Bathroom Updates That Buyers Want: Design to Sell

Thanks to the current circumstances we all find ourselves in, many industries have slowed to a halt. However, this is not the case for real estate. In fact, due to low interest rates and a shortage of homes for sale, properties are being bought up at breakneck speeds. According to Lauren Austin, a 17-year real estate veteran, you can no longer “sit and wait for a week and look at 10 houses. If you see a house and it works, you buy it.” If you’re looking to sell your home, now is the time to do it. 

Many things go into selling a home. The most important is making sure the home itself is in the best condition it can be in. That means remodeling. It means modernizing and painting. According to Forbes, next to the kitchen, the bathroom is the most closely inspected and valued room in the house. For that reason, making bathroom updates for resale is among the first places your money should be going.

How Should You Plan the Bathroom Remodels for Resale?

To make the best bathroom remodels for resale, you will need to understand why bathrooms are an integral and valued area of your home. A bathroom is more than just a place to do your business. It is where we begin and end our day. It’s an intimate and sacred sanctuary where we bathe and spend time with ourselves. Remembering the emotional connection people can form with their bathroom will help create an inviting and warm space. If the bathroom is ragged, it can never fill that need people are looking for—plan on sinking some cash into making this room the highlight of your home.

Start With Fixing What is Broken

This should go without saying, but make sure everything in your bathroom works. That means replacing that cracked bathtub, fixing the leaky faucet, and filling the fist-sized hole in the wall. If the toilet runs intermittently, the buyers aren’t going to see a small, isolated issue. They will see straight past that and start questioning the home’s overall integrity. Ensuring everything works and is in good condition is a great first step to making sure the home gets sold for the price you want.

Incorporate Energy Efficient Solutions

Going green is not only a morally sound decision but a profitable one as well. A new study by American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) found that buyers would pay more for homes with higher home energy scores. In the bathroom, that means replacing the showerhead and faucet with a more water-efficient model is a must when doing a bathroom update for resale. The toilet is another one. Older toilets use so much water. The newer ones use significantly less, and they’re also relatively inexpensive

bathroom updates for resale

Paint, Paint, Paint

A new paint job does wonders to change the vibe of a room. A freshly painted room looks clean and can make a small bathroom space feel bigger than it is. This vital step in bathroom remodeling can be ruined with the wrong color. Neutral colors are by far the best to choose when remodeling for resale. This is due to a few different factors. For one, neutral colors are bright, light, and inviting. They also serve as a neutral backdrop, allowing buyers to easily picture their belongings in your home. A quick tip: warmer grays are a trendy color to choose from in 2021.

Maximize your bathroom space

To get the most out of your bathroom space, you’ll need to maximize your storage capacity. Clean out drawers, bathroom cabinets, and closets. In many cases, there still won’t be enough space. Consider upgrading to a larger vanity or adding shelves under the sink. Space is so important that if you are still lacking at this point or are limited by square feet, it may be worth investing in some out-of-the-box ideas such as shelving, wall racks, and hooks. Check out these ideas for decluttering your bathroom.

How to Properly Accessorize Your Bathroom?

You must accessorize if you want the best bathroom updates for resale. You have already done the hard work by decluttering your bathroom. Now you have an open template to work with. First up, towels. Attractive, plush towels are inviting and catch the eye. Consider keeping a uniform color for your towels. It looks neat and professional. 

Now for the accessories. Common practice is to “accessorize in threes.” For example, three glass jars filled with bathing essentials are placed next to each other. Glass jars, attractive trays, and ceramic cups used for holding bathroom items are great accessories that maximize space while adding aesthetic value to the room.

For the toilet area, there are countless ideas. Keep it clean and simple. An idea would be to place bath salts, soap, and a thin book in a wicker basket on the toilet’s tank. When accessorizing your bathroom, simple, attractive, and functional are the core principles you should keep in mind.

Ask Real Estate Agents for Advice

First, go through your checklist and make sure you’ve done everything laid out in this article. That will set you up with the best chance of success. However, it is not an easy process, and it can be easy to find yourself stuck and not sure what to do. If you find yourself in such a predicament, do not be afraid to ask for help. A great resource for you to use is your real estate agent. If your agent has been in the business for a while, they will know what sells and what does not. Asking their advice on what makes the best bathroom updates for resale will significantly increase the chance that you make solid remodeling decisions that ultimately lead to selling your home.

Conclusion

By now, you know the importance of the quality of your bathroom when selling your home. It is not something to be overlooked. Painting, accessorizing, and purchasing the right appliances are all important pieces of the puzzle. However, it is worth noting that it is a puzzle, and it will not be complete without all parts present. So do not neglect some pieces while going full boar on others. Balance is everything. With the right effort, proper guidance, and good taste, you can turn your bathroom into an enticing oasis that draws people in and leads to closing the deal on your home. 

How to Make a Small Bathroom Look Bigger

Many of us have small bathrooms that we’d much rather make much bigger given a choice. When you are stuck with the constraints of the house you live in, you might want to make a small bathroom bigger so that guests can enjoy the perception of a larger room. It can also help you to sell a house.

Clever bathroom remodeling or even just some simple small bathroom hacks to give the illusion of space, and make the most of the limited room you have, can make all the difference. In this guide, we’ll tell you how to make a small bathroom look bigger.

Add Some Colors

The psychology of color when decorating any room is surprisingly influential. If you’ve never actually delved into this world before, you might be shocked at what a difference it can make. Just a change of color scheme can revolutionize the look of a room.

You’ll also be pleased that a bathroom can be one of the more straightforward rooms to paint. If you’ve ever looked up how to prepare a room for painting, you’ll know that you need to remove loads of furniture and tape over certain things. This isn’t always the case in a bathroom; you may not be able to remove your bath, for instance.

Are you choosing colors to make a small bathroom look bigger? There are a couple of approaches you can take. A lot of people go for a light color scheme. This is in fashion now, and it is versatile, so when you sell, you won’t isolate buyers. It gives the feeling of openness having lighter colors.

Some people also go for the feeling of space that can come from a darker room, and some dark statement bathrooms can look fantastic. Some clever small half-bathroom ideas involve dark color schemes.

Update The Tiles

There are so many reasons why people go for tiles as part of their bathroom remodeling. Tired and old tires make a bathroom look…well, tired and old. They can also make it feel smaller and draw people’s attention to the constraints of the bathroom.

Smaller bathroom walls can be made to look like a larger space by including one solid tile pattern. We don’t recommend using loads of colors or anything too complex.

What size tiles are best for a small bathroom? We recommend either 1×4 or 2×6 floor tiles, they’re cheap, and the ceramic design is usually best for durability and longevity. Some tiles can even be easily painted to give you more control. If you ever decide on a new color scheme, that’s possible.

Tiles can be used on the walls and the floor, and small bathroom flooring ideas can be challenging, but if you have a tile design to cover the whole of your bathroom, it can make it much easier and take away some difficult decisions.

Prioritize Bathroom Organization

In some scenarios, you may look at your bathroom and not even notice the fact that it is getting very cluttered. It’s easy to have cleaning products and makeup out on the side, and though they may not bother you, they may be making your small bathroom look even smaller.

Even if you have a small bathroom cabinet, that doesn’t mean that you can’t keep a lot inside. It might not be the most exciting of all the tasks when it comes to decorating, but you must get organized.

Here’s the deal. Over the years, your bathroom gets packed with things you don’t want or don’t use. You may have half-used bottles of product sitting around that you could just dispose of. Alternatively, cluttered cupboards mean that you aren’t making the most of your space. You don’t have to be anal about things, just ruthless in getting rid of what you don’t need and making sure pointless items don’t take up your bathroom space. Perhaps you have somewhere else in your home where you can store other things such as towels, too?

Incorporate Multiple Mirrors

Mirrors may be one of the oldest tricks in the book when it comes to making your bathroom look bigger. Using mirrors in any room can help to give the illusion of more space. We’re not talking about tricking people into thinking it’s twice as big! Even on a subconscious level, having mirrors can open up space. If you have ever been inside a restaurant or coffee shop and noticed lots of mirrors, the chances are they are trying to pull this same trick.

As well as mirrors making a space look bigger, they can also make the room brighter, making the most of any source of natural light. Ask any interior designer, and they will tell you that mirrors are one of the best choices for a small space.

Of course, in your bathroom, you will probably already have a mirror. Consider making this more significant, or adding other mirrors throughout the space.

Decide On Shower Structure

Your shower is likely to take up a lot of your bathroom’s space. If you’ve got a small bathroom with a shower, then it is worth spending some time working out a plan. For example, one trendy way to try and make a small bathroom appear bigger is to use a clever design such as turning it into a wetroom. If the room just has a shower and no bath, this is easier to do and means you can maximize the floor space. Of course, it requires some bathroom remodeling, and it can be a little bit of a job to get the bathroom looking how you want, but it may be worth it for smaller rooms.

There are other decisions to make. Many more minor showers can sit in the corner of the room, and you might even be able to get a specifically smaller size. Often, a curved door can give the illusion of more space, too. Square doors may jut out into the room and give the feeling of more valuable space being taken up, so a sliding door can be another option. The shower is one of the most crucial decisions when you are designing your bathroom.

Decor With Unique Pieces

Unique pieces can serve to do a couple of different things within your bathroom. For a start, individual pieces can give your room a real focal point. When people enter the room, rather than scan around and even take in size, they might just be able to check out all of the exciting features instead. You can have one specific part that the eye is drawn to. With darker bathroom designs, a lot of people opt for some darker metals to complement it. This can mean brass taps or other exciting and different configurations.

Unique pieces can also fit the bill for a smaller bathroom because you may get some unique small pieces of furniture. There are small bathroom sinks that can allow you to incorporate more storage space. There are also several old-fashioned antique items that you can include, which may be smaller anyway, as things used to be smaller hundreds of years ago! Well, homes did, and all of the items within. It’s a great option to make your bathroom more fashionable by decorating it with unique accessories.

Unique pieces are not something to be afraid of. Many people have the outlook that “less is more,” and while this is true with most decorating, there is nothing wrong with having something in your bathroom to draw the eye.

Contact Your Local Bathroom Experts

If you’re ready to move forward, then it is time to contact your local bathroom experts to get a quote for the ideas you may have. Even if you are planning to sell your home soon, looking into the options you have for redecorating is worth looking into. A bigger-looking bathroom can improve the perception of your home and even boost its value.

Contact us today to see what ideas we may have for your bathroom and how it can revolutionize the look and feel of your home. Even a tiny space can be functional and appealing. It’s time to get creative with your bathroom remodeling and your bathroom decor.

How to Plan a Kitchen Remodel?

The kitchen is one of the main focal points of our homes. If we have a stylish kitchen, then it can really set the tone for the rest of the house. If we leave it to fall out of fashion, then the design of the whole house can suffer.

It is for this reason that the kitchen is the most popular room to renovate in our homes and it is also why homeowners spend more money on their kitchen remodeling than any other home improvement.

However, building a new kitchen is a big undertaking and one that should only be handled by qualified contractors in Las Vegas. It’s no small feat and it should be approached with complete professionalism as there are many pitfalls that you might run into. With that being said, it is still up to you to decide on the style, design, and contents of your new kitchen and how the layout will look.

Let’s take a look at some essential areas of kitchen renovation planning that you should consider before you take your first steps.

How to Set a Remodeling Budget?

When we are considering how to plan a kitchen remodel, the first and arguably most important factor is to make an appropriate and realistic budget. You need to know how much money you have to work with so you can plan effectively.

It is important that you take extra time on this step to consider all the costs you might encounter. As with most renovation projects you will most likely run into some unexpected costs and unplanned expenses. When you arrive at your final budget, it would be wise to add on an extra 10-20% to give yourself a safety net. Alternatively, you have the option to investigate kitchen remodeling financing solutions provided, streamlining the process of matching your project with your budget.

Visualize What You Want

This may sound like common sense but it is important that you take some time to visualize what your dream kitchen will look like. It may help to put some ideas down on paper, even better if you can do a sketch of what you foresee your new kitchen looking like.

If you can, do some research on the current kitchen trends as well as any modern, up-to-date technology that you would like to include in the design. It is far easier to make changes at this stage before any of the work is done, and it is much cheaper to redo your sketch than to redo your entire remodeling.

Should I Plan Demolition Before Construction?

First things first, you need to tear the old down before you can build the new. If there are any areas of your kitchen that will not be making the final cut into the next design, then you need to get rid of them.

Plan how you will remove them by causing the least amount of damage and work possible. Sometimes the appliances and furniture can remain throughout a kitchen remodel as a paint job and a bit of renovating will do the trick. If that’s not the case, then it’s time to get rid of it.

Plan how you will remove it, where you will store it, and where you will eventually throw it away. Be sure to check for recycling/donating options.

Plan Heating and Air Ventilation

The kitchen is one of the most frequented parts of the house; you need to make it as comfortable and as inviting as possible. Consider what methods of heating you will have for the winter and what air ventilation option you will be installing.

Talk with your contractors to see what your available options are for your home.

Plan Water and Gas Sources

Again, this is one that you should discuss with your contractors. Consider where your water supply is, and where you need this supply going.

If you are moving your sink and other water-using appliances, then you need to put some careful thought into this. The further away from the supply line, the harder and more expensive the job will become. The same goes for the gas source.

How to Choose Color Palettes For Remodeling?

Color has a huge effect on our mood and how receptive we can be to a room. As the kitchen is a key area of the house, you should really put some time into choosing the correct color scheme.

Neutral, clean colors like whites, grays, and blacks have always been very popular for kitchens, but that’s not to say that you can’t think outside the box. Go back to your original plan and make sure the color scheme works with the rest of the house.

Materials to Use

Lastly, you need to think about what materials you will use in the kitchen. You have a lot to choose from, so take your time. You need to decide on what the flooring material will be, the countertop, the backsplash, and your cupboards.

The possibilities are endless, so don’t be afraid to experiment a little.

Conclusion

So there you have it. Hopefully, by now you should know how to plan a kitchen remodel.

As the old saying goes, “fail to prepare, prepare to fail” – truer words couldn’t be spoken when it comes to kitchen remodeling. Don’t forget, make a budget, make a plan, and then stick to it.

Kitchen Cabinet Trends You’ll Regret: Ideas You Should Avoid

If you are looking online to find remodeling tips and the perfect kitchen layout and floor plan ideas, you will find plenty of style suggestions and tips on the latest trends to follow. But it is also worth thinking about the opposite – the styles and kitchen cabinet trends to avoid. Finding the ideal design is equally as important as eliminating trends that are not practical or useful. 

You are presumably planning to use your kitchen for a long time, or at least more than a few years, before giving it a redesign. That means it is essential to find a style that doesn’t just fit the current trends.

To make sure your new kitchen stands the test of time, pay attention to these kitchen cabinet trends to avoid:

Should You Match Every Possible Kitchen Detail?

This one goes for both the décor of the cabinets, walls and floor, as well as your kitchen appliances. Excessive color matching and monochrome kitchens can look great in a showroom or a carefully filtered Instagram post, but they have a few flaws in a natural home.

Firstly, they can highlight every scuff and other signs of wear, which means they can require more maintenance and repair if you don’t want your eyes to be drawn to every imperfection when you walk into the room.

Secondly, single-color kitchens tend to go for a neutral color like white, which can look a bit flat and dull when not under perfect lighting conditions. On the other hand, a more vibrant color can be overwhelming and oppressive when not balanced by other color choices.

Remember that if all you need to restyle your kitchen is a fresh color scheme, you don’t need to go to the expense and inconvenience of replacing all of your fittings. A professional cabinet refinishing can give your current cabinets a completely new look and style.

Matching the color of your appliances to the rest of the kitchen can make them blend into the background a little too much. This misses the opportunity to use them as an accent to your overall design. Instead, try giving your appliances a contrasting color to make them pop.

Whether to give your fridge and freezer panels to match your cabinets can depend on the situation. When arranged in a long line of cabinets, the fridge and freezer can help break up the monotony. However, in smaller spaces, paneled appliances might be better for maintaining a consistent visual theme in that part of the room.

 

Is Ornamenting Every Part of Your Kitchen Cabinets Worth It?

There is nothing wrong with scattering a few knick-knacks around the kitchen if you are going for a cozy or rustic look. Don’t overdo it, though. Not every cabinet needs to be covered in ornaments, and doing this can make the room feel smaller and more cluttered, and messy.

Plants and other ornaments attract attention. Do you want to draw the eye up to the ceiling and corners and away from your new kitchen furniture and layout?

As a general rule, avoid ornamenting spaces with less than two feet of headroom. These can make the area feel claustrophobic and great at gathering dust. On the other hand, a few ornaments can help avoid having an awkward space between the tops of your cabinets and the ceiling in a room with higher ceilings. Big and bulky objects like baskets and jars work better for this purpose than narrow or spindly pieces that don’t extend the height of the cabinet. 

match kitchen countertops

How to Avoid Wrong Countertops with Your Cabinets?

To find the right countertops to go with your cabinets, start with your kitchen’s color scheme. Choosing countertops that contrast or compliment the color of your cabinets will help to define and shape the space more clearly than colors that blend together or match.

The material of your countertops is just as important as the color for giving your kitchen a complete and stylistically consistent feel. For example, marble can be a stylish and classy look for a modern kitchen, but it will look mismatched and out of place in a kitchen that is aiming for more of a rustic or homely feel.

On the other hand, you might have a countertop and perfect kitchen layout that you love already, but it just doesn’t fit with the cabinets underneath. Instead of replacing everything, cabinet refacing can give it a totally new feel by replacing cabinet doors and handles.

One great trick to highlight your kitchen’s centerpiece is to reverse the color scheme of the kitchen island or table and chairs in the center of the room. For example, if the rest of your cabinets are light with a dark countertop, swap to dark cabinets or chairs with a light counter or tabletop. Some kitchens even switch to a totally different style of cabinet and countertop for the island. This works best in larger kitchens, as it can make a smaller space feel cluttered or lacking in unity.

Do DIY Backsplashes Go With Kitchen Your Design?

The backsplash can make or break the consistency of your kitchen’s design. Simply getting the size and placement right so that it doesn’t look mismatched with the scale of the rest of the room can be challenging. This being the case, it is something best left to experts.

If you are set on doing it yourself, follow the same rules for picking a countertop material and color. Don’t go with a backsplash that is not consistent with the theme and era of the rest of the fittings unless you aim for a deliberate fusion of the two styles.

While it can look great initially to have a backsplash that matches the color of your walls, this is not always the best option. If you have gone for a pale color on the walls like white, light yellow, or light blue, the slightest discoloration from the range will stand out.

 

kitchen backsplash design

 

Should You Combine Laundry Room and Kitchen?

When deciding whether to combine your laundry room and kitchen, the first thing to consider is space. We believe that the answer to whether you should combine your kitchen with a laundry room depends on your space availability. Both choices offer great advantages to your home. Depending on the layout of your home, there might not be many places for your laundry appliances to go except the kitchen.

But if you do have the option of choosing either, which one should you go with? There are a few other factors to consider.

In a larger kitchen, laundry machines can go under countertops or cabinets without taking up extra space. In a smaller room, though, you might need all the cabinet storage space you can get, and a washer and dryer could take up a significant chunk of the room.

Putting laundry appliances in a separate room will also require installing the necessary plumbing and ventilation for those machines, adding to the scale and cost of a project. Another advantage of putting the laundry machines in the kitchen is that it puts all of your noisy appliances in one room. A separate laundry room means a second source of noise and vibration and is not masked by the everyday noise in your kitchen.

Conclusion

Whatever your kitchen remodeling plans, always consider the practical side of using the kitchen and style, and remember these kitchen cabinet trends to avoid. For expert help designing your dream kitchen, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Majestic Cabinets.

How to Prep a Room for Painting: Step by Step Guide for Beginners

Painting a room can be an enjoyable experience, as long as you plan ahead and make sure that the room is prepared beforehand. If you are wondering how to prep a room for painting, it’s actually not that difficult. You simply need to follow a process step by step, in the same way, that painting contractors do.

During the process, you need to consider what wall painting ideas you have, what your budget is, and what materials you need. You may also find it useful to research how to paint a room for beginners so that you are fully prepared for the task ahead. Then, you need to start on the physical preparation of the room.

Plan the Work Ahead

The first stage of prepping a room for painting is to plan ahead. You need to plan your budget, so that you do not let costs spiral out of control. You also need to work out a color scheme, so that you can include getting the right paint in your preparations. If you are looking for inspiration for wall painting color schemes you can check for some ideas online.

Make Sure That All Materials Are In Place

The last thing you want to happen, once you start painting, is to have to stop to go looking for materials. When you are preparing the room, you should make sure that you have the following materials to hand.

  • Paint
  • Different-sized brushes, so that you can finish off edges
  • Paint roller
  • Paint tray
  • Masking tape
  • Drop cloth
  • Ladder. Never be tempted to stand on furniture instead because it’s dangerous to do so.

Remove Furniture From the Room

Furniture will get in the way when you paint, and it may also get covered in paint accidentally. This is why you should remove furniture from the room before you paint, if possible. If you are moving heavy furniture, get someone to help and do so in the right way.

When you are working on how to prep a room for painting, you may find that you have nowhere to move furniture too. In this case, you should move the furniture away from the area where you are painting. The middle of the room will often be the best place to put it. You should then cover the furniture with plastic.

Should I Cover Floors Where Painting is Taking Place?

It’s possible to try and get paint off a wooden floor or a carpet. However, the best thing to do is protect the floor before you start painting. You simply need to place a drop cloth on the floor and secure it in place using masking tape. Make sure that you cover the entire floor.

How to Loosen and Tape Electrical Switches?

There is no easy way to go about wall painting without protecting electrical switches first. If you do not do this, you will not be able to paint right up to the switches without getting paint on them.

The best way to paint a wall where there are electrical switches present is to.

  • Turn off the electricity.
  • Loosen the electrical switch covers.
  • Protect the edges of all switches with masking tape.

Doing this means that you take care of electrical safety while also making sure that your painting is tidy and does not cover electrical switches.

How Can I Protect Windows and Doors?

It’s not just electrical switches that need to be protected when you are painting a room. You also need to protect doors and windows. You may eventually want to paint the door to a room but not at the same time as the walls. So, the door needs to be protected against accidental painting.

Before you tape doors and windows to protect them, you should make sure that they are free from dirt and dust and that the surface is dry. Then, you can apply masking tape to the area that you want to protect. Remember that you need to make sure that the tape is placed right against the surface where you are going to be painting. It’s also a good idea to use several small pieces of tape rather than one long one. This helps to avoid stretching the tape and creating gaps.

This is how to prep a room for painting. It’s an important part of how to paint a room for beginners. This is because making sure that the room is prepared in the right way gives you a better chance of painting the room successfully. You should also remember to give yourself plenty of time to finish the work. This is important as it means that you are less likely to rush the work and make mistakes. Instead, you can take your time and make sure that you do a good job. If you are not sure, whether you can make it alone, you can always refer to home remodeling contractors near you.

Perfect Kitchen Layout And Floor Plan Ideas

How to layout a kitchen floor plan is a central part of kitchen remodeling. The shape of your new kitchen remodels floor plan will define how you get around the kitchen during everyday use, as well as how guests will be accommodated while entertaining. 

There are a few common types of kitchen layout:

U-Shaped Kitchen 

U-shaped kitchens are arranged around 3 of a room’s four walls, leaving an open side to the kitchen to connect to a dining area or living space. These provide a functional and efficient work area with plenty of counter space and easy access to essential appliances like the oven and refrigerator. 

U-shaped kitchens are great for preparing large meals with plenty of room for you to cook while also feeling part of the rest of the room, thanks to the open area between cooking and dining space.

L-Shaped Kitchen

L-shaped kitchens are flexible types of kitchen layouts fitted into the corner of a room. They are great for making the most of a smaller room or for kitchens that form part of the living space. 

L-shaped kitchen layouts leave an open space in the center of the room that you don’t need to access while cooking. This can be a spot to put the family table close to where meals are cooked and ensures the cook stays part of the conversation when entertaining guests. Alternatively, this area can be used as extra storage space or a kitchen island for an additional counter surface.

Whatever your remodel floor plan is, L-shaped kitchen layouts are rarely the wrong choice.

G-Shaped Kitchen 

G-shaped kitchens are very similar to U-shaped kitchens. In addition to the 3 sides of a U-shaped kitchen, G-shaped kitchens also feature a peninsular that extends partway across the open side of the kitchen. These can take up more space than other remodel floor plans but provide more freedom in terms of work surfaces. 

Furthermore, the kitchen peninsula has a multitude of uses as a social space throughout the day. It can function as a breakfast bar, provide a spot for guests to enjoy snacks and drinks while you prepare a meal, or enable other family members to sit and finish up their work while you cook.

Floor for kitchen

Straight & Simple Kitchen

The simplest type of kitchen layout, usually installed in smaller spaces, consists of cabinets and appliances against only one side of the room. These kitchen layouts will often use upper cabinets and other wall-mounted storage such as shelving to maximize space efficiency. 

This simple kitchen floor design keeps your cooking area within a narrow space, leaving the rest of the room open for use as a dining or living room. As a result, while it is commonly used as a space-saving measure, it can also aid in achieving a more open remodel floor plan in your home.

Corridor Type Kitchen 

A corridor kitchen, also known as a galley kitchen, is also relatively simple. Instead of having cabinets against one wall, there are cabinets on both sides with a corridor, or galley, in between. These maximize the use of space for work surfaces and storage, particularly in a smaller room; however, if the central corridor is too narrow, it can be difficult for multiple people to cook or use the kitchen simultaneously.

Tips For Your Kitchen Flooring 

There is a lot to consider when it comes to kitchen flooring in a remodel floor plan. The practical concerns of durability and ease of cleaning are just as important as the aesthetics here. 

Stone, ceramic, and porcelain floors are all highly durable and easy to clean, although some extra maintenance to reseal natural stone flooring may be needed every few years. Wood is excellent for creating a more homely, traditional kitchen look. However, it is a little less resistant to wear and tear than stone and will need to be adequately treated and maintained to prevent warping due to water.

It is a good idea to pick your kitchen flooring while choosing the color scheme for your cabinets and work surfaces. This way, you can select a floor that matches or contrasts against the colors and kitchen countertop materials used elsewhere. For example, you might choose to match hardwood countertops with matching wood floorboards or pair dark cabinets with a white tiled floor for a stark visual contrast.

Maximize Space Usage 

Think about how to layout a kitchen floor plan that will make the best use of the space you have available. 

As a general rule, kitchen islands and peninsulas, as well as corner cabinets, use space less efficiently than straight cabinets against a wall. Islands and peninsulas, in particular, can be an excellent addition to a kitchen when you have space, but when you don’t, they occupy central floor space while giving less opportunity for storage space than wall cabinets which can be paired with an upper cabinet and shelving.

For narrow spaces, a straight or galley kitchen efficiently uses the length of the room to maximize the area you have to cook. In wider rooms, a U-shaped kitchen or G-shaped kitchen plan makes better use of the width, potentially leaving enough room for a table or island in the center. 

L-shaped kitchen layouts are good for kitchens of any size and are particularly useful for reducing the footprint of your kitchen in an open-plan home.

kitchen floor and layout

Adjust to the Traffic 

Kitchen Traffic Flow is an important consideration when picking a layout. In particular, the placement of doors in the room could preclude you from using certain types of kitchen layouts. For example, U-shaped kitchens and G-shaped kitchens require at least 2 walls without doors for a significant length and at least one wall with none. 

If your kitchen is an important path through your home leading to an entrance or living space, keeping the work areas in a corner with an L-shaped layout can prevent other family members from getting in your way as they pass through. If this is not possible, arranging appliances and work surfaces to avoid crossing that path as much as possible will improve the traffic flow through your kitchen.

In a narrow kitchen that leads to an exit such as the door to the yard, keeping all work areas to one side with a straight kitchen makes it easier for people to pass behind you while you are cooking, instead of bumping into you as you cross sides.

Use 3D Visualization

Online kitchen tools and software can provide you with a 3D visualization of kitchen layouts and designs. These let you get a good idea of how your kitchen will look and quickly alter the layout and color scheme to test out your ideas. Take the time to get the measurements, light placement, and color scheme as accurate as possible within the visualizer to get the best impression of how your proposed kitchen layout will really look.

Kitchen Floor Mistakes To Avoid 

The kitchen floor is one of the most inconvenient and expensive parts of a kitchen remodeling to replacing, so save you the trouble and get it right the first time by avoiding these mistakes:

Using the Floor Too Soon 

Depending on the type of flooring, it may be a few days before you can even walk on your new floor without risking damage, let alone installing any furniture or appliances. If someone is installing the floor for you, follow their advice on how long to wait, and if you are doing it yourself then research how long to wait for the materials and method you are using.

Cutting Costs On Labor

If you are a DIY pro and certain you know what you are doing then go ahead but otherwise, you’ll want to pay for a top-quality contractor. Ensuring that a kitchen floor remains safe and structurally sound is a complex task, and going with the cheapest contractor is likely to cost more in the long run when you end up paying someone else to do it properly.

Ignoring Workflows

Your kitchen workflow describes how you move around the kitchen between appliances and work areas. Design a kitchen without considering this, and you might find it inconvenient and inefficient to cook in your new layout. 

The easiest way to approach this is to imagine a triangle with each point placed at your stovetop, sink, and refrigerator. Each leg of the triangle should be unobstructed and if possible, not cross any foot traffic through the room. Each leg should be around 3-8 feet. 

Expert Communication

Clear communication with your contractors is vital to ensure the end result is exactly what you were expecting. It is common for kitchen layouts to require small alterations during installation, for example, due to wiring or plumbing positioned in an unexpected way. Even for the smallest changes, make sure you get a full new plan that accommodates the changes and provides it to all contractors involved. A verbal agreement to make a change may not get passed on, resulting in some work not accounting for the alteration.

Conclusion 

There is a lot to think about when designing your perfect kitchen layout. A kitchen floor plan built to suit your family and lifestyle can be a huge improvement to your home. We know how important it is to design a kitchen that is perfect for your family, so get in touch and we’ll be happy to help create the ideal kitchen for your home.

Simple Ways to Elevate Your Kitchen’s Luxury Design

Turning your kitchen into a luxury space does not necessarily mean a total overhaul of the room. There are plenty of smaller changes and simple kitchen updates you can make to introduce luxury kitchen design ideas into your home. If you are looking to refresh your kitchen with a few quick changes, but don’t want the hassle of a total refurbishment, try these simple ideas to create a luxury kitchen․

How To Elevate Your Kitchen Cabinets?

Kitchen cabinets are a core component of the room’s aesthetic. With a few exceptions for some room shapes, they usually cover most of the walls and occupy a lot of the view wherever you look. When updating your kitchen to have a more luxurious look, a new kitchen cabinet installation should be one of the first things to consider for an upgrade.

If you are aiming to make some simple kitchen updates that don’t break the bank, you don’t need to go as far as installing a completely new set of cabinets. Refacing or refinishing your old cabinets can give your kitchen a completely new look and feel without changing the existing layout.

Purchase New High-Quality Appliances

Mismatched or worn-out appliances can really bring down the look of an otherwise beautiful kitchen. If you are updating the color scheme or style of your luxury kitchen design, your old appliances might not fit in with the new aesthetic. It can be a good idea to go shopping for new appliances once you have already updated the other parts of your kitchen, as having the new lighting, cabinets, and decorations in the room can really help inspire the styles of appliances you go with.

Build a Pantry

Creating a pantry is an easy luxury kitchen idea to pull off on almost any room shape. You don’t need to set aside space for a walk-in pantry either, there are plenty of simple ways to build a pantry in even a small kitchen. For example:

  • Repurpose an old bookshelf
  • Add shelving or a pegboard to an empty wall space
  • Build recessed shelving into the wall cavity
  • Remove the doors from a pair of wall cabinets to be refurbished as shelving

Consider Adding Marble Designs

Marble is a classic, timeless way to give any kitchen more of a luxury look. It is also very robust and will look great for many years to come. Marble countertops can complement a light, neutral color scheme or contrast against dark highlights or cabinets. Marble works great as floor or wall tiling and as a backsplash material as well as one of the timeless countertop materials, although going for marble everything can give your kitchen a monotone feel.

If you don’t want to commit to the characteristics of marble countertops, you can also add them to your kitchen in the form of other kitchen tools and crockery. Here are a few ideas to add some marble highlight pieces to your kitchen:

  • Serving trays
  • Mortar and pestle
  • Paper towel holders
  • Seasoning and shakers tray
  • Cutting block

Marble table tops also look great, but practicality is also a consideration. Marble is very heavy, and sooner or later you will need to move that table. Besides being a pain to move, the sheer weight of a marble table could damage your flooring as it scrapes around.

How to Incorporate a Chandelier into Your Kitchen?

Adding a chandelier is another classic luxury kitchen design idea, especially if your kitchen includes a dining or bar area. The right chandelier can do a lot to elevate your kitchen from feeling like a purely functional space to one that your family and guests can relax and enjoy.

While a chandelier can act as a centerpiece to the room, don’t let it dominate the space. Keep its size appropriate to the rest of the room and the height of the ceiling. If the chandelier will be hung directly above a table or kitchen island you can bring it down lower to keep it in view while you are dining, but make sure your taller family members and guests won’t be ducking under it during dinner.

Should You Add Pieces of Art to Your Kitchen?

Adding some art pieces to the room is often an overlooked way to create a luxury kitchen design. Hanging some pictures or paintings on the walls is an obvious place to start with this if you can afford to dedicate the wall space to it.

If not, ornaments such as vases and sculptures can be a more flexible way to bring art into the room. Depending on the size of the room, these could be placed on countertops, in the corners of the room, or along the tops of wall cabinets and window sills. Don’t clutter the place with too many pieces though, as this can give your kitchen more of a homely, lived-in look than a luxury feel.

Splashes, spills, and stains are always a possibility in even the tidiest cook’s kitchen, so this is definitely something to bear in mind, particularly when decorating around the stovetop and other common spill areas. You should absolutely put glass over any valuable paintings before installing them in your kitchen.

Upgrade Your Lighting

Chandeliers are certainly not the only option when it comes to upgrading your kitchen to achieve more of a luxurious look, and they are not suitable for every kitchen. Here are a few more luxury kitchen design ideas for lighting that you might not have considered:

  • Industrial pendant lighting
  • Billiards-style pendant lighting
  • Polished cage pendants

Besides overhead lighting, put some thought into any countertop lighting that your kitchen contains. As counter lighting is often hidden beneath your wall cabinets, many kitchen designs stick to simple, functional LED strip lighting, but taking the extra effort to stylize this feature can really elevate your kitchen, for example using brass sconces or rows of Edison bulbs to give the lighting a moody, vintage feel.

Conclusion

There are plenty of simple kitchen updates you can make that don’t take a lot of time or effort to make, as well as some that we recommend getting professional help with. This is definitely the case when it comes to replacing or refurbishing your kitchen cabinets. As such a prominent feature of any kitchen, making sure their design and fitting are completely perfect is essential for achieving the luxury kitchen design of your dreams.

We not only provide top-quality, reliable tradespeople to install and refurbish your kitchen cabinets, but we can also help you plan out your kitchen remodeling.

Porcelain vs Ceramic Tile: What is the Difference?

When you are planning to choose a tile to use in your bathroom or elsewhere in your home, then you will be wondering whether you should go for ceramic vs porcelain tiles? So, which is better – porcelain or ceramic tile?

In this guide, we’ll be answering some of your questions about tiles and weighing up the differences in porcelain and ceramic tiles. It’s all about matching up your own unique needs and deciding which of the tiles is the best for your project.

HOW TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CERAMIC AND PORCELAIN TILE

How can you even tell the difference between the two?

Interestingly, there isn’t that much difference in porcelain vs ceramic tiles. Both are made in the same way as they were thousands of years ago, with a few little tweaks. They start off as clay, and are cooked at incredibly high temperatures as this removes the water and makes it harder. Not much has changed in the way tiles are made.

There are some differences though, and you can tell by looking at the tiling.

Ceramic tends to have a softer appearance that looks like clay, and because it is not as hard as porcelain it is much easier to cut. There also tend to be more varieties and the material is lighter to the touch.

Porcelain has more distinctive markings coming from the process of making it. It won’t absorb water so easily and it is heavy to the touch.

Knowing the advantages and disadvantages of porcelain and ceramic tiles is crucial when choosing the right tile for the bathroom or kitchen, or maybe the living room as it helps in planning the budget for your project.

THE PROS AND CONS OF PORCELAIN TILES

Let’s dive into the pros and cons of porcelain tiles to help you understand whether they are suitable for you.

Cost: Porcelain is a little more expensive than ceramic. In general this is because it takes more to make it and it is heavier to transport. You’ll need to weigh this up against how much you need the extra durability on offer.

Maintenance: If anything goes wrong with the tiling it will probably cost you more to repair than other types of tile, but porcelain itself is low maintenance when it comes to cleaning and needing to make repairs.

Foot traffic: Porcelain can handle foot traffic better in areas where water might be present. For instance, if you are looking to tile in a bathroom it is less porous and therefore won’t absorb the water. Just make sure you take anti-slip precautions. It’s also incredibly durable so in an area where there are a lot of people walking, it is unlikely to wear over time as much as other tiles.

Installation: The installation of porcelain is tougher than ceramic. Tiles are harder to cut, harder to transport, and you will likely be quoted a much higher price for porcelain tile installation than for ceramic tiles.

Durability: This is a definite ‘pro’. The hardness of the porcelain tile means that it is incredibly durable. Once installed, these tiles should last you a very long time and survive the majority of the time when things are dropped on them, for instance. They can also handle high traffic.

THE PROS AND CONS OF CERAMIC TILES

Let’s compare and contrast those features to the pros and cons of ceramic tiles so you can make your decision.

  • Cost: Ceramic tiles tend to be significantly cheaper than porcelain tiles. They don’t take as long to make so the manufacturing process doesn’t dictate a higher price. There also tend to be lots of different styles that you can choose between.
  • Maintenance: Both ceramic and porcelain tiles are low-maintenance in terms of day-to-day use. It may be that occasionally a repair might be needed, but this is not commonplace, and it is easier with ceramic tiles than it would be with porcelain.
  • Foot traffic: Ceramic tiles can handle some foot traffic but not as well as porcelain tiles which are more durable. These tiles are also often used as decorative elements such as feature walls.
  • Installation: The installation of ceramic tiles is definitely a big “pro”. They’re lighter, easier to transport, and far easier to cut to the correct size. The process of installation is relatively pain-free compared to some other types of tile.
  • Durability: The durability of a ceramic tile is not necessarily a “con” but it is not quite as impressive as porcelain. Ceramic is not flimsy, but it is slightly less durable.

WHICH ONE TO CHOOSE FOR YOUR HOUSE: CERAMIC VS PORCELAIN?

Choosing ceramic vs porcelain tiles is not necessarily difficult. Weigh up all of the factors above and think carefully about where the tiles will be. For instance, ceramic might be fine for a decorative wall elsewhere in the house, and much easier to install.

Ceramic tiling is significantly cheaper, but if you need a more durable option then it is not going to be enough for your home, and you are much better off trying to opt for porcelain in this scenario. It is all about matching up your needs to the type of tile.

When you will finally choose the type of tile that matches your needs, make sure to hire a professional who works with that type. Contact our tiling pros for your Las Vegas project. Our tiling contractors have significant experience in working both with porcelain and ceramic tiles.

How To Organize Bathroom Cabinets: Trendy & Functional

In this guide, we’re exploring how to organize bathroom cabinets in a way that is functional, trendy, and keeps everything necessary within easy grasp in your bathroom. Whether you like the look of baskets with towels and other bathroom items on display, or you’d rather keep things neatly hidden away, you can make this choice yourself with some storage solutions.

These are the sort of jobs you probably won’t think very much about when you first decorate, but it’s a good idea to try and incorporate some tactics to make the best use of your space and to create both a great look and fit more into your kitchen without making it look cluttered. Of course, clutter looks like a mess to most of us, but fortunately, A bathroom is rarely designed to be ample space within the house. Space is much better utilized being part of a bedroom. This means that you should look to make use of all the tiny little holes spaces within your bathroom.

Many of us have space under the sink, and an under sink organizer can be an ideal space for storage products and disposable items such as toilet tissue to be stored. If you keep this sort of thing on display in your bathroom, there’s not much point in decorating it in the first place. Even if you have a beautiful design and finally decided on some stunning bathroom color ideas, you need to make sure it is displayed. The ideas we provide are great for small bathrooms and not only. Having clutter is just going to end up detracting from your beautiful painting.

You can also use cabinet doors, and even specific storage units to hide things out of sight. Why not add a mirror with cupboard storage space to put some of your items within? During bathroom remodeling, you can add these clever additions. It gives you that extra bit of space to keep things out of sight but still convenient to use. A lot of people use these as meditation, as a clean house supports your mental health.

Add Hooks for Your Tools 

You might not have vast amounts of tools in your bathroom, but many people have things like squeegees for cleaning. You can add hooks for these, so they aren’t taking up valuable cabinet space. Hooks are also standard for things like gowns and even towels. This is one of the best small bathroom tools for those who need to make use of a tiny little space and still store a lot of items they use daily in their bathroom.

Divide Your Drawers

There’s really no point in exploring how to organize bathroom cabinets if you’re not going to actually go to some effort to give everything a home. The drawer space that you have in the bathroom should not be wasted. Your cabinets can be divided in any way you wish, but it is a good idea to use actual drawer dividers to split the space in each. 

organizing a bathroom cabinet

What’s the point in this? Well, it avoids the problem a lot of us have, which is just shoving things in drawers and forgetting about them. It’s easy to just put something in a drawer when you’ve used it and not think about it again for months. This is how drawers get disorganized, and it is hard to find the things you need. If you’re the sort of person with drawers full to bursting all over your kitchen and bathroom, you probably need to accept that things like dividers are vital. Ultimately, it makes your life a little easier. The same can be said of the countertop space that is within your room. A bathroom counter organizer is a great way to separate your makeup from your soap, your cleaning products, and your nail clippers.   

Practice Makes Perfect

You might not get all of your organization perfect the first time. If you’re not good at organizing your bathroom naturally, then you might find that you have stored things in some places that don’t make much sense. There’s nothing wrong with spending a rainy Sunday rearranging the bathroom so that it looks right and it is easy to find everything you need.

The sort of people who like to be organized will have no problem practicing this by organizing different rooms of the house. It’s incredible how much extra space you can have if you manage to store things in suitable spaces.

bathroom functional organization

Hang a Shower Caddy

Shower caddies can look great; specific models can add some decor to your bathroom. Go for a vintage look or something that has a more modern look, depending on what suits the design of your bathroom.

A shower caddy also has a particular purpose; it doesn’t matter if things get wet! If you’re looking for somewhere to store your shampoo or shower gel or even moisturizer, it doesn’t matter if it gets wet on the caddy, as it will just dry out. This is why many of them have grates underneath to let water drain. One part of knowing how to organize bathroom cabinets is knowing that you need an area where things can get wet, and it does, of course, matter! You don’t want to put your shower gel in a wooden cabinet after every use.

A shower caddy also makes use of a space that otherwise wouldn’t be used. The shower doesn’t have anywhere you can store things, but you can hang a caddy, and some of these are surprisingly big, ideal for storing any plastic bottles.

Buy Specific Holders and Hangers

As well as thinking about how to organize bathroom cabinets, you can add some specific holders and hangers. A lot of your bathroom items, besides those stored in a shower caddy, can also be stored in their holders. This is a way to make things neater while leaving valuable space in your cabinets.

You can buy holders and hangers assets, or alternatively use baskets, which can provide the ideal space for you to store things like towels and facecloths.

Labeling is Key  

If you are an organization fanatic, then you can use labeling to help with your bathroom. This is good for your storage and knowing where you need to keep things organized, but it is also fantastic for any visitors. If someone wants to know where they’re going to find some fresh soap in the bathroom, for instance, labeling can help.

We’re not suggesting that sticky labels visible everywhere are how to organize bathroom cabinets the most effectively. It’s better to use them discreetly. Why not use the labels on the bottom of the shelves within your bathroom cabinets?

Conclusion

When you take the time out to organize your bathroom cabinets, you’ll probably realize a few things about your current storage solutions. For one, you might well find that there are a lot of different things in your bathroom that simply don’t need to be. Having a good clearout is a way to make sure that you can only keep the essentials within grasp, and you don’t have a tiny amount of perfume you don’t use anymore, taking up space in your cabinets. And if you need to refresh your cabinets or just a small fix, contact us for the cabinet repair

There are many different methods to allow you to get an organized result. Our tips can help you to create a more functional bathroom, but also one that looks far better to you and your guests! Keep all those sensitive products out of sight, and allow people to enjoy the incredible remodel you’ve just had or the stunning design and decor in your bathroom.

The Difference Between Commercial and Residential Construction

If you don’t know much about construction it can be easy to assume that each construction company does a very similar thing. This isn’t necessarily the case, as well as having their own specialties, commercial and residential construction companies have some key differences in their definitions and their processes.

In this article, we’re looking at some of the differences between residential construction and commercial construction. Understanding the differences can help you to choose which construction company you plan to work with and learn a little more about this complicated industry.

Is the Scale and Complexity of the Work the Same in Commercial and Residential Construction?

Commercial construction companies often have more of an infrastructure that allows them to work on some very large projects. For instance, if you are working with a residential company it may be that they can only make changes that impact a regular home. Most houses are in some ways similar, and there isn’t a huge difference between the projects a residential building or construction company will undertake.

On the other hand, commercial construction companies are often called upon for complicated projects from shopping malls to cinemas to stadiums. A residential building contractor or construction company is not going to be in a position to help with these larger and more complex projects.

Do Commercial and Residential Construction Differ in Price?

Obviously, the price that your construction company charges you will depend on what sort of work you need to be carried out. A small bathroom repair in a mall will probably cost less than major renovations of a residential property. However, generally speaking, commercial properties are likely to involve far more of an undertaking and significant price hikes for getting it done. A commercial construction company will usually charge more for their more specialist knowledge and the fact they tend to work on larger contracts.

Is Strategy and Work Pace the Same for Commercial and Residential Construction?

Commercial construction companies often have a team in place for their more complex projects to assist with planning and strategy. The projects they are working on, usually being larger, may take a lot longer than residential properties, but with bigger teams working on the construction project, they can sometimes be surprisingly fast. A good construction company should always be able to estimate how long a job will take.

Keep in mind that, particularly with a commercial building, the company may need to get in some specialist help, whether subcontracted or otherwise.

When thinking about the time taken to work on a residential property, sometimes companies have to factor in the fact that people may still be living there. This is true of many renovations and repairs, rather than any sort of new build.

What Materials and Equipment are used in Commercial and Residential Construction?

Again, there is an element of generalizing here, but it is normally the case that a commercial construction company will have access to materials and equipment which are different from those that a residential company regularly uses. They may need equipment to scale higher, for instance, than companies working in a residential setting. A residential company is unlikely to work on a skyscraper, for instance, whereas a commercial company may have to.

There will always be something of overlap with the materials, but the companies tend to only have access to materials and equipment they need to do their job effectively, and this is an often smaller scale for residential projects.

Do You Need Permits For Commercial and Residential Construction?

Working with commercial construction projects takes a huge amount of planning, and this means there are often a lot of permits involved, too. Commercial companies can’t just build what they want, where they want. There is a lot of planning permission and red tape. While there are regulations regarding residential building, too, there is far more when it comes to commercial construction.

For instance, it may be that a commercial project involves shutting public spaces or taking on huge building projects that impact nearby businesses and peoples’ homes. A good commercial construction company will be able to help and advise if you need to obtain permits in order to undertake the work. They should know the relevant permits and how to get them, whereas residential construction companies tend to have a lot less in terms of requirements for the building they carry out as it has less impact on the public.