Easy Steps To Transform Your Kitchen and Bath

Easy Steps To Transform Your Kitchen & Bath The two most used rooms in the house are the kitchen and bathroom. Keeping these rooms inviting makes a big statement. When the time comes to update and remodel, the expense may cause you pause. However, you can transform your kitchen dramatically with a few well-chosen tips from the pros. Here we will share with you, small changes that make a big difference without blowing your budget.   Choose your must haves The focal point in the kitchen and bath is the sink area. Dated and old faucets instantly age the room. This item will go on your must have list. Try a modern faucet from Maestro Bath for beauty and functionality. Now check the rest of the room. Are countertops in good condition? Can you get by without changing the floor? When you have your list of what must be replaced, you can purchase those items and begin the transformation on what is left.   Faux Baseboards Trim...
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See then Sign! Stressing the importance of Visual Aids in Home Remodeling

Visual Aids     How does a Home Improvement Specialist convey their concept to a homeowner? A:  You do it through communication and Visual Aids like 3d Rendering software.  Theses programs have come a long way in the last few years and we are now able to show our Homeowners a fairly accurate interpretation of their new space prior to building it. Why is this important? A:  Well most of us are not able to comprehend how something will be positioned through speech alone.  If everyone possessed this skill, most if not all designers, Architects, decorators and design/build contractors would not be in such high demand.  Our Homeowners deserve a full description of what they are paying for and the picture to back it up. Are changes easy? A:  If you would like to see an array of different options, our team will be able to accommodate most changes on the fly.  Our team is well versed in the presentation software and will most likely recommend their...
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Project Ground Rules

  Review the following questions with your contractor prior to construction:   If there are pets, where will they be kept during construction? If there are children, what rules apply to them around the work site during working hours? What dust containment procedures will the contractor employ? What kind of cleanup will take place at the end of each day? What restrictions, if any, are there on your contractors' use of your bathroom? Is there a designated eating or smoking area? Are there any parking restrictions the contractor should be aware of? Does any landscaping need to be moved or protected? What time will daily work begin and end? Can work be scheduled on weekends? If weekend work is an option, are there any special restrictions? If there is an after-hours emergency, who do you call? Who will you talk to about change orders?  What is the best number to call? Who do you go with day to day comments and suggestions?   Special thanks to David Lupberger for the great form!...
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Kitchens: What’s Old is What’s New and Visa-versa

 Kitchen Design: What’s New? What’s Old? So, you want to remodel your kitchen, and you’re looking for ideas. You’ll soon find there are millions of them. Perhaps, so many that the exercise of research just makes the decisions more complicated. There are no hard and fast rules. The kitchen you want has to suit you. Well, it all looks so good! Traditional cabinetry with ultra-modern appliances and accoutrements—and visa-versa—is fast becoming a trend. The mixture of past, present, and imagined future design elements can be melded to create an eclectic whole. Stainless steel and distressed pine together—natural stone and backlit acrylics—bold-colored islands and stained perimeter cabinetry. Seemingly incompatible forms can work to create your eclectic whole. Often, this demands the eye and skills of a professional kitchen designer.                                                                                             Old world meets new: Before                                                                                                                                                  After           The kitchen work triangle of the past has given way to the new kitchen polygon. With the advent of multiple work stations, multiple sinks, pot fillers, mixer lifts,...
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Hainesport NJ Sunroom Addition

Hainesport NJ Sunroom Addition

  HAINESPORT SUNROOM This 16’ x 20’ open sunroom / conservatory is not only an attractive addition to the home, but also provides a sense of balance to the structure. With full cathedral ceilings and hardwood flooring, it is filled with natural light during the day, and ample recessed lighting for night time activities. The walls were built with 2x6 construction to allow for additional insulation to compensate for the substantial glass. The front façade has a central palladium-style window and brings a brick water table across to tie-in aesthetically with the main house façade. Plumbing rough-ins were installed during construction for a future a future wet bar. Entry from the existing house is made through a set of wood, French doors.   Sunroom Additions are Cost-Effective A sunroom addition is an attractive and cost-effective way to add space for both entertaining and relaxation to your home. Due to the single room design and the cathedral ceilings, the interior decorating and lighting options are endless and...
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DELRAN, NJ WINDOW PROJECT

DELRAN, NJ WINDOW PROJECT

WINDOWS in GENERAL When searching for a new home, windows are usually not a huge determining factor. As long as we can see through them, they open and close, and are reasonably presentable; little effort usually goes into research into their quality. Unfortunately, if a home was constructed with many others in a “development” context, the builder likely put similar effort into choosing them. It’s the cost that usually drives those decisions. Not just the cost of the window units, but the cost of their installation as well. Window and door installations, like roofing, siding, drywall, and every other facet of new home building, are often performed by “piece workers.” They are workers that are paid according to the quantity of units they install. The quality of the installation has little oversight. Since the consequences of a poor install will not be realized till long after the check clears and the warranty expires, the installation is geared toward speed rather than longevity...
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IPE DECKING

IPE DECKING   IPE: Like teak and redwood, Ipe is popular for exterior projects for its appearance, its resistance to decay, insects, and water damage due to its high tannin and oil content. Also known as Brazilian Walnut or Ironwood, ipe grows in tropical South America. Ipe is so dense that it will not float in water and has similar fire-resistance to concrete or steel. Exposed to the elements, an ipe deck will last at least 25 years, and if maintained properly, it can last much longer. Your ipe deck contractor can advise you on the applicable options. Choose the right IPE deck contractor: Because of its density, ipe is a difficult wood to work. For a typical deck, the Ipe deck builder is likely to go through many blades and bits. Due to the inherent difficulties associated with working the material, it is highly recommended that you hire a contractor that is knowledgeable and experienced with ipe. Beside the fact that it can be a...
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The Home Remodeling Pre-construction Meeting

The Pre-Construction Meeting   As you anticipate your new kitchen, bath, addition, or other major home remodeling project, there is a crucial step implemented by most competent remodeling contractors. While the journey from first contact to final contract can be daunting, exhausting, and somewhat confusing, by the time you signed that contract, hopefully, all of your questions and concerns have been addressed—or so you may think. A thorough home remodeling pre-construction meeting is very much in your interest. Sometime prior to the scheduled start of your project, your contractor will (or should) schedule a pre-construction meeting at your home (or site.) The attendees will be the person with whom you signed the contract, the person that will be in charge of the producing of your remodeling project, and you. It may be appropriate to include a specialist or experts in a particularly challenging aspect of your project for logistical input. The primary purpose of the remodeling pre-construction meeting is the practical hand-off of the...
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