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Inspired Remodels

Kitchen Remodel

Picking an Orange County Home Improvement Contractor

By / Bathroom Remodel, Home Improvement, Kitchen Remodel / Comments Off on Picking an Orange County Home Improvement Contractor

Thinking of a remodel? With prices on the rise and material inventories going down, now is the time to act. Whether you want a new bathroom, a remodeled kitchen, or a fresh fireplace make sure you pick an Orange County home improvement contractor that delivers on time and on budget. Here are a few tips.

women laying on carpet sharing secretsAsk for Referrals

The best way to start your search is by casting a wide net. Ask friends, neighbors, family members, coworkers, and even your fellow gym rats.

See a sign in the neighbor’s yard? Don’t be afraid to ring the bell and ask about the work. The people you know are going to give you the most honest appraisal of the work they had done.

And, if someone shares a horror story, listen carefully and learn. Not only will you learn who to avoid, but you’ll also learn what mistakes were made in the selection process.

Ask for Quotes

Once you’ve identified a few home improvement contractors, ask them to give you a quote. It’s important to get multiple quotes for the project.

To make an apples-to-apples comparison easier, make sure that each contractor gives you a quote for the same work and the same quality finishes. For example, if you want bamboo flooring, then make sure all quotes include bamboo flooring.

quotes from home improvement contractors

Otherwise, you might compare click-lock luxury vinyl planks to woven-strand bamboo hardwood planks. That’s not an even comparison. Beware of any bid that is substantially lower than the others you receive.

During the quoting process, find out what work the contractor will perform and what work will be subcontracted out to another company or tradesman. Subcontracting for trades like plumbing and electrical is a common practice, but you want to know about it in advance.

Check for Home Improvement Contractor Licensing

Once you’ve narrowed your selection down to a few contractors, it is time to check their licenses.

A handyman or casual remodeler won’t have a license. However, a professional home improvement contractor will be licensed by the State of California as a building contractor.

You can call (800) 321- 2752 or search online at the Department of Consumer Affairs.

You might be tempted to check with the Better Business Bureau too. But remember that companies pay to be a member of the BBB and membership doesn’t necessarily mean they provide quality services.

Ask for References

Ask the contractor for references. A quality home improvement contractor has a long list of satisfied customers and won’t hesitate to offer their contact information.

Be sure to follow through and call the references. Find out what they liked about the process and what they disliked.

Were there problems during the work? If so, were they resolved to the homeowner’s satisfaction?

Check Social Media

Once you are ready to make a selection, go and check social media sites for reviews. You may find contractor reviews on Yelp and Houzz.

As you read reviews, notice if projects are completed on time, and on budget, and how any bumps are smoothed out. This provides insight into the contractor’s business practices.

If the company is like Inspired Remodels, you’ll find loads of happy customers and pictures of stunning bathrooms, kitchens, patios, fireplaces, and whole-house remodeling.

Are you still looking for ideas and not ready to hire a contractor? Find out how working with a design/build home improvement contractor simplifies the process.

 

 

 

Orange County Flooring Contractor Talks Top Trends in 2022

By / Bathroom Remodel, Kitchen Remodel / Comments Off on Orange County Flooring Contractor Talks Top Trends in 2022

With interest rates set to rise and the housing market tight, more and more homeowners opt to renovate and refresh instead of upgrading via a move to a new home. If you are thinking of an interior remodel, Inspired Remodels, a favorite Orange County flooring contractor wants you to know the top flooring trends in 2022.

Orange County flooring contractor replaced old floors with Moroccan-inspired tile pattern in black, grey, and white along with a grey cabinet and brushed nickel faucetMoroccan-Inspired Tile

Orange County homes traditionally have a Mediterranean vibe. But, lately, Moroccan-inspired touches grace walls, floors, backsplashes, and textiles. It makes sense if you think about it. Only the Straits of Gibraltar separate the mountainous country of Morocco from Spain.

Ethnic touches add vibrancy to any space. Above this Santa Margarita bathroom gets an update with Moroccan-inspired tile that goes perfectly with the Shaker cabinet fronts.  Moroccan decor features intricate and busy patterns that can easily overwhelm small spaces, but the clean aesthetic of the Shaker cabinets provides the perfect counterbalance.

In the bathroom above, the rug adds a texture and design that is so distinctively Moroccan. You don’t need new flooring to get that African feel, just add a rug.

And finally, it may be Arizona Tile, but the motif is pure Moroccan on this floor. Ever elegant gold-tone cabinet hardware and polished chrome fixtures at the sink show this homeowner isn’t afraid to flaunt their eclectic tastes.  And it works so good!

 
Orange County flooring contractor after picture showing off cerused stain wood flooring in living area

Little Change in Wood Floor Trends

According to a survey of members of the National Wood Flooring Association, color trends will remain fairly stable in 2022.

Demand for wood floors with grey or cerused stains will remain about the same while demand for natural wood is expected to rise 25%.

general contractors add wood flooring to kitchen

Cerused stains make the grain of the wood more prominent and are popular in Orange County. If your Orange County flooring contractor can’t find cerused wood, you are working with the wrong flooring contractors.

certamic tile that looks like wood outside a shower

Wood Look Tile

Whether the stain is cerused or consistent, natural wood flooring retains its appeal. That extends to wet areas as well.

Wood-look tile is here to stay. As long as people want a spa-like experience in their bathroom, Orange County flooring contractors will rely on tile that emulates wood while offering resistance to water.

Inspired Remodels the Inspired Orange County Flooring Contractors

 

When it comes to remodeling any room in the house or the whole house, trust the inspired experts at Inspired Remodels to bring your dreams to life.

Whether it’s a new floor in the bathroom or a complete bathroom remodel, Inspired Remodels is the only flooring contractor you need. You’ll enjoy complete design and build services from one company, a dedicated point-of-contact, and attention to detail.

Contact us online, make a call, or stop by the showroom and imagine new floors for 2022.

 

5 Enduring Custom Kitchen Remodeling Trends for 2022

By / custom cabinets, Kitchen Remodel / Comments Off on 5 Enduring Custom Kitchen Remodeling Trends for 2022

Custom kitchen remodeling trends come crashing in like waves pounding the Pacific shoreline. Many ebb quickly and return to the sea of flash in the pan trends but others endure. Get the most of your remodeling budget and skip those ebbing trends. Incorporate these five enduring kitchen remodel trends for a dream kitchen in 2022 that will still be stylish in 2032.

Full Backsplashes

Remember when backsplashes were just a few rows high? Literally just enough to stop the splashing water or food? Not only are those days gone, but they also aren’t coming back any time soon.

Modern kitchens use the backsplash as a full design element. That’s why in 2022 and beyond, you’ll find no matter the material you pick, in custom kitchens the backsplash is full.

Backsplashes cover from countertop to the ceiling in this recent Mission Viejo custom kitchen remodeling project completed by Inspired Remodels.

The chevron tile design will also endure. Chevron patterns date back to ancient Greek pottery and textiles but the word didn’t appear in the English language until the 14th century. If a pattern has endured seven centuries, there’s a good chance it will endure in your kitchen another 30 years.

 

Minimalist Design

Less continues to be more in the kitchen. Fussy decor is as out-of-date as avocado green cabinets or appliances. Today’s focus is on functionality and easy-to-clean surfaces. Neutral tones set the stage

Modern kitchens work hard, and they get dirty. Minimalist design creates kitchens that work hard and look stunning in the process.

Recessed lighting continues to play a starring role in lighting. Lighting installed under the upper cabinets adds task lighting with invisible fixtures. It’s the quintessential touch of minimal design and it is here to stay.

Even kitchen islands are minimalist. They will continue to serve dual purposes by providing prep and work areas as well as functioning as a dining space.

Appliances are carefully tucked away until needed. No more toaster on the counter, but instead ample cabinet space to store toasters and air fryers. Only the coffee pot or Keurig stays in sight.

Shaker Cabinets

Since the shaking Quakers arrived in the American colonies in 1774, they’ve set the design standard for simple, practical, and beautiful furniture and cabinets.

The religious sect may have only lasted about 150 years, but the simple recessed panel door that they designed endures in kitchens to this day.

quarts countertops are hot kitchen renovation renovation trend in 2019

Shaker cabinets aren’t going anywhere. And with so many semi-custom cabinet makers like Decora and Waypoint offering Shaker panel doors, there’s a reason Shaker panel cabinets show up in Orange County kitchen remodels on a regular basis.

Whether you prefer the modern, minimalist design or like living elements like flowers and fruit on display, Shaker cabinets will always be the perfect match.

 

custom kitchen remodel features blue cabinets

Color Blocking

Just because kitchens are less fussy, doesn’t mean they are less interesting. Creating blocks of colors with islands and cabinetry is no longer just a passing fad. It’s an enduring trend that creates a timeless kitchen. In Orange County, custom kitchen remodeling projects have featured contrasting colors in the color blocking. In other areas of the country, color blocks are tone-on-tone.

contrasting cabinets in kitchen

No matter what approach you take, color blocking with tile or cabinet colors adds interest and is an enduring trend in kitchen remodeling. Use tile to create a color block on a wall or use the kitchen island to create a color block in the middle of the room.

finished custom kitchen remodeling project highlighting drawers next to the oven instead of cabinets with traditional doors

Drawers Over Doors

A successful kitchen remodeling project makes the most of every inch of the room a kitchen has to give. Then it goes out and looks for more.

A trend that is certainly going to stay in 2022 is a preference for drawers over doors for cabinet storage. It just makes better use of the available space.

Deeper drawers for storing pots and pans make access easy and retrieving and storing cookware a breeze. Drawers hold kitchen and table linens, utensils, cutlery, and flatware.

pull out drawer next to an oven installed in a custom kitchen remodeling project in Californiag

This drawer provides storage space for pantry supplies and spices. And of course, because it is a drawer with a Shaker front, it gets two points for enduring.

Orange County Custom Kitchen Remodeling Pros