Whenever we start a new kitchen renovation project, one of the first steps we take is to build a dust barrier. This usually is composed of plastic sheeting that is put up all around the construction area to keep the mess of renovation from spreading to the rest of the home. A dust barrier is a fl...

For most people, their home is their biggest financial investment. And unlike many other big purchases, a home is much more likely to gain value over time than to lose value. So it makes sense to add value to your home by periodically making improvements that can boost the future selling price wh...

In any kitchen renovation, the is a definite sequence of many smaller jobs that make up the whole. And the last thing on the list is usually painting. Why? For a number of important reasons. First, painting needs to take place in an environment that is free of dust and debris. And until the very ...

When thinking about a kitchen redesign, one of the most important considerations is "flow". How will your kitchen flow? In other words, what will be the natural, organic patterns that will emerge once your new kitchen is fully operational? Where will people come in? Where will they sit down? When...

There are certain places in every home that just seem to accumulate clutter naturally. These "clutter magnets" can include places like kitchen counters,  tables near entry doors, and bedroom dressers. No matter how frequently you tidy these spaces up, they always seem to gather more junk in a re...

Every kitchen renovation project is unique. But most follow the same five familiar steps. Step 1 - Consultation and Design Once you decide to upgrade your kitchen, the first and arguably most important step is figuring out what you want to replace it with. This is often the longest step because pi...

Lots of homeowners who are renovating their kitchen will do a bathroom at the same time, especially if they share a common wall. Why? Because when the kitchen walls are taken down to the bare studs, it exposes the plumbing and electrical for the adjacent bathroom, allowing for easy access. You ma...

During any kitchen renovation, there are "sexy" features. These include cabinets, new appliances, and even new features like pass-through windows or removed walls. Flooring is often low on the priority list for most homeowners. Yet flooring is one of the most important parts of any kitchen design...

When most people think of summer, the first thing that comes to mind usually isn't their kitchen. Instead, most summer celebrations take place in the backyard or patio around the grill. That's because when it's hot outside the last thing you want to do is fire up your oven. That makes summer the ...

If it's been a while since you've been shopping for a new refrigerator, boy are you in for a surprise! Refrigerator technology has skyrocketed. Today's high-tech fridges feature not only cost-saving efficiency, but also smart connectivity, high-definition screens, and improved interior configurat...