Archives for August 2017

The 5 Best Kitchen Remodeling Apps to Get Ideas

kitchen remodeling appsSome of us have the moxie of an executive chef.

Others are happiest with a good space that makes reaching our take-out boxes easier.

Regardless of function, kitchens are a central part of our lives more than ever. Just like the Food Network inspires your cooking, let these five kitchen remodeling apps inspire your appetite for beauty.

Houzz Interior Design Ideas

Referred to as the No. 1 app for improving and designing your home, Houzz breaks down their high-resolution photos into easy navigation categories. Search by style, room or location.

Houzz encourages you to create idea books to save your favorite design photos. Share these with friends, family, and your San Diego design team — all with just a few taps.

Pinterest

This is the ultimate app for design inspiration and overall creative ideas. Now you can use it as one of your favorite kitchen remodeling apps.

Organize the styles and designs you like by “pinning” them to specific topic boards you create. The intuitive searches guide you in the right direction.

Find something that really piques your interest while surfing the web? Tap the image and it automatically saves to your Pinterest account.

Zillow Digs

Best known for its expansive online real estate database, Zillow Digs is taking some lessons from “Mother.”

Browse kitchen improvement and design suggestions. Get inspired by high-quality images organized by style and project location.

Organize and save your favorite kitchen remodeling ideas to user-created boards. You can also snap your own pictures of designs you come across out in the world. Then, upload them to your boards.

Zillow Digs also enables you to get the information to make your project happen. Get cost estimates, paint colors, and product details right from the app.

Home Design 3D

Indulge your inner home design diva with one of the most creative kitchen remodeling apps available. Used by over 12 million people worldwide, the app has both a free and paid version.

Drag and drop any of the hundreds of objects and joinery. Change the interior and exterior of your home. Draw new rooms, create additional entrances, and add single and small walls.

Developers say Home Design 3D is the perfect app for people looking for versatility. Redecorate, redesign or create the home of your dreams.

TapPainter

Are you struggling with visualizing paint colors for your kitchen design project? TapPainter is the answer.

TapPainter is one of the more superior apps for envisioning interior paint colors. This intuitive technology will actually adjust paint color according to the specific lighting in a room. This is based on lighting from the original uploaded image!

As creator Mark Lichman says, “This is far superior to simply adjusting the color within the image.”

Take the drudgery out of selecting a paint color for your kitchen. “Hire” TapPainter as your virtual paint color assistant.

Next Steps After Using Your Favorite Kitchen Remodeling Apps

A major kitchen renovation can result in a return on investment of between 61 and 70 percent of the cost.

Now that you’ve been inspired, the next step is to choose a reliable company in the San Diego area. Envision Designs is ready to make the kitchen of your dreams come true.

Looking for inspiration beyond the Pinterest, Houzz, or Home Design 3D for your kitchen remodeling project? If so, be sure to visit our showroom.

5 Delicious Ideas for Kitchen Wall Decor

kitchen wall decorIf your kitchen is looking a little drab lately, you’re not alone.

From islands to kitchen tiles, many elements of a kitchen begin to lose their freshness after a few years.

However, upgrading your kitchen often just takes small tweaks. The ultimate small tweak?

Kitchen wall decor. By focusing on wall decor, you don’t have to tear your kitchen apart to upgrade its look.

But how can you take your decor up a notch? Read on to figure out how to transform your kitchen using wall decor.

1. Open Shelving

Open shelving is a great way to make your kitchen walls stand out on a budget. All you need is some shelves to attach to your walls.

You can also add some visually appealing kitchenware.

The idea here is that you’ll use your own belongings as decor. You install the shelves, and organize your dishes in a dazzling way. Ideally, you’ll have bright, colorful kitchenware to show off to your visitors.

If you don’t, it’s never too late to go out and buy more.

2. Gallery Wall

Having an art gallery in your kitchen might sound strange to some people. That said, some of those people might also be surprised to find out how amazing a kitchen gallery can look.

Some people, for example, go with pictures showing the landscapes around their home. Sometimes, their homes are actually in the pictures. This makes it look like they’re old enough to have a rich history.

3. Decals and Chalkboards

If you want a way to make your walls pop, decals and chalkboards are what you’re looking for. You need only buy them and attach them to the wall.

One of the best things about chalkboards is that they allow you to have some flexibility about how your wall is decorated.

Want to write a simple message to welcome visitors to your home? Go for it. How about a memo? Yep.

4. Focal Points

You can go big, or you can go home. Sometimes, however, you can go both.

How so?

By creating a huge focal point in your home’s kitchen.

Think large, eye-catching wall paintings that force visitors to glance at your wall.

That image only amounts to a single change. However, that change is significant enough to catch everyone’s attention.

5. A Pop of Color

Maybe you don’t need decals or wall painting.

Perhaps you just need a pop of color. This works especially well if you have a monochromatic kitchen.

A primarily white kitchen, for instance, could benefit from the addition of a vibrant color. You could swap out your stools and appliances and replace them all with new, festive items.

Put Some Thought Into Your Kitchen Wall Decor

As you can see, settling on the perfect kitchen wall decor for your home just takes a little thought.

By making the small changes, you can drastically alter your kitchen’s look and feel.

If small changes aren’t what you’re looking for, however, feel to free to contact us. You can call 619-399-2057 to get your free consultation today.

How to Hire Reliable Kitchen Remodeling Contractors

kitchen remodeling contractorsIf you want to remodel your kitchen, you’re likely trying to figure out how to get the best crew for the job.

This can be a lot more difficult than people think.

It’s important to hire the best kitchen remodeling contractors around,  so you’ll want some help to find them. That’s why we’ve created this handy guide to hiring the best contractors in your area.

An Easy Guide to Hiring Reliable Kitchen Remodeling Contractors

Do Your Research and Ask Around

Spend time researching the various kitchen remodeling contractors in your area. The good news is that the Internet has made things far easier for you.

Use these sites to get a good idea of who you should contact — and who you should ignore.

Look for companies that have tons of reviews (at least in the double digits) and that have at least a 3-star rating. You can also consult the Better Business Bureau to see how your contractors stack up.

Of course, one of the best ways to find great contractors is by asking your peers. Ask your friends and family if they have any recommendations.

Come up with around 5 local contractors that you’re interested in working with. Be sure to jot down any specials you may have seen advertised, as well as their contact info.

Interviewing the Candidates

Here’s the good news: all of that research was for a very good reason. By doing your research, you’ll have far more leverage than the average consumer.

Had you not come up with a list, you may feel pressured to pick the first contractor you saw on Google.

Call around to each of the businesses on your list and schedule a phone interview. Any remodeling company worth their salt will be more than happy to sit down and talk with you for a few minutes.

Interviewing kitchen remodeling contractors is all about knowing what to ask. This way, you can uncover any hidden fees or nasty surprises.

Here is a list of some of the questions you’ll want to make sure to include during your interview:

  • How long have you worked in the area?
  • How long does the remodeling process take?
  • What is the cleanup process like?
  • How many people are in my home?
  • Are your workers insured?
  • What types of fees can I expect?
  • Can I see some examples of your work?
  • Can you put me in touch with some of your former clients?

That last question, in particular, is of critical importance. You wouldn’t want to work with a company that can’t provide examples of work they’ve done in the past.

In fact, if a company refuses to provide referrals, thank them for their time and hang up the phone.

Draw up a Contract

Now that you’ve found the perfect candidate for the job, it’s almost time to get to work.

But first, draw up a contract between yourself and your contractors. It’s more precautionary than anything. However, it keeps both parties responsible in the event of an accident.

Include things like fees, a timetable (for work and pay), and insurance info. The more thorough your contract, the better. Now all you have to do is sit back and wait for your gorgeous new kitchen.

Enjoy Your New Kitchen

If you’re looking to hire the best kitchen remodeling contractors around, get in touch! We appreciate your time and would be more than happy to provide you with a free quote!