In this blog article, we highlighted the options, process and things to know about making your plumbing selections during a new home build or renovation. In this issue, we overview drywall, trim and paint options for your project.

After framing, mechanical rough-ins and insulation are complete on your new home or addition project, the interior begins to take shape. Next, drywall gets hung and finished, trim is installed and painting begins. These three items will go far in determining the look and feel of your interior spaces.

Here are some things to consider for each stage:

Drywall: This is the product that covers your framing and creates your wall space. You may not think there is much customizing when it comes to drywall, but one major design option entails the corners you choose. Drywall corner beads come in two styles: 90-degree corners and rounded corners. A rounded corner provides a softer, gentler look and is usually a fairly minor cost upgrade, but some homeowners still prefer the clean, classic look of the standard 90-degree corner.

Trim: This is the “catch all” term that refers to the casings that frame your windows and doors, the baseboard that covers the bottom of the wall where it meets the floor and any other specialty moldings you may want to include in your home (crown molding, chair rail, wainscoting, coffered ceiling, etc.)

Many different trims are available. Popular styles include colonial trim and a simple flat trim, which is complementary to a craftsman style home. Interior doors, fireplace mantles and stair details (handrails, newel posts and pickets) are also items that can customize a home and are all part of your interior trim selections.

Paint: Once the trim work is done, painting walls and trim is the next step in our process. Choosing colors to highlight specific rooms is often an upgrade our customers select. Kitchens, dining rooms, bathrooms and bedrooms are all good choices for adding color – whether it is the entire room or merely an accent wall.

There are also many types of paint available. We typically recommend a flat paint for ease of touch up. Although it isn’t a “scrub-able” paint like an eggshell finish, flat paint covers small imperfections in drywall and because it is easy to touch up, it makes this a more affordable option. For those concerned about chemical emissions from paint, we also offer a zero VOC option at a reasonable upgrade.

Have you been toying around with the idea of remodeling your kitchen and thinking that 2015 may be the year?

How you plan to use your kitchen will greatly influence the design. Everything from more storage to a larger prep space for both you and your spouse, should be considered. Often homeowners are looking for “something different” in kitchen design, yet not so off-the-wall that the room becomes dated in just a few years.

Here are five kitchen trends that can give your kitchen a fresh, not dated look for many years to come.

Modern-Traditional Design. This sleek, yet comfortable design style continues to be on the rise, and manufacturers are responding as there is no shortage of products on the market. This style often mixes flat-panel doors (such as Shaker), stainless steel, marble countertops, glass-tile backsplashes and white subway tiles to give a kitchen a modern style that has charm.

Touch-Me Surfaces. Kitchens are being designed with more and more interesting elements. Cool granite countertops, sleek cabinetry fixtures, warm tile backsplashes, texturized flooring and fascinating pendant lights all beg to be touched.

Dimensional Cabinetry. Cabinetry comes in all shapes and sizes now to accommodate storage needs, and varying cabinetry height along the perimeter of the room can also create depth. Instead of the kitchen looking ho-hum, this effect makes the space look stunning and furnished.

Deep dark with soft white. Kitchen designers across the country all agree that black and white is “in.” If you like this contrast, but you aren’t quite ready to commit to bold black, consider espresso-colored cabinetry. It will give you that modern-traditional look you want, without it being as harsh as black.

Lighting. Gone are the days of kitchen lighting being strictly for function. Today’s homeowner can integrate fun and personality into their kitchen lighting selections. Recessed ceiling lights come in a variety of shapes and sizes, pendant lights hung over the island become conversation pieces, and subtle cabinetry lighting can set the mood.

Want more kitchen design ideas? See them all on our Houzz page.

And if you are thinking about a kitchen renovation, contact us to set up a time to talk. No fee. No obligation. Just us sitting down together to hear about your plans and ideas.