Neal's Home Remodeling and Design Blog

There are a lot of ways that built-ins can be used in a home to add features and functions. Whether it's bookcases around the fireplace, cabinets under a bay window, or mudroom cubies at the back door, these additional touches help make a home feel more put-together. Which built-in types you need in your home depend on a variety of factors, but the key to creating built-ins that add value and style to your home will be the usefulness they provide. Here are 6 ideas from our library of projects.

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Tile backsplashes can bring a lot of character and interest to the kitchen. With all the options out there for tiles, though, it can be hard to pinpoint exactly what might work well for you and your kitchen. Looking at what's popular can sometimes offer inspiration or cues to find the backsplash look you're going for. If we can pinpoint any one thing that unites the trending options we're seeing in the kitchens we've done recently, it would possibly be a desire to create kitchens that feel unique. These trends are more like basic guidelines with a lot of ways to apply them, rather than strict or specific choices, which works very well to create trendy kitchens that still feel special and custom. Here are 7 of these trends we're seeing in tile backsplashes right now.

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Not only can a kitchen island provide a functional solution (counterspace, storage, seating, etc.), it can also help shape and define the layout of the room to become a key piece of the design. In some cases, creating a custom island that goes beyond the typical shape or format can help a kitchen design better achieve what's needed. Here are 5 custom kitchen islands that show this in action.

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Shower design is rooted in the way that each surface is handled and how it conveys the style and tone of the bathroom. A well-design shower is one that combines the various components, usually tile or stone, in a way that helps the space feel welcoming and comfortable. Pairing different materials in different scales, colors, or in different configurations, will dramatically change the overall look of a shower. Here are several custom walk-in shower design ideas that show how these design concepts work in action.

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