Frugal ideas to remodel the kitchen

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A kitchen makeover can add sparkle to a home and enhance its appeal to prospective buyers. The job doesnt have to cost thousands of dollars.

A kitchen remodel can be done on any budget, says Jaclyn Pardini Hartzell, a spokeswoman for Lowes. Conduct research ahead of time, find your inspirations, and know which projects you can complete yourself and which ones youll leave for an expert.

While there are limits to what can be done frugally, many home-remodeling experts say moderately handy homeowners with just a little cash to spend can make a big difference in their kitchen.

If the work looks good, youre adding equity to your home which you might tap for bigger projects later on, says Erin Davis, owner and lead designer for Mosaik Design & Remodeling in Portland, Oregon.

Here are eight kitchen remodeling projects that cost $500 or less.

Spruce up your walls

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If your kitchen feels old, theres no better low-cost remedy than a coat of paint.

One of my design teachers once told me that a gallon of paint is worth $500 (in terms of) the value it brings to a space, Davis says. Not only does it instantly change the feel of a space, but if you do it yourself, it will cost virtually nothing.

And, for about $100, you might add molding to the area where your cabinets meet the ceiling.

If youre handy with a table saw, it would only take you an afternoon to add a chunky piece of crown molding to the tops of your upper cabinets, says Atlanta-based DIY blogger Kelly Marzka, who runs the website View Along The Way. This is an easy way to make inexpensive cabinetry feel like custom pieces.

Freshen up cabinets

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New cabinets can be expensive, but adding or replacing the hardware on existing ones is among the easiest, most cost-effective ways to revamp a kitchen.

Hardware is like jewelry for your cabinets, says Davis, ofMosaik Design & Remodeling. Youll be surprised at how different your cabinetry looks with updated hardware.

Another, more involved option is to paint the cabinets, which will make them look new without replacing them.

Even laminate cabinets can be painted, if you use a good primer.

Supplies should run less than $100. But before you paint, its important to prep. Remove the doors from the cabinets, cover the hardware or remove it, and be sure to sand away old paint.

Float a new look for the sink

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You dont have to be a plumber to give your kitchen sink a makeover, but you do have to be somewhat handy, says Jamie Gold, a certified kitchen designer in San Diego and the author of New Kitchen Ideas That Work.

You can replace the faucet on your sink rather easily in about an hour. But the costs can vary dramatically.

Depending on the quality and features of the faucet, you could spend anywhere between $150 and $500, Gold says.

A more dramatic option, and one that requires a little more muscle, is to replace the whole sink. That will take a few hoursandshould run you between $250 and $500.

Want to replace everything in your kitchen, including the kitchen sink?A home equity line of credit might help.

Update the lighting

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If youve ever thought your kitchen might look better in a different light, you may be on to something.

It is amazing what a great light fixture can do to a room, Davis says. Just swapping out new fixtures in the existing locations is the most affordable way to go. Another good idea is to add recessed can lights to a kitchen to improve the general lighting.

Most homeowners can change out fixtures pretty quickly on their own with some basic instruction.

But adding high-quality recessed lighting might get a little tricky for a novice. Hiring an electrician to do the job should run about $150 to $200, which includes materials and labor.

If you dont feel comfortable doing anything electrical yourself, Davis says its possible to hire a good electrician for up to $95 an hour.

Renew counters and floors

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New counters and floors will probably test your kitchen remodel budget and your handiwork. If youre up for it, either of these changes can have a dramatic impact on your kitchens appearance.

Vinyl flooring can look great and costs only about $2 a square foot.

When it comes to countertops, you have even more budget options. Granite tile can give you a granite look without the price of a granite slab, says Gold, who adds that you can tile over existing tile if you rough up the underlying surface with a sander.

Similarly, you can install laminate countertops on top of existing counters. Hardware stores sell countertops for as little as $45 per section.

Considering new granite counters? Look into a home equity loan, which might offer a solid source of funds.

Buy (almost) new appliances

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Replacing kitchen appliances may exceed yourbudget. But if youre willing to accept minor imperfections, it is possible to pick up a new appliance for less than $500.

You can update appliances by going to a scratch-and-dent store where they sell new appliances at a steep discount due to minor cosmetic flaws, Gold says.

You might have a hard time seeing the flaws, and youre still getting a new product.

Still, unless youre buyinga new refrigerator, you may have to hire someone to install the new appliance, which could add a few hundred dollars to the project.

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The wall space behind your sink can offer a surprising amount of design potential.

One of the easiest ways to spruce up a kitchen is to change the backsplash, says Christine Tse, an interior designer in New York. This small change will instantly change your kitchen from drab to fab.

Coming from New York, Tse says shes fond of subway tiles, which can run about $350 for 12 square feet. If you want something high-end like white Carrara marble, you should plan on spending about $450. But if you want to keep costs down, you can hunt around for options in the $200 range.

You dont have to be a tile expert to put in a backsplash. A lot of hardware stores run free weekend classes.

Want to do more extensive home renovations? Check out todays best home equity rates.

Install more storage

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If youre running out ofstorage space in the kitchen, the room probably isnt aesthetically pleasing either.

Clear the clutter by moving cookbooks and other clutter off of the countertops and adding some floating shelves to the walls, says Dorothy Myers, an interior designer and real estate agent at Long & Foster in Washington, D.C.

You can pick up thick floating wood or glass shelves for about $40 each, Myers says. Thinner, less expensive shelves can be had for as little as $5 apiece.

A moderately handy homeowner should be able to do the project in a few hours.

Just make sure that you anchor the shelves to studs to ensure that the shelves can hold some weight, if your wall is drywall, Myers says.

Read more here:
8 great kitchen remodeling ideas for under $500 - Bankrate.com

A 60-pound stuffed beaver isnt your usual living room dcor.

But for outdoorsman Daron Smith, it fits.

His 3,700-square-foot home southwest of Beaver Lake, Nebraska, is a blend of his lifelong passion for the outdoors and his fondness for mementos from his familys past.

I really love the rustic feel of my place with the barn wood and, obviously, the animals Ive acquired over the years, Smith says. And I love the history thats reflected in the dcor.

The hunter and fisherman made the outdoors his first priority upon purchasing the eight-acre property in 2000. He replaced a barn, put in a pond and brought in a half-million pounds of rock, including boulders, to give the landscape a northern Minnesota look and feel.

He planted wildflowers in the woods behind his home and created another acre of wildlife habitat to the west, clearing a lot of trees in the process.

My career should have been in landscaping and habitatmanagement, says the 52-year-old former owner of Better Business Equipment Co., as he gazes out on the jewel of his work, a 100-by-80-foot pond.

He has since expanded the original parcel to 50 acres and added a nearby 160-acre farm, which hes turning into a mix of crops and more wildlife habitat.

Turkey, coyote, raccoon, possum and all kinds of birds are familiar visitors to his home.

Im close enough to get to Omaha, he says, but I feel like Im in the middle of the wilderness.

His focus turned inside after selling the family business in 2015. As with many home remodels, it started small.

He wanted to redo a three-season porch that had paper-thin windows and a leaky roof and walls. But he also liked the idea of opening up the area to the kitchen. Soon, the kitchen was down to its studs.

Three weeks near completion of the four-month project, he remodeled the main-floor bath.

I just decided to go whole hog, Smith explains.

He provided 30 percent of the ideas, and gave Libby Pantzlaff of Creative Interiors by Libby credit for the other 70. Mike Sassen of Advance Design and Construction also had creative input.

Smith wanted to feel like he was sitting outside, so he sought a rustic feel in the hearth room, with barn wood walls, slate flooring and a great view of the pond and woods.

Along the way the project took on an historic bent, something he hadnt originally planned.

A wall and backsplash in his new kitchen feature reclaimed Egyptian pavers used in the 1920s to build the Lincoln Highway, which snaked down Dodge Street on its way from New York to San Francisco. Smith and Pantzlaff spent a day reclaiming them from a brick pile at A&R Salvage and Recycling Inc.

The marble counters are done in what Pantzlaff jokingly calls a mossy oak pattern, because it reminds her of camouflage.

I think its just got character, Smith says.

The frames around the windows in the hearth room and kitchen feature old-growth oak from a western Nebraska barn. Smith estimates the wood could be nearly 200 years old.

In the hearth room, a wall made from reclaimed wood from nearby Murray, Nebraska, has become home to many family heirlooms. Smith points out a log chain and skillet that traveled from Illinois to Kansas in a covered wagon.

I had a pile of this stuff, and I said, Libby, make it look good.

The only time Smith balked, then relented, was when Pantzlaff suggested using reclaimed corrugated metal from a barn for the hearth room ceiling. Now hes glad he went along with the idea.

As an homage to what Smith calls the hunting that runs in his blood, racks from two deer and a 600-pound elk adorn another wall in the hearth room. A spot over the new coat closet is reserved for one of the bobcats that frequents his farm.

The beaver is homegrown, too. It lived in the creek behind his house. When it began killing off many of the smaller trees on the property, Smith trapped it and had it mounted.

It has definitely become a conversation piece with Smiths guests.

Most of them are pretty shocked, Smith says. Who has a beaver?

Originally posted here:
A rustic redo: Family's past brings unique look to outdoorsman's retreat southwest of Beaver Lake - Omaha World-Herald

Dillard Kitchen &Bath will modify your bathroom for safety while creating a luxurious retreat you wont want to leave

Dillard Kitchen &Bath is the solution to updating your bathroom for beautiful results, while also implementing adaptive modifications for safety to keep you and your loved ones living at home for as long as possible. As the over-65 population continues to boom, with a large majority intending to continue living at home, remodeling bathrooms for safety is a necessity. Whether you are in that age group, making plans to continue living in your current home into older age, or just concerned caregivers for older loved ones, Dillard Kitchen and Bath is the answer to your bathroom remodeling and safety needs, with results you will love.

Not only will Dillard Kitchen and Bath transform your bath into a spa-like escape, your bathroom will be adapted for complete accessibility to keep you or your loved ones where you want to live for as long as possible, at home. Considering the astronomical costs of assisted living facilities, making modifications to your home is not only more cost-effective, it increases the resale value of your largest investment. And with Dillard Kitchen and Bath, you can rest easy knowing your agreed upon budget and timeframe will be honored. Dale Dillard, owner, has over four decades of experience in updating homes. Dale is also an expert on renovating your bathroom to add beauty and organize chaotic spaces while implementing designs to add adaptive safety aids. He says, My estimate is my contract. I do what I say Im going to do, and his customers couldnt agree more.

Craig and Ann Wallace recently completed a bathroom renovation with Dillard. Ann said it started by wanting an outdated, turquoise, spa bathtub replaced with a huge walk-in shower and the couple decided to go ahead and update the entire room. They were the best! Im telling you. The two workers were the most courteous people Ive ever been around. It wasnt stressful. It was great. If Dale saw a problem, he took care of it quickly. She added, Dale gave us wonderful ideas. The great thing is Dale shows you exactly what you are spending and went over it weekly with us. My husband Craig was totally happy too.

Dale understands updating for safety is just one of the reasons replacing tubs with walk-in showers is so popular. Removing whirlpool tubs which have accumulated dirt and stains around the jets is something home owners are requesting, regardless of safety issues. Without a tub, the extra space can be used to enlarge the shower area for a spa-like retreat or to include a wider door to accommodate walkers and/or wheelchairs. Also, barrier-free entries to a shower for a walk-in area removes the need to step over an obstacle that could lead to a fall. Installing safety bars is another popular safety design.

With Dillard Kitchen &Bath there is no need to forego beauty when updating for safety and efficiency. Dale will solve your remodeling needs for functionality, while updating your bath with the latest trends to create the ultimate home-spa retreat.

It looks great! Now we are in the middle of updating our kitchen with Dale, Ann said.

Whether it is the kitchen or the bathroom, Dale is an expert at one often overlooked arealighting design. Proper lighting not only creates a positive ambience, but because vision problems accompany aging, poor lighting is another very real safety issue.

Other modern bathroom updates to consider when contacting Dillard for a bathroom remodel include replacing outdated wall mirrors with framed vanity mirrors. If you have two sinks, creating separate areas by inserting a beautiful and functional medicine cabinet between the two sinks not only looks great, but adds the extra storage you crave. Another updated design tactic is using plaster on the walls for its durability and to add dimension to the space by creating another texture. Other trends include using man-made materials such as Caesarstone, updating cabinetry, and incorporating glass and deco tiles around shower and tub areas

In addition to planning for safety, a bathroom remodel by Dillard Kitchen &Bath will also solve the chaos of a disorganized space, so dont forget to ask about utilizing Dillards innovative methods to control clutter, such as concealed beauty tool drawers and cord-hideaways.

Call (806) 793-3457 to talk to the professionals at Dillard Kitchen &Bath and start your dream remodel today. The Dillard Kitchen &Bath Design Showroom is located at 1806 Raleigh Ave. Call to set up an appointment in the showroom or to schedule a consultation at your home. You can view remodels and more information online at http://www.dillardkitchenbath.com.

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Adaptive bathroom designs that are beautiful - LubbockOnline.com

WEST CHESTER >> Pine Street Carpenters has grown through diversification in its nearly quarter-century in business.

The extent of that diversification became evident when the company recently announced it now has three websites to address each of its markets.

Weve always been full service remodelers handling design services, acting as a general contractor, said Mike Dolan, marketing manager at Pine Street. We work with corporate clients, business owners, landlords, real estate developers. We wanted to a create compelling online home for each of our audiences: homeowners looking for design and remodeling services; those looking for cabinetry solutions for their home or business; and business owners looking for commercial construction services..

Owner Brendan Dolan began the company in 1993 as a graduate student at the University of Pennsylvania to help finance his way through graduate school. He was living on Pine Street in Philadelphia at the time, hence the name Pine Street Carpenters. The company eventually moved to the West Chester area where it has been currently based for about 13 years.

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We started out doing primarily residential work and it has grown over the years. Weve branched out to doing work for the commercial and corporate world, as well as institutional clients. In essence, weve outgrown our name Pine Street Carpenters, because we are more than just carpenters. Were a full service design and remodeling firm, so thats part of what we are trying to achieve with the launch of these new websites, to show the breadth of our services, Dolan remarked.

The family of new websites branches out into three areas to focus on the diverse core services the firm offers. They include one for Pine Street Carpenters (pinestreetcarpenters.com), The Kitchen Studio (the kitchenstudio.com) and Pine Street Construction (pinestreetinc.com).

The website for Pine Street Carpenters aims to serve residential remodeling services, which includes general contracting and design for kitchens, baths, historic renovations, whole house remodels, additions and more.

Dolan noted that The Kitchen Studio website highlights the companys kitchen and bath showroom in West Goshen. It features a line of cabinet makers and offers cabinetry solutions for all areas of the home and works with do-it-yourself homeowners, interior designers and other general contractors.

Seven years ago, we opened a kitchen showroom on our site so people can come in and look at kitchen and bath cabinetry. We wanted to provide services to folks that might not be looking for remodeling services. They might be doing a home project themselves. Or, its a general contractor or interior designer that doing a project for one of their clients that need cabinet solutions. The idea was to brand that a little differently so it is more retail oriented and not specific necessarily to our existing clients, Dolan said.

The third site is for the firms commercial brand, Pine Street Construction. Dolan said that website features the breadth of Pine Streets services to commercial and institutional clients. He noted a few of Pine Street Constructions clients include H&R Block, Edward Jones Investments, Weight Watchers and Americas Best Contacts & Eyeglasses.

Dolan noted the firm has always handled full service projects for commercial and residential customers.

We do a lot of commercial work, not just in this region but throughout the northeast ... So our commercial services are more than what our existing name implies. Weve always been full service remodelers handling design and remodeling services and acting as a general contractor.

Original post:
New websites highlight Pine Street's diversification - The Mercury

By Megan Buerger By Megan Buerger July 11 at 7:00 AM

Feeling pressed for space? The solution might be right under your feet.

Finished basements are a low-cost way to add resale value to your home at a fraction of what it costs to build up or out. And while they certainly come with risks, including leaks, floods and mold, most of these obstacles can be avoided with a little research and planning.

Finished basements have steadily become among the most popular renovation projects during the past two decades, according to surveys conducted by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). About 30 percent of contractors report it as the top homeowner request, following kitchen and bath remodels (about 80 percent) and additions (40 to 50 percent). Many home experts attribute that to todays volatile real estate market.

For lots of people, moving just isnt an option right now, said Karen Vidal, a partner in the Los Angeles firm Design Vidal. They want to squeeze as much out of their current homes as they can.

Vince Butler, a former chairman of the NAHB who works for Butler Brothers in Clifton, Va., says that most home basement renovations take one to two months to complete and cost between $50,000 and $75,000. Additions often cost twice that yet have lower returns on investment because they add less space. In 2017, Remodeling magazines annual Cost vs. Value survey reported that the average basement remodel cost $71,000 , with the potential added value estimated at $50,000. Butler calls basements the low-hanging fruit of home renovations. Theyre fairly simple, the bones are usually there, and you can knock it out in a summer.

Youve already got floors, walls and a ceiling. Most of the time, youre just adding finishes to an existing box, said James Crisp, a principal at Crisp Architects in Millbrook, N.Y., who has helped clients transform their basements into gyms, wine cellars, pubs, soundproof playrooms and state-of-the-art home theaters.

You can do almost anything so long as you secure the permit, he adds. Really, just about the only thing you cant do is a sunroom.

If youre considering a basement remodel, youll need to hire a contractor to look at your plumbing and heating systems, identify any red flags, and help you crunch the numbers. That can get complicated, so here are some key things and a few tricks to making the most of a dark and dingy room.

First, its a good idea to familiarize yourself with local building codes, even if you plan on hiring a professional to carry out the project. Different renovations require different permits and inspections, so having a sense of the rules will help you settle on a realistic timeline. For example, in most counties, adding a kitchen, bathroom or wet bar requires zoning approval in addition to a building permit. Check your countys website for guidelines. (A tip: Construction permits can be terribly dense, so when its time to file, many homeowners have their contractor, designer or architect submit on their behalf.)

If youre planning to turn your basement into a rental unit, be prepared to meet a separate set of requirements that, at a minimum, include a separate exit or point of egress and bathroom. Crisp called the cost difference a big leap, especially when you consider how tenants affect your mortgage rate and taxes, along with regular maintenance. Bruce Wentworth, owner of Chevy Chase architectural firm Wentworth, says clients often dont realize how involved it is to make a unit legal. I tell folks its only worth it if theyre committed to renting long-term, he said. If not, keep it for yourself.

Home offices are less of an undertaking, depending on how much traffic youre expecting. When the century-old building company Gruver Cooley moved from an awkward office in Leesburg, Va., to a 1,400-square-foot open-plan home basement near Middleburg two years ago, Cathleen Gruver spearheaded the horse-country-inspired redesign.

The old space didnt have an area for us to come and work together, so this was an opportunity to solve that problem, she said. In fact, Gruver suggests that anyone tackling a renovation ask two questions to stay on track: What isnt working, and how will this solve it?

In the new Gruver Cooley offices, the walls are lined with custom cabinetry that doubles as desks. Theres a large round table in the center of the room for meetings, which, fittingly, makes for a family-around-the-dinner-table feel. Gruver used light paint colors to make the space feel airy and added a $7,000 wet bar and full bathroom for resale flexibility ($18,000). All told, the redesign cost $73,000, or about $52 per square foot. She estimates that it would have amounted to closer to $75 per square foot, but trade discounts and a long line of family contractors helped keep costs low.

Her favorite trick: Splurge on statement pieces like a chandelier or small areas like the shower floor. You need less of it, so you can opt for something nicer, she said.

For families that want an out-of-the-way space for kids to play, the basement can be a great rec room. Some designers have found clever ways to up the ante. In 2010, Melanie Morris, an interior designer in Brookville, N.Y., turned her basement into an indoor hockey rink for her three sons, ages 7, 11 and 13. The surrounding walls are hidden storage closets, and the rink is made out of poured rubber, a custom alternative to rubber mats.

Basement flooring should never be an afterthought, she said. Dont make that mistake. It should be able to weather leaks, floods, condensation. ... And if you have kids, it should be able to take a beating.

Regardless of what you plan to do with the room, Crisp agrees that its crucial to install water-resistant flooring and, ideally, a dehumidifier. Because basement floors match the temperature of the ground around them, which hovers around 55 degrees, humid summer days can mean heavy condensation, which can warp hardwood over time. He recommends installing a moisture barrier on top of the concrete or using wood grain ceramic tiles on the concrete. Gruver used vinyl flooring, which is water-resistant, durable and cost-effective. If it scratches, you just peel that plank up and put a new one down, she said.

As cool and calm as designers sound, its hard not to wonder whether basements test their patience. Along with fickle floors and leaky pipes, most basements have low ceilings (the average height is seven feet) and little-to-no natural light. Thin-lined, low-profile furniture will help the room feel more spacious, and if adding windows is too costly, layer light throughout the area with lamps, sconces and track lighting.

Finally, nearly all basements are interrupted by at least one bulky beam or interior column that so often sits in the middle of the room. If thats the case with your basement, whatever you do, dont remove it. Its supporting your house. Instead, follow Wentworths lead and use strategic decorating to trick the eye.

When he was hired to turn the basement of a 1920s Woodley Park rowhouse into a play space for a State Department family in 2011, he had to design around two awkward beams that flanked the planned seating area. As a solution, he covered them and a few surrounding ducts, pipes and wires with drywall to make them look like structural columns. Then, he painted them charcoal gray and lined them with thin strips of birch plywood for a dose of architectural flair.

Now its the most interesting part of the room, he said.

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More space, better resale value: What to know about finishing your basement - Washington Post

Meet the Kitchen Cousins

Anthony Carrino and his cousin John Colaneri scour the streets of New Jersey with their family-based construction company looking to breathe life into old, dismal kitchens. Whether it's creating a vibrant contemporary design or a classic look, the Kitchen Cousins are always up for a challenge. Browse some of their most striking kitchen remodels.

A badly-placed staircase and a washing machine take up much of the usable area in homeowner Michele's Hoboken, N.J. kitchen. And that's not all: dated flooring, cabinetry and appliances mean this space is desperate for a Kitchen Cousins makeover.

Michele requested a modern space that still felt connected to the century-old architecture in the rest of the house. Bold, contemporary cabinets and stainless steel details juxtapose nicely with the original pine flooring (discovered under the tired linoleum!).

By removing a wall between the kitchen and dining room, John and Anthony turned two small, unusable spaces into one larger spot perfect for parties.

A tin tile ceiling visually separates the kitchen and dining spaces and pays homage to the townhouse's past.

Not much has changed in Nalini Singh's Jersey City home since her parents bought it back in 1989 especially not her dingy, outdated kitchen. With a major lack of counter space and no cohesive design, Nalini's kitchen has certainly seen better days.

John and Anthony convinced Nalini to get rid of an old built-in hutch to make way for brand-new cabinets and appliances, but had part of the piece repurposed into a stylish bar cabinet. Purple walls and porcelain floor tiles made to look like light wood liven up the space.

Nalini couldn't believe this sleek, black table was the same wooden one from her old kitchen. The crew had it sanded, primed and spray-painted with a high-gloss lacquer to give it a fresh new look.

A crushed-glass mosaic backsplash against engineered stone countertops adds warmth and creates visual interest. The update more than doubled the amount of countertop space in Nalini's kitchen, giving her plenty of room to prepare food for friends and family.

The Orlandos, an Italian-American family living in a New Jersey condo, have outgrown their small, cookie-cutter kitchen. What's worse is that with an oven and a dishwasher that opens all the way to the floor, the kitchen is no place for the couple's three small children. Though several contractors have told Claudia and her husband Anthony if they wanted a bigger kitchen they'd have to move, the cousins think they can overcome the obstacles.

With a little help from the family, John and Anthony didn't just open up the Orlandos' kitchen, but the entire dining and living area as well. Running the cabinets along one wall creates more storage and countertop space, while ripping out the tile and continuing the flooring throughout makes the room appear larger. Claudia's father also helped the cousins move the family's modern chandelier over a few feet, centering the room.

Claudia often struggled with keeping her corner cabinet organized, so John and Anthony added Italian-style pullout shelves. Italian cabinets in white keep the space clean, while orange, chosen by Claudia's mother as an accent color, adds brightness.

When the cousins first arrived, Claudia introduced the boys to her home office: her pantry. John and Anthony created a built-in worktop, making it easier for Claudia to work and meet with clients from home.

Though Anthony Pino serves up delicious meals at Anthony David's and Bin 14, his kitchen at home doesnt do the head chef justice. A makeover for this cramped space was way overdue.

John and Anthony slid the island over to make a peninsula and closed off a rarely used basement door to create more space. Even though John was dying to add some color, his wife, Liz, always dreamed of having an all-white, traditional kitchen. White cabinets, a hidden dishwasher panel and honed Carrera marble countertops keep this kitchen pristine.

Honed marble is prone to stains, so the cousins created a custom wood chopping block out of 100-year-old flooring salvaged from homes around the area. A custom cousins touch: a burned-on Kitchen Cousins logo.

Iliana Martinez has remodeled her entire home except for this boring kitchen. John and Anthony are ready to make her dreams come true when she gives the cousins a shocking surprise she's already ordered custom, top-of-the-line appliances and cabinets from Italy, leaving them to abandon their initial ideas and work around hers!

For the Pinos' backsplash, John chose a neutral-toned glass tile with white grout to keep the white theme consistent. The tiles allow plenty of light to reflect off the surface and into the kitchen.

After a scramble to design around Iliana's cabinets and appliances, which included dual dishwashers, a double oven, a built-in espresso machine and a full-sized custom fridge, John and Anthony were able to pull together a bold, bright kitchen. A splash of red in a breakfast nook and a broken-glass backsplash tiled all the way up the wall give this space a unique look.

For her huge double ovens, John and Anthony built a dark wenge cabinet, an elegant contrast to the white lacquer throughout the rest of the kitchen. The cousins outfitted Iliana's espresso bar area with a shining stainless steel backsplash.

For Iliana, the kitchen is a place for the family to get together. The cousins created a banquette so the Martinez family would have a place to eat together or help the kids with homework. John and Anthony upholstered the area using a bright red to match the broken-glass backsplash.

John's mother was shocked to learn they were going to give her 20-year-old kitchen an overhaul. But with so much to do including completely opening up the space, giving her blah kitchen some color and new appliances and only a few weeks to do it, will the cousins have Aunt Denise's kitchen ready in time for Thanksgiving dinner?

John and Anthony were able to brave a snowstorm and power outage, a customs delay on their Italian cabinets and a race to find an oven the night before Thanksgiving. The new kitchen is warm, but still has a contemporary edge. The cousins closed off an unused door to create a galley kitchen with a massive 11-foot island plenty of room to fit Aunt Denise's hungry family!

Before renovations, Aunt Denise had been lighting her aging gas stove with a match. The boys installed a brand-new hood and a 5-burner, 36-inch gas cooktop. They also included a pot filler over the stove no more walking to the sink for pasta water!

This handmade, Moroccan-style backsplash adds color and contrast to the tobacco-stained oak cabinetry while also giving Aunt Denise's kitchen an authentic feel. Stainless steel countertops are a sleek and durable addition.

Devin has been living in his Jersey City home for 10 years, and is preparing for his girlfriend, Avril, to move in with her two children. Devin and Avril want to celebrate this coming together of the two families and turn his old, inefficient kitchen into a modern space they can call their own.

John and Anthony opened up Devin's small kitchen by tearing down a half wall and continuing the flooring into the dining room. White cabinets with splashes of color make what was once a dull space bright and full of light.

To further open the small space, the cousins cut and installed a picture-frame window in a wall adjacent to the living room. The boys then put a countertop in the window to create a breakfast bar where Devin and Avril can look at the television while eating and where friends and family can glance into the kitchen from the living room.

Devin and Avril weren't afraid of John's idea to use bold Tuscan orange in their kitchen. He created a striped focal wall of orange and gray hues to define the dining space.

Alfonso Ribeiro, best known as Carlton from The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, is stuck with a Los Angeles kitchen that's trapped in the same era as the beloved show.

John and Anthony opened up the kitchen by taking down a wall and creating one large island in the center of the space. Cabinets with clean lines and a brownish-gray hue make it contemporary, yet still warm and inviting.

A pantry without a door, drab white cabinets and a utilitarian office space did their respective jobs, but with very little style.

A large island with a built-in cooktop provides stylish seating for five, while a 3-D wallcovering adds texture. A frosted glass door hides the visual clutter of pantry essentials.

Fashionista Jeannie Mai of the Style Network and Freddy Harteis, Sportsman Channel's Hollywood Hunter, called in the Kitchen Cousins to help marry their two styles to create a "rustic luxe" space. The kitchen has good bones, but the update will bring the style into this century.

The cousins kept the original cabinetry and lighting, adding textured white countertops and wallcoverings to brighten the space.

Chrome-and-powder-blue appliances from Big Chill add bursts of color and create a playful, vintage-inspired vibe.

The cousins used antlers from Freddy's collection and glossy white spray paint to create a DIY chandelier for the rustic dining room.

Lisa Rivera loves to entertain, but her builder basic kitchen and its cramped galley-style layout are anything but festive. The cousins are here to help with ideas to make this condo kitchen modern and vibrant.

Knocking down a wall between Lisa's kitchen and living room opened up the space to make room for a bar and a table to entertain guests. Sleek and modern gray cabinets provide streamlined storage.

A ceramic, 3-D wallcovering adds both bright color and interesting texture to the kitchen.

A massive, double-sided fireplace broke up the room and kept homeowners Rich and Shane Svorec from making the most of their space. They needed more storage options, a homework nook for their two children and some warm, rustic style.

The cousins covered the white brick fireplace with fieldstone and added a mantel made from 100-year-old floor joists salvaged from a building in Hoboken, N.J. Wide plank, white oak floors complement the warm wood cabinets.

Rich tore down a poorly-placed wall between the kitchen and living room to open up the space, but that's where the project stalled.

John and Anthony finished what Rich started, giving the kitchen designer finishing touches like solid wood cabinets, a hammered copper farmhouse sink and a vintage-inspired stove.

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Dazzling Kitchen Transformations From Kitchen Cousins ...

Editor's Note: The following is a guest contribution from Houzz, a leading platform for home remodeling and design.

Designers have many secrets they deploy for a successful kitchen remodel. Recently I shared 17 of my favorites, and here I offer 11 more. Read on for ideas that will make your kitchen more beautiful as well as more functional.

Before we get started, heres a bonus piece of advice: I highly recommend you invest your dollars in the best cabinetry you can afford, and worry about the appliances later. In other words, dont sacrifice the quality of your cabinets for new appliances if budget is an issue. Instead, delay purchasing your [clients] dream appliances. Why? Long after [your client has] replaced [the] refrigerator and dishwasher, the cabinets will be standing, and they are the foundation for a beautiful kitchen.

Now, onto more details that make a difference.

Most kitchen remodels incorporate the refrigerator into the design by adding side panels that match the cabinetry for a built-in look. Standard countertops overhang base cabinet doors by half an inch. Be sure the depth of the refrigerator panel is slightly greater than the depth of the counter. Otherwise, the counter will jut past the panel instead of converging with it.

Related story: Get Started on Your Kitchen and Bath Remodel Today

In addition to increasing the depth of the refrigerator panel, also increase the depth of your tall cabinets as shown here.

Consistency is the key to good design, therefore all counters should have the same reveal, or edge configuration.

Not all countertops overhang the doors by a half-inch. Some clients prefer their counters flush with the doors and drawers for a modern, streamlined appearance.

Pullout cabinets should be only 9, 12 or 15 inches wide, in my opinion.

Why? By virtue of the pullouts design, every time you need a can of soup, you experience the full weight of everything thats stored there.

A wider pantry pullout is simply too heavy.

For pantry cabinets wider than 15 inches, I prefer rollouts. That means youre pulling out only the shelf you need, not the whole pantry.

Also, consider the projection of the hardware of any cabinet next to the wall.

Make the filler (a matching strip of wood that fills the gap between the cabinet and wall) at least 1.5 inches wide to keep the hardware from hitting the wall and possibly restricting the usability of a cabinet with a rollout.

Related story: Are Soapstone Countertops Right for You?

Kitchens are all about function. I always try to put at least one pullout for frequently used oils and sauces next to the range.

Although some worry that the heat from the range may turn the oils, most ranges have great insulation.

That, coupled with the thickness of the cabinets sides, means sauces and oils rarely spoil.

Some clients dont need tall tray storage because their trays arent that wide or they store them on their sides, as shown here.

If this is the case for you, consider adding a shelf above the trays for extra storage.

Not everyone needs an abundance of tray storage. For those clients, I will add a partition to the cabinet and adjustable shelves to the other side.

For years I specified a single-layer cutlery holder for my clients. Now, I include a two-tiered insert to double their amount of cutlery storage.

A common mistake is placing the dishwasher adjacent to a corner sink. The consequence of this is that youre unable to stand at the sink and load the dishwasher in that tight space.

One remedy is to add a cabinet between the corner sink and dishwasher. Ideally, that intermediating cabinet should be a minimum of 15 inches wide.

Stainless steel had been my go-to finish for sinks for many reasons, including its durability and availability at many price points. Then I realized its not always the best option, depending on the countertops finish, as well as the look you are trying to achieve. With a lighter countertop, a stainless steel sink may look like a dark hole in the island. A white sink, though, will not.

Related story:Concrete Countertops - A Nearly Indestructible Option

Continued here:
11 designer details for kitchen remodels - Construction Dive

If you want to transform your kitchen but keep it simple and budget-friendly, check out our easy kitchen makeover tips.

1. Boost storage

Take advantage of unclaimed wall space by adding shelves for a practical upgrade. This will add value to your kitchen and allows you to keep dishes, food, and cookware within easy reach.

2. Add color to your cabinets

Kitchen cabinets are often overlooked during kitchen remodels, but a bright color on your cabinets can add an entirely new look to your kitchen. Not to mention, it costs mere dollars!

3. Shine, shine, shine!

Polish your kitchen floors using any kind of floor wax for an added shine that will make your floors look brand new.

4. Try a blacksplash

Add texture to your kitchen by adding a decorative backsplash. Not only does a backsplash add decoration to your kitchen, it also protects your walls from splashes and spills.

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Easy kitchen makeover ideas - Channel3000.com - WISC-TV3

Renovating your kitchen? A trip to the flea market or antique store should be near the top of your to-do list. No, not to find your dining table, but to unearth gorgeous fixtures and architectural details. When everything else in the space is going to be shiny and new, some oldies but goodies are just what you'll need to warm it up. Sweeten , a free service that plays matchmaker for home owners and contractors, has seen an uptick in the use of vintage sinks, doors, and windows in their clients' remodels, and they've shared a few of them with us to spark ideas for your own renovation. Now, onto perfecting those bargaining skills. . .

For his 1940s-era New York bathroom, architect Brian Kaplan crafted a one-of-a-kind sink pedestal by pairing a vintage wood table with a modern sink basin from Kraus, which fit right in next to the reclaimed tub. "We found the basin table online and delivered it home from Hudson, New York, ourselves after a weekend camping and picked up the several-hundred-pound clawfoot tub at the UPS depot under the Kosciuszko Bridge in Brooklyn!" he writes.

Photo: Courtesy of Sweeten

When fashion designer Christine Yao was renovating her New York apartment's bath, she needed a door that would let in light without taking up a lot of space. On a visit to Big Reuse in Gowanus, Brooklyn, she discovered an old office door, which her Sweeten general contractor cut down to fit the doorway and then painted.

Photo: Courtesy of Sweeten

Interior designer Meredith incorporated vintage finds throughout her newly remodeled New York townhouse . "I snagged a vintage enamel sink from BIG, and paired it with the restaurant-style sprayer faucet of my dreams from Signature Hardware," she writes of her kitchen fixtures. In the home's powder room, she installed a window from Olde Good Things and a vintage pedestal sink.

Photo: Courtesy of Sweeten

After salvaging a 1948 Kohler slop sink from an old steel warehouse, a couple asked their Sweeten contractor to build a custom vanity beneath it and a mirror above it for the bathroom of their Brooklyn home.

Photo: Courtesy of Sweeten

Sweeten is a free service in New York and Philadelphia that personally matches renovation projects with vetted general contractors, helping until project completion. Follow the blog for renovation ideas and and when youre ready to remodel, start your renovation on Sweeten.

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Every Bath or Kitchen Renovation Should Include Something Vintage - Architectural Digest

Charlotte Business Journal

What's cooking? These key trends are driving modern kitchen design Charlotte Business Journal But the kitchen remains one of the larger rooms in the house in new homes and remodels because they are just so useful. It's where important conversations happen, where meals are prepared and eaten, and where the mail gets dropped and the cell phones ... and more »

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What's cooking? These key trends are driving modern kitchen design - Charlotte Business Journal