Cool Cabinet Tricks for Your Kitchen Remodel – Video
July 24, 2010 by Neil
Filed under Design & Planning
Somebody turned Neil loose with a video camera! Here is a short video showing off some cabinet ideas you can incorporate into your kitchen renovation. From spice racks and roll-out shelves to garbage bins and cutting boards. Neil takes you on a short tour of the Crimson showroom at 5th Avenue Station in Naperville.
You will see:
- Apron-front sink
- Garbage and recycling bins
- Apothecary drawers
- Roll-out shelves
- Pantry cabinet
- Spice rack
- Cutting board
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Seven Reasons To Update Your Kitchen
June 27, 2010 by Neil
Filed under Design & Planning
There are many reasons to update your kitchen. These are the top seven reasons we hear from homeowners we work with.
- My kitchen is isolated from the rest of the house – when I cook I’m not part of the family conversation
- My kitchen hasn’t been updated since the house was built – I’m embarrassed to entertain in our home
- My kitchen is not efficient – it takes too long to make a meal
- My kitchen doesn’t have enough storage space – I have small appliance and cookware stored in other parts of the house
- My kitchen only has one work area – I want my kids/spouse to have room to help with the cooking
- My kitchen is dark – it’s hard to see what I’m doing and it’s depressing
- I don’t have the space and/or appliances necessary to bake – I’d love to be able to make more cookies/cakes
Do any of these sound familiar? Have you said any of these things or have you heard a friend share one of these comments? Please share your thoughts.
Is Commoditized A Word? (I Used It In A Sentence)
April 27, 2010 by Neil
Filed under Design & Planning
Our society has a commodity mindset. We have for years attempted to take every product and/or service to its lowest common denominator – price. Just think, at one time there were different brands of 2×4 lumber, different brands of electricity, different brands of silicone computer chips. At some time each of those brands meant something. They all offered something unique and different to their customers. But over time something happened. Each industry developed a standard to define each product in order to be more efficient. These standards meant that each company began to produce to that lowest level of quality, thereby stripping the innovation and service from the industry. Everything became equal.
When you go shopping and you are looking for the lowest price you are effectively saying that the item is a commodity. In other words you place no value on the company or the service behind the product. Can a service be defined as a commodity? I guess it could be. If a minimum level could be defined, then sure. But as human beings we all have a different way of interacting. We all have different values, ethics, experiences that make us unique. So with that in mind, can your service experience every really be commoditized (there it is)?
Who do you want to have coffee with in the morning?
Where am I going with all this? It is a general assumption to many people that remodeling is a product – not a service. Therefore, it is often viewed as a commodity in many minds. But I must disagree. Remodeling is a service that just happens to create a product. Our first and foremost job is to service our clients. Yes, our end goal is to build a beautiful product but we must bring service to the client each day along the way.
During a remodeling project, you must interact with someone on a very daily and intimate level. They will be in your home for weeks. They will be responsible for the health and safety of your family, your pets. They will be responsible for the security of your belongings. They will have control over your home and its completion. They will have control over the financial outcome of the project. Suddenly remodeling is looking less and less like a commodity.
What’s So Hard About Picking A Brick?
March 21, 2010 by Neil
Filed under Design & Planning
I recently had a conversation with someone that was getting ready to remodel their home. They knew exactly what they wanted to do but at the same time, they didn’t. They knew the general concept of what they wanted to accomplish – remove the Dryvit stucco from the exterior of their house and replace it with brick. What they lacked were specific details of what that would look like. That’s why they called on us.
There is an almost infinite supply of exterior stone and brick to use on a house. There are also a multitude of siding materials to choose from. Now put all those combinations together and you have some serious information overload!
You can see how a project as simple as replacing your stucco with stone can quickly become complicated. That’s when the services of an architect/designer are valuable. We have been busy gathering feedback and information from the client to help select materials that fit their needs/lifestyle. We are considering colors, value, sustainability, maintenance, style of the home, neighborhood style, size, and pattern. All of these decisions will affect the finished look and life of the home. I am amazed that often times these decisions are made with the brick mason or salesman. So many pieces of the puzzle are never even considered!
But even more important, might be the need to visualize these changes. Seeing the samples is one thing, but seeing it on your house is something different. Using software that will allow you to see your house in three dimensions with different materials and colors is a great way to see your completed project before you commit to any particular selection. Below are some photos of an existing house and a computer-generated design that will allow the client to envision the finished product in the early stages.
Exterior Front Elevation Before
Front Elevation 3D Design
What a great way to make decisions for your project! Don’t make a purchase this large without seeing what you are buying. If you want to ’see’ your project before you start – please give us a call.
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Would You Remodel If It Was Free?
March 1, 2010 by Neil
Filed under Design & Planning
We all know remodeling is expensive, right? It represents a large financial investment in your home and your future. But most people accept this because they see the value of the enhancement in their day-to-day lives and the increased value of their homes. But what if your remodeling project didn’t cost you a single dollar? Would you still do it?
We’ve all heard that there’s no such thing as a free lunch, or a free remodel for that matter. What many people don’t take the time to consider are the other ‘costs’ associated with remodeling. I call these the emotional costs of remodeling.
Emotional costs cover all the things you must endure to reach a remodeled state. These range from the inconvenient to the downright stressful depending on your personality and more importantly the company you hire to complete your project. Obviously these are dependent on the size and scope of your project, but here are a few things that might be included in emotional costs:
- Losing your kitchen for weeks (yes you will eventually HATE eating out)
- Losing your washer/dryer for a time
- Having your water/power shut off for a day
- Not being able to park in your garage/driveway/street
- Having strangers at your house everyday (they might eventually become friends)
- Dealing with anxious pets who don’t like the noise
- Dealing with inevitable bumps along the way
- Your neighbor’s curiosity
- Cleaning out twenty years of stuff before the project can begin
- Having the city/village dictate aspects of your design
- Keeping your kids out of the construction area
- Just seeing your house torn up and not livable can be very stressful
As a remodeler, I will be the last person to tell you not to remodel. However, I will tell you to go into any project with eyes wide open. Understand that you can never eliminate the emotional aspect of a remodeling project — but you can minimize it.
The most important thing you can do to minimize the emotional costs of remodeling is to hire a remodeling company that understands that you are paying more than just money and can help to shield you from the stresses. One of your remodeler’s primary goals should be to communicate with you on a regular basis. Nothing adds to stress like the unknown. A schedule outlining key steps in your project and weekly meetings (whether formal or informal) are a must.
Make sure that you have 100% accounted for all money you will need for the project. This is not just the cost of the construction itself, but all the other expenses you will incur along the way; eating out, new furniture, new window treatments. Also plan a contingency above and beyond the quoted price of your project for unforeseen extras and the inevitable extras you will want to add along the way. Your remodeler should be able to tell you what their historical average is for changes (both unforeseen and client driven).
Have a plan for alternate living conditions for the duration of your project. Where will the kids do their homework? Where will you cook meals? How will four people get ready in the morning with one bathroom? Some remodeling companies (us included) will help you set up a temporary kitchen in another location in your house. Try to segregate the construction area from your living area with temporary walls to contain kids, pets, noise and dust.
Plan a vacation during the loudest, dirtiest part of your project. Many times I have scheduled a project around a client’s vacation. Demolition, drywalling or hardwood floor refinishing are all great things to miss out on firsthand. If you want to be a part of it, have your remodeler email you photos or video of your project in progress while you are on the beach!
Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a free remodel. But with these tips, maybe you can enjoy an emotional cost free project!
Give us some feedback. What emotional costs do you want to avoid in your remodeling project?
Yahoo Weighs In On The Value Of Your Project Investment
November 11, 2009 by Stephanie
Filed under Design & Planning
Most of us love our homes, but I think everyone dreams about making at least one or two changes if not more. And as it gets colder and darker earlier we think about spending more cozy time indoors with family and friends, and those changes become more important in our thoughts. The kitchen is the heart of the home where everyone tends to congregate and by making that the most functional and beautiful place you not only increase your own family’s contentment, but you make a smart financial decision for the future if you move on some day. Yahoo has published as one of it’s top news stories today, November 11, 2009, a concise article on increasing the value of your home through remodeling, but I would like to add that the value is not only monetary, but should also be measured by your quality of life and enjoyment in your home.
National Child Safety Month and Your Home
September 29, 2009 by Stephanie
Filed under Design & Planning
In recognition of National Child Safety Month we would like to share some safety tips as well as some free offers to take advantage of in October to make your home a safer place for your children and pets.
According to the US Comsumer Product Safety Commission, since 1990, more than 200 infants and young children have died from accidental strangulation by window cords.
FREE OFFERS
1. If you plan on keeping your older window treatments, a FREE retrofit kit can be obtained to bring these blinds or shades up to today’s safety standards. Contact the Window Covering Safety Council (WCSC) toll-free at 1-800-506-4636 or visit the website at www.windowcoverings.org.
2. Several window covering companies are offering FREE CORDLESS on selected blinds and shades. Contact Stephanie at Crimson to find out if one may work for you.
SAFETY TIPS
1. Replace window treatments manufactured before 2001 with todays safer products.
2. Move all cribs, beds, furniture and toys away from windows and window cords, preferably to another wall.
3. Keep all window pull cords and inner lift cords out of the reach of children and pets.
4. Make sure tasseled pull cords are short and continous-loop cords are permanently anchored to the floor or wall.
5. Make sure cord stops are properly installed and adjusted to limit the movement of innner lift cords.
6. Lock cords into position whenever blinds or shades are lowered, including when they come to rest on a window sill.
7. Install cordless window treatments wherever young children play or sleep to eliminate the hazards of dangling cords and maximize safety.
You can also visit www.graberblinds.com to see what they are doing to promote safety.
Crimson offers window treatments as a finishing touch on all of our projects.
Landscaping Increases Curb Appeal and Value
April 2, 2009 by Neil
Filed under Design & Planning
Is your home’s curb-appeal starting to look a bit drab or dated? The first impression of your home is a critical component to its appeal and value. When considering a landscape project, improving the front yard has the biggest impact in the perception of a home.
In any economy, but especially in the current economy, landscape improvements have a big impact on a home’s value. A study done by theUniversity of Clemson and theUniversity of Michigan found that consumers value a nicely landscaped home up to 11.3 percent higher than a home with basic landscaping.
When creating a new look for a home it is important to consider removing overgrown plantings, adding new plantings, reworking walkways, and adding lighting. All elements have a great impact individually. Together they completely transform the look and character of a home.
Plantings provide scale to the front of a home. Plantings also are important for vertical elements to frame views to a home or providing screening. Front plantings used in larger masses create more impact from a distance. Usually people view a front landscape from the street, or along the public walkway, so having fewer varieties and larger groupings looks much nicer. Seasonal interest is another important element in the front yard. A balance of plantings with interest in all seasons will make the front of the home much more appealing.
It is also important to think about what the front landscape will look like from inside the home.
Often the landscape is pressed up against the foundation of the home and doesn’t take advantage of views from front rooms looking out into the front landscape. Capitalizing on such opportunities can make the front yard equally enjoyable from inside the home.
A new walkway can dramatically improve the appearance of any home.Extending the walkway out into the yard away from the home can make for a nice design element and create a more interesting entry.New paver and stone materials used in walkways or even driveways add a lot of interest to a home and can compliment the architecture.
Along with new plantings and stone work, landscape lighting is another element to consider adding to your landscape. The finishing touch of lighting makes a dramatic difference in the curb appeal of a home and extends the interest of the landscape into the evening.
According to The Wall Street Journal’s Smart Money Magazine a well designed, installed, and maintained landscape can add up to 15% to your home’s value. Feel free to contact Western DuPage Landscaping, Inc at 630-416-0072 for a free consultation to see how they can increase the value of your home by improving your landscape. In the meanwhile you can view photos of their projects at www.westerndupagelandscaping.com. Crimson and WDL can also work together on any remodeling/landscape project to make your life easier.
Enjoy,
Matt Haber, Western DuPage Landscaping
Don’t Forget Window Treatments When Planning Your Project
February 28, 2009 by Stephanie
Filed under Design & Planning
Often times window treatments are overlooked, yet updating your window treatments will protect your remodeling investment. They will both complete and enhance your room by adding the perfect finishing touch. You can add softness to a room with fabric window treatments or add a warm ambiance with wood blinds or shutters.
Window treatments add beauty, decoration and mood to a room, but they are also practical and eco-friendly as well. Window treatments provide privacy and protect your interior finishes by blocking damaging UV rays that will cause fading and deterioration. Conserving energy is another great benefit to window treatments. For instance, you might want to block the sun out of the bedroom, while taking advantage of the sunlight in the family room. Also, there are thermal insulating treatments available that allow your home to increase energy efficiency according to the outside temperature.
One of today’s hottest trends in window fashions is vertical panels (pictured). The vertical panels offer clean lines and a sleek contemporary look. This new product offers the perfect solution to dress your floor-to-ceiling windows, and can also be used as a stylish room divider system. There are also several cordless options that are stylish and safe for a child-friendly home.
Crimson Design & Construction is happy to announce that we now offer window treatments as part of our service. In keeping with Crimson’s business model, our window treatments are 100% custom made to suit your needs, style and personality. Our in-house designers will work with you to select the perfect style and colors to fit your new space. We stand behind our products and offer a complete warranty.
Naperville Basement Finish With A New Twist
February 24, 2009 by Neil
Filed under Design & Planning, Lower Level Finishing
We just finished a basement in Naperville where we did something new for us. We left the ceiling alone and painted it flat black. All the joists, ductwork, and pipes are still visible but the flat black paint makes it all disappear. It really is quite amazing!
By leaving the ceiling exposed the client gained valuable ceiling height in a house built before a 9′ basement was more common. Not only did they get an extra 4″ of ceiling height but it feels like even more because you can see up into the spaces between the joists.
The painted ceiling costs less than a traditional drop ceiling and quite a bit less than a drywall ceiling. On the other side, you have to be comfortable with the urban/industrial look of the black. No other color would work as well. The flat black hides all the pipework exceptionally well.
