Choosing the Perfect Backsplash for your Kitchen

Finding the right backsplash can be tricky. Your decision will ultimately come down to preference but hopefully these tips will help you come to a decision on the perfect backsplash for you.

You can match.

Use the same material as your countertop. Have it cut into tiles to create different patterns. This will create a visually seamless look between your countertop and backsplash. If you have ornate cabinets this may be the way to go by drawing the eye from the countertops up to the cabinets.

You can compliment.

Take a color from you countertop and purchase a tile with complimentary and neutral colors. Don’t be afraid to mix mediums. Pick a mosaic that has glass and ceramic tiles. Another option would be to to use the same color backsplash as your countertop but buy a backsplash with texture. Mix it up to create a visually appealing, ornate kitchen.

You can create.

Believe it or not, you may want to even consider choosing a wallpaper or ornate mosaic to use as a backsplash in your kitchen. If you have a more monochromatic color palette with your cabinets and countertops, don’t be afraid to show some personality with a textured wallpaper or vibrant mosaic.

Your backsplash is an essential part in your kitchen. By spending some time deciphering what environment you want to create in  your kitchen, the backsplash you choose can be a final touch that pulls your ideas together! Don’t be afraid to do your research and choose a backsplash that fits your style and personality.

5 Ideas to Get Your Spring Cleaning Started

Is it that time of year again?!

Technically it’s not spring yet BUT warmer weather has us thinking about clearing out and cleaning up our spaces. While we wait for March, 20th to arrive why not start planning your spring cleaning now?

Here are 5 ideas to declutter, clean up, and refresh your home for spring.

  • 1. Toss it!

Get rid of clutter and open up the big and small spaces in your home. Start by taking everything off a shelf, out of a cabinet, or off a table. Clean it and then replace it with only the items you want to keep. The rest of it can either be thrown out or put in your “give-away” or “goodwill” pile.

  • 2. Deep clean.

Don’t be afraid. Depending on how active your winter scrubbing was or wasn’t, maybe you should be a little afraid but it’s time! Grab that old toothbrush and clean your grout in your shower/tub and on the bathroom/kitchen floor. Scrub. Scrub. Scrub. Spring should begin with a fresh start (and a nice reward after you finish this project)!

  • 3. Spend it.

After all the snow and mud brought into your house by shoes and/or paws consider getting your rugs and carpet professionally cleaned! Unless your carpet is brand new, you might not notice the discoloration but the dirt is there. Do it yourself or hire a service to get your carpet and rugs looking back to new.

  • 4. Look for it.

The kitchen. You may not see it but check for dirty chair legs, dust on top of your cabinets, and scope out the various nooks and crannies in your kitchen. For the brave at heart, pull your fridge away from the wall and really get your kitchen cleaned up!

  • 5. Reward yourself.

As dreaded as spring cleaning may seem, it does bring about a fresh start. Begin your spring/summer with a clean and clear home. After every project you complete, reward yourself! No rules apply to rewarding yourself so reward yourself before you start, reward yourself during the project, and definitely reward yourself after you finish.

Spring hasn’t come quite yet so start thinking ahead about some of the projects you would like to get done! Successful outcomes usually start with a plan.

Happy Cleaning!

How To Pick Your Kitchen Cabinets

From door styles, hardware, material, and color your kitchen cabinets have the ability to add functionality and style. With so many choices it may be hard to narrow down your options but hopefully this can be a guide to get you headed in the right direction.

Let’s talk about door styles.

The Shaker: The shaker is a five piece flat style panel with a frame made with four other pieces. This is one of the most popular styles for kitchens today. Shaker cabinets provide simplicity and elegance. They are also easy to stain and paint.

Flat: Flat cabinets are completely flat. This lends to even further simplicity than the shaker style and can show off that amazing hardware you chose for your cabinets.

Inset: It is called an inset door because the cabinet door sits inside the frame. Although more costly than other options, it is the classic cabinet that will never go out of style.

Thermofoil: Molded out of MDF, wrapped in plastic, and baked under intense heat to create a perfect seal these cabinets are a cost effective way to get the style you want.

Many, many more door styles exist. Check out this link on Houzz.com.

Cabinet hardware.

If you are a hardware fanatic, I suggest choosing the hardware first and finding a cabinet that will compliment your chosen hardware. If you are more about cabinet style, choose the cabinets first and find a hardware that accentuates the cabinets.

Knobs, pulls, antique finishes, exposed screws, the list goes on and on. Follow this link to get some ideas!

Material and Color.

Not only do you have to choose your door style and hardware. You now have the task of decided what material and color for your kitchen cabinets.

If you’re choosing a color besides white, shaker or flat panel might be the way to go. With the simplicity of the style, the color will not overpower your whole kitchen. The current fad is to go with a white cabinet. Beautiful, simple, and maybe hard to keep clean, white cabinets look great in almost any style.

If using a natural stain or wood, all style would still look great but inset cabinets or something more ornate in style would show off that beautiful wood you chose!

For some great ideas and photos check out this link!

We would love to help you through the process of choosing your kitchen cabinets! If anything, hopefully this article gets you thinking about the endless possibilities of kitchen cabinets and get you started in the right direction. Happy cabinet hunting!

 

 

Solid Surface vs. Granite

When building a new home or remodeling your existing construction you might run into the question of weather to install granite countertops or solid surface (often called Corian).  Corian or Swanstone, aka solid surface, is a man-made stone composed of 33% binding resins and 66% minerals. Granite on the other is extracted directly from the earth which is honed and polished. Both options have their pros and cons but a few different factors play a major role in coming to your decision.

Some factors to consider are:

1.Cost

2. Maintenance

3.Return on Investment

4. Looks

First is the cost factor. Solid surface averages around $75-$120 per square foot. Although prices vary, granite countertops will average around $100-$250 per square foot. It may be more effective cost wise to install solid surface but don’t stop reading here.

Secondly we need to look at maintenance. Solid surface requires zero maintenance and is quite durable. On a solid surface counter and dents or scratches can be buffed out and no continuous sealing is necessary. Granite on the other hand requires some degree of maintenance. Your granite countertop may be factory sealed but every so often it may need additional sealing. It is also true that granite is susceptible to cracking in comparison to solid surface but this is rare. So far solid surface has taken the prize in cost and ease of maintenance but when it comes to return on investment and looks opinions often vary.

When we talk about return on investment what we’re really saying asking is, “do granite countertops really increase the value of your home?” The answer is yes to some degree. By being more expensive than solid surface you are increasing the actual cost of your home but some would argue that granite countertops also increase the psychological value of your home. More home buyers have a strong opinion about having granite countertops therefore having them makes your home more “sellable”. In my opinion, as more and more homes utilize different materials for countertops, backsplash, and flooring the grandiose stigma about granite will slowly fade. Currently, when we look at the factor of return on investment granite is the best option.

Lastly, let’s look at the beauty of each. Design preferences are up to the homebuilder but it is hard to deny the beauty of a granite countertop. Natural stone provides such an organic look and intricate details that solid surface cannot give you. But solid surface doesn’t deserve such a bad rap. Solid surface can create a modern and sleek look with its uniformity.

In my opinion, if you are not completely swayed one way or the other a mixture of both granite and solid surface is a great way to go. Think about the possibility of using an ornate piece of granite for your kitchen island and backsplash and then pulling a darker, neutral color from the granite to use as your solid surface color for the rest of the kitchen and bathrooms. Mixing different mediums is modern, affordable, and visually appealing.

 

 

For Sale!

Check out our most recent home! Contact us

at mary@kinningdesignbuild.com to set up a showing!

This custom built home from Kinning Design Build is one of a kind. The 10’ ceilings in the entry, great room, kitchen, and dining room showcase an open floor plan accentuated by natural lighting through beautiful casement windows. Garage entrance is through the laundry/mud room with custom built in bench and lockers. The well-designed kitchen comes with a large island and convenient pantry space. 224 sq. ft. master suite includes double sinks, tiled walk in shower, and large walk in closet. Other features include covered deck, tile work in all bathrooms, and wood floors in the kitchen, halls, dining, and great room. On the exterior, a stone front and covered entry way give this home great street appeal.  With 3727 sq. ft. of finish, this ranch home has 3 bedrooms, 1.75 baths, and a 3 car garage. The basement finish includes two additional bedrooms, 1 bath, and a large family/rec room. This custom home is just getting started. You still have time to make a few changes as well as choose your own selections. Call today for more information!

 

Listing Price: $449,500

 

Bedrooms: 5

 

Baths: 2.5

 

Square Footage: 1814

The She Shed: Man Cave’s Female Counterpart

The concept of a man cave has become a part of our everyday vocabulary but the man cave now has a female competitor. The “She Shed” is becoming increasingly popular as the man cave’s female counterpart. According to Houzz.com in an article by Becky Harris titled, “11 Nominees for the ‘She Shed’ Hall of Fame” the backyard havens are being used for pottery wheels and other artistic escapades, potting plants and gardening, and some are merely being used for napping…beautiful, blissful napping.

A recent article written by the Remodelers Council of Lincoln gives us a comparison of “She Sheds” versus “Man Caves”. While they say man caves would sport a recliner (man and television remote included) a she shed would hold a day bed with decorative throw pillows. A bar/refrigerator is the center of all man cave activity but in a she shed outdoor seating would take the place of the bar scene. Once again while the man cave hosts one or multiple big screen TVs, the secluded female version would boast a reading nook. The designated spots in a man cave for a pool table, darts, and other games would look more like room for crafting, pottery, and gardening supplies in the glorified she shed. And lastly, while the walls of a man cave may be plastered with sports memorabilia and other must have, significant artwork, the she shed would contain chandeliers, flowers, and quirky art.

Nonetheless, the “She Shed” is unique to its user and is fashioned solely for the purpose of whatever the “She” wants it to be. As the man cave competitor, I believe the “She Shed” will only continue to grow in popularity. Check out the links below for more pictures and ideas to begin designing your own “She Shed.”

https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/47242579/list/11-nominees-for-the-she-shed-hall-of-fame
https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/48359134/list/creative-houzz-users-share-their-she-sheds

(photo courtesy of homedepot.com)

Kinning Design Build
Leah Barber

Andy Drive

The gallery below is of a recent custom home on Andy Drive here in Lincoln.

 

Yellow: Picking the right shade of yellow for your home

Bright and happy, yellow is a fantastic color for the interior of your home. Yellow has always been a popular color, however more often than not, the yellow you see in the can turns a completely different shade when it hits the wall. This phenomenon has to do with the varying shadows and natural lighting in one’s home. A sunflower yellow has the potential to turn into a popcorn butter-yellow once it is applied to the wall.  Jeannie Matteucci from HGTV says that hallways and rooms without windows can benefit greatly from rich shades of yellow. Matteucci agrees yellow is “an uplifting color but you really have to pick the right shade. You want to make sure it’s not too bright or too muted, so use those test cans of paint and look at the yellow on your walls in the different lights of the day.” She recommends a warmer shade of yellow if painting in a kitchen over a lemon yellow. In general, it is best if you know your home, where shadows hit at certain times of day and of course the old trial-and-error method. For more tips and advice on choosing the right shade of yellow for your home, go to HGTV.com! 

 

https://www.hgtv.com/remodel/interior-remodel/behind-the-color-yellow

 

 

DIY Home Decor: 3-D Wall Panels

Summer is almost here, and with it a desire for a change in scenery! A quick way to make this happen is with decorative wall art panels. They are made of sugarcane fibers, so they are eco-friendly. Easy to install, they make a fun do-it-yourself project and an inexpensive way to spruce up your home for the summer! This video will show you how a pack of decorative wall art panels can be inexpensive and easy to install.

 

 

Video

https://www.youtube.com

Image

https://www.3d-wall-panels.com/

Wall Panels produced by:

WallArt

www.walldecor3d.com