HGTV, DIY and other home improvement television shows, social media sites and the Internet are a great source of inspiration. Unfortunately, they also are a greater source of misinformation. Timelines and budgets are entirely unrealistic and often lead to frustration and disappointment among our clients. Viewers see the entire home renovated in seven weeks, and seven weeks is not a realistic timeframe to completely gut and rebuild a kitchen, yet alone re-do a whole house. The processes omitted on home improvement television are the time to select a designer, the design process itself, the development process and decision making.

So to help you in planning your next project here are some generic timelines that homeowners often encounter:

Step 1: Homeowner’s Research (3 to 18 months+)

Most of our clients in the Shenandoah Valley spend months researching different styles, products and design concepts. We encourage this research because it helps to save time once moving forward with a renovation. Create design boards on Pinterest, Houzz.com or your platform of choice, that identify the types of kitchens, layouts and products that you prefer. 

Step 2: Select a Showroom and a Designer (1 to 2 months)

An essential service that you should expect from your showroom and designer is to make order out of chaos by discussing your wants, needs, expectations and budget. Expect your showroom and designer to narrow your product choices based on your needs, preferences and budget. This process takes time because there are lots of questions that need to be answered to help your designer better envision what you want and develop the perfect solutions for your project. 

Step 3: Develop the Design (5 to 6 weeks)

Based on your input, a designer takes your ideas and expectations and uses them to develop drawings, plans, specifications, perspectives and elevations. 

Step 4: Revisions & Product Selection (3 to 5 weeks)

You should expect your showroom professional to develop a realistic budget and to direct you to products and techniques that represent the best value for your available funds. During this phase of the project, your designer does a deep dive into the details that make all the difference, finalizing material choices and sources and finalizing organization and storage plans.

Step 5: Fabrication and Delivery (1 to 3 months)

The time frame to source and obtain products depends on the design and product selection. Custom-made cabinets take longer to fabricate and deliver than stock cabinets. You should expect your designer and showroom to provide a detailed timeframe for sourcing and obtaining products. Product sourcing should begin before demolition.

Step 5: Demolition and Installation (2 to 4 months)

The timeline depends on the scope of the project. If the design calls for moving electrical, plumbing, ductwork, structural systems, adding additional space, installing new windows and/or doors, the timeframe will take longer than simply replacing what currently exists. You should expect your designer to not only provide a realistic timeline but also offer guidance for creating a make-shift kitchen during the renovation process. The design and product selection should be finalized before demolition begins. Making changes mid-course not only will expand the time necessary to complete the renovation, but changes will also adversely affect your budget.

Step 6: Adding the Finishing Touches (1 week)

This step involves items like touch ups and installing final trim then prepare for lots of smiling every time you cross the threshold of your brand new dream kitchen.

If you are curious about estimated time frames for your dream kitchen…give us a call at (540) 437-1990. Or make an appointment to visit our showroom either virtually or in-person at 1930 Deyerle Avenue, Harrisonburg.

Selecting the color of countertops for a new kitchen needs to account for how you want the space to look and feel. The options are unlimited, but our experience indicates that homeowners typically gravitate to:

• White Quartz, Corian or laminate
• Speckled or flecked white, cream and lighter colored Quartz, Corian or laminate
• Black or darker Quartz, Corian or laminate
• Gray or other mid-tone Quartz, Corian or laminate
• Slightly veined Quartz or stone
• Heavily veined Quartz or stone
• Light and dark stained wood

White countertops work well for most homeowners who want a contemporary look and feel to their new kitchen. White also works exceedingly well in smaller kitchens when paired with flat front cabinetry because they help to make space look larger than it actually is. In transitional or traditional designed kitchens, white countertops can serve as a dramatic contrast to heavily grained wood cabinets, larger butcher blocks and other more dramatic surface materials.

Speckled or flecked white, cream and other lighter-toned countertops serve to soften a space and work well in transitional and traditional design motifs. These countertops also don’t show as much dust or dirt as white counterparts.

Black, dark grey and other dark-toned countertops work well in kitchens with other dark surfaces provided there is an abundance of both natural, in-ceiling, pendants, track or other light. Dark surfaces absorb light; white lighter surfaces reflect light. Dark countertops help to complement painted cabinets that are so on trend today in blue and green tones. Dark countertops are a perfect complement to white cabinets to achieve a classic look.

Gray, cream and other mid-tone colors are extremely popular because of their neutrality. Gray contrasts ever so nicely with colored cabinetry and kitchens with a variety of finishes. Gray can also soften the starkness of white cabinetry.

Marble countertops with their rich and deep veins can serve as a dramatic focal point. Other richly veined stone countertops scream, ‘look at me,’ and for good reason. Statement-making stone tends to work more effectively in larger kitchen spaces especially when it is contrasted with darker cabinets.

Wood adds warmth to kitchen space and often specified for homeowners attracted to a transitional motif. Wood also serves nicely as a cutting block insert in an island or other countertops to help provide a contrasting accent to space. Lighter wood stains work better in more casual settings while darker stains help to achieve a more formal look and feel.

What color countertops would work best in your new kitchen? Please give us a call at 540-437-1990 or visit our showroom at 1930 Deyerle Avenue
Harrisonburg and let us help you to make a perfect choice.

A couple weeks back we posted a blog piece on how the pandemic has effected homeowners choices in remodeling and therefore creating some unexpected trends. Based on that research, Houzz.com recently predicted ten trends that it expects for 2021. And of course many of the trends are popular because homeowners in Shenandoah Valley and across the United States are working from home, schooling from home and continuing to spend a lot of their time at home.

KITCHENS

One trend that we expect not only to continue but also to grow is the multifunctional kitchen. The kitchen is no longer just an area for preparing and eating meals or a central gathering hub. The kitchen now serves as a home office, classroom, study, catering center and refuge. We expect an increasing number of homeowners to be attracted to new kitchens that offer defined areas for baking, meal preparation and snacking or doing homework.

And since homeowners are spending more time in their kitchens, they have discovered the need for both functional and aesthetic lighting. Sconces fit both bills. Not only can sconces make a distinctive fashion statement in your kitchen, but they are also an excellent source of task lighting to illuminate a range, the sink area or an island.

BATHROOMS

Similar to kitchens, bathrooms no longer serve utilitarian purposes. COVID-19 has emphasized health and well-being, and homeowners are discovering they can convert their master baths into wellness centers and personal refuges for rest, relaxation, and a place to wash away the stresses of the day.

HOME OFFICES AND HOME SCHOOLING

Homeowners are challenging designers to create nooks and dedicated spaces for home offices and school work areas. But remarkably also back yard space that can double as a work area or a classroom as remote work and school are not expected to end anytime in the near future and should continue through most of 2021.

OUTDOOR SPACE

Backyards are being viewed in an entirely new and exciting light as we understand the benefit of extending living and working space to outdoor areas. We are seeing designs that include enclosed decks, backyard cottages and even accessory dwelling units that serve as home offices, fitness centers, yoga studios, classrooms and wellness centers.

THROUGHOUT THE HOME

Open floor plans that were declining before the outbreak of COVID-19 are expected to continue to wane into 2021. Family members who found themselves having concurrent video conferences quickly discovered the downside of not having walls. Open space is not going away entirely; however, an increasing number of homeowners in Harrisonburg area are drawn to sliding doors, interior windows and partitions that can create private spaces.

Color schemes expected to trend in 2021 are shades of brown that include warm taupes, beiges, sand and other earth tones. White continues to be the dominant color for kitchens and baths. Adding a splash of brown as an accent color helps to warm a space.

Homeowners that want to expand their space’s functionality should consider large-format rectangular tiles. Larger format tiles make a smaller space look larger, and they have fewer grout lines, which means less cleaning and cleaner lines. Tile styles that are expected to trends in 2021 include herringbone, stacked and brick, predicts Houzz.

If you want to make your home more functional and more beautiful, please give us a call at (540) 437-1990 or make an appointment to visit our showroom either virtually or in-person at 1930 Deyerle Avenue
Harrisonburg, VA 22801.

1. Add some creativity to home offices and student home school spaces…laminate countertops and writable surfaces by Formica can make task lists fun.

Less mess than Chalkboard paint!  Get creative with solid surface materials for walls, cabinets, countertops great for bedrooms, home offices and wall splashes.  Use Chalk pens or dry erase to decorate or change your message daily.

2. Solid Surface that looks like Real Wood to add visual texture to the rustic meets crisp line designs.  

Exotic wood looks for countertops that can offer a better price point and less maintenance than Butcher Block tops. For example Formica and Corian products both offer these type of looks.

3. Dress up your cabinets with details at the BACK of your cabinets!

Artistic wallpaper or laminate inside the cabinet with no doors or glass doors can add a pop of detail in an inexpensive way without committing to a whole wall backsplash.

4. Touchless features for clean and germ free options: 

• Easy Open appliances with a wave of the hand.

• Many companies offer lighting with wave of the hand to avoid touching light switches.  
• Touch free faucets with proximity sensors or wave your hand to activate the on/off option: Delta leads the way with with infrared sensors, voice tech to dispense amounts of water and on/off.

5. Metal accents to Mash up a variety of designs:  

Showing of the Metal hoods versus Wood hoods, Mixed metal hardware knobs and pulls, Metal Open shelving instead of Wood floating shelves.

Whether your inspiration is Nordic, Rustic, Industrial, Japandi, the metals will still add a bit of interest to the space. This will be cool metal supports, warm bronze metals, mirrors, lights, appliances taking front seat for visual appeal. 

We are always staying current in home design trends and if you would like to assure that your next kitchen, bath or renovation project is on-trend and can withstand the test of time, call our showroom at (540) 437-1990 or make an appointment to visit us in person or virtually at 1930 Deyerle Avenue, Harrisonburg.

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WHAT WE DO

• Redesign/Remodel
• New Construction
• Commercial
• Aging in place
• Innovations
• Microprojects

The demand for new master baths in Shenandoah Valley is increasing. Many families in Harrisonburg area are still spending most of their time at home, they have a new appreciation that a bathroom can offer so much more than function. A master bath can be a refuge from Zoom fatigue, a wellness center and a room to spend a few minutes devoid of email, texts and family members, all to yourself. That’s why the results of a recent 2020 Houzz.com bathroom trend study does not come as a surprise.

A Desire for a Makeover

Most homeowners want to change their master bath style when they renovate. The Houzz study found 69% of homeowners perceived their existing bath as projecting “an old and outdated look.” The most popular design trend is modern, favored by 20% of homeowners in the Houzz study, followed by transitional motifs (19%) and contemporary (18%). Traditional motifs were favored by 12% of homeowners, and 5% of survey respondents opted for a farmhouse design.

Health and Wellness Take Center Stage

More than 40% of renovating homeowners converted their master bath into a space for relaxation. 55% of Houzz study respondents reported that soaking in a tub helps them relax. Conversely, 54% of respondents enjoy taking long showers.

Shower appeal is growing. Nearly 50% of homeowners removed the tub during the remodel, opting for larger and multifunctional showers.

High Tech Fixtures

Nearly 50% of faucets and more than a third of toilets in renovated baths feature advanced technology that includes increased water efficiency and finger-proof finishes on faucets and self-cleaning toilet systems with heated seats.

Accentuated Spaces

Accent walls are hot in bath remodels in and nearly 40% of all remodels cited in the Houzz study featured accent walls in the master bath. 19% of homeowners opt for an accent wall inside the shower; 18% placed an accent wall outside the shower. Using different surface materials, such as tile or stone, was the most popular method to create an accent wall in the master bath, followed by colors, patterns or textures that differ from the rest of the bath. The most popular accent wall color was blue.

Light Up Your World

80% of homeowners renovating a master bath upgrade their lighting to reflect the ambiance as lighting affects how a room looks and feels. Especially if the homeowner is seeking a spa-like environment.

If you would like to create a personal haven in your home where you and your family can go to relax and rejuvenate, give us a call at (540) 437-1990 or make an appointment to visit our showroom either in person at 1930 Deyerle Avenue, Harrisonburg.

As your family spends more time at home, the kitchen has taken on a more prominent role as a multifunctional space. Certain elements of a dream kitchen should be at the top of everyone’s priority list regardless of space and budget. You should smile every time you cross the threshold, and every time you use your kitchen to prepare meals, eat, help with homework, chat with friends and neighbors or simply spend a few minutes for yourself.

The key items that should be a priority for any new kitchen:

• Adequate storage
• The right light
• Appliances that cater to the families’ desires and lifestyle
• Proper ventilation
• Island or peninsula
• Everything else, including the kitchen sink

A superbly designed kitchen is an organized kitchen. There is a direct connection between storage capabilities and functionality. That’s why when we design a new kitchen, we ask homeowners in Harrisonburg to inventory everything that they currently store in their kitchen, curate duplicative items and identify items they use rarely as opposed to those that are employed daily. Knowing the utensils, dishes, small appliances, glassware, cooking accessories and other items you use in your kitchen enables a kitchen designer to develop a customized storage solution for your unique needs and desires.

Lighting can make or break how your kitchen looks, feels and functions. Effective lighting illuminates a space in layers using different components and strategies to paint the final picture. Layers of light contribute not only to the functionality of the kitchen but also to its design and beauty. A savvy kitchen designer knows how to employ ambient, task and accent lights to enhance a new kitchen’s beauty and functionality.

Appliance selection should match your lifestyle. For homeowners in who like to cook, the cooktop and oven are the two most used and hardest working appliances. Make those two appliances priorities.

Range hoods serve two valuable roles. Functionally, they remove smoke, grease and odors from the kitchen. Aesthetically, they can provide a focal point that sets the tone for the entire space.

Islands or peninsulas are requested by 99% of homeowners in the Shenandoah Valley and for good reason. Islands provide extra countertop space and storage. Islands can double as dining tables, homework desks or a place for an additional sink, cooktop or dishwasher.

Sinks and sink areas are often an afterthought or minimize their importance. Too often the choice of the sink is left to the countertop fabricator that often agrees to provide a sink at “no charge.” Typically, the fabricator’s selection is the least expensive option available. Why would you want to put a $25 sink into a $50,000 kitchen? Plus, doing so misses multiple opportunities to enhance the functionality of your sink area. Today, manufacturers offer workstations that convert the sink into another space to prepare meals. These workstations include colanders, cutting boards, drying racks, bowls and other meal prep tools and utensils.

How can you identify the top priorities for your dream kitchen? Give us a call at (540) 437-1990 or make an appointment to visit our showroom either virtually or in-person at 1930 Deyerle Avenue,Harrisonburg.