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6 Interior Design Trends for 2022

January 6th, 2022 |

When it comes to interior design trends, 2022 is chock full of bold ideas. This is the year to add fresh colors, textures and design to your investment property interior. Read on to find out what’s new in interior design. 

Windows, Windows and More Windows 

A wall of windows helps banish that cooped-up feeling we’ve all had during the past two years. It’s time to let sunshine and nature into the home with windows and more windows. For example, multiple casement windows over the kitchen sink and range let a family enjoy the outdoors while they cook or grab a snack.  

Light Floors and White Walls 

You’ll want to maximize the light that streams through all those windows. Light-colored floors and white walls will reflect that sunlight back into the room. This color scheme also helps a room look spacious and airy. Light-colored flooring is available in a variety of materials, including 

  • White oak 
  • European white oak 
  • Maple
  • Bamboo
  • Ash
  • Sandstone 
  • Travertine  

Black painted trim or colored, textured furnishings add contrast and warmth to rooms that have light floors and walls.

Patterned Flooring

Here’s an interior design trend that making a comeback in 2022: patterned flooring. You can choose from many geometric patterns for your wood floor. For example, the classic herringbone pattern adds elegant style to hardwood floors. To highlight the flooring, choose neutral colors and natural materials for your furnishings. 

Patterned tile is another flooring option that works well in a bathroom. Consider different patterns and colors for the shower floor and bathroom floor.  

Green Tones 

With the emphasis on neutral and subdued tones, you can still add a subtle pop of color with green. It’s no coincidence that many paint companies chose a green tone as their 2022 color of the year. Cool, green walls complement light wood flooring, while green trim subtly sets off white walls. From olive to evergreen, there’s a shade of green to suit every taste.  

Kitchen Islands 

In 2022, a kitchen island offers a lot more than extra counter space. Depending on its size, an island can be a multifunctional, efficient addition to a kitchen. It’s still a great place to prep vegetables or store pots and pans, but why not add seating and a prep sink? Install a small refrigerator and microwave oven at the end of the island so that people can heat up food without blocking traffic. With its central location, a large kitchen island can conveniently include a dishwasher and pullout trash container.  

Sustainable Materials 

Sustainability continues to be a hot trend in 2022, and interior design is no exception. Responsibly sourced woods, natural fabrics and other sustainably produced materials are available for the home interior. High-performance windows let you conserve energy and save money on heating and cooling bills. Wood, stone and other natural materials help create a serene, calming environment. You may even inspire others to adopt sustainable interior design practices.

Are you ready to update your Boston area investment property with the latest interior design trends 2022 has to offer? At RH Blanchard, our team has outstanding general contracting experience and skills. Contact us today for a free quote.

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Galley Kitchen Remodel: Should We Open It Up?

March 24th, 2021 |

When moving to a home, many people love to have the opportunity to take something old and make it new again. Home style and home design consistently change to accommodate our needs and tastes. Many old homes face the same problem, too many walls, and too many rooms. Boston is full of old spaces that weren’t designed to accommodate the needs and tastes of our ever-evolving style. 

An extremely common feature of some older homes and apartments is the galley kitchen. Originally designed to fit the limited spaces of trains and boats, the galley kitchen eventually made its way into our homes and is something that can divide people depending on their personal preference. 

Efficient or Crowded?

Although galley kitchens may not fit into the modern, open-concept homes, they do have their upside. They are meant to be an efficient use of space in homes that have limited square footage due to their narrow footprint. Because of their narrow footprint, a galley kitchen is ideal for serious cooks, they allow any chef to have everything in close proximity and allows them to be more efficient in the kitchen. They are also meant to be unseen, so definitely a plus for any messy cooks out there. 

The small space can have a downside as well. Galley kitchens are not meant to entertain, if you want your kitchen to be a place for people to hang out, a galley kitchen is not for you. They are also tough for anybody who cooks with other people, the small space can quickly become crowded and difficult to maneuver with others in the kitchen with you. 

Should You Invest in a Galley Kitchen Remodel?

So, should you open up your galley kitchen? That depends! Do you like to entertain people in your kitchen? Do you want your kitchen to be a great space for your friends and family to hang out? Then yes! Opening up your galley kitchen can be a great way to open up your house and make your kitchen a top destination for your family or friends. 

One major consideration is the size of your overall house and living space. If you were to knock down a wall and open up your galley kitchen would it open up your kitchen the way you intend? Or would it make your whole house feel like a kitchen? Keep in mind that if you typically have a messier kitchen, that will now be on display to anybody in your home. 

It’s estimated that a galley kitchen remodel can typically run $17k to $21k on average. A few factors to consider before opening up your galley kitchen includes:

  • Is the wall you want to remove a load-bearing wall? If so your project could be much more expensive, and you could have to incorporate a large beam in your kitchen. 
  • Look into other ways to make your galley appear more spacious, such as removing top cabinets. 
  • If you are ready to get an estimate on your galley kitchen remodel or just want to get some additional information, contact R.H. Blanchard today!
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5 Amazing Galley Kitchen Renovation Ideas

October 8th, 2020 |

Since updating the kitchen is typically one of the best ways to increase return on investment, making a galley kitchen more functional and visually appealing can be a very smart move. A successful galley kitchen renovation usually solves the most common problems with these spaces: inadequate lighting and poor layout. Here are ideas to address those issues.

The Ideal Solution: Remove a Wall

Due to the popularity of open floor plans, creating a visual connection between the kitchen and the rest of the space should appeal to potential tenants or buyers. Removing a wall also eliminates the dark, cavernous feel that often plagues these spaces. If the wall you would like to remove is load-bearing, opening the space may be possible with the use of a support beam.

An Acceptable Alternative: Design a Wall Cutout

A wall cutout also can connect the kitchen to the living or dining area. It may be necessary to skip upper cabinets to make room for the cutout. You can provide storage by installing open shelving on the remaining wall space.

Install Multiple Fixtures for Ambient Lighting

A single fixture for the main lighting will make the space dark and uninviting. Running pendants or recessed lighting the entire length of the kitchen makes the room look larger.

Choose Reflective Surfaces

Light colors and shiny finishes bounce light around the room. Although white walls, cabinets, and appliances accompanied by subway tile backsplashes are a popular way to take advantage of the power of reflective surfaces, they aren’t the only options. Glossy floor tiles or countertops can achieve the same effect.

Avoid Layout Pitfalls

Putting all appliances on one side can be useful. Generally, it makes it easier for more than one person to work in the kitchen at a time. However, care needs to be taken to ensure there’s sufficient clearance to open each appliance. Out of the box solutions like smaller appliances, a wall oven, or a dishwasher drawer may be the best choice.

R.H. Blanchard Contract & Design has years of experience helping real estate investors get an excellent return on their investments. Contact us to turn the vision for your next galley kitchen renovation into reality.2 hours ago

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5 Small Kitchen Remodel Opportunities With Healthy Return on Investment

August 20th, 2020 |

A transformation renovation doesn’t have to mean gutting your kitchen down to the studs. Any of these 5 savvy projects can infuse high style in a small space without the soaring cost of a complete kitchen makeover.

According to the Remodeling 2020 Cost v. Value Report,* minor mid-range kitchen remodeling yielded 77% in value compared to cost. This national study analyzed facelifts to cabinets, countertops, sinks, faucets, flooring and paint. These are 5 of the top trends for a small kitchen remodel:

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3 Kitchen Remodeling Myths Debunked by An Independent Contractor

October 10th, 2019 |

It’s considered common knowledge that if you can only update two rooms in your home, you should update your kitchen and your bathroom. The kitchen serves as the heart and hearth of a home, and a good kitchen remodel can exponentially increase the value of your property. However, just as quickly as you can make money by remodeling your kitchen well, you can lose money if you don’t understand how to remodel your kitchen. In this Q&A, an independent contractor gives you the dish on kitchen remodels, debunking some popular industry myths. (more…)

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3 Trends for Kitchen Remodeling in Boston

May 13th, 2019 |

In recent years, older kitchen designs were par for the course as the recession caused investors and homeowners to put larger-scale projects on the back burner. With economic growth across the real estate industry, it’s time to invest money into those larger-scale projects once more. An easy way to receive a higher return on investment (ROI) is to update the old kitchens common throughout antiquated cities like Boston.

The following three kitchen remodeling trends are among the most popular and desired in New England. They will help to increase the value of the property, so investors can get the highest ROI possible.

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