Planning a Bathroom Renovation? Here's How to Get Added Value

According to HGTV, what you get back on what you spend on home improvement projects depends on several factors including "the value of your house, the value of houses in your immediate neighborhood, the housing market where you live, how soon you sell after making improvements, and the quality of the project itself."

When planning any home improvement projects, it is a good idea to do some comparisons with other homes in your neighborhood. Is your home comparable to other homes around you in terms of number of bedrooms, bathrooms, and garages? This may be an important factor in determining whether you will be remodeling an existing room in your home, or add in a new room.

Kitchen and bathroom remodels continue to be two of the best investments you can make in your home. In terms of construction, kitchen and bath remodels take the cake on being the most expensive remodeling projects. When you walk into someones kitchen or bath, you can immediately tell whether they spent their money well or not.

Bathroom remodels remain popular since that is where people tend to spend a large amount of their time. If your goal is to retrieve the highest return for your money, think clean and timeless. You want to avoid anything too trendy as this can really "date" the bathroom. Instead, invest in quality wood cabinets, updated fixtures, and quality stone or ceramic materials for the flooring, countertops, and shower areas.

If your bathroom is smaller and doesn't have adequate space for a bathtub and a shower, consider foregoing the jetted bathtub. Typically, people have hectic schedules and don't indulge in baths very often. Choosing to replace a bathtub with a larger shower can land you extra square footage in your bathroom. In addition, a larger shower can be made handicap accessible, which means that you can age in place. While choosing to replace a bathtub with a shower may seem appealing, be sure to research the pros and cons.

In the end, don't stress over getting the full 100% of your investment back from a remodeling project. Your return on investment is dependent upon how long you plan on staying in your home and how often the space is used. Ultimately, the best way to remodel a bathroom in a way that you will get the biggest investment back is by remodeling it in the way that you would enjoy it the most.

Kitchen Remodel Tips to Help You Achieve Your Dream Kitchen

When assessing their home for upgrades, many homeowners hope to remodel their kitchen to create an open and inviting space. As you may have noticed, kitchens are not only used for cooking; kitchens have evolved to be part of the main entertaining space in the home. When planning a kitchen remodel, it is always helpful to look at ideas to help you get an idea of what you want. Here are some kitchen remodel tips:

Custom Kitchen Remodel by Balducci Additions and Remodeling

Planning the Kitchen Layout

Typically, one of the first steps when planning a kitchen remodel is deciding on the kitchen layout. It is important to create enough space between walkways and high-traffic areas. In cooking zones, there should be 42 inches of space for a one-cook configuration and 48 inches for a two-cook configuration. Another important tip when choosing your kitchen layout is to be mindful of the location of your cabinetry, appliances, and how the two interact. You don't want to open a cabinet door to find out that it bangs into an appliance, or another cabinet, and ending up with damaged materials.

Choosing the Appliances

When planning the location of your appliances, try to avoid installing the cooktop in the island. It can be a hazard, especially for homeowners with kids. Additionally, it may be a good idea to have the refrigerator installed near the edge of the main cooking area (such as on the end of a row of cabinets). That way, the cook can easily access ingredients in the refrigerator, while a passer-by can also access the refrigerator for snacks or drinks without disrupting the cook.

Planning for Ample Countertop Space

Account for lots of countertop space. Countertop space is essential for prepping food, storing small appliances, and setting down miscellaneous items. One area of the kitchen that should have countertop space on either side is the cooktop. The landing space around this area is priceless while cooking. Another area that would benefit by having extra countertop space would be the microwave.

Deciding on Cabinetry

In a kitchen, there are many items that need to be stored away, which is why organization is a must-have. We recommend including some cabinet organization. Some good ideas for in-cabinet organization would be a knife drawer, a recycling bin, and racks for pots and pans.

In addition, avoid weighing down the room with an overabundance of cabinetry by mixing up cabinet details. For example, you can replace a regular wall cabinet with a couple of open shelves to show off your prettiest glassware. However, if you still need as much cabinet space as possible, try including some glass panels in your cabinets to make the room appear lighter.

Choosing the Finishing Touches

On a budget? Before you get too discouraged about not being able to include your dream materials or finishes, know that it is possible to include some high-end pieces while staying on a budget. We recommend choosing one or two high-end items, such as tiles for your backsplash or a range-hood that you love. Then, you can use these items as your focal points. Stick to the budget by saving money on your countertops, cabinetry, and other materials.

Kitchens are often considered the heart of the home, and the center for entertaining with family and friends. Before you invest in a complete kitchen remodel, it is important to research what you want beforehand. You don't want to go through an entire remodel to find out that you do not absolutely love your new space. Some important elements to consider when compiling kitchen remodel tips include: layout, cabinetry, countertops, appliances, and finishing touches.

We hope that these kitchen remodel tips helped you in planning your dream kitchen. Feel free to contact Balducci Additions and Remodeling to schedule an appointment.

Love to Entertain? Consider the Microwave Combo Wall Oven

When considering a kitchen remodel, one of the most important components to consider are the appliances. Appliances range drastically in price and features. Additionally, the location of your appliances is a huge indicator of your overall cooking experience. Two appliances worth noting are the microwave and the oven.

Photo: The Home Depot

Love to entertain? Two words: Double. Ovens.

Double ovens are great appliances for the big family that enjoys entertaining together, or even the aspiring chef. A double oven is perfect for preparing a full course meal without having to re-heat side dishes or having to spend all day cooking.

While double ovens may be a huge time saver for some; for most families, a double oven will not get used quite as often. Many homeowners with a double oven often find out that the double oven is only used during holidays, such as Thanksgiving and Christmas, where there is more cooking to be done. Otherwise, one oven will typically do the trick.

Introducing the Microwave

The microwave was introduced to the market in the 1970's and created a way for people to cook food in less time. They were originally designed to be placed on the countertop. As years went on, many homeowners were hoping to free up counter space and place the microwave elsewhere.

The Microwave Gets a New Home

Some homeowners started installing microwaves over the cook top. Over the range microwaves are great since they help to centralize some of the cooking process. However, professional ranges require a stronger ventilator. According to Yale Appliance, "The average hood is 24" in depth whereas the OTR is only 16". That could be a venting issue on a more powerful range." Thus, the over the range microwave might not be adequate enough for some more powerful cook tops.

Photo: Blue Maize

Microwave Combo Wall Oven: Combining the Microwave with the Double Oven

A great alternative to an over the range microwave would be to combine the microwave and the oven. It is perfect for those who love to entertain since the cook top, oven, and microwave can be put to use at the same time. Additionally, microwave combo wall ovens typically have the ability to cook as a microwave, convection oven, or both. As a bonus: Since the microwave is now moved from above the cook top, this allows for homeowners to pick out a more eye-catching range hood to accentuate the kitchen's design style!

As you can see, the identity microwave has drastically changed over the years in our kitchens. It has gone from a staple of the counter top appliances, to a built-in add on of the oven. If you have any questions about microwave combo wall ovens, or just kitchen remodels in general, feel free to contact us or give us a call.