Kevin

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May 25 2020

What Does Your Dream Kitchen Look Like? 5 Kitchen Renovation Tips

Kevin Kitchen Renovation, Kitchen Remodeling 0

A kitchen renovation can be a little overwhelming at first because there’s so much to consider: countertops, paint colours, appliances, flooring, the list goes on. Don’t despair! Custom Decor is here to offer a little insight into your kitchen remodeling project.

Here you’ll find five great tips to get your kitchen renovation started off on the right track.

1. Keep those Old Cabinets

If you’re replacing your entire kitchen, including the cabinets and other storage areas, don’t toss those old cabinets until the job is finished. By holding onto your old kitchen cabinets, you can create a mini kitchen in your pantry or another area of the home. You’ll still have to cook and eat, even during your remodeling project, and this will make it easier.

2. Include a Kitchen Office

For those who spend a lot of time in the kitchen, why not consider a kitchen office space in your remodel? It doesn’t have to be huge: a small desk area with room for a phone, computer, and a few outlets and drawers is enough. That way, you won’t have to worry about running back and forth if you need to work on something but also don’t want the sauce to burn.

3. Don’t Order Countertops Until Cabinets are Installed

For those who plan on replacing kitchen cabinets as well as countertops, it’s important not to order the countertops until your cabinets have been installed. This is to allow installation teams to take the proper measurements. If you have out-of-square walls, your cabinets may measure differently than expected. That’s why it’s always best to wait, unless you are okay with a gap.

4. Get Creative with Storage

Thinking a little outside the box when it comes to storage will help you maximize your kitchen space. For example, those with smaller kitchens might want to include an under-cabinet storage rack for things like knives and cooking utensils, or a backsplash rack to store pots, pans, and other items.

5. Leave Some Space in Between Appliances

If you’re remodeling the kitchen but don’t plan on replacing appliances like your refrigerator or dishwasher, be sure to leave some wiggle room in between the cabinets and countertops. If you do decide to replace them down the road, the new appliances will be more likely to fit comfortably in those areas.

Let us be your go-to kitchen renovation experts!

If you’re beginning a kitchen remodeling project, the team from Custom Decor would love to hear from you. To learn more about our products and services, contact us online today or call (613) 342-8090 for a FREE virtual kitchen consultation.

December 3 2019

How to Save Money on Kitchen and Bathroom Remodeling

Kevin Bathroom Renovations, Home Renovations, Kitchen Remodeling, Kitchen Renovation 0

Extensive kitchen and bathroom remodeling can come at a high cost when you consider the number of materials, contracting services and furniture that is required to finish the job. While remodeling these areas, homeowners should consider the many money-saving remodeling techniques that they can use to keep costs down.

The kitchen and bathroom remodeling team at Custom Decor explain their best tips for keeping costs down while creating the home of your dreams.

Five Tips for Saving on Remodeling
Paint and reface cabinets

Cabinets are a major focal point in any kitchen or bathroom, and cabinet replacements can be a significant investment. Rather than replacing your cabinets altogether, professional kitchen and bathroom remodeling contractors may be able to reinvent your cabinets with a fresh coat of paint or by simply finishing them with a veneer.

Add crown molding

For those looking to elevate their space and create a more elegant appearance, crown molding can be a simple way to achieve this. Rather than replacing all of your kitchen and bathroom furniture, crown molding may be the perfect detail to draw the eye and make these rooms look more polished.

Design the layout around plumbing

When drastically remodeling a kitchen or bathroom, the largest expense can often be adjustments to your plumbing system. Fortunately, a kitchen or a bathroom can be entirely transformed without touching the plumbing in your home. Keep costs down by planning cabinets, kitchen appliances, shelving units and other furniture around the sinks, bathtubs and toilets, which are already in place.

Explore discount material options

Materials can quickly consume your kitchen and bathroom remodeling budget if they are purchased at full price. There are countless resources for contractors who are looking to sell off extra materials such as granite and tile after a big job. When working on smaller details like a bathroom counter, or a kitchen backsplash, it is always worth seeking out discount materials from contractors, in order to save money on kitchen and bathroom remodeling.

Transform your space with paint

Painting your kitchen or bathroom walls in a bold new colour can be an inexpensive way to freshen up your space and play with design. A coat of paint can also make neutral coloured elements in your kitchen or bathroom pop.

Let Custom Decor Help

At Custom Decor, our reputable team is here to guide you in creating your dream home. From bathroom tiles and accessories to kitchen cabinets and sinks, Custom Decor has a wide range of decor options that will transform your space. Call us today at 613-342-8090 to get a free estimate!

November 6 2019

DIY Home Renovation Disasters and How to Avoid Them

Kevin Bathroom Renovations, Home Renovations 0

DIY home renovation projects can be a great way for homeowners to save money and reinvent an outdated space. Unfortunately, these projects do not always go to plan. Our team at Custom Decor has listed some of the worst DIY disasters and how you can avoid them.

Kitchen Cabinet Flops

Homeowners who redecorate their kitchen without the help of a designer often get caught up in colour coordination and wind up matching their kitchen cabinets with the counters and walls. Coordinating all of these elements can often lead to a dull, washed-out looking space. Break up the colour scheme in your kitchen by choosing cabinets that contrast the rest of the space.

Homeowners who opt to add crown moulding to their kitchens often make the mistake of following the line of the ceiling, rather than the kitchen cabinets. Consulting with a home renovation professional is always the safest way to ensure a successful kitchen cabinet design and installation.

Refrigerator Fails

The refrigerator is a DIY project that only the brave will take on. There are countless instances of homeowners placing their refrigerator against a wall or kitchen cabinets that stop the doors from opening or smash against various objects every time they do.

The team at Custom Decor can help you make the perfect plan for your kitchen. We’ll give you our advice on where to put that fridge so it compliments your space.

Dangerous DIY Slip-Ups

DIY projects that involve plumbing or electrical work should be done very carefully. Homeowners often fail to take the proper safety precautions and risk dangerous electrical shorts or leaks.

Examples include electrical wires that could cut through the sheathing and cause a fire, or improperly vented appliances that could cause a carbon monoxide leak in your home.

When it comes to these tasks, we recommend hiring a professional. You should never take chances with your home, and asking for help is the best way to keep everyone safe.

Contact Custom Decor

Our experts at Custom Decor are here to help you with all of your home renovations so that you do not run into any of these problems. Whether you are looking for new kitchen cabinets, or you want to freshen up the flooring in your home, our knowledgeable staff can help. Contact us today for more information and a free estimate.

October 7 2019

Tips for Building Beautiful, Functional Bathrooms that Last

Kevin Bathroom Renovations 0

Like the kitchen and bedroom, your bathroom is one of the most highly trafficked areas of your home, which is why keeping it up to date is essential. Doing so can not only improve your comfort, but it can also help boost your home’s resale value, especially if you update it with new fixtures and appliances.

As one of Brockville’s leading bathroom renovation contractors, the team from Custom Decor wants to share some tips to help inspire your next project. Take a look below!

Consider Your Family’s Needs

One of the foremost considerations you should make while planning for your bathroom renovation is the needs of your family. Larger families will require more storage space. It’s also a good idea to keep accessibility in mind during a bathroom renovation, installing a walk-in shower instead of a tub, or support bars in the shower and toilet area for increased safety.

Create a Detailed & Itemized Budget

You may have a good idea of the budget you’ll have to work with from the outset, but breaking it down into an itemized list can be incredibly helpful. When settling on a budget, be sure to include items such as:

Flooring
Accessories
Paint, trim & detailing
Fixtures
Storage areas, cabinets & bathroom countertops
Electricity
Plumbing
Lighting
Etc.

Anticipating Your Changing Needs

If you plan on staying in your home for a while, there are a host of things you can do to anticipate your changing needs as you get older. Consider installing things that will make it easier to access storage spaces, such as drawers rather than cabinets, since they’re easier to use. Leaving ample space between bathroom fixtures will also make it easier to navigate as you get older.

Ample lighting is important, especially for those who don’t have 20/20 vision. Consider installing both mood lighting, as well as bright overhead lighting to ensure you can easily see what you’re doing while in the bathroom.

Choosing Materials

When it comes to bathroom renovations, the choices of materials are almost endless, depending on what you want to do. A full overhaul will often include replacing the bathtub, sink, shower, and toilet, as well as all the cabinetry and storage space. Some may even opt to replace their bathroom countertops and flooring, as well as their faucets and ventilation systems. Ultimately, the extent of your renovation will depend on your needs and budget.

Let Custom Decor help design your dream bathroom!

For those considering bathroom renovation, Custom Decor would be delighted to help bring your vision to life. We have more than 20 years in the home remodeling industry and a proven reputation for providing long-lasting renovations at an affordable price.

September 3 2019

What to Do When Your Kitchen Cabinets Have Seen Better Days

Kevin Kitchen Renovation, Kitchen Remodeling 0

The kitchen is one of the most trafficked rooms of the home, so it’s only natural that its accessories will experience some serious wear and tear. Often, it’s the cabinets that are the first to go. But is replacing all your cabinets really necessary or will a simple coat of paint do?

Over the years, Custom Decor has helped hundreds of clients revitalize their kitchen by upgrading their cabinets or adding a fresh coat of paint to them. Below, we’ve shared some of your options when it comes to kitchen cabinets.

Repaint, Reface or Replace?

Painting Adds a Fresh New Look

For some homeowners, it may not be necessary to spend an arm and a leg replacing all your kitchen cabinets. If they’re undamaged, a simple coat of paint will often do the trick. Repainting your cabinets can breathe new life into the kitchen and brighten it up a bit, especially if you replace your darker cabinet color with something lighter and brighter. Hire a reliable kitchen renovations expert, who will sand, prime, and repaint them.

Refacing Cabinets can be an Eye-Catching Option

If you’ve inherited a home with grease-stained, scratched or chipped kitchen cabinets, they’re likely going to need more than a coat of paint to look their best. That’s why many hire professionals like Custom Decor to reface their cabinets. You can hire someone to sand out the imperfections and provide a new veneer; there are also peel-and-stick veneers for those on a budget.

Replacing Can Give You a Modern, Custom Kitchen

Sometimes, cabinets are beyond repair. If yours are showing serious signs of wear and tear, such as mold or mildew buildup or warping, then they need to be replaced. Doing so will not only boost the value of your home but make your kitchen more attractive and convenient. Before replacing your cabinetry, think about the other appliances and accessories in your kitchen and consider investing in cabinets that compliment them.

Let Custom Decor help revitalize your kitchen!

For more than two decades, our team of professionals has been providing outstanding services to those in the Brockville area. In addition to kitchen renovations, we also specialize in bathroom remodeling, window and wall installation services, painting, and flooring.

Have you decided to give your kitchen cabinets a facelift? Custom Decor would love to hear from you to talk more about the vision you have for your kitchen. Call us today at (613) 342-8090 or fill out our online contact form for a free estimate.

July 23 2019

The Advantages of Investing in Waterproof Flooring for Your Brockville Home

Kevin Flooring 0

It doesn’t matter what type of home you have: you likely don’t want to replace your flooring every few years due to water damage. Doing so is expensive and unnecessary because there are a host of waterproof flooring options available for Brockville and area homeowners. Whether your household is undergoing kitchen or bathroom renovations, there are many quality waterproof flooring options to choose from.

Below you’ll find some more information about how to choose waterproof flooring and its benefits.

Why Choose Waterproof Flooring?

Nowadays, homeowners don’t have to worry about whether a stain is going to be absorbed into their floors. If you have pets, toddlers or occasionally spill a drop of wine or two, plenty of flooring options are designed to be durable and water and stain-resistant. There are both hard and soft materials that provide homeowners with great options.

Some of them include:

Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT): One of the easiest waterproof flooring materials to care for is vinyl tiling, and there are a variety of luxury options available. Unlike traditional sheet vinyl flooring materials, LVT is constructed out of vinyl tile planks that mimic the look of hardwood or stone. They also offer an airtight seal, eliminating the chance of water damage.

Hardwood: When it comes to kitchen renovations for your Brockville home, many choose to go with hardwood flooring, which offers good protection against stains and water damage. This option provides an elegance that goes unmatched when it comes to kitchen flooring, as well as durability and stain resistance.

Many may opt for engineered hardwood flooring, which has a water-resistant plywood base and hardwood veneer.

Tile Flooring: When investing in new flooring for your bathroom or other areas that receive a lot of moisture, tile flooring is a great option. This is because tiles are durable and can be easily sealed to prevent moisture damage. Ceramic tiles are waterproof and come in many sizes, colors, and styles. There’s also stone tiling fashioned from granite, travertine, limestone, marble, and other water-resistant materials.

For those who want to simulate the appearance of stone but want an extremely durable option, porcelain is ideal. It doesn’t allow any moisture penetration and is often much more affordable than other alternatives.

Let us be your Brockville waterproof flooring solution!

Are you considering replacing the flooring in your home or renovating your kitchen or bathroom? Custom Decor would love to hear from you. For more information about our kitchen, bath, window and wall solutions, call (613) 342-8090 today or fill out our online contact form.

June 25 2019

Benjamin Moore Paint Can Spruce Up Your Decks and Doors

Kevin Interior & Exterior Paint 0

If you’re looking to make your home’s exterior look even more inviting from the street, updating your doors or decks can be a great way to do it. With Benjamin Moore paint and stains from Custom Decor, your exterior can be better than ever!

Repainting Your Doors with Benjamin Moore Paint

As the entry point into your house, the first thing any visitor will notice is your door. Because they’ll be getting up close, even minor problems with the paint will be visible. This means it is always important to keep your exterior doors looking great with fresh coats of paint.

Repainting your doors with a new colour is also a good way to give your home a new look, without having to repaint the entire facade. You might be surprised at how different your home looks, just from having the doors repainted.

We recommend getting some paint chips and attaching them to your door for a day or two. You want to see how the paint looks at all times of day – particularly dawn, noon, dusk, and at night. Once you find the right colour for your door, Benjamin Moore paints will ensure it looks great for years to come!

Upgrading Your Deck with Benjamin Moore Stain

The colour of a deck isn’t as important as the colour of your doors – but its ability to stand up to the elements is extremely important! If your deck hasn’t been stained lately, it’s probably taking a lot of damage from sunlight and weather, not to mention daily use.

Benjamin Moore stains are long-lasting and capable of keeping your deck looking new for a long time, no matter how harsh the weather is. You can choose between coloured stains or transparent stains that preserve the natural look of your deck. For those who live in particularly challenging environments, you might even want to look at solid stains – they act like paint but bring an extra level of protection against the elements.

If you are going to re-stain your deck, remember that it needs to be extremely clean to create a good finish! Give the deck a good wash beforehand, and let it dry thoroughly. If there are any areas with deep-set stains or grime, using sandpaper can help get them out. Then the surface will be ready for a new stain.

For the Best in Benjamin Moore Products, Come to Custom Decor

For over forty years, Custom Decor has provided great paints and stains to the Brockville area, along with options in flooring and more. To learn about how we can help improve the look of your home, contact us today for a free estimate!

May 17 2019

5 Signs You’re in Need of Bathroom Renovations

Kevin Bathroom Renovations 0

Aside from the kitchen, the bathroom is probably one of the most highly-trafficked rooms of the home. That’s why keeping it in great shape and performing regular maintenance and renovations when needed is important. However, unless you’re a decorating whiz or home repair expert, determining precisely when it’s time for a bathroom makeover is difficult.

As one of Brockville’s leading kitchen and bathroom remodeling teams, Custom Decor has helped hundreds complete successful bathroom renovation projects. Below, we’ve shared some of the more telling signs yours is in need of an upgrade.

1. You’re Bumping into the Walls or Fixtures

Bathrooms aren’t always the easiest rooms to navigate since they’re often a little less spacious than other rooms in the home. However, this doesn’t mean that you should be bumping into the walls and fixtures every time you use it. If you’re having trouble navigating your bathroom, then consider renovating it and updating some of its fixtures to make it more spacious and comfortable.

2. Visible Signs of Wear & Tear

Another sign it’s time for an upgrade is when your bathroom bears visible signs of wear and tear, such as moldy tiles and stained porcelain that can’t be removed. Not only are such things unsightly, but they can also affect your health, so when you’ve got mold and other major signs of wear and tear, it’s time for a bathroom renovation.

3. Lack of Storage Space

Finding a place to store all those clean towels and washcloths when not being used is tough. Often, bathrooms are built with such storage needs in mind but it isn’t uncommon to outgrow these needs and require more space. If you’re struggling to find places to store the extra toilet paper, perhaps some renovations are in order.

4. Outdated Plumbing Fixtures

If you can’t remember the last time you updated your bathroom plumbing fixtures, now might be the time. This is because quite often, older plumbing fixtures are less efficient than current models, meaning you could be throwing money out the window on the monthly water bill.

5. Dark & Insufficient Lighting

Having to get up close and personal with the bathroom mirror just to see yourself in the morning is frustrating. If your bathroom lacks natural or artificial light, enlisting the services of a remodeling contractor is recommended. They can help make certain you can easily see each morning while shaving, primping, and pruning.

Call us for your bathroom and kitchen renovation needs today!

Are you suffering from some of the aforementioned issues? Contact Custom Decor today to learn about our affordable kitchen and bath solutions. We also specialize in windows, walls, and painting services; visit us online for a complete list.

April 24 2019

Hardwood Flooring Is Good for Your Home & Your Health

Kevin Flooring 0

Everyone knows that hardwood floors are beautiful, long-lasting, and give your home a timeless look which will never go out of style. However, the benefits to hardwood flooring don’t end there! Hardwood floors bring numerous benefits to your lifestyle as well, including benefits to your health.

If you’re looking to stay happy and healthy in a beautiful home, hardwood flooring is definitely the way to go.

Three Surprising Health Benefits from Hardwood Flooring

Remove allergens from your home

One of the biggest problems with carpeting is that carpets are a magnet for pollen, dust, pet dander, and numerous other substances which people are allergic to. With so much surface area to grab onto, and so many little deep-down recesses to hide in, allergens can consistently hide in carpets – often outlasting even dedicated vacuuming! Sometimes, all vacuuming does is stir them up, rather than making them go away.

With hardwood, this simply isn’t an issue. Hardwood is easily cleaned and gives allergens no place to stay. Plus, of course, the hardwood itself is also hypoallergenic and safe even for those with severe allergy issues.

Deter mold, mildew, and other harmful growths

Properly-finished hardwood is also excellent at resisting microorganisms such as mold and mildew. These organisms, of course, can be extremely harmful to human health, or even deadly in the case of black mold. Carpets can easily host mildew if they get wet, without being immediately dried. Most tile-based flooring, like vinyl tiles, are also susceptible because the spaces between the tiles are perfect for microbial growth.

But hardwood flooring gives you a single edge-to-edge perfectly smooth surface, with no cracks or other breaks which could allow mold to gain a foothold.

Quickly clean up messes

If you have children or pets in your home, you know floors can quickly get messy. In case of any unexpected accidents, hardwood flooring is quick and easy to clean. There’s far less chance of unwanted substances being left behind and affecting your family’s health.

As an added bonus, spills and messes on hardwood floors are also easier to spot, so you’ll be able to clean up accidents as they happen. Hardwood flooring truly is a practical, functional feature in any home.

For over twenty years, Custom Decor has provided excellent home furnishings to the Brockville area. Contact us to learn more!

April 19 2019

Treat Your Windows This Spring with New Window Treatments!

Kevin Window Treatments, Windows & Walls 0

With spring comes spring cleaning… but it can also be a great excuse for a little redecoration! When’s the last time you changed out the drapes, shutters, or other features of your windows? Maybe it’s time to give some of your rooms a new look – by getting new sets of window treatments!

“Window treatments” is a blanket term for any sort of covering or framing for your windows, whether they’re functional or beautiful. Or, better yet, both! Here are just a few ways you can improve the look and feel of your home by updating your windows.

4 Great Ideas for Spring Window Treatments

1. Custom drapery

For the ultimate in elegance, custom drapery always impresses. The drapery fabric can be your choice, or it can be chosen by an expert home designer to perfectly match your aesthetic. Either way, custom drapes will look great from within the room, as well as from the curb. Plus, they can be a great selling point if you ever put your house on the market.

2. Roman shades

Roman shades – a form of pull-up blind – are another classic cloth-based option, which can be matched to any room of the house. These can entirely cover windows, adding an extra layer of privacy, but they can also be fully raised. Cord-less options are available as well, which makes them a good choice for children’s rooms, or places where pets might otherwise have too much fun with a pull cord.

3. Wooden blinds

Wood or faux-wood blinds are a good option for making rooms feel warm and inviting, or for adding a slightly rustic feel. Being solid, they are excellent for blocking out light, and also make a good choice for AV rooms or in areas of the house which typically get a lot of sunlight. With a variety of paints and finishes available, there are options in wooden blinds to fit any look.

4. Valences

Valences are non-moving partial shades which go over the top of a window, adding a touch of beauty. They are particularly nice in the kitchen or other rooms where you want to have plenty of natural light at all times. The fabric can, of course, be chosen to fit your own tastes and decoration.

Custom Decor

For over twenty years, Custom Decor has been providing the best in home decoration to Brockville, ON, and surrounding areas. Contact us to schedule an in-home consultation!