Top 5 Kitchen Trends for 2010

There is possibly no more important room in your house than the kitchen. The kitchen is the hub of activity, the source of sustenance, and the number one room a potential buyer will consider when choosing a new home. That is why designing the kitchen must be done with an eye to the current trends. Here are just a few of the trends we found for 2010.

• Kitchens are getting bigger. “It seems as though families are getting smaller and at the same ti me, kitchens are getting bigger. Designers are using industrial appliances, state-of-the-art cabinets and countertop materials, and including a kitchen island whenever possible.” (source: http://interiordec.about.com/od/kitchenislands/a/a_kitchenisland.htm)
• Kitchens are getting to be more earth-friendly. “Eco-friendly is all the rage these days, but most notably in the kitchen where a few small changes can make a significant impact. You can use inexpensive recycled or natural materials such as recycled glass counter tops or formaldehyde-free bamboo for work surfaces and flooring. Convenient built-in recycling centers and food composters can save space and make recycling simple. The overall idea is making the kitchen effortlessly eco-friendly so that being green isn’t a sacrifice, it’s just an easy part of your everyday life.” (source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Best-Kitchen-Trends-For-2010&id=3162648)
• Kitchens are focusing on being both convenient and multi-purpose. “This year’s kitchen features products that are…all about convenience-meets-multifunctionality.” (source: http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/photos/0,,1637271,00.html) What does that mean? Well, “sinks with accessories, such as built-in preparation boards, colanders, and/or drain trays…storage that is both stylish and highly engineered…Cupboard inserts and custom storage areas with adjustable dividers and pull out baskets…appliances set on wheels or movable islands which allow you to easily rearrange the kitchen for convenient preparation, cleaning, and entertaining… which is not just multi-functional, but also kind of fun.” (source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Best-Kitchen-Trends-For-2010&id=3162648)
• Kitchens are becoming more colorful. Color trends change regularly, but the top color choices for kitchens include “Creamy Neutrals, Veiled Violets, A Gamut of Grays, Pale & Punchy Greens, Bold Turquoise” (source: http://www.kitchens.com//design/color/color-trends/color-trends-2010.aspx). Also consider that “Unexpected flashes of color and bold shapes are all the rage, and offer a nice juxtaposition to the earthy mellowness of the eco-friendly trend.” (source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Best-Kitchen-Trends-For-2010&id=3162648)
• Kitchens are becoming more high-tech. “Just like every other aspect of our lives, kitchens are featuring more technology than ever. A lot of this technology is focused on making the kitchen more enjoyable and adding a bit of the “wow” factor. From flat-screen televisions and computer-based entertainment systems to retracting ventilation hoods and gas burners, technology can make the kitchen more fun, convenient, and cool. The kitchen is both a social and functional space in the home. Small additions, like a small mobile device charging station, really illustrate this point. Imagine your family returning home in the evening, immediately plugging in their mobile devices, and congregating in the kitchen to catch up with each other.” (source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Best-Kitchen-Trends-For-2010&id=3162648)

A Palace For Pooch

According to the ASPCA, more than half of all households in the United States have a pet.  And yet, so often we design our a new homes without a thought about our four legged (or feathered) friends.  From the floor plan to the flooring, there are so many ways to accommodate our pets when designing our new home.  Prior to breaking ground, think through some of the following questions:

• Where will your pet sleep? Will she sleep with you or will she need her own space?
• Where will he eat? Where will you store his food?
• Will she go outside, and if so, does she like to roll around and track dirt in the house?
• Will your home need to accommodate a bird cage, or an aquarium, or a pet door?

The lifestyle of your pet and how they live with you is just as important to the design of your new home as is any other member of your family. You can modify your cabinetry to create specialized sliding storage bins for food or even drawers for food and water bowls that are hidden under the toe kick . You can create a pet shower, or a special room with a doggy door and pet run. You may want to put in hardwood flooring instead of carpet, or even design your electrical outlets so there are not a lot of exposed cords in the home – especially if your pet is of the pocket variety (rabbits and guinea pigs love to gnaw).

The Jenkins Custom Home Lifestyle Analysis™ is designed with these issues in mind. And the results are as individual as the people whose homes we build.  For instance, in one home we designed and built, we included a room under the stairs with the puppy’s name painted above the door (similar to the one in the photo). It was a cute way to show off the dog to family and friends, while providing the family pet with his own space.  In another example, we supplied the homeowner with a special niche – complete with a window – for her cat.  Whatever your pet’s needs, the bottom line is that no one knows them as well as you, and that makes you the expert in designing your pet’s “palace”!

(Picture courtesy of http://www.bhg.com/home-improvement/storage/around-the-house/make-a-pet-friendly-home/)

(For more information on this topic, please consider the following articles: http://www.homecheck.com/Reference/Aug_05/05Vol1Art5/index.htm; http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/article/0,,20296529,00.html) (Source for statistics: http://www.aspca.org/about-us/faq/pet-statistics.html)

The Best In Luxury Appliances Joins The Best in Luxury Home Building

Perfected through seven decades of use in professional kitchens, Wolf appliances provides the ability to make any dish possible, while Sub-Zero, the innovative leaders in preservation, keeps foods fresher longer – all while consuming less power than a 100 watt light bulb.

You can experience both of these top-of-the-line appliances – hands on and in person – at either of their two Texas showrooms: one in Dallas and the other within walking distance of the Galleria Mall in Houston. These showrooms offer a variety of cooking classes, wine tastings, training seminars, as well as use and care classes.  Just visit http://www.subzero-wolfsc.com/showrooms/ to see a copy of the current schedule, but note that the classes fill up 2-3 months in advance, so plan ahead!

Jenkins Custom Homes, the Best Custom Builder in Texas, has recently partnered with Sub-Zero/Wolf, the best in luxury appliances, giving Jenkins’ clients special attention as well as pricing.  Jenkins clients will have the opportunity to experience private cooking demonstrations with Sub-Zero/Wolf Executive Chef, Garth Blackburn, on the same appliances that they have chosen for their new home.  They will also have the opportunity for in-home use and care demonstrations by Sub-Zero/Wolf after they are in their new custom home.  Jenkins Custom Homes strives to build partnerships with the best in the business in order to deliver the best possible product.  That is just one of the reasons the Texas Association of Builders named Jenkins Custom Homes the “Custom Builder of the Year”, this year and in 2006.  Jenkins & Sub-Zero/Wolf -- a perfect partnership for today’s luxury client.

Watch the video taken in our office this week with Amy Kerr, Territory Manager for Sub-Zero/Wolf.

The Skinny On Energy Efficiency

Google's PowerMeter

When faced with building a new home, you may be surprised at the number of options available for lowering your energy consumption, and thus, your utility bills. However, some ideas are better than others, and a good rule of thumb, according to Bethany Jenkins, Vice-President of Jenkins Custom Homes, is to evaluate the product and choose those with a 2-4 year payback. One of the benefits of building a new home – as opposed to purchasing an existing – is the flexibility you have in design. Here are some of our favorite ways to control energy costs:

1. Start with a great design. Your home’s orientation on the lot, as well as the location of windows and doors, can take into consideration cross-ventilation and the direction of the sun in both winter and summer months.
   
2. Have a carefully planned “thermal envelope”. The thermal envelope is a technical term for the insulation in your home. Think of it like a thermos – the quality of the insulation is what determines how hot or cold your liquid inside remains. The same is true of your home. Putting your money into a high-density foam insulation and highly efficient windows will keep your home warmer or cooler, therefore reducing the number of times the A/C or heater has to cycle on and off.
   
3. Require high-performance mechanical systems (heating and cooling systems, hot water heaters), as well as appliances.
   
4. Employee technology when cost-effective (occupancy sensors for lights, A/C & heater, for instance).
5. Carefully placed trees can shade your house from cold winds or the summer heat, and drought resistant landscaping will lower your water usage.  A good landscape architect can design your green space with eye toward lowering your energy costs.
   

Jenkins Custom Homes completes Home in Spanish Oaks

Recently-completed in Spanish Oaks is a beautiful custom home for a very happy family!  This home features the signature Jenkins rock arch, a Jenkins Waterscape pool and landscape, and a spectacular indoor/outdoor entertaining area.  One of our favorite features, though, is the doggie shower and doggie “living space” which leads to the private outdoor living for the dogs.  The owners of this home came to Jenkins with a “concept” of what they wanted and no lot.  The Jenkins team assisted the family with just the right lot in Spanish Oaks to accommodate their needs.  The Jenkins team then analyzed the family’s lifestyle, created the design, and built the home.  The home is situated a little above grade and has fantastic Hill Country views off the side of the home.  Since the front door faces the cul-de-sac, the Jenkins team opted for a C-shaped design with the pool and outdoor living (complete with fireplace and grill) facing the great view.

“It’s a fabulous view, and they really get to enjoy it all the time,” says Shan Jenkins of Jenkins Custom Homes.  The Austin Custom Home Builder says he really enjoyed working with these particular homeowners because they were so complementary of our team.  “At every step, they seemed so joyful about the process.  That kind of excitement and enthusiasm is infectious, and I think we all felt it,” says Jenkins.  “In addition,” Jenkins states, “rarely do we see these kinds of great views with this amount of privacy in a subdivision.  It is much to the credit of the developer in Spanish Oaks.”  Spanish Oaks is between Austin and Bee Cave, conveniently located off of Highway 71.

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About the Author:  Bethany Jenkins is Vice President of Jenkins Custom Homes in Austin, Texas.  To read more about Bethany check out her bio here.

International Builder’s Show

This year at the International Builder’s Show, we took our entire team.  It was so fun to attend seminars, walk the booths, and see the sights of Las Vegas together!  We truly enjoy being together and have such admiration and respect for each other.  I know we all feel enthusiastic about what we learned and are excited to bring it back and apply it.

One of the more interesting booths this year was the Kohler booth, not because of the plumbing fixtures, although they were great as always.  However, the real attraction for me this year was “Ed”, the guy from Extreme Home Makeovers…well, not him personally…rather, what he was showing.  It was a backup whole-home generator.  The best part about this generator is that they have partnered up with the company that manufactures the electrical panel to create a generator-ready electrical panel for very little additional cost.  What this means for you and me is that we can build our custom home with this panel and then decide later (if and when electrical shortages occur) to add the generator.  Adding a generator used to be an extremely costly proposition.  This makes it possible to prepare for it but not invest in it until it’s really needed or desired.

Stay tuned for more posts to come on the International Builder’s Show.  We learned so much this year that I will have to break it down into smaller posts.

About the Author:  Bethany Jenkins is Vice President of Jenkins Custom Homes and married to the owner, Shan Jenkins.  To read more about Bethany, check out her bio page here.