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Inspired Remodels

Kitchen Remodel

General Contractors Guide to Tile

By / Bathroom Remodel, Kitchen Remodel / Comments Off on General Contractors Guide to Tile

It doesn’t matter if you are thinking of updating one room or the whole house. Chances are you are thinking about tile. With so many types of tile on the market, picking the right tile is tough. Inspired Remodels takes the headache out of picking the right tile. Take our advice as general contractors, decide on the tile material first and then the design of the tile. It makes the job of selecting tile much easier. Here’s a general contractors guide to the different types of tile.

general contractors use ceramic tile in bathroom for durabilityCeramic Tile

Ceramic tile has been popular for hundreds of years. It is a clay-based product. You’ll find ceramic tiles in the bathroom and kitchen. They are on walls, floors, backsplashes and showers.

Ceramic tile is an easy care material. Like other hard surface materials, you can wipe up spills easily, vacuum and wet mop tile. Glazed tile doesn’t normally stain and it doesn’t absorb water. However,  like with all tiles, you’ll want to seal the grout to protect staining, but ceramic tile itself does not need sealing. Because it is impervious to water, it’s perfect for bathrooms.

Ceramic tiles are made in squares, hexagons, circles and more. It is a relatively inexpensive tile. It is also not the hardest clay tile. So, it’s not the best choice for high traffic areas.

Porcelain Tile

There is a difference between ceramic and porcelain tile.  Yes, both are clay-based products. But, there is a difference in the clay based used to make the tile. With porcelain, the clay is highly refined and much more purified than the clay used to make ceramic tile. In addition, porcelain tile is fired at a higher temperature. The result is a tile that is more durable and stronger than ceramic tile.

Don’t use the terms ceramic tile and porcelain tile interchangeably. They aren’t the same. Porcelain is more expensive than ceramic because it is more durable. Like ceramic tiles, it is glazed and will not absorb water. It’s equally at home in the bathroom as in the kitchen, hallways, mudrooms or other frequently trafficked areas.

If you pick ceramic or porcelain tile, when choosing the actual tile color or design, make sure it is a through-tile. This means the color is not only applied to the top of the tile but permeates through. This is a very important feature. Surface colored tile shows every chip and ding.

Satillo or Terracotta Tile

When you think satillo or terracotta tile, you usually think of patios and entryways. But it can be used indoors as well. This clay-based tile is not glazed and needs to be resealed every few years whether installed inside or outside.

It’s a warm looking and feeling tile. Satillo tile doesn’t get as cold underfoot at ceramic or porcelain. But, because it absorbs water, you don’t want to use it in the shower. But it’s perfect for sunrooms and transitional spaces.

Stone Tile

Limestone, marble and slate are all popular tiles for use throughout the house. Each type of stone has its challenges when it comes to installation. Installing stone tiles isn’t a DIY undertaking. This is one place where the work is best left in the hands of general contractors.

That being said, stone tiles are popular on bathroom floors, in showers, on walls and backsplashes. Depending on the stone you pick, it may need sealing periodically. Granite floors can be slippery and limestone is easily damaged by the wrong pH cleaner.

Talk to your general contractor about how you will use a space and who will use a space to determine if the stone you have in mind is a good match for your application.

Stone tiles can look warm (think limestone or slate) or cool (think granite or marble). When it comes to cost, stone will be more expensive than ceramic or porcelain. But with the proper care, it will last much longer.

Glass and Metal

These two materials get an honorable mention for their decorative applications. They are not suitable for floors, but make lovely accent tiles on walls, fireplaces, and backsplashes. Glass and metal may be mixed with other materials in a mosaic design. Both materials are easily scratched, so take care when cleaning.

General Contractors Make the Difference

When it comes to new tiles for the floors or walls, the general contractor you pick does make a difference. General contractors that have your best interest in mind will let you know if a material you pick isn’t the best material for the application.  Respect their expertise and listen closely to their recommendations. When it comes to making dreams a reality, turn to Inspired Remodels. They will guide you through the design process and make sure the remodel is not only beautiful but functional.

Call (949) 716-1938 or Contact Us online today to talk about your next remodel or renovation. And if you decide to move instead of remodel, we can help with that too. Inspired Realty is our complete real estate brokerage firm.

Dreaming of Custom Kitchen Remodeling?

By / Kitchen Remodel / Comments Off on Dreaming of Custom Kitchen Remodeling?

Are you dreaming of a new kitchen? Stop dreaming and start acting. Call  Inspired Remodels and unleash their custom kitchen remodeling magic. No matter your dreams, Inspired Remodels can create the custom kitchen you crave. Want fresh new cabinets? Done! Need more space for meal prep, entertaining or storage? Not a problem. Better than a fairy godmother with a magic wand, their custom kitchen remodeling services are for real.

custom kitchen remodeling updates look of this room

Custom Kitchen Remodeling Like Magic

Your new kitchen comes to life almost like magic. That’s because Inspired Remodels has a superpower you won’t find with most kitchen remodeling companies. They are a complete design/build firm. When you hire Inspired Remodels, you get not just craftsman, but designers too. Jason and Joe Mueller carefully listen to your kitchen dreams, take into account your style, and then design and build a kitchen that looks incredible and functions like a dream.  It’s all you need for a custom kitchen remodeling:

Your dream kitchen is built for comfort, style, and utility.

custom kitchen remodeling added under cabinet task lighting

More than Just another “Pretty” Kitchen

Your custom kitchen is a reflection of you as a cook. It should reflect how you cook, serve, and entertain. Sure, you want a pretty kitchen with attractive countertops and cabinets, but you deserve more. Make sure your dream kitchen:

  • includes usable kitchen space
  • adds to the property value
  • improves lighting
  • provides solutions to storage problems.

The result of your custom kitchen remodeling project should be a space that looks good, works well with your lifestyle, and is easy to maintain.

Inspired Remodels can guide you to durable flooring selections that stand up to the rigors of a busy kitchen. You’ll get a kitchen that makes the most of your square footage and creates a work space that is efficient. Don’t dream of storage for those items you frequently use, get it with Inspired Remodels. And get it with stunning finishes and fixtures that reflect your personal style.  Check out our portfolio of custom kitchen remodels for inspiration.

Make Your Dreams Come True

Have a new design in mind? Let Inspired Remodels bring it to life.  As a full service general contracting firm, you’ll have access to the area’s most skilled craftsmen to create your custom kitchen. From plumbers and carpenters to electricians drywall professionals only real craftsmen will  work on your kitchen.  Remodeling can be a communication nightmare. But, with Inspired Remodels you’ll have a project manager that’s your point of contact from start to finish.  Custom kitchen remodeling can be stressful and we work hard to minimize the disruption.

So, why are you waiting? Stop dreaming and start planning your custom kitchen remodeling project with Orange County’s best remodeling crew. It’s just a phone call away. Call Inspired Remodels at (949) 716-1938 for a consultation today.

 

quotes from home improvement contractors

Kitchen and Bath Contractors Connect Spaces With Style

By / Bathroom Remodel, Kitchen Remodel / Comments Off on Kitchen and Bath Contractors Connect Spaces With Style

One of the most difficult tasks in a home remodel is making the space flow from one room to another. Just because you want the bathroom to be painted one color doesn’t mean you want the entire home in the same shade. Savvy kitchen and bath contractors know how to unite spaces. Using complementary shades and themes, you can tie retro and modern together and end up with a perfectly traditional look. Here’s how Inspired Remodels handled it.

Traditional Kitchen with Whimsy

Start with the trendy but eternal look of Shaker cabinets. The clean lines of Shaker cabinetry are a classic. Originally designed by Shaker craftsman to be simple, durable, and most of all functional. They speak to a post-modern sensibility where less is more. Of course their simple and unassuming lines lend themselves to a wide variety of installations. In this installation, the brushed nickel hardware adds a futuristic look. 

Next, addkitchen and bath contractors use complimentary colors to create unity without uniformity stainless appliances. Like Shaker cabinets, the taste for stainless hasn’t been satiated in the kitchen yet. They give an industrial, modern look that is in perfect contrast to the timelessness of the cabinetry.  Gray-veined countertops pull it all together.

Lastly, inject a bit of whimsy into the design with the spectacular backsplash. The cooktop, dual ovens and industrial hood may scream business, but the tile on the backsplash is all about having fun and being creative in the kitchen. The result is a modern but traditional look that can be easily carried to other rooms

 

kitchen and bath contractors use complimentary colors to create unity without uniformityCarry it to the Guest Bath

The problem with a guest bath this nice is your guests may never leave. Friends and family will find reasons to crash at your place for the night just so they can enjoy this space.

Connecting this room with the style of the kitchen isn’t a challenge when you’ve got kitchen and bath contractors with design skills.  Start with the flooring. The color ties with the theme established by the kitchen.

Next, the cabinetry emulates the simplistic design of the Shaker door panel, but adds a rustic touch. This is easily achieved by using different hardware and a different finish on the cabinet.  They look the same, but completely different at the same time. Neat trick, huh?

Next, the stone on the wall matches the rustic tone set by the cabinetry, but the clean and simple lines of the floating mirror match the industrial vibe of the appliances in the kitchen. A framed mirror would not give the same look.

The need for whimsy is amply supplied by the wall lighting next to the mirror. While the glass of the mirror is all business, the glass facets on the wall lights can’t be anything else but fun. Where did you see that before? That’s right, the use of one whimsical element in the kitchen and one whimsical element in this bath are the clear signs these  kitchen and bath contractors know their trade.

Mastering the Master Bath

The final challenge is pulling it all together in the master bath.  It all starts with the barn doors.  Like Shaker cabinets, barn doors have been around for ages. It’s only lately that they’ve left the confines of the barn and wandered into the house. In the right place, they look spectacular. This bathroom is the right place.

The simple lines of the door and the hardware are aligned closely with those used in the guest bath.  The tile coordinates with the tile in the kitchen and other bath.  By keeping the same color palette on the floor, there are more opportunities for individualizing the room while still keeping it stylistically connected to the rest of the house.

The soaking tub continues with the lines found in the kitchen. Clean and simple. That tub is luxury and all business. Of course with something that serious, you need a little whimsy. That’s provided by the plumbing fixtures.

Next, the color on the walls is reminiscent of the veins found on the countertop in the kitchen.  Lastly, the woodlook tile in the shower contrasts nicely with the real wood of the barn doors. 

Kitchen and Bath Contractors Pull It All Together

Whether you are doing a single room or the whole house, you need kitchen and bath contractors that can pull it all together to pull off a cohesive look. You need the design/build team at Inspired Remodels. Call or contact online to discuss your next project. Traditional, retro and whimsy. If you can dream it they can make it come to life.

Call (949) 716-1938 or Contact Us online today.