great-kitchens-and-baths

The modern kitchen has evolved into more than just a place for cooking

Fri, 07 Feb 2025 14:13:01 GMT

The modern kitchen has evolved into more than just a place for cooking

The modern kitchen has evolved into more than just a place for cooking. It’s now the heart of the home—a space for gathering, creativity, and sometimes even working. If you're considering a kitchen renovation, designing a multi-functional space could transform how you use your kitchen and even boost your home’s value.

A versatile kitchen accommodates the various needs of a busy household. Imagine a kitchen that goes beyond meal prep and dining, functioning as a homework station, a home office, or even an art studio. By adding flexible features such as an island with seating and built-in power outlets, you can create an ideal spot for collaborative learning or virtual meetings.

Storage is key in a multifunctional design. Innovative cabinetry solutions, like pull-out pantry shelves and hidden storage compartments, help maintain a clean, modern look while keeping your kitchen organized. If space allows, consider adding a cozy "kitchen nook" with a built-in desk or a comfortable corner bench for added convenience.

Lighting also plays a vital role. Layered lighting, with a combination of task, ambient, and accent lights, ensures that your kitchen works just as well for preparing meals as it does for relaxing with a good book and a cup of tea.

When designing your versatile kitchen, opt for durable materials that can withstand the demands of daily life. Quartz countertops, easy-to-clean backsplashes, and scratch-resistant flooring ensure your kitchen remains beautiful and functional for years to come.

By creating a space that adapts to your needs, you’ll not only enhance your daily routines but also increase your home’s appeal to potential buyers. A multi-purpose kitchen is a smart investment in both style and functionality, meeting the evolving needs of your household.

Ready to bring your dream kitchen to life? Call us at (765) 288-2737 or visit us at 3600 N Everbrook Ln, Muncie, IN. Click HERE to schedule a free showroom consultation today to start designing the kitchen of your dreams!

Creating a Spa-Like Bathroom Retreat in Your Own Home

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 14:22:44 GMT

Creating a Spa-Like Bathroom Retreat in Your Own Home

Finding time to unwind can be challenging, especially in our busy lives. One way to carve out a sanctuary without leaving home is by remodeling your bathroom into a spa-like retreat. By focusing on a few key design elements, you can transform your space into a calming oasis. Here are the three main factors to consider when creating your personal spa retreat.

1. Focus on Relaxing Lighting

Lighting plays a crucial role in setting the right mood for relaxation. Opt for dimmable lights to adjust the brightness depending on the time of day or your current mood. Warm LED lights mimic the soft glow of candles, perfect for a soothing soak. Consider adding backlit mirrors to elevate the ambiance—these provide a soft, flattering light that’s ideal for unwinding at the end of a long day.

2. Choose Natural Materials for a Serene Atmosphere

Incorporating natural materials like stone, wood, and bamboo into your bathroom design brings a sense of tranquility and connection to nature. Teak shower benches or river stone tiles all evoke a luxurious yet earthy feel. Not only do these materials create a serene atmosphere, but they also help promote a sense of peace by linking your space to the outdoors.

3. Invest in Luxurious Features

To elevate your bathroom from ordinary to extraordinary, invest in luxurious features that enhance both comfort and style. A rainfall showerhead, a deep soaking tub, or even a steam shower can transform your daily routine into a spa-like experience. Heated floors are another luxury touch, making winter mornings far more pleasant. These thoughtful upgrades can turn your bathroom into a true escape, offering relaxation and indulgence at your fingertips.

Conclusion: Your Everyday Escape

A bathroom remodel isn’t just about functionality—it’s about creating a space where you can recharge, relax, and find peace. By focusing on relaxing lighting, natural materials, and luxurious features, you can design a bathroom that feels like a personal sanctuary. With the right touches, your bathroom can become an everyday escape, transforming ordinary moments into extraordinary ones. Call us at (765) 288-2737 or visit us at 3600 N Everbrook Ln, Muncie, IN (click HERE to schedule a free showroom consultation) for expert advice on the right renovation path for you.

Quick Fixes vs. Full Renovations: When to Splurge and When to Save on Your Bathroom Update

Wed, 06 Nov 2024 21:32:08 GMT

Quick Fixes vs. Full Renovations: When to Splurge and When to Save on Your Bathroom Update

When planning a bathroom update in your home it can be tough to choose between a full renovation or more affordable, smaller updates. Here’s how to determine whether it’s worth investing in a complete remodel or sticking with budget-conscious improvements.

When to Invest in a Full Remodel

If your bathroom is outdated, suffering from water damage, or dealing with persistent functional issues, a full renovation may be the best choice. Problems like old plumbing, cracked tiles, and outdated fixtures can lead to recurring issues and costly repairs over time.

Opting for a complete remodel not only addresses these underlying problems but also increases the longevity and value of your bathroom.

A full renovation is also a great investment if you’re looking to increase the overall value of your home. Modern, updated bathrooms are one of the top selling points for potential buyers, so upgrading your space can pay off when it comes time to sell.

Additionally, if you’ve always dreamed of a bathroom with luxury features like heated floors, a walk-in shower, or high-end finishes, a full remodel gives you the freedom to create the space of your dreams—tailored to your exact needs and style.

When to Stick to Smaller Updates

If your bathroom is still in good condition but feels outdated or tired, small updates can make a world of difference without breaking the bank. Upgrading faucets, showerheads, lighting, or hardware is a simple and cost-effective way to refresh the space.

Even something as simple as replacing the vanity, updating the mirror, or adding a fresh coat of paint can completely change the look of your bathroom, all while staying well within a budget.

If you’re planning to stay in your home for just a few more years, or if you’re working with a limited budget, focusing on smaller updates might be the smartest choice. You can still give your bathroom a fresh, modern feel without the hefty price tag of a full renovation.

Making the Right Choice

Ultimately, the decision between a full renovation and more modest updates depends on your budget, goals, and the current condition of your bathroom. Both options offer great benefits, so make sure your choice aligns with your long-term plans.

If you’re unsure about which option is best for your bathroom, don’t hesitate to reach out! Call us at (765) 288-2737 or visit us at 3600 N Everbrook Ln, Muncie, IN (click HERE to schedule a free showroom consultation) for expert advice on the right renovation path for you.

What Would You Put in Your Dream Bath?

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 13:45:44 GMT

What Would You Put in Your Dream Bath?

Many homeowners find inspiration in the Food Network’s "The Best Thing I Ever Ate," where renowned chefs share their favorite dishes. Just as asking an expert chef reveals culinary treasures, homeowners often seek advice from our designers and showroom professionals about the best features to include in their primary baths. Here are some of our showroom’s favorite features that elevate bathroom design:

Creating an In-Home Spa: Imagine having a personal sanctuary in your own home with fixtures that offer spa-like experiences including steam, massage, and therapies for color, sound, and aroma. An in-home spa allows homeowners to take a few minutes each day to recharge, improve their well-being, and rejuvenate their bodies and minds.

Luxurious Touches: Few experiences compare to the luxury of heated floors and towel bars. Walking on a warm floor on a cold evening or wrapping yourself in a cozy, warm towel after a shower is an unparalleled indulgence.

Design and Lighting Statements: Personalize your bathroom with oversized chandeliers, sculptural pendants, or dramatic flush-mount lighting to make bold design statements. Integrated LED lighting, such as strips under vanities and along pathways, ensures glare-free illumination for nighttime use without disturbing others.

Ample Storage Solutions: A well-designed primary bath is an organized bath. From beautiful cabinetry to open shelves, having dedicated storage for towels, cosmetics, medications, and accessories ensures everything has its place.

Functional Details: Niches in shower or tub areas provide convenient space for storing hair care products, soaps, and sponges; enhancing everyday convenience. In-drawer outlets eliminate clutter on countertops, offering a clean and seamless look while providing power for bathroom appliances.

Smart Technology Integration: Smart showers with digital controls allow for personalized settings via voice activation or smartphones, ensuring precise water temperature, flow rate, and therapeutic options tailored to individual preferences.

Quality Plumbing Fixtures: Investing in high-quality plumbing fixtures not only enhances functionality but also provides durability and sets a sophisticated tone for the entire bathroom.

Your Dream Bathroom Awaits: What features would you include in your dream bathroom? Discover the possibilities by visiting our showroom at 3600 N Everbrook Ln, Muncie, IN or (click HERE to schedule). Let us share designs and products with you that bring homeowners the utmost satisfaction and happiness.

Why Choose a Professional Showroom for Your Home Renovation?

Mon, 22 Jul 2024 15:22:02 GMT

Why Choose a Professional Showroom for Your Home Renovation?

Homeowners in Muncie, Yorktown, Anderson, and the surrounding communities often dedicate significant time to researching options for renovating an existing kitchen, bathroom, closet, or laundry room, or for building a new one. While the internet offers a vast array of options, it can overwhelm you with conflicting information, leading to analysis paralysis, unrealistic expectations, and heightened stress levels. This is where a professional kitchen and bath showroom becomes invaluable. A professional showroom provides tailored guidance and expertise to streamline your renovation process. Here’s what you can expect:

Personalized Service: From the moment you enter, expect a warm and welcoming atmosphere that makes you feel comfortable and understood. Showroom staff take the time to listen to your ideas and preferences, ensuring that your vision is the foundation of the renovation process.

Expert Guidance: Showroom professionals will carefully assess your needs, preferences, and budget. They ask detailed questions to understand your vision and suggest solutions that align perfectly with your goals. Their extensive knowledge helps you avoid common pitfalls and make informed decisions.

Design Expertise: Whether you're aiming for modern elegance or traditional charm, showroom professionals help you achieve a cohesive look that complements your home's existing décor and reflects your personal style. They stay updated on the latest design trends and innovations, providing inspiration and practical advice to elevate your space.

Practical Planning: Professionals establish realistic timelines that accommodate unexpected challenges, ensuring your project stays on track. They manage the logistics, coordinate with contractors, and handle the intricate details, so you can focus on the excitement of your new space without the stress of project management.

Budget Management: They provide guidance on cost-effective product and design choices without compromising quality, ensuring the best value for your investment. Showroom professionals can identify high-quality alternatives and recommend products that offer durability and style within your budget constraints.

Custom Solutions: Expect innovative ideas and custom designs tailored to maximize space and functionality, transforming your vision into reality. Showrooms often have access to exclusive products and solutions that you won’t find in general retail stores, allowing for a truly unique renovation.

Quality Assurance: Showroom professionals educate you on product quality and recommend design approaches that meet your expectations. They can explain the differences between materials, brands, and technologies, ensuring that you select options that offer longevity and performance.

Attention to Detail: They measure your space accurately and provide timely responses to your questions via email or phone, ensuring a seamless experience from start to finish. Their meticulous approach minimizes errors and ensures that every aspect of your project is executed flawlessly.

Compliance and Safety: Professionals navigate building codes and regulations, advising on essential requirements like ventilation and electrical systems. Their expertise ensures that your renovation not only looks great but also meets all safety standards and legal requirements.

Product Selection: Showrooms typically offer a curated selection of high-quality products, from cabinetry and countertops to fixtures and fittings. You can see, touch, and compare items in person, making it easier to choose products that meet your aesthetic and functional needs.

Inspirational Displays: Showrooms often feature fully designed spaces that showcase different styles and layouts. These displays provide a tangible sense of how different elements work together, offering inspiration and helping you envision the possibilities for your own home.

Convenience: With everything under one roof, a showroom visit saves you the time and effort of researching and sourcing products from multiple places. This one-stop-shop approach simplifies the renovation process, making it more efficient and enjoyable.

A kitchen and bath showroom isn't just about products; it's about creating a stress-free experience and enhancing your living space – these are the real reasons we come to work every day.

Ready to embark on your renovation journey? Give us a call at 765-288-2737 or make an appointment to visit our showroom at 3600 N Everbrook Ln, Muncie, IN. Let us demonstrate how we can create a kitchen and bath that transforms your home into a haven of beauty and functionality. Schedule your appointment (click HERE to schedule) today!

The Comprehensive Value of Kitchen and Bathroom Remodels

Wed, 05 Jun 2024 12:50:03 GMT

What’s the Value of a Remodel?

Return on Investment: Financial and Beyond

Popular media and industry publications regularly evaluate the return on investment (ROI) for kitchen and bathroom remodels. Recent studies reveal that homeowners can expect to recoup between 54% and 71% of their kitchen remodel costs upon selling their homes. Similarly, bathroom remodels yield a return of 54% to 63% of their cost.

However, there's an additional benefit that isn't immediately obvious. Homes with renovated kitchens and bathrooms tend to sell faster than those requiring updates. Many buyers prefer to avoid the stress and inconvenience associated with renovating their new home purchases.

More Than Just Numbers: The True Value of Remodeling

While achieving a solid ROI is a significant consideration for homeowners deciding whether to remodel, focusing solely on financial metrics doesn't capture the full picture. Kitchens and primary bathrooms are the two most important rooms in a home. The kitchen, in particular, serves as the heart of the home—where families gather, culinary skills flourish, and friendships are nurtured.

The long-term financial benefits of home improvements are undeniable, but they often aren't the primary motivator for homeowners. New kitchens and baths can significantly enhance the daily lives of family members. The joy of a well-designed kitchen or the tranquility of a luxurious bathroom can provide moments of peace and happiness that far outweigh monetary returns.

Most homeowners agree that having a few minutes of solitude each day—free from tweets, texts, and the patter of little feet—offers a more profound return on investment than a 70% financial gain from a remodel.

Enhancing Home Value and Quality of Life

The Impact on Home Value

A new kitchen or bath can substantially increase your home's market value. These updates can make your home more appealing to potential buyers, ensuring a quicker sale and often at a higher price. Modern, stylish kitchens and bathrooms are top priorities for many buyers, making these upgrades smart investments.

Enhancing Daily Living

Beyond the financial aspects, a remodel can transform your daily living experience. Imagine cooking in a spacious, well-equipped kitchen with ample storage and modern appliances, or unwinding in a spa-like bathroom after a long day. These enhancements can make everyday routines more enjoyable and reduce stress.

Why Choose Us for Your Remodel?

Expertise and Quality Craftsmanship

At our showroom, we pride ourselves on delivering top-notch kitchen and bathroom remodels tailored to your unique needs and preferences. Our team of experienced designers and craftsmen are dedicated to creating spaces that are not only beautiful but also functional and durable.

Personalized Service

We understand that every homeowner has a distinct vision for their home. Our personalized service ensures that your remodel reflects your style and enhances your lifestyle. From the initial consultation to the final installation, we work closely with you to bring your dream kitchen or bathroom to life.

Visit Us Today

Ready to explore the possibilities for your kitchen or bathroom? Give us a call at 765-288-2737 or make an appointment to visit our showroom at 3600 N Everbrook Ln, Muncie, IN. Let us show you how you can create a kitchen and bath that will be the envy of the neighborhood. Click HERE to schedule to schedule your appointment today!

Conclusion

A kitchen or bathroom remodel is more than just a financial investment. It’s an investment in your home’s comfort, functionality, and overall happiness. Whether you’re looking to increase your home’s value, enhance your daily living experience, or simply create a space where memories are made, a remodel can provide a wealth of benefits. To start your journey towards a more beautiful and enjoyable home.

Designing Dream Kitchens: Averting Buyer's Regret

Fri, 02 Feb 2024 14:26:23 GMT

Designing Dream Kitchens: Averting Buyer's Regret

In our kitchen showroom, homeowners arrive brimming with inspiration for their ideal kitchen. After months of independent research, scrolling through Instagram, Houzz, and other social media platforms, as well as observing the ups and downs of home improvement TV shows, they often enter with a checklist of "must-haves" for their dream kitchen.

But here's where the seasoned expertise of our professional showroom designers comes into play. We don't just accept these "must-haves" at face value. We delve deeper, questioning their practicality within the unique space and lifestyle of our clients. We understand that a dream kitchen isn't just about following trends—it's about crafting a space that genuinely caters to your needs.

For instance, it's common for homeowners to envision their kitchen cabinets soaring up to the ceiling. While this design choice can be perfect in some cases, others struggle to visualize how these cabinets will be utilized, especially when they're beyond the reach of family members. Are they meant for storing rarely used items like fine china and glassware, or should alternative designs be considered to achieve both form and function?

Islands, undoubtedly, are among the most sought-after kitchen features among homeowners. However, two critical aspects require attention. First, is there ample room for an island, and if so, what are the optimal dimensions? We caution against oversized or oddly shaped islands that may disrupt traffic flow and hinder workspace efficiency. Balancing style with functionality is key here; bigger isn't always better in the world of kitchen islands.

Oversized workstation sinks are another feature that warrants careful consideration. While they can be invaluable in compact kitchen spaces where the sink doubles as a prep area, homeowners who desire such sinks must think about accessory storage, including colanders, dish racks, cutting boards, and more.

In a well-designed kitchen, the focus is on addressing the unique needs and lifestyles of the homeowner. Features that seldom see use, or offer limited functionality, tend to be those influenced by passing trends. They may not align with the practical requirements of everyday meal preparation and daily activities in your dream kitchen.

So, the question remains: how can you design a kitchen that not only serves your practical needs but also makes a distinctive personal statement? Contact us today at 765-288-2737 or make an appointment to visit our showroom (click HERE to schedule) at 3600 N Everbrook Ln, Muncie, IN! Let us guide you in creating a kitchen that not only stands the test of time, but also becomes the envy of your neighborhood.

Let There Be Light

Wed, 27 Sep 2023 14:12:54 GMT

Let There Be Light

Lighting can make or break the way a kitchen functions, looks and feels. Lighting can be transformative in a kitchen, helping to make smaller spaces appear larger and spotlighting focal points that attract the eye and the imagination. Homeowners should expect their kitchen designer to present a layered lighting plan that contributes not only to the functionality of the kitchen, but also to its design and beauty. The different types of lighting that are used to layer light are:

Task
Ambient
Accent

Task lighting focuses light on the areas in the kitchen used for meal preparation, cooking and cleaning, e.g. countertops, the range/cooktop and the sink.

Ambient lighting is the main source of illumination for most rooms in a home. The goal of ambient lighting is to provide soft, general illumination without necessarily drawing attention to the light source. Ambient lighting provides enough light for safe navigation, cooking and washing dishes and helps to define the space.

Accent lighting can keep your kitchen from looking ordinary or bland by highlighting open shelving, artwork, architectural details or a statement making range hood, among other objects.

We recommend lighting controls such as dimmers and motion detectors because they not only are more environmentally friendly, but they also help to control utility costs and enable you to alter the look and feel of the room.

The type and amount of light needed for a new kitchen will be dictated by the size of the space and the amount of daylight that the room receives from windows, doors and/or skylights. Electric light fixtures complement the light generated by Mother Nature. Mother Nature can be fickle, however. Clouds, rainstorms and other weather conditions can minimize the amount of daylight that enters the space.

Smooth, shiny materials will reflect more light than textured matte surfaces. Polished marble will reflect more light than honed black slate. More light is needed in a space with dark and textured finishes.

The feel of the kitchen also is affected by paint colors. Different paints and colors have different reflective capabilities that should be discussed as part of the planning process. A lighting plan should account for the possibility that the sun won’t shine brightly every day. Generally, electric lighting supplements or replaces daylight but man-made light can’t match daylight’s intensity or color distribution. Exposed lamps tend to look warm or even yellow compared to sunlight coming to the space through skylights, windows or glass doors. Recessed lighting may be a good option to create a color palette that works in the space. If recessed lighting is not wanted or practical, ambient lighting can be provided by pendants or surface-mounted fixtures installed around the perimeter in a cove.

Pendants can deliver light upwards or downwards or in a combination of up-lighting and downlighting. Pendant options are almost limitless and a great way to influence the look of the kitchen. Highly polished stone and other reflective surface materials can amplify available light in the room, but also produce unwanted glare.

A kitchen lighting design is successful when all three types of light – ambient, task and accent – are layered together within a room to create a fully usable, adaptive space. Good lighting does not draw attention to itself but highlights the other design elements and fixtures in the space. Different light layers may be activated depending on purpose or time of day. For example, during the day, pendants over the island may not be needed at all, but when you start to prepare dinner in the evening all the layers providing ambient, task, and accent lighting become necessary. Want to know the light that will make your kitchen shine? Give us a call at (765) 288-2737 or make an appointment to visit our showroom (click HERE to schedule) at 3600 N Everbrook Ln, Muncie, IN!

Top Reasons to Renovate Your Kitchen

Wed, 30 Aug 2023 13:22:28 GMT

Top Reasons to Renovate Your Kitchen

The number one reason why homeowners decide to create a dream kitchen is that their existing kitchen does not work well or meet their needs. We frequently hear from homeowners that their kitchens don’t have enough storage capabilities, countertop space or cabinetry. Other common reasons are lack of maneuverability, appearance and poor ventilation.

The role of the kitchen has been transformed since the global pandemic. No longer does a kitchen only serve the basic functions of preparing and cooking meals. Kitchens need to serve multiple purposes from classroom and office space, to café and coffee shop. These new requirements make having adequate storage a necessity to help ensure clean, clutter-free workspaces. In fact, the number one regret of homeowners who have renovated their kitchens is inadequate storage and not investing more in organizational amenities. A well-designed kitchen is an organized kitchen. That’s why we ask homeowners how they use their kitchen, and for what purposes, who uses the kitchen most often and when is it used? We want to know what homeowners like about their existing kitchens and what they want to change? What needs to improve?

We help homeowners maximize the space and functionality of their kitchen by often specifying pull out corner cabinets equipped with organizers that make pots, pans, small appliances and other kitchen gadgets easily accessible.

Another key to designing a kitchen that is not only beautiful, but meets the functional needs of homeowners, is to create separate areas for preparing meals, cooking meals and storing foodstuffs. That’s why a savvy and professional kitchen designer wants to know who cooks, how often and for how many. Knowing this information enables the designer to create work areas to prevent family members from running into one another in each area of the kitchen, and to avoid placing items such as an island in a place that will inhibit traffic flow.

We find poorly designed kitchens do not have adequate countertop space next to or opposite the range or cooktop and/or refrigerator. That’s why, when designing a new kitchen, it is important to know how many family members prepare meals in order to specify the right amount of countertop space that allows more than one cook to work in the kitchen at the same time.

Proper positioning of appliances also contributes to traffic flow in a well-designed kitchen. There is a need to ensure there is adequate space for doors of ovens, dishwashers, and refrigerators to open freely so they don’t bump into anything.

Providing adequate room for recycling containers is another essential in a well-designed kitchen that can be often overlooked. Container size is dictated by how often the kitchen is used for cooking and for the number of family members in the home.

Similarly, ventilation needs to be a priority, especially in open floor plan kitchens that connect to other rooms in the home. The ventilation solution should be capable of removing all odors, steam and grease so it does not migrate to furniture, countertops, seating or other areas of your home.

How can you convert a kitchen that does not work properly into one that makes every day special? Give us a call at (765) 288-2737 or make an appointment to visit our showroom (click HERE to schedule) at 3600 N Everbrook Ln, Muncie, IN! Let us show you how we can transform your existing kitchen into a space that dreams are made of.

Why Quartz Is King

Wed, 09 Aug 2023 14:06:30 GMT

Why Quartz Is King

There are many reasons why quartz is the number one countertop material selected by homeowners in Muncie and throughout the U.S. Quartz is made from engineered stone and is comparable in appearance to granite and marble, however it is not porous and is far more resistant to staining, making quartz easy to maintain and clean. Typical quartz slabs are the same thickness as granite, 3cm. However, quartz is heavier than granite and much stronger, allowing for larger tops and longer overhangs. Plus, quartz’s durability means that it won’t chip or crack as easily as other surfaces.

Quartz finish options are another compelling reason that makes it the number one choice among homeowners. Quartz finishes have a depth that solid surface materials such as Corian can’t match. There are an almost limitless number of colors, patterns and finishes available. Quartz can even incorporate veins in interesting patterns to resemble marble and natural stone.

Quartz’s nonporous surface not only makes countertops easier to clean, they also are healthier because quartz is bacteria and virus resistant. A preferred technique to keep quartz countertops clean and looking like new is to wipe them using dish soap, warm water, non abrasive glass cleaner and a microfiber cloth. Stubborn build ups can be removed by combining rubbing alcohol and water. This allows homeowners to remove stains without having to resort to abrasive cleaners.

Another compelling reason homeowners are attracted to quartz countertops is that they don’t need to be resealed like natural stone does. Buffing quartz with a soft cloth is all that typically is needed to create an extra shiny finish.

Is quartz the right choice for your new dream kitchen and bath? Give us a call at (765) 288-2737 or make an appointment to visit our showroom (click HERE to schedule) at 3600 N Everbrook Ln, Muncie, IN and let’s discuss how we can help you create a kitchen or bath that becomes the envy of your neighborhood.

How to Maximize Return on Investment in Your Kitchen Remodel

Wed, 12 Jul 2023 13:17:17 GMT

How to Maximize Return on Investment in Your Kitchen Remodel

Investing in a new kitchen or bathroom increases the value of homes in Muncie and Delaware County. The amount of the return on investment depends on the goals of the renovation. Is the renovation being done in order to sell the house in the next 1-2 years, or is this going to be their “forever home”?

Many homeowners understand that a new kitchen or primary bath makes it easier to sell their home if that is their goal. In these cases, we work with homeowners to achieve a short-term return on investment or to create as much short-term value as possible. This can be accomplished by limiting the scope of a renovation if necessary and by selecting more cost-effective materials and design approaches. This might include replacing the backsplash, countertops and upgrading appliances at a minimum without changing the floor plan or location of what currently exists.

Homeowners that plan to stay in their homes for years to come have different goals than those upgrading to make their homes more attractive for an immediate sale. Most homeowners renovating their kitchens do so to improve the quality of their lives and to make their home more enjoyable and satisfying to live in. One rule of thumb to maximize the return received on a kitchen remodel is to invest in cabinetry that can withstand the test of time. Cabinets typically represent about 30% - 40% of a remodeling budget and should be expected to perform for at least two decades, if not longer.

Including an island or a peninsula, space permitting, is another area that provides a significant return on investment for homeowners. Islands add desired functionality and enjoyment to a kitchen by providing additional seating, countertop and meal preparation space and storage.

There’s a reason why quartz is the most popular material for countertops among homeowners who are renovating their kitchens. Quartz is stain resistant, antimicrobial, easy to clean and maintain and available in any style, color and décor that may be desired.

Subway tile is a popular and cost-effective backsplash option, because it provides multiple design and color possibilities that is also easy to clean and maintain.

Lighting is another area that can greatly enhance the return homeowners receive from their kitchen remodel. Layering task lighting that brightly illuminates countertop space used for chopping, slicing and dicing with under-cabinet lights that provide an alluring ambience to any kitchen and statement making pendants that serve as focal points that create value and personality in your new kitchen.

What are the secrets to maximizing the return on your kitchen renovation? Find out by calling us at 765-288-2737 or making an appointment to visit our showroom (click HERE to schedule) at 3600 N Everbrook Ln, Muncie, IN, and let us show you how you can stretch your renovation dollars to meet your unique needs, wants and desires.

How to Create a Realistic Budget for Your Dream Kitchen

Wed, 14 Jun 2023 13:14:53 GMT

How to Create a Realistic Budget for Your Dream Kitchen

“How much will it cost?” is the number one question homeowners in Muncie and Delaware County ask when they plan to create their dream kitchen. That is a difficult question to answer, because there are so many factors to consider. This is the reason many homeowners have a difficult time determining their goals and setting a realistic budget for their kitchen remodel without the help of a professional.

You could search the Internet or watch home improvement television for estimates and ideas, but those sources are riddled with misinformation and misrepresentations. Home improvement television often does not include the cost of appliances, custom features that you want, design fees or infrastructure expenses, e.g. the movement of electrical lines, plumbing lines, structural changes, ventilation and so on. Plus, their timetables typically don’t include time for design, code approval, scheduling, product ordering and other factors, giving homeowners unrealistic and unachievable expectations.

Online resources also do not account for the myriad of variables and decisions that influence cost. Imagine trying to estimate the cost of buying a new car without knowing the make, model, or special features. That’s what online resources attempt to do when offering budgeting guidance for new kitchens.

The major factors that influence the cost of a new kitchen include:

Goals of the remodel
Size of the kitchen
Scope of the renovation
Quality and type of selected materials and finishes
Quality of the renovation plan
Quality of plan implementation

Cabinets are the most influential product in the aesthetic design of a kitchen. The cost of cabinets is driven by door style, material and finish. Simply changing the style or finish of a cabinet can increase cost by 10 to 30 percent. Cabinets are also key to the longevity of your kitchen. That’s why they are often considered the backbone of the kitchen. It’s easier to replace an appliance. It’s more difficult to change cabinetry. Invest in cabinets that can withstand the test of time.

Keys to controlling costs include:

Depend on a single source to coordinate and manage the entire project. Relying on multiple vendors can be penny wise and dollar foolish. Working with multiple suppliers for appliances, cabinets, countertops, lighting, etc. takes more time, is almost impossible to coordinate and will almost always cost more than working with a single source that can put all the pieces of the puzzle together and maintain an agreed-to budget.
Make a complete plan and budget and stick to it. Don’t start demolition until you’ve specified all of the products and finishes you need and an order schedule is established. When you change your mind, you delay the project’s completion and increase your cost. Recent industry surveys found changing scope during the course of a renovation is the reason why 33 percent of kitchen renovation projects go over budget.

The best way to establish a realistic and achievable budget for your new kitchen is to give us a call at (765) 288-2737 or make an appointment to visit our showroom (click HERE to schedule) at 3600 N Everbrook Ln, Muncie, IN. Let us guide you through the variables that influence cost and provide recommendations to help ensure your dreams are realized.

Keys To a Well-Designed Bathroom

Wed, 07 Jun 2023 13:20:27 GMT

Keys To a Well-Designed Bathroom

Bathroom renovations are the most requested projects among homeowners in Muncie and Delaware County. The ability to create a private refuge that provides homeowners a few minutes a day all to themselves, devoid of texts, tweets and even little feet can be priceless. If you are considering renovating your primary bath, there are certain features and design strategies that can help you create the bath of your dreams.

For many homeowners space is a premium for their primary bath. You can maximize your space by eliminating common fixtures that you rarely or never use. Many homeowners do not use their tubs for bathing. Instead, they rely on showers. If space is at a premium, consider eliminating the tub. And if you and your family use both the shower and tub, a combination system can meet those needs while maximizing space.

A well-designed bath is an organized bath. Similar to kitchens, baths need to accommodate storage needs. We often recommend a mix that includes vanities, cabinets, open shelving and shower niches sized to accommodate shampoo, conditioners, liquid soap, razors, and other products that our clients use daily. Determine the items that you and your family will use most often that need to be within arm’s reach. Some items may be stored in a drawer, medicine cabinet, vanity, rack, hook, etc. Explain to your designer the items that you use regularly and request a storage plan that meets your daily needs.

Lighting can make or break how your primary bath looks, feels and functions. Lighting is equally as important as tubs, shower systems, vanities, toilets and faucets. Simply placing flush-mounted or recessed fixtures in the center of your bathroom ceiling can provide functional light, but that type of lighting may do little to beautify the space, create a mood or evoke favorable emotional responses. Effective lighting illuminates a space in layers using different components and strategies to paint the final picture.

Are you ready to create the bath of your dreams? Give us a call at (765) 288-2737 or make an appointment to visit our showroom (click HERE to schedule) at 3600 N Everbrook Ln, Muncie, IN!

Best Practices for a Clutter-Free Kitchen

Thu, 25 May 2023 12:57:55 GMT

Best Practices for a Clutter-Free Kitchen

Based on industry studies, one regret among homeowners who renovate their kitchens was insufficient storage and organizational tools. We highly recommend to homeowners to plan for adequate storage because a well-designed kitchen is an organized kitchen. A good starting point is to measure and inventory the kitchenware that you use most often and that cater to your lifestyle and family needs.

An almost endless array of options is available to store cookware, food, utensils, countertop appliances (blenders, mixers, etc.), recycling containers and so on. The first step in maximizing storage is to assess what currently exists in your kitchen. Inventory and measure your cookware, bakeware, kitchen tools, storage containers, cutlery, knives, utensils, gadgets, and countertop appliances and estimate frequency of use. This is a great time to purge items that you never use too. Space permitting, items that you use infrequently or even as little as once a year (the large roasting pan for Thanksgiving turkey) can be relegated to upper cabinets or to other rooms in the home to open up prime real estate for the utensils and equipment that you use most frequently.

When you identify your most-used items, you’ll empower your kitchen designer to make your kitchen function so much more effectively than it would with standard sized drawer widths and depths. A combination of drawer cabinets and shelf cabinets can be customized to your individual preferences. For example, a drawer at the top of the cabinet combined with shelving underneath allows for storage of smaller, frequently used items in the more reachable drawer, while the shelf storage accommodates larger and less frequently used items, such as food processors and stand mixers. Not only does this approach save time in preparing meals, it also is easier on your back.

Here are several of our favorite storage solutions.

Drawer organizers: These tools allow homeowners to have a specific place for flatware, utensils, knives, and other kitchen tools.

Lid storage: Lid storage is a welcomed option because pan and pot lids are often difficult to organize. A lid storage compartment typically comprises a drawer within a drawer with a shallow compartment on top for lids and the pots located underneath. The drawer within a drawer slides individually.

Vertical storage: Many homeowners first think of storing their kitchen utensils in a horizontal position. Vertical storage compartments for whisks, spatulas, slotted spoons, etc., make it easier for you to see and retrieve those tools. A vertical storage cabinet can often make use of small spaces that might otherwise go unused, such as spaces next to the range or kitchen sink that can house cookie sheets, cutting boards, trays and platters.

Corner cabinet storage: Corner cabinets with pullout storage make productive use of space that can be used to store pots, pans, food items, small appliances or other commonly used kitchen items.

In-drawer charging systems: A docking drawer can not only be used to store kitchen items, but it also serves a place to charge laptops, cellphones, tablets and contributes to cleaner lines in a newly remodeled kitchen because it eliminates the need to see wires and set devices on countertops.

Broom closets: We often recommend, space permitting, homeowners install a tall narrow cabinet that can be used to house brooms, mops, vacuum cleaners and other tall cleaning tools that are equipped with a power outlet for recharging.

Pantries: Either walk-in or pull out in kitchens where space is at a premium.

Spice cabinets: Homeowners who cook often continue to relish having spices organized and easy to reach. Often spice cabinets are located in a narrow pullout cabinet next to the cooktop or range.

When you inventory your kitchen, make a list of and measure items that you currently store and those that you would like to store. Remember, storage capacity affects usable counter space. Many existing kitchens include mixers, blenders, food processors, coffee pots, et. all sitting on the counter because there is insufficient cabinet space. Cluttered countertops eliminate the possibility of having a clean look.

If you would like assistance for creating a clutter-free kitchen, call us at 765-288-2737 or make an appointment to visit our showroom

(click HERE to schedule) at 3600 N Everbrook Ln, Muncie, IN!

Questions & Answers

Tue, 09 May 2023 18:46:48 GMT

Questions & Answers

When homeowners in Muncie and Delaware County are considering a kitchen, bath or other type of renovation project, naturally they will have lots of questions. However, it is the questions that they are asked about their project that offer a window into the expertise and soul of the showroom and designer they are visiting. Be wary of designers/sales professionals who focus on selling instead of initially trying to determine the goals you want to achieve.

We know that many homeowners want to have a new kitchen that better serves their needs, and those of their family, while also reflecting their distinct style. A new space in your home should make you smile every time you enter. When we interview prospective clients we want to know the reason behind the project, the motivation, how a new kitchen or bath not only should look and function but how that space should make you feel.

We approach initial meetings with homeowners as a mutual information gathering session and not a sales pitch. Our goal is to gather a sufficient amount of information about you and your lifestyle that will enable us to look through your lens so that we better understand your world view. We want to know who uses your kitchen, how often and for what purposes. We not only want to know what you prefer; we also want to know what you don’t like and why. Our goal is to make an emotional connection so that we can develop design and product recommendations that reflect your lifestyle and personality. That can’t be accomplished if the primary conversation is about what the showroom has to offer. It has to be all about what the customer wants.

To help designers look through your unique lens, we encourage homeowners to create image share boards on Pinterest and Houzz so there is a common understanding of products and styles that homeowners are attracted to. We want to know what you currently like and dislike about your existing kitchen or bath and the reasons for those feelings.

There are also practical questions that need to be answered such as how much effort do you want to put into maintaining and cleaning your new kitchen. This helps us to not only recommend color options but also to suggest surface materials, cabinet styles and finishes that meet the practical and operational needs of homeowners.

The only dumb question is the one that is not asked. When you are interviewing designers and showrooms, listen carefully to the questions that you are asked. You should feel that the designer is more interested in getting to know you and your family, your style, your quirks and your likes and dislikes. The questions should focus all on you and not them.

Let’s have a conversation about how you want your new dream kitchen to look, function and feel. Give us a call at (765) 288-2737 or make an appointment to visit our showroom (click HERE to schedule) at 3600 N Everbrook Ln, Muncie, IN!

The Best Location for Dishwashers

Wed, 26 Apr 2023 13:17:44 GMT

The Best Location for Dishwashers

Many homeowners in Muncie and Delaware County do not necessarily consider where their dishwasher should be located in their dream kitchen. Typically, an effective dishwasher location is next to the sink, because most homeowners scrape and rinse their plates, glassware and silverware before loading them into the dishwasher. The side of the sink where the dishwasher is located is a matter of personal preference. If the main user of the sink and loader of the dishwasher is right-handed, they usually want the dishwasher to the right of the sink and just the opposite for left-handed homeowners.

Another consideration is the location of cabinets where flatware, dishes and glasses are stored. They too should be near the dishwasher to make unloading easier. The dishwasher should be within reaching distance of cabinets or a step or two away.

In some kitchens, it may not be practical or advisable to place the dishwasher next to the sink, especially if there is insufficient room to navigate a walkway area when the dishwasher door is open or to avoid cabinet doors and the dishwasher door from clashing with one another.

Islands are among the most requested features of new kitchens by homeowners. In many designs, it makes sense locating the dishwasher beneath the island countertop. Dishes can be easily rinsed and placed in an island dishwasher without requiring users to move to another area of the kitchen.

A well-designed kitchen is a kitchen that is easy to use and navigate. That’s why homeowners should expect their kitchen designers to ask questions about how the kitchen is used, how often, by whom and for what purposes. This enables designers to create kitchens that enhance lifestyles and make it more enjoyable to prepare and share meals with family and friends. What are the best locations for your dishwasher and other appliances in the kitchen of your dreams? Give us a call at 765-288-2737 or make an appointment (click HERE to schedule) to visit our showroom at 3600 N Everbrook Ln, Muncie, IN, and let us show you how to turn your dreams into the envy of the neighborhood.

Now Is the Perfect Time to Remodel

Wed, 19 Apr 2023 13:29:32 GMT

Now Is the Perfect Time to Remodel

Is now the time to start the remodeling project that will add value to your home and make your home more enjoyable to use and live in? That’s a question many homeowners in Muncie and Delaware County are considering and the vast majority are answering in the affirmative.

Current economic conditions make the decision much easier. Nearly 80% of American home mortgage interest rates are 4% or less. With interest rates more than doubling from a year ago, purchasing power for a new home has declined by 40%. Plus, with new and for sale home inventory limited, many homeowners have determined it is more cost-effective and beneficial to enhance their current homes than to purchase a new one.

Another reason why so many homeowners are electing to remodel their kitchens, master baths, closets, laundry rooms and other space in their home is that they are otherwise happy with their current neighborhood and home.

Another positive sign for homeowners is that many of the supply chain challenges and limited availability of materials that delayed projects in 2021 and 2022 are no longer impediments to completing projects on time and on budget in 2023 and looking forward to 2024.

Is now the right time to create the kitchen or bath of your dreams? Give us a call at 765-288-2737 or make an appointment to visit our showroom (click HERE to schedule) at 3600 N Everbrook Ln, Muncie, IN! Let us show you that you can create a kitchen or bath that makes your home more enjoyable for you and your family!

Creating A Dream Laundry Room

Wed, 12 Apr 2023 13:05:07 GMT

Creating A Dream Laundry Room

Many homeowners continue to invest in their homes to make them more functional, enjoyable and valuable. Desire for a better home is particularly widespread among homeowners in Muncie and Delaware County who are working part-time or full-time from home. Our showroom has received increasing demand for more efficient, effective and beautiful kitchens, baths, entryways, mudrooms, and laundry rooms among other spaces in a home.

There are several keys to creating a dream laundry room space. One is having sufficient space. A minimum of 80 square feet is necessary if homeowners want a laundry space that features storage cabinets, a sink, washer and dryer and room to maneuver. We can help homeowners create the space they need to make a laundry area the envy of a neighborhood. Including a deep countertop can be achieved by specifying front loading instead of top loading washers and dryers. A countertop, at least 24 inches in depth, is valued by homeowners because it provides adequate space for a laundry basket to sit on top and to sort and fold clothing. Another option to create space is to specify an appliance that both washes and dries or to opt for a stackable unit.

Many of the conveniences that make a kitchen more functional and enjoyable to use can be applied to laundry spaces. Pull out hampers provide a convenient and hidden space to deposit clothes that need to be washed. Drying racks in the laundry space are another welcomed feature of a well-designed laundry.

Many homeowners welcome the idea of including a closet in their laundry facility that they can use to store brooms, vacuums, ironing boards, mops and other cleaning supplies and equipment. We often recommend including a power outlet in storage closets that can be used to recharge vacuums and other equipment.

If you want to create a laundry space that will provide the performance and convenience that your family wants and needs and can greatly enhance the value of your home, please call us at (765) 288-2737 or make an appointment to visit our showroom (click HERE to schedule) at 3600 N Everbrook Ln, Muncie, IN, and let us show you how to create a space that makes doing laundry a pleasure.

Painted or Stained?: That Is the Question

Wed, 05 Apr 2023 13:26:19 GMT

Painted or Stained?: That Is the Question

When planning their dream kitchen, homeowners often wonder if they should select painted or stained cabinets. There is no right answer. The choice of stained or painted cabinets depends on the look and feel that a homeowner desires. Both paint and stain have pros and cons. The choice really depends on the style statement that you would like to make.

Paint offers a smooth surface with options for a glossy, matte or satin finish. There are unlimited color options, and paint can be applied to solid wood, plywood and medium-density fiberboard. Paint hides the features or grain of the wood used to make a cabinet.

Unlike paint, stain allows the natural beauty of wood to shine through. While paints come in every color of the rainbow, stain options are not as plentiful. The most popular stain choices among homeowners are white, dark wood stains and natural wood tones. Growing in popularity, we are specifically seeing kitchen cabinets with blue, green or gray stains.

Cabinet Preservation

The following products and ingredients can damage cabinets so avoid using them or any product that contains them:

Petroleum-based products

Solvents

Bleach

Strong detergents and soaps

Nail polish remover

Paint thinners

Plastic brushes

Steel wool

Scoring pad

Ammonia

Is paint or stain the right choice for your new kitchen or bath? Give us a call at 765-288-2737 or make an appointment to visit our showroom (click HERE to schedule) at 3600 N Everbrook Ln, Muncie, IN, and let us help you select the perfect paint or stain for your new kitchen or bathroom cabinets.

A Wise Investment At Any Time

Wed, 22 Mar 2023 13:25:16 GMT

A Wise Investment At Any Time

Homeowners in Muncie and Delaware County that make an investment in a new dream kitchen and/or bath are not only making the lives of their family members more enjoyable, they also are making an investment that increases the value of their homes. Many homeowners decide that they want a new kitchen, primary bath, powder room, etc. to increase the enjoyment of their home, to provide a haven to reduce stress and spend a few moments of the day all to themselves. Homeowners recognize that a new kitchen will bring years of enjoyment to their family, make meal preparation and clean up more enjoyable and easier, provide additional space when they work from home, schooling from home or having an enjoyable meal with friends.

Relating the primary purposes for your new kitchen or bath assists professional designers better understand needs, wants and budgets. Many homeowners recognize that the kitchen and primary bath are the two most important rooms in the home. If homeowners want to capitalize on the red-hot housing market and obtain maximum value for their homes, updating the kitchen and primary bath makes a lot of sense. If the primary goal of improving the sale value of the home is based on an update, that provides a different paradigm to designers. Regardless of the primary reason for a new kitchen or bath, making the investment will increase the value and enjoyment of your home.

What are the primary reasons that you want to create a new kitchen, bath, powder room or other space in your home? Give us a call at 765-288-2737 or make an appointment to visit our showroom (click HERE to schedule) at 3600 N Everbrook Ln, Muncie, IN, and let us show you how to receive the return on investment that you expect and deserve.

Cooking With Gas?

Wed, 15 Mar 2023 13:25:37 GMT

Cooking With Gas?

Homeowners in Muncie and Delaware County may have seen or heard of comments by Richard L. Trumka, Jr of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission of the potential health threats produced by gas ranges. Those comments went viral with fears that the U.S. may ban gas stoves in the future. Trumka put an end to those rumors, stating that any new regulation would apply only to new products. He also noted that homeowners that wanted to replace their existing gas appliance with an electric alternative would be eligible for a $840 rebate courtesy of the Inflation Reduction Act.

The controversy stirred by Trumka's comments was further diminished when the chair of the Consumer Product Safety Commission Alexander Hoehn-Soric clarified the government’s intent by stating instead of proposing a ban on gas stoves, the Commission wanted to increase research efforts to identify how to minimize potentially hazardous effects of cooking with gas. An easy way to avoid potential problems is to install a range hood.

Cooking with gas is favored by approximately 40% of Americans. It is a preferred method, especially among avid cooks and home chefs because gas makes it easier and faster to reach and maintain desired temperatures, offers more versatility for grilling, searing and simmering, and, in most cases, gas stoves and cooktops are easier to clean.

Thanks to technological advances there are electric options that provide similar benefits to cooking with gas that have been embraced by many homeowners. For homeowners that want the performance of gas in an electric alternative, we often recommend induction cooktops and stoves. They offer even more precise temperature control than gas and heat up to the desired temperature in a few seconds. When you turn off an induction burner, the heat stops immediately eliminating the possibility of overcooking, burning, or pots boiling over.

Energy efficiency is another benefit of induction cooking that is favored by homeowners. Induction appliances are also safer. There is no chance of a fire or accidentally burning oneself because the cooking surface remains cool. Only the pots and pans get hot. As a result, induction appliances are easier to clean and safer to use around children.

Unlike gas, induction cooking does not emit anything into the air and induction appliances automatically shut off when a pot or pan is removed from the cooking element, eliminating the possibility of accidents that can occur if you forget to turn a gas or electric cooktop off.

What appliances will work best to help you keep your family safe, avoid accidents and make it easier to cook delicious meals? Give us a call at 765-288-2737 or make an appointment to visit our showroom (click HERE to schedule) at 3600 N Everbrook Ln, Muncie, IN, and let us show you the new technology that can make the kitchen of your dreams the envy of the neighborhood.

Countertops

Wed, 08 Mar 2023 15:12:49 GMT

Countertops

If the kitchen is the epicenter of the home, then countertops are the epicenter of the kitchen. It’s where almost every kitchen activity begins and ends. Because countertops are one of the first things you see when you enter a kitchen, they naturally serve as a focal point. And the good news is that choice of color, shape and material is virtually unlimited, enabling homeowners in Muncie and Delaware County and your designer not only to make countertops the functional workhorse of your new kitchen, but also the ultimate expression of your design and personality.

Investing in high-quality, high-performing, statement-making countertops makes a lot of sense. Not only are countertops relied upon for meal preparation, but they are also used for cooking, eating, entertaining, doing homework, charging electronics, reading, relaxing and spending quality family time together. Countertops serve practical and aesthetic functions that can make or break a new kitchen.

What’s the best countertop for your new dream kitchen? What are the most important criteria to consider? What’s hot and what’s new? The answers are found in a recent survey of more than 500 industry professionals, conducted by Kitchen & Bath Business that can help homeowners make the wisest countertop choice for their unique needs.

The main factors that homeowners should consider when selecting countertops for their new kitchens include:

Durability
Maintenance requirements
Look and feel
Hygienic performance

For homeowners the most important criteria are look and feel, durability and maintenance.

White is the most popular color choice for countertops. According to the NKBA survey, 64% of all homeowners select white. Second most popular is multicolored countertops followed by a range from greens to blues, blue with gray veining and warmer colors that resemble natural stone.

Quartz is the most popular material specified for countertops and for good reason. Quartz resembles natural stone materials such as granite and marble; however, it is not porous and won’t stain, making it easy to maintain and clean. There are an almost limitless number of colors, patterns and finishes available. With quartz, homeowners can even incorporate veins in interesting patterns to resemble marble and natural stone. Typical quartz slabs are the same thickness as granite, 3cm. However, quartz is heavier than granite and much stronger, allowing for larger tops and longer overhangs.

What’s the best countertop material for your dream kitchen? Let’s discuss the options by calling our showroom at 765-288-2737 or make an appointment to visit our showroom (click HERE to schedule) at 3600 N Everbrook Ln, Muncie, IN!

The Most Popular Kitchen Organization Tools

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 14:09:01 GMT

The Most Popular Kitchen Organization Tools

One of the most frequently asked questions among homeowners is how to maximize storage in their kitchens. We always propose to homeowners a storage plan that addresses how often they cook, entertain and hold family gatherings.
An almost endless array of options is available to store cookware, food, utensils, countertop appliances (blenders, mixers, etc.), recycling containers, and so on. The most popular organization tools among homeowners include the following:

Roll-out shelves that are specified for lower cabinets. When pulled out, homeowners can see the entire contents of the shelf, making it easy to find what they need.
Drawer pegboard systems with adjustable screw-in dowels that are most used to store plates and bowls.
Baskets and storage containers that are often used for food storage.
Drawer dividers that are customizable to effectively store utensils that are not uniformly sized.
Pan organizers that eliminate the need to stack pans and make them easily accessible.
Lazy Susans installed in corner cabinets not only create additional storage, but they also help homeowners easily access and organize kitchen supplies. Some lazy Susans include shelves that swing out with drawer modules for easy pull-out.
We often create drawers within drawers to maximize space in deep drawers. A top layer may be used for cutlery, below is a second drawer for dishes, and below that is another drawer for pots and pans. These drawers within drawers slide individually with the top-drawer designed to house items used most often.

Many existing kitchens include mixers, blenders, food processors, coffee pots, etc. sitting on the counter because there is insufficient cabinet space. We help homeowners develop storage plans for countertop appliances to help assure clutterless countertops that produce a clean look.
If you would like assistance in creating a clutter-free, well-organized kitchen, call us at 765-288-2737 or make an appointment to visit our showroom (click HERE to schedule) at 3600 N Everbrook Ln, Muncie, IN!

What Every Bath Needs

Wed, 22 Feb 2023 14:17:44 GMT

What Every Bath Needs

Our showroom designs a lot of new bathrooms for homeowners in Muncie and Delaware County. There are several design features that homeowners may not consider in their research and planning, but simply could not live without once they experience the benefits these features, products and design elements deliver. Some of our favorite and most cherished recommendations include the following.

There’s nothing that says “wow” better than a heated floor. Imagine on a chilly winter night you walk into your new dream bath, not on cold flooring, but on a warm and toasty surface that surprises and delights your toes. Heated floors are universally adored by homeowners.

Similar to kitchens, you can’t have too much storage in your dream bathroom. Depending on the available space, we often recommend a combination of shelves, drawers, cabinets and niches to create space for towels, cosmetics, cleaning supplies, grooming aids, medicines and other common products that homeowners store in their bathrooms.

A great storage enhancer are niches in the shower and/or tub areas where homeowners can place shampoo and other bath products such as conditioner and body wash. Many homeowners appreciate when we design two niches for the shower or bath area. The larger one can be used for larger bottles and a second smaller cutout that can hold bars of soap, razors and other grooming aids.

Hand showers are considered a must-have by homeowners who have installed them in their homes. Hand showers are used to clean the shower enclosure, for rinsing freshly shaved legs and for bathing small children and sometimes even the dog.

A sculptural freestanding tub, gorgeous vanity, statement-making light fixture or other-worldly tile or stone can help create head-turning focal points in your dream bathroom.

What design features can take your new dream bath from good to great? Give us a call at 765-288-2737 or make an appointment to visit us at 3600 N Everbrook Ln, Muncie, IN, and let us show you how to create the bathroom that exceeds your most lofty expectations!

Island Dreaming

Wed, 15 Feb 2023 14:08:31 GMT

Island Dreaming

Islands are among the most requested features among homeowners in Muncie and Delaware County who are creating the kitchen of their dreams. It’s not surprising because islands provide extra countertop and storage space and serve as the kitchen’s central hub for family dinners and entertaining. While the benefits of an island are obvious, designing islands to meet the individual needs of homeowners requires understanding how the kitchen is to look, feel and function.

We discuss with homeowners if they want their island to also serve as a dining table. We need to not only determine if there is adequate space for seating around the island, but also the number, type and location of the seats. As a rule of thumb, we recommend at least 2 feet of space between each seat and at least a one foot overhang on the countertop if space is at a premium. If not, most homeowners are better served with overhangs of 15 to 18 inches.

Functional Considerations

Because islands tend to be the central gathering place in new kitchens, we evaluate the functional needs of the island. These needs may include:

full-sized or prep sink

built-in cutting board

beverage fridge or refrigerated drawer

cooktop

recycling center

microwave

Each of the components will add to the functionality and enjoyment of your new kitchen.

Storage is another functional consideration. Many homeowners favor dual sided storage for their islands. Providing storage on the side of the island with seating helps to maximize storage and provide a finished look to a new kitchen. Another technique to enhance storage capabilities of islands is to add cabinets, drawers or shelves to the ends of the island.

Strategically located outlets and charging stations are additional features of a well-designed island. Depending on the size of the island, many jurisdictions have code requirements for the number of outlets required. Once we know how the island is expected to perform and the tools that homeowners will use in their new kitchen, we can identify ideal locations for outlets and charging stations.

Island Materials

Quartz and engineered stone are the two most popular countertop materials specified for islands among homeowners . If you plan to use your island for meal preparation, baking, etc., you will benefit from selecting a highly durable countertop material for your island. Quartz is both stain and heat resistant and is virtually maintenance free. Regardless of the material you select, ask your showroom designer about the care and maintenance requirements of that material.

Wow Factors

Islands can provide a distinct and personal design statement by incorporating pops of color, contrasting cabinetry, furniture details, and use of different textures and design features.

How can you create the island of your dreams in your new kitchen? Give us a call at 765-288-2737 or make an appointment to visit our showroom at 3600 N Everbrook Ln, Muncie, IN, and start converting your dreams into a reality!

Withstanding the Test of Time

Wed, 08 Feb 2023 14:09:20 GMT

Withstanding the Test of Time

When homeowners in Muncie and Delaware County make the decision to create a dream kitchen, they want to ensure that the design and products selected can survive the test of time. While certain trends are hot right now, such as brightly patterned backsplashes and green toned stone, they may not be so popular 10 years from now. Some of us can remember avocado-colored refrigerators. What features, materials, patterns, and design elements can withstand the test of time?

White will always be right. In fact, more than 50% of new kitchens for homeowners opt for a white color palette. White will never go out of style, nor will wood cabinets and finishes. We have seen a resurgence among homeowners gravitating to natural wood cabinetry and finishes. Wood adds a luxurious element to any kitchen and provides a soothing palette and calming vibe. Another reason we believe that wood cabinets and finishes will withstand the test of time is the ability that wood provides homeowners to make distinct and personal design statements.

The multifunctional roles of today’s kitchens as office spaces, meeting spaces, cafes, and classrooms, in addition to the place where meals are prepared, cooked, and eaten is expected to continue far into the future. Homeowners need their kitchens to be multifunctional and flexible. That’s why we expect open-floor plans to continue to be extremely popular and homeowners gravitating toward facades and covers that integrate appliances and other traditional kitchen elements into cabinetry.

Homeowners are favoring dual islands that provide more space for entertaining, working, studying, and preparing meals. Homeowners who entertain frequently relish dual ovens, dual dishwashers, dual sinks and two or more refrigerators.

Because homeowners are expected to continue to spend most of their time in their homes, they want an easy button for daily living. That’s why the trend of smart features in the kitchen will continue to grow. Voice activated faucets, smart appliances and even touch open and close cabinetry make it easy and stress free to enjoy a kitchen.

What are the design elements and features that you can add to your dream kitchen that will withstand the test of time? Give us a call at 765-288-2737 or make an appointment to visit our showroom at 3600 N Everbrook Ln, Muncie, IN, and let us show you how to create a kitchen that will be the envy of the neighborhood for years to come.

Creating Easy-to-Clean Kitchens

Wed, 01 Feb 2023 15:21:58 GMT

Creating Easy-to-Clean Kitchens

We always ask homeowners in Muncie and Delaware County who want to create the kitchen of their dreams to describe who in their family will use the kitchen, for what specific purposes and how often. Today’s kitchens need to serve multiple functions especially if homeowners are working from home either part time or full time. Always the most used and important room in the home, kitchen spaces now serve as offices, conference rooms, studies, cafes, coffee shops, dining rooms, planning centers and a host of other activities. Given that today’s new kitchens need to be multifunctional, it has become even more important to make it easy and less time consuming for homeowners to clean and maintain their kitchens.

The amount of effort required for everyday kitchen cleaning and maintenance depends on the type and style of products that you select for your kitchen. Stainless steel appliances are a go-to option for many homeowners. Stainless steel shows water stains and fingerprints. Additionally, dirt, grease, grime and dust can cause stainless steel surfaces to rust if they are not cleaned regularly. Homeowners that prefer stainless steel appliances should opt for the smudge-proof options offered by many manufacturers.

For cooktops, ovens and ranges, we advise homeowners to select models with knobs that are far enough apart to enable someone to clean them easily. Flat surfaces are easier to clean than detailed surfaces. Induction cooktops are not only easy to use and make cooking more enjoyable, their flat surfaces makes them one of the easiest appliances to clean without sacrificing the benefits of cooking with gas.

Stained cabinets show fewer fingerprints, smudges, dirt and grime than painted cabinets. Medium stains hide more dirt and fingerprints than lighter or darker stains. Painted cabinets with semi-gloss finishes are the easiest to clean. Painted cabinets with a matte or high gloss finish show more fingerprints and dirt and require more frequent attention.

Flat front cabinets are easier to clean than cabinets with insets, grooves or ridges.

Quartz countertops are stain-resistant, nonporous and the easiest to clean countertop material.

Another often overlooked consideration that makes kitchen cleaning easier is the placement of recycling and trash bins. An ideal location is underneath the sink space permitting or next to the sink. And if there is adequate space, consider having additional trash and recycling containers in a walk-in pantry, next to the fridge, in the island or close to the area in the kitchen where most meals will be prepared.

Investing in a high quality, high performing range hood that has the capacity to remove most grease, dust and grime from the kitchen will also make cleaning a lot easier.

Open shelves in a kitchen can be a focal point and are favored by many homeowners to store and display plates, vases, cookware and collectables. Open shelves also require more care and maintenance because you need to remove the items placed on the shelves to clean them.

What additional products and designs can make it easier and less effortless to clean and maintain a dream kitchen? Give us a call at 765-288-2737 or make an appointment to visit our showroom at 3600 N Everbrook Ln, Muncie, IN, and let us show you how you can create the kitchen you deserve that’s easy to use, clean and maintain.

Location, Location, Location – The Three Most Important Words for a Kitchen

Wed, 25 Jan 2023 14:13:17 GMT

Location, Location, Location – The Three Most Important Words for a Kitchen

During the weeks and months that most homeowners in Muncie and Delaware County spend researching different products, styles and color schemes, few pay much attention to the location of key components in their dream kitchen. Where should the fridge go? Is it okay to just have a sink in the island? What about a cooktop or range? What’s the ideal location?

The positioning of appliances, cabinets, pantry, drawers, and island seating, et. all affect not only the look and feel of a new kitchen, but also functionality. Conventional kitchen design dictates that the sink, refrigerator and stove/cooktop should be located in a triangle with nothing that impedes movement within the triangle. In many new kitchens designed for homeowners the triangle is appropriate, wanted and needed. Similar to many tried and true concepts, the triangle is not a one size fits all solution for every project. The location of key kitchen components depends on the multiple functions and roles homeowners want from their new dream kitchen and their lifestyles. That’s why anyone who wants to create a dream kitchen should be asked, “how do you plan to use your kitchen and what roles would you like it to play?” The kitchen design for avid home chefs who entertain frequently will differ from the design for empty nesters who do not cook or entertain in their home often.

Several basic rules of thumb for positioning different kitchen components are as follows:

Have space on either side of the sink to provide room for drying dishes or placing washed fruits and vegetables.

Place the main sink near the dishwasher.

We are not fans of placing cooktops in front of a window because grease generated while cooking will require almost daily cleaning of the glass.

We are fans of putting a sink in front of a window when possible, providing natural light, an attractive view and a more spacious feel.

We favor a second prep sink in the island if there is room and if the homeowners cook or entertain frequently.

The placement of the cooktop or range should be near the areas used to store pots, pans and cooking utensils because doing so makes it easy to prepare meals.

There should be countertop space, if possible, on either side of the cooktop or range that provides room for preparing meals.

Kitchen design should account for the functional roles that homeowners expect from their kitchens. There should be defined zones for meal preparation, cooking and cleaning.

What locations make the most sense for the kitchen of your dreams? Give us a call at 765-288-2737 or make an appointment to visit our showroom at 3600 N Everbrook Ln, Muncie, IN, and let us identify the perfect location for every component of your new dream kitchen.

Viva Magenta Is the Pantone Color of the Year

jwest@agreatkitchen.com (John West) — Wed, 18 Jan 2023 14:11:36 GMT

Viva Magenta Is the Pantone Color of the Year

Viva Magenta is the 2023 Pantone Color of the Year that the New York Times describes as “a hue with a lust for life. Not the aggressive synthetic Barbie, not the intense luxury of Valentino couture, not the tired millennial salmon, but a saturated shade on the threshold of fuchsia, definitely not organic but not quite electric.”

Pantone describes Viva Magenta as “a new animated red that revels in pure joy, encouraging experimentation and self-expression without restraint, an electrifying and a boundary-less shade that is manifesting as a stand-out statement.”

How will Viva Magenta find its way into the new dream kitchens created by homeowners in Muncie and Delaware County in 2023? Viva Magenta represents a desire for homeowners to make a bold statement in their new kitchens or baths. While not a color that we would recommend for kitchen cabinets, the choice of a bold bright color is not surprising. While white will remain the color of choice for many homeowners in Muncie and Delaware County, we find an equal number of those renovating their homes to gravitate toward colorful palettes ranging from bold and earthy tones such as burgundy, dusty blue, deep fuchsia, and khaki green to a new appreciation for neutral colors.

The desire for earth tones in a new dream kitchen is the desire to bring a sense of warmth to the kitchen. We’ve seen increased demand for gold tones, blues and green shades. Homeowners have discovered multiple ways to incorporate color into their new kitchens even when opting for white cabinetry. Brightly colored accent walls, gold-toned finished cabinet and appliance hardware and plumbing fixtures, art work, chair and barstool fabrics, backsplashes and glassware provide numerous options to make a bold, colorful and distinct design statement that bring personality and warmth to any space.

How can you incorporate color into your new dream kitchen to provide warmth, energy, and design sophistication? Give us a call at 765-288-2737 or make an appointment to visit our showroom at 3600 N Everbrook Ln, Muncie, IN , and let us explore the rainbow of colors that can make your dream kitchen a reality.

Working from Home: Tips to Organize Your Kitchen

Mon, 23 Mar 2020 15:43:48 GMT

Many homeowners in Muncie and Delaware County are now working from home. That’s a compelling reason to make sure that your home’s most important room – the kitchen – looks, operates and feels great. It’s easy to overlook kitchen clutter during the hustle and bustle of the average day when everyone in your family seems pulled in different directions. However, if you are spending most of your waking time at home, reorganizing and refreshing your kitchen not only will make you happier, it’s also likely to make you more productive.

Review and refresh how you use your kitchen. Do you need to take a deep dive into your refrigerator? Has your cutlery drawer become a tangled web of utensils that you rarely, if ever, use? Make a plan of attack to refresh your kitchen to help it function more effectively and simply make it more enjoyable to use and be in the space.

Clean out your fridge. Take everything out of your refrigerator and freezer, shelf by shelf. Throw out anything expired as well as anything that you haven't used for more than three months. You know what we are talking about – that jar of pickles, jellies, salad dressing, etc.

Clean other appliances. Run your dishwasher with nothing in it. Rinse your waste disposer with white vinegar. Ten minutes later, pour boiling water down the drain. Then run your waste disposer with ice cubes and lemon rinds. Degrease your cooktop. Use the self-cleaning function on your oven. Empty the crumb tray on your toaster. Clean your microwave. Replace the filters on your coffee maker and refrigerator. Run only water through your coffee maker. Clean other countertop appliances used regularly.

Declutter drawers and cabinets. Tackle one drawer and cabinet at a time. Remove everything and wipe down the drawer and/or shelves. Determine the contents that are used regularly, used rarely or not used at all. For the later, either dispose of those items or donate them to a charity. For rarely used items, e.g., the turkey roaster used only on Thanksgiving or Christmas, consider another location in your home to free up counter or cabinet space. Donate or toss duplicate items – how many peelers and melon ballers do you need? Inventory your knives. Sharpen those that you use frequently and consider a new home for those that you rarely use.

Tackle the pantry. Pull out each item and ask, “how does this item make me feel?” If the response is not positive, either toss the item in the trash bin if it is expired or donate it to a food bank. When you restock the pantry, replace items in a logical order. Put all canned goods together. Designate a separate area for baking ingredients, spices, grains, nuts, etc. Reorganizing your pantry by category not only will help you to eat healthier, but it will also save time for meal preparation and cooking. When you empty your pantry, it’s a perfect time to clean shelves and containers.

Take care of your sinks and faucets. Wash your sink and pay attention to joints and seals where grime can accumulate.

Clean countertops and open shelves. Take everything off your open shelves and countertops. Do a thorough curation. For each item, ask if this is something that you want to look at every day. If not, donate or relocate.

Don’t ignore windows, walls and floors. Vacuum your ceiling, walls and the floor. Wipe down walls and cabinet exteriors with dish soap and warm water (don’t forget to dry thoroughly with a clean cloth). Send your window covers to a launderer or dry cleaner, or if they are washable, throw them in your washing machine.

If you would like additional tips and tricks for making your kitchen look, function and feel the best it can be, please give us a call at 765-288-2737 or arrange for a virtual visit to our showroom.

Maintaining Your Kitchen

Fri, 20 Sep 2019 13:47:51 GMT

Spend less time cleaning and more time enjoying your home

Regular maintenance of your new kitchen will increase the useful life of cabinets, appliances, faucets, backsplashes and hardware and enhance your enjoyment of the space. We always ask clients how often they plan to cook, entertain and eat in their new kitchen. We also ask what other activities regularly take place in the kitchen. Other variables to consider include who will clean the kitchen and how much time and effort you want to keep your kitchen spotless. We consider all this information to develop a roadmap for specifying the right flooring, countertops, backsplashes, walls, appliances, and plumbing fixtures for you.

Cabinets attract grease, spills, and fingerprints and require regular care to maintain their look and feel. Inset doors require more care, maintenance and effort to clean than their flat panel counterparts. Inset doors feature recesses and grooves where dirt, grease and dust can more easily accumulate.

White kitchens remain the most popular according to a recent Houzz study. White offers an unlimited palette to add pops of color, incorporate metallic tones and make unique design statements with textures, materials and contrasts. White cabinets are also easier to maintain than those with dark paints or stains because darker colors show dust and fingerprints. Scratches and nicks in stained cabinets are easier to fix than those on painted cabinets.

The type of wood finish also affects maintenance requirements. Oak, hickory, beech and other species where the grain shines through are less likely to show stains and scratches.

Ceramic and porcelain tile are easier to maintain than wood or stone floor coverings. Ceramic and porcelain floor coverings are moisture-, stain- and scratch-resistant. You never need to seal ceramic or porcelain, but that’s not the case with stone.

Quartz is a virtually maintenance-free countertop material, and that is one of the reasons more homeowners in Delaware and surrounding counties are making quartz the number one countertop material for their new kitchens. Quartz is scratch- and stain-resistant and can be cleaned easily with soap and water.

Are you leaning toward painted cabinets and walls? A popular and easy to maintain choice is a satin finish due to its durability and ability to absorb light. Semi-gloss paint is a smart choice for baseboards and trim due to its ability to resist moisture damage, stains and scratches better than other paint finishes.

Brushed finishes for cabinet hardware, faucets and other components are popular because they hide fingerprints and water spots much more effectively than polished finishes or chrome.

What finishes will work best in your new dream kitchen? Give us a call at 765-288-2737 or visit our showroom at 3600 N Everbrook Ln, Muncie, IN, and let us help you spend less time cleaning and more time enjoying your home.

The Best Reason to Renovate Your Kitchen

Sun, 12 May 2019 23:57:46 GMT

Your dream kitchen of tomorrow should be designed around you.

If you're like most homeowners here in Muncie, Indiana, and around the country, you spend a great deal of time in your kitchen, and in that time you're not just cooking, eating and cleaning up. A compelling study by the Research Institute for Cooking & Kitchen Intelligence reports that nearly 20 percent of homeowners spend an average of three hours per day in the kitchen. The RICKI study confirms what we have known for a long time at Great Kitchens & Baths - homeowners use their kitchen for a vast array of activities that have nothing to do with a kitchen’s traditional role. Instead, our clients are asking us to design kitchens that serve as a multifunctional space to listen to music, share quality time with family and friends, watch television, stream videos, care for pets, pay bills, read, play games, study, work and more.

The amount of time that homeowners spend in the kitchen is expected to continue to increase. Technological advances are transforming the kitchen from an independent living space into a hyper-connected, multipurpose hub for cooking, eating, entertaining, relaxing and working from home.

As the kitchen's role continues to evolve, there is a new emphasis on design, and it's becoming increasingly valuable to work with professionals who understand how to transform a traditional kitchen space into an area that accommodates a diverse array of nontraditional kitchen functions. As Eliot Sefrin, publisher emeritus of Kitchen & Bath Design News , points out, "A growing number of kitchens are occupying larger, more open footprints. ‘Smart' features are being built into cabinetry, appliances, countertops and other kitchen components." Smart kitchen lighting, hardware, virtual assistants and other products are coming to market to address consumer demand for Wi-Fi/Bluetooth capabilities. Manufacturers are bringing to market creative solutions to incorporate docking stations for smart devices into cabinets, drawers, countertops and other spaces. Appliances also offer smart options and Bluetooth connectivity that enable remote operation and are synched with digital assistants.

Your kitchen is the hub of your home; you and your family spend a lot of time in that space, and as such it's essential that it is arranged in a manner that best suits your lifestyle and needs. If you want to discuss your dream kitchen of tomorrow, please call our showroom at 765-288-2737 or visit our showroom at 3600 N Everbrook Ln, Muncie, Indiana.

What to Expect from a Kitchen and Bath Showroom

Mon, 22 Apr 2019 14:29:06 GMT

Nine minimum services that you should expect from a professional showroom

We understand that deciding to renovate an existing space or build a brand-new kitchen, bath, closet or laundry room is a daunting undertaking. The Internet is both our friend and foe. While it provides access to every product and service that homeowners, builders, architects and designers need for a renovation project, the amount of information often is overwhelming, resulting in paralysis and elevated levels of stress. That's where a professional kitchen and bath showroom can be your greatest asset. We specialize in making order out of chaos. Here are nine minimum services that you should expect from a professional showroom:

Expect showroom professionals to narrow your product choices based on needs, preferences and budgets. We ask the right questions to help us better understand and identify the perfect products for your project.
Expect your showroom to direct you to product choices that complement your existing home décor and your personal style. We will ask questions to determine the look you want to achieve and to assure that there is a consistent flow of style and color throughout your home.
Expect your showroom to establish a realistic timetable for the renovation project.
Expect your showroom to establish a realistic budget and to direct you to products that represent the best value for your available funds.
Expect your showroom professional to identify and recommend cabinets that work best for you, your lifestyle and look. The professional should explain the reasons why the recommendations are best.
Expect your showroom professional to help you make decisions, especially those requiring compromises.
Expect your showroom professional to develop innovative and custom solutions to unique and different kitchen and bathroom spaces.
Expect your showroom professional to explain the difference in the quality of products recommended.
Expect your showroom professional to measure your space before ordering any product to ensure that products specified will fit perfectly and give you a look that will make you smile every time you walk into and use your new kitchen or bath.

We recognize that our primary responsibilities are to make things work and positively change clients’ lives and living spaces. It's a responsibility that is awesome and one that we take extremely seriously. We ease stress levels and create happiness. Those are the real reasons we come to work every day.

If you would like to discuss a potential new kitchen or bath project, please call us at 765-288-2737 or make an appointment to visit our showroom:

Great Kitchens & Baths

3600 N Everbrook Ln

Muncie, IN 47304

Six Design Secrets for a More Enjoyable and Functional Kitchen

Wed, 06 Feb 2019 13:26:08 GMT

Here are six tips for making your kitchen the envy of your neighborhood.

Great kitchen design combines both form and function. From our design team, here are six tips for making your kitchen the envy of your neighborhood.

1. Choose Ceiling-High Cabinets

Ceiling-high cabinets are a great option for any kitchen, but they work especially well in smaller spaces. Cabinets that reach to the ceiling draw the eye upward, creating the illusion that the space is much larger than it actually is. Plus, ceiling-high cabinets provide additional storage space for cookware, small appliances, serving dishes and other items that are not used frequently.

2. Replace Existing Appliances

There are two main arguments for making an investment in new appliances. First, older appliances with new countertops, cabinets, hardware, etc. are likely to stick out like a sore thumb. Rarely, if ever, will existing appliances complement the new aesthetic that you want to achieve. Second, today’s appliances are more technologically sophisticated, energy-efficient and offer benefits and features that make meal preparation easier and more enjoyable.

3. Light Up Your Life

Install in-cabinet, in-drawer and under-cabinet lighting. Not only does today’s new LED lighting technology make it easier to illuminate work surfaces, installing lighting in drawers and cabinets makes it easier to find what you are looking for and offers a wow factor that is hard to refuse.

4. A Well Designed Kitchen Is An Organized Kitchen

One secret to designing a great kitchen is to account for your storage needs and desires in the initial planning phases. A storage plan will consider how often you cook, entertain and hold gatherings. A great kitchen must not only look out of this world, it also must incorporate the best functionality that meets your needs. An almost endless array of options is available to store cookware, food, utensils, countertop appliances (blenders, mixers, etc.), recycling containers and so on.

5. Choose a Pull-Out Pantry

Compared to traditional drawer and cabinet storage, pull-out pantries make it far easier to find what you are looking for. If your pantry is wider than 15 inches, consider roll-out shelves as an alternative because the weight of the pantry may not be manageable.

6. Avoid Buyers’ Remorse

Work with a professional kitchen designer that will show you 3D computer-generated color renderings to help you visualize and experience your new space in as much detail as possible before the construction process begins.

Want to know other secrets for making your kitchen the epicenter of your home? Please give us a call at 765-288-2737 or visit our showroom at 3600 N Everbrook Ln in Muncie. We would love to learn more and talk to you about your project!