Posts Tagged ‘Counter Tops’

Favorite Home Remodelling Trends for 2006

May 17th, 2010



Just like shoes and cars, home remodeling experiences trends and fashions and 2006 was a big one for cocooning. If a man’s home is his castle, then a family’s home is their sanctuary. The abundance of home makeover reality shows on TV has set off a remodeling bug and more people than ever are joining the ranks of DIY interior designers. What have been the big trends for 2006?

The spa lifestyle is one that appeals to men and women and bathrooms have turned into fully-equipped day spas, complete with two-person Jacuzzis, throne-like toilets, double basins and extravagant décor. Lighting has evolved to be ambient instead of merely functional, floors feature natural materials and the most popular accessories are candles and oils. Bathroom remodeling is a significant investment but it turns a utility room into a haven.

There is also a great move towards sustainability and environmentally friendly materials. Recycled timbers can be transformed into highly attractive floors and details and plantation products such as bamboo and cork are not only produced with sustainability in mind but they are also practical and versatile.

Home theaters were huge in 2006. It seems everyone wants to be entertained at home. From sound-insulated walls to installing the latest in high-tech gadgetry, home remodeling brings the blockbusters to you. What used to be open plan living has set aside a whole room to be sealed off from the rest of the house. Bring on the popcorn!

And just when you thought you could throw away your pots and pans, everyone’s now cooking at home more too. Again, TV shows bombarding us with the delights of home cuisine are bringing about a return to the gourmet kitchen. Big stoves, walk-in refrigerators, stainless steel counter tops and in-kitchen mealtimes mean home remodeling in a big way.

It’s anyone’s guess what the home remodeling trends will be for 2007 but the main clues are climate change, celebrity copycatting and a new home-and-hearth mentality.

By: James Wills

Simple Modern Kitchen Home Improvement Project

December 30th, 2009



Many families today are spending more time together in the kitchen. With more emphasis on good healthy cooking, more families use this time to be together and bond. If you spend a lot of time in the kitchen, then this simple modern kitchen home improvement project might be just what you are looking for. Many homes are bought today because of what the kitchen looks like. Size of the kitchen is very important if you do a lot of cooking and especially if the whole family is involved in the process. There are some fairly simple upgrades you can do to make your kitchen home improvement project not only simple and fun, but will make it a more modern and comfortable space to cook in.

Sometimes a simple thing like moving a picture can give a room a whole new look, so look around your kitchen and see what kind of changes you would like to do for your kitchen home improvement project. Do not tackle a project that might be too much for you. Save that for a contractor to bid out at a later date. One kitchen home improvement project that is fairly simple, is to add tiles to a counter that may be just old counter top. You will need to take up the old counter top and if necessary replace the wood with new wood. You can now select the tile and grout you would like to use and believe me, there are many choices available so this could be a lot of fun. The next faze to your kitchen home improvement project would be to use spacers and lie the tiles down on the glued wood. You can get books and tips that can walk you through each step of this process.

The next kitchen home improvement project might be to add a center island in the middle of the kitchen. If you already have one, you may want to tile it to match the counter tops. There are so many gadgets today that make life easier in the kitchen, but you will need to visit a building supply store or a specialty store that focuses on kitchens and kitchen supplies. You can get different things that hang from the ceiling, in which you can hang pots and pans, and or utensils. It’s all about convenience, so when planning your kitchen home improvement project, keep that in mind.

If your appliances are old and in need of updating, you can replace them for another kitchen home improvement project. There are many options today in this field of appliances. You can choose from electric to gas, and even wood. They come in different sizes and colors now, so you can match your tiles if you want to. Since you have completed these other jobs, you might want to replace the flooring if it needs it, for one of your last kitchen home improvement projects. Once you have finished, you will be proud to say that you did it by yourself, and it will be so beautiful, you will want to spend more time in the kitchen. You may want to reward yourself with one final kitchen home improvement project of a small television you can install under the cupboard. Just imagine, you and the family can enjoy a ballgame, or the news as you fix your meal.

By: Tom Turner