With a new year comes a flood of new trends for sprucing up your home. If you’re looking to give your kitchen a face lift, there are certainly some hot new kitchen styles you should know about. Here’s a list of just a few trends that designers are suggesting for 2013.

1. Neutral finishes: Whether it’s on countertops, cabinets or even flooring designers are avoiding the bright, bold colors of older kitchens and sticking to shades of brown and white this year. These neutral colors give your kitchen a warm, clean, inviting look that will stand the test of time. And good news; you don’t have to completely replace your current cabinetry to achieve this new look! Refinish or reface your kitchen cabinets to update your kitchens look without destroying your budget. “When refacing cabinets, a clean, simple contemporary look is winning out, both from an updating standpoint, and a trend to eliminate unnecessary clutter and fussy details that equate to high maintenance and complicated living,” said Kathleen Donohue, an award-winning designer with Neil Kelly Designs.
2. Hardwood Floors: That’s right. Hardwood kitchen floors remain a hot kitchen remodeling trend this year. Whether you want to go with a dark wood to offset your white cabinetry, or a light wood to contrast your dark cabinetry, you can’t go wrong with hardwood floors. Is there anything that looks better in a kitchen than gleaming, clean wooden floors? We don’t think so!
3. Functionality: Whether you’re entertaining a big group, or cooking with your mother-in-law, your kitchen should perform as effortlessly as possible under all types of pressure. Most importantly, your kitchen should be designed for convenient cabinet access and storage. If cooking with others is a struggle in your kitchen because one of you is always in the way, it might be time to either rearrange your drawers or upgrade to more accessible cabinetry. In fact, most designers and contractors agree that cabinetry is the area to splurge on when you remodel your kitchen. Cabinets are constantly used around the kitchen, so it is essential that the cabinets you choose during your remodel project resist wear for at least 20 years.
4. Mixed cabinet colors: If you’re bored with the same cabinet colors all around your kitchen, now’s the time to mix it up. One of the more popular cabinet color trends is to use different, darker color cabinets on island cabinets or on the lower cabinets. This way, when children get into lower cabinets they won’t stain or gray light colored cabinetry. Some color trends include mix-and-match kitchen cabinetry painted in those neutral shades of cream, taupe and gray.

If you’re looking to revitalize the look of your bathroom, new sinks can make a big statement. Ranging anywhere from $50 to $10,000, below is a list of sink options of various colors, materials, sizes and shapes to fit any budget and any décor.

-White porcelain. If your sink is damaged and you’re just looking to replace it, a white porcelain sink is the traditional choice that will most likely be the least costly. White porcelain sinks come in various shapes including oval, round, square or shaped to fit into a corner. These sinks can be installed on a pedestal or into a countertops.

-Molded sinks. Solid surface countertops can be made with a bathroom sink integrated into the design. Prices for these vary widely depending upon whether you purchase them in a standard size or you get them custom-made.

-Bowls installed in furniture. Bathroom sinks can be installed into any piece of furniture. The plumbing is concealed behind the piece of furniture allowing you to still use the lower drawers for storage. This is a great solution for people who have a favorite piece of furniture already or are looking for something truly unique.

-Painted porcelain. Traditional white porcelain sinks can be custom painted with designs to match or create the décor of the bathroom. Cartoon characters, fish and flowers are popular.

-Bold colors. Manufacturers are now making many traditional bathroom sinks in bold colors. This is a great way to enhance children’s bathrooms or create a more contemporary look.

-Glass. More recently, glass sinks are becoming more popular. Glass sinks can be fashioned in stunning colors, shapes and textures. Using glass sinks is a great way to add a piece of art to your bath. Glass bowls can be set on top of traditional countertops, on brass or chrome stands or in wrought iron bases.

-Other materials. Bathroom sinks are now being made out of a variety of new materials including brass, chrome, copper, stainless steel and stone.

-Wood. For those less concerned about budget, wood sinks can be a great choice. Wood sinks can be fashioned from birch, mahogany or teak. Wood is the perfect material to help set the mood for the relaxation and serenity you enjoy at the spa. To create a wood sink, the wood is aged, dried, glued together, impregnated with wax and polished with a hard-wax oil.
Whether you choose a traditional bathroom sink bowl or select something truly unique, your bathroom sink will make a marked impression on the look of your bath. Please contact us today, and we’ll help you create a bath that will give you the look you desire.

We all love to brag about do-it-yourself projects, but before you spend too much time dreaming of showing off your skills and boasting about your savings, you should understand the reality of the potential problems you could run into by taking on a remodeling project yourself.

To help you determine if a DIY project such as replacing windows, refinishing cabinets or remodeling your kitchen is a good idea for you and your family, we suggest you complete the follow exercise.

Check all the boxes that apply to you:

(   ) Able to obtain all the necessary materials

(   ) Ample time available to complete the project (allow two or three times the estimated duration of project unless you have experience with the particular project)

(   ) Can afford to redo any unsatisfactory work

(   ) Confirmed that assistants are willing and available to help on this project

(   ) Determined that it is safe for you to undertake this project

(   ) Enjoy physical labor

(   ) Family will be tolerant of the time it takes to complete the project

(   ) Finish what you start

(   ) Figured in ALL costs including materials, time and tools (including those for correcting mistakes)

(   ) Have a back-up plan if some aspect of the project gets derailed (Many contractors will not agree to complete an unfinished, botched DIY job)

(   ) Knowledgeable about local permit requirements and building codes

(   ) Own an extensive variety of tools

(   ) Patient

(   ) Persistent

(   ) Possess a wide range of home improvement skills (carpentry, electrical, plumbing, finishing, etc.)

(   ) Prepared to handle the stress on the family that home improvement projects create

(   ) Reviewed instructions from manufacturers to determine that you have the proper skills to complete the project

(   ) Skill level is at an expert level to yield quality results

If you have checked at least 8 boxes, a DIY project may be a reasonable choice for you. But, before you make the final decision to do the project yourself, we suggest you review the boxes you did not check and consider the possible problems you could be facing if you decide to go ahead with the project on your own.

After this exercise, you might determine that hiring a home improvement expert is a better decision for you and your family. If you decide doing it yourself is not such a good idea after all, please call us and we will painlessly complete your windows, doors, kitchens, siding or trim project and leave you with results you can enjoy for years to come.

Please call 480-423-9300 for a free, no obligation estimate!

In part 1 of this blog post we discussed important steps to take when choosing a Phoenix home improvement company. In this blog post we will continue to discuss important steps to take when choosing a contractor and specifically focus on the remodeling contract.

After comparing each bid as well as all the references you have gathered you are now ready to select a bid. Choose the bid that is right for you. This may not always be the cheapest but make sure you are satisfied before your final selection.

After choosing a contractor you will be presented with a contract before the home remodeling project begins. It is very important to read this contract very carefully. Make sure your Phoenix home improvement company has liability insurance and is licensed. Make sure their employees are covered as well and do not be afraid to ask question about anything you may not understand. You also want to be sure that your contract list the specifics of each job. This list should include brand names of materials, as well the type and quantity of items being installed. The contract should also include details about additional work that may need to be done. For example will the Phoenix home improvement company complete the painting after an item is installed or will they subcontract that work. Will the company provide debris removal and cleanup services? All of these are very important to consider when reading a home remodeling contract.

Once you have chosen an Phoenix home improvement company and are satisfied with your contract your home remodeling project will begin. Contact your local home remodeling company for more information about their services.

For more information about our Phoenix home improvement company, contact Republic West.

The first step to choosing a high quality home improvement company is consulting your friends who may have had similar home remodeling services completed. Ask for references and ask them what they liked about the Arizona home improvement company and what they didn’t like. See how satisfied they were with the companies work. If you do cannot find any references check your local Yellow Pages or perform a Google search for more information.

The next step to choosing a quality home remodeling company is to check with the Arizona Better Business Bureau for information about your perspective companies. Check for unresolved complaints against the company. Choose an Arizona home improvement company that has a record with no complaints or a company, which has resolved all of its complaints. Beware of contractors or companies that have changed their business name to avoid complaints.

Once you have chosen a few companies that have passed your BBB bureau test you can contact each company for a bid. Be sure to give each company the same job details so you get an accurate bid. You can also ask each Arizona home improvement company for a list of recently completed jobs, which are similar to yours.

After comparing each bid as well as all the references you have gathered you are now ready to select a bid. Choose the bid that is right for you. This may not always be the cheapest but make sure you are satisfied before your final selection.

For more information about our Arizona home improvement company, contact Republic West.

A recent story on ABCLocal.com discussed numerous Scottsdale home improvement ideas that will allow homeowners to improve the resale value of their home without breaking their budget. Feel free to read the entire article.

As one of Arizona’s most respected home remodeling companies, Republic West has spent years refining a streamlined process that delivers the very best in design, installation and customer service.

At Republic West, we’re proud of the more than 15,000 home remodeling projects we’ve completed in Arizona since 1995 — window and door replacements that improve aesthetics and energy efficiency… cabinet refacing jobs that bring new vitality to dated cabinets… and countless kitchen, bath, room remodels and room additions that add value and function to our clients’ everyday living spaces.

Above all, we’re proud of our loyal customer base. More than half of our Scottsdale home improvement projects each year are performed for past clients or for people who’ve been referred by them — a remarkable achievement in an industry notorious for referral rates in the single digits!

For more information about Scottsdale home improvement, contact Republic West.

A recent story on Yahoo.com provided tips for going green and saving money on your Arizona home improvements including installing energy efficient windows doors like those sold at Republic West. Feel free to read the entire article.
Republic West’s Energy efficient windows and doors offer an unprecedented opportunity to increase the value of your home and enhance its beauty, while reducing your expenses. Consider the following benefits or energy efficient Arizona home improvements:

For more information about Arizona home improvements, contact Republic West.

A recent story on GJSentinel.com discussed the difference between a sexy and splashy home improvement and a sensible and staid home improvement, like Tempe cabinet refacing. Feel free to read the entire article.

A professionally designed kitchen or bathroom can increase the value of your home dramatically. Custom design, however, isn’t just about cabinets. We will work with you to assess all your needs. Whether you’re looking to re-face your cabinets, replace your countertops or add new storage elements, you want a design that makes everything flow perfectly.  Let us help you build your dreams.

For more information about Tempe cabinet refacing, contact Republic West.

When you choose Republic West, a door specialist from our home remodeling company in Arizona will meet with you to go over your choices and give an initial estimate. Our door specialist will explain the advantages of choosing a fiberglass composite door in Phoenix, where energy efficiency is a high priority for our customers. Heat can easily find access to your home via doors in Phoenix. And if the door is made of shoddy parts, the cooling will seep out of your home through the edges of the door. The biggest source of cooling loss: the actual door material. Our home remodeling company in Arizona recommends Therma-Tru fiberglass doors. Therma-Tru’s Advanced Technology Center in Edgerton, Ohio, has researched how fiberglass doors are three to seven times greater than traditional wood doors in thermal efficiency.

These fiberglass doors in Phoenix will resist heat transfer with the urethane foam core insulation within the doors. That, combined with expert installation and top-quality components, will keep the heat out and cooling in. In scientific terms, these fiberglass doors have higher r-values (resistance to heat transfer) and lower u-values (heat transfer properties) than wooden doors.

For more information about our home remodeling company in Arizona, contact Republic West.

For a limited time Republic West will offer free interior design service with the purchase of a new kitchen or bathroom remodel. Now you can get FREE advice and services from our professional interior designer – through March 31, 2011.

Offer valid with new kitchen or bathroom remodel. May not be combined with other coupons, discounts or previous purchases. Expires March 31, 2011.

For more information about home remodeling in Phoenix, contact Republic West.