6 Popular Kitchen Layouts

Designs to Consider for Your Kitchen Remodel

There are a handful of kitchen layouts that have cemented themselves as favorites among contractors and homeowners alike thanks to the efficiency they contribute to a well-functioning space. We’ve broken down six of the most commonly used kitchen design layouts, discussing what they consist of and their pros and cons.

Kitchen Remodeling Planning Guide

What to Ask When Designing a Kitchen Remodel

One of the most vital aspects of a kitchen remodel is understanding how it’ll serve you best. There are numerous ways of approaching a kitchen remodel and endless configurations, fixtures, and finishes to consider.

Crafting Harmony

A Comprehensive Berkeley Kitchen Remodel Case Study

This Berkeley kitchen remodel project unfolded into a fully transformative journey aimed at optimizing functionality and enhancing visual appeal while enriching the craftsman style of this 1914 kitchen.

Preservation During Home Renovation

Preserving the Historical Character of a 1916 Craftsman Home Throughout Remodel

Our clients fell in love with this 1916 Craftsman-style home, but over time they realized they were not fully utilizing the space in their home – space that would create more function and better fit their lifestyle with a redesign and remodel. Given the home’s rich history, it was important for them to uphold the home’s historical integrity.

50 Shades Of Blue: Blue Bathroom Remodel Designs

CHOOSE ONE OF SO MANY WAYS TO IMBUE A SPLASH OF COLOR INTO YOUR BATHROOM REMODEL!

With many of our clients gravitating towards blue to bring life to their bathroom remodel, we are sharing a few ways to incorporate this versatile color into your bathroom

Through The Decades

Preserving Historical Features In Kitchen And Bathroom Design

Having worked in the local area for over 30 years, we carry a deep understanding of older, East Bay residences and take pride in our ability to maintain the unique character of the home our client’s fell in love with.

What's Behind The Kitchen Cabinets?

Kitchen ORGANIZING INSPIRATION FOR THE NEW YEAR!

We’ve gathered some of our favorite cabinet design ideas from past kitchen remodels in hopes that they’ll inspire you to cross kitchen organization off your list of resolutions.

When Is It Time To Remodel?

GIVE YOURSELF THE GIFT OF A REMODEL IN THE UPCOMING YEAR

A new year is on the horizon and, if you’re like us, once the presents have been unwrapped and decorations have been packed away, your attention will probably turn to goals and resolutions.

If the above scenario sounds familiar, you know something has to change.

5 Ways to Create Hygge In Your Kitchen Remodel

Hygge, a Danish concept that has worked its way into vocabularies worldwide, is defined by Merriam-Webster as “a cozy quality that makes a person feel content and comfortable.” Imagine walking into a room and instantly feeling at ease.

There are ways you can build this coziness into your kitchen remodel.

Flip, Flop, Kitchen Swap!

EXPLORE THE UNKNOWN TO DISCOVER ALL THE POSSIBILITIES FOR A KITCHEN REMODEL

Just because you didn’t build your home doesn’t mean you have to settle for anything less than your dream space. With a little imagination we believe a home that fits YOUR needs can be achieved. Let’s get creative!

Seismic Retrofitting

Seismic Retrofitting is like wearing a cast on your leg when you have a broken bone. The cast keeps the broken bone in place and prevents the area around it from moving. In the same way, when you seismically retrofit your house, you are modifying your existing structure so that it will stay in place when faced with seismic activities such as earthquakes. 

Interview With HDR Remodeling President, Chris Fellows

We met with our very own, Chris Fellows, to chat about what it’s like to be on the front lines of building our customer’s dream homes. Find out what the best part of work is, how he and his clients let loose, and how they occasionally find a bit of treasure!

Topping Off Five Projects In Five Years With An Epic Bathroom Remodel

Five years. Five home remodeling projects. So how did this rapport begin? Well, it all began with a kitchen (like ALL great friendships). Then, we moved to the living room, remodeled the guest bathroom and laundry room, before digging out a basement and adding a deck; all this, leading to the epic culmination of the master bathroom that you see before you.

Take It Outside — The Deck Challenge

This year’s seemingly endless winter is officially turning the corner to longer days and delightfully warmer weather. It’s finally time to come out of hibernation and get outside again! If your East Bay home already has a deck then you understand how this outdoor space is an indispensable extension of your home.  However, if your home is lacking this extension, then perhaps you’re struggling with a good ol’ case of deck envy—But hopefully, not for long!

Interview With HDR Remodeling Architect, Ashley Turner

Striving to design beautiful homes that are built responsibly, Ashley, HDR Remodeling’s Architect, brings her expertise in the residential remodeling and design industry to work. We recently chatted with Ashley about her background, what influences and inspires her work, and her personal style.

Interview With HDR Remodeling Architect, Milton Tong

With an affinity and appreciation for inspiring designs that combine comfort, beauty, modernity and continuity with the past, Milton Tong, one of HDR Remodeling’s resident Architects, discusses the fundamentals of architecture, how they encourage his creativity and what it’s like to build beautiful spaces that people call home. 

Budgeting For A Kitchen Remodel In The East Bay Area

For East Bay homeowners looking to modernize their homes, improve function, or simply inspire a little “house envy,” kitchen remodels tops the list. Moreover, with some of the highest priced real estate in the country, today’s kitchen renovation could yield a higher selling price down the road.

Repurposing Your Home To Create Functional Space

HDR Remodeling’s clients have increasingly come to us with requests to optimize the use of space in their home to improve their home life. They rely on our team for our expertise in technically challenging residential remodel projects and our experience in navigating local permitting processes.

Focus Time Interview With Herman Chan Sotheby’s Realty

Our latest Focus Time guest is an undisputed top Real Estate Agent in all of Sotheby’s Bay Area agents: Herman Chan.

Herman is one of San Francisco’s premiere Real Estate Agents and when he takes you under his wing, whether you’re a homebuyer, seller, or mentee, you can guarantee that you’ll exceed your goals.

Focus Time Interview With Heather Cleveland Design

We are thrilled to kick off HDR Remodeling’s Focus Time, where we talk with prominent and inspiring experts in the remodeling and design industry to share a piece of what they know with our audience.

Our first interview is with Oakland based Interior Designer, Heather Cleveland.  

Favorite Recipes From Our HDR Remodeling Family To Yours

With the holiday around the corner and a feast just waiting to be consumed, our team at HDR Remodeling are sharing a few of their favorite recipes with you. If you make any of these recipes, share with us and let us know what you think!

Bring Life Into Your Kitchen With Colorful Ideas

While a brightly colored accent wall adds a touch of kitsch to a kitchen, colorful fixtures will remain conversation pieces long after the party has ended. See how we used colorful accents in some of our recent kitchen remodels.

A Fresh Take On Vintage Bathroom Refresh

Oftentimes, clients come to HDR Remodeling for a full bathroom overhaul, complete with redesign and rebuild, but sometimes, a bathroom refresh is simply what our clients need. We recently wrapped up this Oakland guest bathroom refresh and are excited to give you the scoop on how we got it done.

Kitchen Remodel Ideas That Deliver 

A MUST-READ FOR THOSE LOOKING TO ADD VALUE ON THEIR KITCHEN REMODEL

As you may have heard kitchen and bath remodels provide the biggest returns on your investment. Not surprisingly, kitchens tend to reap more sizable rewards. Especially in light of recent events, now more than ever the kitchen is the center of the home.

What You Need To Know About Remodeling Or Converting Your Garage

If you're looking to increase livable space or storage space without major changes to your home, remodeling your garage can be a great option. Building an addition onto your home is often more disruptive and expensive than renovating an existing garage.

Crafting Your Dream Kitchen

The Complete Guide To Creating A Custom Kitchen, Indoors Or Out

Kevin Mond, Head of Business Development and Design at HDR Remodeling recently shared some of his thoughts on how to craft a dream kitchen in a recent webinar. Whether you're planning a refresh or a complete kitchen remodel, our design build approach will help to guide you through the process every step of the way. 

Remodeling COSTS AND Permits Webinar

HDR Remodeling dives into remodeling budgets, permits and costs. Here, we discuss: 

• How you should allocate your budget for kitchen and bathroom remodels

• Common mistakes new homeowners make and how to avoid them

• The process and cost of permits for kitchen and bathroom projects

Design Now With Virtual Home Remodeling Design

With everyone becoming familiar with the realities of virtual reality, many builders are adapting their processes to accommodate the new “normal”—with a few new considerations. Here’s how HDR Remodeling is adapting by donning digital toolbelts to continue facilitating the essential planning that ensures a successful home remodeling project.

Three Projects, Three Awards, And Three Labors Of Love

DETAILS OF THE PROJECTS THAT SOLIDIFIED OUR NARI CONTRACTOR OF THE YEAR AWARDS

HDR Remodeling couldn’t be more thrilled to win the Regional Contractor of the Year award from the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) in three categories: Residential Interior, Residential Kitchen, and Residential Bath.

In A Blue Mood - Projects Utilizing The Color Of The Year - "Classic Blue"

Most of us look to our homes to provide a place of calm, comfort, and peaceful permanence. So, it is only fitting as we close out a tumultuous decade and enter into a new one that Pantone has selected steadfast “Classic Blue” as their 2020 Color of the Year. 

A Guide To Budgeting For Your Kitchen Remodeling

A kitchen remodel is a beautiful thing, especially if you’ve been cooking in a cramped, outdated, or just plain awful galley for longer than you care to recall. HDR Remodeling’s Design + Build team relishes the opportunity of taking an unlovable space and transforming it into the heartbeat of your East Bay home. 

A Guide To Budgeting For Your Bathroom Remodeling

If a gleaming, spa-inspired bathroom is part of your future, we’d love to help in achieving your vision. According to a 2019 report by Remodeling Magazine, the cost for a bathroom remodel in the San Francisco and coastal East Bay Area ranged between $30–85K on average, depending on the range and scale of your bathroom renovation. Now, here’s how that budget pie gets divvied up.

Tiled In - TILING IN A BATHROOM REMODEL FOR A LUXURY SPA FEEL

Renowned for its durability and relative ease of upkeep, tile is used in countless applications and when used expansively, creates a fantastic focal point. When we embarked upon this East Bay bathroom remodel, the clients knew exactly how their new bathroom should look - and function.

Tiled In - DIALING IN YOUR KITCHEN REMODEL WITH DISTINCTIVE TILE

Today, the sheer variety of materials, textures, and of course colors, are staggering. Here, we’ll detail our approach to working with tile, its function and aesthetics, along with the caveats and other considerations to keep in mind when remodeling your kitchen, with costly tile.

A Natural Expression - Raw Materials Speak For Themselves In A Kitchen Remodel Inspired After A Tea Shop

Taking their inspiration from San Francisco’s Song Tea & Ceramics, the couple’s favorite tea shop, HDR Remodeling’s Design team assisted in achieving their kitchen vision by marrying modern industrial utility with Scandinavian sensibility, allowing the materials to “speak for themselves.”

Question: Why Do Kitchen Remodels And Bath Remodels Cost So Much?

Remodeling projects are complex and time consuming⁠. We’ve seen just about all of them⁠—it’s one of the many reasons HDR Remodeling consistently ranks as one of the East Bay’s best full-service Design and Build firms, with a stellar reputation. We set deadlines and meet them, and work with you to maximize your budget and investment. 

Best Practices: Preparing for a Kitchen and Bathroom Remodel

SANITY-SAVING TIPS ON KEEPING YOUR COOL IN THE MIDDLE OF A HOT MESS

All those horror stories you’ve heard about remodeling your home...well, there’s a reason. Enough so it’s not uncommon for some homeowners to pack up and head for the hills during the process. But if that’s not part of the vision (or budget) - you can survive a home remodel with your sanity intact, all it takes is a little preparation.

Oh So Trendy Bathroom Design Trends!

THE BIG LIST OF 2019 BATHROOM DESIGN TRENDS

If 2019 is the year you’ve decided to finally remodel your bathroom, you picked a good one. HDR Remodeling has put together the BIG list of 2019 bathroom design trends – along with some design inspiration for transforming your lowly bathroom – into a spa-worthy sanctuary.

Can You Dig It? Yes, You Can!

FAQ ON BASEMENT EXCAVATION AND ADDITIONS

When building up or out is out of the question, go down under with a basement addition. If you love your home, but it’s become a tight fit, a basement addition is an increasingly popular option for Coastal East Bay homeowners constrained by lot space, and/or permitting issues. Moreover, a basement addition provides a way to double your home’s livable square footage - never a bad thing when you’re ready to sell – and ranks near the top of home remodeling projects for yielding the best return on investment.

From Funky To Functional

REIMAGINING YOUR TINY KITCHEN

Outdated, cramped, crowded, or unsafe? If you can use any of these adjectives to describe your kitchen, let’s face it, you probably hate it. We hear it all the time. The good news is, you’re not alone.

Standard, Mid-Level, And Custom Kitchen Renovations: Which Kitchen Remodel Is Right For You?

Many homeowners daydream about a kitchen remodel but waver on taking the first steps, perhaps because they are unsure of where to start or if the project will fit into their budget. Take the time to prepare with the right information and to determine what the scope of your project really is. You may realize that a kitchen remodel is well within your budget if you know what you want.

Making The Biggest Impact While Saving Money On Home Remodels

When you are working with a budget, a full home remodel may feel out of reach. However, by shopping smart, knowing where to go to get a complete start to finish service, and getting deals for your remodeling project, you can achieve a new look for your home renovation without unnecessary overspending.

5 Tips For A Highly Functional Kitchen

Most kitchen remodels often overlook how functional a kitchen is. When redesigning your kitchen space, here are 5 important things to consider for functionality in your remodel.

Remodeling Projects To Make Your Home Feel Like An Oasis

If you’re like us and love staying in nice hotels and vacation homes, why not make your own home feel like one? It’s easier than you think when you have a Design + Build firm to manage your home remodel from conception to completion.

The Tiny House Trend And What It Can Do For You In The Bay Area

You've probably seen these diminutive houses popping up in backyards everywhere around the Bay Area. They look like charming little cottages that belong on an Irish hillock somewhere, and they can comfortably house your in-laws, adult children moving back home or act as a source of affordable long term rental income.

HDR Remodeling ADU Granny Flat Featured On CNBC

GRANNY FLAT - A SOLUTION FOR RETIREES WITH LIMITED BUDGET

CNBC featured a granny flat built in Oakland by HDR Remodeling on Sunday morning. Jane Baldwin, a retiree from Wyoming, moved to Oakland to be closer to her son. Rather than moving into his main house, she built a granny flat, officially termed Accessory Dwelling Unit or ADU for short, in his backyard. This allows her to be close to her family while maintaining her independence and privacy.