The kitchen is referred to as the heart of the home for a reason: it brings families together and serves as a space for making memories that will last a lifetime.

Therefore, remodeling your kitchen is a big decision. You want a space that feels homey and comfortable. But, you also need it to be practical for everyday use.

So, before you start picking out new tiles, you need to make sure you are working with contractors who see your vision as clearly as you do.

To make sure you are working with the best, there are some questions you should ask your kitchen renovation company before hiring. Here are the top 5 ones you should ask to ensure you get the kitchen of your dreams.

1. How Long Have You Been in Business?

Kitchen renovation companies that have been in business for many years have undoubtedly worked through a number of growing pains.

Years of experience likely means the company has systems in place to ensure their work on time, on budget, and of the highest quality.

If you meet a contractor and your instincts tell you to go with them, first start them off with a smaller project to see how they do. If you’re impressed with their work, you can then have them tackle your entire kitchen.

2. Can I see Your License and Insurance?

Cities, states, and even individual counties can all have different rules as to whether or not a contractor needs a specific license to operate in that area.

As a homeowner, it’s important to make sure the contractor you hire has obtained all the necessary credentials to work in your area. And remember, this doesn’t just mean a general business license. Just because someone is allowed to operate a business doesn’t mean they’re allowed to work in your home.

You should also check to make sure the contractor has both worker’s comp insurance and liability insurance. Otherwise, you may be held responsible for anyone hurt on the job or anything damaged.

3. What’s Your Timeline for Completion?

Before you hire a kitchen renovation company, you should ask if they can provide you with a fixed start date and completion date. And this should include any cleanup duties.

These dates should be a part of a formal written agreement. Also, you’ll want to get a general idea of their day-to-day work routine. Do they start first thing in the morning? Do they work on multiple projects at once or just one until it’s finished?

Knowing these things can help keep the lines of communication clear and open.

4. What’s the Warranty?

Most contractors will offer a warranty on their work, as well as a warranty on the materials they use for their work.

Ask ahead of time what this warranty is and for how long it remains in effect. You should also ask for copies of the manufacturer’s warranty to cover any materials that are used during the renovation.

5. Can I Get That in Writing?

Discussing your expectations with your kitchen renovation company is one thing, getting it in writing is another.

You’ll likely be signing some sort of contract anyways, but make sure it’s valid and that it includes the things that are important to you. The contract should include the details of the project, the start and end date, the required permits, and exactly what you’re looking for in the project.

Kitchen Renovation Company: Wrap Up

Communication between the homeowner and contractor is key to ensuring you get the kitchen you’ve always dreamed of.

Never hesitate to ask any prospective contractor questions or to follow up on things you’re unsure about. Good contractors will be more than happy to answer any questions you have.

At Envision Design, quality kitchen renovations is what we’re all about. Visit us to learn about our processes.

When you’re doing a kitchen remodeling, consider dedicating a big chunk of your budget to the kitchen cabinets.

Finding the best kitchen cabinets for your space can be tricky, as they can make or break the entire look of your kitchen. They should be functional and well-incorporated into your space, without sacrificing the aesthetics.

Kitchen remodeling is a long-term investment that has to be worth your time and money. Deciding on the style, color, countertop material, knobs, doors, and drawers can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be.

So keep reading to learn how to choose the right cabinets for your kitchen remodeling project.

How to Find the Best Kitchen Cabinets for Your Kitchen Makeover

Decide on the Style

The style of the cabinets will determine the entire feel of your kitchen. For example, if you prefer clean, modern lines and little to no details, make sure the cabinets match with the appliances and decor.

On the other hand, if you want a countryside or rustic kitchen, choose elements with corbels, copper knobs, and light pastel or dark wood colors.

If you’re savvy enough, you can also combine a few cabinet styles. But if not, hire a quality kitchen remodeling contractor that’ll seamlessly incorporate the cabinets into the rest of your kitchen.

Choose the Cabinet Doors Style

The main style components of your kitchen are the cabinet doors.

The most commonly used doors are the Shaker cabinet doors. They’re both functional and classic, so they’ll fit into almost every kitchen.

For a more modern, simplistic feel, choose a flat-panel door style. There are no patterns or details – only clean lines. You can easily add character to your flat cabinets by choosing unusual knobs and pulls.

If you have a bigger budget, consider inset cabinet doors. These are installed inside the cabinet frame (thus the name) and give a smooth, elegant look to the entire kitchen.

Focus on Functionality and Durability

During your kitchen remodeling, the main things to consider besides style are functionality and durability.

Everything in the kitchen is used on a daily basis, so make sure the materials you choose for the kitchen cabinets are of great quality.

Some of the best kitchen cabinets on the market are made of wood like cherry, mahogany, red oak, chestnut etc. These are extremely durable and less prone to damages.

Other materials include decorative laminate, Medium-Density Fiberboard (MDF), plywood, Thermo-Structured Surface (TSS), wood veneer and even aluminum and polyethylene.

As for countertops, pick a material that’s easy to clean and durable, yet stylish at the same time. You can choose granite, quartz, marble, soapstone and even concrete.

Besides cabinet doors, think about installing a lot of drawers for added storage. They’re easy to access and can fit a lot more stuff than shelved cupboards.

Don’t Forget the Hardware

Another fun part of finding the best kitchen cabinets for you is choosing the hardware parts.

For a classic look, pick simple steel or nickel pulls and knobs. These go well with Shaker and inset cabinetry.

If you want more character, adorned vintage or antique brass hardware is a great way to spruce up a simple kitchen. Glass, marble and ceramic knobs go great with distressed, stained wood or black and white kitchens.

Tubular and flat bar pulls are the way to go with modern, sleek, minimalistic cabinet doors and drawers.

Final Thoughts

Now that you know how to choose the best style of cabinets for your kitchen, it’s time to get to work!

Need help remodeling your kitchen? Contact us today for a free quote! We’re happy to serve you!

Is it time for a kitchen makeover?

When preparing for a remodel, one of the most important decisions you need to make is to decide what kind of kitchen tile you will be using.

Here are a few of the most crucial things to remember when choosing the right kitchen tile for your remodel.

Determine Your Budget

Before you choose kitchen tile materials you should know what your budget will be. There are many materials available and the price of kitchen tiling can vary quite a bit.

Whether you’re working with a limited budget or the sky’s the limit, the perfect option for you is out there.

Materials such as vinyl and linoleum can be on the cheaper side, but custom designed ceramic tiles and natural stone tiles can be much more expensive.

Decide on Tile Location and Design Goals

You may have different needs depending on the location of the kitchen you are adding tiles. Make a list of locations and think about how you would like each of them to look.

Are you looking for kitchen tiles for the floor, counter tops, or walls? Or do you need a backsplash?

Decide whether you want tiles that blend in seamlessly with your current design scheme or if you would rather create a look that stands out.

Finally, you should also consider longevity. While it’s fine to follow current trends in kitchen design, you may want to pick a classic look if you want a kitchen that will look good for the long haul.

Choose Your Kitchen Tile Materials

Most tiles will be either porcelain, ceramic, or natural stone.

Some primary materials and styles include cork, vinyl, linoleum, bamboo, glass, limestone, and marble. Each material has their benefits, so perform some research to decide what is right for you and your kitchen.

Porcelain tiles have pros and cons. Porcelain tiles are usually more durable than ceramic tiles and are more resistant to wear and tear.

Non-porcelain tiles are known as “ceramic” and in comparison, are often better for residential uses.

Ceramic tiles use a rating system, PEI, and classes range from 1-5. PEI Class 1 marks tiles that are better for walls and other areas while PEI Class 5 tiles are the most adequate for heavy foot traffic.

Natural stone materials will generally require more cleaning and maintenance than ceramic and porcelain.

Consider Your Habits and Lifestyle

It’s important to consider how you and your family will be using your kitchen.

Do you have pets in your home? Are you worried about spills? How many kids do you have?

If you plan on having heavy foot traffic make sure to purchase floor tiles that will be able to take a beating.

If you’re tiling your floor, make sure to use tiles that are specifically meant for floor use. A slightly textured, raised tile that is meant for floors will be better for preventing slips and falls.

When choosing tiles for counter tops, a ceramic tile is a good durable choice that can withstand the heat from hot pots and pans.

Final Thoughts

If you’ve been preparing for a remodel you’ve probably discovered that there are a lot of options to choose from for kitchen tiling.

But don’t worry. Just take your time and choose carefully. If you do, you may just end up with the perfect home kitchen.

Looking for inspiration for your remodeling project? Click here to schedule a time to come visit our San Diego showroom.

Though they are small, kitchen cabinet handles can enhance your kitchen in a big way. You just need to know which ones will fit your design plans.

A Remodeling Magazine report states that small kitchen projects increase the value of the home by about 83%.

When choosing handles, you look at several factors:

• Cost of handles
• Handle sizes, shapes, and finishes
• Cabinet style
• Quality and functionality of handles
• Overall kitchen design

Getting ideas for redesigning the kitchen takes a lot of effort. Some helpful remodeling apps can inspire you. Or, you can get information from articles like this one.

Read on to get examples of great kitchen cabinet handles.

Kitchen Cabinet Handles to Choose From

Both the big and small components affect the look of the kitchen. They don’t need to be fancy or expensive, just complementary.

Here are some kitchen cabinet handles to choose from:

1. Round Crystal Knob Handle

People believe crystals emit healing energy in a home. Their dazzling features also complement traditional kitchens. Like chandeliers, they bring a sophisticated look to your interior.

2. Bar-Style Pull Handle with Monogram Finish

Getting your initials branded on items is one example of a status symbol. You can get a sleek bar-style pull handle with your initials engraved. This complements a modern minimalist kitchen.

3. Antique Brass Knob Handle

Despite its simple features, an antique brass knob handle will improve a contemporary kitchen. For example, it creates a vintage feel when you install it on white cabinets. You can specify the mold of the handle to get a specific design.

4. Brass or Chrome-Plated Cup/Cut In Handle

Cup or Cut In handles are comfortable and functional. The brass handles complement a kitchen with vintage designs. The chrome-plated handles suit a modern kitchen.

5. Wooden Knob Handle for Intricate Wooden Cabinets

Those who love antique designs and shapes on the cabinets don’t want to distract from the look. That’s why a simple wooden knob handle will do the trick. The shade of color can be similar or have a slight difference.

6. Flat Stainless Steel Handle

Corrosion-resistant stainless steel handles go well with light brown or cream-colored cabinets. They blend in with the simple cabinets without drawing too much attention. They are ideal for a modern kitchen with a simple and clean design.

7. Leather Pull Bar Handle for Shaker Cabinet

With the current trend of white cabinets, no one would expect a pairing with leather handles. Get light orange handles fixed with stainless steel screws. It will have a huge impact on the kitchen design.

Get Kitchen Design Inspiration

The ideas above are simple yet impactful. Some kitchen cabinet handles will blend in while others will complement your kitchen design. The secret is to focus on adding small components that fit in the big kitchen.

Without enough help, home improvement projects can become laborious. Working with experts will change that. They will discuss details of their successful projects and inspire you to improve your kitchen.

Visit us to learn more.

If 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.

If 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!