How to Turn Your Kitchen into a Stunning Gathering Place

Design your kitchen into a room you want to spend your time in. The kitchen can easily become the most purposeful room in the house! Transform your kitchen into an entertainment area, a place to socialize and an all around beautiful place to gather and make memories and meals. A kitchen remodel can evolve your kitchen into a multi-functional haven.

The Evolution of the Kitchen
The kitchen is no longer exclusively a place to prepare and cook food.  Many families gather in the kitchen, many people entertain in the kitchen, and it is a great place to relax and enjoy good food. Remodeling your kitchen is a great way to integrate the needs of everyday life. Picture a kitchen where you can prepare a meal whilst helping your children with their homework and catching the local news, all at the same time. 

Start Planning for the Kitchen of Your Dreams
To ensure you get the results you want for your kitchen, take the time to plan ahead! Start with making a list of the things you want to do to improve your kitchen; new countertops, cabinets, appliances…  Make a plan for what the layout will be, how much extra space you’ll need, and how much you hope to spend. Make sure to include everything and look into the prices that range depending on what city you live in, whether it be Seattle, Federal Way or Salt Lake City. Make a budget of how much you want to spend and remember to leave some allowance for unexpected costs. Be very specific with how you want your project to turn out, consider the different colors you’ll use.

Your Options are Endless
If you don’t already have an idea in mind of the end result, you may want to check out a showroom to get some inspiration. A kitchen remodel can involve making a lot of different choices ranging from what type of countertops you want to install to if you want to change up your floors. The design of your kitchen can range greatly as well. If you are getting new appliances, cabinets or an island, expect to have a wide array to choose from.

A Contractor Can Greatly Speed Along the Process
If you really don’t have any idea where to begin, start with a contractor you can trust. Get bids on your project and make sure to verify the authenticity of your contractor. Do a background check if necessary, call previous clients and check up on the work they’ve done, and ask to look at samples of their work. Write everything you agree upon down in a contract, and don’t pay your contractor entirely up front. It is recommended you pay no more than 25% down, and wait to finish paying until the project is completed and you approve of the quality of the work done. Hiring a good contractor will guarantee your kitchen remodel will run smoother and get done faster. Your contractor should be able to help you know which products are best for your home and what design options you have to choose from. You can find great contractors at Homeshow Daily where you can also find great ideas.
 

The first step in a home remodeling project is figuring out what you would like to do.  Maybe you are thinking of adding a room, remodeling your kitchen, or renovating your entire home; transform your home in to whatever you want while adding value at the same time.   A home remodel can be an expensive process, cut down on costs by adhering to the following:
1.    Never underestimate the importance of planning ahead. You can better save up for your projects by knowing what you want in advance, and taking the time to plan ahead. Planning ahead alleviates the stress of unexpected surprises and prepares you to better be able to handle those situations.
2.    Get multiple bids for each project. With the economy in the condition it is in, contractors have very competitive prices. Take advantage of this by getting more than one bid and compare prices to save you a bundle.
3.    After you’ve gotten your bids, ask your potential contractors if they can beat their competitor’s prices. More often than not, contractors will lower their prices if it means possibly losing you as a client.
4.    Keep an open mind and expect that things may change. A better price might come along or you may realize that there is a cheaper way to do certain things through out your project, make sure to have an open mind to the idea of change.
5.    Take your time on your project. The more time you take the longer you have to see all of the different angles and options you have available to you. Allow for enough time to ensure that everything is installed correctly. Don’t rush or you may miss out on quality work.
6.    Make sure to shop around to get the best prices for your supplies. Check prices online and at several stores to make certain you are getting the best available price for whatever supplies you need.
7.    Do a background check to make sure your contractor is the right person for the job. Check references and verify your potential contractor so that you don’t end up with someone who isn’t qualified to do the project right. This will save you time and money, as someone who isn’t qualified could damage supplies and products and end up wasting your time.
8.    Utilize what you already have. It might be that you can simply reface your cabinets to turn them into the desired effect of what you want, or you may be able to refinish your countertops.
9.    Map out the end result. If you have a blueprint of what you want you will be able to see the final product and can make changes accordingly. A drawing of your project will help you see exactly what you want done.
10.    Consider the long term costs, and not just the short term gains. If you can save money by spending a little more upfront so you don’t have to continue repairing or replacing a product, it will save you money in the long run, not to mention time. 

Remodeling your home can be a great investment, especially if you utilize the tips from above to save you money right from the get go. In Seattle, Federal Way and Salt Lake City home improvement projects are popular for your home to retain its fullest value in a competitive market. Homeshow Daily is available in those areas to help you find a great contractor and get some inspiring ideas.
 

GARAGE DOORS CAN ADD VALUE TO YOUR HOME

You may not be aware of this fact, but garage doors are typically the largest moving objects in your home and also occupy a large portion of the face of the structure. With garage doors being such a large factor in your home’s safety, security and appearance it makes sense to take a good look at your garage doors when planning a home improvement or remodel. Replacing your old garage doors will give your home a facelift, add curb appeal and value to your home.

There are three basic styles of garage doors; Contemporary, Conventional and Carriage Style. All three styles can be made insulated and non-insulated.  By choosing insulated garage doors you can improve your homes energy efficiency and the money you save on your heating bills can help offset the costs of your new garage doors. Most insulated garage doors are Eligible Building Envelope Components which qualify for a Federal Tax Credit under the Energy Improvement and Extensions Act of 2008 and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. This is a $1500 Federal Tax Credit.

Garage doors are made of a variety of materials. The three most common materials are steel, aluminum, and wood. Depending on your application one or more material types will usually work for your application.

Steel garage doors are the largest selling garage doors by volume. They are economical, can have high insulating qualities, require little to no maintenance and are suitable for most applications except in salt air.

Aluminum garage doors are extremely heavy duty and are very popular especially on homes with Contemporary Architecture. Aluminum is more expensive than steel, requires little to no maintenance and are suitable for all applications including salt air but do not have high insulating qualities.

Wood garage doors offer the greatest degree of design flexibility. The price range will vary depending on the construction method; stile/rail or clad construction and the species of wood used. Wood doors can have very high insulating qualities and are suitable for all applications except where the doors face harsh weather. Wood doors should have sizeable overhang to help protect them from the elements. The doors do require annual maintenance and should never have a southerly exposure.

Windows are available on all door styles in any type of tinted or patterned glass you desire up to a maximum of ½” thickness. Arched windows and custom arched windows are also available. With so many styles available you can choose garage door windows that are similar to those in your home.

Northwest Door® manufactures a full spectrum of garage doors; any style or type including odd sizes up to 20 feet wide and 14 feet high. Northwest Door is an industry leader in innovation and design, a local family owned business established in Tacoma, Washington in 1946. Independent Northwest door dealers are located throughout the Western United States and Canada to serve your garage door needs. For information about Northwest Door or the find a dealer near you, go to www.nwdusa.com.

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John Southard, Northwest Door, Inc
December 8, 2009

Photofusion gives cultured marble the look of natural slab-stone at a fraction of the cost.

An innovative process that imprints high-resolution images into cultured marble has transformed the design options available to homeowners looking for an elegant and practical alternative to tile in the shower area. Photofusion recreates the look of real stone while maintaining the durability, ease-of-installation and cost-effectiveness of cultured marble. The process combines heat and pressure to fuse the imagery into the surface of gel-coated cultured marble and goes by the brand name TruStone™.

Consumers want the look of granite, marble and travertine in their bathrooms, and now they can have it without the disadvantages of natural stone. “Everyone’s buying natural stone, but it’s porous, cracks easily, expensive and structurally difficult to install for a shower.  With TruStone™ you have the aesthetic appeal of natural stone products- without the weight, porosity or finishing requirements, and at a significantly lower cost” according to Peter Minch –owner of Designers Marble in Woodinville. “Some homeowners still consider stone tile an option but it just doesn’t compete with TruStone™ because you still have grout lines and the maintenance issues that go along with tile”, he said.  His company, Designers Marble, has acquired an exclusive licensing agreement with Design Imaging of Orem, Utah to manufacture TruStone™. “We pride ourselves on keeping up with industry trends and acquiring this unique and innovative technology sets us apart in the bathroom remodeling business”, he said.

Builders and remodelers who work with cultured marble know about its time-proven benefits. Now it can be as aesthetically compelling as it is practical.  Many consumers have the perception of cultured marble as just swirled veins and that look is not for everyone.  With TruStone™ homeowners can choose from a large collection of exquisite images of natural stone.   Customers are not limited by color or pattern. In fact, the photofusion process can incorporate any image a customer wants, whether slab stone, mountain scenery or a secluded beach, says Minch.  “We recently completed our first custom image in TruStone™, on a Mocha Travertine background we’ve photofused my black lab “Jet” onto a cultured marble piece that is now serving as a conference table at a hunting lodge in Monroe.”, however, he cautions, since it is a gel-coated product it’s most practical use is for bathroom applications: custom shower pans, tub decking and skirts, shower surrounds and countertops.

“We are a full service bathroom remodeler; from demolition to final installation we can handle the entire project. We don’t just cover up an existing shower; instead we replace it with a high quality, easy-to-maintain custom manufactured product and usually at less expense.”  He adds, “By dealing direct with the manufacturer, the customer is saving money and their design options are virtually unlimited."

In today’s market, homeowners are looking for bathroom surface products that are not only cost-effective and durable but products that will provide lasting added value to their home investment. Now, with the local availability of TruStone™, there is an alternative to tile that is both practical and elegant.

Designers Marble is the leading custom manufacturer of cultured marble and granite in the Puget Sound area and the exclusive licensed manufacturer of TruStone™ for Washington State.  Their production facility, offices and showroom are located in Woodinville.  In addition to their showroom, homeowners can see TruStone™ displays at The Homeshow Daily in Seattle.