Updating A Kitchen In South Naperville

This kitchen on the South end of Naperville is getting a dramatic facelift.  We will be pulling out all the cabinets and replacing them with new Fieldstone Cabinetry.  Beyond the kitchen, we will also be replacing two stairways in the home  with new oak treads and rails, adding hardwood flooring in the living room, dining room and study, and adding trip upgrades such as door heads and wainscot panels.  It’s really quite an extensive project.

This week the homeowners moved out and we relocated all their furniture from the first floor to the basement to make way for the hardwood floor installation.  Any flooring on the first floor that was not hardwood will be upgraded to new white oak hardwood to match the existing.  The existing floors will also be sanded, stained and refinished so that all the flooring blends together.  Three of the rooms will also get walnut inlay strips for a stunning pattern.  Not easy work, but well worth it!  After a two week temporary move the owners will be able to return to a beautiful new floor.

At this point the kitchen cabinets have been removed and as soon as the floors are done the new Fieldstone Cabinetry will be delivered.  The cabinets will be a combination of stained cherry and painted maple with a glaze.  We are using some of the existing granite countertops since they were only a couple of years old.  We will be able to match the existing tops with new granite in some areas to fit our new layout.

Residential Elevator Completed In Naperville

We recently completed work on a residential elevator retro-fit in Naperville.  Our clients were very happy to take their first ride in their new elevator.  Health problems have made navigating the stairs a real concern for them.  The new elevator was buy no means a luxury, but a real necessity to staying in their current home.  Having lived in the home since it was built 20 plus years ago, moving was not really a consideration for them.  The elevator gives them the ability to stay in their home for many years to come.

The largest challenge with this project was finding a place to put a six foot square elevator shaft through all three stories of the home.  Luckily there was an existing spiral staircase that we were able to remove and put the elevator shaft in its place.  By adding windows in the shaft walls and in the cab itself we were able to keep the light flowing through the home so that the new structure did not create a dark and foreboding feeling in the family and kitchen areas.

The cab interior makes a real statement and adds a level of class and sophistication to what could have turned out to be no more than a painted box.  Luckily the clients saw the value in upgrading the cab interior and it turned out great!

In addition to the elevator, we also repainted quite a bit of space on the first floor of the home as well as replaced the old outdated oak flooring with some great bamboo flooring.

This was our third project in this home and one that will make a lasting impact.

Naperville Elevator Project Wrapping Up

It will only be a couple of days before our clients are enjoying their new elevator.  This has been a relatively short project for us, but it will have a huge impact on the daily lives of our clients!

Our clients struggle with physical ailments that hinder their ability to use the stairs in their home.  This new elevator will give them the freedom they have been lacking in their own home. No longer will they need to plan their day to minimize trips up and down the stairs.  As an added bonus, the new structure for the elevator and the cab itself are quite attractive and doesn’t make the home feel institutional.  Quite the opposite.  The cab is made from raised oak panels and stained to match the nearby cabinetry in the kitchen.

Also as part of the project we installed all new bamboo flooring throughout the kitchen and family room where the elevator is located.  It has made a dramatic difference in this space.  And it will make a dramatic difference in their lives.

Naperville Family Room Renovation

Old fireplace surround refurbished into new contemporary design!

The old fireplace was straight out of 1980 and no longer fit in with the rest of  the client’s updated home.

It was a big ugly stone box that had to go. The new fireplace is much smaller in mass but still is able to be the centerpiece of the room. 

 The mantle top is made of a solid cherry board and the tile is a green/grey limestone.

In addition to the new mantle the fireplace and chimney was also rebuilt.

The interior of the firebox and the exterior brick work were suffering from years of water damage. The oak flooring is also new and matches the existing hardwood in the kitchen.

Second Story Addition Gets Foam Insulation

Work continued on our latest Naperville project today with the installation of the spray-foam insulation.  It’s very similar to Great Stuff, only on a much larger scale.  The foam we used on this project gets a whooping R7 per inch!  That allows for up to an R25 valued in a standard 2×4 exterior wall.  That’s a far cry from the standard fiberglass insulation products that only allow for an R13 in a 2×4 wall.

On this project we used 2-3/4″ of foam for an R20 value.  This new 650 square foot addition will be far superior in insulation value to the existing home.  As well as offering a superior Rvalue, foam also acts as a great barrier to air infiltration.  The foam seals virtually all gaps in the walls allowing for no air movement.  It is also impervious to water so no moisture can move through the wall.  It really is a great product and we are looking forward to using it more on future projects.

Naperville Second Story Addition Underway

After almost a week-long rain delay we are getting started on our latest project: a second story bedroom addition in Naperville. The addition will be over the garage and have space for a bedroom, bathroom, closet and laundry room. All told we are adding about 600 feet of space.

On Friday we installed a beam in the garage that will support the weight of the addition.

We also took advantage of the crane on site to move several units of lumber into position.  Thanks to our friends at Conley Steel for the help!

Naperville Home Show A Success

Thanks to all of you that braved a less-than-springlike weekend to come out and see us at The Naperville Home Show.  We met some great people over the last two days!

Being the first home show we have ever done, it was quite a learning experience for us.  We learned some things to do (wear VERY comfortable shoes) and some things not to do (don’t wait until 3 days before to order your banners).  All-in-all it was a great experience and we are thinking about doing it again sometime soon.  If we do we’ll keep you updated.

Naperville Home Show March 19-21

This weekend we will be at the Naperville Home Show.

Be sure to stop by and see us.

Bring your remodeling ideas with you!

The details:

Where:   North Central College Recreation Center (Crimson is in booth #313)
When:   Fri 4-8pm   Sat 10am-6pm   Sun 10am-5pm
Admission: $5      Get a $1 off coupon

Naperville Basement Finish With A New Twist

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.

Naperville Basement Renovation

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