Top Kitchen Trends of 2014

25 Apr 2014 Leave a comment

by John Amardeil in Trends

 

Arbors                                                                                                                                                                The Arbors in Aurora by Brookfield Residential

Whether you crave a sleek and modern kitchen or the cozy cottage feel, you’re sure to be inspired by the top kitchen trends for this year. They are refreshing, versatile and innovative. Here are some of my favourites for 2014.

Professional Grade Kitchens at Home

Bam_NUVO_Kitchen_Final                                                                                                                                                          NUVO’s Epicurean Kitchen by Highmark Homes

Home kitchens with a commercial feel is a trend that we’re starting to see more and more – and it looks like it’s here to stay. In terms of functionality, homeowners simply can’t resist falling in love with the extra prep space. Not to mention the open concept is visually appealing and perfect for hosting gatherings with friends and family. Commercial style appliances are also making a frequent appearance. Everything from ranges to apron sinks are trending all over the kitchen scene. The commercial style kitchen may not keep your chocolate soufflé from falling, but it sure will make you feel like a chef.

Decorative Backsplash 

Pace                                                                                                                                                                                    Pace Developments

Decorative tiles are really starting to pack a punch these days. A beautiful designer backsplash can be the most striking part of the kitchen. Styles to look out for are the sparkling mosaic, the floor to ceiling, the natural look and the shared colour scheme. The sparkling mosaic design can be done in so many shapes, sizes and colours – a great option if you’re looking to customize your style. The floor to ceiling design is a dramatic way to create a focal point. The natural look is fantastic for kitchens with a cottage feel or when you need to visually warm up the space. Finally, a shared colour scheme gives your home some decorative unity and an even flow and feel.

Colours That Pop

DP_Sherry-color-pops-in-kitchen_s3x4_lg                                                                                                                                                                                    Source: http://www.hgtv.com

Another kitchen trend we’re starting to see a lot of is small pops of colour. This look is making an appearance for cabinets as well as cabinet interiors and open shelving. We’re seeing a lot of bright paint or bold wallpaper to accomplish this look. Like cabinets, sinks are also moving away from the traditional black and white. A colourful sink is a great way to add some flare to a neutral kitchen. You can also accent with contrasting accessories to complete the look you’re striving for. Using bold colours in an area like the kitchen provides a high-impact for your overall style.  

Organization in Mind

Bam_Triumph_Kitchen_Final (1)                                                                                                                                                              The Triumph Kitchen by Highmark Homes

Instead of just organizing items around the kitchen, homeowners are opting for designs and accessories with functionality and organization in mind. Some of the popular accessories right now are deep drawers, full-extension drawers, divided storage, utensil racks, tray cabinet storage, knife blocks and bread drawers. Storage is always a request for homeowners, but it seems like 2014 is all about maximizing space to increase functionality. 

Team BAM loves getting involved in kitchen designs. Most recently, we have helped brand Lancaster Homes’ new In Style Kitchen, NUVO’s Epicurean Kitchen and Empire’s Live In Kitchen. What are some of your favourite kitchen trends? Tweet me.

 

 

 

 

BAM Goes to the NAHB International Builders’ Show

12 Feb 2014 Leave a comment

by John Amardeil in Thoughts, Trends Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Screen Shot 2014-02-11 at 9.55.45 AM
This past weekend, I embarked on a trip to Las Vegas for the NAHB International Builders’ Show in search of inspiration. What I found was a plethora of new and fresh ideas, and I could not be more ready to tackle the year ahead.

The first part of the event is taking in the new offerings from manufacturers. I got to browse all the latest trends in building and design, and this year there was a big emphasis on new luxuries for kitchens and bathrooms. It seems as though the market is catering to a more luxurious and almost escapist approach. Bathrooms are looking more like spas and kitchens are looking more like restaurants, and it’s creating better experiences for homeowners. We’re in the age of multiple showerheads and jets! One product that stood out for me was a showerhead from Kohler; it had a speaker built in so you can play audio from your handheld device via Bluetooth.

Another thing I noticed is that many Chinese companies are beginning to enter the market. What the Chinese bring are innovative designs at lower prices, ultimately lowering prices of products that are expensive in the current market. This will create more value and selection for homeowners.

Another great thing about the Builder Show is the chance to get a first hand look at the products and trends coming to the GTA. Understanding what is available for GTA homebuilders always helps with pitching projects and encouraging our clients to offer more to consumers.

And lastly, what would a building show be without the seminars. This year we made a special effort to attend as many digital marketing seminars as possible; staying ahead of the curve is very important in today’s always changing and expanding digital market.

As expected, my trip to the International Builders’ Show left me more passionate about this industry than ever, and revved up with new ideas for 2014.

Visit the BAM Facebook page to see a photo gallery from the event.

Google Ads are all make and no brake!

15 Nov 2013 Leave a comment

by John Amardeil in Strategies, Trends

Image

We at BAM have a reputation of being progressive and we’re willing to not only go that extra mile for our clients, but to use untraditional methods to do so.

While many companies see this as high-risk, we’re confident enough in our team to look at the ever-changing technological landscape and adjust accordingly. This is why we remain in the fast lane. This is why we continue to rock our clients’ socks off.

As Google Adwords matures, we’ve managed to pinpoint a potential audience once deemed unreachable. While much of our clients’ traffic comes from signage, plenty of traffic comes from Google Ads. If you’re not striving to utilize the Internet to its full potential, you’re not only missing out on a vast market share, you might not be around in the next few years.

Google Ads is a major source of web traffic for many of our clients. The benefit is targeting highly specific homebuyer demographics – based on geography, and what they’re searching for – and tailor alternatives. Social media is a great new tool likely to stick around, but new campaigns take painstaking attention and investment to grow. Google Ads gives that much needed boost of popularity, instantly.

For example, if you’re looking for a townhome in Brampton, we’ll target you with an ad for a detached home with a garage for the same price or less, but 30 minutes away. It’s bait not every fish will bite, but it’s a whole new set of eyes, a whole new audience to entertain. It is aggressive and targeted and it gets results. People see us online when they wouldn’t have otherwise.

BAM understands this resource – it’s the biggest change in our industry to emerge in the past few years. We’re about embracing change and using the tools available to bridge the gap between client and consumer.

Two Lives, One Platform

26 Jul 2013 Leave a comment

by John Amardeil in Thoughts, Trends

iPhone as WiFi-Hotspot

When I wrote about switching BAM to a Mac and iOS environment last year, I didn’t expect the post to be as popular as it was. But it clearly struck a chord with a lot of people who are looking for a practical solution to their organizational and communication needs, whether personal or corporate.

Having recently come across a Fast.co article in which well-known entrepreneurs talk about their favourite tools, I was reminded yet again of the degree to which many of us rely on technology as we go about our everyday lives.

I for one have come to rely on my iPad and iPhone so much that I carry them both around, sometimes using them almost simultaneously.

What’s more, I use my iPhone for my personal needs as much as I do for work. (I don’t know about current BlackBerry users, but that never was the case for me back when I had my own BlackBerry.)

My favourite iOS apps include:

Which tools do you use on an everyday basis, whether for work or for your personal life? Which platform are you and your company using?

Embracing the Dark Side

14 Sep 2012 1 Comment

by John Amardeil in Thoughts, Trends

I’ve preordered the iPhone 5. Are you getting it?

We’ve done it. We’ve done the unthinkable, or at least what used to be unthinkable — we’ve ditched BlackBerry and we’ve ditched Outlook and Entourage and Microsoft servers. We have, in fact, gone Mac. And we love it.

It’s not really surprising. I’ve used an iPod for the last ten years. Recently, I got an iPad, and I love the damn thing. Sure, it’s far from perfect. I even hate a couple of things about it (for example, couldn’t the battery life be better?). But it has sure come in handy in many a client meeting. I’m also using it heavily at home — I just borrowed an ebook from the Toronto Public Library, which I’ll hopefully read over the next two weeks.

Of course, I didn’t make this decision based just on my iPod and iPad experiences. For one thing, I’m concerned about BlackBerry’s future. I also like having a solution that integrates so seamlessly across different devices, from calendars to photos to bookmarks. What’s more, most of my staff use and prefer Macs anyway. Many have iPhones.

Last but not least, the older I get, the more I enjoy trying new things. That’s why I’ve taken up waterboarding and snowboarding. Switching to Mac is a lot less risky and a lot more reasonable.

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