Neal's Home Remodeling and Design Blog

If you’ve resolved to remodel your kitchen this year you may be looking for some of the hottest trends in kitchen design and new ideas to make the space functional for cooking, storage and entertaining. We are always looking for the latest trends too. 

Kitchen islands evolved from the age old wood farm house table.  If you have visited historic homes such as Mount Vernon, Monticello, or the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC, you may have toured the simple but organized kitchens that feature a sturdy farm table placed in the center for food prep and with a shelf beneath for storage of cookware, dishes or supplies. Tables were the work center of the kitchen for preparing all meals at a time when people baked their daily bread.

Kitchens are always the spot where people like to gather, especially during the holidays. If you enjoy entertaining, how can you optimize the space in your kitchen to accommodate guests yet be functional for everyday use? Here are nine kitchen design ideas to help make holiday entertaining more enjoyable for you and your guests.

Half baths or “powder rooms” are places in our homes where we can be creative. We often refer to half baths as jewel boxes of a home because these are small spaces where home homeowners may add high end products without incurring huge costs. Since a half bath is often located off the central area of a home, it is also a great space to add a splash of color or to display artwork.