Kitchen Remodeling: What You Need to Know [Infographic]
Thinking about remodeling your kitchen but overwhelmed by the possibilities?
We’ve created an infographic filled with stats about the latest kitchen trends. Use this information to be sure the design and appliances you select result in a beautiful, functional kitchen for years to come.
When you’re ready to start your kitchen remodel, look to RWC in West Caldwell for guidance and professionalism. We’ve got 54 years’ experience and have seen trends come and go. We’re can help you choose a kitchen design that will remain stylish for years to come. Call us today to get started!
Sources:
https://www.houselogic.com/by-room/kitchen/9-kitchen-trends-that-cant-go-wrong/
https://www.remodeling.hw.net/benchmarks/economic-outlook-rri/homeowners-hired-pros-to-remodel-66-of-kitchens-58-of-baths-nkba-survey-finds_o
https://www.houselogic.com/by-room/kitchen/classic-kitchen
6 Essential Upgrades for Kitchen Storage and Organization
A good storage system is probably more essential in the kitchen than anywhere else in the home. Here, clutter not only takes up valuable working space, but makes good sanitation all but impossible. Try these 6 solutions to solve this problem in ways that are both tidy and functional:
Add More Cabinets and Pantry Space
This is the most basic solution, but it is also the most essential. In order to get rid of clutter, you need somewhere to put it. It’s not unusual to find that you need to add an entire extra wall of cabinets to even have the basic amount of storage you need, especially in older homes. Along with those, add some extra pantries. These are basically closets for your kitchen. Use them for items you don’t want to have to reach up for. They’re great for everything from big pans to awkward bottles of cleaning solution.
In-Cabinet Organization Systems
These systems allow you to get the full use out of your kitchen cabinets. If you have cabinets but find that you’d rather leave things on the counter instead, you need these! They eliminate the problem of things getting lost after you’ve put them away. You’ll be far more comfortable with taking things off the counter when you know you’ll be able to get them back without a hassle.
Some of the most popular storage systems for cabinets include wine racks and cup hangers. Cup hangers let you hang your mugs and teacups by their handles so you see them all at a glance. Add pull-out shelves to keep your spices and other small items organized too.
Cabinet Accessories
The built-in aspects of in-cabinet storage systems are only part of the equation. Be sure to fill these out with accessories that make it easy to keep everything organized and safe from damage. For example, if you store sets of dinnerware, you should be sure to add plate separators to keep the plates from being damaged by bumping into each other. Cups should also have separators placed between them if stacked.
Drawers
The basic construction of a drawer is simple, but that doesn’t mean that it can’t be improved upon. Have your new drawers built so that they tilt downward slightly when slid out. This will make it easy to see and reach the things in the back.
If you like to use drawers for storing small items, use inserts that provide a number of separate compartments. This makes it easy to arrange things by item type, but that’s just one of the benefits. Compartmentalizing your drawers also keeps the smallest items from sliding under larger ones and getting lost.
Pot Racks
Despite the name, these aren’t really “racks” in the strictest sense. Instead, they allow for pots and pans to be hung from their hooks. Typically, a modern pot rack is hung from the ceiling instead of being mounted on a wall. They come in a huge variety of designs and finishes.
Towel Rods
Many kitchens lack these simple, but essential, items. People tend to associate towel holders with bathrooms, so when it comes time to design a kitchen, they simply forget about them. In reality, kitchen towels are used very frequently, and they need a good place to dry if they are to remain free of mold and mildew. The one caveat is to avoid the common practice of hiding a towel holder in the under-sink cabinet. Hang the towel out in the open so it dries fast enough to stay fresh.
These are just some of the elements you need in order to create a well-organized kitchen. Talk to us here at RWC in New Jersey to get a full design, quality kitchen remodeling services, and more.
Make Your Kitchen A Chef's Dream
There’s no need to work in a hot restaurant all day to have a kitchen worthy of a chef. Instead, we can build you a kitchen that has all of the necessary features – without the stress and rush of a busy commercial environment. Here are some of the features you should include in the design to set it apart from a regular home cooking area:
A Marble-Topped Kitchen Island
Marble is a pastry chef’s favorite. It stays cool for long periods of time, which is essential for getting pastry dough to be thin and flaky. The cool temperatures of the marble keeps the butter or shortening in the dough from quickly melting into a gooey mass. Pastry chefs also use marble rolling pins to maximize the effect.
A Stainless Steel Food Prep Area
Chefs in large kitchens don’t fuss around with tiny cutting boards. Instead, at least part of the counter space is finished in stainless steel. This type of countertop does not stain and can be sanitized. In order to be properly sanitized, a surface must be non-porous. It also needs to stand up to scrubbing. Since stainless steel has both of these properties, it can be safely used for a variety of cutting tasks – including chopping raw meat.
Commercial kitchens typically have work surfaces in 100 percent stainless steel. However, if you want your kitchen to look a bit less industrial, granite is a great solution for areas that won’t be in direct contact with food.
Multiple Stoves
It’s all but impossible to get all of the elements of a dinner to finish cooking at the same time without burning if you only have one oven. That’s because different dishes cook at different temperatures. The proper chef’s solution? Multiple ovens. Two or three will allow you to cook everything at the right temperature simultaneously.
Ranges and Grills
Professional chef ranges are typically installed separately from ovens. This gives the chef more cooking space and keeps him or her from having to stand in the way of the oven door. Commercial kitchens also typically have huge, permanent flat grilling panels so that chefs don’t have to try to make do with tiny griddles. If you fry up large quantities of foods like eggs, consider adding one of these grills to your own kitchen.
An Upgraded Refrigerator
The standard refrigerator has a huge general cooling area, but only includes a relatively tiny freezer and crisper. Chefs, however, often deal with more greens than the average person. They may also keep a larger stock of frozen ingredients. Get a refrigerator unit that suits your personal cooking style. Popular variations include models with equal size freezer and refrigerator zones, units with extra crisper drawers, and more. You can also get a separate refrigerator and freezer and forgo the combo-unit concept entirely.
Professional-Grade Sinks
Those who do plenty of cooking and baking know that a single-sink system is nowhere near efficient enough for serious washing. Getting a large double stainless steel sink would alleviate the washing issue and give plenty of room for dishes and scrubbing. However, there shouldn’t be a need for the standard commercial triple-compartment sink. Since one of those compartments is for restaurant-style sanitization, few people who cook at home need to chemically sanitize their pots and pans.
These are just some of the differences between a professional chef’s kitchen and a standard household one. Deciding which elements will be best for you depends on your cooking style as well as the quantities of food you’ll be cooking. Talk to one of our designers here at RWC in West Caldwell, NJ to get some specific ideas to incorporate into your kitchen renovation project.
DIY Bathroom Renovator: Bathroom Remodel Design Mistakes To Avoid
DIY bathroom renovation can seem like a simple enough job, so many people get the idea of doing it themselves. With so many DIY shows and inspiration out there that generate countless DIY bathroom renovation ideas, it’s easy for a first-time bathroom renovator to become disillusioned and tackle a project far too advanced for them. Obvious design flaws, code violations, and other bathroom design mistakes that show a clear lack of skill are some of the biggest dangers of going about this project in the wrong way. Here are some bathroom remodel design mistakes that can be prevented by calling in the professionals:
Bad Bathroom Design Leads to a Bad Bathroom Remodel
For most, it would seemingly be clear that the most important aspect of design is usability. However, this isn’t obvious to all. One amazingly common diy bathroom renovator error that many fail to avoid is installing the toilet directly in front of the sink. This doesn’t mean “next to” the sink, or even a few feet in front of it. In the worst cases, one would have to actually stand on the rim of the toilet to access the sink.
Another design mistake is far less shocking, but will still cause a lot of hassle. While bathroom storage is important, especially in small spaces, some design options are better than others. Placing a shelf directly above the toilet sounds like a great idea, but can cause logistical problems. It is often overlooked that a certain amount of headspace is needed when arising off the toilet below. The result? The shelf ends up in the way. This causes it to get knocked when someone gets up, causing it to spill its contents directly into the now-vacant toilet – or worse, causing bruises to people’s heads.
Finally, there is the frequent error of placing the toilet paper holder too far away to reach it from the sitting position. It’s a simple, but very annoying, design flaw. This is another bad bathroom design mistake that can be easily avoided.
Code Violations
These aren’t as obvious to someone who isn’t a home inspector or similar professional, but they can be extremely dangerous. One such problem involves wires grounded to metal water pipes. Ground wires aren’t supposed to be hot, but can become so if there’s a problem with how things such as new bathroom lights are wired into the electrical system. Such problems can result in shocks or even electrocution to whoever touches the now-electrified water fixtures.
Other violations are simpler but can be just as dangerous. The failure to use ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlets in a bathroom leaves people vulnerable to accidents like electrocution from dropping an electric shaver into a sink full of water. Problems with other fixtures, like exhaust fans, can lead to fires. Bad plumbing decisions may lead to leaks or even floods.
Issues with Workmanship
Even if all of the codes are followed and a good design plan is made, there will still be the matter of workmanship. It takes time and practice – some say 6 to 10 years’ worth – to get good at things like construction, but most DIY bathroom remodelers are doing it for the first time ever. This generally results in a substandard look as well as issues that will lead to the early failure of certain parts of the room.
One particularly troublesome workmanship issue is the failure to get the flooring up close enough to the tub to allow caulk to make a good seal. In fact, caulking may not be done at all! Either way, this allows water to reach the subflooring – which is usually wood – every time a shower or bath is taken. Soon enough, the floor will rot. The same thing is true wherever any two surfaces don’t get properly sealed.
To avoid this DIY bathroom renovation guide of mistakes and extra costs, it’s important to always hire a professional for when you want a bathroom makeover. At RWC, we have decades of combined experience and will not make these errors. Give us a call to get the job done right.
Make Your Home Truly Desirable To Buy This Year! [Infographic]
With home trends always changing, it can be difficult to stay up with the newest designs and products available. Clean lines, found art objects and the creation of intimate spaces is expected to dominate 2017 design trends. In addition, making a home more accessible to those needing mobility devices has become more popular. Design changes include widening doorways for easier movement through the home, placing higher toilets in all bathrooms for ease of use, and generally making homes ready for those that live within to age in place.
For homeowners in Caldwell, New Jersey and the surrounding area, RWC is ready to make your home more accessible, providing you with the style and comfort you deserve. To talk about your project ideas, contact us today.