How to Choose Kitchen Upgrades

Posted on December 4, 2013 by
how to choose kitchen upgrades

In addition to being functional and stylish, new backsplash systems hold and power tablets and phones. Photo Courtesy of Legrand.

This is a special guest post from Jamie Gold, a San Diego, Calif.-based kitchen and bath designer.

While you may want to upgrade everything in your new home, budget limitations can sometimes prevent that from happening. It’s important to consider your needs and lifestyle and choose your new home upgrades accordingly.

The good news is, you don’t have to forgo all of them entirely; some can be made with relative ease (and affordability) after you’ve settled in. Here are things to consider when choosing upgrades for your kitchen (we’ll cover bathroom upgrades in a post next week):

Lighting Upgrades

You may have opted for recessed lights above your peninsula or island that you can have an electrician replace later with style-coordinated pendants. Recessed lights installed over your breakfast nook can be swapped out for a matching chandelier. Both can have a tremendous impact on the room’s look.

If you’re planning to add a designer backsplash — which I’ll cover in the next section — you can also have your electrician wire for and install energy-efficient, LED under-cabinet lighting.

Backsplash Upgrades

If possible, opt for no backsplash and add one later that will go from your wall cabinets right down to your countertops. This delivers the best look and gives you a terrific opportunity to personalize your space.

You can also add functionality to your backsplash with a modular storage or power rail. There are even models on the market today that will hold and charge your smart phone and tablet.

Door and Window Upgrades

If your doors and windows are standard heights, it’s also fairly easy to cover them on your own after you move in.

If you’re doing drapes, you’ll want fabric that’s easy to clean. Outdoor-rated materials are ideal for that. If you’re doing blinds, you’ll want a wood-look synthetic that will handle sink splashes.

Cabinet Upgrades

Some cabinets don’t need knobs or pulls. Some do. Either way, you can upgrade those with relative ease after you move in.

If you’re planning on doing decorative pulls, you can have your builder drill just one hole for an affordable catalog knob and later have a carpenter or handyman drill a second hole for the spread required by your fabulous new handles.

Be strategic in where you have your builder drill, based on what you want to install later, as you are not going to want extra holes in your new cabinet fronts! (Three to four inches is a fairly common hole spread, if you are starting out with pulls, rather than knobs.)

Sink Upgrades

It’s fairly easy to replace a top-mounted sink, but definitely not so adding or replacing an undermounted one. If you’re getting stone tops from your builder with an undermounted stainless sink, you’ll want to get 18- or 16-gauge during the construction process. If you’re getting Corian, that’s the time to choose an integral sink. It’s impractical and expensive to add one later.

If, however, you’re content with a top-mount sink and it’s appropriate for your home and community (for resale later), you can easily change out a basic model with an upgraded version later. New offerings include a sleeker edge, seamless drain and better materials or accessories. Consult with a plumber before buying a non-returnable special order, so that you know that the new model will fit with your plumbing and existing cut-out, (especially for stone countertops).

This is also a good time to consider an upgraded faucet. Kitchen faucets are fairly simple to replace and if your new designer model with different spray modes happens to need one less hole, you can fill that with a coordinating soap dispenser.

Last Words

When you decide which upgrades and additions make the most sense to do after you move in, be sure to factor in all related costs for having the work done. These can include a licensed electrician, plumber, carpenter, handyman, painter, materials and clean-up.

Knowing what’s involved in your desired upgrades helps you make the best decisions for your schedule, budget and building allowances.

Jamie Gold, CKD, CAPS is a Certified Kitchen Designer in San Diego and the author of New Kitchen Ideas That Work.

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In Praise of Laminate Countertops: Why the Tried-and-True Surface Is Cool Again

Posted on December 2, 2013 by
laminate countertops

Laminate countertops have come a long since the 1970s and ’80s. This kitchen has Wilsonart Premium Golden Lightning countertops that emulate a Brazilian granite with its deep green and white veining. Photos courtesy of Wilsonart.

By Judy L. Marchman

With granite, marble and quartz hogging the limelight as the preferred luxury countertop surfaces, laminate countertops are often relegated to the sidelines by many homeowners as undesirable and unattractive in comparison, a holdover perhaps from when laminate countertops fell out of vogue with many designers in the 1970s and ’80s.

But in recent years, laminate has experienced something of a style revival with upscale and custom patterns and new design features. Good news for homeowners who still would like the granite look, but can’t afford the granite cost. (Full disclosure: I have laminate countertops in my kitchen and I love them!)

“Today, laminate is still used on countertops and cabinets throughout Europe and Asia for some of the most expensive kitchens,” said Tammy Weadock, marketing communications manager at Wilsonart, one of the world’s leading manufacturers and distributors of decorative laminate. “In the United States, we are rediscovering laminate for its own sake: limitless design options, affordable value and solid performance.”

Fresh Design

Whatever look you are going for — modern, rustic, traditional, edgy — you can find a laminate design to match. According to Weadock, state-of-the-art, high-fidelity printing and optical finishes allow laminate to closely emulate natural materials such as travertine, slate, stained concrete and tumbled stone, but “today’s laminates are not only reproductions: A new generation of designs are inspired by bright color and graphic design, bringing a look that is not possible in other materials.”

In addition, integrated sinks add a posh touch and decorative edges, such as beveled or crescent edges, hide the old “brown line” that has been a knock against laminate in the past.

Great Value

laminate countertopI have laminate countertops — in a very cool granite-y design, IMHO — for a specific reason: affordability. “With today’s laminates,” Weadock said, “you can expect to pay one-third of the cost of granite.”

She cautioned that while there are some inexpensive granites out there, they are often thin and not very stable and so can end up costing more than you think in the long run after allowing for edge treatment, cut-downs and installation. Laminates also are easy and quick to install by professional contractors.

 

 

 

Durability

While affordability was what piqued my interest in laminate, the surface’s ability to take wear and tear is what completely won me over. My counters don’t stain and are scratch resistant and I’ve tested those factors numerous times.

“Laminates have always been the workhorse materials of interior surfaces,” Weadock said. “The surface is non-porous and hard enough to withstand everyday use.” So, while granite may still reign as king of the countertops, laminate is recapturing its cool factor thanks to a plethora of design options that are more realistic than ever, without breaking the budget.

Judy Marchman is a freelance writer and editor, with 20 years of magazine and book publishing experience. She writes about a variety of home-related topics for NewHomeSource.

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Beating the Heating Bill

Posted on November 25, 2013 by
saving on heating bills

The cold weather brings winter chills, but that doesn’t mean it has to bring high heating bills too.

By Ashley Steel

Brrrr! Baby, it’s cold outside, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the luxurious warmth of your new home, while still saving big on heating bills this season. Striking a more moderate balance between winter’s chill and your heater’s sovereign warmth can be healthy and even save you big bucks on your electricity bill.

Relying on your heater less and still achieving optimal warmth is a two-pronged approach. For best results you will need to equip your house, and yourself, to fend off the cold. Consider these simple changes for a warm (and cheap!) winter.

House Warming

Maintain Your Heater

It’s probably the easiest thing you can do to keep warm, but sometimes this simple task is neglected: maintain your heater. Since you’ve just moved in, your heater is working optimally. To keep it in great shape, maintain it regularly. Follow any guidelines offered by your builder to ensure your heater works efficiently for years to come.

Insulate and Seal

Sure, newly built homes are well sealed, but for those whose homes are aged a bit, make sure that all entry points to the outside are sealed. Check doors and windows for draftiness and stop up any gaps with water-resistant caulk. If you are in possession of storm windows, now is the time to bring them out. Inspect the outside and inside of your home for weak spots.

Cover all pipes with insulation to prevent bursting and to shorten the amount of time need to heat them. Take a look at your attic — a notorious escape route for heat — and fill in any drafty areas and make sure it is properly lined with insulation.

Fan Rotation

If you thought that fans were just for cooling you off, think again! Possessing two directions in which to rotate, fan blades can either push warm air up or down. During the winter, you’ll want to set your fans to a clockwise spin. Because warm air rises, this ensures that fans will circulate that air back down to you. If you own any small or standing fans, you can place them in front of the heater to extend the reach of warm air.

Spare Rooms

If you have spare rooms in your home, it’s time to seal them off until spring. Shut their windows, close their vents and doors, so that you’re not spending money heating extra space. By the same token, the smaller the space, the easier it is to heat, so find a smaller room in the house for the family to hang out in winter. Try reading bedtime stories in the study instead of the living room.

Curtains

Curtains can be an easy way to manage temperature and provide an added layer of insulation. The good news is that many of us already have them. At night, make sure your curtains are closed, so you can trap cold air from coming inside.  During the day, you’ll want to harness the power of the sun. Open those curtains to the light and enjoy the sun’s natural warmth.

Heart Warming

Blankets

A simple standby, blankets provide great protection against the cold. Perfect for lounging on the couch or sleeping at night, adding more blankets instead of turning to the heater is incredibly beneficial for your budget. For some wintertime fun, build a blanket fort with you kids.

Heating Pad

Instead of heating an entire room, you can heat your immediate space with a heating pad, hot water bottle or electric blanket. It’s a cheap way to stay warm during sedentary activities like reading or watching TV. If you’re not seated, trying moving around the house. Actively engaging in chores will help keep your heart rate up.

Cuddle Up

It’s the holiday season, so the more the merrier, right? Corral all the kids, the family and any pets and snuggle up together. Body heat goes a long way and you’ll make many memories trying to stay warm together!

Heat may rise, but don’t let your heating bill do the same. For a warm winter, try these tips and tricks and use the money you save on heating bills to buy holiday gifts instead. Cheers!

Ashley Steel is a writer for NewHomeSource.

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Rethinking the Dining Room Table

Posted on November 21, 2013 by
tables

Tables are underrated — and holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas are good reminders of how the right table can mean the difference between good entertaining and great entertaining. Photo: Brookfield Homes San Diego at Seaside Ridge in Encinitas, Calif.

By Ashley Steel

The word is out – last year’s Thanksgiving feast was a hit! This year, your second cousins twice removed are coming out of the woodwork to attend the festivities. Your table seats 10, but now you come in at a party of 20. What do you do? First things first, don’t panic! There is turkey to be brined and pies to be baked and no room for additional stress. Here are nine great dining room options to help your holiday dinner go off without a hitch:

Bar Space

If your kitchen has a bar area, use it! Instead of cluttering it up with snacks, use this long length of counter space for your guests. Though it doesn’t allow for conversation outside of your immediate area, you can periodically call for a change of seating so that everybody can get a chance to catch up. A bit like musical chairs, this can be a fun way to break the ice with your relatives and get to know one another better.

Glass or Wood Overlay Think of any large flat surfaces in your house. Maybe you’re into games such as pool or table tennis. Using one such object as your base, lay a panel of wood or glass over it to create a larger, functional table. Make sure that the material you use is sturdy and has good support beneath it. It’s a good way to transform an already occupied space to meet your growing needs.

The Rounded Table

table

Photo: Nottingham Model from Ryland Homes near Chicago.

Rounded tables are great because you can fit more people around the edges, without Uncle Bob hitting his elbow every time he goes in for mashed potatoes. For a large gathering, consider a longer, oval shaped table with plenty of room along the body and edges. For additional space, try using chairs without arm rests. Arms rests define how much space a chair takes up, even if there’s only a small child sitting there. Go for sleeker armless chairs for more flexibility around the table.

 

 

Two Tables

If your party is large enough, there may be no practical table to meet your needs. Consider splitting into two. A common way to do this is to reserve your larger dining room table for adults and set up a temporary folding table for the kids. This way, the kids don’t have to listen to the boring grown-up chatter and you can each have an age-appropriate spread.

Select-A-Size

If you’re a frequent entertainer, but find it impractical to keep party-sized amenities in your house year-round, consider the resizable table. With two panels that separate allowing for the addition of another temporary piece, you can grow your modest table to huge lengths in minutes.

Floor Seating

It sounds crazy, but hear me out. With a cheap throw for spills and messes and/or TV trays to catch any extra food, there is nowhere with more space than the floor. Lay out some comfortable cushions for seating and get the added benefit of total flexibility when it comes to where you sit – and who you are able to sit by. No longer are you competing for conversation across a huge table. Certainly a unique dining experience, if nothing else, you will likely be able to answer, “tables” when asked what you are thankful for.

Bench Seating

benches in the dining room

Photo: Plan 2 by Brookfield Homes San Diego. The Haven at Windingwalk community. Chula Vista, Calif.

Along the lines of the earlier-mentioned armless chairs, bench seating is much more forgiving when it comes to squeezing people in. Perfect for keeping an eye on tiny kiddos, this seating arrangement is intimate and casual. If your home has window benches, you can slide a table up against it to maximize not only seating, but floor space for guests to mingle when you aren’t eating.

 

 

 

Outdoor Dining

If you’re lucky enough to live in an area with tolerable Thanksgiving weather, take advantage of it. Set up the lawn chairs and space heaters, clean off that rustic garden furniture and you’ve opened up a whole new world of space. If you don’t have enough chairs for everyone, have your guests bring some of their own for a makeshift set up that is easy to clean up later.

Buffet-Style Dining

Sometimes it’s not a question of being able to fit the people at the table, but the food. Leave the food in the kitchen and have people dish their own plates, buffet style. This will clear up space for you to decorate the table and eliminate the obnoxious passing of food.

Thanksgiving is sneaking up fast. I’m thankful for my dining room arrangements. Are you?

Ashley Steel is a writer for NewHomeSource.

Posted in Buying a New Home | 2 Comments

Choosing a TV That’s Right for Your New Home

Posted on November 4, 2013 by
TV

Does your new home include a media room? If so, you’ll want to choose the best TV for optimal viewing. Here’s how to find the right TV for your new home.

By Jennifer Segelke Jeffers

Moving into a new home and don’t want to drag that heavy tube TV with you? If you think you’re due for an upgrade and are ready to purchase a new set to go with your new home, there are several considerations to make.

Like all things technological, great strides have been made in the world of televisions and if you’re not yet familiar with the market, you’ve got some learning to do.

Before you go TV shopping, there are a few major things you should decide and school yourself on. First and foremost, set a budget. Go into the shopping process knowing how much you’re willing to spend. Once that number is solidified in your mind, bone up on the variables that affect image quality and price. Here are some of the most important things to consider when choosing the best TV for your needs:

Know Your Technology

Before you head out to buy your new set, it’s a good idea to know a bit about the technologies you’ll be force to decide between. In today’s market, the two major players are plasma and LCD/LED.

Plasma

In the simplest terms, plasma TVs use an electrical charge to make gas emit an ultraviolet light, which then causes phosphors to glow (pretty much the same process as a fluorescent lamp).

Pros: Higher contrast levels (blacker blacks, whiter whites); mature technology; better picture quality for the price; excellent depth of picture.

Cons: Limited size range (typically 42 to 65 inches); not ideal for higher altitudes; use slightly more energy to power than LCD/LED models; rare possibility of image burn-in.

LCD/LED

The gist of this technology is LCD/LED sets use a bright backlight that shines through a layer of crystals, which move to either block the backlight or let it shine through. To clear any confusion, LED is not a “type” of television. It is actually an LCD (liquid crystal display) panel that uses LEDs (light-emitting diodes) as its backlight system instead of cold cathode fluorescent lamps.

Pros: Wide range of sizes, from very small to very big; slim and lightweight; brighter than plasma TVs; energy efficient.

Cons: Picture may look “flat”; when viewed from an angle, picture may lose contrast; possibility of motion blur.

Understand the Specs

Technology is complicated enough, but throwing grids and ratios into the mix makes the whole TV-picking process nearly impossible. Here is a simple break down on the most important specs to know about when making your decision.

Resolution

When talking about flat-screen TV resolution, two numbers are thrown out that you’ve probably heard: 1080 and 720. But what do these numbers mean? These numbers reference pixels. More pixels mean a higher resolution and a sharper image. Old-school tube TVs had around 300,000 pixels, whereas today’s HD sets have pixels in the millions.

However, it’s important to note that when discussing resolution, you really have to consider two things: your TV’s resolution and the resolution of the video source (cable, DVD player, Blueray, gaming system, etc.). These two variables work together and determine the quality of the image you see.

In the end, you can have a TV with a 1080 resolution, but if you don’t have HD video or cable going into the unit, you won’t see an HD image, leaving you to wonder, “Why did I just buy this fancy HD TV if the picture is going to look like this?” Make sure your video source is HD, so that you get the most from your HD TV.

Contrast Ratio

Contrast is the difference between the darkest images and the lightest images and after resolution, this is probably the most important factor in determining image quality. Low contrast can cause the image to look washed out and unfocused. A high-contrast ratio results in a sharper image and colors that pop.

Manufacturers’ method of determining contract levels is fairly useless to real-life TV viewing, so this is a spec you should gauge with your eyes and not the spec sheet.

Pick a Size

When it comes to TV size, the “bigger is better” rule generally applies, but there are other important factors, including the space you have for a television, your budget and the distance you’ll be sitting from the screen.

The distance you sit from your television will determine your “viewing field,” and while the recommended angle varies slightly depending on your source, the general rule is that the ideal viewing angle fall somewhere between 30 and 40 degrees.

So, let’s say you’re sitting nine feet from your TV. If you’re at a 30-degree angle, the ideal TV size would be 65 to 70 inches. How did we come to this conclusion? It’s easy with this handy guide:

The Math Made Easy

  • 30 Degree Angle: Seating distance (in inches) multiplied by 0.625 equals ideal TV size
  • 40 Degree Angle: Seating distance (in inches) multiplied by 0.84 equals ideal TV size

We’re sure you’ll be enjoying your new home in many ways that don’t include a new TV, but sometimes it’s nice to veg out to your favorite TV series or reality show. Before you go shopping for your new TV, equip yourself with the right information to choose the right one for your new home.

Jennifer Segelke Jeffers is a freelance writer and editor with more than a decade of editorial experience. The former editor of Austin Monthly Home and Centro Y Sur, she writes about a variety of home-related topics for NewHomeSource.

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Dark Shadows: How to Pull Off a Dark Bathroom

Posted on October 24, 2013 by
drak bathroom

Looking for a rich, luxurious look for your new home? Go dark! Dark blue tile adds drama and contrast to this bathroom. Photo Courtesy Ceramics of Italy.

This is a special guest post from Jamie Gold, a San Diego, Calif.-based kitchen and bath designer. She is author of New Kitchen Ideas That Work.

You pore over pictures of beautiful bathrooms online and at the newsstand — and recently, you’ve seen more and more dark bathrooms. You love their luxury and drama and want the rich look in your new home, but aren’t sure where to start. The good news is that it’s easy to create a dark bathroom in your home without making it drab. Here’s how:

Color Combinations

You probably have white or off-white fixtures, (toilet, tub, sink) in your bathroom that will contrast beautifully with a deep, saturated color on your walls.

Dark colors add that rich, dramatic look you’re seeking. The challenge is tying in other elements — like cabinetry, countertops, floor and wall tile — and choosing the right wall shade. If it’s a master bath, you’ll also want to complement the colors in the adjacent bedroom. If it’s a powder room, you’ll want to coordinate with the entertaining spaces it serves.

If your bathroom’s tops, floor and wall tiles are in the cream/tan family, dark greens and dark reds will complement them well. If your cabinets are also dark, (like walnut, for example), I’d recommend the greens, rather than the reds. Their contrast will add a punch of luxurious drama.

If your tops, floor and wall tiles are in the gray family, dark reds, deep plums, teals and midnight blues will complement those well. Stay away from colors with red tones in them, however, if your cabinets are in the red or brown tones.

I also recommend painting over a white ceiling if the walls are going dark. Otherwise, it will just look unfinished when the room is done. The ceiling can either go the same color as the walls, or a light, complementary shade in the same color family as the floor.

Material Choices

Paint is the most affordable way to add style to a bathroom, but it’s certainly not the only one. Tile, paneling and wallpaper are more permanent and pricey options. Tile is the most traditional bathroom choice, but some of the new tile options are anything but. At the recent Cersaie bath expo in Bologna, Italy, many of the new tiles had a modern blend of rough and glossy textures, metallic accents or subtle graphic elements.

Stand-alone bathtub in dark bathroom with black will tile.

Subtle graphics add interest to black wall tile. Photo courtesy of Ceramics of Italy.

Wallpaper, which has made a resurgence in recent years, is another more permanent design element in a bathroom, and is DIY-friendly for a handy homeowner. When choosing a patterned paper, choose one that scales well to the room’s size and other finishes. Modern alternatives are papers that are more textural than patterned, like dark grass cloths.

Paneling can impart a rich or rustic look, depending on its style, but only works style-wise in spaces without other wood finishes. As one of the hottest tile trends is the wood look, you now have another option to get a “paneled” bath without risk of moisture damage.

Decision Time

Paint is fairly affordable and easy to change, but if you’re choosing a paper, tile or paneling, be sure to choose one with a look that you’ve loved for years. Also ensure that it  fits your budget, lifestyle and the overall home and neighborhood where it will be installed. A luxurious bathroom — especially a master — can definitely enhance your home’s value and will add to your enjoyment of the space.

Jamie Gold is a National Kitchen & Bath Association-certified, independent kitchen and bath designer in San Diego, Calif. Her weekly design blog, Gold Notes: Nuggets from the World of Residential Design covers top trends, tips and products.

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Tech Tuesday: A Home Security System Through Your Smartphone or Tablet

Posted on October 22, 2013 by
home security system

Apps like Presence allow you to easily turn your smartphone or tablet into a home security system.

By Patricia Garcia

With Apple’s new slimmer, faster iPads, it’s time to get rid of those first-generation iPads, right?

Not so fast! Sure you want to have the latest tech out there, but a new iPad won’t make your old one obsolete — in many cases, you can turn to home automation to breathe some life into those clunky old Apple devices. Or just about any smartphone or tablet.

Read on for ways to turn your smartphone or tablet into a home security system:

Always Be Presence

Like an ever-present fly on the wall, Presence by People Power allows you to keep an eye on things while you’re not home. The app transforms spare iPhones, iPads and iPods into wireless video cams, pet cams, security cams or whatever-you-need-to-check-in-with cam. This will help reassure you that there are no unwelcome guests in your home or will surely answer the question of “What does my dog or cat do all day while I’m away?” Your kitty is likely asleep and your pup is probably chewing on something it shouldn’t, but with Presence, you can put any questions to rest.

Cameras can be monitored in real time from another iOS device and you will be sent alerts with video clips when motion is detected.

Quiet Like a Canary

Billed as the “first smart home security device for everyone,” the Canary Home Security Device includes an HD camera and high-quality microphone and sensors that detect motion. We’ve heard this all before, right? That’s not all — like a ninja bird, the Canary also has night vision, say, if you want peace of mind while out on the town.

This device monitors changes in your home’s temperature or air quality (and humidity, vibration and sound!) and sends alerts if something’s amiss. And, like the very cool Nest thermostat, this system “learns” your routine.

Just Give Me a Ping

The Lorex Live Ping is an easy-to-use device that’s similar to those we mentioned above. We like this one because you can record more than one location in your home at one time. You can also record day and night scenes, but for those particularly dark spots in your home, an infrared LED allows you to light a space up to 30 feet away.

Back in the day, I used to call home and leave messages for my dogs on my answering machine. I know they were just dying to hear my voice. This security device allows you to do the same — an accessory speaker allows you to talk through the system. For more practical uses, this will likely come in handy when monitoring children who’ve come home from school.

Already Have a Security System?

You don’t need to feel left out — chances are, your service provider has an app that can be easily downloaded onto your wireless device. In addition to providing you mobile access to your system, many, like the ADT Pulse app and LiveWatch’s app , allow you to remotely lock and unlock doors and control lights and thermostats.

Home automation is no longer just for technophiles and audio junkies. As smartphones and tablets become more a part of our everyday lives, you can count on more apps that just about anyone can use as a solution to daily challenges.

Patricia Garcia is content manager for NewHomeSource.

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