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Kitchen Remodeling with Pantone’s 2026 Color of the Year

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Pantone made a splash this year with the selection of Cloud Dancer as its 2026 Color of the Year. Unlike the brownish mousse of 2025 or the soft peach of 2024, this color clocks in solidly neutral. This makes it the perfect color for your Orange County kitchen remodeling project in 2026.

Kitchen remodeling after: Bright white cabinets with warm wood tone accents and freestanding marble island

Cloud Dancer in the Kitchen

Weary from a world of gray, Cloud Dancer lightens the room and sets the mood for focus and relaxation in the kitchen. The often-hectic Orange County lifestyle needs kitchens with the ability to calm us as we cook. PANTONE 11-4201 aims to create an atmosphere of cleanliness and lightness that adds a bit of serenity to any room in the house.

Many kitchen remodeling projects aim to create an open and spacious feeling.  Cloud Dancer supports that goal while working and playing well with other splashes of color in the kitchen.

Kitchen remodeling after: light grey cabinets, white quartz countertops, and light grey tile floors

Kitchen Remodeling with Cloud Dancer-Inspired Cabinets

Inspired Remodels loves kitchen cabinets in Cloud Dancer-inspired tones. We’ve used neutral cabinets in many kitchen remodels over the years. Neutral cabinets don’t chase trends. This keeps this year’s kitchen remodel looking current five or ten years down the road. When you model with longevity or resale in mind, stick with neutral tones.

A Cloud Dancer–style white sits comfortably between warm and cool tones. Light kitchen cabinets reflect both natural and artificial light. Even smaller kitchens feel larger with light cabinets.

Orange County general contractors after pic of black and white kitchen remodel

Black Pops against White

Coordinates Well with Other Design Elements

Cloud Dancer–inspired elements pair easily with:

  • Quartz, marble, or butcher block countertops
  • Warm wood or tile flooring
  • Brass, black, or stainless hardware
  • Bold backsplashes
  • Dramatic sinks

When you start with Cloud Dancer-inspired elements like cabinets, you get the flexibility to add personality through other elements as accents. Instead of starting with a color that’s hard to undo, you have a clean palette upon which to build.  Contrast with dramatic, statement lighting or coordinate with countertops.

Stick with easy-to-clean surfaces (pun intended), and you’ll find neutral-toned kitchens are a breeze to keep clean. Soft whites hide smudges better than bright whites and gloss finishes.

general contractor after kitchen renovation Slab front cabinets with white countertops for a modern kitchen

Kitchen Remodeling for Orange County Lifestyles

Inspired Remodels works with homeowners across Orange County to design and deliver truly inspired kitchen remodeling projects.

Whether you dream of a Cloud Dancer kitchen or love the biophilic feel or greens and blues, Inspired Remodels creates spaces that work as well as they look.

From incorporating your favorite colors and finishes to designing a kitchen that works with your lifestyle, Inspired Remodels builds the kitchen of your dreams.

 

 

White and white oak kitchen cabinetry with pendant lighting and light wood-tone porcelain floors

Orange County Kitchen Remodeler Loves Arizona Tile

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Inspired Remodels, the inspired Orange County kitchen remodeler, loves the looks and quality you get when you install products by Arizona Tile.  As a premier kitchen remodeler, Inspired Remodels works with only the best. And Arizona Tile represents the finest in tile and slab distribution in the Western United States. Take a look at some of the fabulous results.

Making a Design Splash with Backsplashes

A backsplash plays a vital role in the kitchen by protecting walls from moisture, grease, and food splatter. It simplifies cleaning and prevents damage to the areas behind the stove and sink. Beyond functionality, the backsplash serves as a major design element. Designers use it to introduce color, texture, or pattern to tie together the cabinets, countertops, and flooring. Whether you choose bold geometric tile, a soft coastal hue, or a natural stone slab, the backsplash anchors the overall style and adds visual interest. The backsplash holds the power to elevate an entire space.

kitchen remodeler after Arizona Tile backsplash mosaic tile in brown and white installed

This backsplash uses Arizona Tile to bring together the cool tones of the counters and stainless steel appliances with the warm tone of the paint and the richness of the wood cabinets.

after mesh mosaic tile backsplash installed to match quartz countertop

In this kitchen, the backsplash pulls together the grey countertop by the sink work area with the beautiful countertop on the island. These days, designers freely mix and match countertop materials. It’s up to the backsplash to pull the two materials together. In this case, Arizona Tile hits it out of the park with style.

Count on Arizona Tile for Countertops

Tile may be their name, but the Arizona Tile product line includes a wide variety of slab products for countertops. This includes:

  • Granite
  • Quartz
  • Quartzite
  • Marble aggregate
  • Dolomite
  • Porcelain
  • Limestone
  • Basalt
  • Travertine

No matter how you cook or your design preferences, there’s a countertop or two for you.

kitchen remodeler after white hood and cabinets marble counter and dark wood island

Arizona Tile countertops contribute to an understated, elegant aesthetic in this kitchen. White coordinates with cabinetry beautifully, while the subtle grey veining accents the stainless steel appliances.

These grey quartz countertops in this Newport Coast kitchen contribute to the clean, modern vibe that starts with the high gloss cabinets and continues with sleek appliances and high gloss flooring. Even with heavy use, quartz maintains its sleek appearance.

Inspired Kitchen Remodeler

Orange County turns to Inspired Remodels for beautiful and functional kitchen remodels, bath remodels, updated fireplaces, exteriors, and whole house renovation.

As a premier kitchen remodeler, Inspired Remodels only maintains relationships with trusted vendors that meet exacting requirements. When you work with Inspired Remodels, you know from the design to the labor and materials, everything will meet and exceed your expectations.

 

 

 

5 Mistakes to Avoid During A Custom Kitchen Remodel

By / Home Improvement, Kitchen Remodel / Comments Off on 5 Mistakes to Avoid During A Custom Kitchen Remodel

Your home is typically your most valuable asset, and deciding to undertake a custom kitchen remodel is an important and exciting decision. 

Many Orange County homeowners purchase a house or condo knowing at some point they will want to customize and make the space their own. Custom kitchen remodeling represents a sizable investment in a complex process. Even a minor mistake leads to major timeline and/or budgetary setbacks. 

To help you get the results you want with the least amount of stress, avoid these five most common mistakes homeowners make during a remodel. 

Automatically Hiring the Lowest Bidder

When considering a custom kitchen remodel, meet with a few different general contractors and obtain multiple bids. While it may be tempting to go with the cheapest bid received, that’s not always the best course of action. 

The Problem.  The lowest bidder may provide quality work and deliver acceptable results, but more commonly, they cause stress and headaches. From poor craftsmanship or low-quality materials to deviating from the project scope, or submitting numerous change orders for items not initially considered, the lowest bid may not always be the best solution.

The Solution. Instead, get several bids from various contractors and then compare your options. Make sure the bids or estimates you consider are for the same work and the same materials and finishes.  Ask yourself:

  • Who did you feel most comfortable with and confident in?
  • Who else in the community used them?
  • What do each of the contractors bring to the table?
  • Have any of the contractors built your dream space before? Have they shared photos online?

general contractors blueprints for custom kitchen remodeling
Focusing Solely on Aesthetics

The Problem. During the planning phase of a custom kitchen remodeling project, it is easy to focus on beauty and not functionality. Updating your kitchen so that it’s on-trend and updated to today’s colors doesn’t make the space serve you better. Don’t spend a fortune on a beautiful room that’s not built for the way you cook or entertain.  

The Solution. Opt for a layout that works for you and makes cooking a meal easy. If your counters are cluttered with various small appliances, bring this up during the design phase. Let the designer/general contractor know of your functionality needs so they design a space that offers both beauty and practicality.

Custom kitchen that will help sell in 5 years

Not Considering The Future of the Home

The Problem. Goals such as “Create a gorgeous kitchen with the latest colors and finishes” isn’t a goal that supports the overall plans for your home. That’s because it fails to consider your future plans for the home. These include goals such as how long you plan to live in the home, whether you plan to rent the home out to others, or if you plan to sell the home in the near future.  

The Solution. Keep the design and materials aligned with the future of your home. If this is your forever home, go for the ultimate in personalization (that’s permission for red cabinets if that’s your heart’s desire). However, if your plans include a sale in the next five years, make choices that appeal to potential buyers. If the home is going to become a rental, opt for budget-friendly designs and finishes that offer durability.

Skipping New Plumbing

The Problem. Many homes in Orange County have experienced a leak due to failed copper piping. Failing to take advantage of this opportunity to re-plumb the area can be penny-wise and pound-foolish. When your pipes fail and you have a leak, the restoration team is going to cut through your cabinets, tiles, and floors. Matching finishes could be a nightmare.

The Solution. When the demo is complete and it’s time to start the remodeling process, go ahead and replace the plumbing. It will be less expensive while the pipes are exposed and accessible. Protect yourself from future headaches and construction by taking care of the pipes.

Black and white kitchen cabinetry with wood look flooring

This kitchen flows beautifully to the adjoining room

Ignoring The Rest of the Home

The Problem. Your custom kitchen features all the latest conveniences and is designed with the trendiest colors and finishes. And it doesn’t match any other room in the house. You failed to consider how the kitchen would look from adjoining rooms. Now the kitchen seems disassociated from the rest of the house. Bummer.

The Solution. Consider how the renovated kitchen will fit in with the rest of the home. Is the style consistent, and does the ingress and egress flow with adjoining rooms? Design the kitchen to be new and fabulous, but design it to be part of a larger home.

Grey and white kitchen cabinetry with large island and stainless appliances in open concept custom kitchen remodeling

Custom Kitchen Remodeling in Orange County

Turn to Inspired Remodels and avoid the most common mistakes made during a custom kitchen remodel.

Inspired Remodels listens to your wants and needs and then designs a functional and beautiful space that fits with the rest of the home. Bring your dreams and inspiration, and watch Inspired Remodels bring them to life.