<![CDATA[Remodeling Ideas & Solutions - News & Views]]>Wed, 22 May 2013 14:25:23 -0800Weebly<![CDATA[Outdoor Kitchens]]>Wed, 22 May 2013 00:33:27 GMThttp://www.triliteremodeling.com/3/post/2013/05/outdoor-kitchens.htmlPart of the outdoor living trend is that outdoor kitchens are almost as well-equipped for cooking as the main kitchen.  Besides the standard grill, other features include warming drawers, ice makers, cooktops, refrigerators, sinks, beer coolers, rotisseries, dishwashers, trash drawers, pizza ovens and lots of storage.  Outdoor cooking isn't just grilling meat anymore.  It's also preparing all the side dishes and chilling the beverages.  When the meal is ready, you can eat it in your outdoor dining room.  Next, you can wash the dishes, throw out the trash and relax by the fire in your outdoor living room.
]]><![CDATA[Outdoor Living Rooms]]>Sat, 18 May 2013 00:25:13 GMThttp://www.triliteremodeling.com/3/post/2013/05/outdoor-living-rooms.html
Next, we'll look at outdoor living rooms.  While the outdoor space is informal, it can still reflect your personality.  There are a variety of styles to choose from in outdoor furniture, including the popular transitional design that merges vintage and contemporary.  You can pick from sofas, easy chairs, gliders, rockers, and coffee tables that look almost as nice as your living room furniture.  They're sturdy and weather-resistant, made of wrought iron, aluminum or wicker and they have deep, comfortable cushions in bright, durable fabrics.  You can add a rug or throw pillows for additional homey touches.  If you're interested in maximizing your outdoor space, try stackable chairs or benches that double as storage units.   An attractive way to add seating for additional guests is a seat wall made of concrete, block, or brick.  And finally, if your budget is tight, the internet offers 21 DIY furniture projects made from pallets.  Below are some outdoor living rooms and none are made    
]]><![CDATA[Outdoor Dining Rooms]]>Thu, 16 May 2013 00:18:31 GMThttp://www.triliteremodeling.com/3/post/2013/05/outdoor-dining-rooms.htmlThe first outdoor living area we'll look at is the dining room.  Outdoor dining has come a long way from eating a burnt hot dog off a paper plate while balancing on a wobbly lawn chair.  New dining room sets are sturdier, more attractive, and more weather resistant than their predecessors.  Dining areas are more inviting and now incorporate features of indoor dining, like comfortable cushions, rugs, bright colors, and attractive table settings.  By adding fire pits or heaters, misters, canopies, and good lighting, you don't have to wait for the perfect spring afternoon to eat outside.  You can enjoy the outdoors even if the time or weather isn't perfect. 
]]><![CDATA[Outdoor Living Trends]]>Tue, 14 May 2013 00:01:55 GMThttp://www.triliteremodeling.com/3/post/2013/05/outdoor-living-trends.htmlIn a recent survey of the American Society of Landscape Architects, they were asked to name the most popular elements in current residential designs.  Near the top of the list are outdoor living spaces, which we will look at more closely this week.  Very high ratings were also given to firepits/fireplaces, gardens/landscaping, lighting, patios/decks, and water features.  Outdoor rooms have become an extension of the home.  We don't just want to sit out on the patio--we want to be able to cook a delicious meal, eat at a comfortable table, and then relax in outdoor seating that feels like we're in the living room except that we have fresh air and a gorgeous view.  Below are examples of the more popular outdoor living trends. 
]]><![CDATA[Favorite Remodeled Kitchens]]>Thu, 09 May 2013 22:07:24 GMThttp://www.triliteremodeling.com/3/post/2013/05/favorite-remodeled-kitchens.htmlZillow has a feature on their site called "Digs" that shows newly-remodeled rooms with estimates of the costs.  As expected, kitchens had by far the most traffic in terms of likes.  The number of likes ranged from zero to 995 for the most popular one.  The average remodel estimate was $56,000, but there wasn't a direct correlation between number of likes and dollars spent.  Some remodels well over $100,000 didn't have any likes at all.  There were many features that showed up consistently in the top kitchens:  lots of cupboard space, large islands, high-end appliances, wood flooring, and pendant/chandelier lighting.      
The kitchen on the right is the one that was way ahead of the others with 995 likes.  It had all of the same features as the other popular kitchens--lots of cupboards, island, pendant lights, large appliances, and wood floor.  Some people commented they loved the dark cabinets with white countertops, while others said they'd love the kitchen if it weren't for the dark cabinets.  Judging by the comments, though, what pushed the count over the top was the TV on the wall.
]]><![CDATA[Fully Automated Home Comfort System by Cytech]]>Fri, 03 May 2013 22:49:13 GMThttp://www.triliteremodeling.com/3/post/2013/05/fully-automated-home-comfort-system-by-cytech.htmlPicture
We've all dreamed of having a fully automated home ever since we saw them on futuristic TV shows when we were kids, but it's been a long time coming.  We could get a system for home security, another for heating and cooling, still another for our entertainment center, leaving us holding half a dozen remotes and not getting anything to work.  Thanks to some patient guinea pigs who had the Comfort System in their homes for several years and helped work the bugs out, we may be close to the real thing.  Cytech's technology can be used from any telephone, handheld remote, iPad, or computer and it integrates all of your home security, maintenance, entertainment, comfort, and communication systems.  It works so well that you can speak to someone at your front door using your intercom, water your lawn, start cooking your dinner, check to see if the kids are doing their homework, close the drapes, listen to your messages, and turn on your favorite TV show--all while you're stuck in traffic.  Some of the features are just fun, but others give you peace of mind by constantly monitoring your home and letting you know immediately if there's an emergency.
]]><![CDATA[Update on David Wright House]]>Wed, 01 May 2013 23:13:50 GMThttp://www.triliteremodeling.com/3/post/2013/05/update-on-david-wright-house.htmlPicture
You may recall that right before Christmas, the David Wright house was sold soon after the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservency was able to temporarily block the plans of the owners to tear down the house and build new ones. 

A ruling on the home's historical designation was scheduled to go before the city council today, but the new owner is requesting a 6-month extension to allow enough time to put together a comprehensive presentation for fully restoring the interior and exterior of the home and then opening it up for public tours.  

Frank Lloyd Wright built this home in 1952 for his son and daughter-in-law, David and Gladys Wright.  It has come to be known for its circular architecture, concrete block detailing, spiral ramps, and elevated living quarters as you can see in the photos below.  These pictures were taken at the last public showing of the house before it was sold.

 
]]><![CDATA[5 Ways to Refresh Your Home for Spring 2013]]>Tue, 30 Apr 2013 00:23:50 GMThttp://www.triliteremodeling.com/3/post/2013/04/5-ways-to-refresh-your-home-for-spring-2013.html

New linens for your bed is a great way to start and if you choose one of the popular floral prints, you can bring springtime into your bedroom.  You can do the same for your bathroom by getting new towels if it's been a while since you've done that.
Growing indoor plants is a good way to bring some life and color to your home.  Choose your plants based on where you'd like to place them--direct or indirect sunlight.  Try to avoid any hot or cold drafts.  The best watering system is to feel the soil and water them as needed.  That works better than watering on specific days.
Colorful throw pillows is an easy way to add color to your living room.  If you find some fabric you like, you can cut out 2 squares, place right sides together and stitch around 3 1/2 sides.  Flip it right side out, fill it with batting and hand-stitch the opening so that it doesn't show and they'll look like you bought them. 
Do a quick household decluttering by getting rid of any clothes or shoes you haven't worn in 2 years.  Do the same with all the newspapers, magazines, or books that you haven't gotten around to reading in 2 years.  Finish up by tossing out any items that are broken or missing parts.  A quick decluttering won't take long, but it'll feel like a weight's been lifted off your shoulders.


Freshen up your living room by giving it a good dusting and a good vacuuming.  To really brighten the space, you can paint one wall in an accent color.  Easy to do and you'll notice a big difference.
]]><![CDATA[Kohler's New Kitchen Sinks]]>Thu, 25 Apr 2013 23:29:21 GMThttp://www.triliteremodeling.com/3/post/2013/04/kohlers-new-kitchen-sinks.html
Kohler wanted some rich, vibrant colors for their enameled cast iron kitchen sinks and Jonathan Adler gave them Piccadilly Yellow, which he calls unexpected and exuberant; Greenwich Green, that he says is bolder than "dull avocado green"; and Palermo Blue, that he terms beautiful and refreshing.  Fortunately, without the adjectives, the new sinks fit nicely with the popular yellow, green, and turquoise cabinet and paint colors for 2013, as shown in the kitchens below.
]]><![CDATA[Centerpiece Stoves]]>Wed, 24 Apr 2013 00:10:00 GMThttp://www.triliteremodeling.com/3/post/2013/04/centerpiecestoves.html


A popular trend for kitchens is hidden appliances, but it's okay to use one appliance as your focal point, like this Bertazzoni Heritage Range.  It's 48 inches long and comes in 7 different colors.  It comes with 6 gas burners plus a griddle.  The downside of this stove is that the double ovens are only available in gas, not electric.  This company began making wood-burning stoves 125 years ago.  They combine that old-world craftsmanship with precision engineering to produce a stove that has a striking appearance coupled with excellent performance.



Another great stove is this gorgeous ILVE range.  It comes in your choice of 8 colors with 3 different finishes.  The gas range has 5 to 7 burners and either a simmer plate or Tepanyaki plate.  There are double electric ovens, one with a rotisserie plus an optional warming drawer.  It comes with its own vent hood and utensil rack.  It's easy to imagine this range being the centerpiece of your kitchen.  



Here is a Wolf Range and Hood in a brick enclosure as focal point of this kitchen.  The stove top comes in several configurations, with 4 to 6 gas burners paired with a griddle, charbroiler or French top.  The double oven is electric with a convection feature and broiler.  This range is only available in stainless steel, with the knobs in black, stainless steel or signature red.  Wolf is known less for its appearance than it is for its powerful, professional-grade cooking.
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