Designing an Eco-Friendly and Energy-Efficient Kitchen

October 28, 20140

Learn how your kitchen remodeling can be eco-friendly and energy-efficient.

One of the most popular trends when it comes to kitchen remodeling is being eco-friendly and efficient. Creating a green kitchen offers many advantages, including eliminating waste, conserving natural resources, reducing landfill waste and helping you save money. There is no single design choice when it comes to making your kitchen eco-friendly; it’s all about your personal style and taste. Here are some tips for choosing materials, features, fixtures and other kitchen additions that best fit your kitchen remodeling plans.

Countertops

Your kitchen remodeling plans should include sturdy, easy-to-clean countertops. Green and eco-friendly options include IceStone, a combination of concrete and recycled quartz that comes in a variety of colors. You can also use quartz, hemp, recycled paper or other all-natural materials.

Stainless steel is another eco-friendly option for your countertops. It requires little maintenance, is ideal for cooking and lasts for years, making it a durable choice.

Lighting

Reduce your electric bill by adding more windows to your kitchen. This will fill the space with plenty of natural light, while conserving resources. Ensuring your new windows provide adequate ventilation will give your kitchen an improved indoor air quality.

When planning a kitchen remodeling project, you may want to consider investing in high performance replacement windows. This could help you save money on your heating bills by providing increased insulation. These windows can also make your kitchen feel warmer and more inviting, especially on those cold winter mornings.

Kitchen remodeling can help you save energy and the environment.

Your home improvement contractor can help you make the right choices for kitchen remodeling.

Cooktops and Ovens

Consider an electric-induction cooktop for your kitchen upgrade. This kind of stovetop helps heat your food quickly and evenly by transferring the electronic magnetic energy right onto your pans. While shopping for appliances, keep in mind purchasing an oven with the Energy Star label will help you save as much as 80 percent on your energy bills.

Refrigerators

Refrigerators are the second largest energy consumers in a household. If your kitchen additions include a new refrigerator, look for one with an Energy Star label. According to Energy Star, most refrigerators with the label use 10 to 50 percent less energy than regular models. Another tip for conserving energy with your refrigerator is to avoid anything larger than what you truly need.

Flooring

Though perhaps not the first upgrade you think of when it comes to the kitchen, flooring is an important part of kitchen remodeling. You want to choose materials that are safe for the environment and cohesive with the style of the home.

A good choice for eco-friendly flooring is linoleum made from all-natural materials. Wood flooring, or flooring from a renewable resource, such as bamboo, is another green flooring option. Cork and concrete floor tiles are great sources as well because both use natural pigments.

Sinks and Faucets

When upgrading fixtures in your kitchen, consider a sink that uses recycled material, such as stainless steel or copper. Browse salvage yards for used material, which can help you save money on kitchen remodeling plans.

Look for a faucet with an aerator, which will inject oxygen into the water stream. This helps produce less water than traditional faucets, decreasing wasteful overuse and saving you money on your water bills at the same time.

If you are looking for a Massachusetts home improvement contractor for a kitchen remodel or other project, contact us. Our experienced team can help you transform your vision into reality.

When It Comes to Kitchen Remodeling, Which Is Best…Open or Closed?

September 23, 20140

Do you want an open or closed kitchen remodeling project?

Open or closed….these are your options when it comes to kitchen remodeling.

If you are currently making kitchen remodeling plans, you may have spent some time researching the latest looks and trends in home renovation. Kitchens can have a variety of features, including the ability to be open or closed. If you are having a difficult time deciding whether to add more walls for a closed look or tear down a few for a more open space, there are some advantages and disadvantages to both types of kitchen additions.

Closed Kitchens

When it comes to kitchen remodeling, many homeowners are looking to convert their current kitchens into open living spaces. Creating an open kitchen could mean major construction and tearing down your existing walls, which could greatly increase the cost of your kitchen remodeling plans. If you would rather focus on upgrading other features, such as appliances and cabinets, a closed option could save money.

Other advantages of a closed kitchen include:

· More walls mean more room for cabinets and other storage options

· Messes are easily hidden because your kitchen isn’t so open

· Cooking odors are contained

While closed kitchen additions provide more storage, they do have some disadvantages. For example, if you have small children or pets, it can be more difficult to keep an eye on them if you need to stay in the kitchen. Adding or having more walls in your kitchen remodeling plans can also take up more of your current square footage than an open floor plan.

Your kitchen remodeling options include open and closed designs.

Which design do you prefer? Open or closed kitchen remodeling.

Open Kitchens

Open kitchens are currently one of the most popular home renovation trends. Many new homes already include these open spaces, but if you have an older home and are looking for the same design, kitchen remodeling can help you get the kitchen of your dreams. Along with tying all of your living spaces together, open kitchens:

· Provide a full view into other rooms, such as the family area

· Create a social hub for parties and entertaining

· Allow conversation while cooking

· Bring in more light from windows

Open kitchen remodeling plans can help your family stay connected throughout your home, even when you are busy cooking. Open plans let you keep an eye on small children and pets without leaving the room. Unfortunately, if you don’t currently have an open space and are looking to add one, wall demolition may be needed, which will add to your kitchen additions cost.

If you are looking to add a beautiful open or closed kitchen to your home, contact us. Our Massachusetts design and build contractors have the experience you need to make your dream home a reality.

Kitchen and Bathroom Remodeling: The Top Two Projects to Add Home Value

May 28, 20140

Kitchen and bath remodeling are the top two home improvement projects.

Kitchen and bathroom remodeling can increase the value of your home.

Remodeling a kitchen and bathroom are the top two most popular home improvement projects. If you are thinking about a kitchen or bathroom remodel or even adding an extra bathroom, make sure you do some research beforehand. One of the biggest considerations to make is figuring out a budget. Keeping your kitchen and bathroom remodeling within a reasonable price range is essential to regaining the investment you make.

What’s Wrong with the Bathroom?

The value a remodeled bathroom will add to your home depends on the scope of the project. If you are just remodeling the bathroom, but there are other rooms in the house that need work, the remodel will have little effect on the value of your home. On the other hand, if your home is already in good condition, a bathroom remodel may increase your home’s value greatly.

The biggest added value to your home comes from building a new bathroom. The most profitable project is creating a master bathroom. According to Remodeling Magazine, you can expect to expect a return of about 55 percent on the cost of a bathroom addition. For some homes, adding a master bathroom can provide a greater return on your investment due to its desirability.

How about the Kitchen?

Kitchen remodeling can increase your home’s value by between 69 and 75 percent of the money invested into the plans, according to Remodeling Magazine. Adding crown molding, new paint and fresh lighting are inexpensive ways to add value. However, the most lucrative improvements in your kitchen remodeling plans include updating with energy-efficient appliances, upgrading countertops and installing new flooring.

If your ultimate remodeling goal is to get a return on your investment, keep in mind the other homes in your community. You don’t want to price your home out of the market. If neighboring houses don’t have granite countertops or other costly upgrades, choose lower-cost options with your kitchen remodeling plans. The same is true if your neighborhood calls for high-end upgrades. Buyers in that market will expect that same high level of improvements.

Figuring out the Budget

Determining your budget is the best place to start your kitchen and bathroom remodeling plans. Knowing your price range helps you choose where to start, what types of changes you can make and what materials you can afford. Look at how much your property is worth first. If your have equity in your home, you may qualify for a home improvement loan. If not, doing most of the work on your own may be the most affordable option for your kitchen and bathroom remodeling plans. The money you save doing the work yourself can go toward updated plumbing, electricity, appliances or other expensive areas needing improvement.

If you have plans for a bathroom addition or kitchen remodel in MA, contact us. Colony Home Improvement has more than 40 years of experience to get the job done right.

What’s Hot for Kitchen Remodeling in 2014

May 21, 20140

Kitchen remodeling can increase the value of your home.

The latest trends in kitchen remodeling require space, light and cool colors.

Are you thinking about remodeling your old kitchen to spruce it up? Maybe you bought your house years ago, and it needs some updating? Whatever the reason, you may need a few ideas to help kick-start your kitchen remodeling plans. During your kitchen remodeling research you will find amazing, creative ideas. Just remember, remodeling should fit you and your family’s style and make you feel comfortable with your decisions.

Here are just a few of the current trends to get you started:

Space, Space, Space

An ever-popular trend with kitchen remodeling is an open concept design. Since the kitchen is the room where most of the activities take place, having a larger open living space that leads out of the kitchen gives families the advantage of pursuing other interests and still being together. An open concept kitchen is also ideal for entertaining.

Loving Light

Most people want a lot of natural light. Research shows the use of natural light can greatly affect your mood and even your health. Natural light encourages your body to produce more Vitamin D and release those feel-good hormones.

Creating more outlets for natural light in your kitchen remodeling plans is a great way to utilize this scientific fact. How can you create more natural light in your kitchen? Large windows are the most common solution to this problem. However, you can also install skylights if you want even more natural light to flow through. Enhancing the natural light from outside can be done with counter lighting, under cabinet lighting and spotlights.

Cool Colors

When looking at current trends for color in kitchen remodeling, you’ll find this year’s color palette is all about creating a more relaxing space. It’s a softer take on past contemporary looks. You’ll want to create a kitchen area that’s more inviting and comfortable by using grays, blues and other softer colors. Use bold colors wisely and only as accents.

Floors as a Focal Point

The hottest trend for this year is patterned flooring, which means anything goes! Numerous patterned tile options are available. Parquet flooring is another example. If you don’t want to be tied down to a patterned floor in your kitchen remodeling, you can always find area rugs with interesting geometric patterns. If you decide to follow this trend when creating your kitchen remodeling plans, there are hundreds of flooring ideas for inspiration.

Figuring out what you expect from your new kitchen is a personal choice. These are just a few tips and trends that are hot this year. If you want to take your kitchen remodeling plans to the next level, contact us. With more than 40 years of experience in kitchen remodeling in MA, you can put your trust in Colony Home Improvement to get your job done right and make your home renovation dreams a reality.

Tag: kitchen remodeling plans