If you are having a mold issue we talked about how to clean it up in Part 1, now let’s look at ways to prevent it from happening again.
Mold and Mildew: Clean it and Prevent it! Part 1
Mold and Mildew Two Part Series: Part 1
As everyone knows the hardest thing to remove is mold and mildew from a home. No matter how often you clean it is always there, staring you in the eyes mocking you and your cleaning skills. But we have some tips that will help you to combat this. Continue reading →
How to Install Ceramic Tile in Your Kitchen Part 2
Part 2
Now that the hard part is done; laying out the lines, choosing the tiles, creating the patterns and making the tool now it is time to roll up your sleeves and have some fun! Time to install all that beautiful tile and make your kitchen a show place everyone will want to be in. Continue reading →
How to Install Ceramic Tile in Your Kitchen Part 1 in a 2 Part Series
Is it time to update your kitchen floor? How about a sturdy but sleek look of ceramic tiles? In this 3 part series you will be guided to how you can install ceramic tiles to give your kitchen a new look! Continue reading →
How to install A Tile Backsplash
For a homeowner, there is nothing more satisfying then to walk in to a room, and see a beautiful finished home improvement project. A project, that you, the homeowner, completed yourself.
Fed up with looking at that same old tired paint on the wall? Want something beautiful; elegant that’s also easy to clean? Install a tile backsplash, a backsplash that makes your kitchen or bathroom look fresh and new.
The National Kitchen & Bath Association's Trend Study
Looking to find out what’s hot and what’s not in the world of kitchen and bathroom design? If you are still in the planning stages of your remodel, you might want to check the latest National Kitchen & Bath Association’s trend study: 300 member designers were polled for the latest trends and news about bath and kitchen designs and remodels and below are the results.
Curious to see what’s HOT this season?
GRAY COLOR SCHEMES – that’s right, shades of gray are growing in appeal for both the kitchen and bathroom, and been growing in popularity since 2010.
“Among the overall trends identified for this year, gray color schemes in both kitchens and baths have witnessed a dramatic escalation since 2010, particularly over the past year, according to a written statement about the study. “Used currently in 55 percent of kitchens and 56 percent of bathrooms, shades of gray are growing in appeal, creating chic, sophisticated spaces that many consumers desire.”
The appetite for sleek shades of gray in kitchens and baths might be linked to the colors popularity in fashion over the last few years. NKBA stopped short of linking the color’s popularity to the steamy best-seller “Fifty Shades of Grey” by E.L. James.
Despite gray’s recent appeal, white and off-white are still most popular, used in 73 percent of kitchens and 71 percent bathrooms. The neutrals of beige and bone come next in popularity, followed by grays and browns, according to NKBA.
View full article.
QUARTZ – second most popular counter-surface material used in kitchens and baths last year, and is closely gaining popularity to granite on the top spot.
WHITE CABINETS – this is a popular trend for kitchens, it has been a top choice since last year.
GLASS BACKSPLASH – this trend has grown in popularity in the last 3 years, it’s no surprise.
TOUCH-ACTIVATED FAUCETS – at Plumbtile you will find many of these trendy faucets, we love them!
For the complete trends for the bath and kitchen, you can view the full list here. Call 1-866-369-8180 and ask your friendly Plumbtile consultant about the latest trends, they’re always ready to help!
Green Mondays: Congrats to SURFACE for their Tremendous Recycling Efforts
It’s Green Monday once again! We especially love this day, and we always look forward to a week of awareness regarding our environment and news about the efforts of our industry partners and what they do to help. Last January 29-31, S2 partnered with Mountain Re-Source Center and Tile Partners for Humanity on a recycling initiative focused on post-show product donations. It was a tremendous success and we congratulate all the organizers and exhibitors for a job well done!
With 82 participating exhibitors, Hanley Wood Exhibitions is very satisfied with the growth of this initiative and could not have had such vast success without the help of Freeman, United Services, and Mandalay Bay Convention Center.
Mountain Re-Source Center solicited all S2exhibitors prior to and during the show. The participating exhibitors were very generous, offering thousands of square feet of material which filled seven 53-foot semi-trailers to capacity, more than doubling the donations from last year’s inaugural initiative. The loads were delivered to River Valley Community Outreach Center in Gridley, California, Central West Virginia Outreach Center in Gassaway, West Virginia and Las Vegas Habitat for Humanity in Las Vegas, Nevada to serve multiple families and community improvement efforts presently underway.
S2 exhibitors graciously participated in this significant and impactful program. Companies of all sizes actively participated with some of the major donations coming from:
Beaulieu (9,000 square feet of carpet and padding)
Mannington Mills (9,000 square feet of flooring)
Home Legend (5,400 square feet of flooring)
Nature Flooring (3,500 square feet of flooring)
U.S. Floors (2,500 square feet of flooring)
Max Windsor (2,500 square feet of flooring)
IVC US, Inc. (2,500 square feet of flooring)
Johnson Hardwood (2,250 square feet of flooring)
Full article and photos courtesy of Floor Trends Mag</span?
We hope this starts a trend for exhibitors everywhere around the world. Congratulations to SURFACES!
New Year, New Kitchen!
Last Thursday, we encouraged our readers to remodel their bathrooms for the new year by inspiring them with new trends for the year. For this week we would like to help show you some design ideas on how to get that new kitchen you always dreamed of.
Enumerated below are some of the design ideas and products we think will suit your kitchen to match the overall look and feel of your home. Click on each image to find out more. Enjoy!
Antique Green
Timeless Kitchen Style
Natural Setting
Plumbtile is EXTENDING the Photo Contest to April 15, 2013.
WIN $1000.00 worth of products!
Here are the rules:
- Take a photo of your recent project and submit it to us.
- Then get all your friends to “Like” your remodeling photo.
- The photo with the most likes will win $1,000 worth of bath and kitchen products.
For more information visit Plumbtile’s Facebook page.
Featured Kitchen Remodel Trends of 2011
Just in case you are still having troubles coming up with ideas for that big remodel of yours, this post is here to inspire you. Kitchen remodel trends in 2011 are sticking to color schemes, textures, and lighting. The great thing about each new year is the slight changes an improvements in efficiency and function of almost every part of a kitchen. Here is a look at some of the best kitchen remodel trends of 2011.
Kitchen Colors
One of the most important things on a person’s mind as they choose new colors for their kitchen is resale value. Even if you are not planning to sell the home anytime soon, this should be a consideration. At the same time, a homeowner wants a kitchen that is unique to them. The 2011 balance for this is to use warm, neutral colors.
Think earthy browns, muted reds, and shades of tan and beige when looking at color palettes for the kitchen. The opposite side to this would be cool muted colors such as olive green or powder blue, which are also very stylish. Also, try to keep this palette to one or two colors for the walls, and use the kitchen appliances, furniture, and accessories as the accent colors.
Add More Color With a Custom Backsplash
If you are just itching for more color in the kitchen, refrain from painting the walls bright purple! Instead, opt for a customized backsplash. These can be made from tile, glass, porcelain, or even recycled plastic, and add a beautiful personal flair without being “overdone.”
Stone Countertops
In a recent survey, almost 82% of consumers said they prefer stone counter tops over any other material. This is really great news, because stone can be used in so many ways that there is no reason to have boring, replicated counter tops. Try polished stone, or worn vintage-inspired stone tiles to create a completely unique counter top. You can even mix in a few complimentary colors to add interest and texture to the overall look of the kitchen!
Top Faucet Styles and Brands
In that same survey, consumers were also asked to identify their top three favorite faucet brands and their favorite style of faucet. The clear winners turned out to be:
- Hansgrohe
- Kohler
- Dorn Bracht
..and the top faucet style came up as contemporary pull out, with 64% of the vote! This means that faucets should be sleek in design and feature a pull out feature, much like the Kohler – Clairette.
Multiple Lighting Sources
Kitchen trends of 2011 are also featuring multiple lighting sources in place of the traditional “big light” model. Rather than one harsh source of light, many consumers are choosing statement lighting fixtures with a few hidden light sources throughout the kitchen.
One of the most important sources of light in the modern kitchen is natural lighting. Large windows and even skylights will provide ample natural lighting for an open and airy feel. For hidden light sources, go for track lights or recessed lighting around the kitchen, under cabinets, in cabinets and above the stove.
Green Products
Of course, kitchen trends of 2011 are going to stay with the eco-friendly theme. In fact, green and sustainable kitchen accessories are becoming more and more trendy by the day. From bamboo hardwood to countertops made of recycled materials, there is a huge demand for the eco-friendly version of almost any product. Also on this “hot list” are energy-efficient appliances and water-saving faucets.
Look for the “green alternatives” to almost any part of the kitchen for that extra oomph. You will be getting a unique and trendy kitchen while also doing your part to save the planet! Want some ideas? Catch our post: Spotlight on 4 Eco-Friendly and Modern Companies
How to Plan Your Kitchen Remodel
Planning your kitchen remodel sounds a bit tedious to some, but is absolutely essential if you want things to go smoothly. Without a well-laid plan for the project, you could spend thousands more than necessary and several months chasing your own tail.If you followed the last post in this series, How to Set a kitchen Remodel Budget and Get Design Ideas, then this step should be a breeze for you!
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Here is the best way to plan your remodel from start to finish.
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Document the current design.
First, you should know exactly what you are working with. Whether it is your own kitchen or a client’s that you will be
remodeling, it is important to know the “starting point” of the project. The best methods of documenting this are
- Create 1 freehand drawing of the current kitchen (or pay someone else to sketch it)
- Take lots of pictures of the current layout, design, appliances, etc. Take pictures of everything you will probably be changing.
- Create or get a blueprint of the current layout.
Why go through this trouble? This process serves many purposes, not least of which is the ability to make notes all over the current design that state what to change and
how. Remember that famous quote “he who fails to plan, plans to fail.”
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Document the desired result.
After gathering ideas from the last step of what you want (and don’t want), you should already be pretty well equipped to do this step. This part of the planning process really does require professional consultation or expertise. If you are a professional designer, builder, or architect, then you are golden. If not, it is highly recommended that you opt to consult or even contract the services of a professional to help you. Choosing to do this now is what will save you from spending too much time and money attempting to fix mistakes that could have simply been avoided.
The elements of this process include using those remodel ideas you gathered to:
- Do a few freehand sketches/computer prints of what you want the new kitchen to look like. Do at least two or three from different angles.
- Shop around online for specific kitchen products that fit your vision. Take note of all measurements. If they are not shown in the product descriptions, call the customer service line for more information.
- Use this information to draft a blueprint with exact measurements of what the kitchen will look like after the kitchen remodel is complete.
- Adjust those preliminary sketches/computer images to match the design contained within the blueprint for a 3D preview of the new kitchen.
Take you time when look at kitchen accessories, because the quality of the products you use will ultimately make or break the success of your kitchen remodel.
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Now that you know where you are and where you want to go with this kitchen remodel, begin planning what will be done and when. Give timeframes and even deadlines for
each part of the remodel to be completed, allowing a little leeway (about 30%) for setbacks that may occur.
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The only thing left is to purchase your supplies and get down to work!
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