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Is the Era of Stainless Steel Over? See What this Kitchen Remodeler Has to Say

By Inspired Remodels / Kitchen Remodel / Comments Off

Stainless steel and granite have been the hallmarks of high-end kitchens every since home improvement shows came to TV. Turn on the tube and you would think that stainless steel has always been the most popular finish in the kitchen and will always be the most popular. But appliance finishes have trends, and one Orange County kitchen remodeler sees new trends on the horizon.

Custom panel appliances

Custom panel appliances wrap your appliances in the warmth of wood. Appliances disappear until called into action.

These custom cabinets by Decora show how the same maple cabinets can be finished in a variety of ways. They don’t show the appliances. Can you see the refrigerator in this picture?

Here it is! The Lunar Twilight and Cobblestone finishes combine to give the custom cabinetry a furniture look. The appliance panel completely camouflages the refrigerator. Decora isn’t the only brand offering appliance covers. Kitchen Craft makes appliance panels for dishwashers and refrigerators and Inspired Remodels installs them beautifully.

The upscale kitchen of today looks less like a repository of metal and more like the home of warm woods. With the move to open concept homes where kitchens flow into living areas, it only makes sense to craft kitchens with clean looks. Appliance panels do the job.

Warm color appliances

Miele, one of the world leaders in appliance innovation introduced the Truffle Brown appliance to blend into warm wood tones. The Truffle Brown brings Euro sensibility to California’s kitchens. The simple but sleek floating handle is still stainless steel, but the rest is a sleek, smudge-proof surface.

Miele Truffle Brown Oven

You may not think this truffle brown color is swoon-worthy when you see it on the white background of this blog. Instead of truffle,you may think cold coffee.

But when you take this warm, truffle brown color and pair it with rich wood you get an amazing look.

Ovens, warming drawer and built in coffee machine in Truffle Brown provide the clean lines called for in this open concept design.

Just imagine how that would look in stainless steel.

One kitchen remodeler for any look

Whether you dream of stainless and granite or a more trendy kitchen, Inspired Remodels is the kitchen remodeler that will turn those dreams into reality.

Inspired Remodels will sit down with you and assess the space available and talk to you about how you use your kitchen. Cooking and entertaining patterns will be considered. Inspired Remodels is more than just a kitchen remodeler; they are kitchen designers. They see what’s possible where others just see the impossible.

Call (949) 716-1938 to schedule a consultation with Inspired Remodels today.

a home remodel contractor bid should include plans

On-Line Kitchen Remodel Planner Makes Design Easier

By Inspired Remodels / Kitchen Remodel / Comments Off

This article was originally published on June 28, 2017, and is updated to reflect current product availability.

Thinking about a new kitchen remodel? Not sure where to start? Thanks to the internet, you’ve got plenty of on-line tools to help. An on-line kitchen remodel planner or planning helps you decide how to layout your kitchen. Here are just a few great tools.

Room Sketcher

Room Sketcher lets you try different floor plans, appliances, fixtures, finishes, and countertops. Know what will work in your space before you start talking to contractors. It’s easy to use. Just draw your walls, pick what you like, drag, and drop. This tool offers a great way to try out multiple designs, especially if you aren’t sure of your creative skills. Want a peninsula or an island? Draw them both and compare! Decide you don’t like it? Delete it! It’s fast and easy to use. Create 3D photos to share with contractors. Use the AI to create 360-degree views and high-resolution photos. The basic version provides all the basic functionality you need to get started. Go Pro and get a 30 free trial.

Kitchen Planner

KitchenPlanner.net offers an alternative to downloadable software. Just navigate to the site, click the button, and start planning your kitchen remodel. Select the layout, place your windows and doors, then start adding your design elements. Pick from base, wall, and custom cabinets. Add appliances, choose finishes, and create 3D renditions of your kitchen remodel design. This kitchen remodel planner makes planning easy for the technically challenged.

Lowe’s Kitchen Visualizer

Lowe’s offers a basic Kitchen Visualizer tool online. Start with one of their preset floor plans and add design elements. This kitchen remodel planner offers an easy-to-use option but limited flexibility. The only design elements available in the planner are items sold by Lowe’s. But the tool allows you to play with mixing and matching finishes, colors, and materials to help you decide what you find visually pleasing.

Professional Kitchen Remodel Planner

Nothing beats the experience of a professional. That’s why after you’ve played with an online kitchen remodel planner it is time to sit down with a professional kitchen designer. Inspired Remodels reviews your rough designs and floor plans and determines if they work in the space available. In addition, a professional kitchen remodel designer thinks of all the details you never considered. In a kitchen, lighting creates a safe working environment and is a crucial design element. A professional understands how to use lighting. A professional kitchen remodel designer knows how to create a kitchen that minimizes the steps between workstations but maximizes the beauty of the space.

Ready to get started? Contact Inspired Remodels to schedule your appointment.

A Kitchen Cabinet Contractor Dishes on Picking Kitchen Cabinets

By Inspired Remodels / custom cabinets, Home Improvement, Kitchen Remodel / Comments Off

Does the idea of a tax refund this Spring have you thinking of new kitchen cabinets? New kitchen cabinets breathe life into a tired kitchen. There are so many options. Where should you start? What makes a good cabinet? Here are some tips straight from the horse’s (well the kitchen cabinet contractor’s) mouth.

Loving It or Leaving It?

One of the first things to consider is how long you plan to continue living in the house. If you have no plans to live in the house (for example it is a rental) then you don’t want to purchase highly personalized cabinets customized for your cooking style. For a rental, you want cabinets that are durable and easy to maintain.

If you plan on selling your home within the next five years, you must keep in mind the comparable houses in the neighborhood. Don’t be shy about attending an open house or two to make sure you don’t pick cabinets that put your kitchen on the high-end or the low-end of comparable homes.

If you plan on living in your home for more than five years, then go ahead and pick the cabinets you will love for the next 10 to 15 years. Use a layout that works for your cooking style and meets your needs. Remember, you are creating a workspace.

Determine Your Layout

You can do it with your kitchen cabinet contractor or sketch it out before your first meeting. But, you do need to get a rough idea of the layout. Are you keeping your existing layout? Are the kitchen cabinets coming in as part of an entire kitchen remodel? You have more latitude with the layout if the new cabinets are part of a complete kitchen remodel. If that is the case start by marking the location of:

doors
windows
architectural elements
major appliances
sink

Next mark where electricity and water are located. Make sure you have the exact dimensions of each element before you start shopping cabinets. The sink, range, and refrigerator should make a triangle for the most efficient workspace. Now you know how much space you have for cabinetry.

Standard Cabinets

Standard kitchen cabinets fall into three categories: base, wall, and tall. Their dimensions are as follows:

Base Base cabinets sit on a 4″ riser called a toe kick. They are 24″ deep and 36″ tall. Some cabinets are available in 27″ depth.

Wall Wall cabinets are hung on the wall. They are usually 12″ deep, but some can be as deep as 17″. These are used for storage of glasses, dishes, and other items.

Tall These cabinets are used as pantry space or broom closets. Most tall cabinets are 83 1/2″ tall.

Specialty Cabinets

Specialty cabinets enter the realm of semi-custom. There are corner cabinets designed to make use of the “dead” space in corners. Bottle racks and appliance garages provide specialized storage. Cabinets made to install in front of cooktops also maximize space. Specialty cabinets can be constructed as hutches to store dishes or other items. Baking sheets and racks can be stored in specially made narrow cabinets.

Cabinet Grades

Cabinets come in a variety of grades and prices. As the quality of the cabinet increases so does the price. These days you may find the quality and features you need with semi-custom cabinets instead of custom cabinets.

Ready to Assemble. These are mass-produced do-it-yourself kits. They are the least expensive and the least durable. Options are limited and you need the skills and tools to assemble and install properly.

Stock. These cabinets arrive presized. They are economical and are available in a wider variety than ready-to-assemble cabinets. Because they come in fixed sizes, they cannot be altered so they won’t work in all spaces. Stock cabinets are available in a range of materials from particle board to solid wood. They are a budget-friendly choice for rentals or short-term solutions.

Semi-Custom. Once you move into semi-custom cabinetry you find many more options. They are special order cabinets and give you much more variety than stock cabinets. Generally priced in the mid-range, they offer a personalized look without the cost of custom cabinets. Yes, semi-custom cabinets can be altered! The styles, finishes, and storage options are extensive enough to outfit almost any kitchen. Inspired Remodels recommends Decora, Kitchen Craft, and Waypoint for the widest range of options.

Custom. The most expensive option but the most versatile in terms of finishes, sizes, and configurations. These are one-of-a-kind cabinets that are tailored to your kitchen, your style, and your cooking habits.

The Kitchen Cabinet Contractor to Use

When you are ready for new kitchen cabinets, use a kitchen cabinet contractor who can offer you a range of options. Inspired Remodels can translate your style whether it is contemporary or traditional into kitchen cabinets. If you don’t know where to start; our design-build model will help you step-by-step through the process. One of our designers will work with you to come up with a plan that fits your needs, your style, and your budget. You’ll see a CADD 3D rendering of the layout and then our crew will make it happen.

Call (949) 716-1938 today to schedule your free consultation.