http://www.kabinetreekoncepts.com/blog/rss/feedsKabinetree Koncepts is a full-service remodeling and home improvement material retailer. We carry a wide range of plumbing, flooring, cabinetry and more.Tue, 28 Apr 2026 17:44:24 -0700http://www.kabinetreekoncepts.com/blog/post/before-you-start-your-remodelhttp://www.kabinetreekoncepts.com/blog/post/before-you-start-your-remodelApril Showers and May Flowers You know the old saying that “April showers bring May flowers.” The month of May brings a lot of other fun stuff, too, including: May Day, Star Wars Day (“May the Fourth be with you!”), Cinco de Mayo, and Mother’s Day - just to mention a few. On top of that, the whole month of May is National Home Improvement month! 10 Steps to Take Before You Start Your Remodeling Project Just because May is National Home Improvement Month doesn’t mean your remodeling projects will automatically take care of themselves! Often, it’s the steps you take before the physical remodeling begin that make your remodeling successful. So what can you do to ensure that your remodeling job goes smoothly? The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) offers their list of Top 10 Tips to Prepare for a Remodel: 1. Research your project2. Plan project around the long-term3. Set your budget4. Use advanced search for professionals5. Ask the right questions6. Verify your remodeler7. Review contracts word-by-word8. Keep design in mind9. Make your selections10. Create a communication plan Click here Top 10 Tips to Prepare for a Remodel for more details about these important steps, and get your May remodeling project off on the right foot. The Wonderful World of Kitchen Color Homeowners who remodel their kitchens often face the dilemma of choosing the right color for their new kitchen. Is there really a “right” color for your kitchen? There are a number of factors that can influence your choice. The style of your kitchen (traditional, country, rustic or contemporary) makes a big difference, and so does your personal preference. Here’s a helpful tool for seeing what a variety of different colors in different styles of kitchens can look like. Question For You: Do you have a remodeling project you have been thinking about getting started? Please email us and let us know!Wed, 18 May 2016 16:30:00 -0700http://www.kabinetreekoncepts.com/blog/post/three-tipshttp://www.kabinetreekoncepts.com/blog/post/three-tipsApril Fools pranks are not a uniquely American tradition - but in other countries they have their own character. In France, for instance, the victim of a prank on the first day of April is referred to as a "poisson d'avril," or “April fish” (Referring to a young fish that is easily caught.) Many French pranks include a fish or at least a vague reference to one within the joke being played. As much as you may enjoy practical jokes, there are certain times when you simply don’t want to be fooled - and that includes when you’re choosing a remodeler. Your home is too important an investment to trust to just anyone. So how can you make sure you select the remodeler who is right for your home? Here are three tips that can help: 1. Interview Your Remodeler: Don’t just pick someone out of the phone book or from an online listing. Talk to potential candidates. Find out how long they’ve been in business. As them to show you work they’ve done that’s similar in nature to what you want to do. 2. Does Your Remodeler “Get It?”: One of the most important factors in choosing your remodeler is finding someone who understands exactly what you want. When you talk to a contractor does he or she listen and ask questions? Look for a remodeler who “gets” your vision—and can offer suggestions on how to make it happen. 3. Check References: Any reputable remodeler will provide you with references. But a name on a piece of paper doesn’t really tell you much. Call one or two references and ask the homeowner what it was like to work with the remodeler. Was it a good experience? Did they feel listened to? How did they resolve problems? Those issues are every bit as important as price and expertise when it comes to choosing a remodeler. Of course there are other things to consider when choosing a good remodeler, but if you start with these three things, you’ll be well on your way to choosing the right one for your project. Asking pertinent questions is one good way to avoid being fooled. Question For You: What’s the next remodeling project you have planned for your home? Please email us and let us know – hope you are having a great start to your April!Tue, 12 Apr 2016 10:00:00 -0700http://www.kabinetreekoncepts.com/blog/post/prepare-for-the-hammers-and-sawshttp://www.kabinetreekoncepts.com/blog/post/prepare-for-the-hammers-and-sawsWith March here, it may not quite be time to start planting your garden, but it’s a great time to “plant seeds” for a home remodeling project. That’s because a successful home remodeling project doesn’t happen overnight. It requires thought, planning, and preparation. Doing your homework now means that when it’s time to actually start your project, you’ll be better prepared when the hammers and saws actually come out. Where do you begin? It helps to prioritize your needs. A simple chart like the one you see here can help you identify your home renovation needs according to things that are “Must-haves”, “Nice-to-haves”, and “If-money-was-no-object”. Must Have Nice-to-Have If-Money-Was-No-Object Kitchen redesign for more workspace and breakfast nook. Island in the kitchen New appliances Larger window for more light Granite countertops Wood flooring Replace fixtures in Guest bath/powder room New cabinets New sink Fun, “artsy” sink and extra built-in storage Replace worn deck on rear of house Extend deck to allow for more seating/grill Create “outdoor kitchen” on the deck with built-in seating. Prioritizing this way helps you budget for the things that really matter. But sometimes, you may find that some of the “nice-to-haves” (and even some “if-money-was-no-object” items) aren’t much more expensive because your labor is already covered. After you’ve determined what you want/need to do, then you can start looking at ideas on sites such as houzz.com for ideas. And then you can talk to us about how to turn those ideas into reality. March Home Maintenance Tip: March 19 is officially the first day of spring for 2016, and that means it’s time for spring-cleaning. HGTV offers 7 Spring-Cleaning Tips that can make this yearly task a bit less of a chore.Wed, 16 Mar 2016 14:45:00 -0700http://www.kabinetreekoncepts.com/blog/post/every-four-yearshttp://www.kabinetreekoncepts.com/blog/post/every-four-yearsLeap Year Traditions Every four years February presents us with an extra day—and this is one of those years. But in addition to giving us an extra day, Leap Year has also given us some rather interesting traditions. In 1288 the unmarried Queen Margaret of Scotland is rumored to have enacted a law that allowed women to propose to men on leap-year day. But—as a “fair warning” to the man—the woman had to wear a red petticoat. In fifth-century Ireland, the legend is that a nun asked St. Patrick to grant women permission to propose to men after single women complained about suitors who were too shy to propose. Supposedly, he agreed and allowed proposals every leap day. While the historical veracity of these events is unlikely, the concept of having some conventions turned on their heads remains. Unconventional Thinking For Your Home There are times when remodeling your home requires a bit of a leap as well. Maybe you want to make some changes to your kitchen, your master bathroom, or even add an extra bathroom or a media room to your home—but when you look at your existing floor plan you don’t see a way to do what you want to do. You may have to turn your conventional thinking on its head—but how? That’s where a consultation with us can really pay off. Years of training and experience enable us to look at your situation a little differently than you do—both from a design and a structural perspective. Here’s an example: Let’s say you want more space in your kitchen, but the physical dimensions of the room really don’t provide any opportunity to expand. We might be able to look at that space and tell you that the wall separating your kitchen from the dining room (which you rarely use) isn’t a load-bearing wall. We could suggest taking out the wall to significantly expand the size of your kitchen—and make better use of the space. You could end up with a larger, eat-in kitchen that actually feels bigger than it is because of the open space that’s created. Or maybe you really want more storage in your bathroom—but there’s no way to make the room bigger and there’s no space to put in another closet. Are you stuck with what you’ve got? Not necessarily. We may be able to find “hidden” space between the wall studs to install recessed shelving or cabinets. Those are just a couple of examples of how we sometimes have a different perspective on how to use space. Where you might see wasted or unusable space (in an attic or in your basement) we may see potential. That’s why it’s important to clearly convey to us what you want to accomplish and let us draw on years of experience and knowledge to come up with a solution that meets your needs. That’s the power of unconventional thinking! Six More Weeks (or More)? Not only is this year a Leap Year, but it’s also an election year. What that means is that on Groundhog Day (February 2nd), regardless of whether Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow or not, we’re guaranteed another 10 months of non-stop talk! Mon, 15 Feb 2016 10:00:00 -0700http://www.kabinetreekoncepts.com/blog/post/only-8-percenthttp://www.kabinetreekoncepts.com/blog/post/only-8-percentNew Years Resolutions for Your Home New Years Resolutions are still a big part of our post-holiday culture. Unfortunately, according to Forbes.com even though 40 percent of Americans make resolutions, only 8 percent keep them! Of course the most popular resolutions tend to focus on losing weight and getting fit. No wonder only 8 percent of the population keeps those kind of resolutions! Maybe it’s time for a resolution you’ll actually keep. The holidays aren’t just about eating—they’re about getting together with friends and family. And while that’s wonderful, there’s nothing like a full house to bring out the areas of your home that need a little help. If you hosted guests this holiday season, make some mental notes of areas where your home perhaps didn’t function exactly the way you’d like it to. Here are a couple of common areas to think about. • The Kitchen: You can’t keep people out of the kitchen during the holidays. But was your kitchen too crowded? Was it set up to allow you to work efficiently? Did you have enough light? Did you ever feel trapped in the kitchen while others were in the family room enjoying one another’s company? • The Family Room: Did friends and guests enjoy hanging out in your family room? Was it a place they naturally gravitated toward—or did you have to lead people in there because it’s closed off and a little too dark? Would it feel larger and be more conducive to socializing if it were open to the kitchen? • The Guest Bathroom: Did you cringe when guests used your guest bathroom or powder room because it feels out of date—or just has no personality? Would new fixtures and flooring make it a room you’d be proud of? • Multi-purpose Room Addition: If it’s awkward having guests sleep on the couch, maybe adding a room that could be used as an extra bedroom for guests during visits—and a home office or craft room the rest of the time—makes sense. This year, make a resolution that you’ll stick with—and one that you’ll enjoy for years to come. Pick the one room or space that will have the greatest impact on your enjoyment of your home and start collecting ideas. Then reach out to us for help in turning those ideas into reality! Here’s Your Sign Many of us are familiar with a part of Bill Engvall’s comedy routine: “Here’s your sign”. If you’re considering remodeling your home, here’s your sign (it’s optional, of course!)Mon, 04 Jan 2016 09:30:00 -0700http://www.kabinetreekoncepts.com/blog/post/the-one-thinghttp://www.kabinetreekoncepts.com/blog/post/the-one-thingAbout Santa’s “Naughty or Nice” List A big part of the holiday season seems to revolve around the “Jolly Old Elf” we call Santa Claus. The legend of Santa can be traced back to the 3rd century where he was admired for his kindness and became the subject of a variety of legends. He first became popular in American culture around December of 1773. But where did that famous list come from? It really didn’t appear until 1934 when it was mentioned in the song, "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town." And since that time, parents have used Santa’s list to inspire appropriate behavior from their children! What One Thing Would You Ask Santa For in a New Kitchen? Santa’s “Naughty-or-Nice” list isn’t the only list associated with the holidays. Visit the malls and you’ll find children sitting on Santa’s lap with a list of the presents they’d like to receive. Of course, adults have been known to make lists of their own for things they want - whether or not they actually write them out or sit on Santa’s lap. Adult lists (sometimes) tend to be a little more practical. And if you’re a homeowner, one thing high on your wish list may be a new kitchen for your home. But what does that entail? What do you really want from your new kitchen (whether Santa brings it or whether one of his elves does the remodeling for you)? If you had to limit yourself to one improvement, what would it be? • Updated Appliances? Sometimes your appliances make your kitchen look and feel a little out-of date. And on top of that, older appliances simply aren’t as energy efficient as newer ones. While you’ll spend some money to update, you may also qualify for some energy rebates that will help to offset the cost. • New Cabinets? Worn cabinets can really age a kitchen. And while you may be able to resurface them, newer cabinets often include design features that not only make them look better, but also offer better functionality (with features such as soft-close doors and drawers, or a built-in “lazy Susan”). • Additional Storage? Nobody ever complains that they have too much storage space in the kitchen. A redesign of your kitchen could include building in a pantry. That can make it easier to access packaged foods and certain appliances - leaving less clutter on your counters • More Efficiency? Even new appliances, countertops, and cabinets won’t help if the design of your kitchen isn’t efficient. Maybe you simply need more space - or perhaps you want to open your kitchen up to the family room or dining area so that you can entertain guests while you work in the kitchen. That may be a more involved project - but as a professional remodeler, we can often see opportunities for expansion that aren’t obvious to you. The good news is that you don’t have to limit yourself to just one thing. But in order to end up with the kitchen you really want, you’ll need to do some serious planning. That’s where Santa’s “remodeling elves” (us!) can really be a big help. Start by making your list (and checking it twice if you want to) and then getting together with us to come up with a plan that will turn your Christmas kitchen dreams into reality! The Gifts You Wish They Wouldn’t Keep on Giving For many of us the holidays are a time of giving gifts, but it turns out we’re not really all that great at it. Thestreet.com posted a list of the most returned holiday presents. Here are the top 5 most returned items.1. Clothing2. Toys/Games3. Consumer Electronics4. Kitchen/Bath Products5. Cosmetics If you have someone in your family who is “gifting-challenged” you may want to leave this list out for them as a heads-up! Mon, 21 Dec 2015 19:15:00 -0700http://www.kabinetreekoncepts.com/blog/post/five-common-mistakeshttp://www.kabinetreekoncepts.com/blog/post/five-common-mistakes Tantalizing Thanksgiving Trivia Questions If you dread those awkward moments around the Thanksgiving dinner table when the conversation drags, here are a few trivia questions that can get things going again. • How long have Americans celebrated Thanksgiving? This is a trick question. Although the tradition extends back to the days of the pilgrims at Plymouth Rock, Thanksgiving didn’t become a national holiday until President Lincoln declared it such in 1863. • According to Pilgrim etiquette, which fork should be used for turkey? The Pilgrims didn’t use forks! The instrument was introduced by Governor Winthrop of Massachusetts 10 years after the first Thanksgiving and didn’t gain popularity until the 18th century. • What’s the connection between Thanksgiving and football? In 1934 G.A. Richards purchased the Detroit Lions. In an attempt to build up the team’s fan base, he scheduled a game against the world champion Chicago Bears on Thanksgiving Day. The game sold out and was also broadcast live on radio. The rest, as they say, is history. If you need more trivia questions, you can find them here! Avoiding Calamity in the Kitchen: 5 Common Kitchen Design Mistakes November means Thanksgiving dinner for many of us - and that means spending plenty of time in the kitchen. Here are five common mistakes homeowners make when remodeling their kitchens. 1. Open Shelving Overload: Having open shelving is a somewhat new trend, but sometimes homeowners have too much of it. Not everything needs to be on display. Use it sparingly to highlight certain items. Too much “openness” makes things look cluttered. 2. Stainless Saturation: Stainless steel remains very popular for kitchens. But using too much stainless steel robs your kitchen of warmth and can make it look like a morgue! 3. Outlet Shortage: It’s easy to think that you have “plenty” of electrical outlets in the kitchen - until you actually want to plug things in. Make sure you include plenty of places to plug in. 4. Trash Happens: Let’s face it: Kitchens generate a fair amount of trash. If you don’t plan for a place to hide it away, it’s going to be out there for everyone to see. Plan a place for trash to live. 5. Inadequate Lighting: Your kitchen needs different kinds of lighting. Make sure you plan for task lighting and for ambient (mood) lighting! Forget Long Black Friday Lines - This Is a Bigger Problem! Roto-Rooter says incoming calls surge 50 percent the Friday after Thanksgiving, because of Thanksgiving plumbing jams. Here are a few quick tips to save you from calling the plumber: • Don’t pour fat, grease, or cooking oils down the drain. Use paper towels to wipe grease from pots and throw them in the trash.• Keep fibrous and starchy waste (poultry skins, celery, fruit & potato peels) out of the garbage disposal.• Run your disposal before you put food into it instead of waiting until it’s full.• Wait 15 minutes between showers to allow slow drains to clear.Fri, 20 Nov 2015 18:00:00 -0700http://www.kabinetreekoncepts.com/blog/post/october-is-more-than-jackolanternshttp://www.kabinetreekoncepts.com/blog/post/october-is-more-than-jackolanterns For many of us, the first thing we think about when we see the calendar turn to October is Halloween. The grocery stores have had Halloween candy for sale since August. Big box stores have had candy and costumes on display for almost that long. But Halloween isn’t until the end of the month. There’s lots of other good stuff that happens before then. People living in the northern part of the US generally see the first frost and get to watch the leaves starting to turn. If you live in the south, the temperatures have begun to be bearable (and the snowbirds haven’t arrived, yet!). All across the country, Starbucks offers pumpkin lattes. And baseball fans settle in for the World Series (while football and basketball fans are getting their yearly fix of their sport of preference). There’s a lot more to enjoy in October than just the last day of the month! Successful Home Remodeling: Don’t Be in a Hurry to Jump to the End. Take it One Step at a Time. When it comes to remodeling our homes, a lot of homeowners tend to jump to the end of the project. It’s understandable. They get excited about how the new kitchen, bath, or family room will look, so they focus on the finishing touches such as cabinets, flooring, molding, and fixtures. Those are all important things, but the real keys to a successful home remodeling project begins long before the finishing touches are added. While you want a remodeling project to leave your home looking better, the real goal is to make your home feel more comfortable and be more functional. But that doesn’t happen without planning. How do you go about planning your home remodel? It’s a bit of a challenge—particularly if you haven’t done it before. Here are three simple steps that can help. • Know What You Want: Sometimes homeowners know they want to make a change, but they aren’t sure what that change should look like. Create a list of things you like about your current home and then make a second list of specific things you’d like to change. You don’t have to come up with the solution—just what results you want. For instance: More workspace in the kitchen. More light in the family room. Open space between the kitchen and family room. A multiple space room that doubles as a guest bedroom and a home office. Be as specific as possible. • Gather Ideas and Information: Once you’ve identified what you want to do, look around for ideas that fit your personality and sense of style. Houzz.com is packed with ideas for updating and remodeling your home, and you can search for ideas by room. HGTV.com is also a great source of ideas, as is Pinterest. You don’t have to mimic what you see—just gather ideas. • Talk to Us: This is where you begin to turn your ideas and wishes into reality. Take your “wish list” and photos from your online search and ask us what it will take to make that happen. We can advise you about the feasibility (can you even do what you want in your current home). We may also give you other ideas that are more practical for your situation. And finally, we can usually help you set a realistic budget for what you want to accomplish, and how long it will take. Again, don’t be in a hurry to jump to the end of the project. There are lots of good things to enjoy at the beginning of the process. And if you take care of those, you’ll be happier with the end results! What’s October All About? If you’re wondering about the real meaning of October, it’s pretty clear—at least to the retailers: It’s the start of the holiday shopping season! (We hope you enjoy your fall without worrying about what the retailers say!) Wed, 21 Oct 2015 15:30:00 -0700http://www.kabinetreekoncepts.com/blog/post/its-september-are-you-preparedhttp://www.kabinetreekoncepts.com/blog/post/its-september-are-you-preparedSeptember is National Preparedness Month - a month when all of us are reminded to make simple plans that can have a huge impact if we’re faced with natural disasters. This year, ready.gov will focus on a different theme each week: • Week 1: September 1-5th - Flood• Week 2: September 6-12th - Wildfire• Week 3: September 13-19th - Hurricane• Week 4: September 14-26th - Power Outage And while nobody likes to think about emergencies, a small amount of preparation can mean the difference between safety and disaster. Click here for more information about how to prepare your home and family to stay safe in difficult times. Home Remodeling: Are You Ready For Some Football (or the New Fall Shows)? September also is a great time to prepare your home for some serious fall television viewing. Whether you’re anticipating watching the World Series, the kick-off of the NFL or college football seasons, or the newest batch of fall shows, you’ll want to do it in comfort and style. Ah, but where will you watch? More and more families want to enjoy the pleasures of big screen entertainment - without having to sacrifice the comfort and style of their family rooms to do so. That probably means creating a great family entertainment room. But there’s more to doing that than just buying a big screen T.V. and hauling it down to the basement or into the spare bedroom. If you decide to use an existing room for this important space, you’ll want to make sure that space is really ready to be turned into a comfortable place where people enjoy being. That means proper lighting, wiring, flooring, and perhaps even plumbing. Can you reinvent the room by putting built-in shelving between the studs? By doing that, you can dramatically increase your storage space without losing any of the room’s square footage. And if you’re planning an entertainment room, don’t limit yourself to TV viewing. Think about other activities such as gaming, crafts, karaoke, or whatever you enjoy. And talk with us about creating the best plan to get the most out of your family entertainment center. The better your plan, the better the result. Don’t settle for “just a place to watch the game.” Make sure your family entertainment room is a place you, your family, and your friends love to hang out! How Big Is Big Enough? Choosing the Right Size Screen For Your Entertainment Room. No matter where you build your new entertainment room - or whatever else you use it for - being able to watch movies, sports, or your favorite shows will still be a big part of the room’s use. So what size screen should you put in your new room? While some say, “Bigger is better,” that only goes so far. Your budget, of course, is an important factor. But size and distance both matter. In most homes people sit about 9 feet away from the screen. For that distance, THX (The Home Entertainment experts) recommend anything from a 60” to a 90” screen. If your room is a little smaller, and you’re sitting about 4-6 feet away a 40” screen should be big enough. Click here to check out their other recommendations - including screen height.Tue, 15 Sep 2015 09:00:00 -0700