Neal's Home Remodeling and Design Blog

Wherever there is cabinetry in your home, there’s most likely also a countertop. Countertops perform the necessary function of providing a usable surface in the kitchen, bath, or other space, but also become a key component of the overall design of the space. There are many materials, styles, and other considerations when it comes to the counters you use in your home projects. We spoke with Neal’s Designer Lauren Donges to get her insights on what makes for a great countertop in any design.

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Tile is a practical and stylish addition to many areas of the home. Since tile comes in a variety of materials, shapes, sizes, and colors, it’s a great way to customize any given space and achieve a specific look. There are tiles that function best in a practical sense, such as floor tiles in entryways, mudrooms, or bathrooms, but all tiles offer a decorative function as well. We spoke with Neal’s Designer Christina Temple to get her thoughts and tips on selecting tile for any area of the home.

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Islands are a great feature to include in the design and layout of a kitchen, but without understanding some important factors, it can be difficult to get this component right. In many remodeling projects, a poorly designed island is one of the major reasons a kitchen isn’t working the way it needs to, or doesn’t look the way the homeowner wants. Neal’s Designer Jodi Smith has some key insights into how to create a functional island that adds to the design and solves problems. Here are 5 considerations she addresses as she plans a new kitchen island.

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No other rooms in our home may be as humble as the laundry room and mudroom. Typically used as a family or back entryway, it seems like this utilitarian space never catches a break. For families of any size, this room just needs to work as intended in order for the home to feel like it’s running smoothly. We talked to Neal’s Designer Laura Webster about what goes into creating the perfect mudroom & laundry space and how to balance all that function with comfortable style.

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