When it comes to home improvement projects, few are as exciting as a kitchen remodel. After all, choosing new tiles, fixtures, appliances, and colors to give the room a whole new look is a lot of fun. But did you know that upgrading your kitchen can also benefit your home?

Benefits of Kitchen Upgrades

As a homeowner, you will likely have to replace a kitchen appliance at some point. If you are considering an upgrade, it can benefit you in several ways. Here’s how:

• Makes your home more appealing. If you’re tired of the outdated look of your old kitchen, then an upgrade is the perfect opportunity to explore not only new appliances but also new designs and colors. Just think about how much difference a nice fresh coat of paint or even something as simple as new cabinet doors can make. To make sure you get the kitchen you want, spend some time looking through interior design magazines and browsing websites that feature remodels. This is also a great way to get money-saving tips if you’re doing your upgrade on a budget.
• Add more space to your home. A lot of older homes have kitchens that seem smaller because of an outdated layout. For example, sometimes they’re in separate rooms; other times they have a wrap-around countertop/bar that takes up a lot of space. When you’re remodeling, you can work with your contractor to create a new layout that will maximize the available space. For example, you could knock out a wall to create an open plan kitchen and living room or remove an oversized countertop to create more space.
• Add more light to your home. If you have a kitchen that’s relatively dark because of small windows or windows that aren’t situated favorably, an upgrade is a good time to address this issue. You can replace small windows with larger ones, add new windows to catch more natural light, or even have skylights put in.
• Install better appliances. A kitchen upgrade should come with new appliances. You can select appliances that not only have the design you want but also the features. For example, you can get a smart refrigerator that not only keeps track of food but also shops for you and functions as an entertainment center. Moreover, you can purchase energy-efficient appliances — especially ENERGY STAR — to keep your energy consumption low and minimize your carbon footprint.
• Enhance your home’s safety. If your kitchen hasn’t been upgraded for 15 years or more, then there are likely to be things that are showing signs of wear and tear. Of course, your appliances won’t function as well as they did when they were new. In addition, things like your gas line, electrical wiring and plumbing might be showing signs of wear and tear — and this can place your home at risk of gas leaks, fires, and water damage. Upgrading your kitchen is the right time to have professionals check out all of these systems to ensure they’re up to modern standards.
• Increase the value of your home. An outdated kitchen can adversely affect the value of your home. Likewise, an upgraded one can significantly increase it. If you’re thinking about selling your home in the next five years, then doing a kitchen remodel now can bring you a significant return on your investment later.

It’s important to keep in mind that if you decide to upgrade your kitchen, it’s best to hire professionals to do it for you. That way, you can be sure that all of the work is performed correctly and you’ll not only derive the most enjoyment from your new kitchen but also achieve the best possible ROI.

By Michelle Fadeley

Are you dreaming of a kitchen upgrade for you and your family?

Do you keep putting it off because of finances?  Something always comes up, and the timing is just never quite right.  We know the feeling, and that’s why we are thrilled to take part in this year’s “DITCH YOUR KITCHEN” contest!

We’re Giving Away a Kitchen Remodel (Valued at Over $25,000)

This summer, McHale’s Kitchen and Bath, along with Mrs. G TV & Appliances and Onur Marble & Granite, are giving away a BRAND NEW KITCHEN, valued at over $25,000!  One lucky winner will receive a brand new kitchen featuring appliances by LG, custom cabinetry by Kraftmaid, Custom Granite by Onur, Ceramic Tile by Dal, Facuets by Kohler, and Grout and THin Set by Custom Building Products.  McHale’s Kitchen and Bath will oversee the entire process, so you know that the winner will be the recipient of a top-notch kitchen re-design.

So if you’ve been wanting to remodel your kitchen in the Bucks County area, now is your chance!

Entering The Contest is Easy

Step 1) Register HERE between now and AUG 2nd, 2015.  

Step 2) Visit McHale’s on Facebook and upload a photo of your current kitchen, along with why you think you need a redesign.  

That’s it!  Winners will be chosen through a combination of voting and an outside team of experts.

For more details and official rules, please see http://www.buckscountycouriertimes.com/contests/kitchen/.  And if you’re looking for more information on McHale’s Kitchen and Bath Remodeling, give us a call anytime, or drop by our showroom in Levittown, PA!

By Michelle Fadeley

If you’re thinking of remodeling your kitchen, then you definitely need to give some thought to your kitchen lighting in Yardley. Because no matter how stylish your cabinets and sleek your new appliances, without carefully selected and well-implemented lighting, what’s supposed to be a sumptuous design can fall short and become a dim and uninviting space.

Kinds of Lighting

There are three main kinds of lighting:

• Ambient lighting: This provides general illumination for the entire area. To make a space inviting, it’s best if it’s soft yet clear.
• Decorative lighting: Some things in life aren’t meant to be useful. Decorative lighting is one of them. It’s exactly what it sounds like: lighting purely meant to complement the space in a visually pleasing manner. Think of contemporary Italian designer lamps or antique Tiffany lamps.
• Task lighting: Task lighting is intended to provide you with enough illumination to perform tasks. That’s why, for example, you’ll find a lamp on the extractor fan above your stove.

Using Lighting to Complement Your Design

Most kitchens will have ambient and task lighting. Some might have separate decorative lighting, while others combine decorative into one or both of the previous types. In order to make the most of your lighting, you’re best advised to discuss your design ideas and lighting needs with your electrician.

For example, in a classically designed kitchen, you could combine recessed task lighting under the top kitchen cabinets with a large, ornate chandelier for ambient light. And to add some oomph, you could install a series of three copper industrial lamps above the kitchen island to offset the elaborate design of the chandelier.

Another example is a minimalist kitchen with simple yet elegant lines, stainless steel appliances and rosewood cabinets, you could have ambient lighting recessed into the ceiling and use an angular, hypermodern chandelier in brushed steel and white glass as task lighting above the kitchen table.

You can find more inspiration at HGTV, Houzz and Decoist.

To discuss luxury lighting ideas for your kitchen remodel, call McHales Kitchen and Bath!

By Michelle Fadeley

Summer’s here, and that means it’s time for kitchen remodeling in Yardley! Let’s face it: there’s no better time to have work done on your home than the warm months. There’s far less chance of workmen trudging mud into your home than during the winter, and you can keep the windows open to air out the smell of paint, spackle and other building materials. Last, but certainly not least, when you need to get away from the clutter, you can always just go and relax outside in the yard!

Why Remodel Your Kitchen?

Kitchen remodeling can be a lot of fun, but it’s not the cheapest of home improvement projects. So why should you consider it?

There are two reasons:

• First, it’s fantastic to have a kitchen that’s designed exactly the way you want it! Oftentimes, homeowners inherit their kitchens from the previous owners of the homes… and that can mean anything from gaudy colors you don’t like to an inefficient use of space. In contrast, when you remodel, you get to pick the layout, the color scheme, the appliances, the tiles and more!

• Second, remodeling your kitchen is simply a very good investment. Upgrading appliances to more energy-efficient ones is always recommended; but beyond that, there are other things that can boost the value of your home. To find out what remodeling aspects will give you the best ROI, make an appointment to talk to a local realtor. He or she can fill you in on what homebuyers are typically looking for in similar homes in your neighborhood. This information can be invaluable, as it allows you to hit that sweet spot just between “not desirable enough” and “too over the top.”

McHales: Your Partner in Remodeling

When you’re remodeling your kitchen, you need the best plumbing help you can get in order to ensure all the pipes are correctly laid and the fixtures correctly installed. That’s where McHales comes in: we’re dedicated to giving you the best plumbing help for your remodeling project so all you have to do is look forward to your brand new kitchen! So don’t wait: call McHales today!

By Michelle Fadeley