Tag: kitchen renovations

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The World of Kitchen Designs

They often say the kitchen is the real most intimate room in the home. It’s a product of its user, and it takes on the personality over time. Any kitchen lover wants it to look like the best of their personality, but the actual options are even bigger than that. When remodeling a kitchen, you want it to look as best as it can, considering how often you’ll be in it. Luckily there are many options to choose from, a few of which will be covered here.

Modern

Arguably among the most popular designs right now, this design strays away from the more natural material used in other designs in favor of more manmade material, such as laminate, ceramics and molded plastics. Darker colors are preferable here, and give the space a more comfortable atmosphere, although some may find it rather cold. The design itself can be considered originating from midcentury Nordic design, with bolder angles and flatter surfaces.

Coastal

More popular, understandably, the closer the house is to water, coastal design focuses primarily on color. Because of the proximity to water, the colors and hues tend to reflect that of the beach, with brighter browns and blues. The accessories in the kitchen tend to be more beach-focused, with artwork and wall accessories favoring sand, boats, etc. A lot of kitchens in this design reside in vacation houses, as it lends to a feeling of being on or near the beach (a great getaway trip during those harsh winter months.

Country

Whereas modern designs favor manmade material and coastal designs favor beach-themed accessories, country designs tend to mix modern elements with natural material. The amount of woods and rustic material is prevalent alongside the more country-style accessories and artwork. Farm-style imagery and wooden furniture are the main elements of pure country design, but plenty of kitchen owners are now blending country and modern designs to create a sleeker and darker-colored country design.

Colonial

Colonial kitchen design marries modern rustic atmosphere with historical context and is a favorite among lovers of American history. Because of the historical context, clues of that nature can be found adorning the walls and overall decoration. The color spectrum sticks to earth tones and more muted colors, matching that of kitchens from the 18th century, and the use of different woods for furniture and cabinetry makes this easy. The lighting used should reflect the nature of lanterns, candles, etc, and can cast a warm glow over the room that is very cozy and inviting to guests.

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

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Trends in Kitchen Remodeling That Are Here to Stay

Just like avocado colored appliances the popularity of stainless steel will fade.  It’s true, most kitchen and bathroom remodeling trends eventually fade out of existence as quickly as they found their way in. There are however a few trends that will withstand the test of time in your kitchen and bath.

 

Kitchen Cleanliness

 

When it comes to cleanliness in the kitchen we are not talking about germs but instead the design of the space.  Kitchen design trends that stand the test of time work with clean lines.  Open shelving, cabinetry with glass doors or flat fronts, and overall simplicity is what keeps a kitchen from looking cluttered.  Kitchen designs should offer enough storage for unsightly, infrequently used appliances.  Counters should be clear of as much “stuff” as possible to promote this trend.

 

Neutral Color

 

Neutral kitchen spaces are something that never gets old.  What gets old is brightly painted cabinetry and colored appliances.  To create a kitchen that doesn’t show its age it is important to keep the colors simple.  White and black appliances are always in style and are easy to enhance as trends cycle in and out.

 

Dark Cabinetry

 

If you have ever had white cabinets or any light-colored cabinetry you will understand that it is difficult to keep them clean.  Unless you have hours on end to spend cleaning your kitchen it is best to stick with the ever-stylish look of dark cabinetry.  The use of exotic dark woods is another option that we find never seem to become outdated.

 

Appliances That Blend

 

It is important, especially in open kitchens that the appliances used blend into the entire space.  A home that flows from room to room never ages.  The more “hidden” appliances are, the more likely they will blend right in as another piece of furniture within the space.  No longer are large scaled ranges and huge steel refrigerators necessary.  Instead opt for long lasting pieces that conceal themselves within the design.

 

Ageless Designs

 

Once upon a time there was this fascination with moving from one home to another.  People didn’t want to live in the same home for more than five to seven years.   Today however, homeowners are looking into ways to keep their homes ageless.  They want to live in the same space forever, more commonly known as ageless design, universal design, or age in place renovations.   This means making sure your kitchen design is universal.  Layered lighting, counters of multiple heights, drawers that pull out, and kitchen cabinets hardware that is easily opened are all design options that will withstand the test of time.

 

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

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5 Questions You Want to Ask Your Kitchen Contractor Before Your Kitchen Renovation

When it comes to renovations the kitchen is a complex home improvement projects you can get involved in.  As a homeowner you must make all decisions throughout the renovation project.  The kitchen has changed from a place of simple food preparation to an open area, multi-functional space that is the soul of your home.

No matter what size, the kitchen is a big part of every modern household.  Kitchen design contractors consider several elements including the size of the space, the desired style, trends, and the best use of space when preparing for each unique kitchen renovation.  This installment will help offer you suggestions on the working with your contractor on planning for your new kitchen.  Your contractor will go over elements such as appliances, cabinetry, surfaces, and finishes as well as material to use and extras that you desire.

Soon your dream kitchen visions will become a reality.  Before you sign on the dotted line and hire a contractor there are a few questions to ask that will help you make sure you know exactly what you are getting yourself into.  These questions will help ensure you stay within your given budget, your home is secured while contractors are working on the home and that you get your kitchen put back together in a timely manner.

  1. How will you itemize your bid breakdown?

Tell the contractor to itemize the bid by breaking down the bid into stages, this will give you a better understanding of what you are been charged. Some contractors will supply you with an overall quote, but that’s not the best way to go if you want to make sure your contractor isn’t overcharging.

  1. What are the extra costs outside the original quote?

Before your final deal signed with the contractor, make sure he or she isn’t going to add on extra fees without asking you first. This you make clear to him/her during the process of deal negotiations, that you will not bear or accommodate addition fees which are outside the real deal. Some contractors charge for things such as demolition, junk removal, painting, and other tasks. In some cases, you may be able to handle these things yourself to avoid extra charges.

  1. Who are the members of your team that will be working on the renovation?

Security of your home matters, and it is foremost in a situation like this. Depending on the size of the contracting company, there might be few or many workers deployed to your home on daily basis during the period of the renovation, if you have children, pets or other valuable, it’s important that you get to know your contracting team before allowing them to enter your home. Once hired, you want to secure a plan with the team to make sure they’re properly locking doors, securing pets and keeping materials out of harm’s way.

  1. What is the time frame on our kitchen remodeling?

Naturally, the duration of the project should be well spelled out; this will enable you to have proper time planning during the project execution having known the start and end date. It’s only natural to want a detailed timeline of your cabinet installation. Time contractors take in your home is time spent away from your kitchen, and it can be hard to spend several weeks eating out. You may even consider setting parameters for your contractor and asking for discounts and other incentives if work isn’t completed in the time frame you’ve agreed upon, and this will also propel the contractor to work hard to enable him to meet the time frame.

  1. Can you provide references? Do you offer a warranty on your work?

You might meet contractors that will play down on you with the pretense of giving you the best of renovation job, as such you need more assurance that you are dealing with the right contractor, and you do this by looking for contractors that will guarantee their work with written warranties. If they don’t offer one at the outset, make sure you request one to protect your kitchen from sub-par workmanship or low-quality materials.

Also, if the potential contractor wasn’t recommended to you by someone you trust, or even if they were, it’s perfectly acceptable to do a little reference work yourself. If your contractor is happy to supply references, give past clients a call and gauge their overall feelings on the completed work he has done for them before now.

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