kitchen design Archives - Inspired Remodels

Guide to the Kitchen Renovation Decision-Making Process

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

A kitchen renovation feels overwhelming if you don’t know where to begin. Any time you make many decisions, you risk making a bad one. And with kitchen remodeling, mistakes cost extra money and extend the timeline. Follow the right order, and your project will move smoothly, and your kitchen will look and work fabulously.

Follow this simple guide to plan a kitchen renovation, step by step.

Begin With the Budget

Before deciding anything, have an idea of the amount you are looking to spend to build your new kitchen. When determining your budget, don’t forget to take into account things like new appliances and plumbing fixtures, all which have varying price points to consider.

Until your general contractor sees the space, it is hard to determine a ballpark figure for a remodel. Depending on the scope you are looking to complete, costs can vary greatly. For example, keeping the floor plan as it is, but updating the finishes may require one budget while deciding to remove walls, add features like a coffee bar or pot filler may require a different one. When meeting with your general contractor, it is important to share things like your ideal budget, how long you intend to stay in the home and how the home will be used (i.e. your forever home, a rental, etc.).

Plan the Layout

Now you know what you have to spend, think about how you actually use your kitchen. Are you a gourmet cook or a microwave pro?

Do you accommodate several cooks at once, or is meal prep and clean-up a solo endeavor?

Looking to create a better flow for entertaining, or do you need an eating area or island? These needs inform the layout. The layout shapes your following decisions, so settle on the layout early. A good layout will make your kitchen easier to use every day.

Many Orange County kitchen renovations knock down walls to create an open-concept layout. Modern homeowners want kitchens that feel large and bring in natural light. It is important to note that not all walls can be removed. In some instances, an architect and/or engineer may need to assess what removing a wall would require in the building process.

Pick Major Appliances

Pick your appliances next. Why now? Because the size and number of appliances affects your cabinet and counter design. Decide on appliances such as refrigerator, stove, oven, microwave, and dishwasher before designing cabinets.

A common design trend in 2025 is hidden appliances – also know as panel-ready appliances. If you want panel-ready appliances, it is important to bring this up to your general contractor early in the design process as there are some limitations when it comes to finishes, sizes, etc. Appliance-ready panels can also impact the layout of your space as each appliance has different requirements and specifications for them to function properly.

Pick Cabinets and the Configuration

Once you know the layout and the dimensions of your appliances, you are ready to think about the style and finish of your cabinetry.

White shaker cabinets remain a popular option for Orange County kitchens, but many homeowners have shifted to softer white as opposed to bright white that was popular just a few years ago. A two-tone design has become increasingly popular, with some homeowners selecting a statement color like sage green or navy blue, while others are drawn to the looks of a wood-tone. Deciding where you want to include the contrast is another factor to consider. Do you want just the island to be a different color? The uppers and lowers different colors?

This is also the time to consider storage needs. Options such as pull-out drawers, spice racks, and standing mixer lifts increase the functionality of the room.

Select the Countertops

Now that you’ve selected the style and color of your cabinets, determine the countertops that match not only your style and design, but durability and functionality. One of the more popular countertop choices is quartz due to the ease of maintenance and availability of design. Other homeowners opt for natural materials like quartzite, marble, or even granite, but it is important to note these will require regular maintenance (i.e. sealing).

Thick slabs with bold veining and waterfall edges remain staples in luxury home kitchen renovations in Orange County.

Decide on Flooring

With cabinet and countertop colors and style in mind, pick your kitchen flooring. Opt for flooring that stands up to daily wear and spills.

If you wanting the wood look without the fear of it being ruined, wood look porcelain tile flooring is a durable, waterproof option for flooring. Otherwise options such as LVP or engineered wood can be used, but it is important to understand the care requirements of each before making your decision. Your general contractor can walk you through each option and help you determine the best option for you.

No matter what you pick, pick a floor that will last for years and look good just as long.

Plan Lighting and Electrical Requirements

Good lighting makes a big difference. Use ceiling lights and under-cabinet lights to brighten workspaces with task lighting. Plan for electrical needs to determine locations for your wall switches and outlets. Consider what small appliances you will use and where you will use them. Don’t forget to figure charging areas into the equation, too.

Will your island host the blender and food processor, or hungry kids at breakfast and lunch? Know in advance and plan your electrical outlets accordingly.

Currently, recessed ceiling lights and decorative pendants top the trends in Orange County kitchen renovation projects. Consider dimmer switches for even more flexibility.

Settle on Backsplash and Wall Colors

Your backsplash ties the entire kitchen together. Wait until after you’ve decided on the cabinets and countertops to make this important decision.

Stone, porcelain, glass, and zellige tiles star in decorator kitchens in Orange County. Select paint colors that finish the room in a cohesive manner. Remember, the lighter the color, the more open and larger the room will feel.

If you are looking for a cleaner look without the added grout lines, consider using your countertop material as backsplash (i.e. countersplash). This popular design trend has been sweeping through Orange County kitchens over the last year and is expected to continue for years to come!

For harmony, use colors adjacent to prime elements on the color wheel. Go across the color wheel if you want high contrast.

Choose Fixtures and Hardware

Finally, select your faucet, sink, and cabinet handles. Cabinet hardware accessorizes your kitchen just as jewelry accessorizes fashion wear. There are dozens of finishes and brands to choose from!

If you are looking to be on-trend in 2025, consider mixed metals. Brands such as Brizo have created faucet lines that incorporate two-tone finishes like matte black with champagne bronze. This then allows you to choose cabinetry handles of either color and is no longer considered a faux-paus.

Kitchen Renovation Design and Build

If you are looking for a design and build team in Orange County for your upcoming kitchen remodel, contact Inspired Remodels.

Joe and team will walk you through the process from start to finish. Determine a layout that works for you and your space, select the finishes and fixtures, and watch your dream become a reality – all in one place!

Deciding to schedule a consultation with Inspired Remodels is a smart start to your kitchen renovation project.

Orange County kitchen renovation after with white counters, warm shelves and bamboo barstools

Custom Kitchen Remodeling by Inspired Remodels

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

This article was originally published on December 9, 2016. It has been updated to provide the most current information.

Are you planning a kitchen remodel this year? If so, rely on Inspired Remodels for custom kitchen remodeling magic. Whether you are looking for fresh new cabinets, more space for meal preparation, added storage, or a floorplan that joins outdoor living with the inside, Inspired Remodels creates the custom kitchen of your dreams.

Custom Kitchen Remodeling Magic

Inspired Remodels offers full design/build custom kitchen remodeling services. Unlike other firms that just throw skilled tradesmen at the job, Inspired Remodels carefully listens to your wants, needs, and ideas of a dream kitchen. Then they design a kitchen that looks and functions like a dream. You get expertise in:

cabinets and cupboards
countertops
sinks
faucets
lighting
flooring
plumbing
appliance installation

Don’t spend another year in your tired kitchen, talk to Inspired Remodels about a new custom kitchen for the way you live. Get a kitchen that offers not only utility but style and comfort too.

Custom Kitchen Remodeling Creates Space that Works

A custom kitchen reflects the home’s cook. But it’s more than just nice looking counters and cabinets. A successful kitchen remodel creates usable kitchen space, adds to the property value, improves lighting, and provides solutions to storage problems. It not only looks good, it works well and is easy to maintain.

kitchen contractor after pic of base corner cabinet with lazy susan

How’s that for storage?

We’ll help you select durable flooring that stands up to the rigors of a busy kitchen, we’ll make the most of your square footage to create an efficient workspace. Custom kitchens offer the luxury of designing space for storage of the items you use the most so they stay close at hand.

Of course, Inspired Remodels incorporates stunning finishes and fixtures that reflect your unique style. Check out our portfolio of custom kitchen remodels.

You Dream It – We Build It

If you already have a new design in mind, talk to Inspired Remodels about bringing it to life. As a full-service general contracting firm, we provide the skilled craftsmen to bring your design to life. We’ve got plumbers, carpenters, electricians, and other professionals ready to go to work on your custom kitchen. Enjoy the peace of mind that comes with a dedicated project manager who serves as your point of contact from start to finish. We know custom kitchen remodeling can be stressful and we work hard to make it as frictionless as possible.

Our years of experience help you decide where to splurge and where to save. Trust us, those soft-close drawers and doors will be worth every penny and appreciated with every open and close.

Call Inspired Remodels at (949) 716-1938 for a consultation today.

custom kitchen remodeling job added blue lights for accent color to an otherwise neutral kitchen

Kitchen Remodel Company Brings Function to Beauty

By Inspired Remodels / Kitchen Remodel / Comments Off

When you remodel any room in the house, you want it to look awesome. But when you remodel a room as important as the kitchen, it needs to look good and work well. After all, a kitchen is as much a workroom as a hobby garage. You need room to store the tools of the trade, do your work, and share your masterpieces. Any kitchen remodel company worth their salt (pun intended) can install attractive cabinets and counters. But it takes a special kitchen remodel company to create a space that’s a treat for the eye and the cook. Inspired Remodels does it on a regular basis. Here’s how.

The Kitchen Triangle

No, the kitchen triangle isn’t a sordid affair between the lime, salt, and chili powder. The kitchen work triangle refers to the arrangement of the major work stations in the kitchen. That’s the sink, the refrigerator, and the stove/oven. Each makes up one point of the triangle. No leg of the triangle should be more than 9 feet long. The sum of all three sides should be somewhere between 13 and 26 feet to be ideal. There are just too many steps if it’s larger.

This is some serious stuff. It’s based on time-motion studies on the most effective way for a one-cook kitchen to achieve true efficiency. While today’s kitchens often have more than one cook, the kitchen triangle or it’s cousin, the kitchen zone still creates a game plan for efficiency. The kitchen zone concept creates zones for food preparation, cleaning, baking, and cooking. These zones usually end up in a variation of the kitchen triangle.

Kitchen Remodel Company Deploys Kitchen Triangle

Putting the Triangle into Action

Take a look at the lovely kitchen above. Pay particular attention to the stove in relation to the refrigerator. Next, see how the fridge is across from the sink? Can you see the triangle in this kitchen?

Now can you see it? It might have been tempting to use the space next to the cooktop for the refrigerator and use the refrigerator wall to create a large work space. But the savvy kitchen remodel company understands that fridge door needs to be opened and closed several times during meal prep.

Had it been located next to the stove it would have saved steps, but it would have been awkward.

A functional kitchen flows. You move smoothly and without friction from one area to the next.

Can you see yourself working in this kitchen?

And speaking of working, notice the work area station to the right of the stove. When you take a hot pan out of the oven, there’s a place for it.

There’s ample room for the traditional 3 step breading station. And it looks great!

Inspired Remodels is the Kitchen Remodel Company to Call

When you are ready to put kitchen remodel dreams into action, call the kitchen remodel company that will ensure you get a kitchen that works hard and looks good doing it. Call Inspired Remodels.

Inspired Remodels is a full-service design and build remodel company. From the initial design stage to polishing the chrome on the new kitchen faucet, they’ll be with you every step of the way. Call (949) 716-1938 or Contact Us online today.