Kitchen & Bath Remodeling 

The kitchen and bathroom are two of your home’s most frequently used spaces. The way you feel when you step into these rooms can set the tone for your entire day. 

 

Often, simple upgrades can improve functionality and increase your energy and water savings. A renovation or remodel also allows you to update the space to fit your personal style and meet your family’s changing needs.

 

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We specialize in designing and remodeling kitchens, baths, outdoor kitchens. You dream what you want and we can create it - home additions to a new home office. We’ll walk you through your home remodel from design through the build process, every step of the way. Your project is our concern from initial meeting to the final aspects of completion. Below, are some things to consider when remodeling your kitchen or bathroom. You can also contact us here for a free estimate.

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Wondering if it’s time for new kitchen cabinets? If your kitchen remodel involves a new footprint and additional storage needs, partial or complete replacement of kitchen cabinets is the way to go. Just remember that this approach involves major demolition and consideration of such critical elements as plumbing and appliance placement.

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If you’re going to replace the cabinets, there are three levels of cabinet customization:

Stock cabinets

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The least expensive, stock cabinetry is produced in mass and available through your local home improvement center and cabinet dealers. What you see is what you get, with few chances for
modifications or specialized specs. Manufacturers offer such wide variety, however, that stock cabinetry can be a perfect solution that saves considerable cost. One source we love for such systems is Ikea. Instead of messing around with leveling and shimming to install straight cabinets, Ikea provides a bar that’s mounted on the wall and you actually hang the cabinets from it. What’s more, their floor cabinets have adjustable legs that are hidden behind a kickplate.

Semi-custom cabinets

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The middle ground between stock and custom, this variety allows for slight modifications (usually height, width, and depth) at the time of production. There’s a wider array of associated moldings, trims, and finishes available, and of course, the price goes up accordingly.

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Custom cabinets

Created especially for you and your kitchen, with pricing determined by complexity of design and materials used. Aficionados of fine wood craftsmanship find it hard to consider any other option.

Style-wise, there’s been a big resurgence of high-gloss glass cabinetry with traditional coloring that can work in any sort of environment. And you aren’t limited to tall and narrow, either — look at a mix of horizontal and vertical units to create visual interest, as well as a wider variety of storage options. Light-colored cabinets with a mix of open shelves and glass-fronted doors provide the visual depth that opens up a kitchen.

And don’t forget the jewelry. Small changes in hardware, like new door handles and drawer pulls, can make a huge difference in the overall look of a kitchen. The rule of thumb is to choose one or two stand-out pieces of hardware, balancing more neutral looks with your flights of whimsy.

When selecting new kitchen cabinets, your choice will be guided by your budget and the desired level of customization. But even within tight cost constraints, there are inexpensive ways to tweak the look of your cabinets to reflect your own personal style.

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Kitchen Cabinet Refacing

Kitchen cabinet refacing involves replacing the doors and veneers on existing laminate or wood boxes. It’s not a job for the novice, but also understand that if you hire a pro to do the job, your satisfaction with the results will be directly proportional to their skill and level of craftsmanship. Quality of existing cabinetry and the new materials applied also impact the end product.

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Kitchen Cabinet Refacing

Kitchen cabinet refacing involves replacing the doors and veneers on existing laminate or wood boxes. It’s not a job for the novice, but also understand that if you hire a pro to do the job, your satisfaction with the results will be directly proportional to their skill and level of craftsmanship. Quality of existing cabinetry and the new materials applied also impact the end product.

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Kitchen Cabinet Refinishing

 

If you like the style and configuration of the kitchen cabinets you have, and they happen to be made of wood or laminate, refinishing them is the clearest route to remodeling cost control. Most older cabinetry is well built, so preserving it is usually worthwhile just be sure to examine the construction carefully before pulling out the sander, because if paper-thin veneers cover every surface but the solid fronts, you’ll need to rethink your refinishing plans. Veneers can’t be sanded or stained, so painting will be the only option if they’re involved. Whether painting or staining, choose an oil-based finish, which is far more durable and forgiving of everyday kitchen grime than latex finish.

Checked your kitchen cabinets and they’re clear for approach? Great!  Here are the steps to a fabulous new finish:

• Working in a well-ventilated area, begin with a thorough cleaning, removing all dirt and grime from cabinets; allow surfaces to dry.

• Apply a paint/finish remover, and scrape away finish with a putty knife, followed by a wire brush. Continue this cycle until a clean wood surface is revealed.

• Sand cabinets with fine-grit sandpaper, and remove resulting dust and debris with a tack cloth. You may also consider using a liquid sanding agent, which can be very effective in application to fine woodworking details and other hard-to-sand areas (it also helps with the grime-removal step of refinishing).

• Apply the new finish according to the manufacturer’s instructions (preceded by the appropriate primer if you’re painting the cabinets), allowing surfaces to dry thoroughly between coats.

• When finish applications are complete, apply a protective top coat to protect cabinets from moisture, grease, and surface oil.

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WHICH TYPE OF KITCHEN COUNTERTOP IS RIGHT FOR YOU?

 

So, which type of kitchen countertop material is right for you?  Would something upscale and elegant suit your image of the perfect?  Is a material that requires little maintenance a top priority?  Traditional or contemporary in style, or perhaps rustic or retro?  Kid friendly?

With so many options, your answers to these types of questions will help you decide the right type of countertops for your kitchen.

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LOOK AND APPEARANCE?

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Let’s consider today’s top countertop materials and the look they’ll bring to your kitchen along with a few pros & cons. See each individual countertop material guide for a full list of pros & cons.

 

Butcherblock countertops were originally made from the grain ends of dimensional boards, but you’ll also find them produced with grain sides. In other words, they’re made with smaller and larger pieces of wood. The look is neat and tidy however they’re made. The traditional smaller pieces of wood produce a casual, somewhat rustic appearance. When the wood is cut in longer strips, the look is still rustic but in a more contemporary way.

• Pros: Warmth of natural wood, several “looks” available, affordable

• Cons: Must be sealed and oiled properly and fairly often to prevent water damage

 

Concrete countertops sound cold and drab, like a sidewalk Well, they are quite hard, obviously, but the look of most is anything but dull. The concrete can be pigmented, but most often it is acid stained and then polished to a brilliant gleam. In the end, many concrete countertops resemble natural stone like granite, but the look can be easily customized too. They are an excellent choice for high-end, elegant kitchens.

• Pros: Beauty and elegance, natural stone look and other appearances with fewer hassles, durability

• Cons: Pricey, unforgiving on dropped glass items, proper sealing required to prevent stains

 

Granite countertops might be the most distinguished material currently used. Polished granite slabs and granite tiles are both available. Slabs have the edge in elegance; tiles bring an Old World or country feel to the kitchen. Both are gorgeous.

• Pros: Rich, luxurious look, natural stone, durability and scratch-resistance

• Cons: Expensive, hard, require regular sealing and can chip (though chip repair can be DIY and very effective)

 

Laminate countertops are available in an impressive range of colors and styles, many mimicking more expensive materials such as natural stone or tile. Laminate gives you the look you want at an affordable price. Most countertop dealers have dozens if not hundreds of samples to show you.

• Pros: Great style range, affordable, easy to clean

• Cons: Some look cheap, not resistant to heat, scratch somewhat easily

 

Lava countertops are unique, a conversation starter for sure. The look is classy and unique, polished to a sparkling gleam. Lava countertops feature a glazed surface available in many colors, and their appearance works with designs ranging from traditional to retro to contemporary to modern.

• Pros: Uncommon, strong, pretty and resistant to heat

• Cons: Very expensive, hard to refinish (though they last many decades)

 

Marble countertops boast traditional beauty that is unsurpassed. The stone comes in a range of hues including lovely pinks, greens and neutral tones.

• Pros: Stunning good looks

• Cons: Not commonly used in kitchens due to probability of staining and need to seal properly and often

 

Porcelain countertops can be stunning, glazed in a rainbow of creamy, gleaming hues to suit your kitchen scheme. The look is quite contemporary.

• Pros: Variety of color options, tough and strong finish, non-porous, so easy to clean

• Cons: High price, can be dulled with heavy wear

 

Quartz countertops are another elegant choice. This engineered material is pigmented in many colors, each one polished to a bright surface. Quartz is a good choice in traditional kitchens but looks good in contemporary space too.

• Pros: Strong, color options, easy to clean, doesn’t require sealing, resists scratches

• Cons: Costly, not very resistant to heat

 

Reclaimed wood countertops is among the most popular ecofriendly countertop materials. Wood planks and slabs are milled again and resurfaced to produce profoundly beautiful countertops that work well in country, traditional, Old World and contemporary designs.

• Pros: Warm and beautiful

• Cons: Expensive, require sealing, limited choices

 

Recycled glass countertops are produced from crushed glass and a clear binder that allows the beauty of the glass to sparkle through. The crushed glass might be of one general hue or a rainbow of glasses can be used. The look ranges from retro to modern.

• Pros: Each is unique, easy to clean, tough and strong

• Cons: Limited styles, expensive

 

Resin countertops are made from various synthetic materials to produce a wide range of appearances from solid colors to the look of small glass beads or colored pebbles fixed in a clear field. Resin countertops have a very contemporary, modern feel.

• Pros: Good range of appearances, easy to clean, durable

• Cons: Inconsistent quality among manufacturers, can be expensive

 

Solid surface countertops are another synthetic material that is pigmented to produce many different styles from solid colors to a look similar to natural stone. Depending on the appearance of solid surface material, it works in kitchens that are traditional or contemporary/modern.

• Pros: Many color options, easy to clean, tough and durable

• Cons: Poor heat resistance, fairly costly

 

Stainless steel countertops give any kitchen the look of cleanliness and order. They are embraced by those who do a lot of food preparation and want a material that assists them in their efforts while continuing to look fantastic. Traditional, retro and modern kitchens employ stainless steel countertops.

• Pros: Beautiful, easy to clean, scratch-resistant, durable

• Cons: Somewhat sterile in appearance, expensive

 

Tile countertops are used to achieve any look because tile comes in such an amazing spectrum of style, size, color and shape. Even if your countertop is another material, tile makes great backsplashes! Traditional kitchens use tile more than any other, but tile enhances other looks including country, Old World, retro, contemporary and modern.

• Pros: Vast array of options, versatile design, heat-resistant

• Cons: Grout must be properly sealed or it will stain, tile can chip and be hard to replace

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What’s your Lifestyle?

Do you have a short list of potential countertops you’re considering after reading about appearance, pros & cons? Perhaps you can narrow it down a bit after considering what you want from a countertop.

Your lifestyle is a factor in how much maintenance you’re willing to put into your countertops and how heavily they will get used. Each has implications for what materials you should consider and which you should stay away from.

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Family and Budget?

Some kitchen countertops are not as kid-friendly as others.  Those that stain easily include marble, some granite and concrete, wood that isn’t well-maintained and tile grout that isn’t sealed on a regular basis.  If your kids are older and doing some cooking on their own, keep in mind that laminate, solid surface products and wood countertops don’t resist heat very well. Hot pots or pans can leave a lasting mark.

If your budget is large, consider pricier kitchen countertops such as concrete, granite, quartz, Corian, or stainless steel.  Mid-range options include solid surface products, tile, some woods, and recycled glass countertops. Those on a limited budget can still find very nice kitchen countertops in butcher block, laminate and even tile.

 

Which of these categories resonates with you?  Use your answers to narrow your choices – it will make the ultimate decision that much easier!  A wide array of materials, colors, patterns, styles and prices mean that there are great kitchen countertops made for every home.

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Contact us here for a free bathroom/kitchen remodel estimate

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