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.

 

 

 

 

Behind the Scenes at Crimson

Homeowners see what happens at their home on a daily basis, whether its Crimson’s Project Manager, Tim Pearn, directing subcontractors, meeting inspectors, setting cabinetry or even daily clean-up (yes, he sweeps!).

They work with Crimson’s Design Coordinator, Carolyn, on a number of selections a homeowner is given – about 30 selections for a kitchen project, for instance. The selection process can be overwhelming, and Carolyn works hard to put homeowners at ease and to ensure they are selecting items to fit their lifestyle and budget.

Homeowners also work with Neil and Joel on all aspects of the project. Our hands-on owners make clients their top priority; checking in with them from the very first meeting until the final walk-thru and even after as part of our 1 Year Remodelers Warranty.

But there is one last member of the Crimson Team who has the least contact with clients – and sadly the only real contact Crimson’s Office Manager, Jen, does have is to send out invoices to clients. You can imagine how well liked poor Jen is!

Jen has been a member of the Crimson team for 5 years. She’s the one who (almost) always answers phone calls and in general ‘holds down the fort’ at Crimson Design & Construction.

But what exactly does that mean? What is it that Jen does all day?

Jen has a variety of behind the scenes job duties that help each job run legally, smoothly and happily. From assisting Joel on permit submissions to ordering our clients’ final selections to arranging on site material deliveries to being diligent that all subcontractors working on our jobs have signed proposals (subcontracts), current licenses and insurance and waivers of lien for each job they perform for Crimson.

While Jen is not actively meeting with Clients or visiting jobsites don’t think it means Jen doesn’t know or care what is going on throughout each project. The Crimson Team has weekly meetings in the office to review each job’s progress. Jen also reviews the schedule of each job for ordering and invoicing purposes.

Jen enjoys any connection she is able to form with Crimson’s Clients. She said, “I love when current and past clients call me and say ‘Hi Jen!’ like they are happy to talk with me. It makes my day that they include me in their lives, some by sending me emails or others who are so kind to ask about my daughter. I truly care about each project and each client.”

Feel free to contact Jen any time at the office. She is here to support the whole Crimson Team, and our Clients are also a part of our team! Jen can be reached by calling the office at 630-355-9070 or by email at jen@crimsondc.com.

 

2012 Walk to End Alzheimer’s

On September 23^rd Jen will be walking in the 2012 Naperville Walk to End Alzheimer’s at North Central College. This will be Jen’s fourth year walking for Alzheimer’s research and recognition. In addition to walking, this is the first year that Jen has been a member of the Naperville Walk Committee.

Jen has enjoyed volunteering for the Naperville Walk Committee and has met many people this year. Some of the volunteers work for housing facilities, such as Naperville’s Sunrise Senior Living at 960 E. Chicago Ave., who has graciously allowed the Committee to hold monthly meetings in their conference room. Others, like Jen, have a family member who suffers from the heartbreaking disease.

This year’s walk will take place in a new location at North Central College. This location was chosen over the previously used Riverwalk location because of the Naperville-Area Walk’s growth in participation. The new location will allow more space for vendors, refreshments and the fabulous “promise garden”, an Alzheimer’s Association mission that began last year.

If you would like more information on the 2012 Naperville Walk to End Alzheimer’s please visit http://act.alz.org/naperville2012 or email Jen at jen@crimsondc.com.

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.

Crimson Sponsors St. Paddy’s Day 5k

Joel got up super early on St. Patrick’s Day to help run and organize the Naperville Rotary Club’s St. Paddy’s Day 5k. Here he is in all his Irish (or Swedish painted green)  glory.

Joel is a member of the Naperville Rotary Club and is a member of the race committee.

The event was a huge success this year as the weather did more than just cooperate. All 2200 spots were filled for the event with money going to several charities in Naperville.

Here is a news story about the event from NCtv17.

 

Crimson Honored For Business Excellence

On March 15th Crimson received an award for business excellence from the Daily Herald Business Ledger. Crimson was honored along with nineteen other suburban businesses during the 22nd Annual Awards for Business Excellence program.

The ceremony was held at the Stonegate Conference Center in Hoffman Estates. Approximately 165 community business leaders were at the event.

Crimson was selected for this award for several reasons; well thought out business systems, the flexibility to adapt to a ‘new’ economy, and our community involvement.

While accepting the award on behalf of Crimson Design & Construction, company co-owner Neil Kristianson acknowledged the hard work of the Crimson team that allows Crimson to not only survive but thrive in this ‘new’ economy. He also spoke of the legacy Crimson is creating in Naperville not only through the many examples of improved homes throughout town, but also by their community involvement.

It’s always nice to have your hard work recognized by someone. Winning an award as prestigious as this is even better! Our thanks to The Daily Herald Business Ledger!

Click here to see the full article that appeared in the Daily Herald.

 

 

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!

 

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

Naperville Ranch Home Completed

You may remember the whole house renovation of the ranch home in Naperville.  Well, the transformation is finally complete! The family is moved back in and ecstatic with the results!

The exterior has received a dramatic makeover complete with the addition of a porch, new siding, architectural gables, and a new driveway.

The interior has gained an updated kitchen, a powder room, a new fireplace with built-in shelving, and a brand new master suite.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The focus of the kitchen design, besides the obvious aesthetics, was to increase storage and efficiency for everyday use.  By tastefully adding more cabinetry and installing organization systems in them, the kitchen is now much easier to cook in with everything in its place.

We also increased the efficiency of the space upstairs by turning two small bedrooms and a bathroom into a spacious master suite.  By moving a few walls and rethinking the space, Crimson was able to give the homeowners a bigger master bedroom, a walk-in closet, a master bathroom, and a home office.  Talk about efficiency!

Crimson is happy to welcome yet another family back to their new and improved home, custom designed for their specific needs, wants, and tastes.

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