We put kitchen remodeling projects into two different categories which helps us project a timeline and help us answer that question, “How long does a kitchen remodel take?”
The “Pull and Replace” category
We refer to a “pull and replace” project as one where we come in, pull most things and replace them with new. So, we’ll come in, pull the cabinets and countertops, the sink, the oven and microwave and replace them with new items.
A “pull and replace” project includes the demo, any drywall that needs replacing/repairing, electrical and plumbing.
Generally, once we have the items in hand – the cabinets, the new appliances, the countertops – we can complete the project in three weeks, start to finish.
But, there are definitely a few things to remember. Before we ever step foot in a house to start removing and replacing things, we have to plan. Planning consists of a number of different things. Countertops and cabinets have to be selected and ordered.. Appliance decisions need to be made as well as a new sink and fixtures. In terms of length of time, cabinets take the longest to order and get delivered from the supplier. We base our time estimates on when those items will be ready.
The “Major Remodel” category
We refer to a “major remodel” project as one where many things are changing. The project itself is way more involved than a “pull and replace” project. Often, the entire layout of the kitchen changes. Flooring may be removed and replaced. Walls may come down. Electrical and plumbing may need to be reworked and/or brought up to current code. All of this adds complexity to the overall project.
Drywall, painting, electrical and plumbing is all figured into a “major remodel”. When we look at a project like this, from start to finish, we generally estimate eight weeks. But, as with a “pull and replace” much planning must go into it prior to the contractors walking into the house to begin work.
Based on the type of work, permits may need to be pulled. Design work may need to be done. Of course, cabinets countertops and the other items already mentioned will need to be determined and ordered.
Our Commitment
We’ve been helping people remodel kitchens for a long time. We know what it takes to get the job done. Our contractors generally work a 5 day week so you have your weekends free. We do our best to stick to the timeline. When things do arise that may set us back, we confer quickly with the homeowner. We really do work to keep things on schedule as we know how disruptive construction can be in your home.
Thinking about remodeling this summer? Are you asking, “Is this is the best time to remodel?” If so, here are some things to think about:
Pros of a Summertime Remodel
You get to be outside! During summer hours, with the extended daylight hours, you can be outside a lot more than you can when it’s colder and darker. Your schedule is often a bit more relaxed because there is more daylight to work with. This allows you to use your grill or outdoor kitchen and patio as living space instead of your kitchen.
You can open the windows! When walls are being painted and floors being resurfaced, odors and fumes happen. When you can keep your windows open and take advantage of the natural air flow, your indoor air quality is way better.
Cons of a Summertime Remodel
Due to the fact that the weather is so cooperative during summertime hours, contractors get busy, really busy. And so do their subcontractors who they rely on to complete a project. This means that careful planning must take place to get the job done. When you’re dealing with busy teams of contractors, you have to be on top of the project management of everything. If you are acting as your own project manager on a remodel and you miss deadlines, this can set back your completion time significantly.
You’ll get less individualized attention during the summer months because of how busy everyone is. If you want to be able to talk more thoroughly with your contractors, you may consider remodeling between October and December and January through April. They’ll be less busy and have time to slow down and offer you more attention.
Often times, during the summer, kids are home too. The addition of the kids and their friends and more daytime activity doesn’t always work well with the additional noise, people and dust in the house. And then there’s the noise. Demolition of existing walls, flooring, cabinets, etc creates a lot of noise. Power tools, in general, make a lot of noise. If you have kids who need to nap or have quiet times during the day, this could be a problem.
How to Make Things Smoother
If you do go ahead and opt to remodel in the summer, here are a few things that will help things go more smoothly.
Have someone like Eheart project manage the entire remodel. Industry professionals have relationships with contractors and know how long things take. Overall, an outside project manager will smooth everything out.
Utilize you outdoor space as best as you can. Do your cooking outside, your entertaining outside, etc.
And better yet, go on vacation for all or part of the remodel. Let the contractors do what they need to do while you’re away. If you are going to be away for only part of it, try to schedule that time away when the project will be extra noisy or the air will be full of fumes.
Maybe you’ve stared at those kitchen countertops for too long. Or, maybe you’ve just moved into a house with dated or worn countertops and you’re looking to install something fresh. Whatever your reason, you’re looking at different types of kitchen countertops and wondering, “What’s best for our house?”
To maintain, or not to maintain?
One question we often ask people who start looking at different types of kitchen countertops is, “How much time do you want to spend maintaining your house?” Often times, the answer is, “Well, not very much.” We often find that people want to spend less time cleaning, prepping and maintaining and more time living. In these cases, we often recommend a quartz countertop and see about 70% of our clients select it as their new surface.
Why quartz?
Quartz offers the natural look of stone without needing to be treated. Between 92 and 96% of a quartz countertop is made of actual stone. Resin makes up the rest and fills in the porous areas of the stone. Manufacturers also add colors, sparkles, you name it. They can get pretty creative. In fact, you can even get a quartz countertop that mimics the look of granite.
With a nearly impermeable surface, quartz repels stains. For a busy household, quartz needs very little maintenance which makes it one of the most “easy to live with” materials on the market. If something does happen to it – a small chip or a scratch – resin can be applied to fix it. Quartz also doesn’t scorch, however, it’s not indestructible. We still recommend hot pads or trivets. Quartz can be heat shocked causing it to crack, but other than that, there really are no downsides to quartz.
What about granite?
The organic look and feel of granite often grabs people’s attention. It carries a lot of character. Granite, however, varies. It is truly natural stone and with that comes veining and varies. When you choose granite, you must be willing to accept some variance. You can control some of it when you pick out your slab, but because it’s natural stone, don’t expect perfection.
Granite needs more maintenance. You must reseal it every three years in order for it to maintain its luster and repel stains. We also recommend always using trivets or hot pads on granite. It’s more permeable than quartz and can also be heat shocked. You can also repair it with resin if you scratch or chip it.
Other materials
On occasion, we do see people use limestone, soapstone, marble and concrete. All four products need more care than granite or quartz. The look of these materials can be incredible, but it really needs to be properly cared for. Limestone can be pretty organic looking. We’ve seen some that have fossils in them. If you like a matte finish, limestone may be worth looking at. It is, however, super porous.
Marble makes a beautiful choice, but we generally recommend it for a guest bath or some where with lower traffic. Marble doesn’t do well with acids, chemicals and even water glasses. If you don’t mind etching and/or staining, it can be a lovely choice.
Go ahead and set anything hot on soapstone. It can handle it. Just don’t rub it with your sleeve button. It scratches super easily and the scratches show through. Soapstone surface is generally dark but the scratches come out white.
Concrete has been trendy the past few years, but if it’s not cured and sealed properly, you’ll be bummed. Concrete has very visible seams, it can peel off and chip off. Once measurements are taken, it can take nearly 3 weeks to install.
Stop in and chat
As you’re looking for different types of countertops, why not stop in and talk with us. We’d love to help you learn more about countertop styles and materials.
When you’re looking at a remodeling project, you might ask yourself, “Should I work with an interior designer?” It’s a great question to ask and one we’re happy to answer. To answer it, we’ll talk about what a designer does and also clear up some common misconceptions.
What does an interior designer do?
When it comes down to it, an interior designer not only becomes the curator of your project but also the tour guide and project manager. An experienced designer should visit you in your home and get a feel for who you are and your overall aesthetic. Then, based on your budget and the overall scope of the project, the designer will begin curating a variety of options for everything from finishes, to cabinets, to window treatments and lighting fixtures, and more.
An experienced designer knows that all clients want options. Any designer should bring you options and then, based on your response, tweak them as necessary. Maybe you like the subway tile for your backsplash but you aren’t crazy about the countertop options. The designer would then work to find something more to your liking.
A designer should also help keep you from being overwhelmed by the options. It’s their job to understand you and work to help you narrow your choices. Afterall, there are a million light fixtures, cabinet pulls, wall colors and coverings, floor choices, and more.
The designer as “tour guide”
An experienced interior designer also acts as a “tour guide” so to speak. Any remodeling project has many moving parts as well as timelines to be followed. A designer knows what decisions need to be made and when they need to be made. They make sure things are efficient. Remember, most homeowners might do a handful of remodels. Interior designers plan remodels all day, every day. They don’t forget that you need cabinet hardware or certain light bulbs for certain fixtures that can’t be found at a big box store.
A professional designer saves you time. They contain a wealth of knowledge from years of experience. They know how to head problems off before they become problems. They know how to schedule out contractors and how to work with them. They often have “go-to” contractors who they’ve worked with many times and trust their work.
They also save you money and help steer you away from decisions you might regret. For instance, if you have kids and/or pets, a designer may recommend you stay away from certain color schemes or flooring options or fabric options that will show wear and tear easily.
Misconceptions about hiring an interior designer
Many people, who ask the question, “Should I hire a designer?”, assume that a designer makes all the decisions for the project. Any professional, experienced designer takes their clients personal tastes and wishes and uses them as primary guidance. The designer works as a trusted advisor more than anything.
Others often think, “Yes, but if I hire a designer, they’ll pick everything they like and it will all be out of my price range.” An experienced designer always takes your budget into consideration and works to stay within it. And a designer should get to know you well enough to curate everything to your taste.
If you have a project on the horizon and are asking yourself, “Should I hire an interior designer?” give us a call. We love the fun and challenges of a new project. And we’re sure we can save you a lot of headaches and time.
A comfortable living room invites people to gather, hold conversations, and enjoy each other’s company. It’s important then, that you spend some time considering what furniture pieces make the most sense in your living room. Below, you’ll find some helpful ideas on how to choose living room furniture.
The Main Furniture Pieces
Flexibility makes a lot of sense when it comes to furnishing your living room. Individual pieces that can be moved around allow for occasional rearrangement – either out of need when hosting a large gathering or out of the desire to simply mix things up. We also recommend, when purchasing living room furniture, that you keep the colors neutral for the main pieces. Neutral colors last longer in terms of trends and can be accented with throw pillows allowing you to add different splashes of color and mix things up easily..
The Sofa
When it comes to the sofa, size matters. Most sofas range from 84” – 90” and will fit a variety of spaces. If you have a smaller area, you can find more petite sized sofas in the 75” – 80” range. Do know, that an overstuffed sofa, although comfortable in the show room, will often appear massive and out of place. And, even though they are quite popular, a sectional may be too inflexible when you want to rearrange for a gathering or bring a Christmas tree into the space. Often times, you can achieve a similar look and feel with two sofas.
Also, think about how many people you want to seat on your sofa. If you choose a sofa with three cushions, three people will naturally sit there. If you get one with one or two larger cushions, you can often seat up to four allowing for more seating flexibility.
The Chairs
In terms of chairs, we recommend chairs that are attractive both from the front and the back. We also recommend chairs that have arms on them. People like to lean. Once again, flexibility is key when selecting chairs. You’ll want to be able to float them in the room or place them in a corner. Look for chairs that are 30” – 38” wide. Anything bigger takes up a lot of space and becomes too big to be useful. Look for chairs that seat one person comfortably.
The Ottoman
An ottoman allows for a little variety, and a comfortable place to rest the legs. Your ottoman doesn’t have to match your furniture. You can add some texture, patterns and color to the area and play with your ottoman more easily than with your main pieces of furniture. Once again, think about where you will keep the ottoman and how large it is. It should be a very flexible piece of furniture.
The Coffee Table
We love the look of a square coffee table, but let’s face it, they’re not very flexible. We almost always recommend a rectangular table due to the flexibility for different placements around the room. Don’t purchase the largest table you can find. You want people to be able to walk around it comfortably in relationship to the other furniture pieces in the room.
Quality Matters
You want furniture you can live on. Get pieces with nice quality upholstery. They last a long time. Make sure the cushions upholstered on all sides. If you do end up with a spill that won’t come out, you can flip it over and hide the stain. When you sit on a sofa, you shouldn’t be able to ffel the frame. If you do, don’t buy it. It won’t last. Look for 8-way hand tied pieces. This is a great marker of quality. There are also many performance fabrics available too. These resist spills and fading and typically last longer. If you have kids, a pet or a messy spouse, you’ll definitely want performace fabrics. They also come in a variety of attractive options these days.
Get an Opinion
We love to visit people’s spaces and walk them through how to choose living room furniture. If you’re in the market, stop in and talk with us. We can arrange a visit and help you think through your plans.
Well, it depends.
The “Major Remodel” category
The “Major Remodel” category
Thinking about remodeling this summer? Are you asking, “Is this is the best time to remodel?” If so, here are some things to think about:
Maybe you’ve stared at those kitchen countertops for too long. Or, maybe you’ve just moved into a house with dated or worn countertops and you’re looking to install something fresh. Whatever your reason, you’re looking at different types of kitchen countertops and wondering, “What’s best for our house?”
A comfortable living room invites people to gather, hold conversations, and enjoy each other’s company. It’s important then, that you spend some time considering what furniture pieces make the most sense in your living room. Below, you’ll find some helpful ideas on how to choose living room furniture.