Design Archives - Page 13 of 30 - MK Remodeling Blog

Cabinets can make or break your kitchen remodel

By Stewart Smith on March 13, 2018 / Accessible design, Aging in place, Awards, Bathroom, Blog, Cabinets, Customer Service, Design, Finding A Remodeler, Flooring, Hiring A Remodeler, Kitchen, Licensed Contractors, Planning, Remodel, Shop, Storage, Universal design / Leave a comment

We will never pass up an opportunity to talk about our love for cabinets. Whether they are made in a factory or custom, cabinets can make or break your kitchen remodel.

In addition to adding storage and convenience, cabinets add style and serious wow factor to any kitchen, as this article from the Houston Chronicle points out. If you are in need of inspiration, our friends at Top Reveal have assembled a comprehensive list of kitchen cabinet and shelf ideas to help create a one-of-a-kind look for your space.

The article does a great job of explaining some of the differences between factory-made cabinets and custom cabinets. One big myth that the article dispels right off the bat is that factory-made is not as good as custom. That’s not the case. Both types of cabinets offer high quality and can totally deliver on what you want, it just depends on your needs.

Factory-made cabinets are trimmed by hand using first-class equipment and boast an impeccable finish that’s applied in a controlled environment, the article says. While custom cabinets offer a precise fit, their finish cannot match that of a factory finish, since it’s in a less controlled environment, the article says.

A remodeler well-versed in both types of cabinets can come up with options tailored to your needs. And lucky for you, we know just the people.

Beautiful disaster

I love a good transformation story, and this Curbed article has it all. It chronicles the journey of a 1910 Craftsman cottage from dilapidated and stinky to stylish and prosperous.

While there aren’t any before pictures, it is worth nothing that the owner relied on her instincts (to buy an ugly house with good bones) and expertise (as an interior designer) to turn the project into a dream home.

Last but not least

Finally, here are some tips from an expert on ensuring a successful remodeling project. It’s a long read, but it highlights the importance of doing your homework, talking to a designer (hint, hint), and accounting for 10% of wiggle room on a realistic budget.

Have a great week!

Make sure to learn from others’ remodeling mistakes

By Stewart Smith on February 23, 2018 / Accessible design, Aging in place, Awards, Bathroom, Blog, Cabinets, Customer Service, Design, Finding A Remodeler, Flooring, Hiring A Remodeler, Kitchen, Licensed Contractors, Planning, Remodel, Shop, Universal design / Leave a comment

Remodeling horror stories are everywhere. They are a hallmark of many reality TV shows and appear on the pages of our favorite websites all the time.

Learning from other people’s mistakes can help ensure you have a smooth remodeling experience, but you don’t have to take my word for it. Take it from our good friends at Angie’s List and their article about botched remodeling jobs.

One unsatisfied customer talks about how she went with the lowest price instead of doing reference checks on the three companies who supplied prices. That ended up costing her more in the long run.

While Angie says getting three estimates to determine a fair price is a good start, but it’s not the end of your research. Make sure to speak to past clients, ask about anything you are unsure of, and don’t be afraid to tie payment with progress. Holding back final payment until all work is done to your liking is a common practice.

Like most people with remodeling experience, Angie stresses the importance of communication in a remodeler-client relationship. Put price away for a moment, and think about which remodeler you can have an honest conversation with. That’s the remodeler you want to choose.

Uncovered treasures

It wasn’t a home remodel, but crews working on a shopping center in Albuquerque discovered a mural from 1974 depicting New Mexico’s history.

The artist, Ross Ward, painted the mural at Laramie Square Shopping Center after losing out on a bid to paint the mural at Albuquerque International Sunport.

Unfortunately, it sounds like the mural will have to be torn down since it was done on cement and not easily preserved.

A look at some early remodeling trends in 2018

By Stewart Smith on February 2, 2018 / Awards, Bathroom, Blog, Cabinets, Customer Service, Design, Finding A Remodeler, Flooring, Going green, Hiring A Remodeler, Kitchen, Licensed Contractors, Outdoor, Planning, Remodel, Secret Compartments, Shop, Showers, Storage, Universal design / Leave a comment

It’s February, which means we are more than a month into 2018. Where has all the time gone?

While it is still early in the year, some remodeling trends have started to emerge, according to this article, and the good news is that they can recoup most of their investment.

First up are bathroom additions. The most cost-effective solutions require using existing plumbing, but for those adventurers out there hoping to add a bathroom to a unique space, above-ground plumbing features can make that possible, the article says. Now, not everyone is cool with a macerating toilet or drain pumps, but to each their own. A bathroom addition usually recoups about 60 percent of its cost.

Next up is the curb appeal. More costly options include replacing windows and improving the landscaping, but there’s one option you might not think about that replaces 98 percent of its cost — the garage door! Replacing a garage door is a surefire investment because of its utility.

Last up are smart home upgrades. It is no surprise that more people are exploring smart home upgrades since everything can be done through your phone nowadays. In addition to home security systems, upgrades include smart lighting, smart door locks, smart thermostats, and smart smoke detectors. Smart home upgrades add convenience and serious cool factor come resale time.

For more information on the cost vs. value of many different remodeling projects, check out this article.

Viva Las Vegas!

I love Vegas and will use any excuse to write about it. Here’s an article about Harrah’s hotel and casino’s $140 million remodel of the Valley Tower and its 1,622 rooms.

The aesthetic is sleek and modern with a barn-style bathroom door, rain shower, free-standing closets that blend into the wall decor, backlit vanities with docking stations to charge devices, and minimalistic furniture to give the rooms a larger feel.

I find a lot of my personal inspiration from hotels, so check out the slideshow so you can too.