Archives for April 2017

The old cliche holds that the kitchen is the heart of the home.

And really, it’s true. The kitchen is where the wine is poured, where the snacks are pilfered, and where memories are made.

Creating the ideal kitchen space is a mix of adding personal touches to classic design, and perhaps throwing in a few kitchen trends that show no sign of going anywhere.

Glass Cabinets

This kitchen trend has been around awhile and shows no signs of slowing down.

Glass front cabinets lend a kitchen space a beautiful old-world charm, while also lightening the whole look of a kitchen and making it look fresh and instantly updated.

A few years back, it became popular to take cabinet doors off completely, offering this same open look. This came with the downside of leaving dishes exposed to dirt and breakage.

Using glass front cabinets gives the same effect, while still keeping your dishes protected.

Gray Kitchen Trends

Gray is the new neutral.

The color matches almost everything, and can easily be coordinated to a warm or cool color scheme.

Gray makes a lovely backdrop for pops of color and manages to tie a kitchen color scheme together without feeling dated or overwhelming.

Colored Sinks

Farmhouse sinks are back, with all of their old-world, chunky charms.

But no boring, white sink will do for the perfect kitchen.

Homeowners are accustomed to sinks coming in three basic shades: standard white, shiny chrome, and black, if you’re feeling fancy.

Sinks are now beginning to come in all kinds of bright and appealing colors.

Consider opting for a bright green or muted yellow when you replace your current kitchen.

Appliance Automation

The future is here, even in our kitchens.

Smart appliances are less of a design choice than a practical one.

New faucets employ the same motion sensitive technology that public bathrooms have used for years, ensuring that water turns on when it is needed and switches off when it is not, making it an eco-friendly choice.

New refrigerators keep track of their contents, allowing you to make grocery lists on the go and be reminded to pick up items while you’re out.

Smart ovens take account of what recipes you will be cooking and automatically set cooking times and check for doneness.

Many of these appliances also sync with your smartphone, allowing you to set temperatures and monitor your pantry while you are away.

Faux Marble and Granite

Granite and marble are gorgeous and timeless, but expensive.

For homeowners looking for budget-friendly options, there are myriad choices, depending on your price point and general handiness.

Concrete and Laminate and even quartz are good options and can be installed either by a contractor or by you if you feel like being particularly DIY.

Another option is to use paint to simulate the veins and imperfections of true marble. It can be time-consuming, but if you have a steady hand, gives you unprecedented control over the look of your counters.

Theses kitchen trends don’t look to be going anywhere soon and can give your kitchen a fresh, timeless look.

There’s a reason green renovations are so trendy.

They are not only great for the environment, they can also save you money long term and get you some seriously valuable tax credits.

Not to mention, green renovations can be beneficial for your health as well. Many paints, types of flooring, and other materials contain toxic chemicals that can cause problems such as headaches, nausea, respiratory and skin irritations. The worst products even contain known carcinogens. Your home should protect you, not give you cancer!

What Kind of Green Renovations Can You Do In Your Home?

Green renovations are the way to go whether you plan to stay in your home a long time or are looking to boost the resale value.

Why not choose energy efficient renovations that promise long-term financial savings?

Kitchen Upgrades

Remodeling your kitchen is a great way to increase the value of your home. It’s a place that gets a lot of foot traffic and is a major factor for buyers if you’re looking to sell.

Having an attractive, eco-friendly kitchen is a major selling point when putting your home on the market.

Eco-friendly Concrete Countertops: Concrete is easier to transport than stone making it friendlier on the environment.

Long Lasting Flooring such as ceramic tile: ceramic contains no VOCs (volatile organic compounds that can make you sick and even cause cancer) and acts as a passive heat sink to reduce heating costs.

Bamboo: because bamboo is notoriously fast-growing, this product has a lower environmental impact than many other materials.

Lighting: use as much natural light as possible, if it’s in your budget consider installing a skylight or new window. Another and much cheaper option is to use fluorescent bulbs that cut energy costs nearly in half.

Bathroom Upgrades

You can go green with some bathroom upgrades too!

Remodeling your bathroom can go hand in hand with the upgrades in your kitchen. Several of the same aspects are in both rooms, such as lighting, flooring, and countertops. But in addition, consider:

Low-flow Toilet: did you know your toilet uses 27% of the water consumed in your home? Investing in a low-flow toilet is a great way to ensure you won’t waste.

Recycle: Okay, this one is not quite a renovation. But a huge amount of plastic bottles are used in the bathroom (cleaners, shampoo, etc), in addition to toilet paper rolls and cosmetic packaging. Consider adding a recycling bin to your bathroom to catch the often forgetting yet very recyclable products.

Solar Panels

Good news! The cost of solar panels has dropped in recent years, according to Time. Qualified installers are easier to come by with the increase in popularity of these money saving, eco-friendly powerhouses (pun intended).

The sun is our planet’s number one source of energy, so why not harness it to power your home?

Solar panels decrease your carbon footprint, increase your home’s value, and bonus: they are quieter than standard electricity because there are fewer moving parts.

In Conclusion

Utilize these green renovations in your home for a positive environmental impact and a great investment in your home.

In the San Diego, CA area, visit Envision Design showroom or call (619) 399-2057 for a free consultation today!

Looking for ways to spice up – no pun intended – your kitchen?

In this post, we’re unpacking the top 5 kitchen design trends of 2017.

1. Get Into Heavy Metal

Mixed metals aren’t just for jewelry. Now, they’re one of the most popular kitchen trends of 2017. We especially love the idea of filling the blank space above your stove with a copper hood.

It doesn’t just help you to jump on the industrial design trend that have been lining the pages of industry magazines lately. It will also help to keep your cooking process contained!

Now that’s form and function.

2. Quartz Countertops

If you’re anything like us, you’re obsessed with all things countertop. While in the past few years, laminates have dominated kitchen trends, the new, affordable quartz has only risen in popularity.

This is because new, composite surfaces make quartz a much more budget-friendly option these days. Why not try quartz countertops in your bathroom, too?

3. Think British

With shows and sitcoms from England getting more and more popular, is it any wonder that British kitchen design has also caught on across the globe?

Instagram accounts like deVOL Kitchens post dozens of drool-worthy photographs of British kitchen design each week.

Think cabinets that hide your microwaves and toasters, and spot decorations that create beautiful patterns on your cupboards. This account and design trend will also inspire you to switch out the knobs on your cabinets to a more minimalist, prim and proper option.

Kate Middleton would be proud.

4. Cabinets Without Handles

If you’re into minimalism, you’ve likely already given this design a thought. Since today’s design is all about clean lines and getting rid of anything you can to make your kitchen look less cluttered, why not cut out handles?

You’ll be able to easily swing open your cabinet from the bottom. To add a great finishing touch that will really make these cabinets pop, add a layer of gloss.

5. The Dark/Light Contrast

The last option on our list of 2017’s best kitchen trends is probably our favorite. If you’ve gone for a lighter cabinet color, like a porcelain or even a robin’s egg blue, don’t go for a light stain on your hardwood floors or your tiles.

Instead, play up the contrast by picking a darker shade. It doesn’t just keep your kitchen from looking too monochrome It’s also a great way to jump on the “Hygge” trend. “Hygge” is the Danish concept of comfort and coziness.

Don’t we all need a little of that in our kitchens?

Ready To Make The Most Out Of These Kitchen Trends?

Thanks to this list of the top 5 kitchen trends you can’t miss out on in 2017, you’re probably ready to start your remodeling process now.

For more design ideas, DIY advice, and a look into our unique design process, feel free to spend some time on our blog or contact us.

We can’t wait to help make your remodeling dreams come true, in any room of your house. Let’s get started on finishing your dream home.