Custom Home Building, Remodeling and Restoration: March 2014

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

[New Post] 3 Kitchen And Bath Industry Show Innovative Concepts For 2014 published on

When February arrives in Las Vegas, the conventions season begins to kick into full throttle. And one of the most popular conventions hosted in Sin City is the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (also known as KBIS). During this popular convention, hundreds of the best interior décor companies, aftermarket suppliers and remodeling experts showcase some of the most popular innovated concepts that are beginning to show up in high-profile homes.

Kitchen & Bath Industry Show Favorites

Here are three attention grabbing ideas that appeared at this year’s Kitchen & Bath Industry Show for home owners in Phoenix to consider implementing into their remodeling projects in 2014.

KIBS 2014 Las Vegas

Kitchen and Bath Show in Las Vegas 2014 showcased new, fresh concepts for remodeling and new home builds.

Integrating Old Style Kitchen Décor with Modern Kitchen Enhancements

For the past few years there has been a significant increase in ‘old school’ kitchen and bath décor. However, one of the most popular ideas showcased at this year’s Vegas show was integrating older décor style with new and high tech kitchen and bath innovation. Primary this is showcased in the countertops used, with marble, granite and solid surface designs being ‘trimmed’ in unique ways as to represent an older ‘look and feel’. Adding to this vintage look is the increase in hand-crafted kitchen cabinetry that is appearing across the board in many of today’s most popular kitchen upgrade projects.

Also commonly displayed at this year’s show were hand-forged style kitchen and bathroom sink designs. Some popular vendors like Artesso™ and Brizo faucets have added a splash of history into 2014 kitchen and bath faucet designs.

Installing More Useful Kitchen Accessories

There was a time when kitchen accessories were meant primary as showcasing elements to enhance the primary décor features – but not always for daily use. However, as more home owners look for proactive use of space in most of their home improvement projects, the use of all kitchen accessories is trending towards use as opposed to simple ‘style enhancement’. Some examples of this include colanders and cutting boards that are now being made of high-quality materials but also being seamlessly integrated into the kitchen countertops. These new features not only are easy to use, but also easy to remove for quick cleaning.

Eco-Friendly Kitchen and Bathroom Lighting Gaining Traction

Lighting has always played an integral role in kitchen décor. But in recent years, the focus has been to create eco-friendly lighting features that are both effective in keeping your kitchen well illuminated, but also help to protect our natural resources. The goal of any kitchen light treatment should always be to accomplish three primary elements:

Ensure you have a safe cooking environment

Make sure the lighting creates a certain ‘feel or tone’ to your kitchen

Verify that the lighting is functional and easy to work with day and night

Some ways that people are creating eco-friendly lighting in cabinets is through LED technology located inside cabinets, and below base cabinet boards. Not only does this light up even the darkest nooks and crannies inside your kitchen, but it also maximize space. And since the lights are LED powered, it saves you money on energy bills as well.

The 2014 Kitchen & Bath Industry Show in Las Vegas was a hit for both home builders and owners looking for helpful décor and upgrade ideas for their new remodeling project. Take the time to review more information about the show, and also consider using these three different hot topics in your next remodeling project.

Read the full story at: http://peakonebuilders.com/3-kitchen-bath-industry-show-innovative-concepts-2014/

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

[New Post] Popular Ideas For Building A Guest House In Phoenix published on

building a guest house in phoenix One of best perks of living in Phoenix is that most of your family and friends love to come visit you – especially when it’s freezing in their hometowns during the winter months. Due to this fact, many residents of Phoenix and surrounding cities in the North Valley are looking for ideas and options for building a guest house in Phoenix. Whether you’re looking to add a guest room, a casitas or even a free standing guest house on your property you may be excited to find out the additional benefits. Not only does this make your home more comfortable for guest that visit, but also can vastly improve your property value.

3 Popular Methods of Building a Perfect Guest House in Phoenix

First: Building a Casita in Phoenix

If you’ve taken time to check out newer model homes in the Phoenix area, you’ll see that building a casita or guest room is a growing trend. By definition, a casita is either an attached or detached single bedroom suite, that often has its own full bath, and in many cases mini-kitchen areas. Traditionally a casita also includes a private entrance that is not attached to the home. This allows the visitors to come and go as they please without interrupting the home owners. There are several ways of including a casita into your home remodeling budget including:

Adding on to your home. Most of the home remodeling companies that service the greater Phoenix metro area offer casita attachment programs that simply add another room to your existing home. Traditionally this is done by adding the casita to the front of the home – again, with an access door cut into a wall of the primary residence and another allowing access to the casita without disturbing the primary residence.

Building a detached casita. Another popular way of building a guest house for friends and family members that visit or stay with you in Phoenix is to build a detached casita, also known as a mother-in-law apartment. This method tends to be an easier option for home owners as you are simply building a secondary building on your existing property. This unit would have its own power, water and utilities. Plus, it allows people to come and go as they like – while still allowing your family to maintain the privacy of your primary residence.

Second: Converting a Garage into a Guest Suite in Phoenix

It’s also common for home owners to convert an existing indoor garage into a very comfortable guest room. The great thing about this method is that the initial costs of completing this home renovation can be much more affordable – since the existing framework, power and most major utilities are already preinstalled. Traditionally the home owner will meet with a professional home improvement contractor to discuss their wants, budget and needs to create a plan of action that can transform their garage into a very comfortable guest home.

Third: Adding a Rec Room or Guest House

Finally, a growing trend for home owners that live on larger lots is adding a guest home / rec room in their back yards. This is especially popular for home owners that have pools installed at their homes in Phoenix. With this option the home owner will create a two-bedroom suite with a larger ‘family room’ or entertainment area in which to host guests. A popular design trend here is the making one bedroom a ‘master suite’ while creating a ‘bunk room’ with multiple bunk beds for children to stay when they visit your home.

Regardless of what type of method you choose when building a guest house in Phoenix, it’s vitally important that you work with a licensed and professional contractor that has years of experience in crafting custom-designed guest homes, additions and remodeling projects. If you’re thinking about adding onto your home, contact a dependable contractor to set discuss your options and create a plan that fits your needs and your budget.

Read the full story at: http://peakonebuilders.com/popular-ideas-for-building-a-guest-house-in-phoenix/

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

[New Post] What Is An Energy Efficient Home If I Live In Scottsdale? published on

what is an energy efficient home The term ‘Energy Efficient Home’ is often widely used as something that every homeowner should strive to obtain. But what exactly does it mean? And if you have an Energy Efficient Home in Alaska, is it the exact same thing as being in Scottsdale? The truth is that different geographic locations require different elements to create a home that is energy efficient and comfortable. As such, when you ask what is an energy efficient home, the truth is that it depends on where you live.

To keep things simple and practical for those who live in the Phoenix metro area, the goal is this: keeping a home as energy efficient as possible – while still maintaining comfort all year long.

Three Steps to Keeping an Energy Efficient Home

Step #1 – Make Sure to Have an Energy Audit Performed

The first step in making any home truly energy efficient is to discover areas inside your particular home that could be improved. This is often accomplished during an energy audit performed by a professional home energy technician. Energy Audits can truly be an eye-opening experience for any homeowner. They are designed to analyze every aspect of your home that will impact energy consumption including:

Inspecting windows, ductwork and insulation for leaks, cracks or obstructions that cause a home to lose heat or cold

Inspecting and testing the efficiency of major appliances, HVAC systems and ventilation

Analyzing the location of the home and discovering inside areas inside that absorb more energy than they should

Step #2 – Consider Installing Energy Star® Appliances

Another important step for making an Arizona home energy efficient is to install Energy Star® rated major appliances as soon as possible. Energy Star® rated appliances have been proven to use up to 25% less energy than standard appliances. And with energy consumption rates increasing each year, taking the proactive measure to install Energy Star® rated appliances can significantly reduce the total amount of monthly energy you use.

Step #3 – Develop a Strategic Plan When Building a New Home

If you’re in the process or considering building a new home, there are several things you can do to make the home as energy efficient as possible including:

Work with your builder on home placement: a great way to save money on energy consumption is to first determine a smart course of action as to where the home should sit on the lot. There are many ways to ‘naturally’ heat or cool a home based on the location of primary walls, windows and doors in association to where the sun rises or sets each day.

Consider installing energy efficient roofing and insulation: living in the Phoenix metro area is all about keeping air consistent inside the home. And the best way to do this is to ensure the home has exceptional insulation. Spray foam is by far the best method to seal the building from drafts, leaks, and gaps using a high insulating and expanding foam.

Window replacement is a great way to increase energy efficiency: Upgrade your drafty, old single pane windows. Today’s Low-E and Low-E2 windows are far superior to products made even in the last few years. And, the window frames are made with thermal breaks and highly insulated glass.

Work with the builder to install custom, energy efficient HVAC systems: Another proactive step to ensure you have a truly energy efficient home in the Scottsdale area is to install a highly energy efficient home heating and cooling system. Some of these units include all-in-one HVAC systems, new heat pump systems or even solar powered heating units. Another basic option is to choose an electronic programmable thermostat, and understand the peak energy hours of your power company. This is a very inexpensive way to quickly save money.

The bottom line; to determine what is an energy efficient home requires you to determine what’s best for your individual location. Homes in the city require different needs than mountain-based homes, and vice-versa. However, regardless of where your home is located, the best way to build an energy efficient home is to openly discuss this with your builder or any home remodeling expert that has experience in creating energy efficient homes. Always ask questions to experts in order to get solid answers.

Read the full story at: http://peakonebuilders.com/what-is-an-energy-efficient-home-if-i-live-in-scottsdale/

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

[New Post] Top 4 Functional Kitchen Layouts Scottsdale Residents Love published on

functional kitchen layouts One of the most popular rooms to be remodeled in Arizona is the kitchen. And with so many design features, layouts, color patterns and such to choose from, creating that perfect upgraded kitchen has never been easier – or has it? The truth is that sometimes having several options to choose from can lead to over-thinking, spending way too much money and having this fun experience transform into a nightmare. And the best way to begin any kitchen remodeling project is to pick a functional kitchen layout that works best for your individual needs.

Popular Kitchen Layouts

In order to help you along this process, we are here to provide you with a great starting point. Here are four of the most popular – yet highly functional kitchen layouts that are beginning to show up in new homes across the country, as well as several remodeling projects in Arizona.

The Galley Kitchen

The ‘galley’ kitchen layout is perfect for smaller kitchens that can be designed stylish – yet be extremely easy to navigate. Essentially a ‘walk-through’ kitchen design, a galley kitchen has two walls that oppose each other and two countertops with a walkthrough area in between the two. The great thing about galley kitchen layouts is that they maximize space – in every aspect. From the flexibility to install unique and custom cabinetry to easily installing most major appliances, the galley kitchen layout is one that is great for people wanting to keep things simple.

The L-Shaped Kitchen

If maximizing corner space is your primary objective, the L-Shaped kitchen layout could be right up your alley. Seen primarily in smaller to medium sized kitchen, the extremely diverse L-Shaped kitchen layout is often associated with countertops located on two-separate walls forming an ‘L’ shape. The primary benefit of this kitchen layout is that you eliminate traffic as it’s simply impossible for people to walk through this type of kitchen in high-volume. The L-Shaped kitchen is a great option for individuals who are looking for function and ease of access in their kitchen as opposed to entertaining multiple people.

The Horseshoe Layout

The popular U-shape or ‘Horseshoe’ kitchen layout consists of three walls of appliances and cabinets. Essentially, this design is an L-shaped kitchen with an island that takes the place of the third wall. For people looking for a functional kitchen that can also be used to entertain people the horseshoe layout seems to be growing in popularity. It’s also easier for people to be creative with horseshoe layouts since several different homes – especially larger homes – can incorporate a custom-horseshoe designed kitchen.

Kitchen Island Layouts

One of the more opulent kitchen layout designs will include an island. Most working islands inside a kitchen will feature appliances, sinks or additional cabinetry, while several others in some cases actually include a second oven, grills and even full service bars. Most people love to include an island due to the fact they can add barstools to increase eating space, increase workspace by installing a sink or even entertain by adding a wine cooler. A common misconception however, is that any ‘upscale’ kitchen needs to have an island. The fact is that some kitchen layouts simply won’t accommodate an island.

How About A Professional Designer?

You may be surprised to hear that a professional designer is only about 4% of your total project budget. So, why not consider using a designer so you can leverage their expertise to save you time, peace of mind and money knowing that you’re maximizing the functional use of your space.

Whether you hire a professional, remember the primary goal of any kitchen remodeling project is to start with a foundation and functional kitchen layout that works best for your individual needs and available space. I’m going to suggest you seek the advice of professional kitchen remodeling contractors before you purchase any materials and above all else; take the proactive measures to learn as much as you can to keep this process fun; yet affordable.

Read the full story at: http://peakonebuilders.com/functional-kitchen-layouts-scottsdale-residents-love/