After a year of quarantine, it is understandable that many people would come out on the other side with somewhat of an attitude of exhaustion directed at their home or apartment. After all, having been confined to the home, everyone has had ample time to look at the structure and amenities of their living space and dream up the changes and updates that they could do once the virus was abated.
Now in 2021, as stores return to full operation and crowds are beginning to form again, some of these home renovations are starting to happen, and the most popular of the changes are beginning to rise to the top. Below is a list of some of the biggest renovation trends that have appeared this year, as well as a few of the old standards such as a Utah favorite: glass shower enclosures.
Utah’s Bathroom Remodel Scene
There is perhaps no better place in one’s house to find solitude and to destress than the bathroom. As the central fixture, the shower is not only where one can get clean from one’s dirty chores, but it is a natural place to contemplate the goings-on of the day and to make decisions. As a place of relaxation and introspection — a place of zen as much as of cleanliness — the bathroom should evoke happiness, liberation, and light. This is accomplished in a number of ways.
The Shower Enclosure
Of all the services that we at Smitty’s Quality Glass provides, installing framed and frameless showers represents our most requested, as well as why we got into this business in the first place. Since all of our installations are custom made, we can install glass of any type to the satisfaction of our customers to give their shower a sense of beauty that transcends the typical linoleum design that has ruled for decades. A glass enclosure remains a remodeling trend in increasingly high demand year after year.
Window Installation
The biggest trend in 2021, regardless of the space in the house, is trying to increase the amount of natural light that can enter each room. This includes the bathroom, which has historically remained shielded from outside light save for a small transom window above the shower. Our glass experts work with the homeowners to install beautiful windows that can make the bathroom feel less isolated without sacrificing any of the privacy.
Pocket Doors
In addition to increasing the amount of light in a room, 2021 is the year that we have all determined that we need to increase the amount of space in our homes. Pocket doors are one of the best ways to do this. Not only will you no longer need to worry about swinging doors, but each door can have glass installed in it to fit any type of design imaginable.
Utah’s Kitchen Remodel Scene
The kitchen is often referred to as the most important room in the home, and for good reason. It is where the entire family congregates to converse, eat, pass on traditions, and make happy memories. In addition to the myriad technological renovations that are trending this year, like touchless faucets and fully-wired Bluetooth control over the lights and music, specific design choices are being made that necessitate a beautiful new window installation or glass panel.
Hutch Storage
While cabinets will forever remain the standard in terms of storage, there is an idea taking hold among home renovators in 2021 of turning one’s kitchen into a type of museum with the inclusion of hutch-style, glass cabinetry. The reasons for this are two-fold; not only does a well-organized space, where everything clearly has a home, creates joy and reduces stress, but modern kitchen appliances and dinette sets are as much showpieces as they are tools to be used.
Windows and More Windows
Perhaps the biggest trend in kitchen renovation over the past few years is the open kitchen plan, where this important space feels organically linked to not just the dining room but the family room and the outside porch. The best way to accomplish this, apart from knocking down walls, is to ensure that there are a lot of windows all around, such as above the sink, adjacent to the dining table, and in the French doors that lead outside.
Getting Started
Putting in new glass can feel daunting, especially as the latest renovations typically call for more windows, glass-paneled doors, and transoms than were there to begin with. The professionals at Smitty’s Quality Glass will make sure that every piece of glass is of the highest quality and installed with expertise and care. Contact us today for a free quote.