Today’s laundry rooms are not what they used to be! By incorporating more features and amenities from other areas of the home, some dread is being taken out of doing the laundry. Planning and a desire for greater functionality in the laundry room is the key. Here are a few things changing today’s laundry room:

Every kitchen has a focal point. That one area that always captures peoples’ attention the moment they walk in. Or brings a smile to your own face because it looks better in your kitchen than you ever imagined it could. Most are intended. Some are not.

Don’t talk to boomers about Universal Design. Today it is Smart Design that benefits everyone of all ages, incorporating smart design ideas throughout the home to allow families of various sizes and multiple generations to stay in place. Want some smart design ideas that can make your home “smarter”? Here are 8 tips:

Quick, can you name the Thanksgiving feast served by Charlie Brown for all of his friends? If you are thinking 2 slices of buttered toast, some pretzel sticks, a handful of popcorn and a few jelly beans you were correct!

Forget wants and needs for a second and let’s talk about desires. Specifically, what you desire in your kitchen. Is it a simple, functional upgrade or is it something more personal or exotic?

When planning a kitchen, there are so many decisions to make…from little things like the location of cabinet hardware to bigger, more functional questions like where to locate the dishwasher.

As you already know, kitchen ideas are everywhere! Here are 3 things you can do to help your kitchen designer get started on your kitchen: 1. Pictures! Pictures! Pictures!

Nowadays the kitchen sink has been elevated to the level of appliance in the kitchen. It is no longer just a hole for water, soap and dishes. You can do so much more with the right type of kitchen sink and sink accessory. How do you know what’s right for you?

Kitchen backsplashes are often one of the last items installed in the kitchen, but it can have a profound impact on your entire kitchen design. Kitchen backsplashes are not just wall protection anymore. They’re a chance to jazz up your kitchen and express yourself!

I frequently have clients who think they want white cabinets for their kitchen but are afraid to commit. They worry that white cabinets will be boring or go out of style. Well, I’m here to tell you that in my humble opinion, nothing could be further from the truth!

Any kitchen remodeling or bathroom remodeling project requires great communication and teamwork. Get a homeowner, interior designer, kitchen designer and craftsman in one room (preferably a kitchen!) and the ideas can start flying. The right teamwork though can pull all of that together into a real dream kitchen!

We use the term dream kitchen or dream bathroom often in the design world. Talking about a first time kitchen or bathroom remodeling project with a client who has waited so long for this often feels like a dream is coming true. And while it is, there are also those times when we are reminded that the word dream means many things to many different p...

I have worked on kitchen remodeling projects where the planning/decision making process has gone on for years. Seriously...years. And while I cannot make up your mind for you, I can help you prioritize and help make the kitchen remodeling process feel a little bit easier. Here are the first things to consider:

It’s Halloween. That time of year when drop way too much money on costumes, candy, decorations and more and then wonder what happened as we emerge from a self-induced sugar coma. And a Friday night Halloween? You may as well just pack it in for the weekend right now.

It’s the start of a new year and the buzz around kitchen remodeling is louder than ever. Is it time for you to consider kitchen remodeling? Here’s a “list” of fun clues that can help you determine if the time is right for you to remodel your kitchen:

It's a new year! Thinking about remodeling your kitchen? You are not alone! Many homeowners are considering kitchen remodeling in 2013. According to a survey on 2013 kitchen remodeling trends by Russell Research, the most popular choices for updating the kitchen are countertops (76%), wall coverings (70%), cabinetry (67%) and flooring (64%).

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.

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).

“They don’t make ‘em like they used to,” is something you’ve heard, or probably said yourself if you’ve ever had something break. And in today’s fast moving environment, it’s more true than it has ever been...there is really nothing like the good ol’ days, when things were built to last. Perhaps this nostalgia is one reason why the vintage style is...

Maybe you get your energy bill each month and are left scratching your head about why it’s so high. Or maybe you know exactly what in your home is sapping all that power. Either way, it’s about time to take the steps to save power, and save yourself from that steep energy bill.

It’s a problem that keeps happening over and over again. Your master bathroom just doesn’t have enough space. Houzz surveyed homeowners and 75 percent of them said that they’re sharing their bathroom with at least one person.  There is clutter on the counters, and you and your partner are always trying yet failing to keep out of each other’s way.

Anyone with their finger on the pulse of what’s hot in kitchen and bathroom design right now knows what a waterfall countertop is. If you’ve been looking for the best way to update your kitchen, you’ve found your answer. And if you don’t know what a waterfall countertop is yet, get ready to start wanting one for yourself when you learn.

Your kitchen should be a place where you go to have fun. After all, eating food is one of the most universally enjoyed things in the entire world. When you’re going into your kitchen, you’re either making a meal for yourself, making a meal for a loved one, cooking for a party - you’re sharing something you love with other people.

When you choose to renovate your kitchen, it’s probably because the space is not making you happy. And if you think about it, that's exactly what a kitchen needs to do. Food makes you happy, and cooking it should, too. A space for family and friends to comfortably gather brings even more joy to the space.  Let’s face it...if your kitchen layout is ...

The average person showers for about nine minutes a day, eight times a week. Each year that adds up to 3,744 minutes in the shower or, over two and a half entire days...just in the shower.

When you’re planning your kitchen design, we know you’ve got a lot on your mind. There’s the style, the time frame, the products to select, the design and all the nitty-gritty details. When you have so much to think about, you’ll take all the help you can get.  

When you sell your home, the expected ROI on a bathroom remodel is a whopping 70 percent. On top of that, remodeling your bathroom just makes you feel good! The average person spends almost 2 hours going to the bathroom per week, and that does even account for bath or shower time. That adds another 90 minutes.

It is where you go when you first wake up. Maybe it is where you start your day with a warm comfy shower. Or maybe you end your day there with a nice, relaxing bath. In any situation, your bathroom needs to be a place of function. But why not let it also become a place to take a mini retreat too?  If your bathroom is somewhere you want to just get ...

There are so many reasons out there that you might want to remodel your bathroom. Perhaps it is just because it is old, or maybe you need to consider an aging in place strategy. Some people simply want bigger bathrooms, or want to add smart technology to their room. But when you have kids and a bathroom that does not do a good job accommodating the...

Let’s say you are looking to update your kitchen. You want it to be current. You want it to be comfortable. And, you definitely want it primed and ready to handle all the cooking you want to do. Sound about right?    You bet it does!. But if your kitchen is old and outdated or poorly designed, you are probably missing out on at least one of the thi...

Your kitchen.  It is where you cook.  It is where you gather.  It is where you store your food.  It is the place you go to start your day early in the morning to cook your breakfast and where you end that same day up late at night for a snack. So when you decide you are doing a kitchen remodel,  all of these every day activities get put on hold for...

Feng shui. You’ve heard it before, but what exactly does it mean? Put very straightforwardly, it’s a collection of rules that dictate the way energy (known as “chi”) flows in a room.  It is also affected by the spatial arrangement of your space. So, what does that mean for your bathroom remodel? It means you want to arrange everything in a way that...

When you’re remodeling your kitchen cabinets, ask your designer about what materials are the most friendly. FSC-certified wood is a great choice, along with solid wood, recycled wood, or even bamboo. Be certain to pay close attention to the materials being used to assemble the cabinets as well.

You know the big things you want for your kitchen. You’re getting new cabinets and fingerprint resistant black stainless steel kitchen appliances. Those are the big steps, and you can’t wait. 

You’ve been dreaming about it. You’ve been planning. And now you’re ready to begin. It’s time for your kitchen remodel. 

Think about it. You are cooking, hosting, and moving dishes and plates around.  You are touching everything… countertops, fridge handles, faucets, and more. With the non-stop activity your kitchen endures, when was the last time that you really cleaned your kitchen well? We are not just talking washing dishes and wiping off the countertops here.  A...

Right now, the one thing on everyone’s mind is how to keep germ-free. However, in the bathroom we are always thinking about how to stay germ-free. We all know that the bathroom is a place where germs like to hang out.  That warm, moisture-filled room can be too hard for germs to resist, especially while we are spending more time inside of our homes...

At Reico Kitchen & Bath, we are all about making the most of it. Whether you are the heroes out on the front lines, under stay-at-home orders or somewhere in between, we are all spending more time than ever from home. Too often, it can easily feel like your life is on pause. And those feelings can be magnified if you had a renovation project planne...

When you are remodeling your kitchen or your bathroom, you really just want to know what you should expect. There are so many ideas, decisions and moving parts. You are getting information from so many different places. We are confident you have been hearing stories from every person you know that has remodeled anything.   Deciphering remodeling my...

You’ve got your toilet, you’ve got your shower, and you’ve got your sink. Technically, that means that you’ve got yourself a bathroom. But, especially with a master bathroom, there are so many more options that you can choose to really make it your own. At Reico Kitchen & Bath, we know bathrooms. And we really know what to add to your master bathro...

Selecting Kitchen Appliances Selecting kitchen appliances is a critical driver to the kitchen design process. Finding and selecting your kitchen appliances first in the process helps identify space, gas/electrical locations and design requirements to create the right kitchen design for your space. Appliances are often considered the “jewelry” of th...

Reico Kitchen & Bath offers a convenient, easy-to-use financing option to assist retail customers with the purchase of their new kitchen or bathroom. This 180-day (6 months), same-as-cash financing option, from EnerBank US A, works as follows: Minimum loan amount is $4,000 and maximum is $45,000  Prospective borrowers must own and occupy the home t...

 

So you think a warming drawer is really that impractical? I beg to differ. In fact, I would argue that the larger your family, the more essential a warming drawer becomes to the kitchen. With its’ sleek design and compact drawer-sized fit, a warming drawer can be a welcome and strategically designed element of your next kitchen. Here are 5 reasons ...

For the first time in what feels like a very looooong time, a large part of the country came together last night. Be it in decades, years, seasons, games…the Cubs experienced it all to achieve their ultimate goal. And if you are wondering how remodeling your kitchen or bathroom can be compared to the Cubs winning the world series, here are 3 tips y...

How much does a kitchen cost? We love that question! It signals the start of what we hope will be a great partnership and relationship that will bring a dream to life, in what is arguably the heart of the home and most important room in the house. But if not approached thoughtfully, that one simple question can easily go down the wrong path. We wan...

Today we celebrate Earth Day and its’ 45th anniversary as a day recognized for creating awareness about our environment, protecting our planet and embracing more environmentally friendly choices and lifestyles.

When it comes to the kitchen, every bit of space matters. A well thought out and designed kitchen will organize your space even better than you could imagine. The secret? Well, to be honest it’s not a secret at all. Kitchen cabinet accessories can put the finishing touches on your kitchen’s efficiency and organization. Whether you are organizing st...

How many of us design the kitchen with our kids in mind? We’re busy in the kitchen and all of sudden a little hand goes up or tugs on our apron asking to help. How sweet! Regardless, when we are in the kitchen we want them close by anyway, whether it is just to keep an eye on them or get them involved in a meal or other baking project.

In my house we all gravitate to the kitchen...for meals, snacks, homework, bills, you name it. We spend a lot of time there. And invariably with that comes our variety of devices, from smartphones and tablets to digital cameras, gaming devices, Kindles and more. With 6 people in my home, it can be like our own mini (or not so mini) electronics show...

A quick search of the internet tells you that this is no ordinary topic. Over 83 million results in Google. Wikipedia discussions that more than double the discussion length of far more newsworthy events and topics. Endless visual images and data. With studies that show we use approximately 15 billion rolls of toilet paper a year in the U.S. alone,...

They would say… • Why did you let the kids use the cabinet drawers as step stools? • Why did you put those scorch marks in the countertop?

Your Guide to selecting Countertops for the Kitchen or Bathroom The countertop works hard. From food prep to casual dining to homework in the kitchen to the toiletry and make up covered bathroom vanity top, the countertop is the most highly used surface in the entire household, often times in the center of it all. So choosing the right material is ...

Kitchen and Bathroom Cabinet Basics - what you need to know Along with your appliance choices, selecting cabinets early on will help you make other decisions regarding your new kitchen or bathroom design.  Learn more about Reico's cabinet brands here, or visit our Reico Express page for in stock cabinets and other products you need quickly.   Maybe...

If you want a simple and easy way to makeover the entire look of your kitchen, look no further. Your countertop is the centerpiece of your kitchen, and the workhorse where you prep all your food. It deserves a little extra love. Get the lowdown on each material you can choose from for your countertop. The different materials all perform differently...

Is your kitchen stuck in the 90’s? Haven’t had the time or the know-how to give your cooking area a face-lift? Don’t even know where to start? We’ve got the answer for you: start with the kitchen cabinets. Your cabinets are the focal point of your kitchen, and the design and feel of the cabinets are what pulls the whole room together. Creating a de...

You spend meaningful time in your kitchen, making meals for you and your family or friends. It’s the hub of your house. And chances are, it could use a little update. The kitchen is the most popular room to renovate. So why not renovate yours? Before you start getting down to the details let’s talk about the big picture. If you’ve never put a lot o...

You do some of your best work in the shower. How often have you been standing there, and thought, wow, that’s the best idea I’ve ever had? For providing you with all those exceptional shower thoughts and moments, you should give your shower some thanks. Maybe it’s old and outdated. Maybe it’s just time for a change. Maybe you’re unhappy with the st...

You’re always stepping all over them. Your kitchen and bathroom floors deserve some respect. Maybe they’re in dire need of an update. Old, grimy tiles or washed out, warped wood? Yeah, that’s not the stylish look you are going for!  Take that dirty rug off your floor you’ve been using to hide your tiles, and get renovating. You’ll be glad you did.

On average, people spend thirty-seven minutes of their day in the kitchen. If you’re a guy, you spend a little less time. If you’re a girl, you spend almost an hour. And if you’re someone who really, really loves to eat, you probably spend even more time than that. Especially if it’s where your family usually gathers to eat meals, the kitchen is on...

How long have you had your fridge? The answer is probably: too long. Old refrigerators are often sucking up so much electricity that buying a new one would actually pay for itself by shaving money off your electric bill.  You can be saving a fridge load of money when you swap out your old fridge for a new one, but you can also majorly update the lo...

What’s a room in your house that gets neglected? Hopefully, you didn’t say all of them. But if you think about it, you might not actually pay much attention to your laundry room. You do probably spend a lot of time there, though. Maybe your laundry room is near your kitchen. Maybe it’s near your bathroom. Wherever it is, you might think of it as ju...