Kitchens Design Philadelphia
Bath Design Philadelphia
Kitchen & Bath Remodeling Philadelphia

March 25, 2013

HomeTech Welcomes Michele High Designs to Our Artisan Gallery

Filed under: Baths,Designer's Thoughts,Innovative Materials,Kitchens — Tags: — HomeTech Renovations @ 4:00 pm

At HomeTech Renovations we value distinctive design elements and unique pieces that complete a space. We would like to formally welcome Michele High Designs, LLC to the Artisan Gallery on our website which features select local artisans and businesses that offer original items and services.

Michele High specializes in custom interior and exterior window treatments, soft furnishings, upholstery, and decor. She serves customers in PA and NJ and offers friendly, expert advice and shop at home service. Michele’s interior window treatments include drapes, cornices, valances, shades, shutters, and blinds, as well as one-of-a-kind pieces that can serve as art for your windows. Her assortment of exterior treatments, from cushions and pillows to umbrellas and awnings, utilize the latest outdoor fabrics and products. Michele offers custom upholstering as well and provides dependable and prompt service for anything that needs to be recovered.

Michele also provides decorating services which include color consulting, residential space planning, and digital and distance design. During her color consultations Michele helps choose paint colors for both interior and exterior applications and produces digital renderings or simple illustrations to help her clients visualize the end result. Through her residential space planning and interior decorating, she can redesign a single room or multiple rooms depending on the needs of the client. Michele also offers convenient digital and distance design so that all work can be done by discussing details over the phone, emailing pictures, and mailing samples.

Michele is a Certified Residential Space Planner and Interior Decorator through the Art Institute. She began sewing at a very young age since her mother is a National Blue Ribbon Quilter, and she has been producing interior decor products for the last 15 years. From working as a seamstress in a variety of drapery shops and other areas of the residential decor industry, Michele has gained an advantage when it comes to designing custom applications. Due to her experiences, Michele knows every stage of measuring, fabricating, and installing window treatments and soft furnishings.

“My favorite customers are the ones where I hand them several scaled illustrations of their wall of windows and they choose the most artistic one! That’s what I live for. I love rooms that are so unique there has to be a window treatment to go into that setting. I really enjoy working with different people, hearing their ideas, and collaborating with them on what will suit them best. It’s a lot of fun! I’ve been told that for every 200 decorators, I’ll be the only one that knows how to accomplish an extremely custom job because I know how to make it. Growing up I didn’t realize that would be special. I’m truly blessed to be able to do what I love every day.” ~ Michele High

To learn more about Michele and her custom decor visit her website. Also view Michele’s page in our Artisan Gallery and take a look at the other featured local artisans while visiting.

 

November 16, 2012

Prepare the Ultimate Thanksgiving Feast with Wolf Appliances

Filed under: Designer's Thoughts,Innovative Materials,Kitchens — Tags: , , — HomeTech Renovations @ 5:22 pm

Can you believe that Thanksgiving is just around the corner? As you prepare for the holiday season, think about upgrading your existing kitchen appliances to Wolf appliances to help you cook an amazing dinner for your family and friends. Wolf offers commercial grade appliances to residential customers who want to create gourmet meals without the hassle and who want their kitchen to look like it belongs to a professional chef. What a great way to wow your family and friends!

Wolf offers a wide variety of cooking appliances that include built-in ovens, convection steam ovens, cooktops, warming drawers, and microwaves. Let’s take a look at some of Wolf’s most popular appliances as well as ones that HomeTech installs in our high-end kitchen remodels.

Built-In Ovens: Wolf’s built-in ovens feature dual convection, which controls heat and airflow more precisely than single-convection systems and eliminates hot and cool spots. Uniform heat throughout the oven and the circulation of air around the food produce faster and more consistent results. Unlike most ovens that treat different cooking options as if they were the same, Wolf dual convection ovens offer 10 cooking modes so every meal gets the exact heat and airflow it needs for desired results.

 

Convection Steam Ovens: Wolf’s convection steam ovens deliver precise control with technology that senses the amount, size, and shape of food, and it monitors the time, temperature, and environment while cooking. With steam cooking, moisture, heat, and airflow work together to preserve the nutrients, texture, and color of foods, and keep them moist and flavorful. Meats defrost evenly, while pastries can be proofed, baked, and crisped. The risks of overcooking or undercooking are reduced since automatic modes and customized functions eliminate guesswork. Preheating is extremely fast, and flavor and appearance are always fresh, even when food is reheated. Wolf’s convection steam ovens offer twelve cooking modes, and can prepare any dish that is typically prepared in a conventional oven, range, or microwave oven.

Cooktops: Wolf offers a variety of cooktops to meet every cook’s needs, including gas cooktops with patented, dual-stacked burner design and electric cooktops with multiple heating elements and zones. Induction cooktops are quickly becoming popular due to their high performance and energy efficiency. They are 90-95% energy efficient as no heat is wasted because energy is supplied directly to the cooking vessel. Induction cooktops are safer than others since the elements heat just the cookware and not the glass cooking surface. As another safety feature, elements will not be energized without an induction-compatible vessel, such as cast iron or magnetic stainless steel, on the cooktop surface.

Warming Drawers: Wolf’s warming drawers feature superior air control to keep moist foods moist and crisp foods crisp. The drawers offer a variety of temperature settings and the electronic controls are hidden to provide the units with a sleek appearance.

Microwaves: Wolf offers a variety of microwaves, including standard, convection, and drawers that make fast meals better and can be used in combination with other appliances to finish off your cooking tower and create an integrated look. Wolf’s microwave drawers are often included in HomeTech’s kitchen remodels and can be built in undercounter or in a wall application, providing easy access to the food. The “micro warm” feature allows you to keep food warm for up to 30 minutes.

So make your Thanksgiving meal preparation less stressful and hassle-free and choose the Wolf appliances that best fit your needs. Show off your kitchen’s new look and the delicious meals that you create!

To get your cooking juices flowing here are recipes from Wolf for a Chocolate Pecan Tart and Cornbread Apple Stuffing that will make your Thanksgiving dinner even more special.

     

To learn more about Wolf’s kitchen appliances, visit their website.

 

October 17, 2012

HomeTech’s Artisan Gallery

Filed under: Baths,Designer's Thoughts,Innovative Materials,Kitchens — HomeTech Renovations @ 1:16 pm

At HomeTech we value creativity, distinctive design elements, and unique pieces. That is why we have featured a few local artists who specialize in various mediums in our Artisan Gallery. This gallery is a collection of local artisans and businesses that have one-of-a-kind items. Their work expresses their love and passion for what they do, and the gallery offers unique finishing touches to inspire you and accessorize your home with all while supporting the local arts. Below is a bit of information on each artisan that is featured.

Lilywork Ceramic Ornament creates unique, hand-made, ceramic tiles. The owners, designers, and creators of Lilywork are ceramists Esther and Paul Halferty. The husband and wife’s experiences with tile production, art education, and traveling have led to their success and the creation of original tiles. Their inspiration is drawn from local tile-making traditions, world travels, historic patterning, and architectural studies. To learn more about Lilywork visit their website: www.lilywork.com.

Anne Foulke is the founder and principal artist at Clay Decor, LLC. She creates every design for their hand-made ceramic tiles and also builds the tiles, vessel sinks, and other decorative elements offered by the company. Foulke’s love of interior design, passion for art, and fine art experiences led her to begin her own business which constantly evolves as she continues to grow as an artist. Foulke’s philosophy is that art is a process of heart, soul, and experience. To learn more about Clay Decor visit their website: www.clay-decor.com.

Artesano Iron Works produces unique architectural products that are hand forged or cast out of wrought iron. The renowned artist and master blacksmith, Ricardo Cabera, and his team of highly skilled craftsmen strive to revitalize the ancient techniques inherent in creating iron art. To learn more about Artesano Iron Works visit their website: www.artesanoironworks.com.

 

Charlie’s Girl Lighting handcrafts chandeliers, sconces, and lanterns as has been doing so for over 35 years out of its studio in Bucks County. The owners of Charlie’s Girl Lighting believe that lighting is the accent that can tie a room together. They offer a wide range of lighting options in a variety of sizes and finishes and also create custom fixtures. The craftsmanship and unique beauty of the light fixtures separates Charlie’s Girl Lighting from all the rest. To learn more about Charlie’s Girl Lighting visit their website: www.charliesgirllighting.com.

Carol Nagel has been engaged in decorative painting for over 30 years and is a graduate of Tyler School of Art. She offers a wide variety of paint treatments and specializes in artistic hand-painting projects such as custom murals, faux-marbling, faux-graining, and other hand-painted details. To learn more about Carol and her decorative painting contact Carol via email at CarolNageldp@earthlink.net or via phone at 215-345-7968.

 

Colkett Painting provides faux finishes, wall murals, gilding, marbling, and graining to commercial and residential properties in Bucks, Montgomery, and Delaware Counties. The talented artists and artisans at Colkett Painting have trained with the best in their field, take pride in their work, and are passionate about what they do. To learn more about Colkett Painting visit their website: www.colkettpainting.com.

 

The Antique Store, located in the historic town of Wayne on the Main Line, is owned and operated by AnnMarie Palumbo-Parks who opened the high-end antique center due to her passion for antiques and their history. The Antique Store brings together a collection of experienced and professional antique dealers who provide quality goods and unique merchandise. To learn more about AnnMarie and The Antique Store visit their website: www.theantiquestoreltd.com.

 

Brad Smith, along with his wife Sandy, launched Bradford Woodworking after graduating with a BFA in woodworking and furniture design. The business began with a line of kitchen tools that Brad and Sandy designed and crafted, and a few years later Brad expanded the business by developing a line of distinctive furniture. Brad prides himself on developing a design language that is truly his own, and he loves to use old and new materials in his work. Brad is passionate about his furniture not only telling a story, but also being the beginning of a new story. To learn more about Brad and Bradford Woodworking visit their website: www.bradfordwoodworking.com.

 

Knobs ‘n Knockers offers a wide selection of decorative hardware from more than 400 suppliers and artisans around the world, and they continuously search for new products and identify new trends to keep their customers ahead of the design curve. Their Peddler’s Village showroom exhibits unique looks, popular designs, and emerging styles, and all of Knobs ‘n Knockers products are of high quality and lasting value. To learn more about Knobs ‘n Knockers visit their website: www.knobsnknockers.com.

 

So the next time you are looking for that finishing touch for your home think about using one of these artisans and support the local arts. Please visit our Artisan Gallery to learn more about these select artisans and their one-of-a-kind pieces.

 

February 20, 2012

Incandescent Bulbs Being Phased Out Due to New Lighting Legislation

Filed under: Baths,Designer's Thoughts,Going Green,Innovative Materials,Kitchens — Tags: , — HomeTech Renovations @ 6:09 pm

Do you prefer incandescent lighting over that emitted from energy efficient bulbs, such as halogens and compact fluorescents? Well beginning in January 2012 you will be out of luck. There are MAJOR CHANGES in lighting regulations that are occurring in 2012.

The Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) was signed into law in 2007 by former President George W. Bush, and the law is intended to reduce energy usage. Sylvania, a leading lighting manufacturer, states, “The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) is phasing out the iconic incandescent light bulbs and is requiring manufacturers to replace them with new, energy efficient bulbs that comply with EISA’s mandated performance levels for incandescent and incandescent halogen bulbs.”

Incandescent general purpose and decorative bulbs are being phased out starting in January 2012 with 100 watt bulbs, with 75 watt bulbs to follow in 2013, and 60 and 40 watt bulbs to be phased out in 2014. Incandescent directional and reflector lamps, or PAR lamps, will be phased out in July of 2012.

More efficient lighting alternatives are much better for the environment, and the change will result in a greatly reduced carbon footprint as well as national energy savings. Compared to traditional incandescent bulbs, efficient lamps generate an equal or greater amount of light while consuming much less energy and generating much less cost. For example, energy efficient compact fluorescents use 66% less energy than incandescent bulbs for the same amount of light and the bulbs last an average of 10 to 15 times longer than standard filament bulbs. Halogens are a great option for replacement as well due to their longevity and the fact that they emit more light per unit of energy compared to incandescent bulbs.

Don’t be overwhelmed by the mandated changes as many lighting manufacturers are helping to make an easy transition from incandescent bulbs to more energy efficient options. They are already offering a wide variety of bulbs to choose from that will serve as replacements.

For more information about the new lighting legislation issued by EISA, visit www.sylvania.com/lightbulblaws or click here to view a chart that shows what bulbs need to be replaced and some of the replacement options that are offered.

December 8, 2011

Countertops Become a Work of Art with ThinkGlass by Mailhot

Custom Kitchen Counter TopsDo you want your custom designed countertops to be a work of art? Do you want them to be beautiful and distinctive statement pieces? Do you want a solution that is green and environmentally friendly? Or do you simply want a clean, elegant look? Then look no further than ThinkGlass by Mailhot.

ThinkGlass is comprised of recycled glass and is, therefore, a sustainable material, and it is created using thermoforming, a process that shapes and molds through the use of heat. The glass can be infused with colors or can be lit from within by LED lights, which add a more artistic touch.

ThinkGlass can be used in a variety of applications for both residential and commercial projects. It is a blend of art and function, all at once providing a unique and custom solution while also serving as a performance product. ThinkGlass can be incorporated into residential projects in a variety of ways including, but not limited to, kitchen countertops, tabletops, bathroom vanities, raised bars, backsplashes, doors, walls, flooring, and shower enclosures. In the commercial field it is most often used to create stunning bars and nightclubs, while it is also utilized for hygienic countertops in healthcare and transaction desks in retail stores, hotels, and offices.

ThinkGlass is among the most exquisite high-end products in the world, and no other material offers such versatility, making the possibilities for its use endless. As the producers of ThinkGlass state, the product offers, “luxurious design with chameleon-like flexibility.” Crafted from 100 percent recyclable glass and serving as a sustainable material, each ThinkGlass design is custom-made with a variety of options for texture, thickness, color of glass, and edge treatment. The finished project is always unique and one-of-a-kind due to the customization of the material and the process through which it is made, so no other kitchen or bathroom will look like yours. Since each design is custom-made, it requires the use of highly skilled labor and craftsmanship throughout the design and production processes.

The technology used to create ThinkGlass allows for the unsurpassed creation of these custom designs. As a leader in the thermoforming industry, the producer’s versatile technique used to make the product allows for the creation of new or repetitive textures at a very low molding cost. The company’s exclusive thermoform ovens are the largest of their kind in North America, measuring at 88” x 152”. These ovens provide for the creation of almost any shape without needing to blow the glass, and allow for curving, shaping, molding, and heat sculpting. The technology can also create glass slabs without having to abide by thickness constraints. The variety of thicknesses, ranging from 1/8” to 18”, provide design possibilities that far exceed what can be accomplished with other mineral-based materials, such as granite or marble. For kitchen countertops, the 1.5” thick glass is the most commonly applied, but depending on the client’s desires can range to 4” thick. These custom glass designs can also be infused with dazzling colors by Master Glass Artist, Michel Mailhot, to create a personalized artistic touch so that the glass becomes more of a decorative art object and less of a utilitarian piece.

To further visually enhance the awe inspiring aspects of ThinkGlass, powerful LED lights can be imbedded inside to provide a glow from within. The LED lights are offered in pure white or a variety of colors which enable the client to create a light show. Programmable by remote control, hundreds of colors can be manipulated to transform the glass to suit the mood or to add interest to a special event. The client has the ability to pick one color, change colors, fade the light in and out, or create a flashing or strobe light effect. The incorporation of LED lights can highlight countertops and backsplashes, and can transform a simple space into the atmosphere the client desires.

Clients will question the durability and maintenance of ThinkGlass, much like they do with any material proposed for a countertop or vanity material. But do not be concerned, as ThinkGlass’s durability rivals all common countertop materials such as stone, granite, and marble. Under normal use and conditions, the material should not break, chip, crack or shatter. Since glass is pure and non-porous, it will not be affected by any chemicals and it is naturally resistant to scratches, mold, and mildew, making it the most hygienic ThinkGlass: Custom Design Glass Countertopscountertop material on the market. Although it can also endure high heat without cracking or scorching, the producers of ThinkGlass recommend not sitting hot pots or pans on glass counters as breakage near edges or corners can occur under certain circumstances. ThinkGlass is virtually maintenance free, since the textured finish hides fingerprints and the material is impossible to stain. Cleaning is quick and easy. There is no need to use special cleansers specifically designed for the material; simple window cleaners or water and vinegar solutions will suffice.

A cutting edge material in the interior design market, ThinkGlass provides clients with the opportunity to create something truly distinctive and inspiring in their home. Whether it is used as a simple, clean solution for a bathroom vanity, or as a bold, colorful statement for home entertaining, ThinkGlass will become a piece that is talked about. So the next time you are thinking about remodeling your kitchen or bathroom, consider ThinkGlass. The possibilities are endless.

Contact HomeTech Renovations for more information on custom designed kitchen-bath countertops, kitchen-bath remodeling or renovation project.

October 3, 2011

Updating the Look of Your Home Without Breaking the Bank

bankDuring these trying times when the economy is down and money is tight it seems almost impossible to improve or update your home without feeling like you are going bankrupt. By doing simple things around your home you can improve any space without having to reach deep into your wallets.

A Splash of Color – Color is a powerful tool that can provide a change and enhance in almost any environment. While most of us may not spend a lot of time thinking about room color, it affects every day of our lives. Room color can influence our mood and our thoughts. Colors affect people in many ways, depending upon one’s age, gender, ethnic background or local climate. Certain colors or groups of colors tend to get a similar reaction from most people – the overall difference being in the shade or tones used

To have a beautiful home, you do not have to worry about trends. Color trends will come and go. The people who live in a home make it beautiful by choosing colors that reflect their likes and their personalities. Color has the power to change the shape and size of furnishings as well as the shape and size of the room itself. Adding color will give your tired room a whole new look and make you, the homeowner, feel better.

paint fanEach color has a psychological value. Colors behave in three basic ways: active, passive, and neutral, and you can easily match every room’s colors to your personal desires and taste and to the room’s purpose. Light colors are expansive and airy, they make rooms seem larger and brighter. Dark colors are sophisticated and warm; they give large rooms a more intimate appearance. Specific colors emit different emotions so picking a particular color to go in a specific room is important.  (more…)

September 2, 2011

Eco-Friendly Lighting Breaking the Mold

Filed under: Going Green,Innovative Materials — Tags: — HomeTech Renovations @ 10:00 am

lighit 3According to the Natural Resource Defense Council, electric power plants are the largest U.S. industrial source of carbon dioxide emissions, a main cause of acid rain and global warming. A higher demand for electricity means more fossil fuels, like coal, oil, and natural gas are burned by plants to generate power. Besides replacing antiquated electric power plants with ones that use renewable energy sources, energy-efficient bulbs are a phenomenal way to reduce the amount of carbon emissions added to the atmosphere. As an bonus, energy-efficient bulbs lower your utility bills, making them a smart long-term investment!

LED Lights: A lighting giant in a tiny package, the lit LED bulb produces very little heat, so a greater percentage of electricity goes into generating light rather than wasting energy. Because LEDs lack filaments, powered instead by the movement of electrons in a semiconductor material, they outlast incandescent bulbs. An LED bulb can last ten years, or 10,000+ hours, and will dim at the end of their life rather than flicker or suddenly burn out. Incredibly hardy, they resist vibration and shock, making them a reliable light source.

Fluorescent Lights: Did you know that energy-efficient compact fluorescent lamps use 66% less energy than standard incandescent bulbs for the same amount of light? What’s more, fluorescent compact bulbs last an average of 10 to 15 times longer than your heat-producing standard filament bulb. The fluorescent bulbs of today are a far cry from those loudly buzzing, sterile white creations recognizable from office lighting in the 80s, and compact fluorescent bulbs fit into many of the medium socket and candelabra lamps on our site. If wattage is throwing you off or making you second guess the brightness of compact fluorescent bulbs, don’t worry. Because fluorescent bulbs are remarkably efficient, a low watt fluorescent bulb brightens a room with the same intensity of a high watt incandescent bulb

Halogen Lights: Halogen bulbs are wonderful for long periods of use because their filaments, encased in quartz envelopes, produce bulbs of remarkable longevity. They also emit more light per unit of energy compared to incandescent bulbs, their bright pools of light perfect for reading a book or focusing on a work station.

Lighting and the Environment: Lighting is not only about illuminating a space so that you can see well. It is a decorative addition to your life that will affect the way you feel and function. Lighting also affects the environment in several ways. The amount of energy consumed by each light and the materials used to manufacture such lamping products both influence the environment. (more…)

August 12, 2011

Kitchens Today: Function Meets Lifestyle

Kitchen Remodel, Chester Springs, PALife has evolved and so has the home. We have gone from a simple life to a hustling to finish everything before the day is out. Societies have transformed from formal and compartmentalized into a more casual and open entity; so has the home. We have seen and open floorplans within a home so families can interact together more within the domicile. The home is now taking on the lifestyle of the clients within the space through the use of materials and design. There are numerous factors that dictate the aesthetic and design within any space; a client’s gender, age, family and marital status are key components that will drive the materials and design.

Family oriented spaces are designed for a fasted paced way of life. Especially within the kitchen area. Appliances are now being designed to cut cooking time in half; entertainment centers are incorporating multi-media. The layout of the kitchen and adjacent spaces are integral to the family dynamics within the home as well. Kitchens, which have become the hub of the home, are now opened up into the family room, dining room and in some cases even the entry into the home. This gives a family the ability to interact with each other when one person is in the family room and the other is in the kitchen. Kitchens have truly become a multifunctional/multifaceted space that provides not only a place to cook and eat but to do homework, entertain, and gather together.

More mature clients tend to be drawn towards some newer technologies such as, induction cooktops, convection ovens, which make life easier within the home. Older clients also lean towards the more exotic woods and stones. It seems as though the emphasis with this group of clients relies on a cohesive design that makes sense for them and what they like. The preference for high quality materials, timeless design and all the gadgetry that they desire is what separates them from the younger generation.

English Country Style Kitchen Remodel, Villanova, PAGender can also play a part in how a space is designed. Women tend to gravitate to more airy lighter color ways and aesthetics where as men prefer the darker earth tones, stainless steel and rich deep wood hues. Women tend to look at the beauty within appliances and men search for the functionality and durability. There are also exceptions to these theories.

The home has become a place of gathering centralized around the kitchen so manipulating the space through different materials, multiple surface levels and unique layouts can provide the homeowner with their ultimate kitchen design. Using different levels on countertops helps to keep openness within a floorplan while dividing rooms and defining adjacent spaces provides multiple levels for different cooking tasks, epitomizes the sense of gathering, creates multiple working zones for the user maximizing the space and completely catering to the need of the client. Mixing surface materials and even cabinetry is another way to create interest and work zones within the kitchen space. Today your dwelling space is dictated by you and how you live.

HomeTech Renovations has completed many kitchen designs with open space in mind. An example would be this Eclectic Kitchen Design in Chester Springs, PA.

August 3, 2011

Livinglass, Living Green

live glass 1Now a days people are looking for more and more unique and innovative design solutions that step outside of the typical vanilla box. They are also interested in the environmentally friendly products as well but sometimes the cost and even the aesthetic drives them away. Livinglass is a company that features beautiful recycled glass and 100% resin products that can be showcased in a mélange of different environments and applications within the design of your home or particular room.

Inspired by the colors and textures of nature, Livinglass is a laminated architectural glass which captures organic materials between luminous sheets of clear glass. Because of the infinite variety of forms and materials in nature, each Livinglass panel is unique.

Livinglass is committed to preserving the environment by offering Earth-friendly products made from recycled materials. Our new line of LEED friendly Light products lets you take inspiration from nature while protecting the environment. Scroll down for more information about how Living Glass products can be used for LEED credits.

  • Available with recycled glass and 100% recycled resin.
  • Earn LEED credits with our environmentally friendly Light.
  • Available in thickness starting at ½”Affordable, budget-friendly.
  • Impact resistant safety glass.
  • Class A Class I Fire Rated.
  • UV, water, and chemical resistant.
  • Antimicrobial and sanitary.
  • Resists scratching, fading and discoloration.

To learn more about this product and more about what they offer visit the Livinglass Website.

View our portfolio of unique vintage kitchen and bath designs

June 23, 2011

New from Lilywork …

new lily

The above images show installations completed over the last year using Lilywork’s Byzantium Decorative Field. The 6″ Decorative Field tiles are also referred to as ceiling tiles because of their delicate linework reminiscent of historic tin ceiling tiles.

View the below link to visit with Kara Angotti, of Beyond Green Design, behind the scenes at the Lilywork Studio: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cf7PCs4nptY&feature=youtu.be

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