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After kitchen remodeler adds open shelves storing white cups and plates

8 Custom Kitchen Remodeling Ideas

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

In Orange County, custom kitchen remodeling focuses on creating functional spaces that integrate technology and look as great as the work. Homeowners want kitchens that incorporate light, airy designs, that play off our beautiful natural surroundings. With a focus on indoor-outdoor living, in 2024, custom kitchen remodeling ideas brought to life by Inspired Remodels incorporate blues and greens and favor natural wood finishes. Here are a few custom kitchen remodel trends to inspire you as you dream of your new kitchen.

Open Concept Layout

When it comes to Orange County living, the kitchen remains the heart of the home. Naturally, open kitchen designs continue to be popular. It’s not uncommon for Inspired Remodels to remove walls and rework spaces to create a multifunctional area for cooking, eating, and entertaining.

Open concepts make the most of abundant natural light and make spaces appear larger than they are in reality.

Incorporate High-Tech

From lighting to smart appliances controlled by apps, technology makes its way from Silicon Valley to Saddleback Valley. Induction cooktops keep kitchens cooler and ovens that double as air fryers cook food using healthier methods.

Voice-controlled automation sets a timer and smart lighting options adjust illumination with the tap of a button or your smartphone. If you create a modern kitchen, don’t forget to take advantage of all that modern technology offers.

Functional Sinks and Islands

Sinks provide more than a space to wash your hands or pots and pans. Large workstation sinks and farmhouse sinks offer not only incredible utility but style as well.

Islands now incorporate spaces to prep food, clean up, or eat. Adding water or electricity to a kitchen island increases the possibilities when it comes to design. When used for entertainment, the island also doubles as space for a buffet. Don’t forget to make use of island space for storage as well.

Beverage Stations

Coffee lovers and wine aficionados both incorporate beverage centers to make beverage preparations easier and stylish as well. These stations include appliances like coffee or espresso makers or wine coolers. Once a fringe addition to a high-end custom kitchen, now beverage stations appear in many custom kitchen renovations.

Sustainable and Natural Materials

Natural wood cabinets and natural stone countertops such as quartz continue to be popular in Orange County custom kitchen remodeling projects. Wood floors and even wood-look tile grace custom kitchen floors. This is just one way that kitchen remodeling designs bring the natural beauty of the outdoors into Orange County kitchens.

Drawers Replace Doors

Spacious pull-out drawers replace lower cabinets for storage. Drawers provide more usable space as they make the entire space more accessible and easier to organize. Deep drawers offer an alternative to pull-out hardware in lower cabinets. They represent the next stage in the evolution of kitchen design. Custom and semi-custom cabinetry provides drawers deep enough for pots, pans, and just about anything else you need to store.

Designer Backsplashes

No longer relegated to keeping the area between upper cabinets and countertops clean, backsplashes offer a place to incorporate design elements. From decorative tile to glass mosaics, the backsplash is making a splash in Orange County kitchens.

Nature-Inspired Colors

Warm neutrals and nature-inspired colors like green and blue bring a cozy yet modern feel to Orange County kitchen designs. These colors show up in cabinets, paint, and backsplashes.

Custom Kitchen Remodeling Pros

When you are ready to turn your custom kitchen modeling dreams into reality, turn to Inspired Remodels. Work with a design-build team that offers a single point of contact through the entire process.

Breaking Down Custom Kitchen Remodeling Projects

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

What’s involved in a custom kitchen remodeling project? What elements are involved and how much can you expect to pay for a complete remodel? Of course, Inspired Remodels, like every other custom kitchen remodeler, tells everyone that costs vary based on your situation. But based on Forbes research, here’s what you can expect.

Cabinets

When it comes to budget, new cabinets consume a big chunk. Figure that your cabinets will take about 29% of the budget according to Forbes.

It might be tempting to shave a few dollars here, but cabinetry endures. Good cabinets may be refinished or painted over the years. So, when you figure cabinets last 20 years or more, it makes sense their cost is higher.

Labor

Those cabinets, floors, backsplashes, lighting, and appliances won’t install themselves. Expect to pay for installation labor in addition to the materials. That only makes sense.

When a licensed general contractor completes your custom kitchen remodeling project, those labor costs include the cost of the actual work plus the overhead associated with labor. This includes worker’s compensation insurance, Social Security, Medicare, etc. Don’t gripe – that’s all for your benefit.

Let an unlicensed contractor without worker’s compensation on your property and if something goes wrong, you are responsible for medical bills associated with any on-the-job injuries.

Forbes research shows labor is about 17% of the total cost.

Appliances

New appliances can run from several thousand to tens of thousands, depending on your taste. A cheap oven (who wants that?) can be as low as $400 but a Wolf all gas range can cost $4300 or more. Same applies to your refrigerator and dishwasher. A basic dishwasher clocks in at $300 but a Miele will cost $1,300 or more.

Appliances last, and the more you pay generally the higher quality you expect. Appliances don’t last as long as cabinets, so they consume less of the budget. Forbes research finds that all new appliances are about 14% of the budget.

Countertops

The remaining double-digit percentage of the budget comes from your countertop selection. Figure about 10% of the budget will be spent on the countertops.

On the low end, ceramic tile countertops can cost as little as $10 to $30 per square foot. On the other end of the spectrum, marble runs $60 to $200 per square foot. In between is your butcher block, composite, granite, and quartz.

All the Rest

The remainder of the budget will go to flooring, backsplashes, lighting, sheetrock, hardware, and faucets. If your custom kitchen remodel includes new windows and doors, expect to pay more than the average cost.

So, what do you recoup in value? The national average return on investment for a custom kitchen remodel is 52% to 71%. The greater the overhaul, the lower the ROI. That’s because the more you spend, the less you get back. In other words, a complete redo that changes the floor plan and moves doors and windows generates a lower ROI than an update that replaces cabinets, appliances, and countertops.

Custom Kitchen Remodeling Pros

Ready to talk turkey about a kitchen remodel? Make an appointment with the pros at Inspired Remodels. Orange County brings their remodeling inspiration to Jason and Joe Mueller and then watches as this brotherly duo brings them to life.

Schedule a consultation today.

4 Custom Kitchen Remodeling Ideas for 2024

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

Trends come and go. Inspired Remodels keeps an eagle eye on kitchen remodeling trends so every kitchen they design and build is perfect for its time. Here are four custom kitchen remodeling ideas you need to incorporate for an updated 2024 kitchen.

Statement Range Hoods

The rarely noticed range hood works hard to vent odors and grease from the cooking area. It’s a dirty job, but as Mike Rowe says, “somebody’s got to do it.” In the past, range hoods suffered neglect from designers. Those days are gone!

In 2024, these hoods will leave their shrinking violet heritage behind and make a bold statement.

Incorporate a statement range hood in your custom kitchen remodel and you’ll find it is a game changer.

Warmer Tones

Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2024, Peach Fuzz, sets the stage for warmer tones throughout the house. So, it’s no wonder that custom kitchen remodels incorporate warmer and moodier colors.

custom kitchen kitchen remodeling after photo stainless steel stove and hood with green, black & white backsplash

Warm green hues add a cozy vibe to a white & gray kitchen

Stark white-on-white kitchens aren’t the cream of the crop in 2024. While many stunning white kitchens come into being in 2024, the real winners will be those that opt for warm tones.

Think terracotta accents if you can’t wrap your head around peach.

Kitchen remodeling after creating open concept kitchen and built in eating area

Earthy tones bring coziness to large spaces

Opt for comforting tones for a cost and trendy kitchen. Luckily, these warm tones play well with mosaic tiles and a variety of cabinet and countertop colors.

Statement Backsplashes

Backsplashes traditionally put function over form. They prevent water, food, and grease from staining and sticking to kitchen walls.

Yeah, but one super-hot custom kitchen remodeling trend for 2024 lets the backsplash become fashion-forward.

Inspired Remodels led the way in 2023, incorporating statement backsplashes into their kitchen remodeling projects.

Now the backsplash provides an important design element in the kitchen remodel. Watch out bathrooms – you may be next.

Colors, textures, and designs all play a part in creating a beautiful statement backsplash. This trend also supports the final trend for 2024 – death of perfectly matched design elements.

Eclectic Elements

If you feel a need for every element of your kitchen to be a perfect match, 2024 might be a bad year for you.

One of the hottest upcoming kitchen remodeling ideas for Orange County kitchens is a mix-and-match approach to everything from lighting to hardware.

Mixed metals add an eclectic touch

Even upper and lower cabinets stray from an everything must match aesthetic.

Mix up cabinet hardware. Install pulls here and knobs there. Heck, toss a few handles in for good measure.

Why must all walls be the same color?

Nothing customizes a kitchen like adding your own eclectic elements and when you do so in 2024, you’ll be riding a rising wave.