
Plush Designs Kitchen & Bath
Are Two Bathroom Sinks Better Than One?
Homeowners in Colorado Springs, CO almost always opt for two separate sinks when renovating their primary bath. That makes a lot of sense given the fact that most everyone is extremely busy, and on most days more than one person will need access to their primary bath vanity at the same time. However, double sinks may not be the best option for all bathrooms, especially those where space is at a premium. What’s best for your dream bath?
When homeowners in Colorado Springs, CO opt for double sinks in their primary bath, they receive dedicated space that they can call their own. There’s space on one side for makeup, nail polish remover, cosmetics, multiple brushes, etc. and on the other side shaving cream, razors, and other similar items and there are few opportunities that personal grooming items travel from one sink to the second sink. Double sinks add order and privacy to the primary bath.
Space is the key challenge to installing double sinks. If there is sufficient room, the decision is a no-brainer. The minimum amount of space needed is at least six feet. This will allow for sufficient space between two sinks to prevent users from bumping into one another.
The Hottest Trends in Kitchen and Bath Designs
The Kitchen & Bath Industry (KBIS) serves as a primary venue for kitchen and bath manufacturers to introduce new products, showcase innovative technologies and highlight trends that they expect to dominate the future of kitchens, baths, and home design. KBIS 2023, held January 31-February 2 in Las Vegas did not disappoint.
KBIS confirmed that wellness is not a fad or fleeting infatuation. Wellness will continue to grow in popularity among homeowners in Colorado Springs, CO who want and expect their homes to perform more effectively and efficiently. KBIS exhibitors showcased the latest products and technologies that enable homeowners in Colorado Springs, CO to create in-home refuges and spa-quality experiences in their primary baths. Featured were therapeutic showers offering steam, color, aroma and sound therapies that provide a refuge for homeowners in Colorado Springs, CO to spend a few minutes a day, all to themselves, devoid of text, tweets and even little feet to relax, recharge and wash away the stresses of the day.
Workstation sinks were another trending feature at KBIS. BOCCHI’s Baveno Hide-Away Sink System won Best in Show at KBIS 2023. This workstation allows homeowners in Colorado Springs, CO to easily convert the sink into continuous counter space that completely hides the faucet, maximizing workspace. Sink covers, multiple faucet options, cutting boards, colanders and roller mats create a true workstation sink experience.
Having No Regrets About Your Kitchen Remodel
The five biggest regrets of homeowners who remodeled their kitchen, according to a CountryLiving survey, are: not enough countertop space, not enough storage, poorly positioned cabinetry, not selecting better quality materials and not enough power outlets. The good news for homeowners in Colorado Springs, CO is all of these shortcomings are completely preventable.
We know that homeowners in Colorado Springs, CO spend months researching different products, styles, looks and kitchen designs before making the decision to renovate what they currently have. If you want to know the best way to determine if you are working with the right designer and the right showroom, look no further than the questions that they ask and the information that they want. The best designers become leaders in their fields by exceeding their clients’ expectations. Before talking about a cabinet, countertop or dishwasher, they will determine how you want to use your kitchen and for what specific purposes. They need to know who in your family will use the kitchen most often, how often you entertain and the type of entertaining that you do. Knowing all of the uses and users will help your designer determine your priorities and budget and provide the information your designer needs to meet your functionality requirements. The list of uses also enables designers to determine the types and amount of lighting that you will need for reading, TV watching, homework, baking, cooking, entertaining or just lounging.
Insurance To Get Exactly What You Want From A Remodeling Project
Renovating an existing space or building a new kitchen, bath, closet or laundry room is a major investment of time and resources for homeowners in Colorado Springs, CO. The Internet is both our friend and foe. While the Internet provides access to every product and service that you could ever need for a renovation project, the amount of information available online can be overwhelming, is often incorrect, is likely to cause analysis paralysis, contributes to unrealistic expectations and budgets, and elevates stress levels. That’s where a professional kitchen and bath designer can be your greatest asset. Professional designers specialize in making order out of chaos.
A primary reason why homeowners in Colorado Springs, CO hire a professional designer is that their existing kitchen or other spaces does not work as well as it should. In homes where the existing space has an irregular shape, feels cramped, or does not feel comfortable, a professional designer can craft creative solutions to make smaller spaces appear larger, see potentialities that others don’t and transform a cramped disjointed space into a floor plan that exceeds everyone’s expectations.
Partnering with a professional kitchen designer adds value to your home because professional designers keep their fingers on the pulse of trends, capitalize on opportunities and know what homeowners in Colorado Springs, CO desire and value.
Bursting the Bubble on Home Energy Conservation Myths
There are many homeowners in Colorado Springs, CO who remember the first energy crisis in the mid-1970s when oil prices skyrocketed 350%, causing the price of gas to exceed $1 per gallon for the first time ever. During the 1980s, lighting accounted for up to 10% of a household’s electricity bill, causing many a parent to scold their children for failing to turn off lights after they left a room.
Fast forward to today, thanks to LED lights that are the primary lighting source for a majority of the homes where we have designed new kitchens and baths. LEDs use about 10% of the energy required to power an incandescent light bulb. By the end of 2023 however, homeowners in Colorado Springs, CO won’t be able to buy an incandescent light bulb, because federal law will ban their sale forever.
Though lighting represents a small percentage of home energy use, most Americans when asked how to save energy at home they reply, “turn off the lights,” reports The Washington Post. And that misconception brings to light opportunities to set the record straight for the most effective ways to save on energy bills in the kitchen and other rooms.
Get Kitchen Remodel Inspiration In 2023
Homeowners in Colorado Springs, CO continue to dream and look for inspiration to make their homes the envy of the neighborhood. With many homeowners in Colorado Springs, CO continuing to work partially from home, the role of the kitchen has been transformed into serving as multifunctional spaces. New kitchen remodels account for these new roles that include office, study, library, café, dining room, classroom, and other purposes. As a result, these new demands have encouraged homeowners nationwide to invest more in the most important room in their home, according to the just-released 2023 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study.
There is a subtle shift in kitchen cabinet preferences according to the Houzz Kitchens Trends Study. Homeowners nationally and in Colorado Springs, CO are gravitating from Shaker-style cabinets to flat panel alternatives. While Shaker remains the number one choice among homeowners in Colorado Springs, CO and nationally, its popularity declined by 3 percentage points to 61% of all kitchens. Flat panel cabinets increased to 20%.
Cooking With Gas? Include A Range Hood In Your Kitchen Design
Homeowners in Colorado Springs, CO may have seen or heard of comments by Richard L. Trumka, Jr of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission of the potential health threats produced by gas ranges. Those comments went viral with fears that the U.S. may ban gas stoves in the future. Trumka put an end to those rumors, stating that any new regulation would apply only to new products. He also noted that homeowners that wanted to replace their existing gas appliance with an electric alternative would be eligible for a $840 rebate courtesy of the Inflation Reduction Act.
The controversy stirred by Trumka's comments was further diminished when the chair of the Consumer Product Safety Commission Alexander Hoehn-Soric clarified the government’s intent by stating instead of proposing a ban on gas stoves, the Commission wanted to increase research efforts to identify how to minimize potentially hazardous effects of cooking with gas. An easy way to avoid potential problems is to include the installation a range hood in your kitchen design.
Viva Magenta Is the Pantone Color of the Year
Viva Magenta is the 2023 Pantone Color of the Year that the New York Times describes as “a hue with a lust for life. Not the aggressive synthetic of Barbie, not the intense luxury of Valentino couture, not the tired millennial salmon, but a saturated shade honking on the threshold of fuchsia, not organic but not quite electric.”
Pantone describes Viva Magenta as “a new animated red that revels in pure joy, encouraging experimentation and self-expression without restraint, an electrifying and a boundary-less shade that is manifesting as a stand-out statement.”
How will Viva Magenta find its way into the new dream kitchens created by homeowners in Colorado Springs, CO in 2023? Viva Magenta represents a desire for homeowners in Colorado Springs, CO to make a bold statement in their new kitchens or baths. While not a color that we would recommend for kitchen cabinets, the choice of a bold bright color is not surprising. While white will remain the color of choice for many homeowners in Colorado Springs, CO, we find an equal number of those renovating their homes to gravitate toward colorful palettes ranging from bold and earthy tones such as burgundy, dusty blue, deep fuchsia, and khaki green to a new appreciation for neutral colors.
The Most Popular Kitchen Organization Tools
One of the most frequent regrets among homeowners in Colorado Springs, CO who renovated their kitchens in the past several years is not paying more attention to organizational tools and storage needs. We almost always propose to homeowners in Colorado Springs, CO a storage plan that addresses how often they cook, entertain and hold family gatherings.
An almost endless array of options is available to store cookware (i.e. kitchen cabinets), food, utensils, countertop appliances (blenders, mixers, etc.), recycling containers, and so on. The most popular organization tools among homeowners in Colorado Springs, CO include the following:
Creating Unprecedented Value
A combination of increased interest rates and limited inventory of new homes and homes for sale is contributing to the strong demand among homeowners in Colorado Springs, CO to undertake renovation projects in 2023, such as a bath or kitchen remodel. This reflects a national survey that found many homeowners want to improve their existing home because the cost of moving into a house that fits their current needs has become too expensive. Additionally, more than 50% of homeowners surveyed reported that they do not plan to sell or move in the next 20 years or ever.
Many homeowners in Colorado Springs, CO have realized that it is more cost-effective to renovate their existing home than to purchase a new one. And one of the major projects that homeowners in Colorado Springs, CO are undertaking is to improve the performance, capabilities, and enjoyment of their primary bath with a bathroom remodeling project.