Inspired Remodels, Author at Inspired Remodels

General Contractors Keeping You Safe During COVID-19

By Inspired Remodels / Home Improvement / Comments Off

When Governor Gavin Newsom revised the stay-at-home order back in April he designated construction as “essential”. So, general contractors went back to work. Since it’s impossible to remodel your kitchen or bathroom digitally or email you a new fireplace, workers must have access to your house. Inspired Remodels, a popular Orange County general contractor provides tips to keep you and workers safe.

Utilize On-line Resources

Nope, can’t install that new granite countertop via Zoom. But, other tasks can be moved online. Where possible, hold project meetings by phone or teleconference. Any video call that can replace a trip to the house just keeps everyone safer.

Instead of trading paper contracts and signatures, use digital signing resources. Instead of using paper checks for payment (yes, people still do that) use debit, credit, PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, or any of the other digital payment methods.

Sanitation and Hygiene

Hand washing slows the spread of disease. COVID-19 is no different. All workers should wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. You can set up a hand washing station, allow workers access to your sinks, or ask the general contractor to set up a hand washing station. No matter what job is being performed, running water must be available.

Regularly disinfect high-contact surfaces like countertops and doorknobs for your protection and the protection of workers

By the way, hand sanitizer may help you out in a pinch, but it is no substitute for good old soap and running water.

Use of Personal Protection Equipment

Here’s another one that’s not hard. Since most remodeling creates dust and debris, most workers are accustomed to wearing PPE for their respiratory protection.

If you cannot maintain an adequate social distance from workers, you should wear your PPE for your protection. Workers want to be safe too.

Move Outdoors if Possible

Luckily, our Orange County weather makes more time outdoors more comfortable than other parts of the country. Take advantage of it.

Work from the patio, balcony, deck, or backyard when possible. When workers are in the home, take frequent walks or read a book outside.

The more space you keep between yourself and your general contractors and subcontractors the safer everyone will be.

No Sick People!

If you have a fever, feel ill, or have been exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19 contact your general contractor right away. Work will need to be halted until you are well or the danger of infection has passed.

The workers coming to your home will extend you the same courtesy. So, be prepared to be flexible. A worker might be exposed and need to self-quarantine. This means the contractor could possibly assign another person or crew to your job or delay the schedule.

General Contractors Want to Keep Lines of Communication Open

Be sure to speak with the contractor regularly. If you have concerns about your safety or the safety of workers, share them.

When factories shut down, cabinetry and hardware didn’t get made. Suddenly lead times are longer than usual. Also, don’t be surprised to find that the work you had quoted in the Spring may not be performed until the Winter.

If you have questions or concerns about the work Inspired Remodels is doing at your home, reach out to Jason or Joe at (949) 716-1938.

Custom Kitchen Remodeling 2020

By Inspired Remodels / Kitchen Remodel / Comments Off

Custom kitchen remodeling is big in 2020. People are staying home more and eating at home more. The kitchen in 2020 must be functional and beautiful. If you’re thinking of custom kitchen remodeling, here’s what your neighbors are doing in Orange County.

Making the Most of What You Have

What makes a custom kitchen custom? It’s those little custom touches that set your kitchen apart from the others. Little things like designing for every inch of space.

Hidden drawers in the toe kick space provide a place for sheet pans and other flat items to snuggle in out of site. Wasted space becomes WOW space in an instant. Who would have thunk it? Inspired Remodels!

Of course, that space could be a built-in step stool.

Perfect for the vertically challenged.

And even for those that aren’t. Since most everyone needs help reaching those top-most cabinets, convert kick space into a pull-out step and easily reach those hard-to-reach uppers.

If you aren’t using the kick space for storage or step stools, then you aren’t making the most of what you have.

But those aren’t the only ways that custom kitchen remodeling can add little touches.

Pull-out spice racks and pantry shelves are another way to make the most of the space you have in the kitchen.

This space isn’t large enough for a full-size cabinet. While some custom kitchen remodeling contractors may just cover the space with a false front, not Inspired Remodels.

This Orange County kitchen makeover made the highest and best use of all space available.

Spices and herbs are stored in a pull-out spice rack that’s large enough to accommodate even the largest selection of flavorings.

Enhance the food and enhance the cooking experience. That’s the Orange County kitchen in 2020.

Kitchen Islands are Cool

2020 has everyone dreaming of an island getaway. In the kitchen. That’s because kitchen islands are hot. But the hottest kitchen islands keep their cool through the use of color, texture, and surface elements.

This kitchen island keeps its cool through the use of a pale paint color. It’s a spectacular complement to the white and stainless steel tones used elsewhere in the kitchen.

White marble on the island countertop reduces the visual temperature by 10 degrees. The CFL lights in the fixtures above provide light without heat. Cool.

Now this kitchen island was built with a busy cook in mind. It forms an essential part of the kitchen triangle during food prep.

Then once the meal is ready to eat, it provides a spacious spot to savor the latest creation.

With seating for four, this island doesn’t run the cook ragged as serving and clean up are a cool breeze.

Clean lines from the Shaker-style cabinets and brushed nickel hardware also contribute to the cool, clean look.

Custom Kitchen Remodeling in Orange County

For custom kitchen remodeling in Orange County, look no further than Inspired Remodels.

Whether you stop in the showroom to browse or meet with a designer, you’ll get a warm, socially distant greeting. It is 2020 after all.

You’ll also get inspired to turn those remodeling dreams into reality. Call (949) 716-1938, Contact Us online, or stop in our Lake Forest showroom.

Flooring Contractor Reviews Trends for 2020

Can you believe the year is half over? Perfect time to pause and review what’s trending in floors for Orange County. Inspired Remodels, an Orange County flooring contractor, shows what’s going on with flooring in local homes.

The Return of the Blonde Bombshell

Light colored plank flooring is making a strong comeback. The honey oak of the 80’s and 90’s was so overused it almost killed blonde wood.

That’s a shame. Because light oak or bamboo hardwood flooring adds warmth to kitchens, living areas, and bathrooms.

Hardwoods like bamboo are hot, but honestly any hardwood floor, blonde or not, is an investment with long-lasting returns.

The floor in this kitchen combines light wood and wide planks in a staggered design that’s just stunning. Because light wood is even more susceptible to fading from UV light, pick a plank with UV and scratch resistant coatings.

Wood Look Tile

Wood look tile is showing up all over the house. No longer confined to bathrooms or children’s playrooms, it’s gracing kitchens all over Orange County.

Wood look tile can emulate wide or standard plank widths. Some wood look tile even offers graining, so not only does it look like wood it feels like wood too.

You’ll find this tile in almost every hardwood tone you can imagine. From oak and ash to mahogany and Brazilian cherry, there’s a wood look tile to match your decor. Stop by the Inspired Remodels showroom and view samples.

Alternative Patterns

Recently, we took a look at some of the more common tile patterns. Doing something as simple as turn the tile 90° and installing on a diagonal can make a real difference.

Diagonal install patterns make small spaces look larger. So, they are perfect for small powder rooms, bathrooms, and even galley kitchens.

Herringbone patterns like the one above add instant elegance. The vee shape created by the overlapping tile ends draws the eye out. It’s a great way to make a room appear larger and provide a touch of drama. Similar to the chevron (same design with mitered ends), the herringbone doesn’t require as much labor to cut the wood or tile flooring so this pattern usually costs less to install than the chevron.

Geometric shapes like the polygon shaped tile to the right are migrating from backsplashes and shower walls to the floor.

We’re glad to see them make the move.

Geometric shaped tiles are one of the best ways to give any room a completely custom look. Use contrasting grout to accentuate the tile shape!

Flooring as Art

No longer a simple surface for foot traffic, this Orange County flooring contractor is seeing a demand for flooring as art.

Whether it’s a dramatic entry way or a fun and funky bathroom, art is no longer reserved for the walls of a room.

Trusted Orange County Flooring Contractor

Trust Inspired Remodels to be your flooring contractor for your next remodel.

Wood, tile, carpet, polished concrete, or stone. If you want it on the floor, Inspired Remodels can make it happen. Call (949) 716-1938, Contact Us online or stop by our showroom.

See the latest trends in flooring and get inspired with Inspired Remodels.

Author: Inspired Remodels