Inspired Remodels, Author at Inspired Remodels

How to Hire a Home Improvement Contractor

By Inspired Remodels / Home Improvement / Comments Off

So, the thought of a new year has you thinking about a new kitchen or bath? Maybe you want new stairs, flooring or need a way to give a tired room a lift. Unless you are skilled carpenter, electrician, or plumber hire a home improvement contractor for these jobs. But hiring a home improvement contractor can be scary. A major renovation, remodel, or re-do is a major investment and you don’t want to get burned. How do you find the right contractor for the job?

Only Hire a Licensed Home Improvement Contractor

This is first, foremost, and always the most important. Do not hire a home improvement contractor that is not licensed. The State of California makes this easy. Just go online to the state’s Contractor’s License Board and search by the company name. For example, enter Inspired Remodels as the name of the home improvement contractor and you get information such as:

Business address and phone
License status
Business classification
Bonding information
Worker’s compensation insurance information

Get Bids

Shop around and get at least 3 bids for a major renovation or remodel. When you compare bids, make sure that all three are based on the same plans, specifications, and finishes. That low bid for a kitchen remodel may include fiberboard cabinets while the more expensive bid may install solid wood or custom cabinets. If one bid is so low you can’t believe it; then don’t. There is either a problem with the bid or the contractor. Most home improvement contractors charge the same for comparable work.

Ask for Recommendations

Ask the contractor for recommendations from recent clients. Then call the clients. Ask about their experience. Was the work finished on time and on budget? Were there any surprises? In what condition was the home left at the end of the work day?

Some contractors view your home as nothing more than a job site. Inspired Remodels understands the place they are working is your home. It is stressful and inconvenient to have your home under construction. That’s why you will always be assigned a project manager to serve as the point of contact for all aspects of your job. In addition, our crews will never leave your home a shambles at the end of the day.

Ask your friends, neighbors, an co-workers if they have any experiences (good or bad) with a local home improvement contractor. Also, ask to see work that they have done. They should have a portfolio of kitchen remodels, flooring or fireplace remodels, or samples of similar work.

Inspired Remodels – More than a Home Improvement Contractor

Once you start looking, one thing will be clear. Inspired Remodels is the premier home improvement contractor in Orange County. Inspired Remodels is more than just a general contracting firm. They are a complete design and build shop. That means they do more than install kitchen appliances and floors, they design stunning kitchens. They do more than tile a bathroom, they design a spa-like retreat. Inspired Remodels can take your ideas and turn them into breathtaking living spaces that look good and function great.

Call (949) 716-1938 to make an appointment for your consultation today.

Bathroom Renovation Company Gives Tips for an Inviting Guest Bath

By Inspired Remodels / Bathroom Remodel, Home Improvement / Comments Off

The holiday season is upon us. If you had guests over the Thanksgiving holiday, did you make them feel welcome in every room of your home? Inspired Remodels, the Orange County bathroom renovation company that designs and builds master bathrooms, guest bathrooms, and spa bathrooms has some tips on how you can make holiday guests feel at home in the bathroom.

Start with a Clean Slate

Start out with a squeaky clean slate. Even if a bathroom doesn’t get used often, it does get dirty. Dust collects on fixtures and on rugs and towels. Make sure the bathroom is freshly scrubbed and scoured before your guest arrives. Even if you don’t have the time or inclination to do the scrubbing yourself, hire a service to clean the bathroom. Many cleaning services will perform one-time cleaning services. If you are busy, this is a great task to outsource and Groupons are often available for cleaning services.

scrub and remove clutter

If you do the cleaning yourself, be sure to clean behind the toilet, where dust collects and replace linens. Evaluate the shower curtain liner. If it looks dirty or dingy, many vinyl liners can be cleaned in the washer with a bleach solution to remove mold and mildew.

Remove all personal items and store them out-of-sight.

Set Out Deluxe Linens

Invest in a set of luxury bath linens. This is a splurge that will pay off for years to come. High thread count, thick bath linens will make your guests think your home has a spa feel every day of the week. You don’t need to tell them otherwise.

Two-ply towels are more absorbent than one-ply towels. Don’t use fabric softener on your towels. Fabric softener leaves a coating that reduces the absorbency of the towel. For fresh smelling, soft bath linens, use a fabric softener sheet in the dryer instead.

Think of Everything

These days, travel by air means leaving behind razors, tweezers, and full size toiletries. Stock up your guest bath with everything your guest may have left behind or need during the stay. They will appreciate your thoughtfulness. Items to stock include:

toothbrushes
mouthwash
hairbrushes
razors
tweezers
shampoo
conditioner
body lotion
cotton balls
cotton swabs
ibuprofen
antacid
multi-symptom cold medicine
feminine hygiene products

Your guest will appreciate your thoughtfulness and be happy to skip an emergency trip to the store

Spa Experience on Dollar Budget

Stocking your guest bathroom doesn’t have to cost a fortune. The dollar stores are filled with loofa sponges, bath salts, perfumed lotions, body brushes, and other spa-like bathroom supplies.

Set a basket with spa supplies on the edge of the tub to encourage your guests to soak travel stress away.

Stock Up On Spa Supplies

Repair and Replace

If you have been putting off replacing worn or leaking faucets or shower heads, this is a great time to make those repairs. Some leaky faucets just need a new washer. Here’s how to make this simple faucet repair. Shower heads can be replaced in just a few minutes. Leaks waste water and money. Leaks also add to hard water deposits. If your toilet leaks, check the fill valve and the flush valve. These parts are also easily replaced.

Leaks waste water and money. Stop leaks.

Bathroom Renovation

It’s too late to renovate before your holiday guests arrive. But it isn’t too late to start planning for a bathroom renovation. You will be ready to start the new year with a new look for your guest bathroom.

Inspired Remodels is the bathroom renovation company that will work with you to create a guest bath to wow even the most finicky guest.

Call (949) 716-1938 to get started today.

Kitchen Contractor Gets You Cooking With Kitchens that Work

By Inspired Remodels / Kitchen Remodel / Comments Off

Are you dreading cooking for the holidays? Do you love cooking but hate cooking in your kitchen? Maybe your kitchen needs an overhaul to make it functional as well as beautiful. When you work with the right kitchen contractor, you end up with a kitchen that looks great and works even better. Ready to brainstorm a new kitchen? Here’s some inspiration from Inspired Remodels recent renovations.

Cooking Made Easier

Tired of moving those heavy pots and pans? Cooktops with continuous grates makes it easy to move pots and pans without lifting. Sealed burners make clean-up a breeze. Get a restaurant quality sear and boil water quickly with a high-quality gas cooktop. Cooktops allow you to maximize your storage space too.

By placing the knobs on the front, they stay cool while you cook and are easily accessible. This kitchen was made for cooking. The wall mounted hood effectively handles the output from high-heat cooking. Plenty of storage is still available under the cooktop for the items you want to keep at hand while cooking.

Drawers give you pull out storage that you can see at a glance. Gone are the days of digging in the back of a dark cabinet, when your kitchen contractor utilizes drawers for storage.

Double wall ovens give you the freedom to roast your turkey and bake a pecan pie at the same time. Speaking of pies, if baking is your passion select an oven with a convection setting for the consistent heating that is crucial for successful baking. Convection ovens use a fan to circulate the heated air; making for better kale chips for sure!

Clean Up Without Fuss

Sinks can make the difference between clean up that’s a chore and clean up that’s a breeze. A good kitchen contractor understands that for every meal that is cooked, there is a meal that requires clean up. Clean up should be as easy as the cooking. Take cleaning into consideration when designing your dream kitchen.

When this small kitchen was remodeled, it became functional as well as beautiful. The double sink is perfect for washing up. Undermount sinks are as functional as they are stylish. Brush those crumbs right into the sink. No grooves, cracks, or crevices will catch them. The location of the dishwasher immediately to the right of the sink makes rinsing and loading a breeze for the right-handed person. Placing the sink across from the cooktop also makes filling a pot of water for pasta as easy as a pivot.

Have large pots, pans, and roasters to wash? A farmhouse style sink may be what you need. A farmhouse sink is traditionally much deeper than a traditional sink and has a single basin. The design also sits slightly to the front of the cabinets beneath it. Farmhouse sinks originated in kitchens without running water and water splashed as the sink was filled. This slightly protruding design kept the cabinet underneath from getting wet in the fill process. We have running water in our kitchens these days, but the design has endured.

Inspired Remodels is the Kitchen Contractor for a Functional, Beautiful Kitchen

If you live in Orange County and are ready for a kitchen that works hard so you don’t have to, call Inspired Remodels.

Inspired Remodels is a full service design and built contractor. They can turn your dream of a fully functionally kitchen into a reality. Inspired Remodels will sit with you, review your lifestyle and cooking style, and design a kitchen that works for you.

Call (949) 716-1938 or use our on-line Contact Us form.

Author: Inspired Remodels