Kitchens « San Diego Home Blog | Jackson Design and Remodeling

Archive for the ‘Kitchens’ Category

Kitchen Remodeling Trends: Gather Round the Table

September 28th, 2011
Posted in Aging in Place, Design and Build, Kitchens | Comments Off

RoundTable If remodeling your kitchen is on your mind lately, consider one of the recent trends we’ve noticed – round tables growing in popularity as the dining table of choice. Families of every size are deciding to place more importance on eating together, particularly when several generations are living in the same home. Families with children are especially interested in making meals together at the kitchen table a priority. Studies have shown that kids who eat sit-down meals with the family on a regular basis develop better communication skills and study habits and are less likely to drink alcohol, take drugs, or get depressed. The ritual takes practice to be effective – study participants report that the more nights spent at the dinner table, the better the experience for everyone.

Round tables, which naturally allow everyone to face each other, bring a sense of intimacy and togetherness to the family meal. Seemingly small decisions like choosing a round table over a rectangular one for your kitchen remodel are what make the difference between bland design and design that brings energy and pleasure to everyday living. Our designers guide you toward creating a kitchen that suits your individual lifestyle and values, a custom designed room that you and your family can appreciate for a lifetime.

Sustainable Glass for Your Whole Home Remodel: Certifiably Green and Incredibly Beautiful  

September 21st, 2011
Posted in Art and Decorating, Bathrooms, Design and Build, Kitchens, Whole Home Remodel | Comments Off

SustainableGlass Our designers continually research the latest products and materials to inspire our clients with new ideas and approaches. Recently, we’ve worked on several whole home remodels that use sustainable glass as a significant design element. For clients interested in green remodeling, or those who simply want to make more environmentally conscious choices, sustainable glass is particularly appealing.

Sustainable glass from Glass2 is 99% recycled glass. Glass2 contains no resin or epoxy – it is pure glass. The material can be used for kitchen countertops, fireplace surroundings, floor or wall accents, bathroom vanities, shower stalls, tub surroundings, and much more. Working with a professional design team, you can discover all the exciting possibilities for using sustainable glass in your home.

Sustainable Glass2 Facts:

99% recycled glass, contains no resin
Stain-resistant, bacteria-free, very low maintenance
Virtually scratch-resistant and can be repaired if scratched
Cold and heat resistant (can be used outdoors)
Glass base contains no glue or chemicals
Color is weather-resistant and will not change
Wide selection of colors to choose from, the majority fully translucent

Sustainable glass brings unparalleled beauty to your surroundings. Our professional team can help you discover imaginative ways to use this innovative material as a beautiful and environmentally conscious feature in your home.

What’s Underneath it All? Choosing the Right Wood Flooring for Your Kitchen Remodel

September 16th, 2011
Posted in Design, Design and Build, Kitchens, Whole Home Remodel | Comments Off

Woodflooring Warm, durable, and adaptable to every home’s style, wood flooring is a popular choice for kitchen remodeling. There are several options to consider when selecting the right wood flooring for your home.

Hardwood Floors
Solid hardwood floors are timeless in style and can last a lifetime with proper care. They also provide better air quality in a home by trapping less allergens than other floor types. There are hundreds of woods to choose from, including Cherry, Walnut, Maple, Hickory, or Birch, along with many exotic species. Each hardwood floor will be distinct because of the variations found in nature. Unlike other wood flooring options, hardwood cannot be installed straight on concrete or on top of an existing floor. While initially a larger investment than some other flooring choices, hardwood floors add substantial resale value to your home.

Engineered Wood Floors
The top layer of an engineered wood floor is the same genuine hardwood as a solid hardwood floor. Giving the appearance of solid wood, an engineered wood floor is actually a thin wood layer over 3-12 layers of plywood, high density fiberboard, or hardwood. Engineered wood is more resistant to damage from moisture or humidity than solid hardwood flooring and is more adaptable in application, as it can be installed on top of existing concrete or a wood sub-floor. Just like hardwood, engineered wood is available in a vast array of wood species and has an excellent resale value in your home. When working with a budget, engineered wood is the middle ground between solid hardwood flooring and wood laminate flooring.

Luxury Vinyl Wood Floors
Design and technology combine in luxury vinyl wood flooring, presenting an alternative material that looks remarkably like hardwood. Authentic hardwood colors and textures are created in realistic plank lengths and widths, some featuring beveled edges and ends. Luxury vinyl is built to last with several layers. The top protective layer is made of an enhanced urethane that makes it easy to clean and resistant to scratches and scuffs. A protective clear film layer adds durability and helps protect against rips, tears and gouges. The printed design layer recreates the look of natural wood planks in very realistic detail. Luxury vinyl wood flooring is water-resistant, durable, easy to maintain and can be installed on any surface.

Wood Laminate Floors
Wood laminate flooring is a remarkable simulation of wood that provides the appearance of solid hardwood flooring at a much lower cost. This innovative alternative to hardwood flooring is composed of several layers of materials. The core layer is usually made of high density fiberboard. A decorative layer, which is a photograph of wood, is fused on top of the core. Wood laminate floors are easy to clean and durable, making them a popular choice in homes with pets or children.

Which wood flooring is right for you? Our professional design team can guide you through your options as you select the floor that best expresses your personal vision for the kitchen remodel of your dreams.

Go Wild with Imaginative Animal Print Tiles

July 21st, 2011
Posted in Art and Decorating, Bathrooms, Design, Kitchens, Whole Home Remodel | Comments Off

JDR_AnimalPrints Express your wild side by using animal print tiles in your next whole home remodel, kitchen remodel, or custom bathroom remodel! While doing research for a recent whole home remodel, our designers spotted some fierce designs from Imagine Tile in NYC. The pieces are crafted using a patented process, which results in a glazed, high-resolution animal print pattern, including zebra, alligator, giraffe and more. See all of the company’s nature-inspired tiles here.

While adding some nature imagery to your environment, you can feel good about the fact that Imagine Tile is committed to an environmentally friendly approach to business and support of the green building initiative. All of their products contain no VOC’s, require little maintenance, contain recycled materials and are sustainable with a long life cycle.

Ideal for floors, walls and countertops, animal print brings a touch of the exotic to your home environment. Working with a professional design team, you can explore exciting ways to express your wild side in home design.

Make a Strong Design Statement with a Single Element

June 10th, 2011
Posted in Art and Decorating, Design, Kitchens | Comments Off

WorldGlass_Texture An impression of thoughtful design can be brought to a room with the addition of just one carefully chosen element. This technique works most powerfully when you choose unexpected proportions, colors, or materials.

For a recent kitchen remodeling project, we chose a visually stunning glass countertop. Glass is not a typical choice for the average kitchen, with most clients choosing granite or marble. Adding the unexpected reflections and textures of glass to a kitchen instantly imbues it with a sense of individuality.

The countertop was handcrafted by World Glass Design in Phoenix, Arizona, an architectural cast glass company that specializes in unique and functionally designed kiln-fired glass. Their process is accomplished by applying a combination of glass, organic medias and extreme heat to produce the highest quality glass in an unprecedented spectrum of colors and shapes.

This is just one example of how our team of designers are continually sourcing the latest and most interesting sources to make each client’s project unique!

Travel to Your New Kitchen! Kitchen Remodeling Inspired by a Favorite Destination

June 6th, 2011
Posted in Design, Kitchens | Comments Off

KitchenDestination A kitchen remodel we recently completed with a design reminiscent of Old World Tuscany brings joyful travel memories home for a couple with a shared love of Italy. When designing a room to express your personal style and interests, consider finding inspiration from one of your favorite vacation spots. We’ve designed rooms energized by the aesthetics of Mexico, Tuscany, Morocco and other countries all over the world. Here are some of the ways we bring international influences to kitchen remodeling:

Balance Inspiration with Functionality: While an Old World Tuscan kitchen is romantic and beautiful, most modern families desire 21st century convenience. One of the most important skills a professional design team brings to the task of designing a kitchen remodel informed by a specific era or country is balancing functionality with vision. A successful kitchen remodel of any kind starts with a carefully developed layout that takes modern appliances and storage options into account.

Materials and Colors: The details and the overall theme of a room must work together in harmony to create a stunningly original kitchen. The smallest authentic touches often make the difference between ordinary and unforgettable. Vibrant hand-painted tiles from Mexico in an adobe home’s kitchen and an intricate backsplash for a French Country inspired kitchen are just two examples of the unique artisan touches that have made an impression in recent kitchen remodels we’ve completed.

Visual Centerpiece: Sometimes a room needs one strong statement to convey the vision of the design. For the Tuscan kitchen we recently designed, Old World authenticity is immediately established with the bold addition of a flagstone wall hand-formed by master craftsman.

Where would you like to travel in your kitchen? With your imagination and the help of a professional design team, any destination in within your reach!

New Ideas for Kitchen Remodeling: Glazed Lava Stone Countertops

April 15th, 2011
Posted in Art and Decorating, Design, Kitchens | Comments Off

Our design team is excited about the many possibilities presented by glazed lava stone as a design element in kitchen remodeling. Pyrolave, an international company specializing in “the art of worktops”, creates glazed lava stone by extracting Volvic lava from the Nugere crater at the center of volcanoes in Auvergne, France. Blocks of lava are removed by hand, cut into slabs, and glazed with enamel by expert engineers. Enamels are selected for their beauty and for their resistance – they must be resilient enough to withstand being fired at more than 1832°F. During cooling, delicate cracks (or “crazing”) appear on the surface, giving each piece a distinct and naturally beautiful signature.

There are several reasons why glazed lava stone appeals to our design team and our clients:

Adaptability: Glazed lava stone works for contemporary or traditional aesthetics. It is highly adaptable to its environment. In addition to kitchens, the material is also used in architectural projects, in bathroom design and in indoor/outdoor furniture.

Durability: Because of its unusual resistance, even acids or corrosive products do not alter glazed lava stone. The material is resistant to heat, stains, acids and bleach, scorches, and frost, and is UV stable (meaning its color will not fade.)

Originality: With its unique shapes and vibrant colors, glazed lava stone makes a definitive statement of individuality in your kitchen remodeling project.

Working with an expert team of architects, designers and construction professionals, you can rely on experts who are leaders in their field. We love to explore the latest trends and ideas for kitchen remodeling and share them with you!

What’s New in Kitchen Design

February 25th, 2011
Posted in Design, Design and Build, Kitchens | Comments Off

KitchenTrends The big news in kitchen trends for 2011 is that trend following has become less popular – the emphasis now is on finding ways to express your personal style in a one-of-a-kind space. So, just how do you go about doing that? Here are some tips for arriving at a style that works for you and your home when you are considering kitchen remodeling:

How Long Will You Live in Your Home?
Think about both the long-term and short-term plans for your home. If you are planning to live in your home for a long time, that will shape your design decisions differently than if you plan to sell in a year or two.

What Does Your Home Look Like Today?
If you want to remodel your kitchen, are you planning to keep all of your current furniture? If you are day dreaming about a sleek, modern kitchen, but the adjoining living areas are designed and furnished traditionally, there has to be some compromise. You want your living spaces to be integrated and make sense together visually.

What’s Your Style?
What styles are appealing to you? If you’re not sure, we always suggest a trip to the local bookstore where you can gather an array of decorating magazines and study them, making notes on what you like and don’t like about different styles. By doing this, you will naturally create a pattern of elements of style that most appeal to you.

There are many styles to choose from: French Country, Tuscan, Spanish Revival or Hacienda-Style, Modern/Contemporary, Cottage, Eclectic, Arts and Crafts, Coastal, and more. Working in collaboration with our professional design team, you will find the right interpretation for your personal expression.

Fall in Love with Your Home Again: Plan Your Whole Home Remodel this Year

February 4th, 2011
Posted in Design, Design and Build, Kitchens, Landscaping, Outdoor Living, Whole Home Remodel | Comments Off

LoveHome With Valentine’s Day on the horizon, we thought it would be fun to look at how we view the relationship between home and owner. Does your relationship need some attention? Here are some common ways that love between home and owner can go wrong, along with ideas for how to revitalize your feelings for your home with a whole home remodel:

I Need More Space:
Needing more space is one of the most common motivations for a whole home remodel. Sometimes space needs to be added to your home with new construction, but often the space can be created within the existing structure. Working with an architect and a professional design team, you can achieve your goals for additional space with intelligence, efficiency and elegance.

We Don’t Do Anything Fun Anymore:
Is your home designed to enhance your lifestyle today? If you love to cook and entertain, an outdated kitchen holds you back from fully enjoying life in your home. Kitchen remodeling can bring new ease and joy to one of your favorite activities. If a serene and relaxing environment is an overarching desire for you, then a custom bathroom design to create a spa-like retreat can bring daily peace of mind. For some homeowners, a special focus on enhancing outdoor living is what’s needed to bring a sense of fun back to their home – an outdoor kitchen and artfully designed landscaping expand the possibilities for relaxation and socializing.

It’s Not You, It’s Me:
The most important aspect of a whole home remodel is to design your space according to what works best for you. Trends can be informative and inspiring, but you want a new environment that reflects your individual style and values. When you work with a unified team of San Diego architects, designers and construction professionals, your remodel will be an enjoyable and successful experience.

Renew your love for your home by giving it the attention it deserves! A whole home remodel enhances your overall lifestyle and everyday living.

Home for the Holidays? How a Kitchen Remodel Makes Entertaining Easier.

December 10th, 2010
Posted in Design, Design and Build, Kitchens | Comments Off

HolidayKitchen2 Like most of us, chances are you will be entertaining family and guests in your home this month. Now is the perfect time to pay attention to the ways a kitchen remodel could make a significant difference during your next holiday gathering. Opening your home to groups small and large for special occasions often brings into sharp focus the everyday annoyances that make your kitchen difficult to use for cooking and entertaining. Here are some ways a kitchen remodel could rejuvenate your home for the new year just around the corner:

Space Planning and Reorganization: While not the most glamorous topic when it comes to your kitchen remodel, layout, space planning and organization are the essential elements that form the foundation of a spectacular kitchen design. Professional designers apply their expertise to the square footage of your existing kitchen and find innovative ways to reorganize your space to improve functionality and flow. With proper planning, this phase of the design process works magic in your kitchen – every task becomes much easier and the room is streamlined to maximize your space.

Storage: What does every chef and entertainer need most in the kitchen? A place for everything and everything in its place, as the saying goes. You want to be able to quickly find that special small tool for curling lemon rind or your largest mixing bowl and you also want to quickly hide them away when company arrives. Carefully considered cabinetry placement and innovative hidden storage accomplish these tasks so that you have everything you need at hand for preparation, but can quickly store away clutter for entertaining in the kitchen when the party starts.

Appliances: Whether your focus is on energy-efficiency, higher capacity, or both, you will find a solution in today’s appliances. Design build remodeling makes a big difference when it comes to adding larger and/or more appliances to your kitchen – each should be selected with your particular design aesthetic in mind and meticulously planned to fit into your space so that each adds to the visual appeal of the room.

Design: When planning your kitchen design, it’s important to first consider your needs and desires for the space. Some clients are looking for an impressive gourmet kitchen for frequent entertaining. Others want a family-friendly gathering place with space for doing homework or eating together. For some, the emphasis is on easy maintenance and clutter-free living. Once the main purpose is understood, the kitchen design should also work with the design of the rest of your home so that the newly remodeled space looks like it has always belonged there – only much more stunning!

While you’re prepping and serving your holiday meals this season, daydream about how a kitchen remodel could make everyday living and special occasion entertaining an even more pleasurable experience.

Archive for the ‘Kitchens’ Category

(800) 931-2308