Project Feature: Family-Friendly Kitchen

One room we help our clients remodel often? The kitchen! Busy hubs of family activity and daily life; kitchens have become the heart of the modern home. Along with the rising popularity of open floor plans and the increase of more informal hosting styles, people are spending more and more time in their kitchens. It makes complete sense then that kitchen design has taken center stage in a lot of remodeling plans! 

A typical 90's kitchen that was lacking a little personality, these clients were ready to give their Apple Valley abode some style. Over eight weeks our crew partnered with the fantastic team at The Cabinet Store to give this space a modern update. We set to work installing new cabinets, tile, quartz and granite countertops, and a living room mantel.

Sticking with more current design trends, the client's chose two-toned cabinet finishes; the soft cream paint on top and cherry coffee stain on the bottom provides a nice contrast in the space. Cambria quartz's Torquay design is on the perimeter countertops, and the natural granite slab covers the center island. 

We loved helping these homeowners transform their kitchen into a place where they enjoy spending time together as a family. The bright, open space feels so welcoming and warm! Our highlight, though, was hearing them say that their home finally reflects their unique taste and personality, instead of feeling like another cookie-cutter 90's build. 

Preparing for Your Remodel

Many people describe a long-awaited remodel as their dream project. We've all heard it before, right? "I'm finally going to get my dream kitchen!" "We can't wait for it to be finished - it's our dream master suite!" "I've been dreaming of - fill in the blank - for years!" 

It's understandable to consider renovating a fantasy come to life. However, we can't help but think that this mindset might set unrealistic expectations. Remodeling is certainly exciting and eventful, but it's also construction, which often makes life more complicated.

Yes, your finished kitchen may be a dream come true, even so, getting there might be less than a picnic at times. A few bumps in the road are normal for most remodels; an expert contractor can help you navigate them. Honestly, the real trick is adjusting your expectations at the outset. Read our top tips for maintaining perspective below!

1. Create a Sanctuary. Before you even get started, designate a construction-free retreat. Locate a space in your home that will be far from the noise and chaos of remodeling, and seek respite there when you need a slice of normalcy! 

2. Prepare for Highs and Lows. As we stated above, renovating is filled with peaks and valleys. Prepare for amazing, dream-come-true, mountaintop moments, and a few stressful surprises. Just remember, your building crew is on your team, they'll do their best to see your project through any storms that arise.

3. Make a Decision Game Plan. Beyond the unexpected, be ready to make a lot of decisions during your remodel. If that sounds overwhelming to you, be sure to go in with a game plan. Divide up decision-making areas between you and your spouse. Or if you're flying solo, divide decisions into smaller, more manageable, increments. 

4. Practice Flexibility. Above all, make flexibility your mantra. Tell yourself over and over again that it's okay if things don't always go according to plan. Building materials might not arrive on time or weather could delay construction. Things happen, keep your cool and go with the flow. Don't stress yourself with the little details; your contractor is looking out for your best interest!

Project Feature: Holiday-Ready Kitchen

Remodeling improves a home's everyday usability, but our favorite bonus? New spaces make hosting infinitely more appealing. We love helping people create homes that they want to share and show off! With the holidays only being a few weeks away, we wanted to feature one of favorite Christmas dinner ready client kitchens. 

This open and flowing space is perfect for hosting a big family feast! We all know guests are inevitably drawn to the kitchen (maybe it's all the delicious smelling food?), so why not plan for them? These cunning clients did just that! Instead of sidestepping traffic jams, a cook could easily prep dinner and chat with guests at the spacious countertop peninsula. Tasks are also separated easily by different kitchen stations. Someone could start on dishes without even interfering with the cook at the stovetop! 

Explore more of this timeless traditional kitchen below. It's the perfect balance of tasteful style paired with fresh, modern finishes!

Sharing the Gratitude: Our Referral Program

Did you know that a whopping 90% of our business is brought in through referrals? That's right, 9 times out of 10 our clients come from recommendations. We're incredibly proud of that ratio. Leaving happy homeowners at the end of every project is our top priority, so whenever one of our customers passes on our name to their friends, family, or coworkers it tells us we're doing something right!

We know our clients are the reason we've gotten to wake up and do what we love each day for the past 20 years. As we approach the season of giving thanks, we decided it was high time that we started rewarding our loyal customers and pass on the love! Whenever any of our clients, past or present, refers us for a new project, we'll be sending them a Visa gift card as a small token of our appreciation.

Any signed referrals from projects over $25,000 will be sent a $250 gift card, all signed referrals over $50,000 will receive a gift card for $500. Think of it as fun, bonus money to spend on your lovely home - but on us! 

Want to get started making your referral? Simply contact our office with the relevant information, and thanks in advance for sharing our business with the important people in your life!

Bathroom Trends: The Home Spa

A huge part of working in the remodeling industry is staying informed on current home design trends. While some trends are merely passing fads, others stick around for the long haul and profoundly shape the standards of contemporary design. One such style that seems to be here to stay? Ultra relaxing spa influenced bathrooms. 

Elevated brands and finishes have steadily been on the rise with our clients for a while now, but the bathroom getaway trend has truly exploded in recent years. We're not only talking about master suites either, everything from guest to children's bathrooms are getting the spa treatment now!

Want to up the relaxing vibe in your home's bathrooms? Browse through one of our favorite luxurious client bathrooms below - we're sure that this lovely space will give you ample spa style inspiration!

Spacious and Bright Kitchen Remodel

Unlike any other room, the kitchen is the true heart of any home. The kitchen is mission control, it’s where families gather at the begining and end of each day, and the place guests always seem to end up congregated in during any party.

A cramped kitchen is more than a small inconvenience, it’s a missed opportunity and a loss of valuable floor plan real estate! The owner’s of this nineties split level in Burnsville had one goal in mind for their remodel: open up their crowed kitchen. Over a period of eight weeks, our team along with the fantastic crew at The Cabinet Store helped this family create a more efficient kitchen that flows naturally into the rest of the main floor.

As you can see below, the newly updated space is airy and overflowing with storage! Clean and bright, the white painted cabinets and natural sandy hued Cambria countertops set a calming tone. The updated layout is filled with plenty of multi-use spaces and surfaces, such as the massive center island that’s perfect for food prep, doing homework, or hosting guests. The client especially loves finally having enough space to cook and entertain company free of any traffic jams!

Helping this family achieve their dream kitchen was a great joy. We love seeing the difference it makes in a home to tear down a wall, helping people maximize their square footage and see their space in brand a new way.