5 Best Home Improvements to Increase Resale Value
Learn how to increase your home resale value with these top improvement ideas.
Category: Kitchens
Charlotte Architectural Styles and What They Mean for Your Home Remodel
Learn about Charlotte’s housing history which is rich with a diversity of architectural styles and themes that represent popular trends.
7 Kitchen Cabinet Organization Ideas for Your Remodel
Cabinetry is one of the biggest investments you’ll make when remodeling your kitchen. We’ve gathered our best kitchen cabinet organization ideas to help you consider which features you’ll want to discuss with your kitchen designer.
5 Kitchen Drawer Organization Tips
Here are five of our favorite kitchen drawer organization tips to prevent “junk drawer plague” – where every drawer becomes a mess – no one has time for that nonsense.
5 Inspiring Coffee Station Ideas for Your Home
Here’s 5 coffee station ideas to consider incorporating into your kitchen remodel.
What’s the Best Kitchen Design for a Growing Family?
A great kitchen design isn’t just about the traditional work triangle. Particularly for a growing family, kitchen design should also be inclusive of the myriad ways your kitchen will be used –for which activities, when and by whom. The traffic flow in, out and through a family-friendly kitchen should be a critical factor in space planning, not just during meal times, but throughout the entire day. This young family tasked us with the challenge of opening up the previously remodeled kitchen of their 1950’s Myers Park home, after hearing from other contractors that what they wanted to accomplish couldn’t be done.
Kitchen Design Goals
While not the original kitchen to the home, the remodel by the previous owners had addressed aesthetic concerns, but not the space planning. With two young children at home, our clients’ most important goal for the remodel was an open kitchen design for increased visibility and traffic flow. Their secondary goals included maintaining a formal dining room and foyer to stay in keeping with the age and style of the home; transitional style with modern amenities such as professional-grade appliances; more functional storage and additional pantry space; a large island with seating for four and to repair the faulty hardwood floors from the previous renovation.
The angled walls with bar height pass through helped the kitchen to feel somewhat connected to the den, but it was still impossible for our clients to keep an eye on their kids while preparing meals. The tiny vestibule at the back door was tight and included two-floor transitions since the tile and den floor was higher than the kitchen and foyer, creating a tripping hazard. The light from the kitchen window couldn’t filter into the hallway or living space, creating a dark atmosphere. The plan was to remove the walls between the den and kitchen to open the space, but the challenge was ensuring enough wall space for cabinetry and appliances without sacrificing valuable storage.
A Family-Friendly Kitchen Design that Works
Ultimately, after reviewing three different kitchen designs, our clients elected to close the doorway between the formal dining room and the kitchen. This allowed the kitchen to take on a functional L-shape and kept all the major appliances out of the island, increasing usable counter space. Because the formal dining room was right next to the kitchen, losing the extra doorway didn’t impede traffic. Opening the backdoor to the kitchen made it easier to haul toddlers and groceries to and from the car.
The new kitchen design features an open plan from the den and kitchen, making it easier to drift between the two spaces seamlessly. Reframing a portion of the existing floor system to bring the whole area down to the same level eliminated tripping hazards and made floor clean-up a breeze. We left the original window in the same location, but with the removal of the walls, light pours deeper into space, making it feel more spacious. Ultimately, there was extra space to fit an even larger island than what was in the original kitchen design, providing ample seating for the whole family.
BEFORE – The awkward, angled counter with dropped soffit kept the kitchen and den separate, preventing an easy flow for daily childcare or entertaining. The barstools blocked traffic to and from the back door—the main point of entry for this family.
AFTER – Working extra storage into this kitchen design was simple thanks to the large island. Hidden base cabinets under the seating area provide adjustable shelving for less frequently used items.
Maximizing Space
Simplifying the bar design made it visually recede and increased functionality. Removing the bar sink in favor of a dry bar allowed versatile counter space to act as an everyday drop zone or a serving space for entertaining. To delineate the bar from the kitchen while keeping some visual continuity, we repeated the same cream cabinets and used the quartzite slab material as a solid backsplash. Now guests (and kids) can easily mingle between the formal living room, the den, the bar, and the kitchen during gatherings.
The cased opening and original glass transom that were formerly separating the kitchen and foyer hallway were relocated approximately 6′ to incorporate some of the former halls into the new family-friendly kitchen design. As requested, a proper foyer was maintained in keeping with the formal architecture of the home.
An HVAC return and a tiny coat closet were relocated to create space for a custom pantry cabinet under the stairs. Increasing dry goods storage was an important goal for this growing family. Tall pantry cabinets with easily adjustable roll-out shelves are a great solution for maximizing the space available within a small footprint.
BEFORE – The stepped design of the bar cabinetry made it feel heavy and intrusive and the sink and ice-maker were never used.
AFTER – A built-in beverage center provides space for wine, beer, and mixers outside of the main refrigerator.
DETAILS – The built-in maple spice rack keeps herbs and spices organized and accessible. The fully integrated refrigerator with custom panel blends into the surrounding inset cabinetry for a traditional look.
Finishing Touches
A critical part of making the kitchen design feasible was incorporating two large steel beams —welded on-site—to support the second story floor above. Our engineering team created a structural design to ensure the integrity of the proposed kitchen design, resulting in the family-friendly entertaining space they desired.
In the den (now visible from the foyer) the colonial fireplace surround was replaced with a transitional cast stone design. Using the same material for the hearth, surround and mantel created a soothing contrast in textures as opposed to color, allowing the artwork to be the true focal point.
Custom cabinets, hidden storage accessories, matching appliance panels, and one-of-a-kind quartzite counters elevate this family-friendly kitchen design while maintaining a classic, transitional style.
BEFORE – The hood overpowered the range top and the soffit and pass-through to the den dated space. Angled walls are an inefficient use of space.
AFTER – Open site lines and clear traffic patterns are all part of this redesigned kitchen. Shades of cream, taupe, and sage green offer a soothing, timeless look.
DETAILS – Wide island drawers with built-in drawer organizers keep knives and flatware neatly sorted, right where they’re needed most.
If your current kitchen design has you frustrated and disorganized, we’d be happy to talk through the possibilities with you. Schedule a call and our team will reach out shortly.
The Home Bar: Revealing Wet and Dry Bar Ideas and 5 Reasons Why These Bars are on Charlotte Wish Lists
In evaluating the ebb and flow of ongoing trends the other day, we were discussing the evolution of today’s home bar. Home bars have remained popular for years, but they have undergone an evolution. From simple, compact dry bars to complete entertaining spaces in their own right, home bars still feature prominently on our clients’ wish lists. Here are some wet bar and dry bar ideas to consider:
Say Goodbye: Tiny Wet Home Bar
Well, first—let’s chat about what differentiates a wet bar from a dry bar. A wet bar includes running water, often in the form of a sink, while a dry bar doesn’t. Home bars of the late ’90s and early 2000s were often “wet bars” and featured a tiny, impractical sink smack in the middle of the countertop, rendering the remaining counters unusable. Designers and homeowners often hid home bars in an alcove near the kitchen or off the living room in an awkward hallway. The bowl-sized sinks were deal-breakers for most of our clients; they wanted them gone in favor of more flexible counter space. Today, we’re working with more functional wet bar ideas. All of the below dry bar ideas could also double as wet bar ideas.
BEFORE: This bar was added during a previous remodel, but the tiny sink only served as a dust collector.
AFTER: Electing for a home dry bar with a beverage center gave this couple more flexibility, extra counter space, and improved cabinet storage with a wide drawer for home bar accessories.
Multi-Functional Dry Dining Room Bar Ideas
Fast forward to today, and families still request home bars in at least half of the kitchen remodels we design. Nowadays, we take a multi-functional approach to the design to best utilize the space available. Most home bars err on the simpler side, and most do not feature sinks unless they have a significant amount of extra space.
This multi-functional space in the hallway between the kitchen and formal dining room acts as a home dry bar and drop zone for the kids’ activity schedules. The left side features a built-in kegerator, a beverage center, and extra wine and stemware storage. The right side features open shelving for books and family photos, a pinboard for schedules and Panthers tickets, and wide drawers for the kids’ craft supplies.
Some bars include an appliance for wine, beer, or other beverages and act as a landing zone for entertaining. Whether you have friends over for a casual dinner or you celebrate your child’s birthday, a dry bar gives you space separate from the kitchen to stage beverages, appetizers, or dessert.
Where to Place Your Home Bar
As for some more dry and wet bar ideas, location is key. Ideally your home bar would be located in close proximity to the kitchen, between it and another space like a formal dining room or living room. Finding the bar in the transition space between two rooms creates a natural flow for traffic and conversation, and allows guests to help themselves without entering the kitchen while you’re cooking.
This home dry bar serves as a morning station for coffee most days. located in a nook off the hallway between the kitchen and the formal dining room, this bar quickly converts to the beverage station for holiday gatherings.
Home Bars Aren’t Just for Cocktails
While most home bars do feature stemware and bottle storage of some sort, they aren’t limited to alcohol. Many of the families we work with prefer beverage centers—small built-in refrigerators with multiple zones that can adequately store a few bottles of wine and a case or two of La Croix or Kombucha. (These are the types of bar ideas that we can totally get behind because they benefit the whole family.)
Beverages tend to take over the main refrigerator if left unchecked, so having a smaller space just for your daily drink of choice leaves room for more fresh produce and leftovers.
Having a flexible space to store the special occasion china that acts as a snack station for the kids is still a worthy feature of any modern kitchen design. Thoughts on any other wet or dry bar ideas? We are all ears.
This dry bar features a beverage center and drawer for snacks. The towers on the left and right are perfect for housing small appliances, vases, and stemware.
Take Your Home Bar Up a Notch
When it comes to wet and dry bar ideas, this one is going to knock your socks off. Let us explain. If regular movie nights and football parties are your jam, you may want to consider a more elaborate casual entertaining space. With enough room and the right design, a dry bar can quickly become a full-fledged kitchenette, preventing repeated trips to the actual kitchen.
In this case, a beverage center and a small (but usable) sink are must-haves. Ice makers and refrigerator drawers for mixers and snacks are also excellent additions. An 18” dishwasher wouldn’t be a bad idea either, especially if your hang-out zone is in the basement or a detached garage.
Located right inside the back door and conveniently separating the kitchen and the living room, this wet bar features a wine chiller, an ice maker, and a prep sink. It’s right off the back door, making it easy to run inside and grab a cold beverage before heading back to the lake.
Make A Statement
One of the hottest trends in home bar design is incorporating a statement backsplash. Imagine a stunning mix of materials like glass tiles, reclaimed wood, or even a bold patterned wallpaper as your backsplash. It’s sure to add a touch of personality and elegance to your home bar.
Another trend that’s taking the interior design world by storm is open shelving. Not only does it provide easy access to all your bar essentials, but it also adds a trendy touch to the space. Think floating shelves or rustic metal and reclaimed wood shelving for an industrial chic look. With a little creativity and attention to detail, you can create a home bar that not only serves its purpose but also becomes a showstopper in your home.
Whether you’d like to incorporate a multi-functional dry bar as part of your kitchen remodel, are looking for more wet bar ideas, or you’re interested in creating an entirely separate entertaining space, we’d be happy to help you design the space that’s perfect for your needs. We are ready for any dry bar ideas or wet bar ideas if you feel so inclined. Schedule a consultation with us today!
3 Ways to Create a Custom Kitchen Design
Whenever we begin working on a custom kitchen design with a new client, they almost always fall into one of three categories: A) Knowing what they want and relying on us to translate their vision; B) Strong opinions about a couple of crucial areas, but mostly open to any solutions we suggest for their new design; C) Unsure what they want, but the current situation isn’t working. Regardless of where you fall, here are three ways to create a custom kitchen design that feels personal to you and your family.
1. Utilize Custom Cabinet Modifications to Serve Your Needs
Higher quality, made-to-order cabinet lines are going to allow customization to some degree. This customization can be a game-changer for making the final kitchen design feel truly custom since it means we can make the cabinet as specific to your functional, aesthetic, or architectural needs as possible. Few kitchens don’t require at least one cabinet to be modified to maintain the best-finished look.
More often than not, we modify most cabinets to give our clients the best possible design. Modifications can include custom sizes, combining boxes to avoid seams in inset designs, adding unique storage accessories, or finishing the ends in a specific manner, just to name a few. The options are endless.
2. Incorporate A Design Element with A Story
One of the easiest and most satisfying ways to set your kitchen apart from your friends’ kitchens (even if you have the same taste) is to incorporate something personal that tells part of your story. Our clients have approached us with unique pieces to include in their custom kitchen design on more than one occasion. Custom pieces include hundred-year-old barn beams found in an outbuilding on the property, a favorite light fixture that lasted through multiple moves, a custom colored range to match the label of a favorite bottle of champagne, and more. Incorporating these personal touches into our clients’ kitchen designs sets them apart from their neighbors.
We salvaged the vertical beam next to the staircase from an old barn on this couple’s property. Having a piece with a story gives extra life to this farmhouse kitchen.
You don’t already have something you’d like to include in the new design? No problem! Choose one item that has yet to be selected and pick something you love that can act as a statement piece. It can be something semi-permanent like a light fixture, unique cabinet hardware, or backsplash tile, or it could be something you find on your own like vintage stools for the island or a beautiful painting to hang in the breakfast area.
3. Plan Storage to Support Your Daily Habits
Just because you make coffee and take supplements every morning as part of a healthy lifestyle doesn’t mean they have to be out on the counter in full view 24/7. Our kitchens are responsible for storing a LOT from everyday dishes to serving pieces, pantry items to charging stations. When everything has a place where it’s easily accessible and hidden from view, you’re able to move more efficiently and feel better in your space without visual clutter. Planning ahead of time, which tasks take place in which zones of your kitchen will help your kitchen designer suggest the best storage solutions to help your day run more smoothly from the get-go.
One of the best ways to make a kitchen more functional is to store items by use instead of similarity. For example: Instead of keeping all glasses and mugs together in one cabinet, store drinking glasses near the refrigerator for access to filtered water and store mugs near the coffee station. Customizing the design for the way you move in and around your kitchen saves time as you won’t be crisscrossing as often while you’re preparing meals, snacks, and everything in between.
We placed narrow, pull-out storage cabinets for cutting boards and spices close to the cooktop for convenient access during prep.
Want to speak with someone about your custom kitchen design? Schedule a call to speak with one of our project developers.
Tile Design Ideas for Your Kitchen or Bathroom Remodel
Tile design patterns are a great way to add personality to a remodeling project whether via temporary materials (think fabric and wall coverings) or permanent ones such as tile or even hardwood flooring. Patterns have the ability to elevate simple materials. Take subway tile for example. You can’t get much more basic than white 3 x 6″ ceramic tile. Set in a running bond pattern, subway tile backsplash will look traditional and understated, but take that same tile and set it in a herringbone pattern and suddenly it has more visual weight and movement.
Mix patterns! In this master bathroom remodel we paired a traditional 3″ x 6″ subway tile running bond, over larger 12″ x 24″ tiles set at ⅓ offset. The longer, linear floor tile was also set at ⅓ offset.
When it comes to tile design, straight or grid patterns are often the default for home builders. They’re the easiest to install because there are fewer cuts. Fewer cuts mean less material waste and a quicker installation. Quite simply – it’s cheaper. But if you’re preparing to remodel your home, chances are you want something other than what the original home builder installed. Your kitchen or bathroom designer will make pattern recommendations appropriate for the materials chosen, the location, and your desired aesthetic. Also, remember that you always have the option between vertical shower and kitchen tile and horizontal shower and kitchen tile.
Popular Tile Design Patterns and Where to Use Them
Running Bond or Brick Bond
This tile works best for field tiles and mosaics smaller than 12″ x 24″. You can use this tile design with rectangular or square tiles, but traditionally it’s done with rectangular bricks, hence the name. Running this pattern horizontally will emphasize the width of a space, while vertical installations emphasize height.
Square tiles set in a running bond, paired with a mini-brick glass mosaic accent band, keep this hall bath simple and traditional.
The running bond pattern is popular for kitchen backsplashes, flooring, shower walls, and bathroom wainscoting. It offers a classic look when using traditional tile materials such as subway tile or marble, but it looks just as good with more contemporary porcelain or glass tile as well.
A variation on the running bond is the flemish bond, which also derives from masonry. A flemish bond usually consists of alternating square and rectangular tiles in the same course. While uncommon, it can make for a pretty and unexpected backsplash or shower enclosure. When mixing tiles, it is critical they are the same height and thickness, so you would only do this if the particular tile you chose was offered in two sizes. Otherwise, the grout lines would have to be much larger to make up for the difference, and the installation wouldn’t look as clean.
This vertical tile steam shower features a 10″ x 14″ ceramic wall tile installed in a vertical running bond to the ceiling to emphasize height. This tile is the same collection as the photo above, but the size and pattern give it a different look.
⅓ Offset
As wood-look porcelain and large format tile have increased in popularity in recent years, we’ve started seeing a lot more of this pattern and for an efficient reason. When porcelain tiles are longer than 18″, they tend to bow ever so slightly in the middle; it’s just due to the material’s properties and the manufacturing process. When staggered in a traditional running bond (above), the center of the tile may stick up slightly higher than the edges, causing what we refer to as “lippage.” Because of that, it’s industry standard to install anything over 18″ long in a ⅓ offset if not set straight.
Beware – When using three courses of this pattern on a wall, it can look like stair steps, but it’s less noticeable (and more desirable for a wood-look). If stair steps aren’t your thing, but you’re dead set on longer tile, try setting it in two courses instead. It’ll look like a tighter running bond, and there won’t be a lip. We also use this pattern with smaller tiles on backsplash applications.
Straight or Grid
This straight pattern, which we typically design from square tiles, looks like graph paper. This pattern is simple to install and uses very little waste, much like its design. When installing rectangular tiles in a grid, that’s often referred to as a soldier stack (standing vertically) or a horizontal soldier stack. Soldier stacking rectangular tiles can add a contemporary touch to your backsplash or shower wall tile design. We’ve also used this pattern for tile flooring in a larger format.
Offset tile patterns like these horizontal soldier stack sidewalls transform into a chevron accent tile wall, giving this powder room extra pizzazz.
“On-point” is just a fancy way of saying we want the grid to look like a diamond at an exact 45-degree angle. While less popular now, it was all the rage in the earlier 2000s. Anytime a tile is set on point, it makes the space feel larger, so it’s excellent for small powder rooms. You can even dress it up with a running bond or mosaic border around the baseboard.
Basket Weave
While the basketweave pattern works in masonry for patios, it also makes a great mudroom floor or backsplash. It’s a more artistic version of the stacked stile backsplash. Consider a basketweave using two materials of varying sizes to get more of a woven look. Basketweave stone mosaics are famous for traditional shower floors and bathroom accents, but they don’t look as appropriate in kitchens.
We used a 2″ x 6″ ceramic field tile set in a running bond. The center panel over the range is a 2″ x 9″ tile set in a basketweave herringbone (a term we made up for this tile design that combines each of those patterns).
Herringbone
This classic pattern works well as both an accent and as the primary, uninterrupted tile pattern in a living space. It does require lots of cuts, making it more wasteful and expensive to supply/install. Herringbone can add flair in a small mosaic format of your kitchen backsplash or as part of a larger tile design across an entire floor. You can even try herringbone shower tile. Keep in mind that the longer the tile is, the more exaggerated the pattern. While you can install herringbone tiles straight — which would result in that same stair-step pattern — it’s most commonly installed “on point,” which resembles a W.
Mosaic
The term “tile mosaic” refers to a collection of pieces smaller than 4″ x 4″ joined together using a fiberglass mesh backing or paper. Attaching these smaller pieces in pre-made sheets makes installation quicker and easier than installing thousands of smaller tiles; however, installing mosaic tiles takes a great deal of experience and skill. If an expert remodeler creates the tile design, you shouldn’t be able to pick out the seems between sheets after grouting tile.
Leaf-shaped mosaic tile has a wallpaper effect on this kitchen backsplash in Charlotte’s Stonehaven neighborhood.
You can design mosaics from glass, stone, ceramic, porcelain, metal (see below), or even wood. Generally speaking, the smaller the individual pieces making up the mosaic, the more expensive. Because of this, mosaics make great accents. If you want an impact, take a mosaic and use it as the field tile. When used in large quantities, mosaics take on a wallpaper effect creating that “wow” factor. Mosaics work on shower floors due to the sheets’ ability to curve with the shower pan to allow proper drainage.
This linear, stainless steel mosaic backsplash places a strong emphasis on horizontal lines to counterbalance the vaulted ceiling.
Whatever your tile design predilection, whether it be a vertical tile shower or mosaic backsplash in your kitchen, we are here to help you!
Kitchen Appliance Design Ideas for Your Remodel
During the design phase, our clients are always curious about kitchen appliance design ideas for their remodel. While lifestyle factors influence the needs of every household differently, there are a few basic rules that apply to everyone.
Kitchen Appliances Everyone Needs
At the very least, every kitchen must have a cooking surface with burners, an oven, and a refrigerator. While it’s true that not every home has a microwave or a dishwasher, we’ve never done a kitchen remodel without them and wouldn’t advise choosing to forgo either. Whether you need a single oven or two, four burners or eight, a separate refrigerator and freezer, a wine chiller, an ice maker, or a warming drawer are all going to be specific to the needs of your family and how you live. A couple with two young children will have very different needs than an empty-nester couple who hosts large family gatherings, or a bachelor who travels for work three weeks out of the month. For a helpful guide on how to take stock of the kitchen appliances you currently have and the ways they are or are not serving you, download our complimentary appliance shopping guide here.
Settle Your Kitchen Appliance Design Ideas Early
One of the most important features in your kitchen remodel will be the appliances. While there are standardized sizes for every appliance, specific cabinetry clearances, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical requirements will vary by manufacturer and installation method.
Knowing which appliances you intend to purchase will be critical for finalizing your cabinetry layout and getting accurate quotes for the electrical, plumbing and mechanical changes that may be required to accommodate them. Older homes tend to have smaller electrical panels than newer homes, so there may not be enough space in the panel to add a second oven and a microwave drawer without an electrical service upgrade. Knowing limitations ahead of time will prevent surprises during construction that could increase the cost or delay the project.
Some of our clients have very specific needs when it comes to appliances and in those cases, we design the kitchen to fit what they require. Other clients care less about the appliances and prefer the best layout to address other concerns. Their main goal may involve the removal of a wall between the kitchen and the formal dining room to improve traffic flow, or perhaps they need to increase functional storage space. In those cases, we design the kitchen based on their priority and show them which appliances will fit the best in a particular layout.
Stainless Steel Appliances
Ten years ago another common appliance question was whether or not we thought stainless steel would go out of style. While newer finishes have popped up over the last couple of years, stainless steel is still the most popular finish and that probably won’t change anytime soon. That being said, if you find that so much stainless feels cold, or maybe you’re just sick of wiping fingerprints off the dishwasher every day, consider adding a few panel ready appliances to your suite.
What Are Panel Ready Appliances?
Panel ready appliances are designed to accept a custom cabinet panel to hide it from view. Not all appliances come panel ready — dishwashers, refrigerators and freezers are the most common, followed by wine chillers, beverage centers and warming drawers. While the inner guts of the appliance are exactly the same as the same model with a stainless steel front, panel ready appliances have to be ordered that way from the manufacturer. It’s not as simple as picking up any old dishwasher and sticking a cabinet panel over the door.
Panel ready appliances are great when you want to hide something to create a cleaner look. While a range and hood are often the focal point of a kitchen, the dishwasher is not, so why not hide it from view? The downside of panel ready appliances is that generally speaking they are only offered from higher-end brands. While many dishwashers come panel ready, only built-in or integrated refrigerators will have that option, making them more expensive than an entry-level model. When discussing pricing with an appliance professional, keep in mind the cost does not include the custom cabinet panel itself. That will have to be ordered with the rest of your cabinetry.
For additional guidance on deciding which appliances would serve your family best, the pros and cons of each type, and worksheets to help you narrow down your options without leaving the comfort of your living room, download our complimentary Kitchen Appliance Shopping Guide!