Author Archives: rolldigital

Perryman Painting & Remodeling, Inc.  /  Articles by: rolldigital
Categories Home Improvements, Kitchens

Island Innovations For Your Kitchen

The kitchen island has become the icon of the modern kitchen – the 21st century equivalent of the old-fashioned hearth. Centrally located, islands are easily accessed and ideal for various kitchen tasks from food prep and cooking, to clean up and entertaining. They often are the focal point in the kitchen and typically blend in with the décor. According to our home improvement professionals, an island, at a minimum, should be 4 feet long and a little more than 2 feet deep.

As the attractiveness of kitchen islands continue to grow, so do the innovations. In fact, the number-one design feature on consumer wish lists is a central island cooktop. But cooktops aren’t the only island innovations. Following are the newest kitchen finds and options to consider when building or turning your fantasy island into a functional – and stylish – workspace.

Create Levels
When deciding on the layout for your kitchen island, why not customize your fantasy and create levels? Multi-level islands are becoming increasingly popular since most homeowners not only want a work area, but also an informal place for entertaining guests.

With the kitchen as one of the main gathering areas in a home, your guests will be able to sit, chat or rest their beverage glasses on the high-top counter, while the lower tier of the island should feature an ample work area for you to whip up your decadent cuisine. Additionally, be sure to incorporate enough drawers and shelves below the work area to keep key ingredients, utensils and your favorite cookbooks right at your fingertips. If you love to entertain, also consider adding wine chilling drawers or a wine refrigerator to keep your beverages close at hand and maintain proper temperatures for your reds and whites.

Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot
Turn up the heat and get cooking. Homeowners want a central island cooktop as part of their kitchen island, reports Kitchen & Bath Design News. Installing cooktops brings countertop burners within easy reach, while also creating room for amenities below, such as additional storage – or even warming drawers.

Topping It Off
Add character to your island countertop with a dramatic surface finish. While high-end materials, such as granite, metal, solid-surface and marble are still popular, new custom, hand-applied finishes with unique designs, such as full circles and waves, can add unique beauty to your island and set your countertop apart. And, be sure to finish off your counter with a thick butcher block. Not only will it be an easy spot for all your cutting needs, you’ll be sure to protect your beautiful countertop surface.

Finishing Touches
With your fantasy island now becoming a reality, spruce up your space with some finishing touches. Installing long, vertical drawer and cabinet pulls add some flair to the kitchen, while also doubling as towel bars. Offer your guests comfortable and stylish seating around your island with new bar stools that fit comfortably under your high-top counter. Finally, shed some light on your new fantasy island with pendant lighting. Manufacturers offer a variety of shapes, styles and finishes to illuminate and showcase your amazing new island.

Author rolldigital 0 Comments
Categories Bathrooms

Types Of Shower Doors For A Bathroom Remodel

A focal point of any bathroom is the tub or shower, so when planning a bathroom remodel, it’s important to take into consideration how you may want to “change up” a shower door to its best effect.

Shower doors primarily fall into two types: Bypass doors and pivot doors.

BYPASS SHOWER DOORS
Bypass are also known as sliding doors, and consist of 2 or 3 panels that slide past each other on tracks situated at the bottom and top of a shower unit. They take up less space, which is why they tend to be the most popular.

Bypass doors are also more of a challenge to clean and to keep clean, as the tracks tend to collect water, soap and other debris, creating an environment where mold and mildew can grow, so they require more frequent maintenance. If you’ve had this type of arrangement in your bathroom for a while, it might be time to consider making a switch.

PIVOT SHOWER DOORS
Pivot doors—also called hinged or swinging doors—generally take up more space and therefore are generally utilized in larger bathrooms. It is possible, however, to mount them so that they open inward, although this is often less practical.

A less commonly seen shower door is the rounded type. This is curved glass, operating on a hinge, just as pivot doors do. These work well fitted into corner spaces in smaller enclosures.

Most shower doors are framed, the glass surrounded by an aluminum or composite casing, and these latch into a track. The more modern trend is toward frameless doors which require less upkeep and fit well into contemporary bathroom design.

TYPES OF GLASS FOR SHOWER DOORS
There are a variety of choice in the types of glass available in shower doors:

  • Clear glass is most popular. It allows light to penetrate and lessens any sense of feeling confined in a too-small space.
  • Frosted glass provides a stronger sense of privacy and is available in different colors, designs and patterns.
  • Rain glass is textured on just one side, smooth on the other, and offers the same features as frosted glass.
  • Tinted glass provides a sense of privacy and comes in such a wide variety of colors that it’s easy to choose one that will complement the décor of the rest of the bathroom.


DO I NEED A SHOWER DOOR?
Some modern bathroom designs eliminate the need for a shower door altogether. There are many wraparound shower ideas that incorporate block glass and stone or tiled walls separating the enclosure from the rest of the room. These lend the bathroom a more open or expansive feel, and they are easier to enter and exit than through a standard shower door.

NEED HELP?
Ultimately, the ideal shower set-up for your home is the one that finds an ideal compromise between function and your personal taste—what looks good and feels right for your bathroom? Feel free to reach out to us any anytime for a professional consultation as to what can be done in your home.

Author rolldigital
Categories Bathrooms

How To Refinish Your Bathtub

There are a lot of things you can do to make your bathroom look new and refreshed without spending a ton of money. Still, no matter how many cosmetic changes you make, if you have an old, stained bathtub, your bathroom just will not feel as great as it could. This is where tub refinishing comes in.

For significantly less than the price of a new tub, you can make your old one look brand new. NOTE: Refinishing your bathtub is not for the faint of heart. It requires the use of toxic chemicals that give out strong fumes, and without extreme caution, it will not look good or last long. Unless you are extremely confident in your DIY skills, we recommend hiring a skilled handyman to do the work for you. It’s still cheaper than buying a new tub, but the results will be much better. If you’re brave, and you have the necessary protective gear, read on:

First, you need to prep. Before touching a single paintbrush, use a scraper to remove the caulk around your tub, and unscrew and remove any hardware inside your bathtub (like the drain plug circle and overflow cover). Then use plastic and painter’s tape to cover anything near the tub that you don’t want painted.

Second, you need to thoroughly clean out your tub. Use an abrasive cleaner, followed by something like Lime-A-Way to remove any traces of soap scum, rust, mineral buildups, and anything else that might cause paint to stick poorly.

Next, use some wet-sand sandpaper to thoroughly scour the surface of the tub. This will both help in getting rid of any remaining dirt, oils, and minerals, as well as providing a more even surface. The additional roughness will also help the bathtub glaze to stick better and will lead to a more durable finish. Wash the wet-sand away as you’re sanding.

Then, put on your safety glasses, thick gloves, and respirator, and mix your finishing epoxy to the manufacturer’s specifications and start painting. You can use a brush and roller, making sure to feather the edges so that you don’t have obvious lines forming between strokes. A better bet, though, is to use a spray gun. You will get more even coverage and a much more professional finish.  After applying one thin coat, let it sit and dry. Then apply your second coat.  Make sure you paint in one direction, and don’t worry about bubbles; they will settle as the epoxy dries.

Finally, re-attach the fixtures and run a smooth bead of caulk or silicone along the edge. Smooth it down with a wet finger to get a really professional touch!

If all of this seems like more than you are willing to undertake, don’t hesitate to contact us at 916-774-6416 or enter your zip code above to find the phone number and location to an office nearest you.

Author rolldigital 0 Comments
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