The truth about your small kitchen remodel

The truth about a small kitchen is that it will not be the jack of all trades. You will have to give up the idea of doing homework here, paying bills here, and recipe searching in your small kitchen. The design goal for your small kitchen must be to achieve an effective small kitchen, not multipurpose space. There is nothing wrong with a kitchen that is just that, a kitchen. The design factor is a lot tougher already when you have to fit a functioning kitchen into a small space, but small changes can make it even better than a large kitchen.  When designing a small kitchen think of: size, color, light and function.

So focus first on function, making sure you have the appliances and work areas you need. You may be able to save a bit of space by using scaled-down or innovative appliances, including refrigerator and freezer drawers and pint-sized microwaves, stoves (some with just two burners) and single sinks. The function is there, without all the square footage! If workspace is at a premium, consider a small-scale island or a counter-topped cart that can be rolled away into a closet when not in use. Now just because you need to really hone in on function of your small kitchen does not mean you have to lose any space to style. The color of walls, appliances, and counter tops, bar stools, and backsplash can change the mood of your pint sized kitchen. Going with more pale colors can help with light, but don’t be afraid to go bold and add color and mix your patterns. Using the same color and style of fixtures and cabinet knobs can unify a design when you are using different textures and patterns in your small kitchen.

Tiny kitchens can feel claustrophobic if there are upper cabinets towering over you in such a small space. Most of the time cooks can’t even reach those upper cabinets anyways, and in a small kitchen there isn’t much room for a stool or ladder. Skip the excessive cabinets and opt for a more spacious approach with open shelves. You can also use magnetic knife strips, pot racks and give your kitchen a designer way to show off your favorite dish sets and even artwork. And like any other room, your small kitchen needs great lighting that you can use for cooking and for atmosphere. Fluorescent lighting, which casts a bluish light impacting the colorization of objects in the room, including the food, is frequently found in kitchens. To counteract it, consider hanging pendant lights that bathe your eating area in a more appetizing color. Tip: Try using glass doors from the kitchen into the next room or to the outside, this will increase light in the kitchen and also give the illusion of more space.

Don’t let small spaces give you design block. No matter a small galley kitchen or small apartment kitchen – you can make your design amazing if you trim the fat and keep your design neat.

Make An Industrial Loft Your Dream Home

Many city dwellers salivate over the prospect of living in an urban loft. There’s something about those exposed HVAC ducts, wood beans, and wide open floor plans that makes living among the concrete jungle a much more feasible option in Los Angeles. Perhaps it’s because they often offer better views, or perhaps it’s because finding large space in a city is increasingly hard to come by. What ever your reasoning is, a loft can be just as much your dream home as a large house.

This modern loft in Downtown LA got a face lift with some unique details such as concrete polish floors and new wood floors to match the modern flat panel kitchen cabinets. This Downtown loft proves that even loft can be designed with luxury in mind.

Designer tip: Keep your entry way simple with an antique hall way table adorned with delicate decor.With so much open space and towering high ceilings,  it's time to curate a gallery wall. The revered design feat is a creative collection of artworks ranging in height, position, and style. From new artists to flea-market finds, the gallery wall is a humble dedication to all forms of creative expression.

Flat panel kitchen cabinets were installed with quartz counter tops and wood floors to make this small kitchen area anything less than spectacular. We used Polished Concrete in the entry way,  and kept the industrial exposed beams and ducting. Making use of the space under the stairway, a chic desk was styled with a chair in this seasons must have color; Mustard.

Since Downtown Los Angeles is notorious for small spaces, this simple design trick gives the room a spacious appearance, even if it's not. To ensure it stays looking that way, carefully consider your furniture placement. Even if your home isn't an open plan, you can give off the essence of one by thinking about your furniture placement. Once you've decided on your pieces, move them around, really work the space making sure to leave ample "white space" for breathing room.

Let Spazio LA help with your next remodel! Contact us today for an exclusive and always complimentary in house design estimate. 1.877.624.7772

Dreaming of a luxury home?

It takes more these days than just a large home, to define the true meaning of luxury.  And Luxury homes are popping up all over the Los Angeles remodel scene. The word luxury brings to mind plenty of conveniences such as, pools, bathrooms with built in towel warmers, in-home gyms that include the newest equipment, backyard tennis courts, game rooms, and fully-stocked kitchens with warming drawers and wine cellars? But what are the items that luxury home buyers want the most?  What is a luxury homebuyer looking for when shopping for their new abode? How can you make your home as luxurious as possible during your next remodel?

Here are the top luxuries people are looking for to ensure you aren’t adding amenities that no one is looking at.

A home theater is great, but luxury home buyers are looking for more than just a room with a large screen and comfy seats. You will need to step it up a notch and get yourself an IMAX home theater if you want to wow the crowd, the luxury crowd that is. Watching Hollywood block busters from the comfort of your home is now possible, with a hefty price tag that is. IMAX will bring the best theater to your door for $3 million dollars and change. If this isn’t something you think you have prepared in your remodel budget, that’s ok, wait a few years and the price may decrease. Until then we can continue to shell out big bucks for the movie theater or wait until it shows up at your local Redbox.

Speaking about technology, the luxury amenity next on our list is a home that is fully managed, monitored and controlled by a smart phone or tablet. Hence the name: “smart home.” Control the temperature, light setting, security system, door and window locks, sound system, t.v’s, and more, with the touch of one button from where ever you are. The digital world is taking over and people want technology improved homes. Think about technology and innovations before you start your next luxury project. Luxury is all about making life easier, better and being able to do things faster. Such luxury means you do not have to open or close your curtains. That’s right; homes are becoming equipped with motorized blackout curtains or shades. Why? Because this is what home owners think will make their life easier. I guess it seems nice to have your curtains set to close or open at a certain time, or pressing a button to close the shades when the afternoon glare is obscuring your t.v show rather than getting up to do it yourself. Have your smart phone control your curtains too while you are at it.

To make your home feel more luxurious, Shelley Little of Freshhome.com says ,”Skim through design magazines and look at all the wonderful nooks and crannies that they portray. You will notice that when a room is well-designed, everything has a home and a purpose. There is no clutter in a hotel or well-organized room.” Lastly she notes, “The entryway is the first and last thing that (people) see. Make it one that leaves a lavish impact. “

So you have guessed it, luxury comes with a cost. Keep in mind that these are the top luxury amenities, but there are thousands that are affordable and worth the renovation.