Inspired Remodels, Author at Inspired Remodels

Remodeling Contractor Uses Lighting for Ambiance and Function

You spend a considerable amount of time in the kitchen and bathroom. When the lighting is poor, it totally spoils the visual appeal of the room. Even worse, it makes using the room for its intended function a nightmare. Who wants to shave or cut up vegetables when you can’t see what you are doing? You must choose lighting options carefully. One sign of a competent remodeling contractor is their ability to incorporate creative lighting. How does your contractor stand up?

Creative Bathroom Lighting Ideas

Bathroom lighting sets the mood for the room. It should also provide enough light to perform personal hygiene routines safely. You need several types of lighting in the bathroom. Try these creative ideas.

Use dimmers

You want bright light for shaving, showering, or applying makeup. But that’s not the light you want soaking in the tub. Dimmer switches allow you to adjust the intensity of the light to suit your moods and needs.

Task lighting

For task lighting, you divide the bathroom into zones. This allows you to focus illumination where you need it. For example, the vanity zone is equipped with a brighter task light than the water closet or toilet zone. The bathing zone utilizes separate task lighting. This approach allows to illuminate each zone with the appropriate amount of lighting, or the tasks performed in the zone.

Focused lighting

Recessed lights are another great idea. The lighting cans are installed flush with the ceiling and flood light downwards. They are excellent for lighting up the entire space. Install this style of lighting by mirrors to enhance the effect.

Layer lighting for a dramatic effect

Layered lighting is a lighting system that incorporates three different kinds of lights: overall, task and accent. Overall lights are generally recessed lights that illuminate the room, while task lights illuminate zones based on function. Accent lights in the bathroom might be pendant lights, profile lights, or backlit mirrors.

Kitchen Lighting Ideas

The kitchen is a room for gathering and working. Whether you are prepping a meal, enjoying a bite with family or friends, or cleaning up, it’s important to see what you are doing. Talk to your kitchen remodeling contractor about using some of these “bright” ideas.

Brighten up the kitchen island

If the kitchen island is your pride and joy, show it off with ceiling lights. Use hanging lights to provide task lighting and give the space an industrial vibe at the same time – perfect for modern kitchens.

Create a vintage vibe

All pendant lighting doesn’t need to look industrial. Milk glass and tulip style shades provide a very subtle vintage vibe. Even if you are going for a farmhouse look, the vintage aura makes the kitchen warm and welcoming. Rubbed bonze is a great metal for creating that vintage vibe.

Pendant lights for all kitchens

No matter if your kitchen is modern, traditional, rustic, vintage, or farmhouse, pendant lights suit all styles. Space them evenly and either hang them at the same height or varying heights depending on the look you want.

Inspired Remodels – The Inspired Remodeling Contractor

Ready for an inspirational kitchen or bathroom? Want a spa in the master bath or a space to craft culinary creations? Turn to Inspired Remodels to taking your inspiration and turn it into a design that looks beautiful and functions flawlessly. Call

Kitchen Renovation Company Has Tips to Make the Most of Your Space

By Inspired Remodels / Kitchen Remodel / Comments Off

If you have limited kitchen space, finding storage space for pots and pans, cutlery, and silverware is a challenge. Finding space is easier said than done. Almost any kitchen renovation company has a few tricks for making the most of available space. Here are a few pro tips.

Use Cabinet Tops and Bottoms and Sides

There is ample space on the top of your cabinets – you can put special-occasion serving platters and even extra pantry supplies that you don’t need all that frequently. This is a great way to make serving dishes do double duty. First they decorate the kitchen, then they decorate the table. Notice how this cabinet design incorporates shelves at the end of the cabinets. Genius!

You can even use the space between your cabinets as in this kitchen to the left. Great way to store wine.

Keep the space from feeling cluttered with wire bins and baskets. In a pinch you can add hooks to the bottom of upper cabinets to hold mugs. Don’t ignore the real estate on cabinet tops, bottoms, and sides.

Downsize Furniture

How large does that breakfast table need to be? Does the entire family eat breakfast together most days? If the answer is “no” you can get by with a smaller table for an eat-in kitchen. For instance, using a half-moon table in lieu of a round table is an excellent idea to gain kitchen space. Eliminate the table altogether if you have a large kitchen island. Drop leaf tables provide more space when the table isn’t in use.

Ask a Kitchen Renovation Company to Remodel the Island

Depending on how your island is configured, you may be able to add shelving for extra space.

Notice how this island incorporates plenty of storage. The glass doors make it as pretty as it is functional. It’s a great alternative if you currently don’t use the island base for storage.

Talk to your kitchen renovation company about an upgrade to your island to get additional space.

Explore adding base cabinets if your island doesn’t incorporate them. You may not need a kitchen upgrade, you may need an island upgrade.

Use Pegboards

Julia Child was famous for filling her walls. If you visit Julia Child’s kitchen at The Natural Museum of History, you’ll see she loved pegboards. Be like Julia and don’t leave the walls empty. Pegboards hang pots, pans, and utensils. Pegboards make better use of space than shelves. So don’t overlook walls when looking for extra space.

Utilize the Space over the Fridge

The space over your fridge is typically unused, and most tend to forget about it. You can keep large pots, pans, and other items that are rarely used on top. The space between the soffit and the refrigerator incorporates two cabinets that match the other cabinets. Granted, this space isn’t easy to access, but that’s why you use it to store rarely used items.

Use Toekick Drawers

Toekick drawers work in kitchens of all sizes. If you are talking to a kitchen renovation company about new cabinets, ask about integrating toekick drawers. They transform previously unused space into storage that sleekly holds a short stack of pans, linens, or pantry items.

The Kitchen Renovation Company that Knows How to Use Space

Whether you have a large or small space, trust Inspired Remodels to make the most of your kitchen area. They design and build functional and beautiful rooms using innovative ideas to make the most of your space. Call (949) 716-1938 or Contact Us online today.

Shower Remodeling Ideas for Walk-in Showers

By Inspired Remodels / Bathroom Remodel / Comments Off

Shower remodeling is tricky. The shower sets the tone for the entire bathroom. Get the shower wrong and the entire bathroom looks like a disaster. Here’s a little practical advice and some ideas to get you thinking about your next shower remodeling project.

Space Determines Shape in Shower Remodeling

Your walk-in shower size is determined by the space available. Think outside the box to make the most of the space you have. Showers can be curved, rectangular, square, and can tuck into many unlikely places. In the photo above, the shower was placed in the area between the door to the room and the vanity. Not the traditional space but it works perfectly to create the traditional rectangular shower space.

On the other hand, this space saving walk-in shower makes use of a corner. With a walk-in shower, you aren’t constrained by the size of a traditional tub. This corner shower is spacious and makes most of the room available. Using clear glass for the enclosure make the space look larger too. When you install light tile on the shower walls you visually make the room appear larger as well. The contrasting accent tile on the wall and shower floor provide texture and visual appeal.

Corner showers and curved showers make the most of a small space. So think outside the box when looking at the shape and size of the room.

Splurge on Shower Heads

Take your time selecting your shower head. First think about the finish. Brushed nickel, chrome, and rubbed bronze are all popular finishes. Select a finish that complements the tile color or provides a dash of contrast. Structurally, shower heads designs are categorized as vintage, modern, or industrial. Consider the finish and style of other bathroom fixtures when selecting the shower head. One walk-in shower doesn’t mean one shower head. Splurge on a rainfall shower head for those spa-like showers and a removable shower head for when you need to get down to business. The walk-in shower to the left may be small in size but it packs a punch with multiple shower heads. Use one at a time or all at once.

If you plan to use multiple shower heads, talk to the shower remodeling contractor before work begins. You may need to increase the size of the pipes coming into the shower to provide enough water flow.

Extras to Elevate Your Shower Remodeling Project

Elevate your shower with windows, benches, and niches. Incorporate any of these in almost any shower design. Niches provide storage for in-shower grooming products and benches provide a space to sit and enjoy them.

Niches and windows also provide an avenue to customize your shower as well. Frosted glass contrasts with clear. Contrasting tile shapes and colors adorn niches. As you enjoy the rainfall spray or sit and give yourself a good scrub you’ll be glad you took the time to add those little extras to your project.

Rely on the Shower Remodeling Experts

Rely on the shower remodeling experts at Inspired Remodels to craft the walk-in shower of your dreams. From the largest ensuite master bathroom to the smallest guest bath, Inspired Remodels designs and builds custom walk-in showers, bathrooms, kitchens and more. Call (949) 716-1938 and schedule your shower remodeling consultation today.

Author: Inspired Remodels