It is almost impossible to create a kitchen that combines superb functionality with beauty and emotional connection if you don’t rely on a kitchen design professional. Contractors may know how to install kitchens but rarely do they bring the same level of design expertise that is offered by a professional kitchen and bath showroom. You’ll know you are dealing with a pro that you can trust by the questions they ask. In our showroom, we want to know about our clients’ lifestyles, those who will be using the kitchen regularly and design preferences. You should feel confident that the designer you select to create the kitchen of your dreams truly understands interior spaces and how those spaces are to look, feel and function.

Homeowners frequently ask what type of cabinets best suit their needs, preferences and budgets. The answer almost always depends on the style of the home and the look and feel that the client wants to achieve. Your cabinet style should match your home’s decor. For homes with a modern or transitional style, we will often recommend frameless cabinets. Frameless cabinets are built without a face frame. They will have minimal space between the doors and drawers, which maximizes interior storage and drawer space. Frameless cabinets owe much of their popularity to the fact that they offer 10 to 15% more storage than framed cabinets.

Framed cabinets feature several pieces of wood that are fastened to the forward edge of the cabinet to create a frame literally. The inside part of the frame extends slightly past the inside edges of the box. The frame provides structural support for the cabinet. The doors and hinges of a framed cabinet attach to the face frame, allowing more stability for the box. However, framed cabinets have a smaller opening because the frame reduces the amount of available storage space inside the cabinet box than frameless counterparts.

Another common question related to cabinets is color. Recent industry surveys found that white continues to dominate kitchen cabinet colors, specified for more than 50% of new kitchens. However, we have seen a steady increase in clients who want to introduce color into their kitchens to create an aura and make a personal design statement.

Once cabinets are selected, we typically move onto countertop and backsplash selections. In her new book, The Perfect Kitchen, Barbara Sallick explains, “Cabinets always have tops and bottoms, and the counter is the connector. The process of layering both the countertop and the backsplash, which can be two completely different materials (and I often prefer them to be), is about the way they talk to each other.” Her point is well taken. Countertops and backsplashes need to connect.

We can help you make your kitchen feel like a million dollars. Give us a call at (407)629-9366 or visit our showroom at 935 Orange Ave Ste 102, in Winter Park to learn how you can make your dream a reality.

Most homeowners renovate their kitchens and bathrooms when they have become outdated, when they want them to function differently, when existing fixtures are either damaged, broken or don’t work effectively and when they have the financial means to do so. The decision to renovate does not occur on the spur of the moment. Almost all of the homeowners we help to create their dream kitchens and baths, spend months performing independent research and making sure they have the financial means to get what they want.

The first step in keeping a project on budget is to develop a budget that is realistic during the planning phase of a project. Here are the keys to developing a realistic budget:

• Work with professionals who know what they are doing and pick their brains to uncover what will work best for you and your home. Experienced showroom professionals know manufacturer track records for order fulfillment, customization capabilities, customer service and warranty backing.
• Determine what is most important to you in your new kitchen or bath. Prioritization becomes easier when you consider who will use the space, how often and for what purposes. We have several clients who love to cook and entertain and want their kitchen not only to be a showplace but also to have the same functionality as a commercial kitchen.
• Make sure that a professional measures the space. The dimensions of the room enable experienced designers to recommend specific areas for appliances, countertops, sinks, fixtures, windows, etc. that work in concert with one another. You don’t want cabinet doors hitting countertops or anything else. You don’t want your island to impede the opening of a dishwasher. Accurate measurement of your space also helps showroom professionals recommend storage solutions that make your new kitchen function as well, if not better, as it looks.
• Develop a comprehensive, tight plan and stick to it. Changing your plans, design and products after construction begins usually causes budgets to blow up.

Determine if you need to reconfigure the space or can use your existing or part of your existing infrastructure as is. Having to move and reconfigure plumbing, electrical, ductwork, ventilation and structural support will dramatically affect a budget. A note of caution: Depending on the age of your home and the scope of your project, some unexpected changes may be required to ensure that your new kitchen or bath meets the requirements of your local building code.

Ask your showroom professional for cost-saving ideas. Tile manufacturers now produce slabs that look and feel like stone and floorcoverings that resemble hardwood.

Avoid the temptation to be pennywise and dollar foolish. As tempting as it might be to want to reuse your faucet or sinks, don’t. Older fixtures are environmentally inefficient compared to today’s offerings and won’t provide nearly the same functionality, look or feel. Plus, keeping existing components defeats the purpose of renovating your new kitchen.

What is a realistic budget for your new kitchen or bath? We can help you develop one! Call us at (407)629-9366 or visit our showroom at 935 N Orange Ave Ste 102.

There are several questions to ask to set goals for a kitchen remodel. One set deals with functionality:

• Who will regularly use the kitchen, and for what purposes?
  • Cooking
  • Entertaining
  • Eating
  • Homework
  • Watching television
  • Reading
  • Paying bills
  • Searching the web
  • Washing the dog

The other set of questions deal with aesthetics:

• If you entertain frequently, do you want your kitchen to wow your friends and family?
• What feelings do you want the new kitchen to emit?
  • A comfortable space to relax;
  • A formal statement-making space for entertaining;
  • A reflection of your style and great taste; and or
  • A showpiece that enables you to showcase your gourmet talents?

When you determine the goals for functionality, look and feel, you save hours because those decisions will enable a talented, experienced designer to direct you to products, textures and colors that reflect your style and functionality goals.

Dream Big

Make a wish list of everything you want and prioritize what is most important. That may be a commercial quality range made for residential applications, in-kitchen wine storage or a statement-making island. Dream big. An experienced designer can help you budget appropriately to make those dreams realities.

Identify Budget-Friendly Opportunities

Everyone has a budget for their new kitchen. With every project, there are value opportunities depending on goals and priorities. If cooking is not your priority, then there might not be a need for an eight burner range, or multiple ovens. You might not be aware that tile manufacturers are producing slabs that resemble granite and quartz at a considerably lower price point. Determining priorities helps designers identify budget-friendly opportunities for components that might not be on the top of the wish list.

Laying Out Space

A professional designer approaches a new kitchen or a remodel by identifying zones that are used for meal preparation, cooking and clean up. Designers also create plans that allow users to effectively navigate the space without bumping into fixtures or other people. They help assure that appliances, cabinets and drawers can open freely and not bump into something or someone. Designers understand the proper distance required between countertop and appliances and countertops and islands.

Project Scope

A key consideration in any kitchen remodel is the scope of the renovation. Do you intend to increase the size of the space? Will the new plan require relocating plumbing, electrical, ductwork and registers? Do you want to add more natural light? These decisions will help determine if you will need a building permit. Your designer can advise you of changes that will require permits and those that don’t. Lighting can make or break the look and feel of a new kitchen. It’s not an area that you can gloss over because lighting not only makes meal preparation, cooking and clean up easier it also sets the tone. Plus, there are now options for integrating lighting in cabinets and drawers and underneath toe kicks, and there are incredible options for statement-making pendant hardware and chandeliers.

We understand that remodeling your kitchen requires several decisions, so with doing a little planning ahead of time it can eliminate many of the hassles that can come along the way. For additional guidance on preparing for your kitchen remodel or if you’re ready to jump right in, give us a call at (407) 629-9366 or come visit our showroom at 935 Orange Ave Ste 102 Winter Park FL.

A bathroom serves functional purposes for grooming and hygiene, and those activities are improved with the proper lighting, ventilation and with anti-bacterial materials and fixtures. Today’s manufacturers are harnessing the ability of water, light, color, sound, music, smell and technology to provide therapies that promote health and wellness and a more enjoyable lifestyle. The following is a list of common fixtures and design concepts that clients are employing to obtain healthier and more fulfilling lifestyles.

Water Closets:

Today’s toilets are being manufactured with germ-fighting coatings and increased comfort and ease of use. There are technologically advanced toilets that feature:

• Self-cleaning
• Lids that open automatically as users approach
• Hands-free flushing
• Illuminated seats
• Remote control operation
• Personal cleansing/bidet functions
• Temperature controlled heated seats
• Ability to play music
• Seats that automatically close softly (soft close)
• Connection to a personal digital assistant that users can command to lift the seat, prepare the bidet, play music, shop, change lighting and flush among other smart home functions

Mirrors and Medicine Cabinets:

• Integrated lighting that eliminates shadows and offers comparable benefits to natural light
• Monitor human health and provide notice of problems remotely
• Program capabilities that can control other fixtures and components in the room or connect to personal digital assistants, smartphones, tablets and other blue-tooth enabled devices
• Electrical and smart device charging capabilities
• Infinite design options to meet any style preference

Faucets:

• Touchless
• Remote controlled
• Voice-activated

Tubs:

• Therapies that include light, sound and aroma
• Customizable hydrotherapies that relax and rejuvenate tired and sore muscles, aching joints and pain caused by arthritis and other muscular ailments

Steam Systems:

The therapeutic benefits of steam bathing have been known for centuries. Several of the more common benefits of steam include:

• Reduces stress
• Eliminates toxins
• Improves immunity systems
• Improves skin health and tone
• Improves respiration
• Improves sleep
• Relaxes muscles
• Environmentally efficient

Shower Systems:

• Hydrotherapy capabilities to relax muscles and reduce stress
• Water delivery capabilities that enhance circulation
• Color, light and aromatherapies that provide personalized spa experiences
• Systems that mimic nature offering water flow choices of mist to rain
• Systems designed for users to recline in the shower
• Technological that allows for customization for multiple users

These are just a partial list of how homeowners are converting baths from functional spaces to personal refuges. If you would like to know how you can create a bath that serves as a room to improve your family’s health and well-being, please give us a call at (407)629-9366 or visit our showroom at 935 Orange Ave Ste 102, Winter Park FL 32789.

A well-sized and properly positioned vanity can make or break a bath’s look, feel and functionality. The key factors to consider when selecting a vanity include:

• style and aesthetic preferences
• the materials used to make the vanity
• countertop material
• desired number of sinks/bowls
• placement
• storage space required
• existing infrastructure and available space

When selecting a bath vanity for the master bath, powder room or any other bathroom, the pieces should complement the home’s existing décor. While there is a benefit to adding an occasional piece or accent that contrasts stylistically, putting a modern European vanity in the powder room of a Victorian home would seem awfully out of place.

Vanities made specifically for bathrooms account for fixtures and plumbing, and they are crafted with moist environments in mind. The height of the vanity influences plumbing fixtures needed to meet your goals. For example, vanities that are less than 34 inches tall are best suited for a vessel-style sink.

Another critical factor in selecting a vanity is the finish used to seal and decorate the cabinet. Finish refers both to the process used to seal the wood and the materials used to change the appearance of the wood. Finishes used to seal bath vanities can withstand moist and humid environments.

The countertop selected for the bath needs to account for functional and practical considerations. Bathroom countertops come into contact with nail polish remover, cosmetics, toothpaste, shaving cream, hygiene products, hairdryers, curling irons and more! Many bath products can damage a countertop that is not appropriately sealed or not made to withstand abuses that occur in the daily use of the bathroom.

Aesthetically, we advise our clients in to pick a countertop before selecting tile or other floor and wall covering materials. It’s generally easier to match surfacing materials, e.g., tile, stone, wood, to a unique countertop material or design rather than the other way around. The goal is to select materials that compliment, as opposed to compete, with one another.

Most of our clients select a vanity that features two bowls. With two bowls, those using the bath have their own space.  Separate grooming stations make it easy for multiple people to prepare for the day at the same time. However, in bathrooms where space is at a premium, a double bowl vanity might not be possible. The size of the vanity should work in the area. You don’t want to order a vanity that blocks doors or limits movement if the cabinet drawers and doors are open.

A well-designed bathroom is an organized bathroom. To maximize the efficiency of a bath, homeowners should identify the products and accessories that they use daily, for example: curling iron, hairdryer and cosmetics. This exercise helps you determine what needs to be stored and identify possible storage locations inside and outside of the vanity cabinet.

The existing infrastructure also can influence the type of vanity you select and its placement. If you want to replace what exists in the same location, selecting a vanity of similar size should not create issues. However, if you need to reconfigure plumbing, electrical and ventilation, that could add to construction costs if not accounted for in the initial planning phases.

If you would like additional information on how to select the perfect vanity for your bath, please call our showroom at (407)629-9366 or visit us at 935 Orange Ave Ste 102 Winter Park FL 32789.

Home improvement television does not produce documentaries. HGTV and others are in the entertainment business. That’s why there is a familiar pattern for each episode. There are homeowners who want to improve their lives by renovating their entire home or specific rooms. There is no mention of selecting designers and products or reviewing designs. The budgets quoted typically do not account for design services or labor. That’s why many homeowners trying to get their dream home renovated don’t develop realistic budgets or timelines for their projects.

When prospects ask how much a new kitchen or bath will cost, our answer is always the same: It depends. It’s not one basic price. There are major factors that influence your cost, including:

• Size and scope of the renovation
• If the renovation involves reconfiguring infrastructure such as windows, doors, pipes, duct work, utility lines and other components behind walls
• If the renovation requires changes to meet current building codes
• If the renovation increases the size of the existing space
• Type and quality of materials desired
  • Cabinets
  • Countertops
  • Appliances
  • Plumbing fixtures
  • Lighting
  • Organization accessories
  • Seating
  • Backsplash
  • Floor coverings
  • Wall coverings
  • Technology
  • Hardware

Because of the unknown variables involving scope and materials, it is nearly impossible to estimate the cost of a renovation without answering several important questions. We need an understanding of the goals of the renovation and the resources that are available for the project. There are calculators and estimators that you can find on websites published by truly credible organizations such as the National Kitchen and Bath Association. Still, those estimates and tools don’t address what is most important to you and how meeting your goals will affect the cost of a remodel.

The October issue of House Beautiful offered the following percentage breakdown for the cost of a kitchen remodel:

• 30%: construction and labor
• 25%: design and architecture
• 20%: cabinetry
• 15%: appliances
• 10%: countertops/surfaces/tile

Please recognize that these are estimates that will be affected by scope and material choices. That’s why it is important to work with an experienced professional whose career is dedicated to making dreams come true based on available resources. If you would like guidance for developing a realistic budget for your new kitchen or bath, please give us a call at (407)629-9366 or visit our showroom at 935 Orange Ave Ste 102, Winter Park FL 32765.