Category: remodel

Unveiling the Secrets of Kitchen Transformation: A Roadmap to Full Remodel Success
Embarking on a full kitchen remodel is an exciting journey that can breathe new life into the heart of your home. However, achieving success requires careful planning, attention to detail, and a clear understanding of the key elements that contribute to a transformative kitchen space. Let’s delve into the secrets of kitchen transformation with Kitchen Magic and explore how to maximize space, choose the perfect materials, enhance efficiency, and navigate the remodeling process with confidence.

used with permission from Millhaven H omes

Maximizing Space and Functionality: The Cornerstone of Kitchen Design

Creating a functional and efficient kitchen starts with maximizing available space and optimizing layout and flow. Innovative kitchen designs can help you make the most of every square inch while ensuring that your kitchen is both practical and visually appealing.

Innovative Design Strategies
- Incorporating multifunctional kitchen islands or peninsulas to provide additional workspace and storage.
- Utilizing vertical space with tall cabinets or shelving units to maximize storage capacity without sacrificing floor space.
- Embracing open shelving or glass-front cabinets to create a sense of openness and visual interest in the kitchen.
used with permission from Millhaven H omes

Choosing the Perfect Materials and Finishes: Setting the Tone for Your Dream Kitchen

Selecting the right materials and finishes is essential for achieving the desired aesthetic and functionality in your kitchen. From countertops and cabinetry to flooring and backsplashes, every element plays a role in defining the overall look and feel of the space.

Considerations for Material Selection
- Assessing durability and maintenance requirements to ensure that materials can withstand the demands of daily use and cleaning.
- Exploring a variety of finishes, textures, and colors to create visual interest and reflect your personal style preferences.
- Balancing budget considerations with quality and longevity to achieve the best value for your investment.
Enhancing Efficiency and Organization: The Key to a Well-Run Kitchen

Efficient storage solutions and organizational systems are essential for maintaining order and minimizing clutter in the kitchen. From drawer dividers to pull-out pantry shelves, incorporating smart storage solutions can streamline meal preparation and enhance overall efficiency.

Smart Storage Solutions
- Installing pull-out shelves or baskets in lower cabinets to maximize accessibility and minimize bending and reaching.
- Utilizing drawer organizers and dividers to keep utensils, cookware, and small appliances neatly organized and easily accessible.
- Incorporating built-in trash and recycling bins to keep waste out of sight and free up valuable floor space.
used with permission from Millhaven H omes

Navigating the Remodeling Process: Expert Guidance and Support

Undertaking a full kitchen remodel can be overwhelming, but with expert guidance and support, you can navigate the process with confidence and peace of mind. From initial planning and design to final installation and finishing touches, working with experienced professionals can ensure a smooth and successful remodeling experience.

The Importance of Expert Guidance
- Collaborating with skilled designers and contractors who can provide valuable insights and recommendations based on their expertise and experience.
- Communicating openly and regularly with your remodeling team to address any concerns or changes along the way and ensure that your vision is realized.
- Trusting the process and remaining flexible, knowing that unexpected challenges may arise but can be overcome with the right team and approach.
Transforming Outdated Kitchens into Modern Culinary Havens: Breathing New Life into Old Spaces

Outdated kitchens can feel drab and uninspiring, but with the right design choices and remodeling decisions, you can transform them into modern culinary havens that are both functional and stylish.

Incorporating Personalized Touches and Unique Design Elements
- Adding personalized touches, such as custom cabinetry, unique lighting fixtures, and decorative hardware, to infuse your personality and style into the space.
- Incorporating unique design elements, such as statement backsplashes, bold accent walls, and eye-catching flooring, to create visual interest and drama.
- Embracing trends, such as mixed materials, contrasting colors, and textured finishes, to create a dynamic and visually appealing kitchen design that reflects current tastes and preferences.
used with permission from Millhaven H omes

Maximizing Return on Investment: Making Smart Remodeling Decisions

Remodeling your kitchen is a significant investment, so it’s essential to make strategic decisions that will maximize your return on investment both now and in the future. By focusing on quality, durability, and timeless design, you can ensure that your newly remodeled kitchen will stand the test of time and retain its value for years to come.

Elevating Your Cooking Experience with State-of-the-Art Appliances and Technology
- Investing in high-quality, energy-efficient appliances that offer advanced features and innovative technology to streamline meal preparation and enhance cooking performance.
- Incorporating smart home technology, such as Wi-Fi-enabled appliances, touchless faucets, and integrated home automation systems, to add convenience, efficiency, and connectivity to your kitchen space.
- Embracing eco-friendly design principles, such as sustainable materials, energy-efficient lighting, and water-saving fixtures, to reduce your environmental footprint and lower utility costs over time.
Unlocking the secrets of kitchen transformation requires careful consideration of space, materials, efficiency, and expert guidance. By maximizing space and functionality, choosing the perfect materials, enhancing efficiency and organization, and navigating the remodeling process with confidence, you can create a kitchen that not only meets but exceeds your expectations, becoming the heart and soul of your home for years to come. Thanks to Kitchen Magic for consulting
February 26, 2024
Upgrade your Infrastructure for Increased Performance

Older houses will have had generators which were sufficient for the devices of their time, but as we have produced more and better technology, we have seen our power demands increase exponentially. Sometimes our old generators and power fuses can’t keep up with the demand, and it is best to try and upgrade the old infrastructure, in order to get better service and power return. There are a number of ways to upgrade your infrastructure, but they all require outside help from qualified specialists.

via Apartment Therapy

It has a number of benefits

Upgrading means that you will move from an older generator to one which not only allows you to meet your new energy needs, but also will let you switch your older equipment for newer, which is in-line with modern-day regulations and controls. This means that not only will you be able to meet all of your energy needs with greater ease, you will also have a generator which is not a pollutant, and is less likely to put both you and your family in danger. Inverter generators are a quiet way to get power, so those are usually recommended. To make an informed purchasing decision, check out this list of the best inverter generators.

People wanting to upgrade should talk to Mr Sparky electricians for ideas on the best fit for a replacement – you want a generator which fits as closely as possible to the older model, as this will make it less likely that other aspects of the wiring in the house will need to be changed to accommodate it.

via Southern Living

It will make everything faster

Easier access to electricity means that everything will work more effectively than it did before, because all the appliances in your home will have better access to power than they did before.

There will also be less chance of an electrical hazard developing because of the demands for power being placed on a generator which can’t provide for them all. If an appliance is striving to get the needed power, it could easily overheat, and therefore cause a fire. Upgrading your infrastructure can prevent this.

via HGTV

It is realistic

We have more technology now, and as it improves, it naturally uses more power over time. This is something which sometimes can’t be met by the output of an older make of generator, no matter how much it tries.

A new generator is rated for the regulations and controls which we impose today, but it was also built with the expectation of a certain power flow, as evidenced by our increased electricity use over time.

via south hampton design

It allows for peace of mind

Having all new equipment means that everything will be up to code, and will be as safe as the electricians can make it. This can mean that people will relax in the knowledge that their home is unlikely to have too many electrical hazards in it, because brand-new equipment usually doesn’t develop problems right away. Knowing that you have up-to-date wiring and generators in your home is something which can get rid of any fears about the possibility of it failing at a bad time, or of anything connected to it spontaneously becoming a hazard.

via Alice Lane Homes

February 13, 2018
A modern victorian house tour

Modern victorian, a match made in heaven.

I love the good bones and ornate molding of victorian homes, and the clean lines and fresh look of modern design. The below is a remodel that honors the amazing high ceilings, intricate casework, and classic of the victorian home. The owner’s improvements included altering the floor plan to make more functional spaces for today’s lifestyle.

A view of the kitchen.

What a dreamy bathroom. Love the clawfoot tub, the sinks, and the herringbone floors.

The built-in closet adds so much character to the bedroom.

How amazing is the fireplace and built-in cabinets with lead glass surrounding it?

The kitchen is probably the most altered. Love those barstools and the industrial aesthetic they add. The glamorous chandelier is a nice contrast.

A pretty guest bedroom.

Another shot of the dining room. Sorry to say that while I like the table, I do not like the chairs.

Love the large subway tile backsplash behind the stove.

The amazing windows and arches are so pretty!

More pretty details.

What do you think of this modern victorian home?

via Apartment Therapy

February 9, 2017
A kitchen transformation: dark and cramped to bright, open, and beautiful

This kitchen transformation is going to knock your socks off! As you’ll see in the before pictures below, this kitchen started out dark and stifling and closed. Interior designer Carla Aston worked her amazing magic and turned it into a bright, open, and beautiful space to be in.

First, just a little teaser of the “after” So pretty…white cabinets, subway tile backsplash…

Okay…here it was before.

Sorry, that had to be done. All that dark granite and honey wood is too much in this space. Let’s go back to where we can breath..

Ahhhh, that’s so much better. Wouldn’t this be a lovely kitchen to walk into each morning?

A love that the backsplash tile goes all the way to the ceiling.

There used to be a doorway on either side of the fridge but Carla cleverly reclaimed some of that space for cabinets.

The sandy hue of the counters add some warmth to the space.

The open shelves break up the white wall and allow the owner to show off decorative items.

What do you think?

Go to Carla’s Aston Designed to read more about this project.

October 27, 2016
An old Portland Library turned into a beautiful home!

Jessica Helgerson Interior Design turns a former library into a client’s dream house.

The project was a complete remodel of the small public library in Portland’s Sellwood neighborhood. It was then used as a church meeting hall. The designers really wanted to preserve the feeling of the big open space of the library and converted it to a great room.

The remodel was kept traditional with modern decor and furnishings used as a nice contrast.
Jewel tones are also used via the furnishings and art.

Bookshelves were added throughout to keep in theme with the library.

The great room is comprised of the kitchen, dining, and living areas.
The art is by local Portland artists Anya Spielman and Jocelyn Rahm.

How beautiful is that chair?

The ladder is a nice nod to the house’s original use as a library.

The entry and powder room was originally an open front porch that they enclosed.

The bedrooms were quite small so cabinetry was built in wherever possible.

What do you think of this home?
via Jessica Helgerson Interior Design

July 11, 2016
Real small houses: Ranch Renovations

I’ll take my small 50’s rancher over a 90’s McMansion any day – who has time to clean all that anyway? Okay, maybe I am envious of the storage space – we have no garage or basement, just a hard to access attic and a scary crawlspace. My point is, there is something nice to having the family all on one floor and in a home that forces you to keep your possessions in check.

However, while Ranch houses can be described as a blank canvas, or family friendly, I don’t completely agree with that. Especially if your ranch is from the 50/60’s it’s probably partitioned off into extremely small rooms that don’t really suit today’s lifestyle. We knocked down several walls to make our living room, dining room, and kitchen one great open concept space. We lost a hallway, which as our realtor cleverly spun as “making the home feel like a large sprawling estate,” but the open space and light is worth it. There is a breakfast bar dividing the kitchen from the dining room, but the open layout allows me to keep an eye on little Leo playing in the living room area while I’m making a bottle in the kitchen.

Below are some other ranch remodels (undoubtedly all with much larger budget’s than ours) that I think really make the most of the square footage. If you’re looking for a qualified local contractor to take on your ranch renovation, check out the Get Assist app.

I have a weakness for exposed beams…and wide plank wood floors..and built ins…

Love the contrast of the rustic/industrial stools with the sleek white kitchen. A lot of people are making statements with lighting these days, but I actually like how understated these pendants are.

The blue vanity is so pretty.

3 above via Pneumatic Addict

In the house featured in the image above, as well as the photos below, several wall were taken out to turn a small kitchen and den into one large open kitchen.

Recessed lighting is also a great way to visually expand a space!

The vaulted curve in the ceiling makes this home look even more spacious and open after it’s remodel!

Do you now or have you ever lived in a ranch house? Did you ever remodel it, and if so, how?

images above via Style Blueprint

*Thanks to Get Assist for partnering on this post!

March 28, 2016
Parquet floors are still in?

I don’t love all the parquet patterns, but I LOVE herringbone parquet. I thought today I’d just share some examples of how gorgeous it can be…

via houseandleisure

via apartment34

via decorenvy

via yellowtrace

via jelanieshop

What was your initial reaction to parquet and what do you think now? Could you see yourself having parquet floors?

December 11, 2014