by Karyn Brodsky and Tricia White

Catching a case of spring fever?
Updating your home is the best medicine. Infuse the indoors with fashionable finishes and amped-up accents, and beautify the backyard with outdoor kitchens and luxury living environments. Whether it’s storage drawers or stunning floors, outdoor spaces or fireplaces, there are countless ways to rejuvenate your home for you and your family to enjoy now and to add resale value for the future.

Kitchens
Where does everyone end up congregating at your house?  For most of us, it’s in the kitchen.  The kitchen is the heart of the home, and Mark Pritchard of Ed Kellum and Son says these days it’s often the “showplace of the home” as well.  “People want premium products because they look really, really good; work really, really well; and consequently, the food tastes really good, too,” Mark says.   Ed Kellum and Son offers premium appliances for the at-home chefs or for those who just want it to look good even if they’re not using it.

Ann O’Blenes, Broker Associate, Performance Partners Group RE/MAX Dallas Suburbs agrees. “We are seeing the trend in removing walls and wrap around bars to create as little division as possible from the living area and islands are being made to seat a lot of people for dining rather than the “breakfast nook.”

Whether it’s a built-in refrigerator, some of the newer built-in coffee products, or any of the other high-end appliances you’re purchasing, you can be assured Ed Kellum will make sure to find the right products for you.  “Our goal at the end of the day is to make sure we know why you want to buy and then make sure you know how to use what you get.”  Since its founding in 1948, this family-owned business has been committed to making sure they get to know their customers.  Even those who aren’t home chefs can appreciate the aesthetic and financial value for their home, and everyone can appreciate having a place family and friends want to hang out together.

Media Rooms
Why go to the theater when you can watch a movie in the comfort of your own home, without the sticky floors! “Families are spending more time at home, and the media room is a great gathering place, whether for family movie night or a big sports game,” says David Pidgeon, CEO of Starpower.

Whether transforming an old game room, under-utilized bedroom, garage, or den, Starpower can create the perfect media room according to your specifications. “We have the home theater experts who can take any small or large project and personally guide you through each and every choice.” Pidgeon takes pride in Starpower’s commitment to excellent customer service, which “includes a fully integrated consultation from conception, drawing, design and completion, to follow-up and maintenance care.”
The Starpower website (star-power.com) even has a room planner feature to help you get started.

Bathrooms

Refresh the Walls
If your bathroom is looking tired or dated, it’s easy to give it a facelift with a new coat of paint or new wallpaper. Yes, wallpaper is back! In recent years, wallpaper saw a decline in popularity because of its reputation for being old-fashioned and frustratingly permanent. However, as the saying goes, “Everything old is new again,” and after its hiatus, wallpaper is now both nostalgic and new. Iconic prints in tropical, floral, geometric, fruit, stripes, and speckled patterns abound. 

Change Out the Fixtures
Replacing outdated fixtures is a simple way to upgrade the look of your bathroom. Shiny chrome was the go-to option for many years and still has strong appeal, especially for traditionalists. Want to make chrome feel completely new? Matte chrome fixtures are a great contemporary take on a classic option. The matte finish trend has spread to black and gold fixtures, as well. From industrial to farmhouse to luxe, there’s a fixture style that will accentuate the design of your bathroom perfectly.

Update Your Shower
Changing out the standard shiny chrome, framed shower enclosure changes the entire look of your bathroom. Steel-framed windows have been growing in popularity for every area of the home, and adding steel framing to a shower enclosure adds an impactful architectural flair. The invisible shower walls provided by a frameless shower enclosure make a dramatic statement and offer the flexibility to coordinate beautifully with any design style. A free-standing claw foot or neo-classical tub add elegance to traditional bathrooms, while the clean lines of a rectangular or contoured tub flow perfectly with a contemporary design.

Fireplaces and Firepits
Nothing creates a better ambiance than a warm fire.  As a leading supplier of garage doors, outdoor living, and fireplaces and with over 150 years of combined industry experience, the team at Trinity Fireside can help create the perfect place to make those cozy family memories in your home.

Fireplaces today have become works of art, with designs to fit every décor.  Wood burning or gas, with traditional masonry or contemporary lines and glass media, Trinity will work with you to “help you discover your perfect flame” indoors or outside.