Southern Maryland Kitchen Bath Floors & Design

January 6, 2025 by Southern Maryland Kitchen Bath Floors & Design

modern kitchen island remodel in MD home

In recent years, islands have become essential focal points of the modern multi-functional kitchen remodel. This is partly due to the rise of remote and hybrid workers, who use open-concept kitchen spaces for work, entertainment, and more.

Regardless of the cause, purposeful kitchen islands have become extremely desirable and now serve multiple functions incorporating seating, sinks, storage, workspaces, and even appliances. Depending on the available space, a kitchen island can become a social and functional extension of the kitchen to enhance the flow of the entire open-concept area.

In this article, we break down three key considerations for designing a multi-functional kitchen island for a modern kitchen space. Homeowners should not rely on one-size-fits-all kitchen island designs. Making a purposeful addition to your open-concept space requires the right layout, design elements, and professional guidance.

1. Size Selection

The size of the kitchen island impacts the look and functionality of the entire kitchen. If it’s too big, the kitchen can become cramped, blocking full access to appliances and storage. Yet, an island can be short-changed on size, limiting its usefulness.

A good rule of thumb used by kitchen designers is to make sure that kitchen islands have at least four feet of floor space around each side. This should quickly identify the right size, providing enough room for cabinets and appliances to be used comfortably.

When following this rule, an island can become too small to be useful. If it has to be 3-4 feet in length or less than 3 feet wide to fit comfortably, homeowners and designers should consider alternatives to kitchen islands, such as tables. If your kitchen is suited for an island, don’t despair; a kitchen remodeling company will be able to provide other exciting design ideas to match your space and goals.

2. Maximizing Storage

Kitchens of all sizes should be designed to maximize storage without sacrificing key functionality. Therefore, the new island should be optimized for storage utility depending on the available space in your kitchen.

For example, extra amenities like a mini fridge, rinse sink, or breakfast bar can be enticing, but they also take up space that could be reserved for storage. Despite being less exciting, extra cabinets and drawers, customized to the height of the island, may be a more functional addition to the design, as well as end cap shelving.

white theme kitchen with island and cabinets

Although a breakfast bar may be a superior priority over storage, it should be reconsidered. The need for alternate eating areas may change over time, but seldom does the need for storage decrease in a kitchen! Expert home designers help homeowners maintain the right priorities when designing their islands.

3. Maintaining the Workflow

In the post-pandemic workplace, demand for remote and hybrid work options is higher than ever. As a result, kitchen islands have become useful additions to the home’s workflow, both in terms of the movement between spaces and the tasks that residents hope to accomplish.

For example, consider the “kitchen work triangle,” a rule often used by professional designers to keep the three key workspaces: the sink, stove, and fridge, between 4 and 9 feet apart. According to the rule, this spacing results in proportions that maximize functionality, allowing the workspaces to function in tandem without overlapping.

In theory, a kitchen island can disrupt this workflow if it blocks easy access to the stove from the fridge, or any other side of the “triangle.” However, islands can also be designed with this workflow in mind to maintain the natural rhythm of the kitchen, such as by incorporating a sink, fridge, or cabinet into the island itself.

When designing multipurpose islands, designers should consider how key points in the workflow interact and how the island can disrupt or encourage a better workspace. Even lighting can factor in. When sufficiently lit, an island can double as a cutting board, cooktop, breakfast bar, table, desk, and more.

When designing a multipurpose kitchen island, professional designers consider both how the island impacts the existing functions and how it can add new ones.

Trust the Experts at Southern Maryland Kitchen & Bath With Your Multifunctional Kitchen Remodel

While DIY kitchen designs can work, they often lead homeowners to unnecessary and costly second renovations. The temptation to include a large central island is too much for some homeowners, who don’t recognize the limitations of their floorplans.

At Southern Maryland Kitchen & Bath, our team helps homeowners design ideal kitchens by incorporating their visions without sacrificing functionality. When properly designed, kitchen islands can become multi-purpose focal points of modern kitchens, providing homeowners with a better workflow in their home’s most important and central space.

Contact us today to learn how we can help you focus on functionality when designing a beautiful new kitchen island. We can help you balance your stylistic goals with the basics of good design to execute your ideal kitchen and avoid costly mistakes along the way.

December 23, 2024 by Southern Maryland Kitchen Bath Floors & Design

minimal kitchen remodel design of a MD modern home

For homeowners ready to remodel, renovate, or build their ideal kitchen, matching their additions to the existing architecture is key to creating elegant, yet functional kitchen spaces. When done right, a kitchen remodel can become the social focal point of the home, a space in which everyone will want to congregate and enjoy.

If you’re planning a kitchen remodel, use the following leading architectural guidance to introduce new designs without disrupting the flow of the home. These simple steps can help homeowners and interior designers remodel their kitchens while staying true to the overall architecture.

Study the Style

Homes styles vary from Craftsman, Victorian, and Colonial to Tudor Revival, Mission, and Modernist. Start with an understanding of the overall architectural intentions of the home; this is an elementary key to designing a kitchen that matches.

The style will directly impact the features at your disposal when designing your new kitchen. Modernist homes favor sleek, minimalistic designs with hard edges. Homes in the Victorian style thrive on millwork flourishes and ornate decorations. Understanding the style will allow you to implement the proper techniques to emulate the existing designs.

While homeowners can do research to learn more about their home’s style, experienced remodelers and designers are equipped with the knowledge of numerous architectural styles and the designs that best communicate them. Designing the ideal kitchen requires a careful combination of several components, including materials, to avoid wasting time and money on features that fail to capture the style of the specific home.

Choose the Right Kitchen Remodel Materials

Matching the style is only the first step toward a kitchen that compliments the overall architecture. The choice of materials is another key factor in matching the room’s design to the flow of the home. For example, houses in the Craftsman style favor natural materials and warm, inviting spaces.

For a Victorian-style home, you may decide on more ornate millwork flourishes and darker materials to compliment the vibe of the rest of the home. In a Modernist home where the feel is sleek, chrome, marble, and painted wood accents may be more appropriate. Conversely, those chrome elements may be less appealing in a Victorian home.

The right materials can guide a kitchen remodel toward the overall architectural style. Designers and homeowners should question how specific material choices impact the style, including what materials complement existing design choices and which may clash.

Understand Proportions

The proportions of the kitchen’s design, which is the ratio of space taken up by each of its elements, influence how its architectural style will be perceived. Different eras of interior design crafted kitchen spaces differently in terms of form and function. Today’s homeowners and designers should recognize this relationship when remodeling their spaces.

For example, cabinet height is relative to ceiling height in different proportions depending on the architectural style. For Craftsman-style kitchens, cabinets often occupy space on the wall over the counters. In a more minimalistic Modernist style, they may be built vertically from the floor to the ceiling.

The kitchen island is another key aspect of these proportions. Modern architectural styles emphasize the island as a focal point of the kitchen’s social space, even as a makeshift workspace. Size matters; an oversized island that occupies too much space creates tighter walk areas, and can also detract from other highlights of the room such as custom cabinetry or premium appliances.

By understanding architectural proportions and features, designers can match the kitchen to the home’s overall architecture in both style and function.

Focus on Symmetry

Architectural symmetry plays a key role in helping designers refine their kitchen designs. Symmetry adds harmony to the ambiance of a kitchen, though not all architectural styles value symmetry in the same way. This means that without the right definition of symmetry, your kitchen spaces can be well-organized yet mismatched to the home’s overall style.

For example, the ornate millwork common in Victorian-style homes relies on symmetry to captivate the viewer’s eye and create an impression of elegant balance. In more modern spaces, symmetry often has a more functional purpose, stripping the space of unnecessary flourishes in favor of hard edges.

Understanding symmetry helps designers organize the space to communicate and create the right associations. The warmth of a Craftsman space and the elegant functionality of a Modernist space cannot be designed the same way.

Contact Southern Maryland Kitchen & Bath to Craft Your Dream Kitchen Remodel

luxury kitchen interior with new stylish furniture

Since kitchens have become social gathering places and even integrated workspaces, homeowners emphasize this space as the focal point of the entire home. Interior designers apply their knowledge of architectural styles, including spatial proportions, materials, and symmetry, to design kitchens that enhance the overall atmosphere and vibe of the home.

Homeowners can match their kitchen designs to their home’s existing architecture by recruiting skilled remodelers with knowledge of how to communicate a style using flooring, cabinets, counters, appliances, colors, materials, and more. Contact our team today to learn how Southern Maryland Kitchen & Bath can prioritize your kitchen remodeling tasks to build elegant kitchen spaces that complement the rest of your home.

December 16, 2024 by Southern Maryland Kitchen Bath Floors & Design

contemporary, chic kitchen featuring stylish black and white cabinets, golden fixtures, and marble tiles

Kitchens have become the focal point of modern homes, with open-concept layouts that create harmonious social spaces without sacrificing functionality. Interior designers use open-concept kitchen remodels to turn kitchens into spacious, multipurpose living areas.

However, open-concept kitchens are no longer the innovation they were in the 1950s when Frank Lloyd Wright invented them. Open-concept kitchens have become standard design visions, almost to the point that an enclosed room feels more original.

This underscores the importance of making open-concept kitchen designs that feel fresh and innovative, tailored to the key characteristics of the unique space. Below, we shed some light on open-concept kitchens from a design perspective. These four tips can help designers and homeowners make open-concept kitchens innovative and new again.

1. Utilize Curves

Rounded millwork and stone have become trending features in modern kitchen designs, with huge implications for open-concept kitchens. Instead of restricting surfaces to straight edges and planes, interior designers now use curves in wood and stone materials to create a greater sense of harmony and flow.

Kitchen islands, a design staple of open concept kitchens, can now be made using rounded surfaces that emphasize comfort while taking up less space. Woodwork provides a perfect opportunity for this design since wood has a natural warmth that can be emphasized with organic edges and natural grain textures.

Counters, cabinets, islands, faucets, and more can utilize curves to make open-concept kitchens feel even more inviting.

2. Focus on Natural Light

Natural light is an art medium for an interior designer, offering opportunities for natural contrasts that bring an open-concept kitchen space to life. Large windows allow designers to emphasize the natural wood textures in their cabinets, accents, and floors. Reflections from stone materials give them ways to illuminate the space without relying solely on lighting fixtures.

By emphasizing natural light, designers also reveal opportunities for stylistic contrasts. A common design trend is to make the lower half of the kitchen darker to give open-concept spaces a cohesive flow from top to bottom.

The natural light emphasizes the white counters and overhead cabinets, made from white stone or wood (white birch and oak are particularly popular right now). Meanwhile, the cabinets under the counters and island can be stained or painted dark, creating that contrast.

wooden table on blurred kitchen bench background

The result is appealing, possibly because it mimics the color palette of the natural world, with the bright sky and treetops turning into darker wood and earth tones closer to the ground. Custom window casings, cabinets, and fixtures can move some of those dark tones into the upper part of the room as highlights that create even more cohesion.

3. Take Advantage of Cabinets

To achieve the right balance between comfort and functionality, kitchens need sufficient storage space to accommodate the homeowner’s needs. The right cabinets empower interior designers to design aesthetic contrasts while creating a more functional space.

Experienced interior designers utilize cabinets to make up for the limitations of the space. For example, kitchens with a smaller footprint can utilize vertical cabinet designs to increase the available storage area. Cabinets can be built with custom inserts and dividers to separate types of utensils or store pans and cutting boards without consuming limited horizontal space.

Cabinets can be taken a step further in modern kitchens with built-in shelving options, pull-outs, and under-counter storage space for appliances. When space is limited, these shelves create opportunities to economically store kitchen items within an open-concept layout, prioritizing flow without sacrificing functionality.

4. Find New Sources of Warmth

A common pitfall with modern kitchen design choices is to overuse white and chrome surfaces. When combined with hard edges, these textures can lead to a well-designed space but with a cold and uninviting vibe. Regardless of its other functions, a kitchen is still a cook space. As the heart of the home for most homeowners, this space should feel relaxed, comfortable, and above all, warm.

This is why modern interior designers utilize natural textures and warm palettes in their open-concept kitchens. Upholstered chairs, patinated materials, and an emphasis on natural light can create seamless living spaces that everyone will want to use.

It’s a testament to Frank Lloyd Wright that with so many people working from home now, effective open concept kitchens double as social spaces. He was calling his kitchens the “workspace” over 70 years ago.

Start Your Open-Concept Kitchen Remodel Today

luxurious kitchen with a large island, gold faucet and sputnik chandelier, stainless steel appliances

At Southern Maryland Kitchen & Bath, our expert team meticulously plans open-concept kitchens to meet the unique needs of each space. Utilizing cabinetry, counters, appliances, fixtures, and more, our designers create multipurpose rooms that balance functionality and comfort.

Our priority is exceeding our customers’ expectations with high-quality stone, wood, and glass constructions, custom kitchen accessories, and imaginative designs that homeowners can be proud of.

Contact our team at Southern Maryland Kitchen & Bath to learn how we can turn your kitchen into a seamless living space with an inspiring take on a tried-and-true concept.

December 9, 2024 by Southern Maryland Kitchen Bath Floors & Design

We’re going to cut to the chase and say that it is estimated that the average kitchen remodel comes to around $27,000, with most homeowners spending within the range of $12,000 to $60,000 on their new kitchens.

However, this generalized average hardly helps homeowners estimate the cost of a kitchen remodel in their situation since so many factors can affect it. Without a clear understanding of these factors, it becomes impossible to estimate and plan for the cost of a kitchen remodel.

Using this simple guide, homeowners and designers should be better able to estimate the price of their kitchen remodels without being blindsided by unexpected additional costs.

What Can Make Kitchen Remodeling Expensive?

By recognizing which parts of kitchen remodeling are the priciest, homeowners can narrow down the baseline cost for their specific project. Here are the top three costs:

1. Cabinets, for example, remain the highest expenditure for kitchen remodels.

Whether using mass-produced or custom cabinets, these consume nearly a third of the project’s budget on average. If you’re satisfied with your cabinetry, you can cross off the biggest expense from the average cost right away.

2. Labor costs and appliance costs occupy the second third of the average kitchen remodel’s budget.

Labor includes the cost of installing, upgrading, or relocating new fixtures, electrical systems, plumbing lines or access. The costs for on-site inspections can not be overlooked as county or city inspections can be costly in some areas.

3. The last third of the cost of the average kitchen remodel is taken up by everything else, including:

Countertops, floors, lighting, paint, backsplashes, hardware, and faucets.

While not every remodel will deal with every factor, these are the least expensive aspects of most kitchen remodels. Ironically, they are also the aspects that DIY remodelers often fixate on at the expense of less exciting yet more pressing issues such as electrical and ventilation systems.

Factor in the Remodel Size

Not all kitchen remodels are equal; they are classified by a price point that could be cover a lot of materials in a small or standard-use kitchen, but barely scratch the surface in a large gourmet kitchen.

Small remodels are typically classified as those that are priced at or below $22,000. In small remodeling jobs, the cabinets may need to be refaced but not replaced; the paint needs to be redone, or tile floors need to be regrouted not replaced.
Medium or mid-scale remodels, up to $46,000, may require appliance replacements or relocation, the addition of a new ventilations system, changing from electric to gas range, or all new systems, cabinets, and fixtures. Mid-scale remodels often involve minor structural changes, painting, and material upgrades.
Large or full kitchen remodels, up to $60,000 and above, require complete overhauls of the space, including new electrical and plumbing work, demolition, new cabinets, floors, and appliances. Full-scale remodels may opt for upgraded high-end flooring and countertop materials as well as premium cabinetry.

Understanding the scope of the remodel helps clarify the cost even before shopping for new appliances and materials, though these numbers are generalized based on averages.

Other Factors to Consider When Remodeling a Kitchen

Factor in the Size

Consider the size of the kitchen when calculating the cost. Based on average remodeling costs, account for $75 per square foot for small remodels and $250 per square foot or more for full remodels. By this logic, and with the other factors included, you can more accurately predict your project costs since even a full remodel of a tiny kitchen likely won’t cost $60,000.

Factor in the Location

The cost of kitchen remodeling differs by location based on numerous factors, including material costs, sales tax differences, labor costs, and more. Urban areas, and other high-cost living areas are more likely to see higher casts than in rural areas. The scope of the project or shipping costs for materials can be added expenses in either location.

Additional Factors to Consider

Even small kitchen remodels have quirks and issues many homeowners may miss. For example, permits and inspections may be required to make certain renovations, especially if they involve changes to the square footage or electrical and plumbing systems, or if they require demolition. Building permits and inspections are additional costs that must be considered, though these can differ by location and delay or change your project.

modern kitchen under renovation with white cabinets and a large island

Repairs should also be considered. Once you pull out sinks, dishwashers, or flooring, the findings may surprise you, and not in a good way. Hidden leaks, rotting subfloors, and mold are some of the more common revelations brought about by renovations.

This may require a plumber to identify and correct the issues, costs will be added for new subfloors or drywall replacement, and in worst case scenarios, mold abatement.

In large-scale remodeling projects, appliances and other household goods may need to be moved and stored until the project is finished, which adds additional labor and storage costs to the project. Since renting a storage unit can cost as much as $300 per month, these additional costs can quickly add up.

Trust the Pros at Southern Maryland Kitchen, Bath, Floors, and Design

Many people think DIY kitchen remodels will save money, but the truth is that even with a clear design and a strict list of priorities, remodels can be messy, costly projects. A professional remodeling company can offer access to luxury brands, experienced tradesmen, permit arrangements, plumbing and electrical expertise, custom design experts, and more to help you refine and execute your vision for your kitchen without costly mistakes.

Contact our team today to learn how Southern Maryland Kitchen & Bath can help you focus on important tasks, customize a consistent stylistic vision, and minimize costs in your professional kitchen remodel.

December 2, 2024 by Southern Maryland Kitchen Bath Floors & Design

unassembled kitchen cabinets and countertops scattered across the floor, awaiting installation

Despite being fun to think about, without proper planning kitchen remodels can be formidable tasks. Construction, plumbing, and electrical systems are typically considered the ultimate headache for overzealous homeowners; however, as they try to choose the colors, styles, and materials for their ideal kitchen makeover these areas can quickly become overwhelming as well.

That’s why we’re sharing these tips and strategies for what to consider when tackling the daunting task of kitchen remodels. Before you buy, move, or demo anything in your existing kitchen, consider this guide as a way to prioritize and plan the remodel to prevent costly mistakes and achieve your ideal kitchen.

1. Know Your Goals

Professional tradesmen have a saying: “Measure twice, cut once.” It has a literal meaning in construction, but it also applies more broadly to any big project, which is to make mistakes while they’re free. Don’t buy materials or demo your space until you know exactly what you’re trying to achieve.

In the case of kitchens, you should ask yourself specific questions about what you hope to achieve by remodeling. Are you trying to expand the space, add more seating, upgrade the appliances, or improve the lighting? It’s probably a combination of objectives, but you should create mental and physical checklists to help make smart decisions.

It’s easy to get caught up in the fun of kitchen remodeling, going down the rabbit hole of paint swatches and tile patterns. These details can quickly become costly in the absence of a clear understanding of the actual desired outcome.

2. Prioritize the Biggest Project

When remodeling a kitchen, you should make lists of priorities, but you should also create separate plans for your biggest goals in the remodel. If you’re hoping to change the floors, counters, cabinets, fixtures, lighting, appliances, or paint, you should consider each aspect of the job separately before tackling them all at once.

As an example, consider a kitchen remodel that changes the floor plan, possibly to create a more open space. A common mistake among kitchen remodelers is to choose countertop materials, buy appliances, or rework the cabinets before cementing the new floor plan.

An efficient remodeling project only moves forward because the biggest priorities are handled first. Make a list of every aspect of the project, and prioritize them by size. You don’t want to circle back to smaller projects because you did them in the wrong order.

3. Focus on Materials

the contemporary and functional design of a large modern kitchen in Maryland

While it’s more fun to haggle over the details of design, the choice of materials is actually more important to consider than the choice of style in most cases. Color and pattern choices seem like crucial concerns until you make a construction mistake like choosing a laminate, which is notoriously lacking in heat resistance, for a countertop that needs to take a beating.

Take your time researching materials before choosing designs. Glass tile, ceramic tile, stone, laminate, and hardwood each have advantages and disadvantages in different kitchen settings. If considering hardwood floors alongside new cabinets, make sure the materials are complementary and not clashing.

This can start with the basic question of whether the color scheme will be warm or cool. The most important thing is to consider how you want them to function in your new kitchen before picking colors and patterns.

4. Don’t Forget the Lighting

Lighting often gets shoved to the bottom of the priorities list in room remodels, but it should be near the top for kitchens. Kitchens need to be bright and visible, with multiple functional lighting sources. If you opt for tiny pendant lights because they look chic, you could be cheating your new kitchen out of its functionality as well as its flow.

Kitchen lighting should be plentiful without cluttering the space. Your material textures and colors should look good in the light you choose, which often means thinking of kitchen lighting in layers. Be sure to include ambient lights, task lighting, and accent lighting, considering each separately and together to maximize functionality.

Take advantage of any natural light you can to make your new kitchen feel open and airy. Take note of glares on fixtures, focal points for task-oriented lighting, and the best locations for accent lights. You should be thinking about lighting even when choosing appliances, countertop materials, tile patterns, and fixtures. After all, it’s the one room where lighting can truly make or break its entire purpose.

5. Contract Professional Maryland Kitchen Remodel Services

modern kitchen design with beautiful interior

Everyone wants to DIY their kitchen to save money, but the truth is that even with a clear design and a strict list of priorities, remodels can be messy, costly projects. One study of DIY projects found that 63% had regrets about a project (top of the list was flooring), 55% said it took much longer than planned, 50% said it was physically harder than expected, and other high scoring categories including being over budget, poor quality, etc.

A professional remodeling company can offer access to luxury brands, experienced tradesmen, permit arrangements, plumbing and electrical expertise, custom design skills, the right equipment, and more to help you refine and execute your vision for your kitchen without making costly mistakes.

June 10, 2019 by Southern Maryland Kitchen Bath Floors & Design

It’s believed that 52.5% of people in the city of Baltimore alone live in rented homes – and behind each one is a landlord aiming to create a beautiful place that will appeal to tenants. When it comes to designing the kitchen and keeping everything safe, secure and appealing to potential tenants looking around, meanwhile, there are some specific principles to keep in mind.

Safety First

Safety is a key issue in any rented home. The state of Maryland has a number of laws in place designed to protect tenants, such as structural safety and the maintenance of anti-fire facilities – and you’ll need to be sure you adhere to them. Providing a fire extinguisher near cooking equipment is a good move, as well as a fire blanket. And remember: if the home’s boiler is located in the kitchen, it needs to be in an accessible place so that it can be regularly accessed and serviced to check that there are no gas leaks or other problems on the horizon.

Keep It Pretty

When a potential tenant comes to view your residential rental property, it’s likely that the rooms which require the most hygiene – the kitchen and the bathroom – will be most closely scrutinized. After all, considerable amounts of time are spent in both rooms. So by regularly refreshing your kitchen’s decor and by installing a couple of high-end features (such as a mixer sink or an induction hob), your property will stand out from the rest. This may be an upfront cost, but it’s one that’s likely to pay off as it can reduce the amount of time for which your property remains vacant.

Durable And Long-Lasting

Kitchens are expensive, and there are few things worse for a homeowner than having to repair and reinstall them. For that reason, it’s often worth dealing with a high cost upfront and buying a kitchen that is built to last. Given that some tenants are sadly inclined to not look after their rented properties given that their stake in them is usually low, a kitchen made from durable materials is also a good idea.

Designing your rental home well is an important thing for landlords to do, and there’s nothing worse than making a significant design error – especially in an important, well-used but potentially dangerous area like the kitchen. So by prioritizing safety, aesthetics, and durability, you’ll be able to ensure that you don’t cause problems either for you or for your tenant.