Tag Archives: Kitchen Makeover

Eco-Friendly Kitchen remodel.

Building or Remodeling to Create an Eco-Friendly Kitchen

Kitchens and bathrooms are the most frequently requested remodel projects. Consider remodeling to create an eco-friendly kitchen.

Over time, most homeowners who are living in their homes for an extended time will consider remodeling their kitchen. Whether for a new home design or a remodel, why not make that all-important part of the home as energy-efficient and eco-friendly as possible? After all, energy costs are not likely to come down. 

Designing Your Eco-Friendly New or Remodeled Kitchen

New kitchen designs can offer infinite options for eco-friendliness and responsible energy management. Homeowners have a vast amount of options for all aspects of kitchen design. They can choose renewable and recyclable materials and select Energy Star® rated appliances to help lower their energy costs.

Remodeling and improving an existing kitchen can require considerable imagination. After all, you must find room for new energy-efficient appliances and extra storage. One option is to expand into an adjacent area or “bump out” to create additional space.

An experienced design build expert can help homeowners visualize the possibilities to make the kitchens more ergonomic, energy efficient, and decidedly more appealing.

To keep your kitchen remodel eco-friendly, here are a few suggestions:

Eco-Friendly Kitchen Remodel

Reface Cabinetry 

Where possible, refacing existing cabinets saves money and consumes far less material and energy than building and installing new cabinets. However, if the design calls for dramatic repositioning and style changes, you may consider purchasing new doors and reusing the old cabinet frames.

Choose Quartz or Corian Countertops

While granite countertops have been hugely popular in the past, they require immense amounts of energy to extract and transport. Quartz and Corian use less energy to produce and are equally attractive. Plus, they will last a lifetime without chipping and scratching.

Energy Efficient Lighting and Fixtures

Reduce those electric and water bills substantially with the latest appliances and lighting. The Energy Star label assures homeowners that their energy costs will decrease. Do your research and find the best-rated appliances to keep energy use down. Installing induction cooktops and convection ovens can reduce cook times while using less energy and releasing less heat into the home.

Strategic, low-energy LED lighting with easily controlled dimmer switches can dramatically impact the appearance of a newly remodeled kitchen. LED bulbs also last much longer than traditional lightbulbs.

Replace those old sink faucets with “touch-free” systems that automatically shut off to eliminate water wastage.

Energy Efficient Dishwasher

A highly efficient dishwasher can help to reduce water usage substantially. In fact, it could save up to 3,870 gallons per year on average. Newer dishwashers can also reduce electric consumption substantially. 

Sustainable Flooring

Consider an eco-friendly flooring material. The current options are attractive while reducing energy usage. Renewable and recyclable materials such as cork and bamboo are great options. Or consider renewable wooden flooring or tiles made from recycled materials.

Update the Windows

Windows can be a primary culprit of energy loss during the heat of summer and frigid days and nights of winter. Replacing older windows with the new couple of glazed window units can generate significant energy consumption reductions. These savings can eventually pay for the replacements. At the very least, homeowners should install tight, secure weather stripping around all windows. 

Use Only Low- to No-VOC Finishes

Many paints and stains contain volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) that will release into the atmosphere during and after application. Newer finishes are more eco-friendly and should be requested for any new construction or remodel project.

Make Room for Your Recycle Bin

So many products and packaging today are recyclable. Responsible homeowners can reduce the volume of material heading to the landfill substantially by recycling.

Contact Master’s Design Build Group in Hatfield, Pennsylvania

As a leading design, build and remodel company in Eastern Pennsylvania, Master’s Design Build Group helps homeowners in Bucks and Montgomery Counties achieve their goals of greater sustainability, responsibility, and reduced energy consumption in kitchens and other parts of their homes. 

Whether the project is new construction or a remodel, the Master’s professionals can help homeowners visualize, then realize their dream of a beautiful, eco-friendly home.

To view some of Master’s Design Build Group’s past finished projects, visit their Gallery of past projects. 

Homeowners can schedule an initial no-obligation consultation to discuss ideas and objectives by completing the brief Let’s Talk form on the Master’s Design Build Group website. 

Or you may call the Master’s office to schedule your consultation at (215)-723-6162.

Design-Checklist-for-a-Kitchen-Makeover

Design Checklist for a Kitchen Makeover

Begin your successful kitchen project with our handy checklist for a kitchen makeover. Creating a visually appealing workspace with the right appliances, ergonomic sensibility, ample workspace, and storage requires a lot of careful planning and forethought.

After all, your kitchen is the most important room in the home, the center where meals are prepared and people congregate. 

Continue reading →
Kitchen-Remodels-to-Increase-Your-Home's-Value--315

Kitchen Remodels to Increase Your Home’s Value

Real estate and home upgrade experts agree that major kitchen remodels increase your home’s value. And deliver a higher return on investment (ROI). More than most other home improvements. Prospective buyers can easily be turned off by a dated, drab kitchen. They may look elsewhere. Or determine your selling price is too high. Considering the cost to raise the kitchen to a more contemporary standard.

Continue reading →

Trendy Countertop Finishes

More often than not, the kitchen ends up being where a family spends a good deal of their waking time. Barring Great Aunt Ginny’s trip over the dog into the Christmas tree, the kitchen will be a major focal point during gatherings as well.

The kitchen should be visually appealing, durable, and functional. While each piece plays an integral role in these roles, choices in countertop finish shout volumes when it comes to style and usability.
Continue reading →

Make the Most of Your Kitchen Storage

Make the Most of Your Kitchen Storage

Having enough kitchen storage is a dream for many homeowners. The dream can become a reality with a knowledgeable kitchen renovation contractor.

Start With The Pantry

Make the most of your kitchen storage

A walk in pantry is wonderful, but make sure the entire pantry is being utilized. Add pull out racks for cans, even double stacking racks if the space between shelves is ten inches or more. In fact, the pulling out racks can be extremely efficient in storing food boxes, chips, crackers, drinks and cooking staples. Should the pantry have a wall without shelving, use that space to add spice racks.
Continue reading →

Ideas for Stunning Kitchen Cabinets

Ideas for Stunning Kitchen Cabinets

It’s a big decision to remodel your kitchen. You’ll need to drop some money into your house with a promise to see a higher selling price when, down the line, you decide to sell your home.

It will also take emotional resources; putting up with not having a kitchen for cooking and all the remodel mess. Kitchen remodels can range from $18,500 on the low end to $50,000 to 60,000 for a major kitchen remodel.

The only real limit is your wallet. While that maybe a lot of money to spend on one room, most times owners see a rise in the value of their home after the remodel is complete.

kitchen cabinets

What will you be doing in your kitchen? Do you like to cook? Will you be entertaining? Do you have large dinner parties or small family gatherings? All these questions will influence the layout of the kitchen.

For example, if someone likes to cook a lot, the fridge, sink, and range will be close together to make preparing meals easy. If the homeowners like to entertain, the kitchen may be more spacious and luxurious.

The point is for the homeowners and designer to come up with a layout that works for the household. One major piece of your kitchen is your cabinets. They’re on most of the walls and lend a lot of character to your kitchen decor.

kitchen cabinets

A Game of Space

One of the most prominent deciding factors of the layout is the amount of space there is to work within the kitchen. A small kitchen means that the cabinets will have to function in a way that maximizes space.

Open shelving and glass doors makes a small kitchen feel open and airy.  Adding a lazy susan to corner cabinets can give access to areas that were previously black holes.

577_BM-QT-cooking-area-Final

Island or No Island

If the kitchen has an open floor plan a kitchen island can offer storage space, a place to sit and looks stylish. In a large kitchen floor plan often, the island will create a galley like feel adding a sink or range top to the bar.

Most islands include some type of eating area. Small kitchens may not fit a traditional island, but having a connected bar area offers some of the same benefits.

345_Brian--120-Kitchen---Front-View-of-Range-area--1000-x-767-

Custom Ideas

Homeowners can add some custom cabinet elements to their kitchen. Appliances can be hidden from view with cabinet fronts. Microwaves can be built into the cabinets. Other ideas include furniture feet and industrial accents.

Decor

Material Things

Stainless steel kitchen cabinet are gaining popularity in industrial style kitchens. Other options include enamel covered colored cabinets and cabinets created with antique furniture.

Remember that you’ll need to clean those cabinets frequently so choose a style and finish that cleans easily.

You should love your new kitchen. With all the options available, you should be able to create the kitchen of your dreams within your budget. The kitchen is the most important area of your home, and it should be treated that way with quality cabinets and a winning design.

Please feel free to contact us if you’re thinking of remodeling your kitchen. We’d love to talk with you about all the styles of kitchen cabinets available.

Image courtesy of decor cabinets.com

The Energy Efficient Kitchen1

The Energy Efficient Kitchen

As more people embrace a greener lifestyle, renovations are moving towards making homes more energy efficient. When deciding whether to upgrade a home, the homeowner needs to consider if their investment will add value to their home, the value may come from an increase in resale value or reduced energy costs.
Continue reading →

Kitchen Flooring Ideas1

Kitchen Flooring Ideas

Choosing the right floor for your kitchen is an important design choice, as it will dramatically affect the look and feel of your kitchen. The material you choose for your kitchen floor has to be durable and resilient, and easy to clean as well.

There are plenty of materials to choose from, each with their own distinct advantages and disadvantages. With a bit of forethought you can find the perfect floor to suit your kitchen needs.
Continue reading →

Sustainable and Green Building Practices for Kitchen Remodels1

Sustainable and Green Building Practices for Kitchen Remodels

A kitchen can use a lot of energy and resources. If you’re concerned about sustainability and want to make your home greener here are a few remodeling ideas can help.

Sustainable Cabinets and Furniture

Cabinets and kitchen furniture contribute a lot to the appearance of the kitchen, but these pieces aren’t always green. Kitchen remodels can be accomplished easily through the selection of the right furniture.
Continue reading →