A kitchen is a place that is going to be lived in. That means that accidents, spills and everyday wear are bound to happen. One of the exciting aspects of a kitchen remodel is that things like this can now be planned for. The materials you choose such as countertops or cabinet finishes can impact how long your new kitchen stays new. One very important element of the kitchen remodel is what flooring you choose. To prepare you for the wears of everyday life in the kitchen, here are the most durable kitchen flooring options for your remodel.

How does your kitchen remodel measure up?

There are a lot of opinions out there on what it takes to sell a home. But if you talk to almost any realtor they will tell you that the kitchen and the bathrooms are two of the biggest selling points. It is no surprise that the kitchen is sometimes referred to as buyers bait.

A recent Houzz survey concluded that we will see a rise in home improvement projects this year.  Homeowner’s confidence in the economy has increased. Industry professionals reported advancing rates of growth in 2014. Almost a third of all remodeler/builders hired more employees in 2014 to keep up with the demand. A good portion of the building industry reported benefitting from the increased revenue. Confidence of industry professionals has increased. More homeowners are showing an interest in home remodeling projects such as bathrooms and kitchens.

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.  

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.

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. 

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.

Our kitchens have always been a focal point of our home.  A lot of the activities we enjoy revolve around the kitchen. When considering a kitchen remodel it’s important to think about the design and how it will affect you as you age.  After all, remodeling a kitchen is a big investment and not something you want to turn around and do again in a short timeframe. 

We want you to be able to enjoy your kitchen for years to come.  That doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice style.  A recent article suggests some things that you might consider including in your kitchen remodel that will increase its safety and usefulness as family members age. Below are a few of those suggestions that we think would be most beneficial.