Keep it Fresh! New Kitchen and Bath Ideas You'll Love!
With shorter days and cooler weather in full swing, maybe you're settling in and starting to think that 2016 just might be the year you finally get around to updating your kitchen or re-doing the bathroom. If we've read you mind, we've got some great ideas for ways to move your dream of a super-efficient kitchen or ultra-luxurious bath closer to reality.
Make It Personal
Why not make your space meet your needs? According to research by Kitchen & Bath Design News, more homeowners want homes that closely reflect their individual style. This can be anything from brightly colored appliances to shower systems that elevate showering to a personalized spa experience. Cabinet organization and storage is more customizable than ever before with dividers, knife blocks, compartmentalized bins and pull-out trays to reduce clutter and make meal prep easier. We've seen storage solutions crafted to fit wine bottles, coffee makers (and K-cups), stand mixers, spice jars, baking sheets, produce bins, cooking utensils, rolls of plastic wrap or foil and even dog food!
Going Gray
Gray is a versatile neutral that is making an appearance in all styles of kitchen and bath designs and all types of materials. It works well with traditional designs as well as modern spaces and is a beautiful, soft color for cabinets and tiles. It's also the perfect backdrop for the pop of color those brightly colored appliances add to a room.
Smart is Here to Stay
Anything that's "smart" is gaining popularity in the kitchen: wall ovens that are controlled with a wireless remote, fridges that have flex zones that can switch between cooling and freezing, induction cooktops that warn you before a pot boils over, and an increasing variety of products that can be controlled from a phone app.
There are also smart products that will bring your bathroom into the twenty-first century. Digital faucets and shower heads can tell you the actual water temp on a screen, so there are no surprises. Touchless fixtures include not only faucets, but also no-touch toilets that flush with a wave of your hand. Kohler has introduced its most advanced showering system that seamlessly integrates water, sound, steam and lighting elements. It features pre-programmed spa experiences as well as a touch screen interface, allowing the user to control and customize every facet of their showering experience.
LED Takes the Lead
Don't be nostalgic for that old-style incandescent or fluorescent lighting! The many variations on LED lights are highly efficient, don't give off heat in the room, are dimmable and they last a long time. Put light right where you need it: inside a drawer or cabinet, on a backsplash or baseboard or even install a vanity sink or toilet that can glow like a nightlight. One exciting product category is the LED fireplace. It needs no vent and can be placed anywhere you want the ambiance of flames but not the heat, even in the kitchen or a bathroom.
If you're thinking about increasing the beauty, functionality and efficiency of your kitchen and bathrooms, or any room in your home, this is an exciting time to do it. Let us help you select the fresh looks that are just right for you!
Maintenance Tip: Inspect Your Home's Exterior for Potential Problems
Autumn's a great time to check the outside of your home. The area around your foundation should be graded away from the house. Downspouts should carry runoff at least 3 to 4 feet from the foundation. Also make sure mulch or woodpiles don't come into contact with siding, as this invites termites and carpenter ants into your home.
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See you next month!
Michael Winn
and the WINN Design+Build team |
