With experience developed and accumulated in kitchen and bathroom design since 2015, Alice Mulvey joined Reico Kitchen & Bath in 2025 as a Designer. For Alice, it is her to goal to help navigate her clients through complex process of renovation or building in a way that makes it easier for them on their way to creating the dream kitchen or bathroom...

Akram Aljahmi has been working in the field of kitchen and bathroom design since 2010 and is an active member of the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA). Akram takes each design personally, partnering with his clients to identify their wants and needs in order to create the best possible design for them. He has the ability to design in any s...

Why are people so afraid of doing bathroom remodeling? We get it. Change can be scary. But is there anything scarier than your old dingy, tiny bathroom with the same decor you’ve been staring at for decades? Yeah, we didn’t think so. The good news about this scary situation is that you really don’t have to be so fearful. Here’s how to take the leap...

We’re down to the Sweet 16 of NCAA basketball’s March Madness. Every decision, every play, every result hinging on other decisions, plays and results. While many teams are evaluated by their overall depth, it is typically the starting five that sets the tone for the game and the success of the team. Working together, a Center, 2 Forwards and 2 Guar...

Close your eyes. Imagine the kitchen you grew up in. The table you ate it. The area your mom cooked, baked and whipped up seemingly magical meals...and similarly dreaded meals (I still don't care for Salisbury steak to this day...). Focus in a little more and picture the countertop. Can you see it? What is that? Plastic? Laminate. But then a few ye...

How much does a typical bathroom cost? We get the question every day. To be honest, it’s a great question! The truth is there are as many ways to answer that question as there are to ask it. The answer depends on a few factors…most notably size, layout and product selections.

The word "modern" is hot right now. You hear it everywhere. And it shows no signs of going away. According to Sarah Reep, ASID, IIDA, CMKBD, CMG, CAPS and Director of Designer Relations and Education for Merillat Cabinetry, an increased in modern style requests from clients and by manufacturers, has been noticed. With its’ clean, crisp lines and si...

The Millennial generation was literally in its’ infancy by the time Star Wars Episode VI – Return of the Jedi hit movie theaters in 1983. I was 14 years old and the force was with me…wishing for Han Solo’s brazen confidence and Luke Skywalker’s quiet strength…and maybe even hoping to attract the attention of my own Princess Leia.

I am going to let you in on a little secret. Kitchens are the Unicorn Frappuccino of remodeling. I know what you are thinking. The timing of this revelation seems suspicious. However, in terms of kitchen remodeling it is true. Kitchens are the Unicorn Frappuccino of remodeling projects. Any project can transform a house, but kitchen remodeling chan...

The Super Bowl is this Sunday, but let's talk about the super bowl you bring out for those special occasions. You know, the really big one! We hike up 3 base cabinet storage ideas to help you store you own super bowl and other large kitchen baking items.

As an avid cook and kitchen designer (in that order!), I have a definite list of must haves for my own kitchen. Here are my top 5: 1) A Tray base – stores cutting boards, cookie sheets and serving trays in an organized and easy to access 9” to 12” wide cabinet. Go a little wider and get muffin tins and rectangular casserole dish storage too.

Last month I shared my personal top 5 things I would want in my own kitchen. Now I put on my bathroom designer hat and turn my attention to my personal getaway space...the bathroom. Here is what I must have. My top 5:

One of the most important considerations when you are designing your kitchen is how and what you cook. Do you use the fry pan, a wok or grill on the cooktop for most of your meals?

Open floor plans that create a social kitchen are a big focus in kitchen design right now. Cooking is more of a communal event than ever. Family, friends and even guests are getting involved in creating a meal. Combining the kitchen with living and dining areas makes dinner a family event and opportunity to share your day over meal preparation.

Everyone knows the tree goes in the front room, the wreath on the front door and the lights outside…but what about the kitchen? The kitchen is where the real magic of the season happens for those fabulous meals and treats. Check out our list of what’s naughty and what’s nice.

It’s your kitchen. If you want to put your knobs in the center of the cabinet door that’s your prerogative. I don’t think it will look too good but I’m not going to live there. Neither is your designer, contractor, architect, cousin, neighbor, friend or anyone else you are looking to for advice.

Finding the right shower for your space can be challenging, particularly if you are working with a small bathroom. You want something that gives you value for your money yet does not overpower the entire bathroom. Can you find the perfect fit in a walk-in shower for your small bathroom? Let’s find out!

Live, work, and play- this slogan is in almost every planned community. That’s what our homes, particularly our kitchens and bathrooms, became over the last year and a half. We lived in them a lot - these are the hearts of our homes.  Whether you have been holding out on that new kitchen or bathroom, or are gathering ideas as we speak, here are 3 e...

Do you own a pet? If you do, you can relate to the joy of coming home to an eager furry friend. The soft meows and wagging tails can have your heart melting in an instant. But that’s until you walk into the living room and find that your furry friend has destroyed your pillows. Or worse- they have spent the whole day scratching at the floor surface...

We all know the phrase “everything but the kitchen sink,” which represents throwing everything you have got into something...a competition, a challenge, a new learning opportunity.  And while there is no mistaking that we are big on kitchen sinks, why should they get all attention.  You see where this is going.  What about the bathroom sink? When y...

Remember open shelves?  We had so much room to show our stuff that we sacrificed cabinets for open storage and had homeowners working their hardest to show off their creativity. For a sector of the population, though, they are on their way out, as are many other traditional kitchen concepts. It is not news to those downsizing, either in the size of...

A bathroom remodel is an exciting time, but also a time where you do not want to make any mistakes. Working together with your designer and your contractor, along with being mindful of these bathroom renovation mistakes will help direct you to all the right moves during your new bathroom remodel.

When you are going to renovate your kitchen, it is an exciting time for everyone. You (and others) are dreaming of everything that the space could be. A new place to entertain, to cook, and, at the end of the day, look at with pride. Creating a warm kitchen design and feel will help bring everyone together.  Who doesn’t want to feel warm, comfortab...

What style is your bathroom? Possibly a more relevant question - does your bathroom even have a style?  If you answered “I don’t know” or “no” to those questions, then it’s time for you to put a little more thought into the place where you do your business. After all, your guests do their business there too, and you want to have a nice relaxing sho...

It doesn’t even have to be around the holidays for you to have a wishlist. There are things that you want in your master bathroom year round, because you’re going to be using your bathroom year round. Here’s some things to keep your eye on if they’re not already on your list.  

You love to entertain. And you’ve been entertaining the idea of getting a wet bar or a dry bar.  Your house is known as the place where people go to gather. Maybe you love hosting a small, intimate gathering. Or maybe you love to get a big group together and call it a party.

You’ve finally had it with your bathroom. It’s time to redesign. Woo! The idea of designing a new bathroom for you and your family to be able to relax in is an exciting one. But it can also be an intimidating prospect when you realize that the possibilities that you have available to you are basically endless. Once you start planning how you want y...

The kitchen is a great place where people can come together and make a meal and talk about their day...except for when you’re cramped when there’s more than one person in the space. Or you keep bumping your elbow on that poorly placed counter. And you are constantly wrestling those pots and pans out of your cupboards. Yes, kitchens can be great, bu...

Step inside your kitchen. If you’re not home picture it in your head. How’s it looking? How does your kitchen make you feel? If you had a less than a positive answer to those questions, then you probably already know something needs to change. Your kitchen should make you feel warm and relaxed. You should be ready to whip up a dinner or sit with a ...

When you’re planning a kitchen remodel, it’s an understatement that there’s a lot to do. You have to think about when you want to do your remodel, what you want to remodel, what style it should be, and more. But perhaps the most pressing thing on everyone’s mind? The budget. Don’t stress about how much everything is going to cost. Stick to a plan t...

Are you thinking of entertaining for the holidays, but look at your kitchen and think twice about having people over? You want to cook and have a place for your friends to stay, but envisioning having to prepare all the food in your tiny kitchen is making you want to suggest having a party somewhere else.

So you’re in the bathroom squinting at yourself in the mirror and it dawns on you: your bathroom is just...dim. Even if your bathroom is large, when it’s not bright, it can feel smaller. And that’s the opposite of what you want. But you don’t have to be afraid of the dark. There are some surefire ways that can lighten up your bathroom and start you...

The kitchen is an intimidating place for some people. For others, it’s where they go to make masterpieces. Whatever level of kitchen aficionado you are, everyone can agree they love food.  If you want to be a master chef, you need a master kitchen. Here are some ways to bring your cooking and your kitchen design to the next level.

Let’s explore some ideas! What comes to your mind when you hear in-stock cabinets? For many people, the first instinct to associate these cabinets with the kitchen comes naturally. After all, they have more than served the kitchen cabinetry role for decades. However, relating them with other rooms might not be the first thought to cross your mind. ...

You know how the quote goes: the devil is in the details. When you are remodeling your kitchen, you might be thinking about all the things that go into creating the big picture. No doubt you should be.  But once you have got the big picture nailed down, it is time to delve into the details.  You want to get the little things right from the start, b...

According to a 2020 U.S. Houzz & Home survey, only 36% of homeowners doing a remodeling project stayed on track with their budgets in 2019. Comparatively, over 31% of homeowners had a remodeling project that went over budget and a surprising 29% never set a budget on their project at all. That leaves a little over 3% that we would consider those lu...

If you are looking to renovate your bathroom, you have a lot of different boxes in mind to check off that project list. What style, look and feel do you want in the bathroom? What materials do you want to use for the countertops, the cabinets and the shower area? What colors should be selected for the space? Another box to check… safety.  Your bath...

We can probably all agree that we are happy that it is 2021. And after having to quarantine in your house for so long, you might be looking for a fresh start for many things, including that bathroom you use every day.   When it comes to bathrooms in 2021, there are some new trends to watch out for.  Some are trends that were not quite so prominent ...

Before you can ask yourself if a floating vanity cabinet is right for you, first you simply need to know what it is. Sometimes a floating vanity cabinet is also expressed as a verb - floating your vanity.  Most traditional cabinets that you see are just that: traditional cabinets. Floated cabinets are wall-mounted vanities that float above the grou...

So, you have finally taken the plunge and decided to remodel your kitchen. Cheers! Now you literally can not wait to get that new kitchen you have been dreaming about forever. The new countertops, the extra storage, the updated look - seriously, you want it to start right now.   Before you go rushing in too quickly though, take a page out of the bo...

No matter what style or size your home is, an in-house bar is absolutely going to change your entertainment game. All you need to do is decide which type of bar is going to be right for you. The good news is that at its most basic level, you need to decide if you want a wet bar or a dry bar.  Let us take you through some basic definitions and ideas...

Whether you’re doing a whole kitchen remodel or just looking for a great upgrade idea, your kitchen backsplash is a design detail you’ll want to pay plenty of attention to.  If you’re scratching your head and thinking, uh, what’s a backsplash? Don’t worry, you’re not the only one. Everyone's kitchen has a backsplash. It’s the panel behind the stove...

What’s more daunting than the idea of a remodel? Nothing, really. But while the idea of it may seem scary, you’ve actually got nothing to worry about if you prepare the right way.  You’ve finally decided you’re going to take that step and remodel your kitchen or your bathroom. A remodel can bring out the best in you, and it can bring out the worst ...

When you look at your bathroom, do you go “blah?” Maybe you’re not too excited about the boring old decor you’ve seen every single day in there for years. But you spend a lot of time in your bathroom - getting ready, showering, and you know, doing business. It’s about time that you gave your bathroom some TLC. And you’ve got to start somewhere. A b...

When you look at your kitchen, you see it as a whole. You’ve got the lights, the cabinets, the floors, the appliances, and maybe most importantly, the food. But when you break your kitchen down into those different sections, you might start paying attention to more detail. Here are some details that you could be ignoring in your kitchen that actual...

Deciding to do a bathroom remodeling project, let alone any remodeling project, is always a big decision.  Part of that decision involves deciding how big the scope of the project will be. Keeping certain items in a space can save on money and decisions, but can present limits and other challenges when working in the space.  This was exactly the ch...

If you’re dreaming of designing your bathroom with a spa-like aesthetic, then a wet room is certainly an option worth considering. So, what exactly is a wet room? It’s a bathroom where the shower is open or placed behind a single wall, and the floor space of the shower is leveled with the entire room, with the water draining through an opening infu...

Redoing a bathroom requires making a thousand decisions, but none is arguably so impactful on the overall effect as tile. It is the foundation on which you walk and the covering that protects your shower. Frequently it also forms part of the wall or a backsplash around the sink. Your tile choices, in other words, have considerable bearing on your w...

As you prepare to design or remodel your bathroom, don’t overlook the importance of saving space. Maximizing your use of the available area isn’t just about convenience; it’s also about safety, as the more room you have to move around and reach things, the less likely you are to strain yourself or fall. Thus by designing in a way that wastes as lit...

What’s the most dangerous part of your home? If you guessed “the kitchen,” you’re not far off: this one room is responsible for nearly half a million knife injuries a year, to say nothing of falls, burns, strains, and other potentially serious injuries. If you want to protect yourself and your loved ones from these mishaps, you have to design a kit...

There’s something sacred about food. No matter who we are or where we come from, we all love food. And when we’re sitting down to a meal with someone or a group of people, we’re all sharing in a communal experience, and gathering to sit down and reflect on our day.

Have you been putting off a remodel on your kitchen because you’re not sure what the first steps are? Maybe you’ve been pushing back a makeover so long that your kitchen has started to lean more toward the outdated side. If that’s you, or you just want to give your kitchen a little facelift, then let us help. From big to small, there’s a number of ...

When you decide to remodel a bathroom, you can’t help but get excited. Even a small bathroom design can be transformed with the right choice of cabinets, countertops and fixtures. Get it right and all of sudden it just might be the most popular bathroom in the house.

The care and details that go into preparing a Thanksgiving dinner are not unlike the care and detail that goes into planning a kitchen remodeling project. Cooking that Thanksgiving meal is a team effort of family and friends, just like planning a kitchen remodeling project is a team effort, bringing you and your designer together to create your dre...

Honoring our Veteran’s is something that we should be doing every day. And in Chesapeake, VA we are getting a very special opportunity to work on a kitchen remodeling project with our own group of “veterans”. Two of them are military veterans and one of them is a “veteran” of the kitchen and bath industry. How did they come together to be working o...

Kitchen cabinet accessories are critical to every kitchen design. Enjoy our kitchen cabinet accessories inspired 'Twas the Night before Christmas.

Bringing color into the kitchen is always one of the most interesting challenges (and opportunities!) of a kitchen design. We already know that color can come from so many different or unusual things. These kitchen design ideas can come from almost anywhere in the kitchen. It can be a unique kitchen countertop in a specialty color.

We recently completed a kitchen remodeling project using soapstone kitchen countertops (and one kitchen sink). As you can see from the picture, with it's medium gray cast and distinctive veining a soapstone kitchen countertop can create a unique look that can really make any kitchen pop!

Last week, we shared results on the most desired kitchen trends based on a survey given to Kitchen & Bathroom Designers by the Research Institute for Cooking & Kitchen Intelligence (RICKI). This week we wanted to share the results of what consumers are asking for most when remodeling their bathroom. Here are the top 5 most desired bathroom design t...

The Research Institute for Cooking & Kitchen Intelligence (RICKI) gathered feedback from kitchen design professionals indicating what consumers ask for most when they want to start remodeling their kitchen. Here are the top 5:

One of the early choices to make in kitchen cabinets when remodeling your kitchen is choosing a door style. There are 3 main kitchen cabinet door styles: traditional, full-overlay and inset.

Ok, I admit that this likely comes as no surprise to anyone reading this since I work for a kitchen company (I’m also thankful for bathrooms but that’s a whole other discussion).

I’m not a superhero. While I played one in a recent company update (what do you mean you’ve never heard of Captain Reico), the truth of the matter is I’m just like everybody else. Well, almost everybody else. The people who protect us, save lives and make the world a better place to live…those are our superheroes, the Superman’s and Wonder Women wh...

It’s always great to read a local story about people who have served our country and the paths that led them to where they are today. These Army lifers have spent their lives all over the world on our behalf before deciding it was time to settle down.

I recently visited Barcelona and immediately fell in love with the charm and architecture of the city (not to mention the tapas, paella, cava, sangria…I could go on and on).

Great kitchen design ideas are everywhere and one of the most timeless ideas utilized to create focal points in a kitchen design is glass. Yes, there are many other great kitchen design ideas that can add a unique touch or focal point to your kitchen space.

We are all so used to filling up every possible space with cabinets. What about those times where there is a unique space or client need that requires more creative bathroom design ideas? An unexpected opening may be a great surprise and great convenience to a client.

Storing spices in the kitchen can be a challenge and leave you “cayenne” over the best place for them. You want them near you while you cook and you want to be able to pick out the one you want easily. What to do? What to do?

In the mid-70’s the Starland Vocal Band recorded the number one hit “Afternoon Delight”. It instantly skyrocketed up the charts with its’ strong harmonies. And while kitchen remodeling or bathroom remodeling may not be as glamorous as a hit song, when it comes to choosing a painted cabinet these skyrockets truly are in flight.

It's not looking good for the rubber duckies. According to a recent Houzz study on bathroom remodeling trends, more and more consumers are forgoing the master bathroom tub. More than 4 in 10 surveyed homeowners are ditching the bathroom tub with glass and curbless zero threshold shower enclosures leading the way in bathroom trends.

The big entertainment news last week was that David Letterman would be retiring after over 30 years of being on television. But did you know that the real reason was just so he could remodel his kitchen? Think about it. At the very least, we know Letterman has always had an interest in food, mostly by dropping it off tall buildings and seeing what ...

It happens every year about this time. People start considering all their options. They look at stats and key information to help them make decisions on what or who will ultimately win out. And then they do it…they print out their March Madness brackets and start filling in winners. Will they go with the flashiest choice with the best chance of win...