Category: Industry Trends

Kitchens are pretty standard when it comes to what they’re equipped with. Cabinets, countertops, a stove, refrigerator, sink and maybe a dishwasher. That is all you really need to have for a kitchen. Still, you may want to add a little something extra to your kitchen, it may seem frivolous, but again, we aren’t talking about kitchen necessities today. We’re talking about things that will make your friends say “That’s nifty”.

Pot Filler Faucet

Filling up a large pot in your kitchen sink isn’t so difficult, but it can still be a bit of a pain. Enter the pot filler faucet. A pot filler faucet sits next to your stove and has a swing arm that allows you to swivel the faucet back and forth as needed. Pot filler faucets had a brief boom in popularity a few years ago but has since waned a bit. Don’t let it’s fall in popularity turn you off, if it is a feature that you like, go for it. Depending on the design of the pot filler faucet it could look great in a country style kitchen, but another model might lend itself to to a more modern aesthetic. Pot filler faucets could be a great addition to a kitchen for someone who has arthritis or cannot lift heavy/bulky items easily.

 

Steam Oven

Steam ovens appeared on the scene only a few years ago so not many people know that they exist. People love steam ovens for several reasons, not just for steamed vegetables. To begin with, steam ovens are typically smaller than a standard ovens, allowing them to heat up much faster, great for those who aren’t so patient. They’re great for reheating leftovers because they won’t dry out your food. Steam ovens are perfect for ambitious amateur bakers who need steam to create wonderful chewy crusty loaves of bread. A steam oven alone will not brown your foods like a traditional oven, but some steam steam ovens double as conventional ovens.

 

 

Appliance Garage

You might love your large upright mixture or your trusty toaster, but you might not be a fan of how they can make your countertop look a bit cluttered. You could put them in a cabinet, and pull it out as needed but that can become cumbersome overtime. This is where an appliance garage can become incredibly useful to cut down on kitchen clutter quickly. You can even have electrical outlets installed in the back of the cabinet to make using your stored appliances a snap!

 

Stay tuned for more nifty features for your home

When it comes to remodeling we do our best to make sure our client has a great experience. We pride ourselves on our professionalism and craftsmanship and hope that it show throughout the entire renovation project. Of all the home renovation projects, the kitchen can be one of the most stressful rooms to renovate in your home. So much of our daily lives revolve around the use of the kitchen that any disruption can just cause havoc with the rest of your normal routine. We’re going to share with you a few tips for how to survive a kitchen remodel with your sanity intact.

Make a plan

Before any work on the kitchen begins make sure you have a solid plan in place with your contractor. We’re talking about materials, pricing, timelines, responsibilities, cleanup, ect. The less on the fly decision making you have to deal with the happier you will be.

 

 

 

How will you cook?

Kitchen remodels can take some time. Eating out every night could add up really quick. Try setting up a mini kitchen in a room separate from the remodel. You can get by easily enough with a microwave, hotplate and an electric skillet. If you’re a fan of grilling this can be a really great experience for you.

As for cleaning up, consider using an old plastic storage container for washing dirty dishes in your tub, or switch to disposable plates and utensils for the time.

 

 
 

Special order anything?

If you have chosen to special order any materials wait to start on your remodel until they have arrived and you can verify that they are indeed what you have ordered. Perhaps you were sent the right faucet, but in the wrong finish, or there is not nearly enough of the tile that you ordered. Waiting until everything has arrived can save you headaches and a whole lot of unnecessary down time.

 

 

Prepare for dust

It’s inevitable, when you remodel there is going to be dust. To all those exceptionally tidy people, you have been warned. Prior to starting your project you can talk with your contractor about what can be done to minimize dust, such as doing any cutting of materials outside, or having drywall sanders equipped with a vacuum attachment. Also discuss what kind of barriers will be used to prevent dust from going into other areas of your house. Even the best laid plans can go awry though and leave you with dust in the end. After the remodel is complete be sure to check on your home’s air filter and replace if necessary. Use your upholstery attachment and clean furniture and draperies which are notorious for attracting dust and debris. Tack cloths are great for cleaning baseboards, windowsills and shelves.

Want to make your home your oasis? Seeking solitude? One of the first places you should be looking at is your yard. Front yard or backyard a little educated garden planning can pay off big time in terms of privacy.

Layers, Layers, Layers!

A good privacy garden consists of layers.

Here we can see there are three distinct heights in this front yard garden. The tall weeping evergreens have been strategically located in front of the home’s windows to obscure the view from outside. Middle level plants fill the spaces in between the tall trees close to the entryway of the home, and the bottom level of plants and shrubs round out the landscape. When coming up with your own garden plan keep in mind that odd numbers typically make landscaping look more natural than if you were to work in even numbers. For further explanation of this rule of thumb check out this post

Plantings like these can be done along your or the perimeter of your lawn to create your own little quite getaway.

 

 

 

 

Containers for your patio

 

 

Add some containers to your deck or patio. By doing this not only do you gain privacy, you get the opportunity to have a fantastic herb garden right alongside your grill.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Climbing up up and away

Trellises, pergola, and lattices are all great structures for plants that like to climb and they end up creating a living wall of sorts. A trellis, some pieces of privacy lattice, and a few climbing plants (honeysuckle would be great) could be set up as a beautiful secluded get away spot in your own backyard. You could have summer squash growing up and over a pergola, Think about it big gorgeous squash blossoms and tasty treats from the garden, what’s not to love?

 

When it comes to organizing your home the kitchen can be a difficult room to tackle. Pots, pans, gadgets, food – where does everything go? We’re going to share a few tips with you to help you conquer kitchen clutter. Today we’re going to work on those kitchen cabinets and drawers.

 

Keep the essentials close at hand

When it comes to organizing your kitchen pay close attention to how you use your kitchen, what spaces do you use frequently and what do you do in those areas. You should locate the items that you use on a daily basis and assign them designated areas so that they are close at hand. Heavy use items could be pots and pans, baking sheets, can openers ect. all depends on how you use your kitchen.

 

 

Divide your drawers

Is your utensil drawer in a constant state of disarray? Does your junk drawer look more like a landfill? Consider finding draw dividers/organizers for these problem areas. Take a look at everything you have stashed away and choose whatever divider(s) you think would suit your needs best.

 

 

 

 

Maximize your storage

The backside of your cabinet doors have loads of untapped storage potential. Hanging or mounted storage units can easily be installed, making the perfect place for a much needed spice rack, or whatever else you may need.