For a Better Kitchen – 10 Tips to Consider

Whether you are looking for a new home, or considering updating your kitchen, or simply thinking of ways to improve your current setup, read our suggestions below for design and planning ideas.

  1. Eliminate Wasted Steps – Having all your essential items in one place with ease of access is the key here. Think about how and where you use your items. Are your dishes and flatware located near the sink for ease of access when unloading the dishwasher? Are your mugs near the coffeemaker? Simple reorganizations go a long way in overall kitchen functionality and user experience. 
  •  Design Wide Walkways – Typically, paths throughout a kitchen should be at least 36 inches wide. Roads within the cooking zone should be 42 inches wide for a one-cook kitchen and 48 inches wide for a two-cook setup. If your current kitchen space has less than this because of islands or chairs, try to adjust your surroundings to gain a larger working space in essential areas.
  • Direct Traffic – When considering layouts and appliance setup, think about how and where your traffic comes and goes. Try to keep the cooktop out of high traffic areas, so children do not catch handles and cause spills when running through. Position the refrigerator accessible to both the passerby and people working in cooking areas.
  • Stay Clear of Corners – Planning for a cabinet or drawer’s clearance and swing will make them more functional and allow for more breathing room. Try to keep appliances away from corners, and make sure doors will not bang into each other if open at the same time.
  • Optimizing Your Microwave Height – Typically, 15 inches above the countertop is the proper microwave height, although this varies depending on the chef or if you’re trying to be kid-friendly. If children are a factor, a below countertop layout may be safer and more appropriate.
  • Determine the Island’s Function – In the case of kitchen islands, form follows function, and less is more. Ideally, just having one centerpiece (such as a vase or decorative bowl), is more than enough for décor. Keeping this space clear and open allows for an inviting atmosphere that your guests will feel comfortable in. On the contrary, when you have clutter on an island, it can make the entire kitchen seem cramped.
  • Appropriate Landing Space – You should allow 14 inches of countertop on each side of a cooktop, microwave, and refrigerator. Having a landing space near the oven and other kitchen must-haves provides a temporary rest stop for items during prep.
  • Double Up – A second microwave oven, a mini-refrigerator, or a refrigerator drawer placed at the edge of a kitchen work center helps to keep snackers out of the cook’s way. Add a countertop bar with stools for an after-school spot for the kids to snack and do homework.
  • Arrange the Range – Placing a shelf beside or behind the cooktop range keeps cooking oils, utensils, and spices handy. Place S-hooks on the side of the range hood to hang regularly used items like pots and pans.
  1. Fill it Up – Installing a swing-out tap, also known as a pot-filler, can solve the issue of lugging pots around. Or, you can install an extra-long hose attachment on your main faucet to fill pots.

These are just a few ways to make your kitchen more functional and comfortable to spend your time in. If you’re considering remodeling your kitchen, keep these tips in mind; you’ll be glad you did. For more ideas about remodeling your kitchen, click here

Simple Home Projects You Can Do During the COVID-19 Lockdown

These days, most of us are finding that we have a lot more time on our hands as we stay at home due to COVID-19. The pandemic has locked most of us down, leaving people with not many choices to go out except to get groceries or to stop outside our favorite restaurant for curbside pickup.

For a lot of us, our home renovation plans have been put on hold as many businesses that we rely on have temporarily closed. However, there are many simple projects you can do around the house that can help you feel more productive and prepare you for larger renovation projects you have waiting this year.

This article lists out 7 simple home projects you can do during the COVID-19 lockdown, and we have broken them down for you below:

1) Painting

Painting is one of the simplest activities we can do to spruce up an area in our home. If you have enough paint cans lying around from the last project, it might be worth painting a fresh coat in that room you have been putting off. If you don’t have enough for a big paint project, you could always touch up certain areas that are wearing thin or have scuff issues.

2) Restoring Your Deck or Fence 

If you have a wooden deck or fence, you will know that these structures require regular maintenance to keep them in good shape every year. As the weather gets warmer, it’s always a good idea to spray or pressure wash your deck or fencing to remove the debris that gets embedded into the wood throughout the year. After your deck or fence is thoroughly cleaned and dried, you can add a fresh coat of paint or stain to make them pop for the summer.

3) Paint Your Front Door 

During these times, your front door probably isn’t getting the amount of traffic compared to the pre-pandemic world we are all used too. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t make it stand out. Giving your front door a fresh coat of red, white, or blue paint can make the front of your home stand out and turn heads in your neighborhood.

4) Pressure Wash Your Siding

Every spring, quarantined or not, you should pressure wash the siding of your home. Vinyl siding accumulates a lot of debris, including mildew, bird droppings, pollen, and dirt. If you don’t own a pressure washer, you can always rent one at a local power equipment rental company near you. This can do wonders to the outside appearance of your home and, in some cases, make your siding look brand new.

5) Put Up a New Kitchen Backsplash

Surprisingly enough, a lot of people already have new backsplash pieces in their homes, ready-to-be-installed, but have never started on the project. If you have your backsplash lying around in your home and haven’t had the time to install it yet, this could be a perfect time!

6) Reorganize Your Garage 

We all have put off reorganizing and cleaning the garage at some point. We shouldn’t have an excuse this time around! It’s time to clear out the clutter, put up shelving, and sweep the floors! You will be thrilled you finally did!

7) Update Your Bathroom and Kitchen Hardware

One of the benefits of being stuck safely at home is that we can now tackle projects that we’ve procrastinated on because of their tedious or time-consuming demands. Such can be the case with simple bathroom and kitchen hardware upgrades like replacing old knobs and handles on cabinets and drawers.

Some states consider home improvement stores an essential business, so walking in to get these simple items shouldn’t be a problem. However, if these businesses are closed, you can still order products online. Ordering online may help you to make better purchasing decisions as you can price compare, expand your options, and readily see customer reviews more easily.

Summary:

As a lot of us commute to work from the bed to the couch, we may find that we can’t wait to leave the house when this pandemic is finally over. However, before that time comes, let’s embrace our home fully and get going with those simple projects that can make being in our homes a little more exciting!

Tips for Planning Spring Home Renovations

Spring is the perfect time to begin home projects, and if you are considering updating your kitchen or bathroom, there is no better time to start planning!  We have put together a list of quick tips to help get these projects started on the right path, making home renovations easier.

The Early Bird Gets the Worm

Many homeowners are eager to get outside again and look forward to landscaping and exterior repair projects. Upgrades such as adding a new deck or updating the siding on your house are popular home improvements during the Spring season. It is important to secure an appointment with a home contractor before spring as they regularly become over-booked midway into the season. Additionally, you should purchase any materials in advance so that you won’t have a shortage of supplies halfway into your project.

Certain home renovations may also require permits, which will take additional time for submission and approval before building can begin. Starting the planning process months in advance will allow proper preparation and peace of mind.

Function Over Beauty

Not all home renovations will add visual appeal, and that’s okay. Upgrading or installing new electrical, plumbing, or insulation are sometimes needed.  When making plans to renovate, other important issues can be uncovered within a project that was not anticipated but needs to be addressed. Common unforeseen problems can be leaky pipes, crooked floors, and roof repairs. If these issues are ignored, they will become more costly as time goes on, so it is essential to fix these problems early.

Choosing Your Professional

There is nothing worse than becoming one of those horror stories that you so often hear about with renovation projects. You want to avoid contractors who take shortcuts or charges double than the original quote presented. Getting stuck with a botched project that is unfinished or improperly installed is a nightmare to deal with and will only cause further problems.

When you put your home into someone else’s hands, you want reassurance that they will complete a project in a reasonable amount of time and that they have high-quality standards. It is essential to practice due diligence when selecting a licensed home contractor; having the right qualifications, experience, and positive reviews are critical when looking for professional help. Also, asking for references and getting several quotes can help assist in making your decisions less stressful.

JFC Remodeling is a full-service licensed contractor out of Howell, Michigan.  Specializing in kitchen and bathroom renovationsflooring upgrades, and home remodelingservices.  More information can be found online at https://jfcremodeling.com/.



Saving Money with Bathroom Design and Remodeling Ideas

After years of dreaming of a luxurious spa retreat that you could come home to each day, you have finally decided to make that dream a reality. The first order of business is figuring out your budget. Bathroom remodels can scale in cost by a large range depending on the upgrades you want. If $20K seems too far out of reach, that doesn’t mean you can’t still create a relaxing new space to unwind in. There are plenty of ways to renovate your bathroom while staying on budget: 

Size of Renovation vs. Budget

One of the main reasons homeowners decide to upgrade and renovate a bathroom is because the resale value of your home will significantly increase. You may be able to recoup a large portion of costs when selling your home, sometimes as high as 100%. If your budget is on the smaller side ($1,000 or less), it may be wise to make cosmetic changes such as a new sink, paint, or fixtures. If your budget allows for more, upgrade the materials in choice pieces and consider hiring a professional contractor to complete the job.

Saving on Tile

Tile is an expensive material to purchase and pricing can continue to increase when hiring a licensed contractor for the project. One easy way to save money is to limit the amount of tile used and to only install it in specific areas such as the floor rather than the entire shower walls. Another idea is to add one horizontal strip of tile inside the shower and paint the rest. If your vision is stuck on having an expensive tile, try using it as an accent alongside a more inexpensive tile to make the luxurious ones really stand out while saving money in your pocket. 

Countertop Savings

By popular demand, granite countertops are the most sought-after material in bathrooms and kitchens. Bathroom counter space is a much smaller area compared to kitchens, so your budget may be a little more flexible. The first way to save in countertops is by choosing a color. The most popular color preferences are neutral colors like tan, brown, beige. The higher the demand, the more expensive they will be to purchase. Try to consider and price out a variety of different colors to find the right price point for your budget needs. Another way to save money when purchasing granite is to buy a slab that may contain small imperfections. The larger the imperfection, the lower the price. Keep in mind, if the defect is located where the sink or faucet will be, you won’t see the flaw after the install. 

JFC Remodeling is a full-service licensed contractor out of Howell, Michigan, specializing in kitchen and bathroom renovationsflooring upgrades, and home remodeling services. More information can be found online at https://jfcremodeling.com/.

Bathroom Remodeling Must-Haves

A bathroom remodel is typically on the top of every homeowner’s dream list of upgrades they would like to accomplish in their homes. Whether the upgrade is for resale value, or for personal enjoyment to have a place to come home and relax in there is a bathroom renovation for everyone. To begin the planning process of a bathroom remodeling project, it is important to have a design in mind along with a realistic budget. Choosing to hire a professional home remodeler is a great option that can help during the planning process to make things run more smoothly. Below are a few helpful tips when doing a bathroom remodel in your home.

Before Calling the Professionals

A bathroom remodel can be very daunting, and many homeowners are eager to call their licensed contractor right away to start the project. Before you pick up that phone to call, you should first begin the initial plan with the members of your home and get a firm grasp as to your needs/ wants for your bathroom. Think of a budget you would like to stay in proximity to and always plan for a little extra because, with any renovations, there is always the possibility of unexpected issues that can arise and will increase costs later. One of the other factors that can change your mind on several details to the project other than money is timing. Be sure to expect any renovation to range from 30-90 days to complete which can be tough since the bathroom is a main room in the house, we use daily for our hygiene needs so having a backup bathroom that will be used or other obstacles will need to be thought thoroughly as well. It is also important no matter how long the renovation is taking to stick to your original plan as best as possible. Even the smallest changes can add extra money and time to the project that will be sure to ass additional frustration.

Designing Your Space

Generally, a home will consist of 1 or more bathrooms in a home with the features of a toilet, sink, and bathtub. There are optional extras such as a separate shower, dual his/her sinks and other luxuries to add into your bathroom floor plans. It is important to keep in mind what the rest of your home layout and design looks like to keep them flowing nicely together especially if it’s a joining bathroom extension to the master bedroom. Sometimes from a design standpoint is not always functional and with a bathroom that will be getting used constantly, you will want it to be designed according to a usability factor since after all the bathroom will need to fit your lifestyle needs. In some cases, if you are considering renovations to your power room bathroom, your design choices will affect your house guests as well since this will be the bathroom that they will use when visiting as well.

Making the Most of Your Dollars

If you are trying to get the best bang for your buck, there are a few ways you can cut corners when designing your bathroom renovations. First, it is highly recommended to keep the new bath’s plumbing fixtures like the existing floor plan so that new pipes/ wiring does not need to be moved can save hundreds of dollars. However, in a situation where the home is very old or outdated, a professional contractor may find that the pipes and wiring may need to be replaced anyway which may be a good time to move them to a new location if purchasing new ones already during the project. If your budget is tight and you are looking to make your room feel larger than it is without expensive expansions, a few tricks can be done for this purpose. Installing pedestal sinks are a great space saver option when choosing counters. Another great option is installing a glass shower door to make the room feel more spacious since a shower curtain will block light making it feel more enclosed. Another visual item to increase the space of the room is choosing a larger mirror for the vanity as well.

JFC Remodeling, out of Howell, Michigan, offers a variety of construction services for the home including: kitchen and bath remodeling, flooring renovations, and home remodeling.  You can find out more information at http://www.jfcremodeling.com or by reaching out to our home renovation specialists at 810.923.1123.