Home Remodeling Blog
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Kitchen Countertops
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09.10.09Look For Durably Glazed Tile To Create Stunning Backsplash
Kitchen Countertops, Stone and Tile (1)Dear Tim -- I want to spice up my bathroom with backsplash tile. I've seen a kitchen tile backsplash and loved it. Are backsplash tiles different from other tiles? Can you help me with tile ideas as well as dos and don'ts? I'm especially interested in subway tile. -- Mara V., Brookville, Ind. Dear Mara -- Two years ago I installed some unique backsplash tile as part of a major kitchen renovation. A decorative band of tile rested on the granite countertops. Above the band, larger tiles that simulated basket weaving filled the gap up to the wall cabinets. Visitors ...
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07.27.09Counter Culture: Taking Granite for Granted Is the New Norm
Kitchen Countertops (0)Ad Hudler Fort Myers News-Press.com It wasn't long ago, maybe the year 2000, when a Realtor would gush to a prospective homebuyer: "The kitchen's got Corian countertops!" Fast-forward to 2005: "The kitchen's got granite countertops!" And in 2009: "Of course the kitchen has granite countertops. (Yawn.) Why wouldn't it?" Countertops quarried from Mother Earth continue to dominate the kitchen-design market for a variety of reasons. And what used to be found exclusively in homes of the wealthy is now in places such as manufactured houses and the bathrooms at Burger King. Even in these tight economic times, the market share of natural-stone countertops continues to ...
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07.27.09Backsplashes Protect, Decorate A Kitchen
Kitchen Countertops, Kitchen Remodeling (2)Bob Karlovits Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Countertop and surface dealer Ed Vangura sums up the nature of backsplash projects rather succinctly. "Backsplashes are where design and practicality come together," says the head of Vangura Surfacing Products of North Huntingdon. It also is "the icing on the cake" of kitchen and even bathroom projects, adds Ruth Thompson, interior designer from New Angle Design in Hampton. Yet, it is an area of design that sometimes can be overlooked by consumers undertaking home renovations. The idea is rather simple: Put a coating on the wall behind the cooking or food preparation area that protects against uncooperative spaghetti sauce. Or it can ...
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01.12.09Counter Revolution
Kitchen Countertops (0)Julie Cazzin Money Sense There was a time when it was easy for self-respecting fashionistas to choose the material for their kitchen countertops. It was granite, end of story. But these days granite is starting to look a bit been-there-done-that. “The problem with granite is that people don’t tend to stray from certain colors and polished finishes” says Lori Parker, owner of Lori Parker Design Studio in Kaleden, B.C. “You see the same countertop patterns everywhere. The trend feels overdone.” Homeowners in search of the next big kitchen thing are turning to exotic woods, soapstone, even glass. Call it a counter revolution. ...
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09.15.08Countertops Cover Many Kitchen Needs
Kitchen Countertops (2)Adrian Sainz Associated Press For homeowners looking to remodel their kitchens, picking a durable and attractive countertop is a way to make the room both comfortable and practical. Kitchens are usually among the busiest rooms in the home, the place where families cook, eat, gather and entertain. It's also the room that's usually seen -- and judged -- by visitors and guests. Durability, ease of maintenance and appearance are important aspects to keep in mind when choosing a countertop. And the nicer and more expensive countertops, made from granite or quartz, for example, can also add value to your home. "You get a lot ...
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09.05.08High Quality Kitchen Counters Finish On Top
Kitchen Countertops (0)For homeowners looking to remodel their kitchens, picking a durable and good-looking countertop is a way to make the room both comfortable and practical. Kitchens are usually among the busiest rooms in the home, the place where families cook, eat, gather and entertain. It's also the room that's usually seen – and judged – by visitors and guests. Durability, ease of maintenance and appearance are important aspects to keep in mind when choosing a countertop. And the nicer and more expensive countertops, made from granite or quartz, for example, can also add value to your home. Those who are shopping ...
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09.02.08Five Tips for Kitchen Remodeling on a Budget
Budgets & Remodeling, Kitchen Countertops, Kitchen Remodeling, kitchen cabinets (0)It’s the height of remodeling season during a weak economy, which is a tough combination for homeowners needing to make upgrades to their kitchen. This summer, things are heating up as people debate a costly home improvement that also offers one of the best returns on investment. To help, DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen offers these five tips for kitchen updates that look good and also make "cents." 1. Granite counters: Look for thinner widths without the beveled edges. 2. Cabinets: Shop stock items or semi-custom cabinets that can rival custom craftsmanship. Or, for real savings, consider refacing your cabinets to get a ...
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07.01.08What’s Hot in Today’s Kitchens
Kitchen Countertops, Kitchen Remodeling, kitchen cabinets (1)by Deborah L. O'Mara HGTV When it comes to kitchen remodeling, every family has a long list of 'want' items. Of course, how much they can spend always clarifies the difference between want and need, but there are many hot items that continue to come up in kitchen design. As an interior designer and a designer on staff at DDK Kitchen Design in Glenview, Ill., Nancy Henry is serves a variety of clients. Many of the company's designs are for the newer homes in the area, and many of the kitchens are custom or semicustom. Her customers usually have the flexibility to ...
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07.01.08Granite, Laminate Reign, But Have Rivals
Kitchen Countertops, Kitchen Remodeling (0)Judy Stark St. Peterbsurg Times Laminate and granite are still the king and queen of the countertop world, but there are more variations and more alternatives than ever. Last year, 32 percent of all kitchen countertops were laminate, up from 27 percent the year before. Granite remained in second place with 29 percent. But even the reigning royalty need to stay competitive. "People are getting tired of granite. They're starting to look for something new," says Nancy Braamse of Olde World Cabinetry in Largo, Fla. Maybe that "something new" is a honed finish on granite instead of the highly polished surface everyone's ...
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06.09.08Kitchen Don’ts
Kitchen Countertops, Kitchen Remodeling, kitchen cabinets (0)Anna Maria Vona Kitchen and Bath Business (www.kitchen-bath.com) Common mistakes can make a dream kitchen a nightmare. Use these ten tips from designer Anna Maria Vona, of Carmana Designs, Ltd., to avoid them. 1. Don't design a cooktop without having adequate room on either side of the cooking surface for hot pots to land. 2. Don't design a cooktop next to a wall. There's nothing worse than being shoehorned against a wall while you're cooking, not to mention the greasy mess the wall will sustain. 3. Don't select solid surface material for kitchen countertops that will take a lot of abuse. You cannot place hot ...
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05.21.08New Study Confirms Commonly Used Granite Is Safe for Countertops
Kitchen Countertops (0)CLEVELAND, May 21 /PRNewswire/ -- A new study of the most popular granites used for kitchen countertops in the United States concludes that granite is safe to use in kitchens. The study, designed to determine whether radon gas sometimes released by natural stone poses any health risk, was released by the Marble Institute of America, an industry trade association, and conducted by an independent geochemistry researcher. Included in this study were 13 of the most popular types of granites used in countertop applications, representing up to 85 percent of the granite countertops sold in the United States. "This is the first time ...
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04.28.08Ask an Expert: Which Countertop is Hygienic, Long-Lasting
Kitchen Countertops (0)Iris Harrell Mercury News Q I've heard lots of different opinions about the cleanliness of kitchen countertops and their lifespan. So, given proper cleaning, which is the most hygienic that will last the longest? A Almost all countertops I have ever seen in kitchens, except for wooden chopping blocks, have eternally long lifespans. Formica laminate will last as long as you are willing to live with it. The only failure of that counter occurs when a hot pot has scorched it or an under-mounted sink with a little strip of Formica is used to face the circumference of the sink counter - a ...
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04.21.08Today’s Hot Kitchens Stress Contrast, Clean Lines and a Dash of Whimsey
Kitchen Countertops, Kitchen Remodeling, kitchen cabinets (0)Elaine Markoutsas Primary Color Remodeling a kitchen, one of the most popular and expensive undertakings associated with home ownership, is all about refreshing -- no matter what the style. It's an effort to revive drab or dated space and reconfigure layouts, often annexing square footage where families and friends can hang out and entertain in the true nexus of the home. When they remodel, homeowners are looking for updated aesthetics and upgraded appliances that improve function, and sometimes there's an element of fantasy. Thumb through specialty kitchen magazines and you'll find a bit of Provence or a hint of Tuscany in the choice of ...
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04.14.08Remodeling Your Kitchen Affordably
Kitchen Countertops, Kitchen Remodeling, kitchen cabinets (5)Cindy Hoedel Kansas City Star Now might be the best time ever to remodel your kitchen. A recent survey by the National Association of Home Builders says new home starts decreased sharply in the fourth quarter of 2007, but remodeling decreased only slightly. As a result, some builders are moving into remodeling. And kitchen design companies, with fewer new-kitchen jobs, are more willing than in years past to take on small and midsize projects. In other words, more pros are chasing your remodeling dollars. In Kansas City, the average cost of a minor kitchen remodel is $21,672, according to Remodeling magazine’s 2007 Cost Versus Value ...
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02.13.08Top 10 Hints for High-End and Budget Kitchen Remodeling
Kitchen Counters, Kitchen Countertops, Kitchen Remodeling (1)Planning to remodel your kitchen? Bruce Partridge, renovations manager at Stephen Thomas Homes in Richmond, recommends Ed Crews' strategy of assembling a folder with photos of décor that you like. The folder will help you discuss your desires and expectations with remodelers, decorators and salespeople. Here are Partridge's top 10 kitchen remodeling tips: -Plan on spending 5 percent to 10 percent of the value of your home on your kitchen makeover. Kitchens are huge selling points. -Ask family, friends or coworkers for recommendations before hiring a contractor or consult The National Association of Home Builders Remodelers Council online (http://www.nahb.org/). Check qualifications to ensure ...
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02.06.08Design Basics: Kitchen Islands
Kitchen Countertops, Kitchen Remodeling (0)Kevin Conrad Home Magazine (http://www.pointclickhome.com/home/articles/design_basics_kitchen_islands) As the size of kitchens continues to soar, so does the popularity of countertop islands. Present in more than 50 percent of the houses in the United States, according to the National Kitchen and Bath Association, these versatile elements—whether built-in or movable—not only provide homes for appliances and additional seating, work space, and storage, but also often serve as a kitchen’s hub and social center. Large kitchens may even have multiple units, each dedicated to a specific use. So prior to sitting down with your architect, kitchen designer, or cabinetmaker to plan your fantasy island, consider its scale, ...
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02.04.08New Pictures of Kitchen Remodeling in Richmond, Virginia
45Fix News, Kitchen Countertops, Kitchen Remodeling (0)Here are some photos of a recent project that 45Fix successfully completed of kitchen remodeling in Richmond, Virginia. As you can see, the old laminated countertops were ripped out and replaced with smooth granite countertops. New kitchen cabinets were installed. The linoleum flooring was removed and hardwood flooring was put in its place. The major appliances were updated with new stainless steel models. Before: After: Before: ...
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01.28.08Kitchen Counter Costs Vary Widely
Kitchen Countertops (1)Scripps-Howard News Service Replacing your kitchen counters is a big project — and it can be an expensive one, too. Here's a rundown from Home & Garden Television on 10 fashionable materials for kitchen countertops, plus details on their care, pros and cons, and cost. 1) Concrete. Concrete counters should be waxed every six months and sealed annually. Wine, lemon juice and ketchup can stain, so clean up spills immediately. Companies such as Sonoma Cast Stone have begun manufacturing stainless versions. Cost: $75-$200 per square foot, installed. 2) Glass. To create a beautiful breakfast bar, cantilever a piece of glass out ...
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