Your kitchen is often the room in your home where you spend the most time (other than your bedroom) and is often a place where people congregate when guests are visiting. Having a comfortable and inviting kitchen space is the dream and desire of many homeowners. When looking to renovate your kitchen, you will likely be focusing on an update to the cabinetry and countertops, as these are main focal points within the room and serve a critical role in storage and food preparation.

So if you are a do-it-yourselfer, then it is critical that you get the proper measurements the first time so that you don’t end up frustrated and out hundreds if not thousands of dollars when your mid-sized cabinets arrive. To begin the process of measuring your cabinets, make sure you have a tape measure, pencil, and grid-lined paper available.

You may wish to start by drawing a floor plan of the kitchen space so that you can ensure the proper size of cabinetry, leaving room for the other critical items such as appliances, doorways, windows, and anything else that you need to work around. The grid-lined paper will serve you well here, as you can leverage each cube within the space to represent a unit of measurement (centimeters, inches, or feet, depending on the size of the space you are working with). Inches are recommended.

Once you have drafted the space, inclusive of the items mentioned above that will take up a specific space within the room, you are ready to start taking horizontal and vertical measurements within the space. To measure the full height of a wall, start from one corner and work your way clockwise. Know that standard base kitchen cabinets are 24 inches deep and 36 inches high. Usually, they sit directly on the floor or occasionally rest upon a toe kick riser, which is 4 inches. So, be sure to measure from one edge of the wall to the other, then label the walls (1, 2, 3, 4, etc.) on your paper.

Once you have made note of the wall lengths, measure smaller segments of the walls, such as from a corner to the adjacent window, or to the space where your refrigerator will go. As you did with the walls, be sure to number or label each opening so that you can make reference later and prevent confusion.

Next, you will need to measure vertically, by measuring from the floor to the windowsill, And then from the windowsill to the top of the window, and then from the top of the window to the ceiling. Then, measure from the floor to the ceiling in multiple spots throughout the kitchen (three or four) as some ceiling heights can vary, especially in older homes.

Throughout the measurement process, make a note of any obstructions such as pipe location, outlets, radiators, vents, and anything else that can not be moved. Finally, be sure to double check the measurements when you’re done to ensure accuracy.

Now, you are ready to think through the types of cabinets that will work best in your space. . Keep in mind these final tips, as it is critical to select the correct height for your wall cabinets specific to your space, taking into account any crown molding or other obstructions that you must work around:

• For kitchens with an 8’ ceiling and a 12” soffit remaining, or an 8’ ceiling and a desire for cabinets that do not stretch all the way to the ceiling, 30” wall height cabinets are suggested.
• For an 8’ ceiling and when you want to install crown molding finished to the ceiling, 36” wall height cabinets are suggested.
• If you have a 9’ ceiling, then 42” wall height cabinets are recommended. Generally, any wall cabinets with a height more than 42”, will need to be custom-made.

As always, if you need help with tile or natural stone countertop installation and restoration, we’re always here to help! Contact Castles Home Service today with any questions.

If you love your home but have a small kitchen, and moving or a pricy renovation aren’t an option, don’t fret. There are a variety of easy strategies that you can adapt to help your tiny kitchen feel bigger, practically growing overnight. Check out these methods below, and you’ll be well on your way to that perceived roomier kitchen of your dreams.

Backsplash & Color

If you’re tight on space, consider using a white natural stone or tile backsplash and repainting cabinets and other woodwork to a white or very light and neutral color. The white in these materials, especially when combined with natural light and overhead lighting, will brighten the room, creating a sense of space.

Natural Light

Let that light in. A kitchen is not the best place for heavy window coverings. Rather, a simple set of horizontal blinds or perhaps just a valance if privacy isn’t necessary, is more than adequate. In fact, the horizontal lines from the blinds can actually create a perception of increased size. Most importantly here is to make use of the natural light coming in through the window, and seeing that when the window is open, it actually makes your kitchen feel bigger.

Open It Up

Replace some or all of your cabinet doors with a mullion or accent design. While this does create a need to keep your dishes tidy and neat behind those doors, that tidy look will actually help create a sense of order, further enhanced by the glass panels which create a look of depth and add a lovely focal point to the kitchen space. Most homeowners choose these accent doors to display precious heirlooms passed down from earlier generations such as China or other precious dinnerware.

Lose The Clutter

Along the lines of the tidy look we mentioned above, it is important to reduce if not lose the clutter altogether. If you have a corner space, consider installing a corner appliance cupboard where toasters, electric can openers, coffee makers, and other small appliances can hide vs. displaying out in the open.

Accent Lighting

Add accent lighting underneath and above your cabinetry. If your cabinets do not stretch all the way to the ceiling, adding lighting above the cabinets will help cast a gentle illumination, as well as mounting lighting underneath the cabinetry.

Negative Space

Avoid filling all of your floor space. If you have a small kitchen with limited cabinetry or counter space, you may be tempted to add a portable center island space or to tuck some other rolling shelving system into a corner. But often times, the addition of these mechanisms can make a room feel crowded; and while they may provide what you believe to be more workspace if you can’t move freely around the room or feel cramped, this additional workspace is likely counterproductive (pun intended). To that end, if you have an eat-in kitchen, consider a table that has folding leaves so that you can drop down a side or two of the table when it is not in use.

Stainless Appliances

If buying new appliances now or when the time comes for replacement, look for stainless steel which can create reflections, making additional use of that light in the room. Shiny surfaces help the light to bound through the room and amplify the space.

Try these tips to open up your kitchen, and let us know how they worked for you!

Your fireplace is the primary focal point in the room. It creates balance, and when designed correctly, it becomes that part of the room that draws you and welcomes you to stay. And today’s trendy home builders and homeowners alike continue to be drawn to reclaimed wood, brick, and stone fireplaces that help create that warm and cozy feeling.

If stone is the material you select, it is important to consider the different options available to you, and what stone will best suit the personality of your home. This list below provides insight into the stone categories that you will need to choose from.

• Manufactured or natural – This really comes down to personal preference as today’s manufactured stones have a natural or “real” appearance to them, and one might not realize that the stone isn’t real until approaching closely. Even then, it is often difficult to tell them apart. And the cost isn’t all that far apart nowadays either, though you will likely find the manufactured stone is priced just a bit less than its real counterpart. So, it really comes down to durability. As a manufactured stone is usually tinted with a paint color to achieve the desired look, it is more likely that these stones will begin to fade or discolor over time, whereas a natural stone fireplace will hold its original look. Manufactured stone, on the other hand, is much lighter in weight and is, therefore, easier to install.

• Cut and color – With stone fireplaces, and anything made out of stone, there are a variety of cuts to consider. Really, this is about the look you are trying to achieve. Are you looking for an elegant and formal look, or maybe a rustic look for your lake home, or maybe a very clean look to go with your modern décor; again, this is all about your personal preference. In this case, you will want to consider the furniture in the room, and the carpet that you will be installing (or that is already in place).

Very much tied to design as we outline below, is ensuring you are familiar with the common cuts that many people select from today. You’ll see terms such as stacked stone, mountain ledge, rough cut, country rubble, and more. These are all various cuts that your stone fireplace can be designed with.

• Design – This will often be driven by the type of space that you are working with, as well as the type of home (colonial, arts & crafts, etc.) that you have. You will also need to consider the style of the mantel that will accompany your fireplace, as this may work better with some stones and cuts over others. A key factor for your mantel design will be the clearance above the fireplace, which is often driven by the fireplace manufacturer’s instructions and safety precautions. Floating mantels are becoming more and more popular and can be made from most materials to match the overall look that you are going for.

• Hearth – Some homeowners are electing to forego the traditional hearth, which is the bench-style structure set just underneath the fireplace mechanism. Again, this may be driven by the space you are working with, and more likely by the safety precautions and guidelines provided by the manufacturer.

If you have any questions about restoring your stone fireplace or other stonework in your home, contact us today!

Whether new tile can be matched to old tile is a common dilemma among homeowners, especially when a tile becomes damaged or is broken. The answer to whether you can match new tile or not is yes. It was more common for older tiles to be 12- by 12- inches instead of the 16- and 20- inch tiles that have become popular today. Even if your old tile is broken or has been damaged in other ways, you can replace it with a new one that will blend in with the original floor plan. Here are five ways to match new tile flooring in your home.

Hunt for the Original Tiles

Do your research because you never know if you might find the same tile as the original one. Visit stores in person, check out websites, and take advantage of the filtering system that has been designed to make sure you find exactly what you’re looking for. For example, if you’re looking for a tile in a certain shape and color, enter those factors into the filtering system. You’ll be amazed at how quickly you’ll get to where you want to be.

Find a Close Match

What if you can’t find a match to your original tile no matter how hard you researched? That’s okay because you’ll at least be able to find a close match that will not only solve your problems but will also look great. Take a piece of your tile with you to a local store and hold it next to other tiles until you find the tile that looks closest to it. Don’t be afraid to ask an employee for help. Online retailers will also accept pictures of your tile being emailed to them so that they can better assist you as well.

Avoid the New Combined With Old Look

A common mistake among homeowners is matching new tile based on what’s trendy and fresh on the market. As stated previously, newer tiles aren’t the same as older tiles, and what’s trendy has a different meaning in today’s age versus the 1900s. When matching your tile, consider the time frame your house was built in. You don’t want to put trendy tiles from 2019 into a bathroom with a 50’s style bathtub, sink, and toilet. You will hate it.

Use Care When Designing

Matching tile is an art, and it’s easy to mess up and create a piece that just doesn’t look good. So when you’re shopping, don’t throw colors and designs together. Take every piece into consideration. Pair patterns with plain tiles and make sure to limit your color palette. A rule of thumb when matching tile is to vary in shapes, not color.

Be Consistent

If one area is going to look a certain way, then so should the rest of the room. Match the tiles the exact same way for each square foot. You can use different sizes and colors but keep the shapes and design the same for the entire area.

When you think of engineered stone, you may wonder what you’re actually getting, and we’re here to help. Engineered stone is often times referred to as quartz.  If you install a stone quartz countertop, you may think that they are all natural, which is true if you are using granite or marble. With engineered stone, you are getting quartz, but the counters are held together by quartz crystals with a resin binder. This gives it a similar look to natural stone. However, because there are some manmade materials in the stone, it has benefits that are not available for natural materials.

Attractive

Quartz materials are generally compressed into the slabs that you see at the store. You will notice they have a color and texture that is close to granite or slate. However, there is a major difference between quartz and granite. The color of quartz is uniform compared to the natural materials.

Countertops

Many countertops that are made from natural materials differ in color slightly when you use them throughout your whole kitchen area. However, when using engineered stone, you will notice that the color and hue remain the same for a more unified look throughout.

You have a few color choices with engineered stone as well. These colors are more earth tone colors which include rose, grays, and many more earthy tones. These colors you will find are mostly the natural colors found in the mineral but if you desire you can add colorants for a different tone.

Wear Well

When the engineered stone is finished, it is a very hard, durable material. In fact, it is almost as hard as granite. The advantage that this stone has over granite is that it will not crack as easily. Engineered stone is also very heat resistant. This means your hot pans will not leave a ring on the countertop if you set them down. Engineered stone is also known for being scratch and cut resistant.

Easy Clean-up

If you have a natural stone countertop, you will notice that the countertop is porous. This will cause bacteria to form and is tough to clean. However, with quartz, the countertops are known for not absorbing liquids. This makes it easy to disinfect and keep clean. Not only does it help with cleanliness it keeps food safety at a maximum because your raw meats aren’t soaking into your counters.

What Stains?

When you are working with engineered stone, you will notice that they stand up to a lot of abuse very well. Whereas natural stone is very prone to staining especially from oils and wines.

Options Galore

Engineered stone countertops have a variety of different natural colors to choose from, not to mention you can add additional colors to achieve the perfect look for your kitchen. So, when remodeling your kitchen, you are sure to find the perfect color of sandstone for your home.

Conclusion

Natural stone has a beautiful look, but the upkeep can be a lot. Natural stone is prone to cracking, scratching, and staining. So, if you are not looking for high-maintenance, then you may want to go with the equally beautiful and more durable engineered stone.

When it comes to stone masonry, you are going to realize no matter how strong the materials are that it will likely eventually crack. However, can you repair this and is it going to cost an arm and a leg to do so?

It is possible to repair cracked stone masonry. It is best left to an expert like Castles Home Service to replace and repair and repair stone masonry.

What is Stone Masonry?

Stone masonry has been around for hundreds of years. In fact, stone masonry itself is an ancient form of masonry. It was thought that because the stone is so strong that it would last a lifetime. Which, in all reality, it really can, but many people opt out of using old-fashioned techniques and use modern ones. Modern techniques of installing masonry have been proven to make the stone less durable and more prone to cracking or falling.

Brick is one of the most common materials used in masonry, and it is made of fired clay. It is popular because it comes in many different colors. It is one of the more high-priced finishes, but it is great because it repels water and is easy to maintain. Plus, in the long run, it is actually less expensive. Brick masonry will last around 100 years.

Another form of masonry is concrete block masonry. This type of work is more common among industrial building applications. This form of masonry can last anywhere from 50 to 80 years. However, these are not waterproof and will need to be resealed every 10 years.

What Causes Stone Masonry Damage?

Erosion

The most obvious factor for damage to stone masonry is erosion. While erosion may not cause issues to the structure itself, it may cause outer damage. This could mean the surface stones wear away and the mortar joints have issues. This leads to cracks and taking in water.

Water

Water is honestly, the worst enemy of stone masonry because of how it freezes and thaws. These different freeze cycles are known to cause cracks. You will notice the water is causing issues if you see discoloration on your stone. You can also expect to see dark patches. This is where the water has soaked into the surface. This is not a big deal immediately but will be in the future if not fixed.

How to Fix a Cracked Stone Masonry

One of the most common fixes is called repointing. This would mean replacing the damaged mortar between your stones or choice of material. It is important that you are replacing the old mortar with an equal strength mortar. You also want to make sure the appearance is the same as well. This will help prevent future cracking. If you add a stronger mortar mixture, your wall won’t be able to handle the freeze cycles as well.

Conclusion

Can you Repair Cracked Stone Masonry?  When it comes to cracked stone masonry, your best bet is to replace the problem. This can be hard an unforgiving work, but you can hire a professional like Castles Home Service to handle it for you professionally. Take a look at some of our before and after photos and you’ll see what is possible.

It makes sense – you have a beautiful, inviting fireplace that serves as a focal point in your living area. It only makes sense to orient the furniture around this welcoming feature in your home. But what about the TV? If the furniture placement indicates anything, it’s likely you’re thinking the perfect spot is right above the mantle.

Unfortunately, experts disagree with this placement for many reasons; from an ergonomically correct position to potential heat damage. We’re going to take a look at the reasons you shouldn’t mount your TV over your fireplace.

Heat and Electronics Don’t Mix

Electronics don’t do well with heat. They warp and degrade in the presence of high temperatures, while conductive materials actually fray and cause shorts within the circuitry of the television.

Smoke is a separate, but equally important concern. Smoke and particulate from fires can rise and leave a hazy film on your television, which requires quite a bit of upkeep if you wish to make the most of that 1080p resolution.

It’s Not Ergonomic

TV placement above a fireplace typically results in stiff necks. Ideally, the most comfortable position to view any kind of entertainment is at eye-level. When we hold our necks in an uncomfortable position for long periods, we experience temporary discomfort that can lead to long-term issues like chronic headaches.

Physical therapists who specialize in musculoskeletal issues confirm – much like the concerns we have of sitting for too long at our desks, hunched over at our computers – the effects of watching television in an unnatural position have lasting consequences.

Anything above 35 degrees from the horizontal plane of eye level prevents the neck stabilizer muscles from functioning. When those muscles become compromised, they cause a shearing force in the cervical spine, causing lots of pain.

Screen Quality Gets Compromised

With LCD/LED TVs, the viewing angle is everything. Because their composition consists of tiny, shuttered windows that control the flow of backlight to produce the images, they have limited viewing angles. If you prefer to mount your television, consider buying a tilted wall mount that has enough of a downward angle to allow for a more direct view of the screen. Sometimes, you may even find wall mounts that drop the TV closer to eye level to improve both contrast and color saturation.

If tilted mounts aren’t your thing, try an OLED TV, which is known for having a myriad of viewing angles, no matter the placement.

Alas, if the layout of your living space limits your options, leaving you feeling defeated, there are some things you can do to try and mitigate the negative aspects of having a TV mounted above the fireplace:

• You can try to place your seating further back to lower the angle of your neck as you view your shows.
• You might opt for a reclined position while you watch TV.
• You can refrain from having a fire going while you watch TV, so the lighting from the screen and the fireplace don’t compete.
• You can have your TV professionally installed for proper cable management and expert suggestions for how to get the most out of your TV’s new position.

Natural stone floors are a beautiful addition to any home. The use of stone floors throughout a home can easily brighten and modernize a home. They are also sturdy and durable, lasting many years without cracks or wear and tear.

Although a stone floor is amazing to have in a home, it does need to be cleaned in a specific way. Over time stone floor tiles can lose their shine and luster requiring an intense cleaning by professionals. It is recommended that you sweep at least twice a week in order to grab any dust or dirt to make periodic cleaning and mopping easier.

Prepare the Floor

In order to be able to properly clean a stone floor, you need the right products for the job. Before rushing into cleaning, make sure you have a clean mop, a mop bucket, a broom, towels, and a ph neutral stone cleaner like the ones available from MORE™ Surface Care. Change into some comfortable cleaning clothes as there is a possibility of staining and dirtying the clothes worn. After gathering the materials, sweep and dust the floor using the broom. This allows for easier cleaning as the broom can collect dust and debris before the addition of water and cleaning product.

Mop the Floor

The easiest way to clean a stone floor is by mopping. Fill up a mop bucket with warm, but not hot water, and add a ph neutral stone cleaner. The addition of this ph neutral stone cleaner makes a difference in the long run as it is not acidic and won’t wear down your stone floors. Regular floor cleaner can harm tile as the product is not designed for stone tiles.

After mopping dump the mop water and thoroughly rinse out the mop bucket for the next step.

Rinse the Floors with Warm Water

The next step can be relatively easy or more difficult. If you use a typical stone cleaner, rather than just drying the floors right away, you need to rinse them. Although you might use a generic ph neutral stone cleaner in your mop water to mop, there is always the possibility of leaving behind residue. This residue has the potential to erode and damage the stone tile floor. The residue can also leave streaky marks on your beautiful tile floor that may not be noticeable till the floor dries.

To get rid of the residue, fill up the clean and rinsed out mop bucket with only lukewarm water. Mop like you normally would if you were using the floor cleaner. As the mop bucket water changes color, dump the water and fill the bucket with clean fresh water. After about three different rinses, you should be good to go.

However, if you use a cleaning product from MORE™ Surface Care, there’s no need to rinse and you can skip this step completely!

All Done!

After rinsing, you have two options to dry; air drying and manually drying with a towel. If you choose to air dry, you may have to wait a while before you can walk on your floors. It is recommended to dry with a towel as it speeds up the process and the towel may be able to pick up leftover dirt and debris left behind.

Choose a towel that is sturdy and won’t leave any lint or fabric behind. While the fabric or lint won’t harm the stone floors, it is better to use a towel that won’t leave any mess behind. Taking the towel, begin wiping and dragging the towel in one direction to limit any streak marks. When the floor is dry, admire your work! You are done!

Renovating your kitchen can come with a lot of decisions to make. There are so many things to do to make your kitchen the perfect kitchen for your home. To make it easier, start with one specific area to focus on like, cabinets.

Choosing the right color cabinets for your home may sound like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be! There are a couple of key ideas to keep in mind when choosing the right color cabinets for your beautiful home.

These key ideas include; inspiration, tone, and compatibility.

Step One – Research and Find Inspiration

Although it is so easy to want to just jump into everything, drawing on inspiration is key to finding the right color cabinets for your home. Every kitchen has a unique design and look that stems from somewhere. This ‘somewhere’ can be anything from a magazine, an old childhood home or a movie.

Looking for inspiration is an easy step to ensure you choose the right color cabinets. Next time you’re waiting in line at the grocery store, pick up a magazine! There are plenty of lifestyle and home magazines that can give you a great idea of what you want to do with your kitchen. Inspiration can be drawn from modern-looking and traditional kitchens and cabinets photographed in the pictures.

If you aren’t much of a reader, there is always the internet! A quick search and scan through the internet can satisfy your inspirational needs for your home. Once you find inspiration for your home and cabinets, you can then begin to find the mood or tone you would like to set!

With Inspiration Comes Tone

After choosing a photo or coming up with an inspiration for the cabinets in your home, the next step is to choose a tone. Color has a lot to do with mood. For example, you can choose a specific color cabinet for your home based off of the tone. Some moods include; happy, calm, modern, cool, and energetic.

Some colors that would be great options to have for a happy tone are yellow, red, and orange. These fiery colors are known to boost the mood of people and would work beautifully in your home.

If you are searching for more of a modern or cool tone, light colors are recommended. Choosing a color for cabinets that fit a cool or modern tone is fun and easy.

Make Sure They Match The Rest of Your Home

Something that may slip your mind is keeping the kitchen and the rest of your home compatible. If your walls are painted a lovely cool blue, and you want to keep a modern tone choose a color accordingly. There are many appliances and furniture throughout your home that may alter the tone or style based on the color contrasts.

Before choosing a cabinet color for your home, look at your surroundings and ensure that the color of the cabinets will match with the rest of your gorgeous house.