ROF: Your Blueprint For Any Home Project

We like to suggest a simple blueprint for any project from new construction to the smallest of home renovations:  ROF  (Research, Organize, Finalize Budget).  

For example, with a kitchen remodel, this is how it would go:

R (Research):

Check out the latest kitchen designs. Visit model homes in your area, page through design magazines and books, and visit web sites, such as Houzz or Pinterest. Pinterest or Evernote, just to name a few, can also be very useful tools to help you save clips of ideas or designs you find on the internet. 

O (Organize): 

All the research you do will produce tons of ideas, inspirations and thoughts. Sift through these and organize them to determine your style, what is possible in your space, and your budget. 

F (Finalize Budget):
Determine the extent of your renovation and set a budget. It's good to build a little flex into your final budget to accommodate the unexpected.

Stay tuned for more building and design tips next time when we talk about more kitchen renovation projects!

Specialty Lighting

Want to take your home from Wonderful to WOW! ? Different techniques in specialty lighting can do just that. Area ambiance can go from being just another part of the home to a conversation piece.

For example, we built an onyx-topped bar for a client (see photos below) in an area that divides two rooms, then lit the onyx from underneath. That surely says WOW!

LED can lighting in ceilings and LED tape lighting under cabinets is also becoming more popular - and energy efficient!

The onxy-topped bar (middle of the photo) that spans two living spaces

Close-up of the onyx-topped bar

Question: What are some of the most interesting projects your firm has completed?

All of our projects are interesting, but a couple of our larger projects involved tearing down an existing home and building a new home, and totally gutting the interior of a home that had a living room and family room, and converting it to a great room plan.

Choice lots are getting harder to find, so tear downs and total renovations are becoming more common.

When you go into an established community and tear down a home, it presents special challenges. The main challenge is protecting adjoining property and keeping the neighbors happy.

During the design process we work especially hard to be sensitive to the character of the neighborhood.

Take a peek at a floor plan BEFORE tear down and AFTER.

Floorplan BEFORE Tear-down

Floorplan AFTER Tear-down

What Is Important In Good Kitchen Design?

Today’s kitchens are the heart and soul of the home. Good design means the room must be both functional and a pleasure to be in, while still reflecting the feel of the rest of the house.

The kitchen layout has to have a balance between storage, function and aesthetics. We like to sit down with a client to find out what their needs are and how they use the kitchen.

We also work with their style and taste, blending it with the style of the house, to make the final product the envy of those who have not yet updated their kitchen.

How Do You Choose Finishes and Color Palettes?

Making color palette and finish choices is always a process. We take time to get to know our clients and their tastes. Sometimes, we can have one meeting and immediately envision what they want to accomplish, but more often it takes a few conversations before we reach a point where the selections process can begin. 

Our clients can be involved as much as they choose. Many of our clients prefer we do the legwork and present a color palette and samples for their review. 

We make the selection process as easy as possible, making sure the selections guarantee our client a beautiful environment that matches their vision.