Out of the shower & into a warm towel on a winter day

Jumping out of the bath or shower knowing that a warm towel is waiting for you may seem like a touch of luxury, but it also has other, more practical, advantages.

As a Bathroom Heater: Just as the sun provides for optimum radiant comfort, Runtal towel radiators radiate heat evenly, gently and quietly. Runtal European-style towel radiators are available in either self-contained electric models or hydronic models which integrate into a closed-loop forced hot water heating system. Model types and sizes allow for variations in heat outputs that enable a towel radiator to be used as a supplemental heater or as the sole source of heat for the entire room.

As a Towel Warmer: As a towel warmer each Runtal product is designed to maximize towel warming capacity. There are few sensations in the world which match the feel of a toasty towel or bathrobe after bathing. From a practical perspective, Runtal towel radiators help reduce mold and mildew and keep towels fresh between laundering.

Versatility: Not only for the bathroom, Runtal towel radiators provide an attractive and versatile means to warm other difficult to heat rooms such as kitchens, entryways, laundry rooms and any room where comfort is paramount and space is limited.

See a Runtal Radiator at our showroom.

Fresh Idea

Want to store your produce near the sink, but your beverages near the dining table? Consider adding refrigerator or combination refrigerator/freezer drawers into the mix. Built-in drawer units operate the same as stand-up refrigerators, but fit into a compact space underneath the counter. Drawer refrigerators are ideal for bars or rec rooms, outdoor kitchens (if rated for outdoor use), and kitchens designed with separate zones for clean up, cooking, prep work and baking. You can also purchase separate freezer drawers.


Typical features on refrigerated drawers include digital touchpad controls, removable to adjustable divders, stainless steel interiors and LED illumination. In addition to coming in black, white or stainless steel finishes, most drawer refrigerators accept panels that match your cabinetry. A handful of refrigeration specialty manufacturers offer more vibrant color options.


Size: Installed in a standard 15-, 24-, 27-, 30- or 36-inch cabinet opening, refrigerator drawers and combination refrigerator/freezer drawers have two or three drawers and a capacity of 5 to 6 cubic feet.

Pros: Convenience and ability to increase your kitchen’s functionality

Cons: Pricey relative to their small size.

Price: $1,500 to $3,500

Return on Investment

With the United States in an economic recession and the housing market in turmoil, spending money on a kitchen remodel might seem scary. Yet while home prices have declined, a kitchen remodel continues to add value to your home. How much depends on where you live and how you spend your dollars. According to the 2009-010 Cost vs. Value Report*, a minor kitchen remodel still ranks in the top 10 home improvment projects in terms of return on investment. Seven of the remaining nine in the list are exterior replacements like siding and windows, which tend to be less expensive projects than kitchens and also fall into the "must-do" rather than "nice-to-do" category.



The numbers reported below are national averages; in general, the Pacific states region outperformed the rest of the nation despite higher costs. For example, on the West Coast, a minor kitchen remodel averages a cost of $23,210, with a return of 94.8 percent. In the Great Lakes region, however, the same project costs $21,899, with a return of just 69.4 perecent.



Minor Kitchen Remodel, Mid-Range
The 2009-10 report puts the national average price of a mid-range minor kitchen remodel at $21,411, averaging a return of 78.3 percent (down just a tad from last year’s 79.5 percent) a year later. What is a minor kitchen remodel? According to Remodeling, it’s a 200-square-foot kitchen with 30 linear feet of cabinetry and countertops. The cabinets get refaced with new raised-panel wood doors, drawers and hardware, but the boxes stay. Laminate countertops and vinyl flooring are removed and replaced with the same material, but in updated colors and patterns. You also get a new, energy-efficient wall oven and cooktop, a new mid-priced sink and faucet, wall covering, and a new paint job on your trim.



Major Kitchen Remodel, Mid-Range
A major kitchen remodel at a mid-range price will run an average of $57,215, according to the report. A year later, you can expect to recoup 72.1 percent (down from 76 percent) of that. This 200-square-foot kitchen features a 3-by-5-foot island, 30 linear feet of semi-custom wood cabinets, laminate countertops, and a double-bowl stainless-steel sink with single-lever faucet. Add new energy-efficient appliances: wall oven, cooktop, ventilation system, built-in microwave, dishwasher, garbage disposal, and custom lighting. Finish up with new vinyl flooring and paint for the walls, trim and ceiling.



Major Kitchen Remodel, Upscale
Price tag: $111,794, according to the report, with an ROI of 63.2 percent (down from 70.7 percent). It's an easy bill to run up in a 200-square-foot kitchen with 30 linear feet of custom cherry cabinets with interior accessories, natural stone countertops, and an imported ceramic or glass tile backsplash. Appliances include a built-in refrigerator, cooktop, 36-inch commercial-grade range and vent hood, built-in warming drawer, trash compactor and built-in microwave/convection oven. Then add a high-end undermount sink; designer faucets; built-in water filtration system; general, task and under-cabinet lighting; cork flooring; and cherry trim.



*The 2009-10 Cost vs. Value Report—a joint study done by the National Association of Realtors and Remodeling magazine—provides national and regional averages. The report estimates the cost of an average home improvement project and compares it to the value it would recoup if the home sold a year later. In 2009, more than 4,000 real-estate agents, brokers and appraisers in 80 cities provided ROI estimates.

Keeping the Peace with Neighbors and Contractors

A kitchen remodel is complicated enough without adding additional drama. Cranky neighbors and spiteful construction workers can make your project go from disruptive to torturous in a hurry. You may want to brush up on your remodeling etiquette before passive-aggressive (or just aggressive) overtures from neighbors and workers consume your life.

When dealing with neighbors, the National Association of Home Builders' website suggests taking the following measures:

“Let neighbors know well in advance about your home remodeling plans and keep them apprised of progress, detail by detail. Tell them when work will begin, the approximate completion date, what work will be done and whether workers might have to come onto their property. If delays arise, promptly contact your neighbors to inform them of the revised schedule.”


“Make sure noisy power tools are only used during standard business hours. Reasonable hours are 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.”


“Inform your neighbors of any large trucks entering the neighborhood and ask subcontractors to park on one side of the street only.”


Since you are paying the construction crew that is working on your home, you might not feel like they are entitled to anything extra. How you treat them is clearly your prerogative, but small gestures can help keep morale from dropping.

Candice Gilhooly, who remodeled her kitchen in 2006, offers this helpful suggestion. “One of the things I have learned is giving the contractors free access to a refrigerator in the garage stocked with bottled water and pop is just a little inexpensive perk that has helped to keep the peace around here. Remember, they're using a portable toilet that's been sitting on our driveway for the last two months.”

Planning - Surviving a Remodel; Staying Safe

To truly stay safe during a kitchen remodel, you should probably move into a different home. Unfortunately, most of us don’t have that luxury. Safety issues during a remodel are plentiful and it’s hard to recognize all the potential dangers. As hard as it might be, you will have to trust that the construction crew in your home is taking the necessary precautions to keep the work area and surrounding areas safe.

While you may trust yourself to stay out of harm's way, if you have young children or pets, you'll need to be vigilant about their safety. When Candice Gilhooly remodeled her kitchen in 2006, she frequently discussed the issue of child safety in a her blog. “One of the hardest things is that our house is no longer childproofed (i.e., the refrigerator sits next to the furnace, and there are construction materials in the garage), which means I'm all eyes when it comes to my little ones,” she wrote.

Making sure your children feel safe and comfortable with the various workers coming in your house, and the various work zones is also important. Therapist and mediation specialist Erin Johnston says that children should be introduced to everyone working on the project, and have a good sense of work area boundaries. “It is a good idea to introduce the kids to workers who will be in the house on an ongoing basis, both for safety and comfort factors," she says. "Kids should know the rules about who is allowed in the house, where they are allowed to go, and what they are allowed to do.”

If you have pets you’ll need to restrict their access to the construction area, especially during work hours. If it is difficult to keep work zones sealed off, or if your pets are easily frightened or upset by loud construction noises, consider finding a sitter or care-taking facility for them, at least during work hours.

Whether you have a family the size of the Duggars or you’re living on your own, it’s a wise idea to inspect and clean the work zone and surrounding areas at the end of each day. Yes, the remodeling crew should pick up after themselves everyday, but small things like shards of glass, nails and loose wires could get overlooked during the initial cleanup process. See our keeping clean article for more advice on staying tidy and safe.

Planning - Surviving a Remodel; Keeping Clean

The amount of dust and dirt that accumulates during a remodel can be alarming. You cannot stop it completely, but you can prepare. Here are a few tips:

Protect what you can’t remove; floors should be covered, dust curtains hung and a pathway defined for workmen to enter and exit the workspace. Use plastic sheeting and tape to seal off doorways into other rooms and cover bookshelves, furniture, and electronic equipment. Some contractors will do this for you.


Turn off the central air or heat when the workers are sanding floors. Keep extra air filters on hand.


Ask that the construction area be "broom cleaned" (swept) at the end of every day to minimize the mess.


If necessary, prepare a storage area in the garage or in another room near the kitchen for holding appliances, cabinets, and other items until it’s time to install them. Or rent a storage space for a month or two during the construction phase.


Sometimes it will be necessary to rent a large Dumpster (like the one in the above photo) so the construction crew can get rid of large amounts of debris. Whether you use a large dumpster or not, if the construction crew is going to take debris to the outside of your home, you should set up some ground rules for where trash is put, as well as some rules about how construction workers should exit your home.

The inside of your home will be in disarray during a remodel, but the outside of your home doesn’t have to have a trampled lawn and random piles of garbage. The National Association of the Remodeling Industry recommends the following rules to preserve landscaping and curb appeal:

“Ask that all lumber and materials be stored on paved surfaces, not your lawn.”


“If that is not possible, designate a path across your lawn with stakes and string - allow several access points and try to keep the path as direct as possible.”


“You may want to lay down temporary plywood sidewalks - they distribute weight and will prevent ruts in your lawn. Standing the plywood up at the end of each work day will help preserve the grass. Be sure to remove the plywood as soon as the work is done.”

Planning - Surviving a Remodel; Managing Stress

A kitchen remodel can cause tempers to flare and create overwhelming stress. Remodeling setbacks can manifest in ugly and unfortunate arguments with significant others, family members, and even your pets (who are surely not to blame and can't even talk back). Remember, a behind-schedule remodeling project is not a metaphor for the lack of control you have over your life; it’s just a remodeling reality.

Still, even the most rational people can lose it. Jack Gilhooly remained calm throughout most of his 2006 kitchen remodel, but displayed an uncharacteristically testy attitude by day 72: “...we have hit the wall! Patience is running thin. We are ready to have the project over with and get on with our lives.”

Therapist, licensed clinical social worker and mediation specialist Erin Johnston—who, along with her husband, recently endured a kitchen remodel—offers some sound, sane advice for dealing with the stress a remodel is sure to bring along:

“I would recommend that the owner ask as many questions and clarify issues as much as possible as things occur, even if the contractor appears dismissive and annoyed with the questions. Addressing your concerns and assessing your options along the way is going to reduce the stress and frustration you experience during the remodel. Issues not addressed, but noticed by the owner during the process, are likely going to become the focal points in living with the space, resulting in a feeling that things are not complete or done poorly.”


“Arguments with significant others should be expected. The best thing to do is to remind one another that the arguments are most likely stress related and not personal. Waiting to address the issue until tempers have cooled and each person has had a chance to understand the issue will help prevent escalation in the argument. Sometimes there is no issue to be discussed; it is simply an occasion when everyone is testy and the circumstances cannot really be changed.”


“Try and steer away from an emotional decision or argument. Focusing on the use of space, reasons for the design preference, personal priorities, project timeline, etc. will assist couples in keeping away from the emotional arguments and indecision.”


“Parents should consider and engage children in the planning process. Giving kids a chance to express their opinion and take ownership of the process helps them deal with the disruption. Having kids look at the remodel as an adventure and posting a kid-friendly timeline can be helpful. Giving kids age-appropriate remodel responsibilities is also a good idea.”


Kitchens.com - Planning - Surviving a Remodel; Managing Stress