Capitol Design | Award Winning Kitchen & Bathroom Design In Austin, TX

THE CAPITOL DESIGN BLOG

Kitchen Appliance Options

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Selecting the right kitchen appliances is a huge component of any kitchen remodeling project. After all, the main purpose of a kitchen is to cook. Even if your kitchen remodeling project’s main priority is to update your kitchen for a modern look, you’ll still want to update your appliances. You’ll be surprised at how efficient and productive new kitchen appliances can be, in addition to looking stylish.

Have a chat with your kitchen designer to see how you can select a range of kitchen appliances from all of your options so that your kitchen is both stylish and functional.

Kitchen Cooktops

Cooktops come in a variety of styles including gas, electric and induction. Induction is the best way to minimize heat loss, while also bringing a pot to boil incredibly quickly. Stainless steel cookware will work best with induction heating, and you’ll want to make sure that your pots and pants don’t have any dents, as that can undermine the heat efficiency of induction heating.

Another type of cooktop is gas burners. Gas burning kitchen appliance options will allow you to quickly turn the heat up or down with a very high level of control. However, a gas burner will typically take longer than an electric burner to heat a pot of water.

Electric cooktops are a great kitchen appliance option. Electric coils are able to heat quickly and thoroughly for an all-over heat. However, cleaning those coils can be quite a hassle if you’re a messy cooker. If you prefer a quick and painless cleanup, go for the induction heated tops.

If you’re out looking at different kitchen appliance options for your cooktops, be sure to ask the sales associate about the BTU for each one. BTU stands for British Thermal Units and the best cooktops should be 9,000 BTUs and up.

Kitchen Ovens

When looking at your kitchen appliance options, you definitely won’t want to overlook an oven. Ovens come mainly in convection and conventional style heating. Convection ovens use a fan to push hot air into the oven. This allows your food to cook more evenly—even if you’re using both the top and bottom rack.

Conventional ovens don’t have a fan, which means that food may cook unevenly if you are using both racks. However, people have been using conventional ovens for years. It’s really up to you to decide if you prefer the modern or more traditional choice. Both conventional and convection ovens can be hooked up with either electric or gas power.

Kitchen Range Hoods

You won’t want to forget range hoods when considering your kitchen appliance options for your upcoming kitchen redesign. Range hoods are incredibly functional and help you to reduce moisture and cooking smells from your kitchen. If you’re a novice cook, you’ll definitely want a range hood, as it will protect your kitchen from the ghastly smells of burnt food. Even expert chefs demand range hoods—they’re stylish, functional and completely utilitarian.

Under the cabinet range mounts can fit into your cabinet work. Talk with your kitchen designer and contractor to see if an under the cabinet range hood would work best with your custom cabinetry.

Wall mounted cabinet range mounts often have a decorative chimney and can add a real touch of style to any kitchen.

Finally, island range mounts can sit above an island in your kitchen. If you plan on having your stove top on an island, this one is for you.

Which kitchen appliance options are for you? Let the experts at Capitol Design help find the right kitchen appliances for your kitch.

Kitchen Counter Options

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Choosing Kitchen Counters For Your Kitchen Redesign

Selecting the right material for your kitchen counters can be a difficult process—after all, every one of these materials is gorgeous in its own right. How do you know which material is right for your new kitchen counters?

You may want to consult a kitchen designer to see which materials will work best with your overall kitchen design. Additionally, a kitchen designer can help to clue you into prices for various materials in your local market.

Check out the top 10 materials for kitchen counters below to see which might be the best for your kitchen redesign project.

Granite Kitchen Counters

Granite is one of the top choices for kitchen counters. Granite comes in a variety of natural shades and textures, but this can make it a bit difficult to match your various slabs. You’ll also need to get your granite kitchen counters sealed about once a year. They’re not maintenance-free, but they will make any kitchen look classy.

Laminate Kitchen Counters

Laminate is an affordable material for your kitchen counters that is also functional and efficient. In fact, there are a lot of modern options for laminate kitchen counters with patterns that mimic natural materials like stone, or wood. On the other hand, you can select laminate kitchen counters in vivid colors for more modern kitchens.

Tile Kitchen Counters

Kitchen counters that utilize tile have a timeless design. You can opt for white tiles that will give your kitchen a touch of shabby-chic elegance, or you can take a more Euro-classic approach using Dutch-style tiles. The customization options with tile are boundless, as you can select from a variety of colors and designs. In fact, many homeowners choose to tile their own kitchens and bathrooms. So, if you love DIY projects, tile may be for you, but don’t forget to consult your kitchen designer to make sure that your DIY plans mesh with the overall design plans for your kitchen remodeling.

Stainless Steel Kitchen Counters

Stainless steel kitchen counters are sure to give your kitchen redesign a modern, industrial look and feel. Even better, stainless steel counters are incredibly hygienic and prevent bacterial buildup. Cleanup is a jiff with stainless steel—that’s why many professional-grade restaurant kitchens opt for stainless steel kitchen counters.

Quartz Kitchen Counters

Believe it or not, quartz kitchen counters will last a lifetime, as they’re scratch, heat and stain resistant. Additionally, quartz kitchen counters are non-porous, so they don’t need to be treated with a sealant.

Marble Kitchen Counters

The luxurious creamy style of marble kitchen counters can make any kitchen go from shabby to high-end classy. Make sure that you get your marble sealed, as it is quite porous and clean acidic stains quickly. On the plus side, the gray marbling patterns in marble kitchen counters will help to disguise any stains.

Glass Kitchen Counters

Thick glass kitchen counters are a hygienic and modern option for your kitchen redesign project. Glass comes in a wide variety of colors, so you can easily match it to your overall kitchen look.

Wood Kitchen Counters

Butcher block wooden kitchen counters can give your kitchen redesign a cottage-style look that looks great with shabby-chic or more modern decor. However, make sure that you get your wood kitchen counters properly sealed.

Recycled Kitchen Counters

Recycled kitchen counters can be made from a variety of different materials. Many recycled counters actually mix materials like recycled glass with cement for a modern look.

Concrete Kitchen Counters

Concrete is an energy-efficient and easy to clean surface that adds an edgy modern look to your kitchen. There are a plethora of colors and textures available with concrete kitchen counters, so the customization options are quite endless.

Kitchen Cabinet Options

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Kitchen Cabinet Options

The first thing you’ll need to decide on when selecting your kitchen cabinets for your kitchen redesign will be whether or not you want custom designed cabinets. Custom designed kitchen cabinets are expensive, but will offer you complete flexibility. A carpenter will be able to custom design these cabinets just to your specifications. If you’re on a budget, you may want to consider pre-made kitchen cabinet options. These kitchen cabinet options won’t offer you nearly as much flexibility, but they will save you a trip to the bank. In-stock cabinets come in a variety of colors and styles, so you will be able to customize the look a bit.

If you don’t want the expense of custom cabinet options and the idea of pre-made cabinets doesn’t thrill you either, there is an option in between. Semi-stock cabinets will allow you more customization options. You’ll be able to mix and match various options, but these semi-stock kitchen cabinet options will take longer to order than either the in-stock or custom made kitchen cabinet options. Discuss with your kitchen designer and carpenter what options will fit your budget and be sure to think about your kitchen layout when deciding on kitchen cabinet options.

Kitchen Cabinet Door Styles

Shaker Style Kitchen Cabinets

Shaker style kitchen cabinet options are named after their distinctively simple style. Shaker kitchen cabinets are made from four pieces of wood that form a frame and a piece of wood in the middle, which is known as the center door panel. If you’re remodeling your kitchen, you can save quite a bit by merely replacing this center door panel. Additionally, using a natural wood finish for your Shaker style kitchen cabinets can also save you quite a bit over painted options.

Flat Panel Style Kitchen Cabinets

If you’re going for a more modern kitchen, you may want to consider flat panel style kitchen cabinets. These minimalist kitchen cabinets will give your kitchen just the flair of modernity that it needs, while also serving as a great means of storage. Flat panel kitchen cabinets come in a variety of materials including laminate and wood options. You can find a material that fits your budget by discussing flat panel styles with your kitchen designer.

Inset Style Kitchen Cabinets

Inset kitchen cabinets are rather pricey, but they’re incredibly well-made and will last for decades. The inset door is set inside of the cabinet frame, which differs from other types of cabinets like the Shaker style. Oftentimes, inset kitchen cabinets use very accurate measurements to account for the expansion and contraction of the wood over the years. With this kitchen cabinet style, you’re guaranteed a look that will last the test of time.

Kitchen Cabinet Doors and Drawers

In addition to the style of your kitchen cabinets, you can also customize the types of drawers you’ll use in your kitchen redesign. Corner kitchen cabinet drawers allow you to maximize space in a functional way.

Sliding track doors are another type of special drawer design that you can utilize to free up space. If you’re tired of swinging open your cabinet doors and drawers, putting them on a rolling rack may help you to access your pantry items with more ease.

Glass front doors will allow you to display your fine china, or food items for easy access. Some people choose glass front doors in conjunction with Shaker doors so that the center panel is made of glass, rather than wood.

Pocket doors are a great way to use a space not only as a shelf, but also as storage. When the doors are closed, they look like a normal cabinet door. However, when you close them, they slide into a small pocket that is built into the side of each of the doors. Now, you no longer have a cabinet, but a space you can easily use for dinner parties to display china, or more.

Kitchen Layout Options

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Kitchen Layout Options

Determining the best kitchen layout for your kitchen redesign or remodeling project, is often the most difficult and most important part of the planning process. There are a number of different kitchen layout options including with peninsulas, without peninsulas, with an island, and without an island. Additionally, different kitchen layout options will work better for large or small spaces and with families with a lot of traffic or less kitchen traffic. Find out what’s best for your kitchen layout below.

Gallery Kitchen Layout

The gallery kitchen layout is a really efficient way to use your space to maximize the space for your kitchen redesign. A gallery kitchen also encloses the cooking area so that smells and messes are contained, rather than open to the dining room. This is a great option not only for smaller spaces, but also for homeowners who don’t want to use a kitchen layout that opens out into the dining room.

With a gallery kitchen layout, you’ll also have two parallel surfaces from which to work. This gives you a lot of flexibility in your kitchen design, as you can place stoves, ovens, microwaves, and storage in a variety of places on either side.

Tip: If you have a large family, or often entertain large groups, the gallery may not be for you. Why? Because both ends of the gallery are open, this kitchen layout means that you have to deal with heavy traffic in and out of the kitchen while you’re cooking.

L-Shaped Kitchen Layout

The L-shaped kitchen layout is a very popular style that allows a nice open area for cooking and helps you to maximize your corner space. Oftentimes the L-shaped kitchen design is paired with an island, which makes a great place for kids to hang out and do their homework after school while Mom or Dad cooks dinner.

In order to incorporate an L-shaped kitchen layout design into your kitchen remodeling project, you’ll need a bit more space than with the gallery or a U-shaped kitchen layout. And with the L-shaped kitchen layout you will have plenty of countertop space. This is perfect for group cooking, or cooking a large feast.

You can fit a ton of cabinet space into the L-shaped kitchen layout and with an L-shaped kitchen layout, you’ll eliminate kitchen traffic. Since the L-shaped kitchen layout is enclosed, you won’t constantly have to deal with family members walking through while you’re coming.

Tip: Hang a rack above your island for hanging pots and pans. This will help to maximize your space and it will add a classy touch to your overall kitchen layout look.

U-Shaped Kitchen Layout

A U-shaped kitchen layout will give you a lot of room and flexibility for cooking efficiently. For example, you can easily pivot and turn from the stove to another surface. This comes in handy when you’re preparing meals for a large number of guests, or if you prefer to spread out when you’re cooking.

Many people prefer the U-shaped kitchen layout when they’re short on seating space, as the peninsula can easily double as a bar for visitors. This also offers a cozy view so that your guests can sit at the peninsula bar while you’re cooking.

Tip: Placing the fridge inside the U can actually consume a lot of your precious space. Therefore, try placing the fridge

G-Shaped Kitchen Layout

A G-shaped kitchen layout is very similar to the U-shaped, but it includes a peninsula. This is great for spaces that may not be big enough for a U-shaped kitchen layout with an island. If you don’t have room for the island, consider this layout instead.

Tip: Make sure that your peninsula isn’t too long, or you won’t have much room to get in and out of the kitchen. Keep the peninsula short to be flexible with traffic.

5 Important Considerations When Bathroom Remodeling

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The 5 Most Top Important Considerations When Bathroom Remodeling

A bathroom remodeling project is a fantastic way to refresh or totally re-do your existing bathroom. However, bathroom remodeling projects can take a lot of time and effort. It’s important to first consider not only your budget, but also what you want to achieve with your bathroom remodeling project before diving right in.

Budget

Setting a budget and sticking to a budget are some of the most difficult components of a bathroom remodeling. Consider hiring a bathroom designer who can help you to assess material and construction costs upfront. Many people find it helpful to pinpoint their main must-haves for their bathroom remodeling. Then, other components of the project could potentially be scrapped if the main must-haves start to go over budget. Determining a list of priorities can also be helpful for your construction and design team to better understand your needs.

Layout

Are you planning to change the layout of your bathroom for your redesign project? If so, there are some unseen issues that you’ll need to consider such as plumbing. Changing the location of a sink, bathtub, shower, or toilet can require your pipes to be completed replaced and relocated. This can easily increase the budget of your project. Therefore, it’s very important to consider the layout for your bathroom remodeling project before you actually begin construction. Again, a bathroom designer can help you to brainstorm different ideas at different price tiers with some designs including layout changes and others simply refreshing your current layout.

Privacy

If you’re a member of a large family, you may want to consider privacy options for your bathroom such as a hidden toilet. By enclosing the toilet in it’s own small room, multiple people can use the bathroom at once. This especially comes in handy during morning rush hour when many people are all scrambling to use the bathroom at the same time. This can also include the shower and bathtub. Including room dividers, partial walls or separators can also help to section off different portions of the bathroom so that even more people can use the space comfortably at once. Be sure to discuss these options with your bathroom remodeling designer to see what might work best for your specific bathroom.

Warmth

Warmth might not be a consideration that you would normally think of when planning your bathroom remodeling. However, it is definitely a huge factor when thinking of the comfort of your bathroom experience. We all know the feeling of stepping out of a warm shower on a wintery day to find the cold air and cold tiles rather uncomfortable. Believe it or not, there are lots of different heating options for a bathroom remodeling ranging from heat lamps to heated floors to wall heaters. Think a bit about the climate of your area, as well as your own preferences for temperature throughout the year. This will help you to decide which heating options will work the best for your bathroom remodeling project.

Return on investment

Perhaps you’re planning to stay in your home forever, or maybe you think you may end up selling your home somewhere down the line. Either way, it is important to consider the return on investment for your bathroom remodeling project. A gorgeous, up-to-date and functional bathroom can provide a dramatic property value increase for a home. If your bathroom remodeling project includes a jacuzzi, large rain shower, hidden toilet, and floor heating, then you’re definitely increasing the value of your home. However, don’t go for all the bells and whistles if you don’t personally need them. Try to find a nice balance between your own needs and additions that will increase your home’s value. Again, a bathroom designer can offer some fantastic insight into the local market and can help you to decide what features make the most sense for your bathroom remodeling.