Traditional with a Twist

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dark mocha cherry cabinets (by Fieldstone Cabinetry) were a bold choice for this traditional Naperville couple, but they couldn’t be happier with the results! The cabinets offer perfect contrast with the light travertine backsplash. And the slate accents in the backsplash compliment the Tunas Green granite counters while drawing attention to the beautiful wood hood.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A lovely wine storage center with decorative glass upper cabinets sits where an old and rarely used built-in desk was. A closet pantry is replaced by a much more efficient pantry cabinet with plenty of roll trays for easily accessible storage. Added task and decorative lighting serve as a final touch to this beautifully renovated Naperville kitchen.

 

 

 

 

Crimson’s Design Team Tours Kohler Facilities

For the majority of our projects, Crimson specifies Kohler plumbing products. They are a company known for their high quality plumbing fixtures, and they stand by their products with a lifetime warranty. We’ve had a great history using Kohler’s fixtures and never hesitate to recommend them for all of our projects where Kohler’s products are applicable. For this reason, we jumped at the opportunity to tour Kohler’s factory when we were invited by Ferguson Enterprises, our plumbing and lighting dealer.

Joel and Carolyn joined Ferguson with a group of about 20 other design professionals recently on a day trip to Kohler, WI where their factory has resided since its conception in the late 1800s. While there, they were able to tour all of their factories, view their extensive showroom, and hear about Kohler’s newest products and offerings for 2013.

 While walking through the facilities, they were able to witness first-hand the craftsmanship put into each and every tub, sink, toilet, and faucet. They saw the molten cast iron being poured into the molds and the enamel being sprayed on each piece. They witnessed artisans carefully smoothing out the edges of a vanity sink and the large ovens where each porcelain piece is fired. They marveled at the machinery lifting cast iron bathtubs as if they were paper weights.

 Finally, Joel and Carolyn were able to tour the Kohler Design Center with 3 floors of Kohler’s latest and greatest products for your kitchen and bath. Along with the countless fixtures in every color and finish imaginable, one of the most impressive features of the design center showroom was the designer galleries. The designer galleries were an entire floor devoted to displaying vignettes designed by famous designers from all over the world using, of course, Kohler products.

What a valuable day of education and inspiration for Crimson’s design team!

8 Questions To Ask Yourself Before You Commit To Remodeling Your Home

There is one question that comes up with almost every homeowner we work with – “Does it make sense to remodel, or should we move?”

It’s one of the first things you need to decide before going too far with your renovation design. There are many points to factor and there is no step-by-step guide to reach a decision. But to help you organize your thoughts on the subject here are 8 questions you can ask yourself:

What will the renovation of your current home cost?
You may not know what a renovation will cost, but most remodeling specialists can help you assemble a ball-park estimate for little or no cost to you. By having a number you can compare it to other options you might have for housing.

How long do you plan to live in your home?
If you plan to move in two years or even five years, remodeling might not be the best choice. The best loved remodeling projects happen when you remodel for you and not an unknown future owner.

Do you like your home’s location, neighbors or schools?
If you’re in love with your older neighborhood, local school or general location, remodeling could be your best option. It’s difficult to find newer amenities in an older neighborhood. And moving to a newer neighborhood with the amenities means losing your community.

What will a new home cost that has all of the things you are looking for?
Have you ever been shocked by the price of a new home? Yes, many new homes are advertised at very affordable prices. But by the time you add in all the extras and options that you want/need the price can be far higher than you thought.

Can you find your dream home in your current neighborhood?
Again, it’s hard to find a ‘newer’ home in an existing neighborhood. If you’re patient and do a lot of searching you may be able to find what you want just down the street. If you’re lucky you could skip the time required to renovate and move right in.

What other costs would be involved in a new home?
Remember to factor in all the expenses involved with moving to a new home. Realtor fees, closing costs, moving expenses, furniture and window treatments are all costs that need to be on your radar.

What are the taxes of a new home versus where you live now?
If you are looking for a new home in the same community then taxes shouldn’t be too big a factor. But if you are looking outside your existing neighborhood then be sure to budget in a possible tax increase.

Do you have a sentimental attachment to your current home?
This is a tough question to answer because a home is a funny thing. On the one hand it’s just a building made of 2x4s and drywall. On the other it’s a collection of memories. Will you regret moving away and starting fresh?

Doing some research and soul-searching up front will reduce the chances of you suffering from buyer’s remorse later. If you need any help answering these questions Crimson Design & Construction is glad to help in any way we can. Contact us today for more assistance.

Pictures from South Naperville Kitchen

Last fall, Crimson worked hard to get a Naperville family into their brand new kitchen/addition just in time for the holidays. As you may recall from the past post “South Naperville Home Seeing The Light”, this family started out with a small, dark kitchen that blocked their view to the outdoors and wasn’t very conducive to entertaining.

With the addition of 300 square feet, plenty of windows, and a little creativity from Crimson’s design team, their kitchen is now bright, welcoming, and takes full advantage of their beautiful back yard. The ivory painted inset cabinetry brightens up the space and gives the kitchen a warm, elegant, and timeless look. The large island offers an excellent gathering spot for kids or guests without intruding on the kitchen’s work station. It’s perfect for holiday parties!

Now, almost a year later, the family has come back for more. For phase 2, Crimson is updating the entire 2^nd floor as well as redesigning the staircase for a more polished entrance into their beautiful home. The upstairs work will include new carpeting in all of the bedrooms, an updated and redesigned hall bath, built-in custom bookshelves in the master bedroom, and a modernized master bath with a spa-like feel. Stay tuned to see the finished product of phase 2.

User-Friendly Kitchen

A couple in Lisle is thrilled after Crimson did a complete redesign of their cramped 1970s kitchen. These clients like to do a good deal of baking and practically all of their meals are home-cooked, but their small and poorly designed u-shaped kitchen made this a daily struggle.

By simply changing the peninsula into an island, the kitchen opened up immensely. Now the couple can cook together and move around the kitchen with ease. Crimson also redesigned the cabinet layout and added plenty of in-cabinet organization like roll-out trays, deep drawers, and vertical storage for cookie sheets. A double-oven unit was installed so that they can do double duty when cooking large meals.

Warm caramel stained cabinetry was chosen for the perimeter of the kitchen to lighten up the space from the dark and dingy cabinets that were original to the home. Sage green cabinets on the island add a touch of color and accent the green glass tiles in the backsplash. Even after making space for all of their cooking and serving ware storage, they still had room for a decorative display cabinet for their pottery collection with a bonus mail organizer to help keep the counters less cluttered from mail.

Wow!  What a difference a little redesign can make!

Crimson Introduces the ‘I LOVE IT’ Guarantee

Be The Envy Of Your Neighborhood

-WE GUARANTEE IT-

Introducing The ‘I LOVE IT’ Guarantee

 

 

Crimson Design & Construction is so sure you’re going to love our new Architectural Elite Design Service that we are offering a 100% MONEY BACK GUARANTEE! Here’s how it works -

If Crimson design and constructs your project using our Architectural Elite Design Service and you don’t have AT  LEAST TWO friends, neighbors or relatives tell you that they “LOVE IT!” we will refund 100% of your Elite Design Service fees.

We know we can make this offer because we have seen it happen over and over and over again. In fact, on many projects COMPLETE STRANGERS will stop and rave about their neighbor’s new addition! Recently our client, Marge of Naperville, had this experience.

“I loved working with Crimson Design [& Construction] from beginning to end. [They] really listened to what we said we wanted and worked closely and creatively with us to produce a design that met our needs and desires. [They] oversaw a complicated project with skill and patience and never hesitated to respond to our “just one more thing…….”. [Crimson has] guided us through a project that has yielded unsolicited compliments from friends, neighbors and total strangers passing by!”  - Marge (Retired COO), Naperville

 

You should expect to hear compliments like this:

+ I LOVE the colors!

+ I LOVE your new countertops!

+ I LOVE what you have done with your shower!

+ I LOVE your new kitchen – I’m soooo jealous!

Contact Crimson to learn more about the ‘I LOVE IT’ Guarantee and to set up your complimentary consultation.

Download the full details here. i_love_it.pdf

Bringing Back ‘Comfort’ Living Through Remodeling

One of the most common questions we get as designers is how to make a space more enjoyable, livable and comfortable. It’s amazing how many people don’t feel comfortable in their home. How can this happen?

Comfort is the mission for today’s remodeling client. Their home has lost the feeling of hominess. For some, it never had that feeling in the first place.

When homeowners initially purchase their home, maybe they don’t have the money to renovate and make the home everything they want it to be. At the time they are just happy to find a home with the right number of bedrooms and a kitchen that is workable.

Fast forward ten years and now they are fed up. The bathroom is dated. The tile is in disrepair and the shower lacks a modern showerhead. The kitchen is still cramped and missing specialty storage.

This is exactly how our clients on Wilshire Lane felt. Two years ago we worked with them to add a second-story addition over their garage with a bedroom, laundry and bathroom.

Recently they asked us back to remodel their original master bathroom. When they first moved in the bathroom was fine.  But, after fifteen years in the home, they realized that their bathroom needed an infusion of ‘comfort.’

Initially, Joel worked with them to explore alternate layouts of the existing bath, closet and bedroom. Ultimately, they decided against it and decided to keep the layout the same.

Using the original floor plan we updated all the fixtures and finishes. The result is a new bath with a feeling of serene comfort. The bathtub was converted to a stand up shower and made dramatically larger. The new vanity cabinets are taller with a stacked storage cabinet on the vanity counter. This eliminates the clutter of bottles and makes for a very clean-looking vanity area.

We chose oil-rubbed bronze plumbing fixtures with medium color stain on the cabinets and custom-framed mirrors. The shower tile is a mixture of neutral porcelain and slate natural stone. We added storage shelves in the shower with a new oil-rubbed sliding shower door.

The warm colors and natural materials create a sense of balance. The feeling of comfort has been restored.  Mission accomplished!

You Can Get Celeb Style & Inspiration!

Who doesn’t love celebrity homes?  They are chic and luxurious.  They are big and exquisite.  Their decorating features expensive artsy pieces and tasteful oddities.  Their homes feature a sophisticated comfort and a fascinating energy.

How can we “normal” homeowners ever compete?

Celebrities have lots of money to hire the best of the best.  They have a team of architects and interior designers who collaborate to ensure the space is well designed, features up-to-date styles and trends, and incorporates the homeowners’ vibe and spirit throughout.

 

But we “normal” homeowners don’t have to read Architectural Digest with jealousy and distaste.
 
Why not instead use it to find some inspiration?  Just because we don’t live in $10 million dollar mansions overlooking beautiful scenery or sweeping city views doesn’t mean our space can’t be comfortable, inviting and desirable.  In fact, your home can easily be turned into an inviting retreat that will make your friends and neighbors want your house to be the next entertainment hub.

This isn’t Hollywood, but Crimson Design & Construction has remodeled many Naperville-Area homes to be all that is mentioned above and without breaking the bank.  We work closely with our clients’ to fulfill all their needs and wants.  We help our clients every step of the way by being your team.

Crimson offers architectural services, an in-house design team, and a production team all in one convenient location.  Our licensed architect and designer come to you with a personalized design and specific examples for your home, your space, your needs and your wants.  Your space will not only be updated, but will also still be a reflection of you and your grandeur.

Equally important Crimson works vigorously with your budget in mind.  We will present to you design and selection options that will look good, but won’t leave you saying, “I wish we could afford that tile.”  The Crimson team works with you every step of the way to ensure that your remodeling experience is fun rather than frustrating.

Our most select clients appreciate our full service approach and take full advantage of our willingness to handle every detail.  Our team will treat you like a celebrity by managing every aspect of your remodeling project from start to finish!

So pick up that Architectural Digest and start making plans for your new space!

 

Three Generations Share a Home

The revival of multi-generation living has been on the rise since 2009 and continues to be a lifestyle trend for 2012.  “What we’re seeing is the demise of the notion of the nuclear family in favor of the extended family,” said John L. Graham, co-author of Together Again: A Creative Guide to Successful Multigenerational Living.

Motivations range from necessity to convenience to culture.  While some situations may be temporary, others aren’t so short-lived.  Many factors influence a family’s decision to live together:

• Aging baby boomers are moving in with children
• Young adults are living with parents for longer lengths of time or are being forced to relocate home due to the stagnant economy
• The expected growth in home ownership among Hispanics and Asians, for whom multi-generational living is more common

With life expectancies increasing, baby boomers retiring, pension funds failing and minority household growth, multi-generational living will likely be a trend that is with us for a while, if not a new way of American life.

Multi-generational living may sound unnerving yet living together can offer many benefits:

• Help with household expenses
• Child care or elder care
• Allow the older generation to remain independent longer, none of them wanting to admit they’ll ever need formal assisted living
• Emotional intimacy that comes with frequent contact among family members and the opportunity to make a strong connection with your grandchildren and pass on your knowledge and experience
• Reconnect with your adult children at a different stage in both your lives
• Luxury to travel with piece of mind that your house and pets are taken care of; perfect for the snowbirds

In order to make this new way of life enjoyable and comfortable some changes will need to be made.  It is essential to map out your ideal space and to run the numbers on re-do versus buying new, Crimson Design and Construction can help you with this.

If you set up the right space living together under one roof won’t break the bank or drive you crazy. Integrating design that encourages social interaction yet also provides privacy away from the communal living space is the most effective strategy.  Separate entrances and kitchens are critical to success.  Members of the household share many activities and frequently eat together, and the grandparents often take an active role in the care of their grandchildren.  But, at the end of the day, each generation bids adieu and retires to separate quarters.

How do you feel about multi-generation living? And do you think it is something that may be in your future?

 

Announcing The 2012 Naperville-Area Remodeling Design Guide

We’ve been hard at work this winter creating a design guide specifically for Naperville.

So many times you open a home magazine and see some gorgeous photography but quickly realize that none of it works for your home. We’ve seen this problem as well. So, we set out to create a book of design ideas that specifically pertain to Naperville-area homes.

Naperville is not known for Cape Cod,  Southern Georgian or Southwestern Pueblo style homes. Naperville was created by builders that used a mixture of styles in their homes. You will rarely see this style of design in a magazine.

But what can you do when remodeling your Naperville builder-style home? We have faced this design challenge numerous times so we set out to give you some great ideas in our Free Design Guide.

Click Here to Request Your Free Copy

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