Spicing Up Your Kitchen

Looking to turn up the heat in your kitchen but just don’t know where to start? There are so many outdated kitchens that need a facelift. First, refreshing the cabinets with a new stain or paint will give the kitchen a completely new and updated look.

Adding new hardware to cabinets is also a cheap and effective way to update a kitchen. Starting with streamline metal handles juxtapose a modern look while half-moon pulls can give it a rustic charm. The finish of the hardware can give a different appeal. For example, a brushed nickel finish will give more of the chic modern look verses a bronzed finish that will warm up the cabinets. So many choices lead to a variety of different looks. That is why updating your home can be so much fun!

Creating an activity zone will allow your kitchen to meet all your needs to become a successful working and entertaining zone. Having a buffet table or center island is a perfect place for an activity zone. Making sure the surface is made out of strong material like granite or tile will ensure the durability to work with every family.

Last but never least, lighting…lighting creates the mood for every room in your home. Pendant and recess lighting (with dimmers) would be an option to give that warm apple pie glow in your new spiced up kitchen. Check out our gallery to get more ideas and inspirations for your kitchen.

 Check out our gallery to get more ideas and inspirations for your kitchen

Pantry Design Ideas

School’s out and summer’s officially started, but don’t let that fool you into thinking life has actually slowed down. As an adult, the daily nine-to-five grind continues no matter what the season. And though you don’t have to hustle to get the kids up and out to the bus stop every morning, as a parent you likely have to drive them to and from soccer practice, piano practice, and friend’s houses instead.


In the midst of all the hubbub it can be easy to let some spaces in your home fall into disarray. Areas that are used frequently but aren’t often seen by guests are the most likely ones to get pretty messy pretty quickly. And what’s one of the most frequent victims that falls by the wayside? The pantry. It holds our foods, dishes, pots, pans, special china and everything in between, but more often than not we treat it like a good-for-nothing dumping ground.


But it doesn’t have to be that way! Minneapolis/St. Paul Magazine featured a slideshow of fun pantry design ideas to help you reinvent and reinvest in the space. Among the more luxurious suggestions was the installation of a warming drawer to keep your plates, silverware, and breads warm before serving them to family or guests. Also on the list, a vintage looking steel stepping stool to help you reach all those out of the way areas fashionably.


For more ideas check out the slideshow and accompanying article for yourself at Mpls/St. Paul Magazine’s online home section.

Summer Home Maintenance Checklist

Summer is a great time to take care of a few home maintenance items to keep your home working in tip-top-shape. Here are a few items we’d suggest taking a look at.

1. Replace your air filter
2. Check and repair your driveway and landscaping as needed
3. Check and repair all your exterior caulking and weather stripping
4. Cut back any trees that are nearing your siding or roof
5. Check for any pests around the exterior of your home and treat as needed
6. Check the grout on your tile in showers and bathtubs and repair as needed
7. Check your gutters and downspouts and clean if needed
8. Maintain grading to slope away from your foundation walls
9. Check your sump pump, and inspect basement for dampness or leakage
10. Check and clean your air conditioning condenser

Door Days: Door Design for Your Home

When remodeling your home, the main things you usually think about are paint colors, room layout, and appliances. Interior door design is not usually at the top of the list, but maybe by the time you finish reading this blog post it will be. Interior doors can be so much more than simply functional slabs of wood or glass that keep noise out, they can be works of art that add significantly to the aesthetic of any room in your home. From French doors in the dining room to glass doors leading to the master suite patio, the possibilities are endless. Just do a quick google image search of “interior door design” and you’ll see what we mean.

Because the doors are inside and will face much less wear and tear than exterior doors, you have much more freedom to play around with material types (check out our previous blog on exterior door materials). Wood, glass, metal, fiberglass, steel–they all have their merits and can all add a unique touch to your home. Doors are also a great place to experiment with color. If your walls are neutral toned and you want to add a little spunk without completely repainting a room, consider painting or buying a door in a bright accent color.

Reimagining the function of doors is one of the hottest trends in the decorating industry right now. Instead of plopping a great door in the expected doorway space, try making a desk, coffee table, or shelves out of instead. Mounting doors on the wall or ceiling as you would a piece of art is also a great way to give your house a modern kick of design.

For more ideas and tips check out the HGTV site door section

Better Bathrooms for Better Living

If you or are a family member are physically disabled due to injury, birth defect, or age, you know just how hard it can be to maneuver around a normal bathroom space. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has made great strides toward cracking down on restaurants and other public spaces whose bathrooms are not up to code. Though there’s still a lot of work to be done, a lot of progress has been made already and many physically impaired citizens are finally being able to enjoy a public outing without worrying about the discomfort and embarrassment of trying to navigate a poorly designed bathroom.

On the same note, bathroom accessibility is hitting a lot closer to home a lot more frequently these days. The recession has forced many elderly citizens to move out of their own homes or assisted living resorts and move back in with children or other family members, and many homeowners are realizing that their current bathroom design just doesn’t support the independence of someone with special physical needs.

Even if you aren’t facing that particular situation, you truly never know when a debilitating injury may occur, and redesigning your bathroom for increased accessibility can actually increase the resale value of your home. Here are a few of the basic guidelines for creating a better ADA standard bathroom:

-Doorways must be a minimum of 32 inches wide and swing out instead of in. This will allow wheelchair and walker access and prevent the entryway from being blocked should someone take a fall.

-Install wall mounted, L-shaped grab bars around the toilet and the bathtub.

-Add a seat inside the shower or tub space.

-Make sure all floor areas are non-slip. A decorative throw rug may look nice, but it can be a huge safety hazard for someone with mobility issues.

For a full, detailed list of ADA standard bathroom requirements, visit the ADA website . The language can be a bit technical, so if you’re worried about understanding all the requirements on your own, give us a call and we’ll make sure every inch of your space is up to code for your loved ones.

Bloomington Office Remodel

We are currently working on an office remodel in West Bloomington, where we are installing new walls, drywall and doors . Below are  photos of the project. Stay posted for photos of the completed project.

The Lowdown on Doors

If eyes are the windows to the soul, and windows are the eyes to your house, then what does that make doors? The nose? The mouth? Whatever body part doors represent, it must be an important one. Not only are they the most frequently used part of a home’s exterior, they’re also the first thing a guest gets up close and personal with, and the main passageway protecting you and your family from the many different hazards of the outside world. Doors have a pretty big job to do, so choosing the right material is one of those essential home owner decisions.

Here’s a little info on three of the most common door materials:

Wood

Sturdy, beautiful, sustainable, and safe, 100% solid wood doors are an excellent option.  Although anything made of wood is always at risk of warping and fading, a solid wood door from a reliable manufacturer is relatively low-maintenance overall. The major downside? Price. If you’re looking for a quality 100% wood door, be ready to spend quite a bit more than you would with other materials. Adding a storm door on the outside to protect wood from the elements is usually a good idea.

Steel

Probably the most common material for door replacements, steel doors can range widely in quality and price. The thinner the steel, the lower the price, but even the slightest fraction of steel thickness can make a huge difference in the quality of the door. Steel is low maintenance, relatively cheap overall, and, though admittedly will never be a pretty as wood, can be cut in a variety of textures and colors.

Fiberglass

Perhaps the most durable of the three choices, fiberglass resists denting, scratching, and warping, and doesn’t need to be finished to be resilient (though it certainly doesn’t hurt).  While it’s still a relatively new technology, fiberglass doors are available in many wood-grain like colors and textures.

Green Kitchens

If all the green that’s emerging outside is making you anxious to move some green inside, listen up. Transforming your house into an eco-friendly and sustainable space doesn’t have to be as sudden or dramatic as you might think. Little changes made slowly throughout the years can really add up, and before you know it you’ll probably be the greenest house on the block (even if your exteriors are still white)! If you support the idea behind some of the more extreme measures like solar panels, but aren’t ready for such a drastic undertaking, don’t worry. It’s easier than ever to make significant changes to your home’s sustainability without significantly changing your lifestyle. One of the easiest places to start? The kitchen. Here are a few ideas to get you on your way:

Lighting

Energy efficient fluorescent lights have been around for a long time, but it wasn’t until fairly recently that developers really started to get it right. Sterile, unflattering fluorescent lighting with no variety in wattage and luminescence is a thing of the past. Not only does compact fluorescent lighting look great, it also saves you money and lasts on average eight times longer than a normal bulb. But, if fluorescent lighting really isn’t your thing, designing or remodeling a kitchen so that it gets a lot of natural light is another great way to save money on energy bills.

Appliances

It seems like Energy Star appliances are everywhere now, and for good reason. Dishwashers, ovens, microwaves, refrigerators–you name it, they’ve got it. True, energy efficient appliances cost more up front, but they more than make up for the price difference in the long run. And don’t forget the added tax incentives as well. We all know the story, so what’s been keeping you from upgrading to new appliances?

Products

Think a spatula can’t contribute to the green movement? Think again. Kitchen products made from sustainable materials like recycled plastic and glass are so widely available it’s almost difficult not to buy them. Even the littlest change in lifestyle can make a big difference, so give that eco-friendly bowl the credit it’s due and give it a few more friends too!

Entertainment Rooms: Entertain the Possibility

We do a lot of things in our homes, but the main activities generally fall under the four categories of sleep, eat, work, and play. We have bedrooms for sleeping, kitchens for eating, offices and bathrooms for working, but often times we don’t have rooms reserved specifically for play. Sure, the living room tends to serve that purpose just fine, but wouldn’t it be nice to have a space that’s every feature is intentionally designed to encourage relaxing, having fun, and enjoying the company of your friends and family? Many people have already figured out just how much an entertainment room can enrich and de-stress life, so maybe now is the time you take it into consideration for your own home.

Here are a few things to think (and salivate) about when it comes to adding or remodeling your entertainment room:

Creativity

The best part of building an entertainment room? It’s all about you. The space is meant to do exactly what you like to do and be exactly the way you want to be, so use your imagination and get creative. Have a secret love affair with air hockey? Buy an air hockey table. Always adored animal print wall paper but never had the moxie to use it in the rest of the house? Here’s your chance. There are no rules with entertainment rooms, so have fun with it. That’s the whole idea after all.

Home Theater

One of the most common functions of an entertainment room is the home theater. Having a perfectly wired space to watch your favorite movies after a long day is one of life’s most easily attainable pleasures. Deck your space out in surround sound and install a custom-made entertainment center and you’re good to go.

Personal Bar

For the adults in the home, having a designated place to relax and have a drink with friends after work or on the weekends can be so fun, you might never have to go out again. Hang out in the bar with guests while dinner cooks upstairs. Share a romantic glass of wine with your spouse while the kids watch a movie. The possibilities are endless, so entertain all of them!

Home Office Remodeling Help

Whether you run your own business and work from home or just love having a quiet space dedicated to productivity, for many people their home office can be a lifeline. You keep your computer and hard drive there, your files are neatly stored in its cabinets, and it’s the one place where your kids always know its Do Not Disturb Time (well, maybe in an ideal world anyway). It can be an oasis of concentration and organization in an often hectic and distracted outside life. So what happens when you decide it needs a little spruce? All those files are going to have to be moved, that precious hard drive unplugged, and everything you’ve placed so intentionally uprooted all at once, in short, your little office world is going to be rocked. But it doesn’t have to be destroyed! Remodeling your home office can be a relatively smooth and hassle-free process if you do it right.

Here are a few tips to ease the transition:

Labels, labels, labels

We all know that labeling people is bad, but when it comes to office supplies and other inanimate objects it’s absolutely essential. The more you organize, box, and label beforehand the easier it’s going to be afterward. And, not to mention, you never know when you’re going to need the most seemingly mundane objects. You may think you can get by just fine without a three-hole punch until the remodeling is over, but if something unexpected comes up you’ll regret throwing it in that giant box of unsorted supplies.

Back-up, baby

Perhaps nothing is more important than backing up all your data to an external source before beginning the work. Many a file has been lost during an unplanned power outage and many a computer has had its little brain confused during a sudden move. Get it all out of the way when things are calm and you won’t have any extra worries when things get chaotic.

Picture this

Have a particular set-up that you love but are concerned you might forget how to recreate? Take a picture! Part of the beauty of a well-designed home office is that everything is in exactly the right place, exactly when you need it. It’s easier than you think to forget all those little nuances during a remodel, so get it on record and you’ll be back in action in no time.