You are here: Home » Blog
10 steps to a kitchen remodel, from gathering design ideas through construction and final review.
You’ve decided to remodel your kitchen. Now what? Not knowing where to start, many homeowners fall into two camps. Some start by looking at appliances. Others start by collecting inspiring kitchen photos. Sometimes a homeowner will find themselves in this stage for a year or longer before they start interviewing kitchen designers or contractors.
Once you’ve simmered in this phase long enough and you’re ready to green-light a kitchen remodeling project, then what? Here we’ll start with the first 10 steps and we’ll get into the nitty-gritty details under specific steps as we move through the complete workbook.
For final selection of finishes and fixtures visit:
Get the inside tips into choosing granite countertops.
What you need to know: what to look for, where to shop, and how to choose the perfect pairing for your home.
Choosing the Right Stone
Choosing a granite slab, the polished sheet of stone that your granite countertops start from, requires knowimg:
The type of stone you want.
Are you looking for granite, quartz, marble or soapstone? Knowing the type of countertop will be best for your kitchen or bath is the first step. Granite remains the leading choice in the industry, however Cambria & Onyx are becoming more popular.
What color of stone to choose.
Granite slabs come in a broad range of colors and patterns. See Granite Colors. Choosing the right color for your stone counters is a matter of personal taste. The characteristics and performance of granite can actually vary by the color of the stone.
Light colored granites may have swirling or flowing patterns. They can also have randomly placed large and small crystals. These granites hide messy counters well. Light granites are often more porous and softer than darker colors. They require sealing with multiple coats of penetrating sealer before use.
Dark granites are more subdued than the lighter ones. They are often much more consistent in crystal pattern too. Dark granites usually require few or no coats of sealer. Check out the Lemon Juice Test to see if your granite needs to be sealed. Black granite such as Galaxy Black or Absolute Black is not really granite but rather a gabbro or dolomite. It actually performs better than true granite, requires no sealing, and is very consistent.
What surface finish you want.
Although granite typically has a highly polished surface, other surface finishes are becoming popular. Honed granite is a stone with a matte finish.
It does not shine and the color differs from the polished version. River washed or flamed finish offers a highly textured surface that can be visually appealing. When granite has an unpolished surface, its stainability seems to change.
Honed black granite should not be sealed. Instead a color enhancer/sealer product should be used. Without this, spots and oil marks tend to show.
The Slab Size.
When you choose your stone, you’ll want to know how many slabs you need and what thickness of stone to buy. An average granite slab size is 9 to 10 feet wide and 5 to 6 feet tall (slabs are displayed vertically).
A typical slab may be 50 square feet but with waste and granite remnants, it may yield only 35 square feet of stone counters. Most kitchens need multiple granite slabs – Countertops can be seamed.
The size of the slabs can affect how many seams end up in your kitchen counters and where they must be placed. The thickness of granite is usually 2CM (3/4″) or 3CM (1 1/4″). Each thickness offers a different look as a finished top.
The Slab Sequence.
If you need multiple slabs for your project, you will want to choose them from the same bundle. Granite slabs are quarried, tracked, and shipped as sequentially labeled stones in bundles of 6 or 7 slabs. Each slab in a bundle has comparable color and pattern to its neighbor. Slabs that come from different bundles don’t always look alike nor do they have similar colors. They can have slight shade differences that become obvious at seams in finished counters. Granite selection centers are quite aware of this fact, so don’t be mislead.
Where to Shop.
The best places to shop for granite in Asheville and Western North Carolina include:
HomeSource Design Center
Mountain Marble & Granite
Solid Surface Specialists
Stone Gallery Marble & Granite
Viktor’s Marble & Granite
The Western North Carolina Green Building Council will launch it’s annual ‘Green Home & Living Guide’ at the 2013 WNC Home Lawn & Garden Show held at the US Cellular Center in downtown Asheville this coming weekend, March 15-17th.
The Green Building Council, located on the Carolina Concourse level in booth61, will have their annual guide hot of the press for show attendees to pick up. The release of the 2013 guide has been much anticipated with the addition of green living resources.
This directory focuses on healthy choices, environmentally friendly construction, valuable concepts, sustainability practices, community and more.The Green Building Directory has been the primary tool for education, outreach and expanding the green building industry in this region for the past ten years. This free directory, produced by Mountain Xpress and the Western North Carolina Green Building Council, provides a non-biased resource of the latest information on both green building and green living.
Copies of the guide will be available for the general public at the home show free of charge.For more information about the Western North Carolina Green Building Council or the Green Home & Living Guide, visit www,wncgbc.org.
About WNC Home, Lawn & Garden Show:
The 38th Annual WNC Home, Lawn & Garden Show will be held at the U.S. Cellular Center in downtown Asheville March 15-17, 2013, featuring products and services for the home and garden. The spring show will feature Antique Appraising by nationally acclaimed Brunk Auctions, Do-It-Yourself classes, John Andretti and more. Visit www.wnchomegardenshow.com for more information.
Build it better. Design it wiser. Experience it happier.
The Why of It
Why you ask? To feel better of course! Besides…science, psychology and architecture have proven for millennium your space influences every cell of your being and therefore, every area of your life. So, if your environment can do all this, what will you do to make your living space support your every desire? What will you add, change or eliminate?
The How of It
The task of ‘interpreting the language’ of your space ranges from simple to complex. The multi-layers involve practicality, psychology, intuition and the understanding of the quantum field. Once aligned and integrated, the outward manifestation is a space that is beautiful, uplifting, supportive and welcoming.
The What of It
What you need to know is what you want in your life. Then you need to know how your home or office can support you in making that a reality. Feng Shui tells you how to do this. This natural art and science informs you how to use your space, how to arrange yourself in that space and what elemental influences each area needs for health, balance and beauty.
The When of It
Well NOW of course! There’s no time like a present. If you want change now, then now you must change. Seriously though, Feng Shui can be implemented at any phase of your vision – site selection, floor plan design, garden design, home & office decor, renovations, interior design & decorating, and good ol’ fashion “space-lifting” for any environment you’ve been familiar with for any period of time.
Live, Love & Laugh
If your ready to harness the energy of all that life has to offer, now is the time to consider up-leveling the energetic patterns affecting you in your living space. Like so many clients have reported – life just keeps getting better and better. Are you ready to include yourself among those on the leading-edge who ‘get’ it by ‘getting’ it?
Contact Feng Shui Expert Kelly S. Jones today at 919-200-8686 visit her websites at www.KJFengShui.com or www.KellySJones.net. We look forward to helping you make the incredible transformations you’ve been waiting for utilizing the wisdom of the Earth applied.
John Andretti is schedule to make an appearance at the WNC Home Lawn & Garden Show, March 16, 2013 in Downtown Asheville, NC.
John Andretti will take the stage on Saturday, March 16, 2013 at 12 noon during the WNC Home Lawn & Garden Show. Offering a live question and answer session on the main stage on the Home Showcase Level of the show. Home Show guests will have the opportunity to interact with John Andretti in the Window World Booth during the hours of 1-4pm immediately following the live stage appearance.
John Andretti will also participate with Window World of Asheville in supporting a fundraiser for St. Jude Children’s Hospital, featuring “The Stinger.” The Stinger is an Indy 500 Concept car developed by John Andretti, Andretti Autosport and Window World, and signed by over 200 Indy 500 drivers dating back to 1949. The Stinger will be showcased at the WNC Home Lawn & Garden Show and could be one of the last opportunities to see the car. The Stinger is scheduled to be auctioned off this spring with all proceeds going to Window World Cares, the Window World Foundation that supports St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
Window World of Asheville will also be giving away John Andretti autographed 1/18th scale die cast cars throughout the show. Visit booth #53 for details regarding the giveaway.
Visit the WNC Home Lawn & Garden Show, March 16, 2013 in downtown Asheville, NC for your opportunity to meet John Andretti.
About WNC Home, Lawn & Garden Show:
The 38th Annual WNC Home, Lawn & Garden Show will be held at the U.S. Cellular Center in downtown Asheville March 15-17, 2013, featuring products and services for the home and garden. The spring show will feature Antique Appraising by nationally acclaimed Brunk Auctions, Do-It-Yourself classes, John Andretti and more. Visit www.wnchomegardenshow.com for more information.
About Window World, Inc.®:
Window World, Inc.®, headquartered in North Wilkesboro, N.C., is America’s largest replacement window company with stores and offices in more than 200 cities nationwide. Founded in 1995 and led by CEO Tammy Whitworth, the company consistently delivers value to homeowners by combining quality windows, siding and doors with excellent service at low prices. An ENERGY STAR® retail partner, Window World sells and installs more than one million high-quality residential replacement windows annually and has earned the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval five years in a row. For more information, visit Window World of Asheville or call 828.684.6334.
About Window World Cares™:
Window World Cares™, founded by Todd and Tammy Whitworth, is the charitable foundation of Window World, Inc. and corporate partner of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®. Since its inception in 2008, Window World Cares has raised more than $2.5 million for St. Jude and was named New Corporate Partner of the Year in 2010. In addition to St. Jude, Window World Cares also supports the Veterans Airlift Command, which provides free transportation to injured soldiers, veterans and their immediate families. To learn more about Window World Cares and its charitable partners or to donate, visit www.WindowWorldCares.com.
“Help Fight Hunger in Western North Carolina With Food Donation At Asheville Home Show”
The WNC Home Lawn & Garden Show will offer $1.00 off admission with canned food donation for Manna FoodBank.
The WNC Home Lawn & Garden Show has teamed up with Manna FoodBank to help fight hunger in Western North Carolina, by offering $1.00 off admission ticket with a non-perishable food donation.
The Home, Lawn & Garden Show is March 15-17, 2013 at the US Cellular Center in downtown Asheville, North Carolina. Receive $1.00 off regular priced admission, $7.00 daily or a $15.00 weekend pass. Each show attendee must bring a donation to be eligible for a discount.
Manna Food Bank relies heavily on donations to fight hunger in Western North Carolina. 1 in 6 of our neighbors are seeking food assistance and at least 33,000 children in this region rely on Manna FoodBank. The producer of the home show, Tim Alexander, has chosen to create a food drive in association with the show – “The few months following the holidays tend to be slower donation months for Manna FoodBank. We hope we can help increase donations for this local non-profit.”
The Most needed food items include: canned meats, peanut butter, dried/canned beans, hearty soup, meals in a box or can, canned fruits, cereals and grains, fruit and vegetable juice and dry milk. Avoid foods high in sugars and fats.
For more information about Manna FoodBank, visit www.mannafoodbank.org.
About WNC Home, Lawn & Garden Show:
The 38th Annual WNC Home, Lawn & Garden Show will be held at the U.S. Cellular Center in downtown Asheville March 15-17, 2013, featuring products and services for the home and garden. The spring show will feature Antique Appraising by nationally acclaimed Brunk Auctions, Do-It-Yourself classes, John Andretti and more. Visit www.wnchomegardenshow.com for more information.
Excessive moisture around your home can attract many pests. It can also cause fungi to grow, including wood rot fungus which can lead to severe structural damage. Many insect pests need an ample supply of water to survive. Excessive moisture will attract common pests such as cockroaches and ants. Some insects, such as springtails, camel crickets, and psocids (aka booklice) can be controlled simply by reducing the moisture or humidity in the home. We encourage you to call Terminix Service, Inc, to have a trained and knowledgeable representative inspect your home for moisture issues that may be inflicting your home.
In the meantime, here are some things you can look for around your home to control moisture.
Inside your home:
- Fix leaking pipes. Sometimes a leak may not be obvious. Periodically check under sinks and around toilets and look for wet spots. Even a slow leak can lead to big problems.
- Inspect caulking around bathtubs and showers. A small hole or break in the caulk will allow water to seep through. Many times when people find springtails (tiny grey insects that jump) in their sinks, bathtubs, or showers, it’s because the caulking has failed and allows water to accumulate in the wall voids, under flooring, or behind the tub enclosure.
- Keep humidity levels low. You can reduce the humidity in your home by using a dehumidifier or circulating the air with fans. Dehumidifiers are especially useful in basements.
Outside your home:
- Make sure gutters are not clogged and work properly. Clogged gutters can breed mosquitoes and attract a variety of pests such as carpenter ants and cockroaches. This can also cause fascia boards to rot. Terminix Service offers gutter protection, just call for a free inspection and estimate. They can also fix those rotten fascia boards!
- Keep bushes and trees trimmed back away from the house. Heavy vegetation can trap moisture and provide harborage for many pests. The pests can also use bushes and tree limbs to gain access to the house and avoid areas treated with pesticides.
- Do not use excessive amounts of mulch or pine straw around the foundation of your home. This can trap moisture and keep the foundation wet, plus provide harborage for pests.
- Eliminate areas of standing water around the foundation. Sometimes you may need to grade the soil sloping away from the foundation, or have a drain system installed, to prevent water from pooling there.
- Empty water from old flower pots, trashcans, wheelbarrows, toys, etc. Mosquitoes can breed in any amount of standing water that lasts for two weeks. Terminix Service offers a mosquito management program. They will treat the vegetation in your yard once a month to control adult mosquitoes and identify potential breeding sources which are then eliminated or treated with a mosquito growth regulator.
- Make sure sprinkler heads are positioned to project water away from the house and not onto it.
Under your home:
- If you have a crawlspace it needs to be dry and free of wood debris. A dry crawlspace is a healthy crawlspace and a healthy crawlspace equals a happy home. Excessive moisture in the crawlspace makes it more attractive to termites and other pests. It can also cause wood destroying fungi to grow which causes wood rot. There are a number of options available to help dry out your crawlspace such as a vapor barrier, drainage system, or new foundation vents.
- Sometimes conventional methods may not work because the problem is due to high levels of humidity coming into the crawlspace causing condensation to occur. In this situation, you may need to have your crawlspace encapsulated and a dehumidifier installed.
Terminix Service, Inc. is prepared to perform a free full home moisture and termite analysis on your home. Go to TrustTerminix.com to request for an inspection or call 1-800-Terminix.
Nationally acclaimed antique auction house Brunk Auctions, as seen on Antique Roadshow, will be at the home show from 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m appraising antiques.
Antique appraisals will be included with your home show admission ticket. Admission to the show will be $7.00 daily or $15.00 for a 3-day pass. There will be $1.00 discount given with a can of food donation for Manna Food Bank.
Carry in antiques or bring a high quality close-up photo to the show to have them appraised. Antique appraising will take place on the Lawn & Garden Level of the show during the hours of 12pm-5pm on Saturday, March 16th.
The home show will provide a secure location to store antiques during the appraisal hours on Saturday to allow attendees to explore the show. The WNC Home Lawn & Garden Show
For more information, please contact the show office at 828.255.2526 or email info@wnchomegardenshow.com
Brunk Auctions is the leading fine art and antique auction firm here in the southeastern United States, headquartered in Asheville, with offices in Atlanta, Palm Beach, Florida, and Montgomery, Alabama. Specializing in fine paintings and original artwork, antique furniture, silver, jewelry, porcelains, fine libraries and carpets, our sales can be attended live in our gallery in Asheville, or by going to their website at www.brunkauctions.com. Bob Ruggiero was a twenty seven year member of the Appraiser’s Association of America and has lectured at major Museums across the United States during his forty year career in the Fine Art and Antique world. Bob and his wife Dianne live on a farm here in the mountains of Western North Carolina.
The WNC Home Lawn & Garden Show is March 15, 16, 17, 2013 at the US Cellular Center in downtown Asheville. To like the WNC Home Lawn & Garden Show on Facebook, follow on Google + visit , or follow on Pinterest.
by Mandy Berger
Window World of Asheville & WNC Home Lawn & Garden Show to showcase the John Andretti designed Indy show car to Asheville’s U.S. Cellular Center March 15-17, 2013, prior to it’s auction to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®.
Window World of Asheville & WNC Home Lawn & Garden Show are bringing “The Stinger” to the March 15-17, 2013 Home Show in downtown Asheville. This car is tribute to the first winning Indy 500 car, the Marmon Wasp, and was created to raise funds to support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®.
The Stinger was developed by John Andretti, Andretti Autosport and Window World. For each signature received, Window World makes a donation to Window World Cares™, the charitable foundation of Window World, to support St. Jude. The signatures of over 200 drivers, dating back to 1949, make the Stinger a priceless salute to a century of excellence and the race of all races. Every signature of every driver tells a story – a story of exceptional achievement, and boundless hope.
Signatures of race car legends and drivers include: Mario Andretti; Dan Whelon; Dario Franchitti; Buddy Rice; Tom Sneva; Johnny Rutherford; Scott Dixon; Sam Schmidt; Bobby Unser; Phil Threshie; Bill Whittington; Dean Hall; Richie Hearn; John Paul, Jr.; Tom Gloy; Kevin Cogan; Sir Jackie Stewart; Alessandro Zampedri; Bruno Junqueira; and Ludwig Heimrath, Jr.
“The story of the Stinger is a story of hope we can tell through Window World Cares, from children and their families battling life-threatening diseases to wounded or special needs soldiers and their families who have stood up for our freedom,” said Tammy Whitworth, Chairman and CEO, Window World, Inc. and co-founder, Window World Cares. “The legends of the Indianapolis 500 have served as inspiration to those who race, but it is the children and families we work with on a daily basis that inspire us to do all we can to help.”
Be a part of this legend. Visit the WNC Home Lawn & Garden Show, March 15-17, 2013 in downtown Asheville, NC to view or photograph this car.
About WNC Home, Lawn & Garden Show:
The 38th Annual WNC Home, Lawn & Garden Show will be held at the U.S. Cellular Center in downtown Asheville March 15-17, 2013, featuring products and services for the home and garden. The spring show will feature an antique appraiser, do-it-yourself classes, “The Stinger”, and live
About Window World, Inc.®:
Window World, Inc.®, headquartered in North Wilkesboro, N.C., is America’s largest replacement window company with stores and offices in more than 200 cities nationwide. Founded in 1995 and led by CEO Tammy Whitworth, the company consistently delivers value to homeowners by combining quality windows, siding and doors with excellent service at low prices. An ENERGY STAR® retail partner, Window World sells and installs more than one million high-quality residential replacement windows annually and has earned the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval five years in a row. For more information, visit www.windowasheville.com
About Window World Cares™:
Window World Cares™, founded by Todd and Tammy Whitworth, is the charitable foundation of Window World, Inc. and corporate partner of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®. Since its inception in 2008, Window World Cares has raised more than $2.5 million for St. Jude and was named New Corporate Partner of the Year in 2010. In addition to St. Jude, Window World Cares also supports the Veterans Airlift Command, which provides free transportation to injured soldiers, veterans and their immediate families. To learn more about Window World Cares and its charitable partners or to donate, visit www.WindowWorldCares.com.
by Mandy Berger
The holidays are over and the countdown to spring has started. This list of 10 maintenance tips for spring will help you start making the list of spring cleaning projects and the items, businesses or people you may want to talk to at this years WNC Home Lawn & Garden Show, March 15-17, 2013 at the U.S. Cellular Center in downtown Asheville, NC.
- Check for loose or leaky gutters – Improper drainage can lead to water in the basement or crawl space. Make sure downspouts drain away from the foundation and are clear and free of debris.
- Organizing closets – Organizing your closet is the first step to organizing the rest of your home.
- Cleaning Painted Walls – To clean your painted walls start with a clean cloth or sponge and water. If that doesn’t work, dip the rag or sponge into water mixed with a little dishwashing liquid, the milder the better. If the stain persists, apply a few drops of soap directly onto the wet sponge or cloth you’re using.
- Caring for Your Tile – Clean your bathroom and kitchen tile, and don’t forget the grout.
- Check for Wood Damage – Use a screwdriver to probe the wood trim around windows, doors, railings and decks. Make repairs now before the spring rains do more damage to the exposed wood.
- Examine Roof Shingles - From the ground, examine roof shingles to see if any were lost or damaged during winter. If your home has an older roof covering, you may want to start a budget for replacement. The summer sun can really damage roof shingles. Shingles that are cracked, buckled or loose or are missing granules need to be replaced. Flashing around plumbing vents, skylights and chimneys need to be checked and repaired by a qualified roofer.
- Chimney Check-up – Examine the exterior of the chimney for signs of damage. Have the flue cleaned and inspected by a certified chimney sweep.
- Check outside hose faucets for freeze damage – Turn the water on and place your thumb or finger over the opening. If you can stop the flow of water, it is likely the pipe inside the home is damaged and will need to be replaced. While you’re at it, check the garden hose for dry rot.
- Service Your Air Conditioning System – Have a qualified heating and cooling contractor clean and service the outside unit of the air conditioning system. Clean coils operate more efficiently, and an annual service call will keep the system working at peak performance levels. Change interior filters on a regular basis.
- Lawn & Yard Equipment Maintenance – Check your gas- and battery-powered lawn equipment to make sure it is ready for summer use. Clean equipment and sharp cutting blades will make yardwork easier.
