Last Updated on January 22, 2020
I’m sure you’re excited to find out what the top-selling mosaic tile colors are from Granite Transformations – see below.
The top-selling Granite Transformations glass mosaic tile colors are:
#1. 160
#2. 161
#3. 238
#4. 152
#5. 270
#6. Liberty Onyx
#7. Metropolis Opal
#8. Metropolis Buxy
#9. Metropolis Bronzite
Planning a remodel soon? Check out our broad range of glass mosaic tile products for you to choose from. We also offer a variety of quartz, glass and granite countertop colors to complement your mosaic tile backsplash. If you find any of these appealing, find a Granite Transformations location near you and schedule your free in-home consultation. Your new kitchen or bathroom could be just days away!
Last Updated on January 22, 2020
If home renovations are on your radar in the near future, we thought you would enjoy hearing about the latest findings of the fourth annual Houzz & Home 2015 Survey, specifically the Houzz Renovation Considerations Index. Over 260,000 homeowners and renters around the world shared their views on renovation projects they worked on in 2014 and their plans for 2015. The index tracks the level of importance that homeowners assign to eight commonly cited renovation considerations, including: design, functionality, resale value, energy efficiency, costs, health, sustainable materials and smart technology.
It was interesting to learn how this year’s index values indicate a sharp variance of the considerations among homeowners. Topping the scale was design and functionality, with resale value, energy efficiency and costs coming in closely behind. Among these five factors, the majority of homeowners said they were “very-to extremely important” (62%-91%) compared to only a small percentage deeming them “unimportant” (1%-6%). Interestingly, in comparison, homeowners were more divided on the importance of health, green and technology-related considerations, with 25%-45% considering them as “critical” to renovations compared to 19%-30% considering them “entirely unimportant.”
The Impact of Income and Age on Resale Value
The impact of income and age on the importance of resale value and minimizing renovation costs was both expected and surprising. Minimizing renovation costs was a critical factor among 75% of homeowners with an annual income of $50K or less, compared to 39% of homeowners with incomes of $500K or more. Surprisingly, two-thirds of homeowners revealed improving the resale value of their homes to be “very to extremely important,” regardless of income levels.
When considering the net worth of U.S. households among all income levels, home equity ranked as the largest contributor. The majority of homeowners at almost all income levels are likely to view renovations as two-fold: as improvements to the style and functionality of their homes and increasing the value of their largest asset.
Improving Resale Value is Important to Millennials
Homeowners between the ages of 25-34 have been coined as Millennials. It is likely that this younger generation will rate minimizing costs and improving resale value as somewhat more important than older homeowners who are 65 years of age or older. Surprisingly, these findings were consistent across all income levels. It’s not surprising, since Millennials carry a larger debt burden and day-to-day expenses from student loans and young children when compared to “Boomers” (or older homeowners). This comparison explains the differences in the importance of minimizing renovation costs. Millennials are also more likely to move than Boomers, lending to the importance of resale value.
Home Energy Efficiency & Sustainability
When it comes to health and green/sustainable products, the study revealed that the importance of both of these factors increases as income declines. It’s no surprise that Millennials score health-related considerations higher and environmental considerations lower than Boomers, since Millennials are more health-oriented during home renovations than the older generation. This makes sense since Millennials are likely to be young parents (with 44% having minors living with them), compared to 6% of Boomers. Millennials are also more likely to have older, more problematic homes and have less time to deal with health hazards in their houses than Boomers do. With 83% of Millennials who moved in the past five years versus 25% of Boomers in the same time frame, we can see why the younger generation is less likely to integrate green and sustainable products and materials into their homes so early in the homeownership game.
Improving and maintaining home energy efficiency has been a priority for homeowners at all income levels for quite some time. Installing energy-efficient appliances, windows, doors and insulation have become the norm, but little is still known about the importance of smart technology when it comes to home renovation. The study reveals that smart technology is increasingly more important for higher income households and less for others. It is likely that as smart technology becomes more affordable, the demand and interest for it will increase.
We hope you’ve found these findings useful. Granite Transformations wishes you a happy and safe summer. We look forward to meeting your kitchen and bath renovation needs. Schedule a free in-home consultation today and receive a free quote on your next kitchen or bath remodel.
Last Updated on August 12, 2015
When we think of food, feelings of comfort or joyful gatherings with family and friends typically come to mind. We’ve grown accustomed to our modern kitchens and how we cook, prepare and store our food. Well – hold on to your seat as we show you how IKEA sees kitchens of the future. You will be intrigued.
In collaboration with IDEO (an international design and consulting firm), along with design students from Sweden and the Netherlands, an 18-month long study resulted in Concept Kitchen 2025 – an exhibition at IKEA Temporary in Milan, Italy. The exhibition is a look into the future of how people’s relationship with food is changing. It serves as a tangible display of how we might be growing, cooking and storing our food in 2025, as well as eating, living and working in the kitchen.
Taking center stage is an incredible piece of furniture, the perfectly named “A Table for Living.” As part of Concept Kitchen 2025, this futuristic piece of furniture has the ability to bring inanimate objects to life. It can be used as a cooking device and preparation table (complete with built-in scales) and comes with the ability to make meal suggestions based on the food you place on it. It also can act as a work bench, a hub and even a play area for kids. All of the features are too amazing to describe. You have to see it to believe it. You can view this amazing piece of technology here. It is currently on display at Milan’s IKEA Temporary through the fall. It is not scheduled to be mass produced as of yet.
This smart countertop concept is but one initiative in the growing trend of “smart home” technology.
After analyzing the data and integrating the students’ findings, researchers outlined a series of 12 assumptions about what kind of world they will be designing for in 2015.
- Urban Living – It is estimated that over 60% of the world’s population will live in urban settings.
- Water and Energy – It’s a common assumption that water and energy have infinite resources, but the truth is that conservation will need to become an everyday behavior necessary to keep up with consumption.
- Food Costs – As developing countries continue to consume more meat and the world population continues to grow, it is estimated that the price of food could increase by 40%.
- Think Protein, not Meat – It is not realistic to believe that the current red meat supply could sustain the entire world. Alternate protein sources and developments in food processing could offer meat substitutes.
- Smaller Homes – With the aging population and the younger generation choosing to have less children, it’s forecasted that cities will require denser living in smaller spaces.
- Social Kitchens – It’s believed that the trend toward individualism is here to stay, as families co-exist in the same household, living separate lives. The kitchen, however, remains the heart of the house and will continue to be a gathering place to eat, drink and where everyone will catch up on each other’s lives.
- Working from Home – As technology in the developed world continues to advance and job responsibilities become more flexible, working from home is expected to be the standard for many. Adjusting the spaces in our homes, organizing our days, and even how we prepare and eat our meals will change drastically.
- Computers and Technology Galore – It’s forecasted that everyday devices will be equipped with sensors, CPUs and transmitting devices, creating self-regulating systems to enable communication with the user and between each other.
- Home Delivery – As futuristic as it may sound, shopping may be done digitally with robots delivering our purchases within minutes. The physical act of going to a store will be replaced with searching for what we need instead of purchasing it in person.
- Global Commerce – Our need for global mega-systems (like Google, Amazon and IKEA) will continue to increase as the world will need these industries to provide efficiency and to keep costs down.
- Western Culture Meets Eastern Values – As the Asian population (especially China) continues to grow rapidly in size and economic power, the Western culture may begin to feel the effect of its influence and start to adapt to new ideas from the East.
- Taste Preferences and Rituals Converge – It’s believed that ideas and cultures will spread across the world more easily, allowing for more diversity but less specialization. Kitchen designs may need to be reconsidered to meet these universal needs.
SOURCE: http://www.conceptkitchen2025.com/future-scenarios.html
Last Updated on January 7, 2020
Granite Transformations holds an annual franchise convention that is used as a platform for the franchise network to discuss new ideas and trends in the home remodeling industry, share strategies, network and celebrate success. At every convention, there is typically a keynote speaker, and at this year’s convention, it was celebrity designer Vern Yip. So, we wanted to take this opportunity to share some of the key design trends that he predicts for the very near future.
Vern Yip was the star of TLC’s Trading Spaces, NBC’s Home Intervention, and more recently, he starred in his own HGTV show called Deserving Design with Vern Yip. He was also host and judge on HGTV: Design Star. In addition to this already impressive resume, Vern has his own line of home décor products, is an ambassador for UNICEF, and is a contributing writer to HGTV magazine.
Vern focused his presentation on the primary design trends he sees for the future, which we will summarize here. He stressed that the home is the physical manifestation of the people who live there. It’s the biggest investment that most people will make in their lifetime, and it is where most important events in life take place. With that in mind, we’ll talk about design trends.
Color
Colors used in interior design are moving toward saturated, rich and deep palettes of deep gold, warm orange, and soft blue (with a pairing of navy blue and deep orange as a rising color combination).
Pattern
There will be an increased popularity in the layering and mixing of patterns, which will be featured through the use of stripes, geometrics, abstract florals, and ethnic prints. An example of this might be the use of three different sized tiles in the same room that are pulled together by the thread of color.
Style 1: Urban Warmth
Eclectic style will be mixed with warm materials like exotic woods to visually and physically texturize the space. The concept is about infusing warmer, softer materials into urban environments – harder lines juxtaposed with softer lines.
Style 2: Eclectic Transitional
Clean, classic lines are being mixed with global influences (such as accent pieces from Asia or Africa), which create a melding of the east and west. This style is presented in a modern way through curated, thoughtful style and graphic colors.
Style 3: Modern White
White will continue to remain popular (especially in kitchens), but will be contrasted with one or two key accent colors. We will continue to see white cabinets taking center stage; however, white will begin to move into the countertops and backsplashes more often, and even move into other areas of the home, balanced by warmer elements.
If you are renovating your kitchen, Vern says the one thing you should not skimp on is the countertop. They get the most wear out of any other surface in the kitchen. Patterns can be layered through the backsplash, countertop, and floor and provide an element of continuity that tie them together (like color).
In North America, cabinets tend to be the neutral foundation of the kitchen, with color being used on the walls or in the backsplash. In Europe, colored cabinets are seen much more frequently. By 2017, Vern predicts that North America will catch up with Europe and start exploring more colored cabinets.
Vern also talked about the importance of meeting both functional and aesthetic needs when designing a space. You must think about how you will actually use the space, which will in turn dictate the type of materials that are best to use. And aesthetically, it’s often beneficial to look through a magazine, and pull images of things that appeal to you or make you happy. These could be anything from a favorite food, part of the world, person or even clothing. Any of these can be used as the basis of inspiration when designing a space in your home.
Don’t forget to sign up for a free in-home consultation with one of Granite Transformations’ design consultants – they can help make your dream kitchen or bathroom a reality!
