One of the most popular new trends in areas of Utah like Park City and Salt Lake is placing a fireplace near a kitchen during a home remodeling project. Among all new fireplaces installed today, factory-built units are by far the fastest growing option. Most units are made of steel. Some models include fans that blow air - heated in a plenum separated from the fire - into the kitchen or through ducts to other rooms for additional space heating. We can help assess if your kitchen has enough room for sure a project during a remodeling job. Because of the potential for rough winters, you can never count on a quality custom fireplace enough in Park City, UT.

Conventional wood and high-output gas fires require a double-wall chimney pipe that goes up and out the roof. Most fireplaces that burn natural gas or propane instead of wood burn so efficiently that they can be vented directly out through a kitchen wall with no tall flue required. With advances in kitchen remodeling technology, many of the newer gas fireplaces offer very realistic looking fire. 

Designing a kitchen renovation an take as much time and attention as the construction phase. A well-planned design is particularly crucial in a major re-design, in which costs are high and room for error is not. For example, if it costs a dollar to plan your kitchen well on the drawing, it will cost you $10 to make a change if your cabinet-maker has already begun, and it will cost $100 to make a change if you don't catch a problem until the crew is on the job site in some cases.  However, as the most respected general contractors in Park City, we can help and your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed on all projects. Don't trust your big home renovation to just anyone and give us a call today!

Mclean kitchen remodel tip: Although the house shown above is not very large, every inch of space is used. A pullout pantry and pull-down shelves put items at the fingertips of short or seated cooks. Universally designed storage offers great options for all homeowners in Mclean.

• Vary cabinet sizes for use by family members of different heights and physical needs; consider children and tall men or women.
• Use lower wall cabinets or pull-down storage units so objects and supplies are within universal reach range.
• Include cabinets that allow for knee space. Consider cabinet doors that slide back into the cabinet. 
• Choose cabinet components that facilitate access to stored supplies and appliances, including larger, heavier items: rotating units, such as lazy Susans; shelves that pull or roll out of base and full-extension drawers are all available as part of the kitchen remodeling process. 

Also consider a people-friendly cleanup center. Washing dishes or clothes may not be the high point of your day, however, installation of a raised dishwasher or convenient laundry center make these chores easier. Raising the height of your washer and dryer during a kitchen remodel or general home renovation also helps you avoid excess bending. We also recommend extra storage to the right of the dish washer.

No matter what your needs, we can help. Contact the BKR Pros today for more info on all your home renovation needs in Connecticut. 

Lake Oswego is home to some of the most beautiful homes in the Portland area. If you need affordable kitchen remodeling, look no further than the pros at BKR. We've been handling home renovations for decades and can walk you through every step of the remodel process.

Lake Oswego home remodeling tips: Successful implementation of universal kitchen design does not produce a sterile, institutional look. Instead it results in a functional and attractive setting where your family and friends can savor their surroundings, drawn by a pleasing combination of colors, textures, and surfaces that is heightened by engraving finishing touches, as seen in the Lake Oswego home remodel above, courtesy of our contractor's camera.

The shape of something in a kitchen as simple as a doorknob affects how easily someone can enter and leave a room. Comparably priced level-style door handles are easier to turn than knobs and are available in a range of styles and finishes. Anyone experiencing hand pain will appreciate the action.

Plenty of light through the skylights, wide windows, and doors make the kitchen (above) a warm welcoming place. The casement windows open with a crank, which could be motorized, allowing people of all ages and capabilities to operate them. Two zero-step entrances allow easy access, a plus for anyone carrying bags of groceries or pushing a baby stroller or wheelchair. Doors based on universal design are at least 3 feet wide. Level-style handles in these types of kitchen renovations take little effort to operate.

A bathroom will be different things to different people. A large family will obviously make more extreme demands on the space than a single householder. A bathroom used mainly by the elderly or young children will involve radically different styling from a room that is used only by a young couple. Planning your bathroom involves assessing your lifestyle, needs a demands - both as they are currently and as they are likely to evolve over the years. It is necessary to ask yourself a few key questions before you start, to help plan the most effective space for you.

Who will be using this room?
Look at issues such as the number of people using the bathroom and how often. If you are catering for the demands of a large family whose members will all need the bathroom at the same time, consider installing additional fixtures like a second basin or a bidet to provide additional washing facilities which can be used simultaneously. Think about replacing an over-bath shower with a separate shower enclosure, or installing showering facilities and vanity units elsewhere in the house. You should also consider these adaptations if styling a bathroom for a busy couple who may both need it at the same time. 

Consider whether the facilities are suitable for all the family. A step-up to the bath is ideal for small children, and also useful for a parent when bathing babies or toddlers. Think about height restrictions and safety - small children may bang their heads on low basins, and tall people will hate bending over low fixtures. If elderly people will be the main users of the space think about installing a special low-sided bath or shower. Elderly or less-able people will also benefit from a higher toilet or raised toilet seat. Consider your choice of taps, too - level-operated fittings will be easier for them to use.

If the bathroom will be used primarily by the very young or the very old, you need to pay close attention to safety features such as slip-resistant flooring, thermostatic shower mixens and anti-scald valves. Grab rails at key points in the bathroom such as near the bath, in the shower and next to the toilet are also a good idea. Carefully consider the needs of those who will be using the space and think about what you expect from a bathroom. Are speed and efficiency the most important criteria? Are relaxation and recuperation the crucial ingredients? Or perhaps it is essential to have both at different times, and create a space that is a sanctuary as much as a utility.

What type of fixtures: Take time to consider your choice of fixtures during a bathroom remodel, including flooding and wall covering. If children will be using the bathroom, make sure the materials you choose are child friendly. Remember that some materials need more cleaning than others. Lots of pretty bottles and lotions are basins and baths may create an eye-catching display but may not be practical if they are within reach of small children. What are your priorities? Style at all costs, or a hard-wearing, low maintenance environment?

Most kitchens will require at least seven separate circuits. The major appliances (except for the refrigerator) each need their own dedicated circuits.

• Range: Separate 240-volt circuit.
• Dishwasher: Separate 120 volt circuit.
• Microwave oven: Separate 120 volt circuit.
• Kitchen lighting: Requires one general lighting circuit.
• Garbage disposal: Separate 120 volt circuit.
• Smaller appliances: At least two additional 120-volt, 20 amp ground fault circuit interrupter countertop receptacles spaced no more than 4 feet apart, so that no part of your countertop is more than 24 inches from a power source.
• Also consider additional lines for TV and other electronics.
• Extra wiring for lighting under cabinets and soffits.
• New circuits may need a larger electrical panel. Installing a new panel should be done by a licensed electrician.
• Determine the wattage of your appliance. Add up the wattage of those appliances you plan to plug into each circuit.
• GFCI protection should be specified on all receptacles in the kitchen that are near water sources.
• Wall-mounted controls should be positioned no higher than 48 inches above the finished floor. This includes light switches, thermostats, wall receptacles and intercoms.

Drawings can be prepared by designers at a local home center and by kitchen remodelers - better preparation when it comes to electrical wiring means a more productive work session an a shorter turn-around time on all projects.

If you have an awkwardly shaped bathroom, you will need to work extra hard to make it feel light, open and spacious. You may have to deal with low or sloping ceilings, slanted walls, lots of corners and tricky alcoves. It is a huge challenge, but the end result doesn't have to be an awkward looking bathroom.

If you have a sloping ceiling, arrange your fixtures to suit. Place the shower and basic in the tall section of the room where you can stand upright, and position the foot end of the bath where the ceiling is lowest, or, depending on the incline, place the bath under the slope.

Make the most of the limitations. Although a sloping ceiling creates an odd-shaped room, it offers fantastic potential for natural light by fitting a skylight. A skylight lets in five times as much light as a window the same size.

Fix lights flush to the ceiling to increase the feeling of height in the room, and prevent hanging light fittings from becoming a dangerous obstruction. Bathrooms with sloping ceilings are generally quite small. Compensate with bright soft colors, or neutral shades to open out the space. Often it can be difficult to decide where the walls end and the ceiling starts. If this is the case you may end up using the same color on the entire room so it is very important to keep it light. Place mirrors at strategic angles to increase the perceived size of the room, or use mirrors and mirrored tiles to open up awkward recesses.

Be clever when planning and use the awkward shapes to the greatest advantage. Consider fitting a large walk-in shower or built-in storage unit in a difficult corner or larger recess.


Common problem: The room's awkward shape makes it impossible to fit either a full-sized bath or shower.

Solution:

• Fit a compact shower in the recessed area. Consider using frosted glass or glass blocks to section this area off from the room next door, and allow lots of light through for a pleasant effect when showering.
• A corner basin is a compact option and accentuates the natural curve of the wall.
• Despite the room's small dimensions, careful planning means there is enough space to fit both a toilet and bidet. This is a luxurious touch if you are using this room as your main bathroom. Or you could do without the bidet and fit a larger basin instead.
• A sliding or folding door in the curved wall for entry into the room is both an excellent space-saving idea and an attractive feature in the smaller bathroom.

This step-by-step guide will show you how to increase your storage options by making your own shelves out of fiber-board to display and store bathroom necessities. 

Tools: Tape measurer, pencil, dust mask, jigsaw, electric drill, wall anchors, wood glue, hammer and panel pins, scissors, hammer and screwdriver.

Skill level: Intermediate

Time: 2 hours

Type: Storage solution

1. Each shelf consists of five pieces in all. Measure, mark out, and (while wearing a dust mask), cut to size the following pieces of fiber-board: two pieces, 100 x 70mm (4 x 2.75 inches), for the sides; one piece, 380 x 124 mm, for the top; two pieces, 380 x 70 mm, for the front and back of the shelf.
2. Holding the back piece against the wall, drill two holes through the fiberboard and into the wall. Remove the fiberboard and insert wall anchors into the drilled holes in the wall. Now attach the side, front and top pieces to the back piece using wood glue and panel pins.
3. Cut a piece of beech-effect sticky-backed plastic 600 x 124mm. Peel off the adhesive backing and stick across the top and side panels, tucking neatly under the side edges of the shelf to finish off. Gently smooth out any air bubbles using a clean cloth. Cut another piece 380 x 70mm, peel off the backing and stick carefully on to the front panel of the shelf.
4. Hold the back of the shelf in position against the wall and screw tightly in place using a small screwdriver.

Good idea: During a remodel, fix cup hooks to the bottom of the shelf and use for hanging face cloths, wash bags and loofahs. Sticky-backed plastic comes in some great finishes so you can be as bold or subtle as you like to tie in with your room scheme.

You want your bathroom to be a calm and relaxing haven, but without adequate attention to safety, it could turn into a potential disaster zone. With the dangerous combination of shiny surfaces and hard-edged fixtures, water and electricity, you need to take care at the planning stages of a remodel.

This fact is compounded in cities like Boston and Staten Island where space is already at a premium. Below are a few basic safety tips to consider when planning your next bathroom renovation.

• Plan your electrical fittings carefully in consultation with a qualified electrician who will be able to advise you on official regulations and requirements. As a general guideline, ensure that standard fittings cannot be reached from the bath and that fittings don't come into contact with water. Lightbulbs should be adequately protected from splashes, moisture and steam. Buy specially designed bathroom lights and always use low-voltage fittings.
• Remember that shiny floors become slippery when wet so invest in specially treated non-slip flooring or use mats with non-slip rubber backing to absorb splashes and prevent falls.
• Try to ensure that baths and showers have ridged or textured surfaces, otherwise use non-slip mats. Hand rails near the bath and shower are useful safety additions.
• Potentially dangerous substances should always be locked away or in a child-proof catch.
• Fit anti-scalding regulator controls or thermostats to maintain an evenly heated water supply at all times. Try to ensure that hot water taps cannot be easily reached by small children. Hot water pipes should be boxed in to prevent accidental burns.
• Think about height restrictions. Small children may bang their heads on low basins. Cabinets and shelving should not be placed directly over a toilet, bidet or bath where they could pose a potential danger to somebody standing up quickly. Also, items could fall from cupboards or shelves and damage fixtures.
• Fixtures with rounded edges are safer than those with sharp corners, particularly in a small bathroom where they can cause injury to somebody who slips against them.
• Ensure your bathroom is equipped with adequate ventilation. If steam is allows to collect it will encourage the growth of mold and mildew. If you don't have a window that opens, you may legally be required to install an extractor fan.
• Fit door locks that can be opened from the outside in case anybody becomes locked in the bathroom. Alternatively, keep a spac

Don't worry if you are stuck with a small, cramped bathroom. Take inspiration from these handy hints and tips on using your space more efficiently and increase the appearance of roominess in your bathroom.

Spatial illusions:

• Keep your scheme monochrome. One color used on walls, windows, blinds and floors will dramatically increase the sense of space - the lighter the tone, the better.
• Maximize space with dual-purpose furniture, reflective surfaces and clever lighting. Look for accessories that work twice as hard, for example, towel rails that incorporate soap dishes.
• Use the space below and above fittings. Position shelving and/or cupboards beneath and above basins, around the bath and in the wall space above it. Be creative with shelving units - standing at a right angle projecting into the room may take up less wall space and form effective room dividers.
• Build a solid surround around the bath to provide extra surface for toiletries, soaps, candles and other items, and to provide space for built-in shelving or underneath cupboards.
• Fill an empty wall - one with a window if at all possible - with a built-in bathroom bench. It provides an ideal place for relaxing on or pampering yourself after a bath. Add a cupboard or shelving unit underneath to create extra storage. If you don't have enough room for a bench, you can still make clever use of an empty corner by installing a shelf that can also be used as a corner seat.

Further considerations:

• If storage space around the bath and sink is limited, use the walls. Hang a stylish chrome shower caddy from hooks or shower fittings, use a wall-mounted toothbrush holder and soap dish. Check out accessories with suction fittings, which attach easily to tiles or glass.
• Bath racks in a range of materials are ideal for over-bath storage.
• Place colorful plastic or stylish steel baskets on the floor of the shower and group shampoos, shower gels and soaps in them.
• If you have the floor-space, give an old chest of drawers, sideboard or small wardrobe a new lease of life by using it in the bathroom. Revamp it with paint, wood-stain or varnish to match your design scheme - remember to add a moisture-proof finish in the bathroom, such as polyurethane varnish, for long life. Use it to store towels, make-up, cleaning products - to keep the room clutter-free.
• Stich small squares of voile to a voile panel to make pockets for lightweight storage and drape it over a window or shower rail, or use it as a screen in front of shelving to hide clutter. You can also buy custom-made shower curtains with pockets for storage.
• Use baskets, trays, pretty bowls or glass jars to divide beauty products into easy-access categories such as lotions and face creams.

Decorative or accent tiles - around a door or window frame, along a roof line, or stair risers, or behind a wood-burning stove - add architectural interest to a kitchen.

Accent tiles on walls (left) can be installed in two ways: On top of an existing wall in the same manner as any installation, or flush with the wall. You can install accent tiles on top of any sound, smooth, clean, flat surface. Organic mastic is a good choie of adhesive for this type of work.


To install accent tiles on an uneven surface - an exterior stucco wall, for example - first glue or screw a piece of exterior grade plywood, cut to size, to the wall. Then attach tiles to plywood using standard thin-setting techniques for applying tile to a wall. 

To install accent tiles flush with an existing wall, rout out the finish wall materials behind the intended location of the tiles attach tiles with thin-set adhesive following the general guidelines for applying tile to a wall, and use grout to fill in space between tile and edge of wall. On a new wall, plan the tile installation before finishing the backing so tile will end up flush with finished wall.

Name and address tiles are an increasing popular kitchen design choice for both personal and commercial signs. It is recommended that these tiles be installed on a plywood backing.  A piece of plywood bolted to a wall is much easier to remove when you move or remodel that are tiles installed directly into the wall.

Cut a piece of exterior grade plywood to size and attach it to the wall. Then use standard thin-set adhesive techniques to install tiles. Use an edging tile or wood trim to finish the edge of the plywood.

Door frames and windows: Tile can be used very effectively to surround a door or window either indoors or outdoors and anywhere in a kitchen or bath area. It will take the place of an be far more decorative than conventional wood trim pieces. Use bullnose or special tiles called windowsills for decorative sills. Set tiles so that rounded edges face outward. If the wall is also tiled, either set windowsill tiles last so that the finished edge of the sill tile is set on top of the wall tile or start at the window to make sure you do not have to cut frame pieces. Use the same setting materials and techniques for any wall installation.

Tabletops: A single tile or field of tiles set into a tabletop is decorative and serves the practical purpose of a built-in trivet. If you are settling individual tiles into a table, you'll have to rout a section of the table surface so that tiles will be flush with tabletop. Attach tiles in the same manner as you would a floor install. If you are covering the entire table with tile, treat the project as an island countertop.

Picture: Shielding the area on and around cabinets is just one of the many ways to customize a kitchen.