Ventilation is a commonly underestimated aspect of kitchens, yet it is one of the most important. A kitchen is an investment, and like other investments you want to protect it from deteriorating or devaluing.

There are 4 things that are the most requested when designing a new kitchen, and they are also the 4 most common things homeowners REGRET not doing if they didn’t. If they exclude these 4 things, they end up looking for after-market solutions to fill the gap they feel in their kitchen since they didn’t include these items initially. That’s because once they start using their kitchen they realize how much they really needed them. We call them the “no brainers” because their value to your kitchen is so obvious.

Many people are good at the “immediate” care of their painted kitchen cabinets, like when cooking causes splattering of spaghetti sauce all over them. But many neglect the “maintenance” part of caring for their cabinets that cause them to look more dirty over time.

One thing is for sure, today you have MANY more color choices in your kitchen than historical kitchen options. In previous years stain was the main option. In recent years paint colors have opened up many new horizons when choosing your colors in a kitchen remodel.

It’s no secret that a kitchen remodel is not something that you do in one day.  It can also be inconvenient.  Unless you have a second kitchen in the home some people opt for moving out or staying somewhere else while the remodel is going on.  While it seems like an easy solution, it is also an expensive one and can add unnecessary cost to your remodel that could be spent on upgrades or other items you really want.

One of the most frequent questions we receive is “What is most popular in kitchens and cabinet style right now?” This is an important question and one that should be asked, but it should not be the determining factor when choosing cabinets, function and kitchen style for your new custom kitchen or kitchen remodel. 

The countertop is a focal point of the kitchen. You can have the most beautifully designed Chicagoland kitchen, but the countertop can make or break the overall look all by itself. 

When choosing a countertop, in addition to finding the right look, it’s important to find one that is durable so it will last and require less maintenance.  The following tips will help you determine the material and style of countertop that will work best for your custom kitchen remodel.

If you’re considering any changes in your home, one of the questions might be whether it’s better to sell or renovate your home. This is a very common question which brings a lot of things into play in answering it.

The right answer for you will depend on many things. Some of the most important are as follows:

• What’s The Market Like in Your Area? If it’s hot and houses sell quickly it may be time to “cash in”. OR if you want to roll the dice because it may continue to appreciate in your area then consider how to you can make it better and wait for payday later.

Is a new closet design in your future plans? Many people take very little time in planning their closets, and end up with an imperfect match to their clothing and lifestyle. It’s a time where regret sets in because you end up with the feeling of “missing the mark”, which will plague you every time you walk in to get dressed. 

2018 is full of surprises and some long-standing trends are finding their way out the door.  So what should homeowners want to consider who are planning a kitchen remodel in 2018? Houzz recently released their kitchen trends for 2018, described below.