Thoughtful Design Upgrades to Improve Function & Comfort in Your Home
Double speed ovens make warming, cooking, and baking a breeze in this New Traditions Kitchen.
What good is a beautiful space that doesn’t function properly?
While we’re all drawn to our own standards of beauty, interior design and home remodeling is so much more than just beautiful materials. Making investments in your home is likely one of the largest expenses you’ll make, and I always encourage homeowners to not only make their homes their own, but I also help educate homeowners on thoughtful upgrades that may improve flow, function and – of course – the aesthetics!
If you’re planning some home updates this year (or in the future!) I would encourage you to think about how you and your family live and use the spaces of your home – not just today, but in the future as well. Planning ahead is crucial for a successful project and allows for you to evaluate updates that need to be made during the framing or rough electrical and plumbing stages.
I’m going to provide you with four of the most requested upgrades that can have the biggest improvement to your space, but with minimal costs so you can get the most bang for your buck!
Consider having toe kick lighting installed in your bathrooms on a vacancy sensor; this will allow a soft, glowing light to automatically turn on when you enter – saving your eyes from bright LED lights for middle of the night bathroom trips!
A handheld shower head on a slide bar is amazing – the water flow/output is the same as any wall mounted shower head, the height can be adjusted for all users, and they make it easier to clean your shower (or tub/shower combo). An added bonus is purchasing from a manufacturer that also utilizes the slide bar as a grab bar (added safety feature!).
Speed Ovens are a multipurpose workhorse for the kitchen – these appliances have convection bake settings and the function of a microwave, plus an assortment of other cooking features. Why get just a microwave when you can gain a second oven and a microwave in one with a speed oven.
Medicine cabinets have made a huge comeback – they are made in a variety of styles and finishes to complement any aesthetic. They add valuable storage to any bathroom and can also be ordered with magnifying mirrors, integrated lighting, and outlets!
It’s my dream come true to be able to help people reimagine their spaces – it’s all I’ve ever wanted to do since I was 11 years old, and I’m grateful to you and our community of Santa Cruz Sentinel readers for voting me as the first runner up for the Reader’s Choice award. Thank you!
This article originally appeared in our local Santa Cruz Sentinel, but I wanted to share it here because the information is useful for any homeowner, anywhere in the country (or world!).
Plus, I wanted to add in a couple of bonus photos not printed with the original article that show some of my favorite projects showcasing the four features I mentioned above.
If you’re located in northern California and need an interior designer, I’m here for you!
