Neal's Home Remodeling and Design Blog

Updated for 2017

If you’re planning to remodel your kitchen, finding the right fit of appliances is of key importance. The space of your kitchen will be the overriding factor. A typical kitchen is about 200-square-feet. In some kitchen remodels, physical barriers such as existing walls may dictate the size of appliances that can be accommodated. In other remodels where barriers aren’t an issue, you may have complete freedom in selecting appliances and adapt your kitchen design to the models you select.

http://info.neals.com/bid/291087/11-Must-Have-Accessories-for-Kitchen-Cabinet-Storage/Original Post 6/27/2014 Updated 1/13/2017

While nothing beats the timelessness of mixing neutrals in your home, the unexpected use of painted cabinetry is a design trend that adds a unique character to your home. In the kitchen, when a cabinet is a different color than the rest of the space, it can highlight a certain feature or element, or can help visually distinguish a work zone. Painted cabinets in particular add the interest of an additional color to the space. This can steer the style in a certain direction, or play up the homeowner's style. In either case, the use of painted cabinets is a hot trend that's worth considering.

The L-shaped kitchen may be the most common kitchen layout in American homes. This layout occurs when the two primary countertops run along adjacent walls to meet in the corner. These two counters also house at least two of the three zones of the working triangle- the sink, the stove, and/or the fridge. Quite often, one of the arms of the L is an exterior wall where the kitchen window is situated. This layout is such a popular solution because it's so effective, both functionally and aesthetically. Below we highlight 3 past Neal's projects that all use the L-shape design.

Orignal Post 12/18/2012 Updated 8/23/2016

The concept of the kitchen island evolved out of a need for a central working counter. In the earliest days of the formal kitchen space, a table fulfilled this role, and over the centuries this basic idea has shaped our concept of what a functional, working kitchen might look like. Today’s kitchen islands are designed to handle a variety of functions, including food prep,  informal dining, entertaining, as a station for cleanup after meals, or even a place for the kids to do their homework. If you’re planning to remodel your kitchen, there are many options for designing an island that meets your needs.

The mark of a successful kitchen remodel is that it stands the test of time, and doesn't feel dated inside of 15 years. There are many facets to a kitchen's design that contribute to this, but one area that can make or break the kitchen's style longevity is the backsplash. There is a time and place for trendy tile installations, and when installed with long-term appeal in mind, they can still feel on-point a decade later. That isn't for everyone, however, nor every home. Instead, consider these five tile design ideas that can feel contemporary and trendy, but are still classic backsplash solutions.

The newest and best design trends coming in 2016 were recently debuted at the annual Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS). For over 50 years, KBIS has showcased the latest industry products, trends and technologies. We've picked some of our favorite products from this year's show for you to consider for your kitchen.

A kitchen without the ability to cook isn't much of a kitchen. Having the ability to prepare hot dishes is a fundamental quality of a functional kitchen, so it makes sense that the appliances used to cook and bake should be major considerations when you are deciding to remodel. In many ways, cooking and baking appliances have changed very little, but new technologies and increased efficiency have entered the market in the most recent decades. In the end, however, there are still just four primary types of appliances: cooktops, ovens, ranges that combine the two, and microwaves.

Take a stroll through an internet search for "2016 Paint Color Trends" and you'll discover a fairly mixed bag. Color giant Pantone selected the pair of pastels, Serenity and Rose Quartz, for the 2016 Colors of the Year, but leading paint manufacturers like Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams are leaning even further to the neutral end of things by highlighting off-whites as this year's trending paint color. While it's true that we've seen a rise in white backdrops on our Pinterest home design image searches, we've noticed an even greater interest in the mixing of neutral colors in the homes we've had the pleasure of working on for several years now. It's a trend mentioned on Houzz that seems to be gaining more momentum into 2016.

A staple standard in kitchen design has always been to select a single cabinet color and pair it with a single countertop. When we look back over the kitchen remodels we've completed in the past two years, however, we see a trend emerging- the use of multiple cabinet door colors across the kitchen. By using two or more cabinetry colors, homeowners are also able to play with the idea of including more than one cabinet style, which gives the kitchen a more unique personality. Mixing countertop materials and colors as well creates a color story that is more complex even as all the elements mix together for a seamless look.