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When it comes to your remodeling project, choosing the right flooring is a big decision. This choice used to be simple with very few materials or styles to choose from, but now there are so many different man-made and natural materials and hundreds of different colors, stains, and designs on the market. All of these choices can make it hard to narrow down what might be right for you. This blog will detail some of the most popular materials and styles on the market today to help you ultimately choose the perfect new flooring for your home. Porcelain is made from heated, refined clay. It is a strong alternative to natural stone and ceramic tiles. It’s also a popular option for both indoor and outdoor use. This type of tile flooring is intensely versatile and can be made into a great variety of colors, textures, shapes and sizes that will integrate easily into any decor. Bamboo flooring is durable, eco-friendly, and great looking. It is one of the most natural flooring choices on the market today and is one of the most sustainable options as well. This is a great choice if you like the clean and minimal look of bamboo, are all about buying eco-friendly options, and want a material that is strong and stable underfoot. Photo Credit: Via HGTV, Photo: Amadeus Leightner Concrete: Either stained or unstained concrete creates a modern industrial look that is hard to emulate with any other material. This kitchen flooring option is durable, built to last, and affordable. Poured concrete can get cold though so this material is best in warmer climates and for those that don’t mind how hard this surface can be under your feet. Hardwood: Hardwood is a classic material choice that will never lose its style or appeal. It’s a classic for a reason and can create a richness in your home that other materials just can’t. This option can be more expensive though because it is a natural product, but certain manufacturer offers cheaper options as well. There are many different wood stains to choose from, ranging from light and natural to dark and heavily stained. This option is great if you love the look and feel of wood or if you have hardwood throughout your home already and want to add it to your kitchen as well. Laminate: Laminate is best known for it’s imitation of wood flooring because of the photographic process used to create the design layer of laminate flooring that is intensely realistic. The image is printed and glued to a core of fiberboard backed by a bottom layer that’s treated to prevent moisture damage. It’s all covered by a top wear layer that resists scratches. A great choice in the Southwest compared to real wood floors as it will not dry out. Photo Credit: Arizona Tile Jura Gray Natural Stone: Stone floors are beautiful, classic and stylish. The naturally cool, hard surface is ideal for Southwest climates and does not harbor dust or allergens. If you want to install stone in a high-traffic area you'll want to select a hard, dense stone that is nonporous, such as granite or slate. Softer, more porous stones, such as marble, limestone, and travertine, require some maintenance, such as an application of sealants.

The right area rug can transform your space from boring and cold to warm, inviting, and fun. An area rug can bring that extra touch of design to your space and it can also be a functional addition, providing extra padding and warmth under your feet on a tile or wood floor. However, not all area rugs are created equal and it’s important to consider what size, material, and style of area rug you’d like in your home before you make your purchase. Size: The size of your room and the furniture in the space will help determine what size area rug will be the best for you. If you’re looking for an area rug for under your dining room table it will be important to measure your table and make sure that the area rug is bigger than the area that will be occupied by your table and chairs. It can be helpful to pull out your dining room chairs to the degree that they’ll be pulled out by you or a guest and measure the width and length of your potential area rug from there. Additionally you’ll need to consider the size of your future area rug in your living room before your purchase. Do you want the area rug to fully cover the floor under your couch and coffee table or do you want it as more of an accent piece that just covers part of your floor and furniture? Size is important to factor in when it comes to placing an area rug in any room in your home. Material: Area rugs can be made out of a variety of materials, and what material you choose may affect its durability, cost, and aesthetic. Heavy duty wool area rugs will be one of the durable options, but they can also be more expensive based on the material costs. Area rugs made out of synthetic materials may be a cheaper option but you may have to replace them more often due to their durability. Certain materials may also have different design aesthetics as well which might impact your design. You might want to check out a few different materials of area rugs and decide based on how they feel or how they look which material is right for you and your home. Style: Style can play a big part in choosing the right area rug for you. You will need to consider what color or colors will work for your area rug so that it enhances the design of your space. If you have a very neutral living room and are looking for something to bring in color and a unique element then you might consider an area rug with a large pattern or bold colors. However if your space already has a lot of pattern going on then you might need to choose a more neutral area rug with a great texture instead. Some area rugs are more traditional, while others have more of a modern flair, so it is important to consider the overall design of your home when choosing the right area rug for you.

Fridge design, features, and even size choices have come a long way in the last twenty years, and when it comes down to finishing up the details of your kitchen remodel, choosing the right fridge may not be getting the amount of attention it deserves. While the process used to just involve going down to a showroom and choosing what model of refrigerator you’d like based on color and budget, there’s now a lot more factors to consider before choosing the right fridge for your home. This article will break down the “cold” hard facts of refrigerator selection and help you to figure out what it is that you need to consider before purchasing your next fridge and why it should be one of your first remodel choices. Kitchen Space: Not all fridges are created equal nowadays, and there’s a variety of fridge sizes to accommodate those with a smaller apartment sized kitchen or those with a large open floor plan and a large family to feed. Knowing how much space you’d like to devote to your refrigerator will help you narrow down your choices. Fridge Design and Features: Based on what you eat, how much you like to entertain, and how you prefer to organize your perishable and frozen goods will help determine what type of fridge design will best suit you. There’s new designs being manufactured by the big brands every year with models to suit those who love to store big platters for parties in their fridge, or those who want plenty of space for drink bottles and big drawers for produce. Certain designs may also be more aesthetically pleasing to you, such as side by side doors as opposed to freezer on top models. When it comes to design you might also need to consider the finish, whether you prefer stainless steel or a classic white surface that goes with almost any kitchen design. On the more high-end side of things there are also built-in style fridges that can seamlessly blend in with your kitchen cabinets using appliance panels. Consider the depth of the fridge and how far it may stick out from the cabinets on each side. Budget: Budget is still an important factor to consider when choosing a new fridge and may narrow down your choices quite a bit depending on how much you’d like to spend on your kitchen remodel and appliances. Keep in mind when choosing a model how energy efficient it is. If the fridge costs a bit more but can save you money each month on your electric bill, it may be worth paying a bit more upfront for savings along the lifetime of your fridge. All these factors are important to consider when selecting your next fridge, as appliances play a big role in the end design and style of your kitchen remodel. Spend the necessary time choosing the right one for you and factor in what’s most important to you as far as extra features go and you’ll end up with a fridge you’ll want to have for years to come.

Tucson is home to many historical neighborhoods that not only allow us a glimpse into what was in trend when they were built and developed, but also allow us to see how design and architecture has evolved as the city as developed. While they are many wonderful historic districts in Tucson, one of our favorites is the Armory Park neighborhood. The Armory Park neighborhood is located downtown and was the first residential district in Tucson to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This neighborhood received its name and its history as the former home of the Military Plaza. Regular troops were positioned here, however, the army camp did not have many permanent structures. There were a few buildings built, but most of the troops lived in tents. The troops were later moved to a more permanent location and when the railroad was later built this neighborhood grew and became desirable because of its proximity to the railroad. One of the most notable historic architectural buildings in this neighborhood is the Carnegie Free Library which was built in 1901. Today, the Carnegie Free Library is home to the Tucson Children’s Museum. The neighborhood also features a number of different styles of homes, such as Queen Anne, Greek Revival, and Territorial, each showcasing different historic design elements. Queen Anne homes were built between 1880 and 1910 and feature Victorian-era style details. They are known for their complex roof forms which include steep pitches, turrets, and chimneys. Many of these homes also have bay windows, complex exterior woodwork and wrap around porches. Homes built in the Greek Revival style have architecture that is inspired by the ancient Greeks and Romans and feature classical proportions and symmetry. A lot of them also have quite magnificent woodwork and porches that feature column details. Territorial homes share some of the same architectural elements of Queen Anne homes, but with more of an American flair that set them apart. Many had lime-stucco walls and fixed windows with shutters. Some of these homes began right at the street while others were set back farther with room for a porch. Armory Park has grown and developed as Tucson has, but many of the homes still feature many historic details and there is plenty of the old school Tucson charm to be seen. It’s the perfect neighborhood to spend a Saturday morning in, grab a coffee with a loved one, and wander through the wide avenues looking at beautiful architectural design details.

Need some design inspiration for your kitchen? Look no further than your glass of wine. That’s right, your favorite adult beverage can not only bring your kitchen design to new heights, but also make it more functional and beautiful. Wine color palette: Whether you are a white wine or red wine enthusiast, you can draw inspiration for your kitchen design from the beautiful color palette that wine provides us. Red wines can vary in color quite a bit depending on the variety of wine you most enjoy, so there are many different shades of red and burgundy that you can choose from when incorporating this color palette into your kitchen. That deep burgundy color could translate into a darker wood on your cabinets or a merlot subway tile, like in this clean, traditional kitchen from Jon Lum Architecture. If you prefer white wine then you might add some of those crisp buttery yellows into your kitchen, painting the walls a color that matches your favorite chardonnay. You might choose a lighter colored countertop that catches the light in the same way your glass of wine does, or choose golden hardware that incorporates the sparkle of a bubbly prosecco like this kitchen from Coddington Design in San Francisco. Displaying wine: Another way to incorporate wine into your design is by displaying it in your kitchen in a way that is not only functional, but also catches the attention of all those that enter your home. You could do this by adding a wine cabinet into your kitchen, creating space for a wine fridge, or even installing open shelving that houses your wine collection or the beautiful stemware that you serve wine in. This kitchen from Woodford Architecture and Interiors provides storage incorporated into a large island. There are many different types of wine cabinets so even if you don’t want to completely redo your kitchen you can still add one into your design. There are custom built in wine cabinets that seamlessly blend in with your other kitchen cabinets and create a sleek look, or simpler standalone pieces that be added in later down the line. Additionally, if you prefer your wine to always be housed at exactly the right temperature you can add in a wine fridge. These small fridges are perfectly designed to house plenty of bottles of wine, so you can stock up on all your favorites. If displaying your wine and your wine glasses is more your style, open shelving or clear glass fronts on cabinets works beautifully and functionally to display your entire collection. Whatever your personal design aesthetic or wine variety of choice is, there are so many ways to draw inspiration from a delicious glass of wine. So, pour yourself a glass and let yourself begin to imagine all the ways it can enhance your kitchen design today.

Remodeling your space isn’t only about upgrading your appliances, choosing new flooring, and finally getting rid of those couches - it’s also a great time to add design elements to your room that reflect your personality and your personal style. While there are so many different style elements and designs that you can choose from, this article will focus on the Southwestern theme and how to incorporate this fun, colorful, and culturally diverse style into your home. The Southwestern style is influenced by multiple cultures, all drawn together by vibrant colors and rich textures. Some of the cultures that came together to create the look we call Southwestern today include Spanish, Native American, and Mexican. These three cultures all brought together the best of their design elements to create one unique style that utilizes warm, earthy but bold colors and geometric shapes. So how do you bring these style elements into your homes to create a room that has all of the Southwestern charm you know and love? Add Southwestern colors: Southwest style is all about color. Think rustic terracotta oranges, deep reds, bold turquoises, and bright yellows. Draw inspiration from the desert, sunsets, and all the beautiful natural rocks and gems that are native to the Southwestern territory. You can mix and match these colors to create a palette that is right for you and your space, or allow the colors to be accents that bring warmth to the whites and neutrals of your kitchen and home. Bring in bold textures: Bold textures such as woven textiles, smooth cold tiles, and leather or suede accents help bring in even more of the Southwestern flavor to a space. You can choose to add a Southwestern tile floor or a kitchen backsplash as a design element with geometric shapes and maybe even hand painted accents. Another idea is to bring in woven textiles in the form of kitchen towels or rugs, or leather seat cushions on kitchen chairs or bar stools for a bit of flare and rustic charm. Bring in Natural Elements: The Southwestern style really works with bringing the beautiful landscape of Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico inside - working with natural materials, colors, and textures that draw inspiration from the red rocks, mountain ranges, and gorgeous sunsets. When designing your room in this style keep the natural elements in mind. Terracotta tiles, natural pine, and earth tones are all great design components to bring into your home. Don’t be afraid to mix materials, play with color and texture and really keep nature in mind as you create your perfect space in this popular and culturally diverse style.

With the holidays over and the new year officially in full swing, many of us have turned the focus away from family gatherings, rich food, and multiple glasses of wine and are now intent on creating fresh beginnings and healthy habits. We want to detox from the stress and excess of the year before and let the first of the year grant us a new start with our health and productivity at the forefront. While getting started with healthy goals and intentions can be hard, especially after a few weeks of over eating, setting up your home in a way that supports your goals can keep you on track until healthy living becomes second nature. Health can truly start at home if you’re willing to put in the effort. First clear out the cabinets and fridge: Start right away by getting rid of what doesn’t serve you. Go through your cabinets and your fridge and throw out the food and beverages that aren’t in line with your goals for the new year. Let the clearing out be less about punishing yourself for having those foods in the first place, and more about letting go of those things because you want to put your health and your goals as a priority now. If you have leftover unopened food that you don’t just want to throw away, put it all together and donate it to your local shelter or food bank. Plan to cook at home more: Once you’ve cleaned out the stuff you don’t need, go stock up on the food that is in line with your vision of health and start planning all the wonderful and nutritious meals you’ll make this year. Print out some recipes and keep them in a drawer nearby for when you need extra inspiration, organize your kitchen drawers and cabinets so that everything is easily accessible, and keep your kitchen clean and clear so that you’ll have no excuse not to whip up delicious meals there. Keep high quality food accessible: We all know we are way more susceptible to temptation when we haven’t prepared. An easy way to avoid unhealthy temptations is to keep high quality food always accessible. Keep fresh fruit in a bowl on your counter so that you have something to reach for when you need a snack. Pre-wash and cut up raw veggies to have ready before or between meals, and always keep some frozen vegetables in the freezer and the basics to make an easy, nutritious meal. Being prepared will keep you on the right path and allow you more time to move forward with your other new year’s goals as well. Take breaks for movement: Your home and kitchen aren’t only a great place for planning meals and providing your body with quality nutrition, they can also be where you find the daily movement that your body wants and needs. Move your dining room out of the way to lay down a yoga mat and get in some stretching or a gentle asana practice, or make a habit of doing ten squats every time you go to the kitchen to get more water. You can use your kitchen wall to do wall sits or use the angle of the counter for modified push-ups, or maybe you use the floors of your kitchen for a dance party while cooking. Break up the day with little moments of movement that help keep you present, happy, and moving towards your healthiest self.

If you haven’t heard of hygge yet, which is the Danish word and concept for coziness, then get ready to be inspired by this latest trend that has moved out of Danish homes and into the homes and hearts of Americans as well. This Danish term conceptualizes the idea of well being as it refers to being comfortable, cozy, and in turn happy. Think lots of warm lighting, comfortable clothes, and a plethora of warming delicious drinks. Having a home that makes you want to cuddle up on the couch with a hot cup of tea and a good book is essential to the hygge lifestyle, and Danish people and Americans alike are designing their homes to fit more of what it means to be hygge. So how exactly can you make your home more comfortable, comfy, and stylish enough for even the queen of hygge herself? Create mood lighting: Think less overhead lights and more candles, salt lamps, and dimmed lamp lights that set the perfect mood for settling in and reading a good book. You want your space to feel inviting and warm, and softening the lights is a great and easy way to make the room feel more cozy. Fill your home with pieces that bring you joy: Danish people don’t like to over clutter their rooms or fill them with stuff just because there is space to. The best hygge rooms have furniture and decor pieces that are well crafted, comfortable, and fill them with joy. You might try downsizing the amount of items or furniture in some rooms, de-clutter knick knacks, and only keep pieces that are truly functional or special to you. Layer on the levels of cozy: Think more soft blankets, lots of throw pillows, the fireplace turned on, and mulling spices in pots of hot cider on the stove. Your space should feel like a retreat that you never want to leave. Add in all the elements that take coziness to the max and allow you to truly sink in, leave stress for another day, and find happiness in the art of just being cozy and content.

So you’re considering remodeling your kitchen - but other than knowing that your current kitchen just doesn’t work, you really don’t know where to start. Well lucky for you we have redesigned enough kitchens to know exactly where to begin, and I have compiled a small list of all the things you should consider before you take the leap so that you end up with the kitchen of your dreams. Budget: This is the best place to start, as once you’ve established a clear budget you and your designer can work together to make your dream space. There’s no use designing a kitchen that costs $150,000 if realistically you can only spend $50,000 on a remodel. Being upfront about your expectations will only help get you the perfect end result. Style: Knowing how you want to style your kitchen is important so that the image you have in your head of your future kitchen is cohesive with the one that the designer ultimately delivers. Do you want something more contemporary with frameless cabinets and built in appliances? Something more traditional with lots of details? Or maybe a mix of both? Don’t be afraid to do your research, bring in lots of examples of styles you like, and speak up about what details are your favorite. Function: You want a kitchen that serves your unique needs. If you’re a cook who wants a huge farm sink and a 42" stove, or maybe you have a large family and love to entertain around a large quartz kitchen island. Whatever the functionality of your kitchen needs to be, make sure it’s designed with that in mind. Research: Talk to friends, family, or coworkers about any kitchen remodels they’ve done or new appliances that they’ve recently purchased. The best people to consult are the ones that are vocal about their new appliances and don’t mind sharing any perks or flaws that the machinery might have. Ask about how much noise their new dishwasher makes, how they like the sink they just installed, if convection ovens really bake better cookies...And what they would do differently next time. Choice: Choose the right designer . You want someone that knows how to create an efficient layout, understands design, has a large base of knowledge and wants to share it so that you end up a kitchen that brings you joy. Even better if you can find a designer that also installs their own cabinetry. No one knows the details of their cabinet line more than the designer. Fridge: This one get its own line - it’s that important! There are many different types of fridges on the market now so do your research to find the best one for you. Reviews: Read reviews on designers, materials, cabinetry, appliances, and any other thing you might be considering. All the information you could possibly want is out there on internet so don’t be afraid to do your due diligence before making big decisions. Most people only remodel once in their lifetime. It's worth the research. By the way, check out our reviews on Houzz.com at https://www.houzz.com/pro/livingspacedesigns/living-space-designs

One of the reasons we are so drawn to the outdoors is for the beauty that it provides - the perfect blend of colors, textures, and natural lighting that only mother nature can create. These outdoor elements can inspire design to help fabricate spaces in our homes that bring more of the outdoors in. By bringing in more lighting, colors that mimic those found in nature, and textures that delight the senses we can design our rooms so that we can connect with all of those outdoor elements that we love, even when cooking dinner, watching the television or doing the laundry. While the most effective way to bring more natural light to your home is with the addition of windows, there are other design elements that can help create a more beautiful, light filled space as well. Lighting fixtures that add soft light to the dark corners of room, such as under cabinet lights and pendant lights in a kitchen, will help the space stay bright even when the sun has gone down. Using reflective surfaces such as mirrors and glass as design elements will also help reflect and bounce light around, making the room seem brighter than it naturally may be. Additionally, choosing light wall and fabric colors will help reflect light, rather than absorb it, bringing more of the outdoors in. The colors and textures you choose can also help bring more elements of nature into your space. Adding in subtle blues or greens that remind you of trees, the sky, and the ocean might be how you choose to incorporate more of the outdoors into your kitchen, or maybe you’re more inspired by the rust, burnt orange, and yellow colors of fall leaves. Whatever color palette you choose, let it reflect some element of the outdoors that brings you joy. Adding in natural textures, such as wood cabinetry, or a stone counter top can also bring more of the outdoors into your home and keep you grounded to that sense of nature. Whatever elements of nature most inspire you should be your inspiration to designing a space that brings more of the outdoors in, allowing you to stay connected to all the wonderful aspects of nature even when you are indoors.

You’ve just come home from work, the kids have made it home from school, and where’s the first place in the house you all gravitate towards? For most of us the kitchen is the first room we visit when we arrive back home, and it’s the room we continue to come back to as more than just a place to make meals and do the dishes. The kitchen is our meeting place, it’s where we cross paths with all members of the household, it’s where we create memories as well as meals, and it’s the heart of the home. Photo Credit: Crystal Cabinets Website Whether your kitchen is long and skinny, or is an open concept space with a large island, this room tends to be one of the most utilized areas of our home. For this reason alone, it is safe to say that the kitchen is the heart of the home - but there are other reasons this room deserves the title as well. It’s where we gather to make meals: As the old saying goes, the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, but I’d go so far as to say a good home-cooked meal is the way to anyone’s heart. Whether we are using our kitchen to make meals for just ourselves and our partner, or we are using every inch of counter space to create a feast fit for a gathering of our closest friends and family - the kitchen is where we prepare, mix together all the ingredients with love, and create an end product to nourish and satisfy those we care about. Photo Credit: Crystal Cabinet Website It’s a space for everyone: The kitchen is a space for gathering, for family meetings, for glasses of wine while venting about a hard day of work, for microwave popcorn and fresh baked cookies, and it’s a space for everyone in the home to feel included. Every home has a kitchen and it’s quite often the first room we look at when we’re deciding on a new home or apartment. From the youngest member of the household to the oldest everyone makes their appearance in the kitchen, quite often more than once a day, and it’s a space where paths cross even on the busiest of days. -It’s a room that makes a statement: The kitchen tells a story - who lives in the home, what they eat, their taste in decor, and it quite often makes a statement about the rest of the home. A kitchen that is well designed, functional, with beautiful touches and clean lines draws everyone in - residents of the home and visitors alike. The kitchen can also be the room that will make or break a future buyers’ decision, so investing in a kitchen that inspires you and gives you that sense of heart will not only make your day to day brighter but will return its investment in the long run. It might be as simple as new cabinets and countertops to give the heart of your home some new life, or maybe a complete rehaul is in order to create the kitchen of your dreams. Simple touches and unique elements that aid in functionality and flow of such a multi-purpose space will help make the kitchen a room you want to return to again and again. The kitchen is more than just an area complete with a fridge and a stove, it’s a space that invokes memories, warmth, and a sense of love - it’s the heart of the home.

It’s no secret that we Americans love our coffee. In an article published in USA Today, 83% of adults drink coffee in the United States at a clip of 587 million cups a year, making us its largest consumer. That’s a lot of coffee! And while we love its taste and the needed boost it so often provides throughout the day; We understand that coffee’s true magic lies in its power to bring people together. Walk into most any local cafe and we can’t help but to experience what Howard Schultz (founder of Starbucks) did when he shares how “he was taken by the power that savoring a simple cup of coffee can have to connect people and create community.” Whether it’s what appears to be a father talking with his young daughter about her day at school, an elderly couple hovered over their respective novels, or even two strangers chatting about the day’s events, we get the magic of coffee. It’s no wonder to see a growing number of homeowners incorporating this feeling into their kitchen. We see this in three ways. Décor Believe it or not, studies have shown that elements of interior design can affect one’s emotions in a positive or even negative way. Do an internet search of “kitchen coffee décor” and you’ll see that the options are endless. Whether it’s adding chalkboard walls, themed artwork, or even a bookshelf for coffee mugs, homeowners are using their creativity to bring home to their kitchens the café vibe that they so enjoy. Convenience Let’s be real. When it comes to coffee, we love convenience. Two minutes after we wake up, the last thing we want to be is scrambling around the kitchen for our morning fix. While simply placing a Keurig someplace on a counter may be enough for some, many find this to only create further clutter while also creating an aesthetic nightmare. One solution coffee drinkers are turning to is the coffee station or bar. Creating an exclusive space for our coffee needs brings with it not only the convenience of consolidation but also the aesthetic appeal of simplicity. As with microwaves, dishwashers, and refrigerators, people are even integrating built-in units to accomplish this. Layout Coffee unites us, and it only makes sense to see coffee-loving homeowners exploring different ways of creating a space conducive for social interaction. Often, this means moving more towards an open-plan, which for some requires at least some level of remodeling. As Victoria Harrison, an editor for Houzz, writes, “Open-plan living hasn’t merely risen in popularity in recent years, it seems to be the mainstay of what many people look for in a home,” adding that, “Open-plan design encourages sociable living.” The notion of remodeling may seem unnecessary for some, but when considering the communal benefits a layout can bring, it is an easy call for many. Our passion is to help turn your dream of a kitchen remodel into a reality. We know how daunting a kitchen remodel can seem at times, but rest assured that our team of experienced and knowledgeable designers are here to walk with you every step of the way. We are kitchen experts and only settle to bring about the best quality and customer service our customers deserve. And like most of you, we too are coffee lovers who want nothing more than to help you incorporate elements of your favorite café into your kitchen. Coffee-lover or not, we believe the kitchen to be one of the most important places in a home and desire to help make your vision of what home should be come to life.