For Labor Day, many families enjoy getting together in the backyard for grilling burgers, steaks and hot dogs. This is safe and fun way to prepare a meal, but keep these ideas in mind before you fire up the grill. If your grill has a gas cylinder, make sure to store the cylinder upright and not in an enclosed shed or garage. Place it on [...]
If you are thinking about making some changes to your home in a small or large way, I always suggest that my clients do some homework. You have probably heard the old adage, "Measure Twice, Cut Once"? That just means to make sure of what you are doing before you do something that cannot be reversed. Here are several places where you can gather ideas [...]
If you could see all the options for creating a cool kitchen cooking environment, consider the addition of a few trendy ideas to your kitchen remodel in 2016. Do you every find yourself needing to keep a casserole or other dish warm while you prep the rest of the meal? A new warming tray in a lower cabinet fits the bill. Tucked out of way [...]
If you are considering replacing the windows in your home, how do you know what to choose? There are so many choices, prices and designs available. What are the features and benefits that you should consider when selecting those new windows? Wood windows are better for reducing the transfer of heat that metal windows are. They are pretty to look at and are the "real [...]
If you are considering adding new lighting to your home this year, here are some trends that are being looked at for 2016. 1. The use of chandeliers everywhere, not just in the formal dining room! Consider placing one in the master bathroom, kitchen and even bedrooms. Take a look at the different styles with eye catching crystals galore! 2.Pendant lights are still popular for [...]
If you are considering replacing floors in your home this year, you should consider installing engineered wood floors. Available in a multitude of sizes, colors and finishes, these beautiful floors are "real wood floors." This type of floor is simply manufactured using multiple layers of different wood veneers. The grains of each of these layers runs in different directions so that they expand and contract [...]
Kitchen cabinets make or break the look of a kitchen. Great kitchens have cabinets for storage, convenience, display and of course for beauty and design. If you love the look of today's kitchens, you will notice many kitchens feature 2 finishes on the cabinets and countertops. Take a look above at the glazed perimeter cabinets and the stained island-what a beautiful room! You will notice [...]
What is the key to making a lasting impression in a bathroom remodel? Think about the best ways to create a stunning and relaxing space with these ideas: 1. Free-standing soaking tubs are the rage-good-bye to the large jetted tub! 2. Consider a SnapPower Guidelight which is an outlet cover with 3 built in LED lights. Used as a nightlight or additional lighting, they automatically [...]
Many of us want to know the most exciting new trends before we consider doing a kitchen remodel. If you like to be one of the first of your friends with a new appliance, take a look at today's options to consider: 1. Mixed metals are an upcoming trend for the kitchen. Also, using a rainbow color on one appliance in the kitchen functions as [...]
For years when we were both designing new floor plans and looking at kitchen design in existing homes,we discussed what was called the "work triangle" or "efficiency triangle". What is this concept? The idea of a work triangle is that all the work areas are just a few steps from each other, 4-9 feet apart, and that the good workflow in these areas creates more [...]