We have a lot of fun on our Jim Hicks Home Improvement Facebook Page ! Our fans never hold back with their opinions on what they like, what they would do differently or which kitchen or bath they prefer. We love hearing about it!
This picture was the most popular we posted in the month of February.
After a fair amount of research, we believe it was done by Greenview Homes in Lincolnshire, Illinois. Can you guess why it was the favorite? We think it’s because of the amazing unique perspective it was shot at! It showcases this newly remodeled kitchen so well! You can clearly see the hardwood floors, the backsplash, the range and oven, the different colors of the base and wall cabinets (some with glass cabinet doors) as contrasted with the island, not to mention the different color granite countertops of the perimeter counters and the island.
Here’s another perspective of the same kitchen:
Many kitchens these days are installing skylights to bring natural light into the most popular room in the house, whereas this kitchen enjoys a skylight type tunnel extending down from a dormer window. To supplement the natural light provided by the dormer window, the glass patio door and the window over the sink, the kitchen also has can lighting and a centerpiece light fixture.
If you like pictures of kitchen and other great remodels, we’ve got more than you’ve ever seen on our Facebook page! You can visit by CLICKING HERE!
This picture of a stainless undermount kitchen sink with granite countertop,tile backspash, kitchen cabinets and window was the most popular picture on our Facebook Page in June
This picture is of a kitchen that was certainly done well, but this time it’s not our work. We would love to know whose work it is to give full credit where it is due!
We asked the question “If you could have one thing from this picture in your kitchen what would you choose?” The answers from our Jim Hicks Home Improvement Facebook Page Fans ranged from: the granite counter top, the huge stained wood window over the kitchen sink, the stainless kitchen sink, the natural light in the kitchen, the open shelving next to the kitchen cabinets, and the tile backsplash.
Open shelving is becoming increasing popular in today’s kitchen cabinets designs. Laura Gaskill advises the following on open shelving in kitchens:
Do: Think about what you use daily. As for the lower shelves, be practical about what you choose to place there. This is a good spot for favorite coffee mugs, everyday plates and bowls, and basic water glasses and wineglasses. If you find that not all of your everyday stuff fits on your shelves, put some away. Do you really use 30 mugs or wineglasses daily?Don’t: Put extremely heavy items on top shelves. Even if you rarely use that big, heavy pot or casserole dish, think twice before hoisting it onto the highest shelf. Lifting and lowering heavy items from high places can be unsafe, and even if your shelving is strong, open shelves in general are not meant to hold as much weight as regular cabinetry. Be on the safe side and stow your biggest pots down low.
Granite Countertops remain the popular choice for today’s kitchens. While they are still quite a bit more pricey than laminate countertops they are less expensive than Quartz. When shopping for a granite countertop, the #1 piece of advice we give our clients is to NEVER pick out your granite from a “swatch” of granite sample like you might for a paint color or carpet. Because granite is a natural product there is a lot of inconsistency from one piece to the next – also called “movement”. This is what make granite so stunning and each piece unique! You cannot begin to see what a given slab of granite will look like as your kitchen countertop unless you go down to the supplier and see the entire slab of granite. Reportedly, this is why the Big Box stores that sell kitchens and only have granite samples on hand, have as high as a 50% return rate by dissatisfied customers who picked their granite color from a small sample. Granite is beautiful, but as a best practice never pick your granite color from a sample, go select the full slab.
The tile backsplash in this picture is also unique and brings to mind the debate that we also hear from homeowners about tile backsplashes: should the tile come all the way down to the countertop or should there be a 4″ border of the same granite material? This is a very stongly opinionated subject among kitchen designers. Usually when you have strong opinions, they form from personal taste. What are we talking about exactly? Here are two pictures that illustrate the difference in how to install a tile backsplash and a granite countertop: with and without the 4″ granite border.
This picture shows the tiled backsplash finishing at the granite countertopThis picture shows the tiled backsplash finishing at a 4″ granite border.
You’ll notice in the picture above, the electrical plates have not been installed yet. This picture was taken of a kitchen in the progress of installation, but we think it illustrates the detail of the backsplash well.
What about the window? Do you prefer a stained wood or a painted wood? Do you like grids in your windows or no grids? How about the size of the window? Can you have too much light in a kitchen? Would a different style window be better? Some of our clients don’t want to reach over the sink to lift the sash of a double hung window and enjoy a crank handle of a casement window.
There are so many details when designing your home improvements. We like to say “the hard work is done before the first nail is driven” because it’s all about the design. But the design can be a fun adventure and what make your remodel unique and special to you and your personal taste!
If you enjoy pictures and discussions like these, please give our Jim Hicks Home Improvement Facebook Page a “Like” and join in the conversation! One fun thing about our Facebook Page, our Fans aren’t shy about voicing their opinions and there certainly are a range of preferences!
There is no right or wrong answer, but our clients definitely have strong opinions on the subject and the vote seems split 50/50.
Do you prefer the look of the tile backsplash when it extends all the way down to the countertop as in this picture …or….?
DO YOU PREFER…
the look of the countertop having a four inch backsplash of the same material first and then having tile backsplash come down to meet it as in this picture?
We asked the question to our Fans: “One trend in kitchen islands is to have the look of furniture. Does this appeal to your sense of style and design?”
We have a lot of fun on our Jim Hicks Home Improvement Facebook Page and receive a lot of feedback on pictures of kitchen remodeling just like this one from homeowners from Williamsburg to Yorktown to Virginia Beach. You can read some of the comments we received on this picture below.
Mike O’Neal I agree with Jennifer. I would prefer a larger island, with seating on side opposite the sink!
Unlike · Reply · 1 · November 30 at 8:49pm via mobile
Jennifer Prather I don’t mind the trend but this particular piece looks out of scale, too big. I bet I would be bumping into the corners that are sticking out from the taller island, particularly on the side by the sink.
Unlike · Reply · 1 · November 30 at 8:25pm
One trend that we are seeing from our clients here at Jim Hicks Home Improvement is having the Kitchen Island cabinet a different color than the base and wall cabinets in the rest of the kitchen.
It can serve to break up the monochromatic feel of the kitchen and serve as an interesting design piece!
It definitely creates interest and depth to a beautiful kitchen such as this one in Newport News! You’ll also notice this kitchen has a tile floor, the wall cabinets are 42″ high to the ceiling with one 30″ wall cabinet being staggered in height to create interest. The corner cabinet has a glass inset in the door, creating a display place for glassware. The countertops are granite and the entire space is lit with a combination of pendent lighting, can lighting, ceiling fan/light combo and under cabinet lighting. There is a tile backsplash for the countertop and a stainless range hood for the cooktop. The kitchen island is split to allow people to sit at it on stools.
This is a collection of pictures of bathroom remodels that have inspired me, shocked me, or made me think outside the box as to what is possible with bathroom remodels in Yorktown, Virginia Beach, Newport News, Williamsburg, Chesapeake, Norfolk, Hampton, Suffolk, and Portsmouth Virginia.
