Category Archives: All Posts

Color Trends for Your Remodeled Kitchen

February 18, 2020All Posts, Kitchen RemodelingDale Contant

Expressing your personality is often ignored when it comes to updating your home’s kitchen. While white is classic, and a go-to color for many kitchen remodels, it is not your only option. When you decide to remodel your kitchen, consider playing with a color trends. Moody and jewel tone color trends in the kitchen are huge for 2020. Your kitchen is more than just a place for preparing meals, it’s a room for chatting, entertaining, and the place where kids may get a snack and do their homework after school. Because your kitchen is one of the most used rooms in the home, the color palette you use can contribute to your mood.

Playing it Safe or Customizing Your Forever Home

If you aren’t planning to stay in your home for at least the next five years, you may want to consider the resale value of your home before using any finishes or color trends that are currently popular. Safer color choices are better for resale value but consider using a pop of color on your island cabinets or other accents in a smaller area. If you really want to play with color, choose areas that are easily changed or accent furnishings. Remember, don’t pick a color just because it’s in style: use colors that you love!

There are so many spaces within your kitchen to use color. Your walls can always be painted in whatever shade you like, but think cabinetry, countertops, tile backsplashes, statement appliances and more!

Cabinetry: Use neutrals or consider having a colorful island with neutral cabinets.
Countertops: Countertops can be a great place for a pop of color. Countertop finishes are available in many color varieties depending on materials and tastes.
Backsplashes: Super colorful and patterned backsplashes are not very popular right now, but using a bold, solid, color tile for a backsplash is a huge trend.
Statement appliances: New colorful appliances make a great centerpiece in your brand-new kitchen. While they can come with a hefty price tag, they are more easily swapped out than cabinetry if you get bored or want to sell your home. Many of these appliances are also high-end and can last a lifetime. Some options are even being designed with removable front-pieces so that you can simply swap out the color.

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Accessible Kitchen Design Considerations

February 11, 2020Accessible Design, All Posts, Atlanta Home Remodeling, Kitchen RemodelingDale Contant

Universal Design aims to provide useable space planning for people of all abilities and ages. Another growing trend is Inclusive design which is similarly creating spaces that are more accessible to everyone. Accessibility options can also be highly personalized for individuals with specific needs. Imagine a world where any guest could feel comfortable using your home? Also, when choosing to remain in your existing home as you age, accessible design is an important consideration.

One of the most important rooms to consider when creating accessibility is the kitchen. Being able to safely prepare and clean up after meals is one of the primary considerations of the accessible kitchen. Mobility is usually an important concern for current and future needs. The following measurements are ideal for accessibility to all. Hardware and fixtures can also improve functionality. Accessible kitchens can include design details that accommodate children too, as universal design wants people of all ages to have greater accessibility.

Facets of Your Accessible Kitchen: Mobility and Convenience

Doorways and Clearance: Between 36-42” wide, with pocket doors, or swing clear hinges, and lever door handles. Clearance for a pass-through kitchen is 40” while U-shaped layouts require 60” of clearance.

Cabinets: Cabinet height can be individualized, but motorized, adjustable cabinets are the ultimate in universal design in a kitchen for multiple users. Swing up doors with hinges at the top and touch open doors are ideal for accessible kitchens. Lower cabinetry like a lazy Susan, or cabinets with pull outs, can help keep users from having to lean down into cabinetry to reach items.

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ADB & The Minimalist Kitchen

February 4, 2020All Posts, Atlanta Design & Build, Atlanta Home Remodeling, HOMEStyle System®, Kitchen RemodelingDale Contant

Does your kitchen need to be updated—not only for the latest trends in countertops or cabinets— but for the most functional workflow? Minimalist kitchens are increasing in popularity due to their amazing functionality and easy maintenance. We appreciate facets of the design and build process that keep in mind that the clients’ most precious asset is often their time. Here are some of the ways a low-maintenance minimalist kitchen can save you time.

Everything is Streamlined and at Your Fingertips

Deep drawer storage keeps pots and pans reachable near the stove

We can replace upper cabinetry with open shelving to display objects you love and use daily. While maintaining the staged look of elaborate open shelving can be somewhat labor intensive, the ease of use is wonderful—and you can keep it simple. Everything you frequently use can be easily reached without opening a cabinet. Lower drawers and cabinets can hold most of your kitchen items, whether it is deep drawer storage, with dividers, or a full pantry wall, kitchen storage has come a long way. New and versatile kitchen storage can be one of the most exciting aspects of a kitchen remodel. Not only is lower cabinet storage often more organized, it is easily reachable. No more standing on a step stool to reach items in a high cabinet.

Minimize Clutter & Clear the Countertops

Minimalist kitchen, appliance garage with Kitchenaid mixer — This appliance garage keeps your stand mixer close enough for easy use, while stowing it neatly away.

We suggest carefully evaluating which countertop appliances to keep in a minimalist kitchen. If you have not used an appliance in the past year, donate it or dispose of it. Don’t waste precious space on gadgets you do not actually use. Stow countertop appliances in appliance garages! Corner cabinets can be conveniently designed with outlets and you only have to open a cabinet door to access small appliances. This way your countertop stays clear when appliances like blenders, toasters, coffee makers, and slow cookers are not in use.

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Do Industry Awards Factor into Your Choice of Design/Build Company?

January 27, 2020All PostsDale Contant

Maybe you’ve spent hours, or even weeks, doing online research on different design/build firms, searching for a reliable company to entrust with your remodeling or residential construction project. If you are wondering how to find a talented and dependable contractor, consider whether or not they have won industry awards. Why do awards matter in the construction industry?

Industry Awards Point to True Quality Workmanship

Awards attest to a company’s solid craftsmanship. Rather than just being capable of making something look good, award-winning contractors are able to demonstrate quality workmanship that is built to last. They tend to use quality materials as well. Generally, when contractors submit projects for industry awards, they are required to disclose what materials were used and show the methods they used to complete the project.

Awards Indicate Innovative Design Solutions

A design/build company that wins industry awards tends to create innovative design solutions to resolve their clients’ issues with functionality. Whether it’s changing a room’s layout entirely for better flow or building an addition that blends seamlessly with an existing home—well wrought design solutions enhance the homeowner’s existing home as well as their lifestyle. It takes great skill and experience to conceive and properly execute building plans considering both form and function.

Industry Award Winners are Vetted by a Third Party

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MASTERPlan: ADB Has a Plan for Remodeling Your Entire Home

January 13, 2020ADB Remodeling Information, All Posts, Atlanta Design & Build, Atlanta Home Remodeling, HOMEStyle System®Dale Contant

ADB’s MASTERPlan is an important part of our HOMEStyle System®. Are you overwhelmed by a dysfunctional or dated home? You may find yourself complaining almost daily about some facet of your living space: the layout doesn’t flow, the appliances are breaking, you’re tired of tile or wallpaper you chose decades ago, or you bemoan a previous owner’s lack of taste. Sound familiar? Home remodeling can be a costly and time-consuming endeavor, but our goal is to make the process as streamlined as possible by – well, to be perfectly straightforward – listening to you.

We are a NARI Accredited Remodeling Company. We have a solid reputation as a professional design/build remodeling firm and over twenty years of experience transforming people’s homes to enrich their lives, but what really sets us apart is our unique HOMEStyle System®.

Here is a quick breakdown of our HOMEStyle System® followed by an in-depth look at the MASTERPlan, our antidote to stress when executing a home remodel!

HOMEStyle process showing MASTERPlan process

ADB’s HOMEStyle System®: Abbreviated

DEEPDiscovery process. Rather than make assumptions about how to best design your home, we find out exactly how you use and envision using your space. This is a highly personalized process, not one-size-fits all.

INSPIREDDesign. Share your style preferences with our design team, and they’ll create a design based on both functionality and aesthetics. To minimize stress, we also provide assistance with material selection shopping.

MASTERPlan Your plan is prioritized based on your goals, timeline, and budget. Whether one project at a time, or all at once: we make a plan based on your priorities, creating the final result you want for your home.

BUILDINGPrinciples We stand by our work, issuing a 2-year HOMEStyle® Warranty—double the industry standard.

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Two 2019 CotY Awards for ADB

January 6, 2020All Posts, Atlanta Design & Build, H. Dale Contant with NARI, The ADB TeamDale Contant

It’s our pleasure to share that we were honored with two 2019 Contractor of the Year (CotY) Awards from the National Association of the Remodeling Industry’s Atlanta chapter!

Atlanta Design & Build won CotY Awards in the following categories:

Residential Bathroom $75,000 to $100,000

Our CotY award-winning master bath is luxury epitomized

Our clients’ 90s-style master bathroom had a dysfunctional layout that wasted too much square footage. Situated behind a pair of walk-in closets, the master bathroom was only accessible by walking down a narrow hallway. The large bathtub was a feature that the homeowners rarely used and wanted to eliminate. They did not like the dim lighting in their master bathroom and desired an increase in natural lighting.

Our solution to the cumbersome layout of the master bathroom was a whole new design. We completely flipped the separate walk-in closets and the bathroom. Redesigning the space created a direct entrance to a new spa-like retreat with an expansive custom closet for two behind it. We incorporated many space-saving features into the design, like frosted, glass-fronted, pocket doors. Not only did the pocket doors eliminate the swing of traditional doors, but they help illuminate the bedroom and bath while maintaining privacy.

Some highlights that the new master bathroom boasts:

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