Kitchen Update and New Paint Inside and Out
February 22, 2010 by Shawn Van Dyke · Leave a Comment
Remodeling projects do not always have to involve knocking down a wall or tearing out some antiquated bathroom fixtures.
Often a great looking remodeling project can involve updating a few key items within a home and putting a fresh coat of paint in the right places to give the project a “Brand New” look.
Ms. Peggy – she insisted that we call her by her first name – wanted a fresh new look for her kitchen, living room and bedrooms. She knew she wanted granite counter tops and new appliances for the kitchen, but she didn’t want to spend all that money and be left with an outdated look for the rest of the house. We worked with Ms. Peggy on developing several options for updating the kitchen and den area, replacing the old closet doors throughout the house, and painting the interior and exterior.
Here’s where we started…
Five Tips for Kitchen Remodeling on a Budget
September 25, 2008 by Shawn Van Dyke · Leave a Comment
From the NARI website.
This article also ran in the Houston Chronicle, Earthtimes.org, FinanzNachrichten.de, Yahoo! Canada, Business Wire and Forbes.
It’s the height of remodeling season during a weak economy, which is a tough combination for homeowners needing to make upgrades to their kitchen. This summer, things are heating up as people debate a costly home improvement that also offers one of the best returns on investment.
DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen offers these five tips for kitchen updates that look good and also make ‘cents.’
Water Heater: Tank or Tankless?
August 27, 2008 by Shawn Van Dyke · Leave a Comment
This article, posted on the NKBA website, summarizes the differences between the standard tank and tankless water heaters. The article is authored by the folks at Rheem. In the article, Rheem is unveiling a new website “to provide straight talk on tankless vs. tank water heaters, aimed at helping construction professionals advise their customers which system is best for different circumstances.”
Also from the article:
Rheem summarizes some of the differences:
* Product Cost: Tank water heaters typically range in cost from $350 to $550, while tankless water heaters are roughly double that amount.
* Operating Cost: Average annual operating costs for tank water heaters are in the $230 to $285 range. Average annual operating costs for tankless water heaters are about half of that, at $165 to $170.
* Installation Cost: In new construction, installing any type of water heater includes running fuel lines or electrical connections and allowing for adequate venting, so there is little difference in costs between a tankless water and a tank water heater. In remodeling, however, it will cost more to replace a tank water heater with a tankless unit. Installed costs to replace a tank water heater with a tankless unit are typically between $1,200 and $3,000, compared with a range of $500 to $800 to replace a tank with another tank.
* Size: Tank water heaters are typically four to six feet in height, and up to two and a half feet in diameter. Because of their size, tank water heaters are usually located in the garage or basement, which sometimes places the hot water far from the point of use. Tankless water heaters, about the size of a medicine cabinet, can be wall-mounted indoors or even outdoors.
* Experience: Tankless water heaters never run out of hot water. A properly sized unit allows for use of multiple fixtures and appliances at the same time. Tankless is especially ideal for luxury spa bathrooms, where one large whirlpool tub can empty a 40-gallon tank-type water heater before the tub is even filled.
While the site is open for all, including homeowners, Rheem offers a white paper and bi-monthly newsletter that is strictly limited to professionals. For more information, visit www.smarterhotwater.com.
Is a tankless water heater right for your project? Contact REDBUD CONSTRCUTION SERVICES at 865.250.9172 and we would be happy to discuss the possibilities for your project.
Tips on Kitchen Lighting Design
August 23, 2008 by Shawn Van Dyke · Leave a Comment
How to Properly Illuminate the Kitchen:
Pendants are often used in addition to recessed and under cabinet lighting to add character and ambience to a kitchen. The recent trend toward open floor plans has also pushed the mini pendant into prominence since they leave more open space than traditional island fixtures.
- High style pendants provide functional task lighting for kitchen work spaces. They do double duty as a designer look and a practical necessity.
- The ideal hanging height for a pendant varies with the environment and the height of the home owners but make sure to position the pendants low enough to avoid glare.
- Add a dimmer switch to increase the versatility of the pendant lights. They can provide either task or mood lighting.
- Top designer brands that offer kitchen pendants are Tech Lighting, Murray Feiss, and Kichler.
- Maintain design continuity by matching pendant finishes with the kitchen hardware and other surface materials.
Call REDBUD Construction Services and speak with our designers about how to incorporate these lighting ideas into your project…865-250-9172.
ICESTONE – Concrete and Glass Surfaces
August 22, 2008 by Shawn Van Dyke · Leave a Comment
Are you looking for that unique surface top for your kitchen or bath, or do you want to have a stylish and durable ‘GREEN’ product…then look no further than IceStone. This product has appeared in This Old House, The New York Post, and Building Design + Construction.
From their website:
IceStone durable surfaces are made from 100% recycled glass and concrete. IceStone® products are the ideal choice for green kitchen countertops. They’re also a great option for backsplashes, bathrooms, vanities, bathroom dividers, tabletops, interior walls, and commercial flooring applications. Beautiful shower surrounds and bathtubs could be made with IceStone durable surface material. It can be shaped, cut water jet, inlaid, mounted vertically or horizontally. While there are 27 standard colors available, the color palette is infinite….IceStone durable surfaces are strong like granite, not as porous as marble and heat-resistant like stone. The chemical composition is benign and 99.5% inorganic making it a very safe material from the standpoint of toxicity and fire resistance. The fabrication, installation and maintenance of IceStone surfaces follow essentially the same process as used with natural stone. Due to its high recycled content and Cradle to Cradle Certification, IceStone materials can be used towards LEED points.
The cost of IceStone surfaces is dependent on the color selection, size and scope of project and it is available only to distributors and fabricators. You can find showrooms for this product at their website.
If in the Knoxville area: G & L Marble carries the IceStone product line.
Call REDBUD Construction Services and speak with our designers about how to incorporate these and other GREEN products into your project…865-250-9172.
Latest Trends in Kitchen Design
August 21, 2008 by Shawn Van Dyke · Leave a Comment
From MarketWatch:
When it comes to kitchen design today, cherry and maple cabinets are hot, as are quartzite countertops and custom paneled appliances. So says a recent national survey of kitchen designers conducted by the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) and luxury appliance manufacturer Thermador. With 206 participants – all of whom are NKBA certified designers – the online survey identifies several trends influencing today’s kitchen design – from popular colors and finishes used in designs, to new materials, and even new technologies being incorporated by designers.
And here’s a summary of the Survey:
Kitchen Type (design): Traditional
Cabinetry Finishes: Cherry and Maple
Color Scheme: Stainless Steel followed by beiges/bones
Appliances: Stainless steel and custom paneling/modular refrigeration
Countertops and Backsplashes: Granite and quartzite/tile, granite, or glass backsplashes
Functionality and Layout: multiple cooking stations and prep sinks
These trends have well established themselves and will continue to be used in kitchens for years to come.
Read the full article here.
Kitchen and Bath Planning Standards
August 13, 2008 by Shawn Van Dyke · Leave a Comment
The National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) has published a very useful tool for all of you that are trying to plan your upcoming project.
If you have ever asked yourself, “How much space do I need for that?”, then these kitchen and bath planning guidelines should help answer most of your questions.
So get a pencil, a big eraser, and some graph paper…if you don’t have any graph paper just print this out…and have fun laying out that new project. (Use each square to represent 3″ or 6″…that will give you a scalable drawing.)
Please remember, before beginning any construction you should consult a professional in the building industry in your local area to make yourself aware of the local building codes and requirements for your project.
And contact RCS with any questions you may have about your upcoming project.