Tag Archive for: Kitchen Remodeling

Kitchen Backsplash Ideas

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Craftsmen Home Improvements, Inc.The kitchen is one of the main areas that prospective buyers consider when looking at a house. How a kitchen looks can greatly affect its value, which makes a kitchen remodel one of the more important home improvement projects. A tile backsplash is one of those design elements that can significantly influence the overall look of a kitchen as the eye is naturally drawn to it when entering the room. When choosing a backsplash, the first thing to consider will be the style in which the rest of the kitchen is decorated. In particular, it is important to look at the cabinets and countertops near the sink. The homeowner should choose something that fits in with what they already have. Doing this allows a backsplash to enhance the kitchen’s décor while also narrowing down the vast number of options.

Here are some of the more popular and visually appealing backsplash ideas that can help to improve a kitchen’s look:

Subway Tile Backsplash
These tiles have been used in commercial kitchens for years and have recently become popular with homeowners. Their understated look makes them easy to pair with just about any kitchen décor. They are widely available can be purchased in a vast number of colors and textures. The materials used to make subway tiles range from ceramic to granite.

Glass Tile Backsplash
Glass backsplashes have the twin benefits of being easy to clean and relatively inexpensive (though not all types of glass tile will be budget-friendly). Glass is also easy to install by screwing or gluing it to the wall. Homeowners have wide range of options to choose from with glass tiles being available in various colors. Types of glass tile include those made from tempered glass, which is scratch resistant. They also have the option of getting tiles that are made from recycled glass.

Stainless Steel Backsplash
Stainless steel can help a kitchen to feel more like that or a restaurant. Stainless steel’s durability is well known and it is heat resistant as well. Unlike other materials, it can handle just about anything that a homeowner is likely to throw at it. Cleaning it is easy, requiring only a little disinfectant and a rag. Furthermore, stainless steel backsplash tiles are flexible in that they are a good fit for just about any kitchen style.

Stone Backsplash
Options with stone backsplashes include those made with crush quartz that has been mixed with a resin (engineered stone). This material makes for an extremely durable backsplash that is resistant to both scratches and heat. Homeowners should note that a professional must handle the installation of engineered stone; it is not a DIY task. Granite and marble are both popular stone backsplash materials with granite being the more traditional choice. Each slab of natural stone is unique, which means that homeowners have the option of giving their kitchen its own distinctive look.

Brick Backsplash
Brick can provide a kitchen with a historic look. Homeowners can opt for brick or brick veneer, which is easy to install and easier to clean than real brick. Additionally, there is no need to seal brick veneer.

Making the Most of a Small Kitchen

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Craftsmen Home Improvements, Inc.Small kitchens can be frustrating, but there are ways to optimize the space for convenience. Kitchens are one of the most important spaces in a home, and when it’s small and hard to use it can negatively effect the way a person feels about their home. Utilizing extra space and storage can make a world of difference in a small kitchen.

Cabinets are a great way to change the dynamic of your kitchen. In many cases, cabinets are installed in ways that waste a great deal of space and storage area. Changing your cabinets is a great way to gain more space without tearing down any walls. This strategy can also be applied to appliances. There is a certain flow that should exist in a kitchen between the space, appliances and storage. If your oven is on one side of the kitchen and your countertop is on the other this can create an annoying waste of time. Consult with a contractor, and find out what you can do to improve your kitchen.

Craftsmen Home Improvements provide ideas on how to turn a narrow, rectangular shaped kitchen into a cooking space with convenient dining zones. By redesigning the location of cabinets, appliances and sinks with added “free space” at the “L” of the rectangle, a kitchen island can be added. This will give it a modern look that adds cabinet and counter space within the extended island. The best kitchen remodeling ideas are those that reduce wasted countertop, cabinet, wall and floor space.

Small Kitchen Design Extending Depth

When small kitchens have limited wall space, this may be due to the actual locations of walls. For example, smaller homes built in the late 1950s and 1960s often included a small kitchen with single door access to a larger dining room. This kitchen design is also seen in urban apartments. There are several remodeling options that can create a modern, spacious kitchen. By removing completely or relocating the wall between the kitchen and dining room, a much larger kitchen is possible. Another remodeling plan is to relocate a dividing wall and add a breakfast nook in the kitchen that creates its own wall between kitchen and dining room. Contact Craftsmen Home Improvements to learn more.

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Design Advice From The Pros

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Craftsmen Home Improvements, Inc.Creating the perfect design for your kitchen requires considerable thought and research. Your kitchen should not only meet your current needs, but also improve the chances of selling in the future.

Trends of the Past

The kitchen hood was an obsession in recent years, but its popularity is winding down gradually. Colored appliances threatened to return with the “Arctic White” look, but stainless steel is still the go-to color that fits with most designs. The farmhouse sink was all the rage in 2011 and 2012, but the stainless sink returned as the workhorse for today’s busy families. Crystal and frosted glass fronts on cabinets had their day, but are now being replaced by more modern cabinetry. Storage for small appliances was common in past years, but this used up valuable cabinet space. These are all styles to avoid for a kitchen remodel. Trendy styles should be avoided at all costs because even if it’s in now, it might not be in the future and this could minimize the chances of selling your home.

Modern Design

Furniture-style cabinets, open shelving and sleek, modern styling are expected to be the hottest trends in 2015. Cabinets with vertical slats are also making an appearance. Innovative ceiling designs, dramatic wallpaper and glimmering metallic accents are other features that will create a fresh feel for kitchens in the coming year. Color-wise, expect to see tones based on tribal designs that express ethnicity and cultural heritage, instead of the generic styles of the past

Make the Most of Kitchen Space
As you consider kitchen designs for the future, think about how your family uses the kitchen today. As technology becomes more prevalent in our lives, a charging station for devices could be very useful. A good choice is to include drawers for notebooks, pens and batteries. Entertaining has become much more casual, and finding ways to incorporate guests into the cooking experience will make your design more contemporary. The kitchen island has expanded into a focal point for many kitchens.

Professional Advice

Experts advise studying your current kitchen design to determine its shortcomings. You can design ways of overcoming these flaws. Think about how you use your kitchen for everyday tasks and consider ergonomic improvements to make your work easier. Think about fixture that fit the style, but also serve a purpose or function. Spend plenty of time on lighting for optimum efficiency. For those troublesome problems, consult with Craftsman Home Improvements for their knowledge and expertise on functional kitchen areas.

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