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Kitchen Remodeling Tips & Trends: 2023

January 24, 2023 by  |  

Whether you plan on entertaining more, spending more time at home working (and cooking), or just want to increase the appeal and value of your house; a kitchen remodel may be the key for many reasons.

There are many custom solutions to improve the efficiency of your kitchen to meet the needs of you and your family. Integrating more energy efficient appliances with advanced (smart) technology, as well as green building materials and processes for improved health for your family and the global community.

Many houses in Havertown and in our surrounding communities were built prior to the 1950’s when layouts and priorities in the kitchen were much different. Cumming Construction has helped many homeowners like yourself upgrade layouts and create warm, welcoming, and inviting kitchen spaces.

There are a couple different overall directions you can go with a kitchen remodel depending on whether you want to optimize your kitchen for your family’s comfort and convenience, or if you want to maximize resale value and keep to more standard designs and layouts that will be popular with the largest number of future buyers. (Of course, we will work with you to put together the right combination of options that can also come somewhere between those two ends of the kitchen redesign spectrum)

When it comes time to design your kitchen, or other home remodel, many homeowners turn to the trendy looks on social media or home improvement TV shows for inspiration. Color, texture, material variance, like different types of flooring, backsplashes, and countertops lead the way in trends.

Let’s focus now on 7 Top Tile and Style Trends for 2023…

  1. Glossy not Matte
    Since 2023 continues to keep surfaces and fixtures with a matte look the glossy tile backsplash adds a nice complementary look.
  2. Classic Tiles Rule
    Classic ceramic and porcelain tiles continue to provide timeless beauty to many kitchens in 2023 and beyond – great for resale value as well.
  3. Mixed Material Mashups
    The previous policy for backsplashes especially was that you only use one type of tile in one pattern. Now a unique look for your personality can include a combination of glass, marble, porcelain or other tiles is becoming more widely accepted.
  4. Glass and Mosaic Tile Designs – Unique Shapes
    Increasingly gaining in popularity are glass tiles, which have many bold and unique colors. Some even come with Mosaic options or that can be created with an artistic effect. Can be used for visual focal point for a great conversation starter at your next party or get together. May best be complemented with simple tile for larger spaces.
  5. White or Natural Look
    White tiles continue to be extremely popular in kitchen upgrades and remodels. Colors that have a very natural look are close behind in popularity with an overall trend in green tiles. (As a side note, maybe you want to include some Eagles green in your kitchen…as we write this article our Philadelphia Eagles are on the verge of getting to the Superbowl…fingers crossed. )
  6. Texture and Stone Tiles
    Stone tiles, textured, and three-dimensional tile (aka tactile tile) has also gained quite a bit of momentum for 2023. Stone tiles come with either a weathered or acid wash look and can add a bit of interest to plainer floors and countertops. Tactile tile can create visually dramatic walls without the use of wild colors or patterns, depending on your preferences.
  7. Match Materials?
    For many years homeowners have been choosing to use the same tile for both the kitchen floor and the backsplash. That was so 2022! Just kidding, sort of…The popular trend is to have a Matte hardwood floor and a marble look backsplash (using either marble or porcelain with marble design) that matches the countertop…making for a smooth and seamless transition from one part of the kitchen to the other.

In this article we shared tips and trends for the overall kitchen home remodeling industry, this does not mean you have to take any of these as gospel. Each kitchen we create at Cumming Construction is unique to meet the needs of our local clients. We are based in Havertown PA but serve the greater area including Philadelphia, Montgomery and Delaware Counties. We look forward to the opportunity to discuss your remodeling or home improvement needs in the near future. Please contact Jon Cumming at 610-519-0245 or by email at info@HomeImprovementPA.com.

Filed Under: Blog, Community, Green Remodeling and Construction, Renovation and Remodeling

Sustainable Rooftop Decks & Gardens in Cities.

February 7, 2019 by  |  

Why More Cities Are Interested in Building Sustainable Rooftop Decks & Gardens

As the populations grows in urban areas, there has been more talk and effort into building sustainable rooftop decks and attractive gardens on top of city structures.

There are many reasons why this building trend is becoming incredibly popular in urban highly populated cities all over the world today.

These building projects help to conserve energy by shading the building naturally, can improve city storm water management efforts and will otherwise counteract the many negative effects of urban development in cities all around the globe.

The History of Using Rooftop Gardens & Top-Level Building Platforms

Many people are surprised to learn that these innovative new rooftop decks are really nothing new at all. For centuries, man has made use of the top of their dwelling structures to expand their living space and for adding beautiful aesthetics to their ancient cities by way of rooftop gardens.

Perhaps the most well-known example, King Nebuchadnezzar II built his beloved wife the spectacular Hanging Gardens of Babylon back in 500 B.C. in what is now known as Iraq to remind his wife of her missed homeland terrain. This gorgeous rooftop garden draped with lush plant life and exotic flora is now considered one of the seven wonders of the civilized world.

Philly Rooftop Garden Deck

Top Benefits of Building Sustainable Rooftop Gardens & Decks Today

Even though ancient civilizations have routinely built rooftop platforms to provide extra dwelling and gardening space, this process is considered cutting-edge in urban building and construction circles today.

There are some impressive studies that indicate many practical benefits of building sustainable rooftop decks and gardens over top of urban apartment complexes, office buildings and other city structures.


Some of the top benefits of building eco-friendly rooftop decks and/or gardens include:

  • Slows Storm Water Runoff for Better Storm Water Management
  • Naturally Shades & Protects Hot City Rooftops
  • Can Lower Overall Building Energy Costs
  • Adds Substantial Beauty & Improves Urban Building Aesthetics
  • Promotes Relaxation & Socialization in City Neighborhoods
  • Extends Living & Entertainment Spaces Upwards
  • Improves Water & Air Quality
  • Has Positive Environmental Impact – Provides Food & Shelter for Nearby Birds & Other Wildlife
  • Can Be Used to Grow Food, Herbs or Flowers and Other Garden Bounties
  • Can Reduce Noise from Urban Streets
  • Helps Sequester Carbon, Reduces Pollution While Effectively Increasing Biodiversity in Urban Settings
  • Aids in Mitigating Commonplace Urban Heat Island Effect
  • Extends Lifetime of Roofing Materials & Structures
  • Provides Many Health & Well-Being Benefits
  • Can Raise Property Building Values

How City Property Owners Can Build an Earth-Friendly Rooftop Deck

Many city property owners become interested in installing an earth-friendly rooftop deck and/or rooftop garden after they read about them or experience seeing these top-level decks up close and personal. While these enticing benefits tend to encourage the desire for these building projects, actually performing the work involved can be dangerous for inexperienced individuals to do on their own.

If a property owner living in the city wants to research how to build these rooftop spaces, they should figure in needing specially crafted scaffolding and winch systems to enable safer work platforms for construction crews that need to work at higher levels to complete this type of job.

Advantages of Hiring a Professional Rooftop Deck/Garden Contractor

There are many terrific advantages of hiring a professional rooftop deck and/or rooftop garden construction company experienced in these sorts of novel green building improvement projects within an urban area. Aside from the obvious fact that working at these heights is dangerous, the prospective peril potential grows even higher when heavy construction tools and supplies are involved.

A professional construction company that specializes in creating these gorgeous and practical rooftop environments will have the required training, knowledge and hands-on skill background to get the work completed in a safe and timely manner. There are countless city building codes and regulations that must be followed to a T, and professional rooftop decking contractors are very familiar with this part of the building process.

Other reasons to go with a seasoned rooftop deck/garden expert includes the shorter downtime needed, as these contractors will have a bevy of workers and the required equipment to properly and swiftly get the job done right the first time. This type of construction project requires a specialized knowledge and convenient availability of the necessary construction and safety gear, tools, equipment and other supplies.

Why Now is an Excellent Time to Consider Building a Rooftop Retreat

Most outside construction is done when the weather is warm and dry. However, the high demand for experienced and affordable building contractors able to do this form of work makes it imperative to consult with a local rooftop deck builder soon. These construction specialists are fast filling in their upcoming summer job schedules right now.

Choosing a Rooftop Deck/Garden Design, Materials & Bonus Amenities

There are so many wonderful options in design styles, material choices and bonus added amenities to choose from, and consumers should remember that they will need an accessible access point to reach their new rooftop oasis. It may be possible to use a top-floor closet space to access a stairway leading to the roof, or consumers can opt for an outside staircase to limit taking space away from the building’s interior living spaces.

Some other important consumer choices include the type of decking material, the proper leveling platform, railing or fencing options and style of staircase or rooftop ladder that will meet current city safety and fire codes.

Every urban property owner should seriously consider building upwards. From a purely builder prospective, these innovative green rooftop decks are a frugal way to make good use of otherwise wasted living and entertaining square footage space. Sustainable rooftop decks and lovely gardens offer many useful benefits.

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Roof Decks: Another Story for the City

March 1, 2011 by  |  

Groundhogs aside, the coming of spring is marked for us by people calling for new roof decks.

Roof decks are possibly the easiest, least expensive, and most rewarding way that urban dwellers can increase their private living space without the trauma of building a large addition or the aggravation of relocating.

The finished deck with Philadelphia in the background.One of my favorite projects was a roof deck we did in the Fitler Square neighborhood of Philadelphia. The client is a designer for an architecture firm, and he had been creating plans and drawings for his home’s pièce de résistance for several years before we embarked on the project. Its features include a galvanized steel spiral staircase, a corrugated tin roof, granite countertop, working sink and extendable body sprayer to cool off, a barbecue pit with exhaust hood, hard-wired lights, and electrical outlets throughout. We even installed a galvanized steel bucket on a pulley system to easily raise ice, food, and beverages from the first-floor kitchen.

We’ve employed the same structural approach on a half-dozen or so roof decks since then. We remove the existing tar and roofing on the shared “party” masonry walls on either side of house, upon which we form and pour new concrete caps. These footings support the pressure-treated 2×10 joists for the deck. This approach allows the deck to span from masonry wall to masonry wall, with absolutely nothing touching or potentially harming the existing roof below. Also, the weight limit upon the deck is virtually limitless; the deck is framed exactly as the floors within the house.

Finished multi-level roof deck.Except in very rare occasions, the gradual slope of city roofs can result in a cool design element. Rather than a single level deck starting a foot or so off the roof on one end, and ending three or four feet in the air on the other, we build bi-level decks. In the end, the two levels result in a more attractive and sophisticated look than just a single deck anyway.

I don’t think we’ve used pressure-treated wood as decking on an unenclosed space since I’ve been with the company. The new composite decking products on the market are simply too affordable, environmentally friendly, and maintenance-free to consider any other option. And there are new, more attractive lines coming out every day; while we have used the popular Trex and ChoiceDek carried at the large home stores, we like the natural appearance and color choices of brands such as MoistureShield, TimberTech, and others. These decks are created from up to 90% pre-and-post-consumer recycled material and require no sealing, staining, or painting and will not rot or warp from water or sunlight. MoistureShield Decking, for example, contains an average of 289 plastic grocery sacks or 92 plastic water jugs per 12-foot board.

Nothing sings spring to me like the sound of a cool breeze over city rooftops, children laughing in playgrounds below, and the buzz of a circular saw that only we can hear. Seems like most folks enjoy their new rooftop deck more than they originally thought they would

Learn more about our deck and patio services and view more of our portfolio.

Filed Under: Blog, Green Remodeling and Construction, Renovation and Remodeling Tagged With: , ,

It’s Not Easy Being Green (Part 1)

November 2, 2010 by  |  

Cumming Construction Booth at GreenfestYou may have heard of the LEED Certification system, which is a national standard for green building. LEED is still rare in residential remodeling, due to the high costs involved in retrofitting the existing home and the rigorous third-party certification process.

That being said, one of my favorite aspects of LEED is that it requires builders and designers to research every building material source, its manufacturing process, and travel distance to the job site — whether salvaged and reclaimed, extracted from an FSC-certified forest, recycled from waste products, or a renewable resource.

Because the answers, especially in remodeling, can be more grey than green. The truth is, everyone from contractors to product salespeople wants to be green these days, so there is an awful lot of “greenwashing” (“clean coal,” anyone?) By the way, only a building can be LEED Certified, not a person or product.

Consider bamboo, for instance. It’s one of the most popular green products available -– bamboo fights global warming by releasing 35% more oxygen than an equivalent stand of trees, it doesn’t destroy the topsoil when harvested, and it’s renewable every three to five years. Unfortunately, much of the bamboo now available is harvested overseas by countries exploiting its sudden popularity –- resulting in over-harvesting, additional shipping expense, and questionable labor practices.

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m a huge fan of bamboo, its durability and warmth in addition to its environmental benefits (I recently installed bamboo flooring in my own home). I’m simply suggesting that “environmentally friendly” doesn’t mean perfect, and compromises — whether financial, stylistic, or pragmatic — are inevitable in any major home improvement project.

We recently installed CFL bulbs in the new recessed lighting kits of a kitchen remodel in Fairmount. Although the bulbs were marketed as dimmable, after going a shade less bright they simply went dark. The result: out came the CFL bulbs in favor of the inefficient and energy-wasting incandescents (though the dimmers still save lamp life and reduce electrical output, both green positives). Again, good intentions tempered by practical application.

This fall we exhibited our work at two “green” events around Philadelphia — the Manayunk Eco-Fest and the GreenFest on South Street. Not only did we meet many people who appreciated our knowledge of green materials and products, but it was great to network and see what other exhibitors — from energy auditors to green roof designers — were introducing to the marketplace.

One part of the GreenFest I found particularly noteworthy was that, due to a scheduling conflict, our event shared space with a benefit walk for cancer (which we were happy to do, even swapping our company’s maroon tablecloth for a purple one). The cancer event director confided to me, as the festivals were winding down, that the GreenFest organizers gave her a very hard time because she was distributing collateral material in plastic bags. I empathized so deeply with her dilemma that all I could do was respond, “It ain’t easy.”

Filed Under: Blog, Green Remodeling and Construction Tagged With: ,

Toolbelts and Textbooks: Our Ongoing Education

October 26, 2010 by  |  

Jon has been building custom homes and remodeling for over half of his life (which, I jokingly remind him, is a very long time). And simply by practicing thoughtful and responsible habits — considering long-term and life-cycle sustainability, and maximizing nature’s resources in an efficient and conserving manner — he was a green builder, I believe, long before the term came into vogue.

He’s taught me construction and remodeling along those lines, so although it’s fun to read about trendy materials and more efficient systems, the philosophy and mindset are already second nature. Each time I eagerly bring an article to work about a new insulation or roofing shingle, he unfailingly responds, “Doesn’t that make sense?”

Deliver better indoor air quality, make the home cost less to operate, and minimize the negative impact the home has on the environment — these aren’t revolutionary concepts. The products themselves may improve on earlier versions, but the practical goals have been around even longer than, well, Jon.

That being said, we find it extremely important not to rest on our (green) laurels. Jon and I both are avid readers and self-educators on emerging green techniques and materials through trade magazines, web sites, seminars, manufacturer and distributor newsletters, and trade shows.

Jon is currently pursuing continuing education through the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI), where he is studying to become a Certified Remodeler (nothing like going back to school after 25 years in the business). Although his course load doesn’t specifically focus on green building, the information seems to take a pragmatic approach to environmentally responsible and cost-effective solutions for long-term goals (again, a basic definition of green building).

Last year I became a LEED Accredited Professional, which was a very intense six months of classes, studying and a pass-fail exam. The US Green Building Council defines a LEED AP as someone who has demonstrated a thorough understanding of green building practices and resources. He or she is also trained in the process of attaining LEED Certification for their projects. I belong to the US Green Building Council’s local Delaware Valley Chapter, as well, where I sit on the Emerging Professionals and Residential Circle Committees.

Check out next week’s blog to see how we’ve incorporated some green principles into our everyday work.

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What Green Remodeling Means to Us

October 19, 2010 by  |  

Jon Cumming and I have put a lot of thought into what “building green” means to us, as builders, contractors, architects and designers are at the forefront of the surging eco-friendly movement. We decided that — although there are a handful of exclusively “green” remodelers in the area enjoying great demand, and believe me it’s tempting to ride the wave — we’re only going to incorporate the green elements into our projects that work smarter and look better than conventional products (AND do this after considering the product’s environmental impact over its entire life cycle).

Our job as remodelers is to deliver an energy-efficient project, contribute to healthy indoor air quality, and practice thoughtful and well-researched buying habits — not to religiously aspire to a mysterious principle because it’s trendy and looks good on our marketing materials. So we’re “practically” green, if you will.

The first, and by far most important, component of green remodeling, we concluded, is education. It is incumbent upon us — both for our clients and the greater good — to be highly knowledgeable about and aware of as many green products, materials, and techniques as possible. We then must give clients the options and explain:

  • what a product’s green benefits are,
  • the upfront price difference and possible cost-savings,
  • the product’s components and durability,
  • how it returns to its natural state in the environment at the end of its life (check out the broad green remodeling cost-benefit analysis by our friends at GreenandSave.com, for example).

We should work closely with our clients to interpret the (often hazy and conflicting) product or material information and best apply it to their projects — if it makes sense.

As we pursue this ongoing education (watch for later posts), our responsibility at Cumming Construction is two-fold. First, construct smart, well-insulated and energy efficient homes. Not just on larger projects like complete renovations or additions, but also on a smaller (and more frequent) scale, like bathroom or kitchen remodels. Secondly, but just as importantly, we must have the knowledge and experience to propose and explore whatever sustainable and green elements might benefit our clients’ homes in the long run. We must educate our clients and then let THEM decide; we’re here to consult and guide the process, not to insist on a principle or tell the clients what they want. We want our client to champion the process and recognize the benefit of every decision made and each piece in the puzzle. In the end, it’s the client’s home, not our’s. Despite how nicely it may read on our web site.

Filed Under: Blog, Green Remodeling and Construction