With the New Year comes New Year’s Resolutions. Many of us will be setting goals to improve fitness, lose weight, spend quality time with family, or maybe to get our homes more organized and the way we want them. With any goal it is something that takes planning and just doesn’t happen on its own. If you are to achieve something there is a thought process that has to occur and a certain level of commitment if you are going to achieve those resolutions.

For years homeowners have heard all about the work triangle. The work triangle has been around for a while and was designed in the 1940’s to help people work more efficiently in the kitchen. 

Today as the size and layouts of our kitchens have increased people are finding that the work triangle doesn’t necessarily work for all of today’s kitchens. Kitchens are no longer used just for cooking.  Many kitchens today are not only larger but are open to other living areas such as the family room. There are many more activities that occur in the kitchen in addition to having a lot more appliances.  Designers are finding work zones for most kitchens to be a much more effective use of space.

As our lives tend to get busier homeowners are looking for durability, simplicity, and ease of cleaning in the kitchen.  They are forgoing their higher maintenance surfaces such as tile with grout and choosing a seamless look for backsplashes.  Many homeowners today want an uncluttered look that is easy to wipe down and keep clean.  There are a variety of different materials that homeowners have to choose from when opting for a seamless backsplash.

For many of us when we think of a rustic kitchen we picture a log cabin out in the woods or mountains somewhere. Or we picture an old run down kitchen.  It is actually just the opposite. Today’s rustic kitchens bring a warm and comfortable feel to the home. When it comes to adding rustic touches to your kitchen it can be just a few small additions or the entire kitchen. You can add rustic touches to almost any kitchen to give your home that warm and cozy feeling.

If you are like most people you spend a lot of time in your kitchen. Many of us dream of that oversized kitchen that has style, is easy to cook in, and can wow our guests when they come to visit. Unfortunately not every home is suited for a large kitchen, so you are left to dream and think of a future day when you can afford that larger home. When remodeling your kitchen you don’t have to wait to have the feel of a large kitchen in a big home. There are several things you can to do to give your smaller kitchen the appearance that it is larger than it really is. 

It doesn’t matter how comfortable the rest of the house is, people always tend to gravitate toward the kitchen. It could be kids working on a school project, friends hanging out and playing a game, or the aroma of those yummy chocolate chip cookies they can smell coming from the oven pulling them in. 

So much of the activity we do in our homes revolves around the kitchen. The kitchen is truly the heart of the home. The one most important decision a homeowner can make is choosing the right layout so the flow of activity continues and works with their lifestyle. The layout determines the ease of cooking, how and where we eat, and the socialization that occurs in so many homes. Layout can be affected by the placement of sinks, appliances, where doors and windows are placed and where people sit down to do every day tasks such has paying the bills or kids doing homework.  

Most of us are familiar with popular countertop materials such as laminate and granite, but have you ever considered using wood instead? When you think of a beautiful piece of furniture it is the wood and the finish that make it so attractive.  With kitchens becoming an extension of our living areas and more open layouts, a wood countertop can add the perfect touch.  It can be both beautiful and functional.

Most people think of a butcher-block wood that you cut on when it comes to wood countertops. There is so much more to wood countertops. Similar to cabinets, they come in a variety of woods and finishes. They show off the natural wood grain and have a warmer feel than quartz or granite.  

Some woods are more durable than others. The hardness of the wood species varies. You will want to choose a harder wood that is more resistant to damage and denting. You can find this out by looking at the Janka Hardness Scale. The higher the number the harder and more durable the wood is. Along with hardness you will want to consider putting a protective sealant or finish. This will extend the life of your countertops.

If you have recently bought an older home or you have lived in your home for a while you are probably getting the itch to start updating it and get going on some remodeling projects.

Do you start with the bathrooms, add on that extra sunroom, or the kitchen? How do you know which one will give a return or the added value should you end up having to sell? The last thing you want to do is sink a bunch of money into your home and never get the added value and return. The following is a list of projects that add value to your home and those that don’t.

Many homeowners put off remodeling their kitchen because they don’t have the cash in hand. They aren’t excited about going to the bank and hoping they will qualify for the loan.  Many have less than perfect credit. 

Today homeowners have many different options when it comes to paying for a kitchen remodel. You might be surprised to find you can actually borrow more money than you think without breaking the bank.