Month: March 2019

Remodeling a kitchen can be a daunting task. You spend a lot of time cooking, eating, and entertaining in your kitchen, meaning that an effective remodel can add quality to your life as well as value to your Rhode Island home.

 

There are many articles online, abounding with kitchen remodeling ideas for you to mull over. But we at Northeast Kitchen & Flooring Center would like to familiarize you with the five key questions we believe every Rhode Island homeowner needs to ask themselves before starting their project.

 

1. Am I ready for the necessary time commitment?

 

Realtor.com estimates that your kitchen remodeling ideas can result in the area being “out of commission” for between 6-12 weeks. During this period you’ll want to make sure that getting the kitchen remodeled causes as little disruption as possible to your daily life, but be ready to eat out quite a bit and make a few sandwiches.

 

2. How much do I budget?

 

The answer to this question is a higher personal one, dependent on the extent and complexity of your kitchen remodeling ideas, and your financial situation.

 

According to HGTV, many homeowners spend more on a remodeling project than their home value can support. Most estimations determine that you can usually spend safely between 6-10 percent of your Rhode Island home’s total value and still get fair returns on your investment if/when you sell.

 

If you plan to sell your home within the next five years then it would be nice to make a decent return on your investment. Otherwise, your remodeling budget should reflect not only what you are able to afford, but also what will make you and your family happy as you enjoy your new kitchen for years to come.

 

3. Are my kitchen remodeling ideas functional?

 

Make sure that the design of your kitchen is something you can live with. It’s fun to look at ideas on Pinterest, but make sure that beautiful design also works for you, not against you.

 

Open shelving looks great but if the thought of always keeping it organized and dust-free makes you cringe, you might want to choose something else. It’s also important to work with the designer and contractor to make sure the flooring and cabinetry are aesthetically pleasing but also able to stand up to the demands of a busy household.

 

4. What kind of cabinets do I want?

 

Cabinets, along with their countertops, set the tone for the entire space.

 

You can choose stock options, but sometimes your needs may dictate a more personalized approach. Custom and semi-custom cabinetry could make a difference in how well the kitchen serves your needs.

 

Northeast Kitchens and Flooring works with only a few great manufacturers that produce a high-quality product. They can help you choose the style, color, and custom option that fit your personal tastes and budget.

 

5. How do I choose a contractor?

 

Consumer Reports lists a few do’s and don’ts when choosing a contractor: Don’t just trust the online user reviews, but do try to get word-of-mouth referrals. Don’t always take the lowball estimate, but do shop around to gauge the going rates in your area.

 

Ready to Put Those Kitchen Remodeling Ideas to Task?

 

There is a lot to consider before starting your kitchen remodeling project, and you need to make sure you find someone you can trust. From layout to design and installation, the team at Northeast Kitchen and Flooring Center located at 2949 Hartford Avenue, Johnson, RI 02919, is available to answer all of your questions and make sure you get the kitchen of your dreams.

 

We understand how stressful and inconvenient remodeling your kitchen can be, so we strive to be the most efficient in the industry. Call us at 401-934-1076 for a free in-home consultation or stop by our showroom today.

Realtor.com recently revealed the results of a survey that identifies the features that help homeowners sell their homes fastest and at the best prices. Identifying improvements that generate the most significant return on investment is more critical now than it has ever been. In 2017, homeowners spent more improving their homes than in any year since 2006, according to Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies. Not surprisingly, the top two rooms that captured the most interest and dollars are kitchens and baths, according to Houzz.com.

Realtor.com surveyed more than a million single-family home listings in February to identify the top features that help owners to sell their home fastest. The top features are as follows:

1. Chef’s kitchen
2. Theater room
3. Home gym
4. Three-car garage
5. Solar panels
6. Quartz countertops
7. Exterior lighting
8. Tennis court
9. Home office
10. In-ground pool
11. Security system
12. Fireplace
13. Smart-home features
14. Walk-in closet

The open floor plan concept has reinvented the kitchen, making it the epicenter of the home. Today’s kitchens are more personalized, visible, luxurious and important to buyers. Realtor.com reports that homes with chef’s kitchens – even for families that don’t often cook – sell for more than double the national median sale price of homes without a chef’s kitchen. Chef’s kitchens commonly include a large open layout that allows for in-kitchen entertaining and typically feature a large island, high-performing gas range, high-end appliances, refrigerator with freezer, multiple sinks and dual ovens.

Quartz countertops ranked sixth on the most valuable improvement to sell your home. There are lots of reasons quartz countertops are held in such high esteem. According to another recent Houzz.com survey, quartz has become the most popular countertop material used in kitchen renovations, surpassing natural stone such as granite. Click here to obtain a guide to selecting countertops. Quartz has become the go-to material for many of our clients in Rhode Island because it is easy to maintain and clean. There also are almost an unlimited number of colors, patterns and finishes available to meet any design or décor requirement.

If you would like to know more about the benefits financial and other of renovating your new kitchen, please give us a call at (401) 257-6610 or visit our showroom at 2949 Hartford Avenue Johnston Rhode Island.

If the kitchen is the epicenter of the home, then countertops are the epicenter of the kitchen. It’s where almost every kitchen activity begins and ends. Because countertops are one of the first things you see when you enter a kitchen, they naturally serve as a focal point. And the good news is that choice of color, shape and material is virtually unlimited, enabling you and your designer not only to make countertops the functional workhorse of your new kitchen but the ultimate expression of your design and personality.

In Rhode Island, we are finding that our clients want to invest in high-quality, high-performing, statement-making countertops. Not only because a high-quality countertop makes it easier to prepare meals, but they are also used to cook, eat, entertain, do homework, charge electronics, read, relax and spend quality family time together.

Material Trends

Quartz has become the fastest growing surfacing material that we specify for our clients, and our experience matches nationwide trends. According to a recent survey of more than 220 kitchen and bath designers and showrooms, more than 86 percent of survey respondents believe quartz’ popularity will continue to increase. Tile is at the opposite end of the spectrum. The survey found less than 2 percent of kitchen designers expect tile use to grow in the kitchen (the bathroom is an entirely different story, however). Designers also report there is less interest in laminate, solid surface material, metal and glass.

Granite, marble, soapstone and concrete remain popular countertop materials. Natural stone, once the market leader, is no longer king of the hill. More than 33 percent of designers report that their customers are shying away from natural stone in favor of other materials (mostly quartz).

Color Trends

White remains the dominant color pallet in kitchens and in kitchen countertops. More than 92 percent of survey respondents reported that their customers are drawn toward white, off-white and cream countertops. Gray is the second most popular countertop color with 76.4 percent of those polled indicating that gray trends high with their clients. Other upward trending countertop colors include (in order of popularity): earth shades/taupe/brown, black, metallic, blue, green and red/terracotta.

Mixing and matching surface materials is another current popular trend. Nearly 60 percent of showrooms and designers report that they frequently mix two or more countertop materials in their client projects.

An investment in countertops that are beautiful, durable and easy to clean is invaluable. If you are interested in discussing countertop materials, colors and functionality for your new kitchen or bath, please call us at (401) 257-6610, visit our showroom at 2949 Hartford Avenue Johnston RI or obtain a copy of our guide to countertop selection.

Technology is pervasive in our lives, providing added convenience and time savings not to mention a healthy dose of wow! This year, at the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show, the largest showcase of new products for the home in the United States, manufacturers unveiled a bevy of new technology for the bath to bring more functionality and pleasure to homeowners.

At KBIS, we saw lighting features incorporated into tubs, mirrors, vanities, sinks and water closets to provide the right levels of light to better match natural biological processes commonly referred to as circadian rhythms. Controlling lighting levels helps prevent the jolt to your system that bright lights can create if you have to use the bathroom in the middle of the night or early morning before the sun comes up. Today’s lighting controls enable you to navigate in the bath by providing a gentle glow, or you can program lighting levels to match needs and lifestyles.

Lighting can be controlled and activated through applications, motion control sensors, voice commands or home assistants such as Amazon’s Alexa and Google Home. You can also use your home assistant to fill a bathtub, turn on a shower, adjust mirror lighting, start a steam shower, play music or activate other smart devices in your home. One manufacturer has embedded Alexa in a mirror so you can utilize all of Alexa’s functionality all while preparing for the day or a night on the town.

Customization is another benefit of technological advances in the bath. You can set the water temperature, steam temperature and lighting preferences for every member of your family in the shower. Advances in showerheads enable you to change spray patterns through remote controls thereby eliminating the need to change settings physically. This is a great benefit to those who have a difficult time reaching the showerhead.

If you thought you had to take a ride on a space ship to float in a gravity-free zone, think again. Toto featured new, more cost-effective models of its tub that create a zero gravity environment. Other high-tech tubs on display combine air technology with a waterfall that massages shoulders while you soak and feature chromatherapy to enable you to relax in the tub and wash away the stresses of the day.

KBIS featured water closets that are self-cleaning and deodorizing and an expansion of bidet seats and functionality. Alexa has also been integrated into one toilet model which enables you to check the weather, order a driver service and listen to music while on the John.

How can new technology improve the quality of life for you and your family and enable you to create the in-home spa of your dreams? We can help you to answer that question. Give us a call at (401) 257-6610 or visit our showroom at 2949 Hartford Avenue Johnston RI.

Don’t wish it away
Don’t look at it like it’s forever
Between you and me I could honestly say
That things can only get better

And while I’m away
Dust out the demons inside
And it won’t be long before you and me run
To the place in our hearts where we hide

And I guess that’s why they call it the blues
Time on my hands could be time spent with you
Laughing like children, living like lovers
Rolling like thunder under the covers
And I guess that’s why they call it the blues

Little did Sir Elton John ever consider his 1983 hit, I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues would have an entirely different meaning in 2019, especially when relating to the color blue and it’s impact on the value of your home. There are numerous factors that affect home prices, most notably, location, location, location, school district, access to public transportation, and date and extent remodeling projects, among others. However, a recent Zillow analysis found that a fresh coat of paint in the right color may help sell a home for more money. Zillow discovered that homes with rooms painted in shades of blue or light grey may sell for as much as $5,400 more than those painted white.

In its 2017 Paint Color Analysis, Zillow looked at more than 32,000 photos of recently sold homes to determine how certain colors affected average sale prices compared to similar homes with white walls.

One of the most important rooms where color affected price was the bathroom. Bathrooms painted or tiled with shades of powder blue or light periwinkle sold for $5,440 more than expected. Light blue had the highest premium of any color found in the home. Other colors that resulted in price premiums included cool, natural tones such as gray or oatmeal.

Blue bathrooms commanded the highest premiums. Homes with blue or soft gray-blue kitchens attracted more than $1,800 more than those painted white. Zillow’s chief economist Svenja Gudell explains, “Painting walls in fresh, natural-looking colors, particularly in shades of blue or pale gray, not only make a home feel larger, but also are neutral enough to help future buyers envision themselves living in the space. Incorporating light blue in kitchens and bathrooms may pay off especially well as the color complements white countertops and cabinets.”

Would you like us to show you how to use color to generate more greenbacks when you sell or enhance the value of your space while you live in your home? Please give us a call to discuss what’s possible at (401) 257-6610 or visit our showroom at 2949 Hartford Avenue Johnston RI.

Open shelving has become an increasingly popular design feature among homeowners looking to perform a kitchen remodel in Johnston, RI. It provides a combination of an aesthetic focal point and superb functionality. Open shelves offer a look with universal appeal and can really wow your visitors. However, there are also significant drawbacks of incorporating open shelves in your kitchen. Learn more about the biggest pros and cons of open kitchen shelving.

What are the advantages of open shelving in the kitchen?

Open shelves enable homeowners to showcase a dramatic backsplash, display dishes, pottery, sculptures, plants, herbs, and dishware and glassware, among numerous other options. Plus, they provide home chefs with the functionality to access their favorite cooking tools within arm’s reach.

However, these are only some of the advantages of incorporating open shelving in your kitchen. Take a look at what other great benefits you can expect if you choose to install open shelves in your home:

1. Items that a homeowner wants to showcase are uniform in size.
2. Homeowners want to easily access the cooking tools that they use most often without having to search in a cabinet or drawer. At a glance, homeowners know where everything is and know exactly what’s ready for use.

Seeing all of your pieces encourages you to use more of your china and serving dishes because they’re never out of sight nor out of mind.

1. Homeowners don’t want to display kitchen gadgets and tools and products that can be relegated to cabinets and drawers.
2. Budgets are tight. Shelving tends to be less expensive than cabinetry and less costly to install.
3. You want to showcase a backsplash, collectibles, artwork and dish and glassware.
4. Space is at a premium. Open shelves can make a kitchen appear larger and more open.

What are the drawbacks of open kitchen shelving?

On the other hand, open shelving is neither ideal nor perfect for all kitchen and all homeowner requirements. Open shelving carries with it some specific drawbacks that you may or may not be able to live with. Take a look at the most glaring disadvantages of open shelves and see whether or not it’s the best choice for you:

1. You don’t have the time or the inclination to keep the shelves organized.
2. You don’t have the time or the inclination to clean often. Open shelves tend to attract dust and grease and grime generated from cooking.
3. You are seeking custom design on a budget. For custom kitchens, the cost savings are negligible, especially if the client wants custom shelving.
4. Functionality is more important than aesthetics. A primary benefit of open shelves is to have the most used kitchen items at your fingertips. It takes time and effort to keep everything in its place to avoid a cluttered aesthetic.
5. There are too many items on the shelves that contribute to a cluttered, disorganized look.
6. When you need the storage space that cabinets provide. Upper cabinets conceal clutter and disorganized dishes that you may not have time to straighten up and foster things getting tucked away and off the countertops.

Who performs stylish and functional kitchen remodels in Johnston, RI?

Not sure if open shelving is the right choice for your home in Johnston? Unsure if incorporating open shelving will make your kitchen more practical and functional? It’s time to get more information about open shelving and the various possible combinations.

Luckily, you can always rely on Northeast Kitchen Remodel & Design Build for sound and useful advice. We’re here to help you decide if open shelving is the way to go for you, and then proceed with designing and installing it. Give us a call at (401) 257-6610 or visit our showroom at 2949 Hartford Avenue Johnston RI to determine how you can create the kitchen of your dreams. We’re waiting for you!