5 Kitchen Remodeling Trends: 2020 Edition

A lot of homeowners are thinking of doing kitchen remodeling in San Diego. If you choose to take on such a task you'll soon realize that it can be very difficult to make a decision when it comes to how you should remodel your kitchen. We're here to give you the details on current trends that are getting all the attention this year in kitchen showrooms and homes across San Diego!

1. Open Kitchen and Living Area

 Some ideas for this decor style include oversized islands that are large enough to accommodate 10 or more people for meals. This boosts functionality and reduces clutter between the two areas. You can also opt to deck out the kitchen with lavish features/appliances such as double door ovens and refrigerators. Lighting usually differentiates the space designated for the kitchen and that of the living room, but the color of the walls or even the kitchen appliances themselves matches between the two and makes everything cohesive. Kitchen remodeling with this decor has been seen many times in the San Diego area.

2. Stone Age

 Marble countertops provide a look of luxury and elegance to any home kitchen. What's great about this decor is that you can match it with other elements that will great a modern and sleek look, or make it look palatial. For example, metal finishes, particularly gold for your sink and other appliances can provide a very regal look to your kitchen. You can incorporate a simple polished wood such as Oak, for the cabinets which will add a more modern look. You can even opt for handmade tiling for the walls if you'd like to create a more textured look.

3. Dark & Dramatic

 You may not necessarily see a lot of kitchen remodeling in San Diego that has done the all black decor, but dare to be bold!  Black walls and black cabinetry with white or grey countertops add a dramatic look to your kitchen. What pairs really well with this decor is wood flooring because it gives a really rustic look. You can really achieve a luxurious look if you add glass tiles to your kitchen or a mosaic art piece to the walls. Be sure before you choose a dark design that you pick paint color schemes that will work well at different times of the day. If you go with a high gloss finish it will help "bounce" light around the room, this is great for small spaces!

4. Double Island Kitchen

 This kitchen trend is very popular but is reserved for large kitchens. This remodeling option can be purely aesthetic or it can be functional. If you use your kitchen frequently, then you can have one island for hosting and entertaining and the other can have a built in sink and/or dishwasher. If you like things to be symmetrical then the two islands can be the same size and crafted with the same materials; or, if you'd like to explore your creativity you can have a smaller island that's used as extra workspace and a bigger island for food preparation or hosting dinner parties. Due to the popularity of the area, many kitchen remodelings in San Diego feature a double island design.

5. Wood on Wood

 This is an excellent decor option for those who love a rustic look. An all wood kitchen features wooden appliances as well as wooden cabinetry. You can even take this to the next level with stone walls if you really want to give that mountain home feel throughout your kitchen. Light colored flooring can help make the appliances stand out or you can go with a darker color depending on the color of the wood. Most people go for neutral tones that match well with any other paint colors throughout the home.

Need Space For A Rental Unit On Your San Diego Property? Check Out These Ideas

The real estate market in San Diego has been on the rise in recent times. While this may mean higher buying prices, it also means more demand and lucrative rental prices for those already owning a piece of property in this section of Southern California. With the help of a company such as Creative Design & Build, you can easily turn some of your space into a fully functioning rental unit and start earning some decent passive income. Interested?

Below, see some of our ideas on some of the areas you can convert into a rental unit in your home.

  1. Garage ADU

kitchen contractor near meGot a garage that you no longer actively use? This could be a perfect rental space if it is big enough, e.g. a double garage space. This space is already connected to the main house and is insulated. All that is needed is an ADU (accessory dwelling unit) remodel to get this space ready and habitable. It could act as a bedroom or small studio for a single adult. And they can have their own independent entrance door so you still get to enjoy your privacy.

  1. Basement remodel

Have a basement that you have no idea what to do with? Not everyone has their basement functioning as a man cave, home theatre or children’s play room. Quite a lot of basements are empty and neglected. With a bit of investment these large spaces can be turned into guest wings that can then be rented out. Most often have a bathroom so a kitchen is then added via a kitchen remodeling San Diego installation. After working on the flooring, lighting, walls, and adding furniture, the space is usually good to go.

  1. Pool house installation/remodel

If you have a pool house on your San Diego home that too can easily be flipped into an awesome rental unit. It can even work as a short term rental unit that you could list online for visiting tourists. A pool house is likely to fetch very good rental rates if done well because it has the potential to carry that leisurely high-end look and feel. If you don’t have a pool house but have adequate outdoor space and a pool, we could install one for you. And when you’re not renting it out you could use it as a guest wing or as an actual pool house.

  1. Room addition/ house extension

If your outdoor space is not that abundant, a good alternative is a room addition process. This is where we add a new room somewhere adjacent to your existing house. We can even add a new living suite complete with a kitchenette and a bathroom thanks to our bathroom remodeling San Diego experts. We often do this for families who have outgrown their house. But the same also works very well for shrewd homeowners who don’t mind becoming landlords as well.

 

Feeling like a landlord yet? For any of the above projects Creative Design & Build can handle the entire project management including application for permits, drawing up designs, and even installing furniture.

Here’s How You Can Add More Storage Space To Your Kitchen

Storage is often a big factor when it comes to designing, constructing or remodeling kitchens. Without sufficient storage, a kitchen can quickly lose its functionality and allure. Are you struggling with storage issues in your kitchen? Below are some great ideas on how to carve out more storage space from your kitchen, besides the normal cabinets and drawers, of course. Kitchen Storage Space Contractors

Pantries
If you need a lot of storage in your kitchen then a pantry is a must-have for you. A pantry allows you to carve out an entire section dedicated solely to storing pots, pans, and food supplies. And although it only takes up a small amount of your floor space, a pantry can hold a lot. They are especially ideal for storing supplies or utilities that you don’t necessarily use every day, such as blenders or long term storage food such as cans and jars. And you don’t need to worry about a pantry ruining the style of your kitchen. Modern pantry designs can complement your kitchen space or even camouflage it.

Hidden storage compartments
If you need extra storage and would still like to maintain a clean or minimalistic look on your kitchen then hidden storage is right for you. The same applies to homeowners with tiny kitchens. Hidden storage is very functional because you can cram a lot of items within a very small space. And because the compartment stays hidden 95% of the time, you don’t have to worry that it may look cluttered. Simple pull-out storage compartments, for example, are clever and make great use of spaces that might otherwise go underutilized.

Kitchen island storage
Do you have a kitchen island? Are you planning on installing one during your kitchen remodeling Poway project? Approximately half of all kitchen islands have no storage compartments built into them. This is unfortunate considering that islands provide great storage potential. Not only is it a lot of space, you can effectively utilize all of it. You could install an entire pantry under a kitchen island, for example. This would greatly allow you to declutter your space. And with use of clever cabinet doors, you could easily make it hidden storage
Countertop storage
If you are desperate for storage space in your kitchen you could compromise and go for countertop storage. The free space on and above countertops can be cleverly used to hold a lot of items. The best way to go about it is to install open shelves on the countertops. That way you can maximize on both the lateral and the vertical space. You can then load them up with storage jars, spice containers, canned foods, cutlery, and more. With this approach you don’t even have to use up much of your countertop space. A few racks or shelves might be all you need.

We hope this helps with your kitchen storage challenges. If you need help installing storage solutions in your Poway kitchen let us know and we’ll discuss all the viable options and designs with you.

5 Signs That Your Kitchen Needs A Remodel

The kitchen is easily the most renovated space in any part of any house. This is largely due to the fact that the kitchen experiences the most hours of tear and wear in any given household. By a rough estimate, most domestic kitchens will need some sort of renovation every five years. And that should beg the question – when was the last time your kitchen got a remodel? Below, see how you can tell whether it’s time to give your kitchen a facelift.

1. Outdated paint or wallpaper

The walls of a kitchen will betray the age and neglect that it has endured over the years. If your kitchen has peeling paint, stained wallpaper, or smoke-covered ceilings, that’s an indicator that the space could do with a fresh coat of paint and some new vibrant colors to brighten up the place again. Luckily, these are easy areas to cover. It can take as little as a day to repaint the walls; and it doesn’t cost as much.

2. Squeaky and leaking faucets

Plumbing is the key infrastructure of any given kitchen. If your kitchen has squeaky faucets or leaky pipes then that’s a clear indicator that your plumbing system needs a critical look. You may need to install new faucets and have the drain pipes reworked as well. This will help ward off leaks and burst/blocked drain pipes that could damage the walls, cause rot, and eventually stall your kitchen operations, albeit temporarily (but not without costing you some good money, of course).

3. Not enough floor space

With time, kitchens are becoming bigger and bigger. While kitchens in the past just needed to be nooks where food could be cooked and prepared in, today’s kitchens have taken over other mandates such as entertaining guests and even sharing meals. Plus, modern kitchens have to hold a lot, from appliances to pantries. So if your kitchen is starting to feel a little small, chances are that it is. And with a remodel you just may be able to increase the floor space and create a larger space.

4. Poor layout

Poor layout in a kitchen will greatly hinder its functionality. The various spaces in the kitchen need to flow seamlessly in order to allow maximum output when preparing meals, cooking, serving meals, or when cleaning up. If your kitchen’s layout is inhibiting this flow then perhaps you need a remodel to reorganize it. You could move different things about and create a new layout that puts everything where it needs to be.

5. Outdated electronics

Another way to tell if your kitchen needs to be guided into the modern era is outdated electronics. No one is saying that a kitchen has to have all the bells and whistles. But it wouldn’t hurt either if you can afford it. Besides, outdated electronics will need to be replaced eventually. If you invest in modern electronics you’ll improve the efficiency of your kitchen, increase the value of your home, and probably save more on electricity because newer electronics are likely to be more eco-friendly.

Need kitchen remodeling San Diego experts? Look no further. Creative Design & Build can reimagine your kitchen and add modern, elegant touches to it.

The 5 Most Important Questions When Choosing A Designer For Your Kitchen Or Bathroom Remodel

Today, kitchen and bathroom remodels are a dime a dozen. Choosing to remodel your space is not the difficult part, clearly. The most difficult part of a remodel today is finding the right designer to work with; someone who will execute your vision as you see it. So how then can you find such a person, what do you need to look out for, what questions do you need to ask?

This is what you need to ask yourself before picking a designer for your kitchen remodel or bathroom remodel.

Have they done similar work before?

Contractors dabble in lots of fields. Most have their fingers in every type of work you can think of. And that may not necessarily be a bad thing. However, do not assume that any contractor you across automatically qualifies for the specific type of work you need done. Perhaps they have only worked on roofs and exterior works and have never built a kitchen or bathroom. So always find out if they have done similar work before. And if possible they should show you some examples for comparison.

Do they have a clear work schedule?

Still on some contractors having their fingers in various jobs, you don’t want to work with someone whose attention is split between various projects. You want a contractor that has all their focus on your kitchen or bathroom remodel. So always ask prospective candidates if they have a clear work schedule. And if they are slated to start on a certain project in the near future, make sure that they have enough time to complete your work between now and then; you don’t want them rushing your work just so they can jump onto the next job when the time comes.

Do they understand and love the idea behind your remodel?

A remodel is personal for you as the client. You are heavily invested in the process and you know exactly what you want to do to your spaces. It is important, therefore, that the remodel designer you choose to work with understands your idea and loves it just as much. That way they will be invested as well and will do whatever is needed to give you the results you want without compromising. Think about it, if your designer does not love the idea or understand it, how then can they actualize it?

Do they have great ideas to chip into the project?

It is not enough that your designer understands and loves your idea, can they add value to it as well? Can they contribute ideas to make your kitchen or bathroom even better and more durable or functional? It’s only right that they do because they are the experts and you’re paying them to add their value, skills, and experience to your project.

Are they licensed, insured, and bonded?

Last, but not least, ask your designer if they have the requisite documents to operate. These requirements will allow you to establish that you’re working with an authentic contractor and that your work is protected should anything go wrong. A state license tells you that they are allowed to do the work, insurance tells you that you will be compensated should something go wrong, and a bond assures you that your work will get completed should your contractor be unable to.

Creative Design & Build is your ideal partner for your kitchen remodeling in San Diego or your bathroom remodeling in San Diego. Talk to us today and let us help you achieve your dream space!