kitchen remodel Archives - Page 12 of 14

Changing the Conventional Wisdom on Orange County General Contractors

By Inspired Remodels / Home Improvement / Comments Off

Orange County general contractors often get a bad rap. People call them sleazy, unresponsive, unreliable, and dishonest. They refuse accountability. Then, when you need them the most, they disappear.

The contracting industry contains good and bad apples. Unfortunately, stereotypes rise from the actions of a few bad actors. Inspired Remodels changes the view of Orange County general contractors.

General Contractor Horror Stories

Hire a general contractor and expect licensed, professional, and skilled workers. The last thing you expect is a job that drag on for months. Or, subcontractors showing up to threaten placing a lien on your property because you haven’t been paid. That’s what happened to Robert S when he hired a general contractor to remodel his kitchen. Read the entire horror story on Yelp.

Or, how about Susan? She hired a general contractor to redo her kitchen. The job required the general contractor to replace ceiling popcorn with texture. Sounds nice? Well, Susan received more than she expected. The crazy general contractor hired a subcontractor to remove the popcorn and apply texture to every surface in the kitchen! That’s right, imagine your ceiling and every wall covered in texture. Talk about going overboard!

Design/Build Orange County General Contractor

Inspired Remodels paints a different picture of general contractors in Orange County. See, Inspired Remodels maintains an active license, has full insurance, and keeps your best interest at heart. They act as a design/build firm. Therefore you never suffer from miscommunication between the design firm and the contractor. So, whether you want a bathroom remodel, a kitchen remodel, or custom cabinetry or flooring, they create the plans and specifications. Once you approve the design, they schedule the work. Next, they perform the work to your delight.

Patty G in Trabuco Canyon posts on Yelp

Call (949) 716-1938 or Contact Us online and schedule a consultation. Share your project ideas, budget, and needs. Then, prepare for amazing results. Get quality work performed to your satisfaction with Inspired Remodels.

Article originally published on 7/29/2016. It has been updated to reflect current information.

Kitchen Renovation Must Haves

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

When you are planning your next kitchen renovation you will be thinking about flooring, cabinet styles, finishes, counter tops, ovens, ranges, and refrigerators. Those are all key components to any kitchen renovation. But sometimes its the smaller things that can have a big impact on the finished kitchen. Inspired Remodels shares a few must haves to incorporate in your next kitchen renovation.

Drawers Over Doors

When you think about new kitchen cabinets, you need to think about more than the finish and style. You need to think abut how you will be using the storage space. For maximum efficiency in the kitchen, select drawers over doors for the base cabinets. Instead of opening a door, bending down, and rummaging around to get the item you need you can just pull out a drawer and the item will be right at hand.

These Orange County homeowners understood the benefit of drawers over doors during their recent kitchen renovation and are glad they made the switch every time they cook. Extra deep drawers are perfect for storing pots and pans out of sight but within easy reach.

Maximize Natural Lighting

Make the most of sunlight. It makes even small kitchens look larger. Saves on electricity too as natural lighting can be used for tasks during most of the day. Avoid heavy window treatments. They block light and make the kitchen look smaller.

Centralized Pantry Area

Designate at least one wall as your pantry wall. This saves steps when cooking and makes organizing and storing groceries a breeze. These remodelers applied this concept to create a wall that looks good and provides plenty of storage just where you need it. This pantry wall is close to the fridge, minimizing the steps needed to gather ingredients. Another option is to place the pantry wall next to the stove, where ingredients are handy. Pantry walls don’t need to be next to an appliance. But if they are, the best looking kitchens use either counter depth appliances or adjust the cabinet size to provide a smooth, finished appearance.

Quiet Dishwasher and Garbage Disposal

As kitchens are more and more integrated into the living space, the sounds emanating from the room are becoming just as important as the smells. You want to be part of the action as you cook and clean, but your family won’t appreciate the noise from overly loud dishwashers and garbage disposals.

When comparing features, be sure to look at the decibel levels during operation. Normal conversation is carried on at about 60 decibels. Get too close to that number and you have to shout over the dishwasher or disposal. Not good.

Many models made by Miele and Bosch operate in the 40 decibel range, making them perfect for open floor plans. As the appliance gets quieter, the price tag gets bigger. If your kitchen renovation budget doesn’t allow for one of these brands, pick a model with a delay start. This will allow you to run the dishwasher after you leave for the day or go to bed at night.

Undermount Sink

Single Bowl Undermount Sink

Undermount sinks are not only popular, they are practical. With this style sink, the sink edge lip is mounted under the countertop. It works with solid countertops such as soapstone, granite, and concrete. Laminate or tile counters will not have enough weight to support the sink. Undermount sinks provide a clean surface between the countertop and the sink. That means fewer crevices and cracks for crumbs and stains to hide in. Just wipe the crumbs off the countertop and into the sink. Clean up is a breeze. Speaking of clean-up, opt for a large sink that allows plenty of room to scrub those large pots, pans, and cookie sheets. The lighter the sink, the more stains it will show. Darker sinks won’t be stained by red wine, spaghetti sauce or coffee.

Double bowl undermount sink

Single bowl or multi-bowl is more a reflection of your cooking and cleaning style. If you put most of your dishes through the ultra quiet dishwasher, then a single bowl is perfect. If you prefer to hand wash your daily dishes, a single bowl is not very practical. In that case select a two or three bowl sink. If you have the space and the budget allows, a small prep sink is another must have.

Hire a Kitchen Renovation Pro

Hiring a company with expertise in kitchen renovation projects can be the difference between a dream kitchen that just looks good and a kitchen that looks amazing and functions like a dream. Inspired Remodels can turn your dream kitchen into reality. They will work with you to design a room that fuses function,, beauty, and your personal style. Check out our portfolio of kitchen renovations and then call (949) 716-1938 to schedule your consultation.

Let Uncle Sam Help with House Remodeling

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

Have you received your income tax refund yet? Are you expecting it soon? It’s always fun to plan on how you are going to spend your tax refund but why not put it to work. Invest in house remodeling with your tax refund and improve the value of your home. Here’s some ideas from the Orange County House Remodeling Experts at Inspired Remodels

Bathroom Remodeling

Update your bathroom with that tax refund check. You can completely gut the room and start from scratch or just bring in new counters and cabinets to give it a fresh look.

This recent bathroom remodeling job combines classic style and natural materials to create a peaceful spa feel. Inspired Remodels knows any house remodeling job is better when you pay attention to details. Like the details in this amazing shower.

The beautiful mosaic pattern in the tile floor of the shower, dual purpose shower heads, and extension of the tub into the shower to provide seating are the little touches that make a big difference.

Kitchen Remodeling

New floors, new countertops, new appliances or any combination of the above! Kitchen remodeling can breathe fresh life into a tired room and make it more functional as well.

This recent house remodeling job made the most of the home’s location. Honestly who wouldn’t mind doing the dishes with a view like this?

The cool color palate works beautifully with the natural color of the ocean to seamlessly combine the natural beauty of the outside space with the man-made beauty of the interior space.

Trust the Orange County House Remodeling Experts at Inspired Remodels

If you want to get the most from that tax refund check, you need a trusted partner. Trust Orange County’s best house remodeling company; trust Inspired Remodels.

Inspired Remodels is a licensed general contractor. They can handle all aspects of your remodeling job. That means from design to build, Inspired Remodels is with you every step of the way. You don’t have to hassle with subcontractors because Inspired Remodels provides total project management.

If you know you want to remodel, but aren’t sure where to start or the costs involved, Inspired Remodels can give you an honest assessment with an in-home consultation. We understand that home remodeling is stressful and work to make the process as easy and stress-free as possible. We’ll always keep lines of communication open and your dedicated project manager will be available before, during, and after the work.

You’ve heard the horror stories about good remodeling gone bad; but you won’t hear those stories about Inspired Remodels. Just check out the on-line reviews at Yelp or contact the Better Business Bureau. You’ll only hear good things about Inspired Remodels.

Give us a call at (949) 716-1938 or Contact Us on-line to schedule an appointment.