Design Your World With Houzz.com

You have your heart set on remodeling your kitchen. So you hit Pinterest in search of ideas. You enter “kitchen design” in the search criteria, and while you might find pictures of some things that you like, they all link back to such a wide range of websites that it’s hard to cull all of the information into something cohesive to simply put your ideas together.

Which is likely why Houzz.com is building substantial momentum in the social media world. Started by a couple who found the endless stack of magazine (i.e. Pinterest posts) overwhelming when they planned their home remodel, Houzz is a collection of images posted by homeowners and service pros showcasing awesome designs and features.

Not only are the posts you’ll find inspiring for your own design, but Houzz also helps you to find a construction professional in your area, so you can see pictures of the work they’ve done and can know whether they’re a good fit for you based on more than reviews (though those are available too).

Not only do you get the chance to search through photos of completed work, but you can search for and even buy products for your own projects right there on the site. Choose a room from the menu at the top and then an element, and you’ll find a wide range of options both in style and budget.

Houzz also does the Best Of Houzz awards every year, which is a homeowner-to-homeowner guide showcasing the top rated home builders, architects, interior designers, landscaping pros and other residential remodeling professionals on the site (including painters and countertop pros). Winners are determined by the number and quality of client reviews each professional received in the previous year. This helps homeowners to truly find the best of the best contractors in their community.

Follow HA Construction on Houzz and check out all of the great ideas that our projects can give you for your next renovation.

Fred & Sharon's Renovated Kitchen

Fred, a metals artist, had had enough of the sea of red wallpaper in his kitchen. Not to mention the outdated fixtures and counters. Fred enjoys finding new beauty in old things – creating sculptures from old silverware and other upcycled materials. However, the kitchen, as well as the adjacent laundry and half-bath, of his Fremont Hills home needed to be completely overhauled  -- nothing in these outdated rooms was worth making an artistic statement.

One of the standout elements of the new kitchen design Andy and his HA Construction team did for Fred and his wife, Sharon, are the granite countertops with a stunning  design/color. The contrasting lines and textures of the counters and cabinetry are one of Andy’s favorite elements. The beautiful shelf window over the kitchen sink also stands out, providing a great view and plenty of sunlight for some lovely houseplants.

As Fred explains it, the half-bath in its previous state was nothing more than a closet you could barely turn around in. It now has space enough to do a salsa dance… space which may later house a shower to finish the bathroom off. For now, Fred is happy with the new, spacious comfort it provides.

Fred also raves about the excellent work HA Construction did overall with this project. They were timely and efficient, two characteristics that Fred sincerely appreciates. And, he and Sharon are, of course, very pleased with the finished product.

Kitchen Décor | Glass Cabinet Doors

Looking for a way to put Grandma’s china on protected display without the space hogging bulk of a china cabinet? The glass doors on your kitchen cabinets, and some strategically placed lights, may be an excellent option for you.

A Touch of Elegance

Whatever you want to display, glass cabinet doors give you the opportunity to add to your kitchen décor while still optimizing space. Even if you simply have a stylish daily-use dinnerware set that you want to show off, replacing your kitchen cabinet doors with a glass option may be just what you need.

And it doesn’t have to be just a plain piece of glass; there are many styles available to choose from. Etched glass cabinet designs provide a decorative touch all their own, with a vast array of styles and transparency levels.  Use more opaque glass to showcase the colors of your dinnerware, but hide less appealing designs.  Choose translucent glass cabinet doors with an etched border design so that you still make your dinnerware a centralized element of your kitchen décor. Other decorative options for the glass include:

• Frosted – great for a modern décor
• Textured – with a pattern, but can become outdated
• Seeded – pocketed with tiny bubbles (smaller bubbles showcase dishes better), provides a vintage chic look 
• Leaded – traditional with a range of styles from Gothic to Craftsman, stained glass is an option

Finding the Right Balance

While it may be tempting to change out every cabinet door in your kitchen for a glass option, consider that there can be too much a good thing. After all, you really don’t want to show the world you mismatched pile of Tupperware.

Consider adding glass doors to the kitchen cabinets at the corner to showcase your favorite items. Or balance breakup the repetition of a series of plain cabinets along one wall with a glass cabinet door in the middle.

Less Expensive Alternatives

If you want the look of glass cabinet doors on lower cabinets, but have a toddler around, durability may be a concern. Likewise, if your teenager has a tendency to be more abrupt when closing cabinets, glass may not last long. In which case, you can still obtain the decorative element you’re vying for, and be certain it will last, by installing cabinet doors with clear or opaque plastic in them. Few will notice the difference.

Or maybe you just want something a little different. Consider these alternative cabinet door fronts too for a variety of decorative options:

• Chalkboard Panels
• Cork Panels
• Corrugated Metal
• Decorative Wire/Metal Mesh or Chicken Wire
• Fabric
• Galvanized Metal
• Punched Steel

Glass cabinet doors can certainly add a beautiful touch to your kitchen décor. But keep in mind that whatever you display needs to be neatly arranged to maintain the elegant appeal. And keep the window cleaner handy to maintain a smudge free zone. To learn more about your glass cabinet door options or to start working on a design plan, contact HA Construction.