Lenton_blog_kitchen

5 Kitchen Trends That Are Here to Stay

If you’re considering a remodel of one of the most important rooms in your home, you want to design with trends that are here to stay. You want a kitchen that functions well and looks great — but you don’t want to chase faddish looks that will date your kitchen.

Check out a few of the trends that will look and work great today and tomorrow and for years to come.

1. Island Life

We’re not taking tropical breezes, but the way an island anchors your kitchen with versatility. It adds horizontal space that’s great for food prep, dining, or homework, while the base can be used for extra storage, a beverage fridge, or a microwave drawer. Think about how you want to use it — some prefer it as just a counter, while others like to put a prep or main sink there, and others prefer to have their cooktop or range located in the island.

2. Building It In

Cutting clutter and having a space for everything in your kitchen is made easier with the new options for storage. Pull-out spice racks, microwave drawers, dishwasher drawers, dedicated cabinets and counters for a coffee station — all of these and more make life neater and easier.

3. Wood’s Natural Warmth

Wherever you look, wood is taking a starring role in kitchen design. In cabinets from traditional to modern, butcher-block counters to hardwood floors, wood is a natural in kitchen design.

4. Color & Shade

White kitchens are timeless, but accenting white upper cabinets with a different color like blue or green on the bottom cabinets adds style and dimension. Islands can also be finished in different colors or tones to make them stand out from the rest of the kitchen.

5. Designing for Life

If you plan to stay in your home past your retirement, you can design for comfort now — without sacrificing style. Swap out bottom cabinets for deep drawers to save your knees while storing things like stockpots and baking sheets. Side-opening wall ovens make it easier to get things in and out — no more bending and stooping to wrestle a heavy roast or Thanksgiving turkey. Counters of varying heights can make it easier to chop or prep food while on a stool or chair, and leaving space underneath can allow those in chairs or wheelchairs to pull in close. And redesigning your kitchen for more space between surfaces not only makes it more roomy, it will make it more accessible for those using mobility devices like walkers or wheelchairs.

Before you start picking out your appliances and finishes, though, you want to find a licensed general contractor near you with experience and integrity. Check reviews and ask for references. A kitchen has so many working parts — many of them hidden like plumbing and electrical — that you want top-notch workmanship from your kitchen remodeler in Lancaster, Palmdale, or the rest of the Antelope Valley.

We love designing and building kitchens that work as great as they look. To get started on your own kitchen remodeling project, give our team of talented designers and craftsmen at Lenton Company a call at 661-273-9179 or send us an email at service@lentoncompany.com.

Lenton_blog_bathroom

How To: Remodeling Your Master Bath

A master bathroom remodeling project is one of the best ways to invest in your home while improving your quality of life. It has to be beautiful, of course, but your master bathroom also works hard, and is where you prepare for your days and unwind before bed.

The trend is for bigger master bathrooms with more luxurious or individual touches. Borrowing space from an adjacent area — a vacant bedroom or closet, for example — can get you the extra room you need, but it does get complicated.

Having the help and guidance of a designer will help you make the most of the new space. If you need to move walls, you’ll want an experienced remodeling company to make sure the structure is engineered right. Working with a company that specializes in design and construction will streamline your master bathroom remodeling project.

Start by putting together your wish list. Do you need more space to get ready for your day with someone else? Separate sinks can cut down on the hassle — whether in a double vanity or two individual vanities.

Shower Trends

There’s a definite trend toward larger, more luxurious showers, often replacing the space taken up by a bathtub. Multiple showerheads, often a fixed one and a handheld, are on many people’s must-have list. That handheld shower head also comes in really handy when you’re cleaning the shower. Glass doors and enclosures can help the bathroom seem more open and airy, and building in niches between the framing allows for niches to hold bottles of shampoo. Using contrasting tiles in these niches add a pop of style.

Thinking ahead to a time when they might not be as mobile, many of our clients ask us to reinforce some areas of the frame for adding grab bars later. That’s also why zero-entry showers that have no lip are becoming popular installations — there’s no barrier to those using a mobility assist like a cane, walker, or wheelchair. They look great too. In the Lancaster area, many of the houses are built on slabs,

The Suite Spot

This is a great time to reconsider the transition space between your master bathroom and your bedroom. Putting a wak-closet and dressing room between the bath and bedroom or off the bathroom is a helpful solution for couples on different schedules — the early bird can get ready and dressed without disturbing the later riser. It also turns the whole area into a true master suite.

Lighting & Airflow

Devising a lighting scheme for your master bathroom is an important consideration. It takes experience and planning to create the correct mix of overhead and task lighting, especially around the vanity and mirrors. You want uniform light on your face when grooming or putting on make-up, and especially when you’re taking that last look before heading out to work or out for the evening.

Bathrooms can be steamy spaces, so ventilation is key to keeping moisture in check. Selecting the right equipment for your bathroom can be complicated, as well as where to place them so they’ll work best.

As you can imagine, designing and building a master bathroom that looks great and works even better takes careful planning and craftsmanship. If you’d like to get going on your master bathroom remodel, give us a call at 661-273-9179 and we’ll get started!

Let’s Talk!