Open Floor Plan Storage – Best Practices to Keep Things Hidden

Having an open floor plan provides your home with a lighter feel and look. This kind of design also creates a cleaner flow throughout your house. However, this type of home renovation has one notable drawback. Open floor plans cut down on storage spaces in homes. Keep the following storage ideas in mind for your home.

WiFi Router and Modem

Your WiFi router and modem should be in the center of your home. This location helps ensure that your entire home has a strong WiFi signal. However, an open floor plan can make it hard to hide these devices from view. Consider placing them behind books or other items on open shelves in the central part of your home. Avoid storing them inside a cabinet or box, since they can become overheated.

Toys

When you have kids, toys can easily end up all over your home. Keeping them tidy means having a place to store them. Consider having a built-in storage bench or window seat installed as part of your open floor plan. These storage places provide hidden areas where toys can be put away each day. Your kids can also get to them with ease when they’re ready to play again.

Off-season Items

Boots, coats, and other off-season items can take up a lot of room in your home. However, you don’t have to worry about having piles of off-season items around. Instead, consider having cabinets built under your stairs for storage. This area offers a convenient place to keep off-season items that aren’t being used. You can also have shelving installed under your stairs to store these items. If your floor plan has alcoves, these can also be used for storage. Place a wardrobe cabinet in an alcove or have some shelves built into it to hold these items.

Kitchen Items

Open floor plans might mean having fewer cabinets and cupboards for storage. Where can you keep pots, pans, cooking utensils, food storage containers, and other items? Consider having a kitchen island built. This provides your kitchen with extra storage space for these items. You can have cupboards built into the island. You’ll also have extra surface space for preparing food.

Shoes and Purses

You don’t necessarily have to keep these items hidden. Having a place to store them out of sight can make your home seem more organized, though. Consider having a built-in storage bench placed close to the entry of your home. This bench provides handy storage for purses, shoes, gloves, hats, and similar items. With this storage in place, your entry way won’t look cluttered.

Miscellaneous Items

Where can you store odds and ends in homes with open floor plans? Instead of cluttering up a drawer in your kitchen, consider having open shelves installed. You can have these shelves built next to doorways or even above them. Keep your miscellaneous items stored in decorative boxes and bins on these shelves.

If you’re planning a home renovation with an open floor plan, Drafting Cafe Architects is here to help. Please contact us today for a free estimate. if you’re looking into an ADU for a rental or downsized home, consider our Medium Roast ADU. With vaulted ceilings providing more space, you’ll have plenty of room to use clever storage ideas.

Energy-Efficient Renovation – How to Choose the Right Fixtures

Making changes to your Bay Area home for a more energy-efficient renovation offers many benefits. These changes provide an effective way to lower your utility bills. They also allow you to help out the environment. When you’re planning a home renovation with a focus on energy efficiency, consider the following fixtures.

Appliances

Washers and dryers account for up to 13 percent of energy usage. Choose an energy efficient washer with Energy Star certification, which can reduce energy usage by 25 percent. To save the most energy, look for washers with a low Integrated Water Factor and a high Integrated Modified Energy Factor. Check for the Energy Star label when choosing other appliances as well.

Plumbing

Eco-friendly plumbing fixtures can help you use less water overall. Keep in mind that water heaters account for up to 14 percent of energy usage. You can reduce this by choosing a tankless water heater with Energy Star certification. Tankless water heaters are between 8 and 34 percent more efficient than storage tank water heaters. 

Windows and Doors

Heat loss and gain through windows and doors accounts for up to 30 percent of heating and cooling costs. Energy efficient windows and doors can help reduce this. Look for windows with energy-saving features, such as low-e coating and gas fills. Energy efficient windows should also have a lower solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC). This reduces heat coming in from outside. Choose doors with energy efficient features, such as magnetic strips to keep out drafts.

Insulation

Choosing the right kind of insulation can help reduce energy usage and improve home comfort. Look for insulation that has the right R-value for heat resistance. R-value refers to how well your insulation prevents heat flow into and out of your home. This will provide your home with greater energy efficiency overall.

Programmable and Smart Thermostats

Programmable and smart thermostats are a simple way to lower your home’s energy usage. Consider these thermostats during your renovation. With programmable thermostats, you can program the settings to raise or lower the temperature at certain times. Smart thermostats allow you to adjust settings from a mobile device, even if you’re away from home. These thermostats also adjust temperature settings automatically based on your daily schedule and other factors.

Heating/Cooling and Solar Power

Heating and cooling systems account for up to 47 percent of energy usage in homes. Getting an HVAC system that uses less energy can lead to much lower heating and cooling bills. Look for HVAC systems that are more energy-efficient, such as heat pumps. You might also want to look into getting solar panels instead for greater energy savings. These panels provide you with solar power for your home. 

Siding

The siding on your home can help keep warmer air inside during winter. It can also keep hot air outside during summer. Consider getting siding with energy-efficient qualities, such as insulated vinyl siding. This kind of siding helps lower energy usage that occurs through wall studs.

Rebates

Having changes made to your home to lower your energy usage helps you save money over time. You might also be able to save even more money with rebates. For example, San Francisco Water Power Sewer offers rebates for certain plumbing fixtures, such as water-efficient shower heads. Pacific Gas and Electric Company offers rebates on certain products, such as smart thermostats. Check with local utility companies for detailed information on these rebates. 

To learn more about our home renovation services in the Bay Area, please contact Drafting Cafe Architects. Our team can help you choose energy efficient fixtures for your home to lower your energy costs. Call us for a free estimate. 

Popular Tile Styles And Trends For Your 2021 Renovations

When combined with the perfect color variation and texture, tile can become the focal point of your room. Staying current with tile trends is important as you probably are not going to change them for some time. If you use the most current tile trend in your renovation, it will carry over for years to come.

Making smart choices for quality, durability and style will allow your tile to keep your kitchen, flooring, and bathrooms looking sharp. Our guide will help you choose trendy & stylish tiles for a perfect home renovation. You can completely transform the aesthetic of your space with tile.  

Styles & Pattern

Highly decorative tiles are popular in 2021 that are sure to create a wow factor and help you design your dream space. With so many options, we expect to see tiles that look like other materials: wood, stone, marble, and concrete. Patterned tiles can mimic art-deco, Moroccan, Terrazzo-look, and Encaustic-look.  Major trends in this area include graphic patterned tile; matte tiles for a more natural, finished look; neutral tiles that can be placed anywhere in the space; large subway tile with a darker grout color.  All these styles contribute to the design and should be planned in coordination with an interior design professional to assure your room doesn’t look too busy.

Colors

It goes without saying that tile color immediately draws the eye. Some of the hottest trends in 2021 include light neutrals – grays, white, and blue. The high variations and cool tones never go out of style. When it comes to choosing tile colors, it should be timeless, capturing the personality of the owner’s style. 

Layouts & Sizes

You can expect to see a lot of larger sizes and unique patterns in 2021. The popular layouts are wide planks, chevron, large format, and herringbone. Tile flooring that looks like concrete is also trendy. There is still a huge demand for the earthy, stone, and metal design, while concrete style is a go-to if you’re looking for flooring that’s very trendy. 

Tile Shapes

Bold,  fan, round, diamond, arabesque, subway, linear, and triangle & geometric shapes are trendy in 2021 as most of the homeowners are looking for something different.  A really hot trend is hexagonal tiling, which can add a three-dimensional look when installed correctly. Use these tiles on the wall or as a backsplash for a full effect.

The Right Team for Your Renovation

Having the right team in place can provide a perspective on all the creative trends you can use in your remodel. Architectural design plays a role in how things are configured and interior design adds the wow factor that makes the difference. Drafting Cafe Architects can help with kitchen and bathroom remodels, additions, design to build services, architectural and interior design.

For more information on the best tile trends in 2021 that can make a significant difference in your remodel, contact us for a free estimate today!

Best Designer Features For A Stunning And Functional Kitchen Remodel

Embarking on the task of designing a kitchen that is both functional and attractive can be daunting. One can quickly become overwhelmed with the various options available and decisions that must be made.

These top six kitchen design features are utilitarian yet aesthetically pleasing. Each is intended to increase the value of the kitchen. Inadequate storage and wasted space can render any area of a home impractical.

These design areas bring sophistication and practicality to any kitchen.

Sink: Gadgets Increase Value and Usefulness

Sinks are a kitchen essential, but today’s modern kitchen sink comes with various gadgets like prep bowls, strainers, and cutting boards, lending a more functional kitchen. Choose a sink that has the features you require and allows you to tend to the tasks at hand whether you are rinsing vegetables from your garden or preparing a gourmet meal.

Vent Hood: Customized for Your Decor

A vent hood eliminates grease, steam, and cooking odors from the air while you are cooking. While that is necessary, it can be an eyesore. It is typically plain and glaringly oppositional to the aesthetics of the kitchen. There are custom vent hoods available that are not only beautiful, they will correspond to the style of your kitchen.

Island: Versatility and Function Meet Style and Convenience

A carefully chosen kitchen island is a practical and convenient addition to most kitchen spaces. It can create additional storage and counter space as well as additional seating for meals. The versatility in design options provides almost limitless choices based on your individual needs.

Storage: Logical and Tailored to Fit Your Space

There’s are many components to kitchen storage that extend far beyond adding some cabinets. Features that allow you to organize the inside of your cabinets and drawers optimize your storage space. Stored items are within easy reach and cabinets are organized. Pullout shelves and drawers provide easy access and clear away clutter.

Lighting: Functional and Layered

The kitchen is one areas of the home that requires exceptional lighting, but layered lighting provides flexibility. The kitchen is often the hub of a home. Lighting should be appropriate for the space and task. By choosing layered lighting you can easily control the mood and function of the area.

Appliances: High Quality with Relevant Features

High quality appliances are a must in any kitchen. The oven, stove, refrigerator, and other appliances can turn an ordinary kitchen into a striking showpiece. It is an investment that will provide value for years to come.  Choose brands like Sub-Zero, Miele, and Thermador for optimal performance. High end appliances will operate more effectively and efficiently, require less maintenance, and last longer so opting for quality is essential.

If you are planning to design your new kitchen (or redesign your old one), Drafting Cafe Architects. Our experts will help you plan and execute your Oakland kitchen remodel. We know what it takes to create a kitchen that is functional yet personal. Increase the value of your home and design an elegant, luxurious kitchen that reflects your style.  Let us help you with your Oakland kitchen upgrade. Contact us today for a free estimate.