcontractors in the marketplace as well. In kitchen remodeling nothing beats an experienced firm that offers both kitchen design as well as construction services!
A qualified and experienced contractor that is licensed and insured will be able to make your dreams reality. They will be able to provide both design and constructions services to complete the kitchen remodeling project on time and on budget!
Whether you are building or redesigning, one of the most important additions to a home is a spa master bath. It not only increases your home’s value, it adds value to the quality of your life by providing a sanctuary for shutting out the world, reducing stress and restoring vigor.
Creating such a space doesn’t necessarily mean spending a lot of money, although elaborate designs can easily reach six figures. Regardless of your budget, you can achieve great results by incorporating the following seven elements into your bathroom design:
Clean – Most professional spas are clean, neat and organized and there’s no reason why you can’t do the same in your master bath. Find a place for everything, from make-up to cotton balls and shampoo by adding cabinets, shelves, drawers and separators.
Space – The bigger, the better when it comes to spa bathrooms. That means high ceilings, big windows and plenty of room for relaxing.
Light – Soft light helps create a calm mood. Think about adding adjustable light switches, or adding light in unexpected areas such as around the tub or under cabinets.
Warmth – Nothing feels more spa like than being enveloped in warmth before, during and after you bathe. Luxurious touches include towel warmers, radiant tile, steam jets and heated shower seating.
Color – Remember that a spa should be a sensuous experience, so all aspects of it should cater to the senses, including your color choices. Opt for neutrals or soothing or warm colors such as blue, green or yellow.
Nature – It is a proven fact that natural elements such as stone and wood are beneficial to your health, as they do not omit any toxins into the environment. By going green in your home spa, you are promoting health.
Spa tub – Of course, no spa bath would be complete without a spa tub, a place to rest your body and soul. If space is small, consider a corner whirlpool tub or if you have plenty of room, a step down spa or soaking tub.
The kitchen of the 21st century is a place where you not only cook meals, but also entertain and eat quick meals with your family. Now, more than ever, the kitchen is the heart of the home, the hive of the home’s activity. So today’s kitchen must be efficient and it must be aesthetically pleasing.
The top kitchen design trends of 2013 reflect this sensibility. We’ve come up with a list of 10, based on an informal survey of websites and blogs.
1. Neutrals – Predominant colors for walls, cabinets and floors are white, beige and gray – lots of gray, in fact, ranging from dark charcoal to a light dove gray.
2. Mixing it Up – While neutrals may be popular, so is mixing cabinets. One wall may have floor to ceiling cabinets, another glass cabinet doors and another may be made of a different color wood.
3. Efficient Cabinets – Cabinets and drawers have separators and compartments to store and organize things like silverware and paper bags. Every space is utilized, even the narrow space by the stove.
4. Quartz Counters – Homeowners are discovering that quartz is as hard and resilient as granite, but not as expensive as marble.
5. Statement Making Lighting – With the neutral palette, lighting is taking center stage, and not just lighting, but big, bold shapes and colored pendants.
6. Splashes of Color – Again with the neutral palette for walls, cabinets and counters in kitchens, there is also a trend for splashy color, such as colored glass backsplashes or glass cabinets with a colored background to show off dishes or collectibles.
7. Brass Fixtures – It might have a traditional or antique look or it might be very modern, but one thing is for sure, brass is the material of choice for kitchen designs.
8. Furniture or Architectural Elements – From corbels to pillars to turned legs, furniture elements are turning up in kitchens everywhere. Some kitchen designs are even using tables as kitchen islands for extra counter space and seating.
9. LED Lighting – Kitchens are being built or remodeled with LED lighting, which is more energy efficient and produces less heat than halogen or xenon lighting.
10. Electronic Faucets – Homeowners are appreciating the efficiency of electronic faucets, modern versions of those usually found in public restrooms. The water comes on and stays on while you fill the pot, preventing handles from getting messy.
Do you have an unused or neglected room in your house that you don’t know what to do with? Special-function rooms can be a great way to get the most out of the extra space. Specialty rooms not only make fun remodeling projects, they are also a way of personalizing your home to suit your lifestyle and habits. Here are two specialty room ideas to consider.
1) Powder room
A powder room is the perfect remodeling project for a small-sized room. A powder room is a guest bathroom with a toilet and washbasin only. Other optional appointments for a powder room include storage features and a vanity set. When it comes to powder room design, there are practically no rules. Indeed, because powder rooms are small rooms, they are the ideal space to focus on aesthetics. Pick a theme; choose décor, accents, and accessories accordingly; and use multi-layer lighting (ambient, task, and accent lighting) to enhance the atmosphere of your powder room.
2) Home office
A home office is a great solution if you telecommute, run a home-based business, or relish the idea of having a dedicated space for taking care of household administration tasks. The secret to designing a great home office is to create a space that is not only comfortable and inviting, but also tailored to your personality and working style. Let go of boring assumptions of what an office should look like and instead, choose warm colors, and furniture and accessories (rugs, lamps etc.) that are both beautiful and functional. Decorate your home office with display objects that inspire your creativity, or that have personal significance for your career. You will likely be spending extended amounts of time in your home office, so incorporate features that help boost your productivity over long hours, such as a stocked mini-fridge and a comfortable futon or chaise lounge to recline on during breaks.
Nowadays, it is safe to say that interior design has become a lot greener. Growing awareness of the toxicity of many interior design products (e.g. VOC-laden house paints) has prompted many homeowners to reconsider the way they design their homes. Also, as we learn more about the adverse environmental effects associated with the manufacture and use of many interior construction and finishing products, green remodeling is gaining more currency.
Living rooms and kitchen spaces have been popular choices for eco-friendly makeovers, but what about the bathroom? Is it possible to design an eco-friendly bathroom and how so? Here are 5 tips to creating an eco-friendly bathroom design that both you and the environment can enjoy.
1) Conserve water
There are many water-savings technologies and products for the environmentally-aware homeowner. Look for low-flow faucets and showerheads that are EPA-approved (EPA is the Environmental Protection Agency). Low-flow bathroom fixtures use as much as 20% less water than their standard counterparts. You can also install aerators on your standard faucet or showerhead to decrease water usage. Another way to save water is to install a low-flow, high-efficiency toilet. These toilets have cyclonic flushing technology which means that very little water is used per flush. Installing a controllable flush handle is a good way to conserve water without having to buy a new commode.
2) Choose eco-friendly materials
Eco-friendly materials can give rise to a very distinctive bathroom design. For example, consider a bathroom vanity with an attention-grabbing vetrazzo or fuez (materials made of recycled glass) surface, or ceramic bathroom tiles made from post-consumer, post-industrial materials.
3) Use all-natural fabrics
A simple way to boost your bathroom’s green quotient is to use earth-friendly fabrics. Instead of toxic PVC vinyl shower curtains, use shower curtains made from EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate), organic cotton duck canvas, or hemp. Earth-friendly bathroom rugs and mats are made from a wide range of materials including organic cotton, repurposed towels, or sustainable bamboo, cork, or teakwood. Finally, choose hand towels, wash cloths, bath towels and bathrobes made from natural fibers such as organic cotton or bamboo.
Most people don’t consider lighting to be a central aspect of a bathroom, yet lighting fixtures have a great impact on the overall aesthetics and ambiance of a bathroom. Sufficient, well-planned lighting is also important in a bathroom for functional reasons and should be part of any bathroom design.
Ambient lighting
Ambient lighting refers to the general lighting that uniformly fills an entire room. In a bathroom, ambient lighting can be provided in a number of ways. Ceiling-mounted light fixtures are a stylish way to furnish a bathroom with ambient lighting. This can include recessed ceiling lights or a flush mount fixture. Flush mount lighting fixtures come in a range of styles include bowl, box, and drum styles and in a variety of finishes including bronze, chrome, nickel, and stained glass. Another option for ambient bathroom lightning is an elegant hanging chandelier in a style consistent with the bathroom’s theme.
Task lighting
Task lightning is localized lightning in a specific area of a room that provides illumination for specific tasks. In bathrooms, task lightning mainly consists of light directed toward the mirror to reduce eye strain while applying makeup, shaving, putting on contact lenses, etc. Task lightning also minimizes shadows under the eyes, nose and chin producing a sharper reflection in the mirror. Task lightning can be done with either halogen lighting or a recessed downlight near the mirror, or by mounting scones directly onto the mirror. Another option is a pendant light above the mirror. Portable countertop lamps can also be a distinctive way to provide task lighting in a bathroom.
Accent lighting
Accent lighting is lighting that adds drama to a bathroom design or that draws the eyes to display features such as paintings, alcoves, or other visual points of interest. Wall sconces for example, can serve the purpose of highlighting the texture of a bathroom wall, or curved track lighting can be installed on the ceiling for pizzazz. Halogen spotlights or wall sconces can be used to draw the eye to features such as decorative bathroom alcoves.
Small kitchen spaces are a common feature of many modern-day habitations, in fact, they are an almost unavoidable part of small-space city living. Older surburban homes also tend to have smaller kitchen designs, a relic of past times when the kitchen was seen as a purely utilitarian space for cooking and nothing else.
Whether you’re grappling with limited kitchen space in a new apartment, or are a long-time homeowner thinking of remodeling your small kitchen, here are some tips for for a kitchen design to get the best out of close culinary quarters.
1. More storage
There are many ways to maximize storage in a small kitchen. Stacking cabinets are a great way to increase cupboard space in a high-ceilinged kitchen. Excess utensils and cups can be hung on hooks underneath and on the sides of cupboards. Stackable wire racks, pull-out utility carts, and microwave carts can be used for storing dinnerware, cookware, or food items. Tuck away condiments, drinks, or spices in a lazy susan or a basket on top of the refrigerator, and if the ceiling is high enough, hang pots from it.
2. More workspace
Because there typically isn’t much counter space in a small kitchen, meal preparation and clean-up can be tiresome. One way to increase counter space is to install an electric cooktop that can also be used as a countertop; another way is to install a smaller sink. Pair a tall faucet with a small sink to make washing dishes and filling large pots easier. Reduce counter-top clutter by installing a slide-out cutting board and consider getting an under-the-counter refrigerator and freezer to increase legroom.
3. More inviting
Aesthetics is an important feature of kitchen design and this is especially true for small kitchens. Small kitchens have a tendency to appear uninviting but by paying close attention to things like décor, color scheme, and lighting, you can create a small kitchen that is a pleasant space to be in. Attractive cabinetry, nice flooring, and decorative cupboard handles can up the ante in a small kitchen. Cheerful colors and soft tones will make a small kitchen seem larger and airy, as will a harmonious color scheme. Adding track lighting or recessed lighting is another good way to open up a small kitchen space and achieve a warm, cozy feel, and using mirrors instead of tiles for the backsplash also creates the illusion of more space.
A powder room, also known as a ‘half bath’, can be both a functional and aesthetically exciting feature of a home. These small, sparsely outfitted rooms serve as a bathroom or “freshening up” room for guests and usually contain just a toilet and a bathroom vanity, although features like bathroom stands and vanity chairs may also be included. Many modern-day powder rooms are added onto homes as part of the homeowner’s remodeling project. Here are some powder room design considerations when planning a powder room remodeling project.
Space and location
A powder room is by custom a small room. Common locations for powder rooms include large closets, small unused rooms, beneath stairways, and under eaves. At the same time, not just any small space will do. Usable space may be limited by the location of doorways and the location of windows can compromise privacy. You want the powder room to be in a sufficiently private area, but close enough to the entertaining area so that guests can quickly and easily access it. Also, a power room should not be so cramped that being in it feels awkward or suffocating. Figure out ahead of time exactly what you want in your powder room and if the existing space can accommodate it.
Design scheme
Once you know what features you want to have in your powder room, you can move on to thinking about the aesthetics of the room― the décor and style. Consider what type of sink and faucet style you want, whether you’d prefer wallpaper or wood paneling, what kind of ceiling and wall fixtures you want, and what type of flooring would finish off the whole effect. Many interior designers recommended keeping a powder room’s design scheme in line with the adjoining rooms; however, an aesthetically distinctive powder room design that showcases a homeowner’s personality is the current trend and can provide a pleasantly surprising experience for your guests.
Extent of renovation
Because a powder room is such a small room, adding one to your house should be done with as little disruption to the house’s structure as possible. If you are like most people then you want your remodeling project completed with as little inconvenience to your daily life and with as little expense as possible. As a rule of thumb, small changes are better than big ones. So while installing a sink and faucet is expected, if a certain fixture calls for complicated plumbing or is going to cause unnecessary architectural problems, then it may be best to forgo that detail and save yourself the hassle and extra expense. Remember, you may not be able to have your powder room exactly as you envisioned it, but by working with what you have, you can create a satisfying result.
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