2017 Spring Home Maintenance Checklist

Say goodbye to the short and cold days of winter! Today marks the official start of the spring season. Even if you live in an area where the weather might still be a bit variable, take comfort in knowing that warmer weather is on the way. It’s time to start crawling out of winter hibernation and prepping for the sunnier days ahead. Keep reading for a few tasks around the house that are ideal for completing in spring.

Spring Cleaning

Almost everyone has probably heard the phrase “spring cleaning” before. After the cold and doldrums of winter it is nice to give your home a fresh and clean start. Take it a step further this year and instead of trashing things you don’t need or want anymore, try putting together a garage sale, visit one of the many secondhand stores willing to buy gently used belongings, or donate the unwanted items that are still in decent condition.

 

 

 

Inspect and Maintain Garage Door

Proactively inspecting and maintaining a garage door can save on future time and hassle. Plus, a damaged garage door is both a security concern and major safety hazard. Weather can play a factor in how the springs and inner workings of a garage door operate and spring is the ideal time for the functionality and state to be tested. Garage door repairs are a task best performed by a professional. A poorly repaired garage door could fall and cause severe damage to both a home and its occupants.

 

Fix and Reseal Exterior Woodwork

Maintenance on exterior woodwork should be performed annually to keep it in good condition and extend its life. Winter weather especially can wreak havoc on exterior woodwork. When the weather starts warming up is a good time to inspect and repair any damage that is present. Once all the damage has been addressed apply some fresh paint or stain and reseal the wood so that it is well protected until next spring.

 

Inspect/Service Sprinkler Systems

Hopefully spring will bring with it plenty of rain so that the sprinkler system can rest until it needs to work extra hard during the hot summer months. Make sure there are no problems with your sprinkler system and get any you find fixed now before you are left scrambling to fix them when you and your lawn most desperately need it to work in the summer to keep your lawn looking beautifully green.

 

Make Kitchen Remodel Plans

Thinking about making some updates to your kitchen? This is the time to start making those plans in earnest so that everything is done and ready to go when the winter holidays role back around. It may seem a bit early to be thinking about the holidays again, but when you factor in the time needed plan a remodel, order materials, and then have the actual work done then your completion date will end up falling closer to the end of the year than you might originally expect.

 

 

Clean Out the Garage

The garage tends to be a place that attracts clutter. If it’s a struggle to fit your car among everything stored in your garage or if you’re uncertain about just what exactly is stored in there then it is time to spend a few days cleaning up and getting organized. Use care when disposing of anything as many common items stored in the garage will require special disposal methods (i.e. old paint and motor oil). Once the cleaning is done, consider adding in some hanging shelves or compact cabinets to help keep everything organized going forward.

 

Spruce Up Curb Appeal

Curb appeal is the first impression that your home makes. It’s the first thing that visitors and passerby’s will see. A house and front yard that looks well cared for can leave a strong impression about the people who live there. Some simpler ways to add curb appeal might be new house numbers or a new mailbox. Some basic clean up or additions to your landscaping is also an easier way to spruce things up. More intensive curb appeal projects might include an entire landscape makeover, repainting siding, or a new front door.

 

Test Run Air Conditioning

The temperatures outside probably don’t require much use from an air conditioning unit yet (unless you live somewhere like Texas where spring weather started in early February). However, if there are any issues with your air conditioning unit it is better to find them and get them resolved now before the significantly warmer summer heat hits and your AC unit is working overtime.

Popular Bathroom Design Trends for 2017

In our last blog post we highlighted the top ten trends that the National Kitchen and Bath Association predicts will be seen in kitchens in 2017. You can read that post here. Now we’re going to switch the focus to the bathroom and the trends that the NKBA predicts will be popular for this coming year.

 

Design Style

As with the kitchen, the most popular overall design style for the bathroom is transitional. Clean, sleek, and modern are three words that are often showing up when describing current trends in bathroom design. Transitional style exemplifies these traits through the use of clean and simple lines, neutral colors, natural materials, and comfortable style without excessive accents.  

Cabinet Colors

Popular cabinet colors in the bathroom is another category that mirrors similar trends in the kitchen. White, off white, and gray are the top cabinet color choices for the bathroom, likely for many of the same reasons for why they are popular in the kitchen. It is a classic look that can complement many different styles and designs. And by using a neutral color for the cabinets other design elements are better able to shine. Blue is slowly emerging as another popular choice in the bathroom for those who want something with more color.

 

Storage Options

Wood vanities and linen closets are the popular picks when it comes to storage options. Floating vanities and open shelving have gained recent popularity and are a good option for those who want something a little different. Specialized storage options, such as custom medicine cabinets and drawers for hair dryers and other styling tools with built in electrical outlets, are also popular in the bathroom.

 

 

 

 

 

Flooring

Ceramic tile, the long time bathroom flooring favorite, continues to be the top choice. With a plethora of shapes, sizes, and colors available, ceramic tile offers many possibilities and options. In general, hard surface materials, such as tile and vinyl, tend to be very popular in bathrooms. Hardwood, a product favored in other areas of the house, isn’t as popular in bathrooms because it does not stand up as well against water. However both tile and vinyl have popular options that give the appearance of wood without sacrificing durability.

 

Sink Type

Undermounted sinks, where the sink is mounted underneath the countertop, is the most popular option currently. This type of sink provides a clean and polished look that has been a long time classic in bathroom design. For those wanting something a bit different but still trendy, trench style sinks are growing in popularity.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tub vs. No Tub Debate

The most divisive topic when it comes to bathroom remodeling is whether or not a tub should be included in the master bathroom. Most new construction homes are not including bathtubs in the master bath whereas about half of people remodeling existing homes wanted to keep a bathtub in their master. So when it comes down to it, homeowner preference is the deciding factor. For those choosing to include a tub, freestanding is the most popular style. In guest or hall baths, the combined shower/tub remains popular.

 

 

 

Finishes

Classic white remains the popular finish for plumbing fixtures. Off white colors, such as bone or biscuit, have been steadily trending downward in recent years. For bath hardware, such as cabinet pulls and faucets, chrome and polished nickel are the most popular options.

Safety and Comfort Features

Aging-in-place amenities have steadily grown in popularity recently, even among those who may not have a pressing need for them currently or anytime in the near future. The bathroom is one of the areas of the house where aging-in-place features can be vitally important for those who need them. But they also add a level of convenience for any user of the room. Grab bars, comfort-height toilets, shower seats, and curbless showers can make life easier for everyone with or without a current need for them. Adding more comfort to the bathroom is also a popular trend. Amenities like heated flooring, smart toilets, and low maintenance features are a few of the most common ways to create a more comfortable setting in the bathroom.

 

Environmentally Friendly Fixtures

Almost all plumbing fixtures on the market include water saving techniques that are friendly to the environment without sacrificing efficiency. Water saving toilets and faucets for the sink and shower are the most prevalent areas where these technologies are employed.

 

Technology

Integrating technology in the bathroom is an emerging trend but it is one that will likely only gain more and more popularity in the years to come as technology continues to advance and be more prevalent. Adding televisions or built in speaker systems are two ways that technology is beginning to be seen more in the bathroom.

Popular Kitchen Design Trends for 2017

Every year the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) surveys design professionals to determine the styles and trends that are expected to be popular in kitchen and bath designs for the coming year. By surveying members from across the nation, the report provides a realistic prediction of design trends worth watching and to consider including in your own kitchen or bath remodel. Check out which trends made the top ten list for kitchen design below, and check back in a few weeks to see what made the list for bathroom trends.

 

Design Style

When it comes to the overall design style, transitional was found to be the most popular in kitchen design. By integrating the classic sophistication of traditional design with the clean lines and simplicity of contemporary and modern styles, transitional style is like a happy medium between the two extremes. Key design staples in a transitional kitchen include cabinets with simple and clean lines, natural materials used for flooring and countertops, simple accents, neutral colors, and incorporating a mixture of natural and manufactured materials.

 

Cabinet Colors

White, off-white, and gray are the top choices for cabinet colors. White cabinets have been an emerging trend over the past few years. They have a classic and clean look that can complement any overall kitchen style. White provides a neutral backdrop that will allow other elements of the kitchen to shine. Off white and gray provide a similar neutral backdrop without quite as much upkeep required to keep clean as white. Overall, neutral color cabinets continue to be a popular choice.

 

Mixing Colors and Finishes

Adding contrast by mixing colors and materials is an emerging trend that is gaining traction in kitchen design. Using two different colors for various sections of cabinets or pairing lighter colored cabinets with darker colored countertops or backsplash are a few ways to add variance in color. Combining multiple countertop materials is also becoming popular. A small section of wood butcher block countertop paired with stone, in particular, is an increasingly popular trend.

 

 

 

 

Cabinet Material

Wood cabinets have long been the popular choice and continue to remain the top choice in kitchen design. Quality wooden cabinets can last a long time and can be restained or painted a different color as trends or personal tastes change over time. Metal cabinets, gaining in popularity, are well suited for contemporary and transitional style kitchens.

 

Cabinet Features

Popular cabinet features include furniture like accents, pull/roll outs, and under cabinet lighting. Built in conveniences have seen a surge in popularity recently, and in the kitchen this often equates to things like pull out drawers for trash and recycling, specialty drawers or cabinets for spice and knife storage, and built in storage for small appliances like mixers or coffee makers so that they aren’t cluttering the counter when not in use but are still easy to access when needed.

 

 

 

 

Countertop Material

Countertop material is an area that is seeing a shift in popularity. Granite used to be the favorite, but quartz is now the go-to stone material. The slightly higher price tag with quartz is more bearable due to the higher durability and color options. Since quartz is not 100% stone it also doesn’t require quite as much care for upkeep when compared with granite.

 

Turtle Creek.jpg

Appliances

The popular appliances this year are expected to be ones that incorporate newer technology and contribute to better overall cooking quality. Induction cooktops, which will only heat up the specific cookware used on them instead of the entire cooktop surface, and convection ovens, which use a fan to evenly distribute heat throughout the oven, are both expected to be popular. Microwave drawers versus freestanding or built in microwaves were also noted as a popular appliance.

Barn & Pocket Doors

Both barn doors and pocket doors have the benefit of not having a swing path to contend with. Instead of needing to make sure there is enough space available to swing a door open and closed, barn and pocket doors instead slide to the side or retreat into the wall and out of the way.

Technology

Integrating technology into the home continues to grow in popularity. When it comes to the kitchen this is being seen in internet connected appliances, such as ovens that can be set and tracked via a smartphone app. Built in docking and charging stations are also being added into kitchens.

Accessible and Universal Design

Designing a space to be accessible for everyone regardless of age or ability, known as universal design, has been steadily growing in popularity over the years, especially as people age and decide that they want to keep their current home. In the kitchen universal design choices aren’t particularly stand out. Things such as small sections of shorter cabinets, additional lighting, hard flooring, and certain cabinet handles make a kitchen easier for all users.

 

Behind the Scenes of a Dallas Addition: From Finishing Touches to Completion

This Dallas family room and outdoor living addition project has come a long way since our first behind the scenes look. What started as an open area of grass is now a beautifully finished family room that connects to a new outdoor patio and pool, perfect for the homeowner’s entertaining needs. Our previous update ended with the installation of flooring, which left us with mainly just the finishing touches to complete in the family room. For this final behind the scenes look we’ll start with those finishing touches in the family room and then highlight the deck and pool construction for a complete look at the final stages of the project.

 

Family Room Finishes

Our next step in completing the family room was to add stairs connecting the room to the existing house. The house is set on an elevated foundation several feet above ground level. The homeowners wanted the new family level with the new patio and backyard to make the transition between the indoor and outdoor areas easier to navigate. This decision meant that there was a multi-foot drop from the existing house into the family room. The homeowners decided to add wooden floating stairs to bridge the distance. The stairs tie in well with the existing wood floors in the main house and provide a smooth transition between the two rooms. Lighting was installed underneath each step to make them easier to navigate.

Next came the finishing of the fireplace, easily one of the most prevalent design features in the room. The off center setting of the firebox adds visual interest and makes the room appear not quite so cookie cutter perfect. The mantle and hearth have a modern design that reflects the homeowners contemporary leaning tastes. They are both finished with a quartz material that includes bits of metallic and reflective pieces in the material, giving it extra sparkle and shine when the light hits. Both the mantle and hearth extend to the wall in front of the dummy side door, allowing more seating area and continuing to promote the asymmetrical feel of the fireplace. Surrounding the fireplace is round blue mosaic tile with a blue tinted grout which standout well against the other neutral finishes used throughout the room. Wiring was added above the firebox prior to drywall so that a television could eventually be hung there.

While the overall design aesthetic of the room leans towards contemporary, there are some elements that incorporate a more rustic design within the contemporary. The mixture of these two design styles can be best seen in the light fixtures used throughout the room. The overhead chandelier has a tree branch like appearance that translates well to a more rustic feel.  However there is still a distinctly modern feel to it due to its unique design and construction. Two matching over the door light fixtures by the fireplace also have an older look that juxtaposes well against the more contemporary fireplace.

 

The Deck

Adjacent to the family room is a new deck area. It is sheltered on three sides by the house with the fourth opening up to the new pool. Eventually the deck will be home to the homeowners’ outdoor cooking equipment. The majority of the work on the deck took place towards the end of the overall project’s construction in order to coordinate with similar work taking place in the family room. The pouring of the concrete foundation, addition of doors from the master bedroom to the deck on one side and from the new family room to the deck on the other, and replacing the kitchen window along the back wall with a larger window all took place in conjunction with similar work being done in the family room during earlier stages of the project.

Apart from those items most of the additional work on the deck did not restart until the installation of tile flooring. The homeowners chose a neutral gray colored tile that complimented the exterior color of the home and will allow other outdoor features to shine. A small fire pit, about the size of one of the tile pieces, was built in when the foundation was poured. Filled with red lava rocks, it will allow the homeowners a convenient way to stay warm during cooler months (or be a great place to roast marshmallows for s’mores any time of the year).

As with the family room, accommodations had to be made to account for the height difference between the master bedroom foundation and the deck due to the new doors that were added to transition between the two areas. The solution was to add a wooden stair and bench feature along that side of the deck. The top step was extended towards the house to allow for a small elevated deck for seating. On the other side of the doors the wooden steps were extended to create a bench with built in storage underneath.

 

The Pool

The family room and deck additions were two parts of a larger outdoor living remodel. And here in Texas a full outdoor living remodel is often incomplete without one key element: a pool. The pool was designed by Randy Angell and built by Pool Environments. While we at Key Residential were not involved with the pool addition, its construction took place alongside our work, and the outdoor living area cannot be fully appreciate without also considering the pool. It features a larger main area with an extended wet deck and a connected smaller lounging section separated by three concrete walking pads that hover just above the water’s surface. The back side of the pool that borders a new fence has a bright green architectural feature and built in flower beds.

 

What's Next?

At this point the scope of work for the original project has been completed. The deck provides area for additional outdoor cooking options that the homeowners may decide to add at a later time. But with winter over half over and summer fast approaching, the homeowners will be busy enjoying their new outdoor living areas with or without the eventual additional work. Next up for us at Key Residential will be the official completion photos which we will be sharing as soon as they are ready.

 

Behind the Scenes of a Dallas Addition Blog Series

Part One: From Site Prep to Framing

Part Two: From Framing to Mechanicals

Part Three: From Drywall to Flooring

Part Four: From Finishing Touches to Completion

Our Outdoor Living Greatest Hits Part I

Trapped in the middle of winter, it may seem cruel to post a blog focused on outdoor living. But time has a way of flying by, and before we know it the heat, long days, and sunshine of summer will return. This is the ideal time to start thinking about how to use your outdoor spaces and making the necessary preparations. With that in mind, we thought this would be a great time to revisit a few of our more popular outdoor living projects and the features that made them so memorable. Perhaps it will provide inspiration for your own outdoor living spaces.

Outdoor Living Features Included: Kitchen, Dining Area, Entertainment Area, Fireplace, Pool

Unique Features: Pizza Oven, Built in Heaters and Fans

This award winning outdoor living addition and remodel took what was a very basic outdoor grill, covered seating area, and outdoor fireplace and upgraded it into a full outdoor retreat. The new outdoor living area features a full service kitchen complete with a built in grill, smoker, refrigerator, and a pizza oven. A sink and under counter dishwasher make clean up a breeze. There is room under the covered portion for a full dining room table and lounge seating. The fireplace received an upgrade to match the stonework in other parts of the addition. The covered area also features outdoor fans and heaters to help control the temperature and make the space usable year round. Rounding out the outdoor living area is a pool with an extended wet deck..

Outdoor Living Features Included: Kitchen, Dining Area, Entertainment Area, Pool

Unique Features: Vintage Fridge, Artificial Turf Grass

Exuding rustic and country charm, it’s hard to imagine that this home is located in the heart of the Dallas metroplex. It is the design and all the associated details with it that really stands out about this outdoor living space. The covered kitchen area includes a built in gas grill and vintage refrigerator. Built in cabinet doors protect the nearby television from the elements. The adjacent patio area has room for a full dining room table and connects with the sunroom, making the transition from indoor to outdoor even easier. A beautiful pool, also with an extended wet deck, is surrounded by artificial turf grass that will stay green all year long.

Outdoor Living Features Included: Kitchen, Entertainment Area, Pool

Unique Feature: Fire Pit, Pool Bathroom

The large pool dominates this outdoor living area. Occupying a large portion of the inside area of the U-shaped house, the pool features a small extended wet deck, hot tub, and built in stone waterfall features. The pool is surrounded by a stone and features a fire pit at one end that is perfect for roasting s’mores or for staying warm when the Texas weather starts to cool. The home also features an outdoor kitchen adjacent to the pool. The covered kitchen area features a built in grill, under counter refrigerator, fireplace with a mounted television above it, and room for seating. Additionally, a small pool bathroom allows for easy clean up before entering into the house.

 

Outdoor Living Features Included: Kitchen, Entertainment Area, Pool

Unique Feature: Multicolored Pool Lighting, Retractable Screens

Built for a young and growing family, this outdoor living area offers all the standard staples for an enjoyable at home outdoor retreat. The pool features an extended wet deck that allows for both relaxation in the cool pool water and a safer area for younger children to play. Multicolored pool lighting makes it an even more visually appealing area. The covered kitchen and entertainment area features a built in grill, under counter refrigerator, fireplace, television, and plenty of seating. The covered area also features retractable screens to enjoy the outdoors without having to worry about too many bugs and mosquitoes getting in the way.