Kitchen Remodeling: Where do I Start?

Kitchen Remodeling: Where do I Start? If you are a home owner and considering a kitchen remodel, it can be difficult to know where to start. Should you remodel the entire kitchen at once, work on a few affordable areas or do a little bit at a time? For your first ever remodel, it can be beneficial to work with a Los Angeles remodeling company in order to see what all is involved, an estimate for the job as well as timeline. These factors will vary depending on what you plan on doing to your kitchen. Learn how to get started below.

Tour Your Kitchen

To begin, you need to decide what you want to change. Start by taking a tour of the kitchen. Look around. What do you not like about the space? Is it simply the flooring and paint color? Or perhaps you are not satisfied with the cabinet wood, light fixtures and decorative elements. Whatever the case may be, make a list. Write down what you wish to change so you know what to price out and if you will be in need of a contractor of if you can do the work yourself.

Budget

Next, you will need to consider your budget. Do you have a small budget or a nice chunk of change set aside to spend on the remodeling project? You will need to compare pricing on materials and check to see if you have enough to do the entire project or if you should work in stages. In most cases, it is best to do the full remodel at one time. If you do not have enough money in the budget, take time to save and then complete the remodel all at one time. This will save time and money as well as help you to have a completely new kitchen to enjoy.

Choose Your Materials

Once you have decided on what you wish to change in the kitchen and have a budget set, you can work with a contractor to choose materials for your kitchen. Be sure to try and stick to your budget on each section of the remodel of you may have to make changes to the plans or choose different material types such as cabinets or flooring in order to make the budget work.

A contractor will be able to provide you with a variety of materials to choose from when it comes to flooring, cabinets, countertops, light fixtures, etc. You can go the affordable route in every area and upgrade certain items such as countertops and cabinets as you will be using these features the most and they are what gives the kitchen value.

Overall, it is recommended that you work with a contractor when it comes to any kitchen remodel. You want to have someone on your side who can provide you with insight to your project needs and wants as well as has the know-how to complete the remodel on time and on budget. By working with professionals, you can rest easy knowing that your remodeling plans are in good hands.

Mistakes to avoid in your Bathroom Remodel

Mistakes to avoid in your Bathroom Remodel Some things are meant for other rooms in your house, rather than your bathroom. Don’t waste your well earned money on your next bathroom remodel. Avoid bathroom remodel mistakes by avoiding these materials or colors.

1. Wall to Wall Carpet

Carpet is majorly discouraged by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.  Yes this is one comfy flooring to rest your toes on after a long bath, but this material harbors mold, mildew and bacteria. Ultimately carpet in your bathroom is a health concern, more so than a decorating fail. 30 years ago this was a big trend in the remodeling industry, now we are more aware of the risks imposed by carpet in bathrooms. Skip the carpet and opt for a few bathroom throw rugs that can be washed and dries regularly. Tile flooring in bathrooms is a great surface to choose when remodeling your bathroom floor. Tile is easy to clean and disinfect, durable, there are a millions design and color options and will last as long as your bathroom.

2. Wall Paper

We all see the fancy bathrooms in the magazines that display lavish wall paper; fact of the matter is that any high moisture will cause the wall paper to peel eventually. Think about this, why use wall paper in a steamy room, when people use steam to remove old wall paper? Your bathroom produces the most moisture and steam in the whole house. If you must, absolutely must, have your bathroom wall papered – use a high quality, Vinyl wall paper. DO NOT attempt to use a peel and stick wall paper, this will be a waste of time and money. Peel and stick wall paper will bubble and peel within weeks if not days. Wall paper will last the longest in half bathrooms or bathrooms used less frequently.

3. Yellow paint

Avoid breaking out the Canary Yellow paint for your bathroom remodel, as this color is not a great choice for bathrooms. Yellow and yellow tones can make a bathroom look brash, and create a room that obscures your reflection. Ladies, note to self, don’t apply makeup in a yellow room. Choose colors that have a gray or blue tint to get that Spa like feel in your bathroom. Also consider the size of your room before picking a paint color. Darker colors are best suited for larger rooms, and light colors for small rooms.

Affordable Bathroom Remodel Design Ideas for Your Home

Affordable Bathroom Remodel Design Ideas for Your Home When it comes to bathroom remodeling, there is so much that you can do that costs very little. With simple changes, you can make your bathroom into a brand new space, an oasis where you can relax and unwind at the end of the day. Take one or more of the suggestions below and put them to work in your bathroom to have a nice place to relax as you finish the work day.

Paint

Paint can go a long way and is something you can do to change the look of the room for very little money. By simply taking a new paint color and applying it to your walls, you have a fresh color scheme that can be relaxing or bold, whatever you like! Find a color that speaks to you and apply it to your bathroom walls. Add new accent pieces in a varying color for a unique look.

Decorative Touches

If your bathroom is painted in a neutral tone, you can simply purchase new decorative touches to change the look of the space. A new shower curtain, window treatments and other décor items are affordable to purchase and when you go with a completely new color scheme, the bathroom will take on an entirely new look for very little money. By making these simple changes, it will seem like you have spent a lot of money but you really only did a few minor changes to get the new look.

Lighting

Another great way to continue with bathroom remodeling is to change out the light fixtures of the space. Depending on how large your bathroom is or how many bathrooms you have in your home, you may need to change out several fixtures. Many older homes have outdate lighting that once replaced, breathes life back into the space. If you lack lighting experience, hire a Los Angeles remodeling contractor to do the job for you. After the new light fixtures have been added, you will be surprised at how different the space looks and feels.

Full Remodel

If you have the time and money, it can be worth the effort to consider a full bathroom remodel. By changing out old vanities and sinks, showers and tubs as well as lighting and décor, you can have a completely new bathroom with a new look and feel. This of course will be a great deal of work and you will need some help. Trying to tackle a full remodel with little to no experience can lead to trouble. By hiring a Los Angeles remodeling company, you will be able to have a team on hand who know just what to do and can bring new life to your bathroom space.

Overall, any change you do to the bathroom will help you to have a new space to enjoy in your home. Start with simple changes and work your way up to major remodeling projects in order to completely redo the space and enjoy a new bathroom in your home.

Mistakes to avoid in your Bathroom Remodel

Mistakes to avoid in your Bathroom Remodel Some things are meant for other rooms in your house, rather than your bathroom. Don’t waste your well earned money on your next bathroom remodel. Avoid bathroom remodel mistakes by avoiding these materials or colors.

1. Wall to Wall Carpet

Carpet is majorly discouraged by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.  Yes this is one comfy flooring to rest your toes on after a long bath, but this material harbors mold, mildew and bacteria. Ultimately carpet in your bathroom is a health concern, more so than a decorating fail. 30 years ago this was a big trend in the remodeling industry, now we are more aware of the risks imposed by carpet in bathrooms. Skip the carpet and opt for a few bathroom throw rugs that can be washed and dries regularly. Tile flooring in bathrooms is a great surface to choose when remodeling your bathroom floor. Tile is easy to clean and disinfect, durable, there are a millions design and color options and will last as long as your bathroom.

2. Wall Paper

We all see the fancy bathrooms in the magazines that display lavish wall paper; fact of the matter is that any high moisture will cause the wall paper to peel eventually. Think about this, why use wall paper in a steamy room, when people use steam to remove old wall paper? Your bathroom produces the most moisture and steam in the whole house. If you must, absolutely must, have your bathroom wall papered – use a high quality, Vinyl wall paper. DO NOT attempt to use a peel and stick wall paper, this will be a waste of time and money. Peel and stick wall paper will bubble and peel within weeks if not days. Wall paper will last the longest in half bathrooms or bathrooms used less frequently.

3. Yellow paint

Avoid breaking out the Canary Yellow paint for your bathroom remodel, as this color is not a great choice for bathrooms. Yellow and yellow tones can make a bathroom look brash, and create a room that obscures your reflection. Ladies, note to self, don’t apply makeup in a yellow room. Choose colors that have a gray or blue tint to get that Spa like feel in your bathroom. Also consider the size of your room before picking a paint color. Darker colors are best suited for larger rooms, and light colors for small rooms.

5 Common Bathroom Remodel Mistakes

5 Common Bathroom Remodel Mistakes Building a better bathroom might look easy, but when you are revamping a small space – it only takes a few mistakes to end up with a disaster. Bathroom remodeling is a complex design process with lots of moving parts and ideas floating around.  Just like remodeling any part of your home, bathroom remodeling is no easy task. These 5 common bathroom remodel mistakes are easy to avoid, yet many make. Don’t fall victim to the bathroom remodel fails!

1. Skimped on Skilled Labor! – Books and TV shows make anything look DIY possible. Bathroom remodels are one of the worst first time DIY remodel project you will ever endure. Save yourself the trouble and financial loss, avoid a DIY Bathroom Remodel.  Start by researching local remodel pros and contractors in your area to find the best team for the job. It is easy to hire a company that offers a big time discount, but are they really the best? Remember that you get what you pay for, and good quality work can be expensive. Read the prospective remodel company reviews and ask what their warrantee policy is before signing on the line.

2. Skimped on storage! – This is the worst mistake to make. Why? Because there is never enough storage and if you fail to plan storage you will end up throwing bathroom goods into the hall closet. Use your bathroom space to its fullest potential. Consider niche shower storage spaces for soaps and shampoos. Build custom vertical storage shelving or cabinets to house your towels. Main point, don’t skimp or forget about bathroom storage.

3. Lacking light! – There is nothing worse than a dark and freakishly claustrophobic bathroom. Lacking light or even a view out of the bathroom could put you on the list of bathroom remodel fails.  If you have the opportunity to add a window in the bathroom but are afraid of privacy, opt of  a small horizontal window above the shower or even consider special tint that allows you to see out and not in. If you do not have the luxury of adding a window – play up the light with cool fixtures, light color paint and mirrors to reflect what light you have.

4. Bad location! – Location is more important than you think. I couldn’t imagine having to use bathroom that is attached to the kitchen, let alone when a meal is being cooked. Never locate the bathroom, if you can help it, off the kitchen, living room or any other highly public room. Keep the bathroom located in a place that won’t embarrass anyone for having to do the inevitable.

5. Porcelain throne misplacement! – Last on our 5 common bathroom remodel mistakes is the toilet location. Don’t make the toilet the first thing when you walk into the door! Eye sore! Toilet location and spacing is something important in your bathroom remodel design. Give plenty leg room between the toilet and any close by walls, keep the toilet paper holder within reach as well. If you are a believer in fengshui – the toilet must not face out of the door either.

Now that you know the 5 most common bathroom remodel mistakes – enjoy your remodel project.

Mistakes to avoid in your Bathroom Remodel

Mistakes to avoid in your Bathroom Remodel Some things are meant for other rooms in your house, rather than your bathroom. Don’t waste your well earned money on your next bathroom remodel. Avoid bathroom remodel mistakes by avoiding these materials or colors.

1. Wall to Wall Carpet

Carpet is majorly discouraged by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.  Yes this is one comfy flooring to rest your toes on after a long bath, but this material harbors mold, mildew and bacteria. Ultimately carpet in your bathroom is a health concern, more so than a decorating fail. 30 years ago this was a big trend in the remodeling industry, now we are more aware of the risks imposed by carpet in bathrooms. Skip the carpet and opt for a few bathroom throw rugs that can be washed and dries regularly. Tile flooring in bathrooms is a great surface to choose when remodeling your bathroom floor. Tile is easy to clean and disinfect, durable, there are a millions design and color options and will last as long as your bathroom.

2. Wall Paper

We all see the fancy bathrooms in the magazines that display lavish wall paper; fact of the matter is that any high moisture will cause the wall paper to peel eventually. Think about this, why use wall paper in a steamy room, when people use steam to remove old wall paper? Your bathroom produces the most moisture and steam in the whole house. If you must, absolutely must, have your bathroom wall papered – use a high quality, Vinyl wall paper. DO NOT attempt to use a peel and stick wall paper, this will be a waste of time and money. Peel and stick wall paper will bubble and peel within weeks if not days. Wall paper will last the longest in half bathrooms or bathrooms used less frequently.

3. Yellow paint

Avoid breaking out the Canary Yellow paint for your bathroom remodel, as this color is not a great choice for bathrooms. Yellow and yellow tones can make a bathroom look brash, and create a room that obscures your reflection. Ladies, note to self, don’t apply makeup in a yellow room. Choose colors that have a gray or blue tint to get that Spa like feel in your bathroom. Also consider the size of your room before picking a paint color. Darker colors are best suited for larger rooms, and light colors for small rooms.