There comes a point in your life when you start think my kitchen needs something more. Maybe the hardware is looking warn or you backsplash is looking a little dated.  Or your cabinets are stuffed to the rafters and every time you open one you have to go digging for what you need.  We all know the kitchen is the heart of most homes and some of us have just lost that loving feeling and dread walking in there.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency people spend 90% of their time indoors.  People would be surprised at what may be causing the pollution and affecting the air quality inside their home. Brian Wellnitz said, “The home cooking process is the #1 source of airborne pollutants in the house.” 

Most of us are familiar with range hoods.  Range hoods are one important ventilation system for the kitchen that helps remove grease, moisture, and other pollutants that can affect the quality of the air in our home. When you cook on your stove and notice the steam and heat that rises from the range, this steam contains some of these pollutants. That moisture and heat can also damage your cabinets. 

When beginning a kitchen remodel it is easy to get caught up in all the latest and greatest trends. We tend to want to have it all. Many homeowners make the mistake of cramming too much in to their new kitchen and end up frustrated because it doesn’t function like they thought it would. They get so caught up in the aesthetics that they overlook the layout and storage options. They end up tripping over each other because the flow and workspace interferes with the different activities in the kitchen.

Before ever starting your kitchen remodel there are five questions you need to ask yourself. This will help you and your kitchen designer create a kitchen that will function like you need it to.

When you’re looking to do a kitchen or a remodel, one thing you’ll want to make sure you do is deal with a cabinet company that has a defined sales process. If that sounds foreign to you, you’re not alone since not many cabinet companies have them.

What is a defined sales process? Well, it’s the series of steps, interactions and communications you will have with the cabinet company from the time you first walk in their door until you’re sitting in your beautiful, completed kitchen. 

If you have been on Pinterest lately or have been looking in the decorating magazines you have probably noticed that color is coming back into the kitchen. Not only are we seeing cabinets with more color, but we are seeing more bold and brighter colors in the kitchen.

A recent Houzz survey on decorating trends, found the younger generation is more likely to go with bolder and brighter colors. While soft and neutral is still the most popular choice they are seeing splashes of color incorporated in backsplashes, wall colors and decorating accents. 

One of the biggest questions homeowners have when it comes to a remodel is “Will I get a return on my investment?”  Deciding what upgrades are worth doing can sometimes be a daunting task.  Many times it is budget that may prevent you from getting the upgrades you want.  Learning about what gives you the best return and what will benefit you most can help in the decision making process.  There are those upgrades that are worth fighting to keep and others you can more easily pass up.  

Trying to decide on your backsplash can be a little overwhelming.  It’s like choosing the filling for the cake.  Either you will love it or it will totally be disappointed because the filling doesn’t go well with the cake.  You wouldn’t want to put a lemon filling with a peppermint cake.  They just don’t go together. 

In many kitchens the backsplash is the focal point of the kitchen.  If you are like most people you have probably seen a lot of backsplashes and different countertops you like.  However not all countertops go with all backsplashes.  So how do you find something you love and achieve the look you want? You may even wonder if you need one at all.

A recent article gives you some insight and strategies to help you find the perfect combination.

The way we do things has changed drastically over the last 10 years.  We have become technologically dependent.  We are used to having what we want at our fingertips.  We don’t even have to leave the comfort of our own home to shop.  Kitchens are no different and are following that trend.  With technology changing so rapidly what can you include in your kitchen update that will allow you to be prepared for the future and not get left in the past? 

Once you’ve decided to remodel the kitchen or bathroom it can be a little overwhelming knowing what to do first. You have the design complete, cabinets picked out, flooring ordered, and fixtures on the way. The big dilemma is, knowing what to do first.  

Some people will just opt to hire a general contractor to handle the whole process. Others will try and save a little money and deal directly with the different contractors involved in the job. 

If this is your first time taking on a project like this there are most likely some things you may not know, or have not considered. Do you install the flooring or cabinets first? Should you paint before or after the cabinets are installed?  There are some general rules of thumb when it comes to the order in which things should be done.  

The bathroom is heart of a lot of activity in the home. Next to the kitchen it is probably one of the most used rooms in the house that affects the function of your family.  You would be surprised at all the innovative things that can be included in your bathroom remodel. Don’t be surprised when you see how high tech bathrooms have become. There are refrigerated cabinets to store medicines, as well as other kinds of smart cabinets. 

While not every trend may be for your family, we thought we would let you know what is out there in case you do decided to splurge a little and make the function and atmosphere a lot more pleasant. 

Trends to Think About