Fred & Sharon's Renovated Kitchen

Fred, a metals artist, had had enough of the sea of red wallpaper in his kitchen. Not to mention the outdated fixtures and counters. Fred enjoys finding new beauty in old things – creating sculptures from old silverware and other upcycled materials. However, the kitchen, as well as the adjacent laundry and half-bath, of his Fremont Hills home needed to be completely overhauled  -- nothing in these outdated rooms was worth making an artistic statement.

One of the standout elements of the new kitchen design Andy and his HA Construction team did for Fred and his wife, Sharon, are the granite countertops with a stunning  design/color. The contrasting lines and textures of the counters and cabinetry are one of Andy’s favorite elements. The beautiful shelf window over the kitchen sink also stands out, providing a great view and plenty of sunlight for some lovely houseplants.

As Fred explains it, the half-bath in its previous state was nothing more than a closet you could barely turn around in. It now has space enough to do a salsa dance… space which may later house a shower to finish the bathroom off. For now, Fred is happy with the new, spacious comfort it provides.

Fred also raves about the excellent work HA Construction did overall with this project. They were timely and efficient, two characteristics that Fred sincerely appreciates. And, he and Sharon are, of course, very pleased with the finished product.

Kitchen Décor | Back Splash Tile

We’ve had a few posts now on kitchen design elements that can work together to create a versatile and stylish cooking and entertaining space. Another one of those elements – one that really allows you to make a statement – is the back splash.

But not just any old rimmed countertop back splash. We’re talking fully decking out the walls between the top of your counters and the bottom of your cabinets with beautiful, eye-catching tiles.

And the design possibilities are seemingly endless.

Wowing Through Tile

According to Andy here at HA Construction, a tile back splash is the crown of the kitchen – the cherry on top, if you will. Not only does a tile backsplash make for an easily cleanable service, but it provides opportunity for aesthetic appeal. While your countertops and cabinets are generally a neutral tone, the tile back splash can be that pop of color and creative whimsy that really pulls everything together.

From a builder standpoint, the tile is mounted directly to the sheetrock between the back of your countertops and the bottom of your upper wall cabinets. Square tiles can be anywhere from one inch to the common four inch option.  You can choose tiles all the same color, some with hand-painted designs,  or a mix and match colors and designs to create something unique.

Types of Backsplash Tile

Don’t limit yourself to simple square options, especially if you want to let out your creative side. Other backsplash tiles include:

• Subway Tiles – usually something like 3x6 inches
• Glass Tiles – provide a reflective surface for another dimension t the design
• Mosaic Tiles –often come in one foot squares of several tiles put together on a mesh backing to save time
• Laser Cut Tiles – cut in beautiful shapes to create elaborate designs when pieced together on the wall
• Diagonal Design – turn ordinary square tile on the diagonal to take it up a notch
• Wallpaper Style – some companies can customize overscale patterns to repeat, producing a wallpaper effect through tile
• Herringbone Tile – also available on a mesh 12x12 backing, herringbone provides a chevron design (very popular right now)
• Custom Shapes – don’t be afraid to think outside the box and look for oval tiles or other shapes

HA Construction previously used a lot of tumbled stone in backsplash designs, but recently glass tiles have become popular. Again, don’t be afraid to get creative – the space over the stove usually lends for plenty of room for a fun pattern even if you plan to keep the rest of the backsplash neutral.

Maybe that’s why it’s called a “backsplash” – so you can add a splash of excitement to your kitchen décor. (Okay, we know that’s not the case, but we’ll go ahead and take the liberty to believe it to be true anyway.)

Harkness Kitchen Renovation (complete July 2012)

We started working on this kitchen renovation for Julie and Bobby Harkness in February of this year. I helped her develop a design that would lend to a much more open floor plan. We took out the wall dividing the dining room from the kitchen and brought the kitchen out toward the dining room more. We also added a door to backyard to make it more accessible. We built a full-sized pantry and added an office space for Bobby.

In our collaborative design, we fixed issues like:

• The previous layout had Julie traipsing all over the kitchen, from one side to the other, in order to access the refrigerator, sink and pantry while cooking. We brought those things into a central location.
• The refrigerator used to be right in the path from the dining room to the kitchen, making it difficult for someone to pass by if someone else was in the fridge – we remedied that.
• Previously, the only way into the backyard was through the sunroom. The back door we added provides immediate access, especially for the dogs.

We put in cabinetry with slide out shelves – something that is very popular because it allows homeowners to access the items in the back without a lot of work. Additionally, we updated the brick fireplace by wrapping in it stone and building a new mantle. We also added a bar top and stools along the pony wall dividing the dining room and living room, which creates a place for someone to eat, watch television or work on a laptop without committing themselves to the lazy couch.

One design element that I must also point out is that the cabinets opposite the window and next to the oven are built INTO the wall, rather than hung on it. We framed the oven base and part of the upper-cabinets into the wall, with the extreme uppers surface mounted. This provides a little more walking space and accommodates bar stools at the island. It also added a design element that I think looks great.

We had a lot of fun working with the Harkness family. They were very encouraging throughout the project and I enjoyed every trip I made to their house. I think we will be working with them in the future, too.

~ Andy

Key Elements of a Kitchen Renovation – Part 2: Countertops

The items in your kitchen that will definitely see the most use, if you cook at all, are the countertops. You chop, clean, serve and mix there. The kids sit and watch you work your culinary magic, coffee gets spilled and sugar sprinkles the surface. Sweet smelling pies are on display, and hot pans are ready with dinner for all (sure hope you used a hot pad!).

With all this wear and tear, there is no doubt that deciding what countertops to put in your newly designed kitchen can be a daunting task. Generally, there are four factors that come into play when looking to choose your new countertops:

• Cost
• Visual Appeal
• Maintenance
• Durability

As you start looking at the available options, ask yourself which of these factors are a priority and what makes them important to you. You also need to know specifically what you’re looking for in each category.

For example, if you have little ones around the house, time is precious and highly limited, therefore, choosing to go with concrete countertops, even if they’re the next best thing, may not be the option for you because they require a lot of maintenance.

Let’s take a look at the types of countertops that HA Construction can use to revitalize your kitchen.

Everyone’s Favorite – Granite Countertops
Everything from black and brown to green and coral is available in granite. The rumors are true however, this is usually the most expensive option. The actual cost depends on the color you choose, the finish, and where the stone is from. For example, if your top choice of granite is imported only a couple of times a year, then it’s going to be much more expensive than something that is readily available.

Granite comes with two surface finishes:

• Polished – This finish is, of course, shiny with a darker color tone
• Honed – This is a matte finish with softer color tones

Stone Countertops
There are several options for other natural stone counters at varying degrees of cost and durability. However, it’s important to note that natural stone is a softer material and many will need sealant on occasion. As a general rule, only clean natural stone with mild soap, water and a soft cloth. Avoid using cleaners containing bleach or ammonia as well as scouring pads. Always use a coaster and hot pads.

Natural stone options include:

• Marble Countertops
• Limestone Countertops
• Sandstone Countertops
• Quartz Countertops

While natural stone adds more value to your kitchen remodel, engineered stone is also available. Engineered stone is much more durable than natural stone and comes in many more color options. Unfortunately, however, it’s just as expensive as the real thing.

Concrete Countertops
The newest trend that continues to grow in popularity is the concrete countertop. Don’t think for one moment that you’re limited to the gray color of most city sidewalks (though that may be what you’re looking for); pigment additives allow you to choose any color you want for your kitchen.

Unfortunately, as great and modern looking as concrete countertops are, they are pretty high maintenance, as far as counters go. Quick and/or extreme temperature changes may result in warping. Spilling something acidic, such as orange juice, or leaving something wet on the surface will cause discoloration. Preventative maintenance includes adding sealant quarterly and waxing every other month.

There are three concrete counter top finishes:

• Smooth – known as “trowel”
• Sanded – known as “ground,” this exposes the sand aggregate
• Pressed – the veining, which looks somewhat like marble, is exposed

Wood Countertops
This is ofter butcher block countertops, and has many benefits, such as easy use as a cutting board and the ability to sand out scratches from that use. They do need frequent oiling to protect from water damage.

Solid Surface Countertops
Seamless, a multitude of color choices, stain resistant and scratches are easy to repair – it’s no wonder that solid surface countertops are also a popular choice. The only main concern is the risk of damage caused by hot pans, so be sure to use hot pads, trivets or keep hot pots, pans and bakery on the stove.

Laminate Countertops
Truth be told, laminates are the most popular for smaller budget kitchen renovations, and, due to their affordability, may be your best option when you hire HA Construction to do the job. Most laminates are made to look like all of the above options, so you have a pretty vast selection for whatever design you may choose. Of course, laminate countertops aren’t as durable as granite, but they’re reliable for the price.

Other Considerations
As you make your countertop decision, you’ll be faced with choices regarding the types of edging you want. Edging options (depending on the material) include:

• Bevel – Like beveled glass, a beveled countertop has a sloping edge
• Bullnose – rounded edge similar to a half-circle (full bullnose) or a sloping plain (half bullnose)
• Eased – also known as “flat” or “square,” this edge has no design elements, it is just simple flat at a 90 degree angle
• Egg – a molded, decorative edge that has a half egg shape
• Ogee – a tilted “S” shape to the edge
• Radius – an edge with rounded corners

HA Construction can certainly help you decide which countertop type, color and edging fits within your budget, aesthetic approach and needed durability. And, if you’re having a hard time deciding between a pair of options, ask Andy what you can do to fit them both in, such as solid surface countertops and a granite topped island.