Archive for Kitchen

Kitchen Backsplash Choices: What I went with and WHY

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Saturday, April 6th, 2019

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As you all know, we have a little project on the go that I’ve called, “Love At First Sight”. You can read about this project here, and here.

I have had a clear design vision for this home right from the start. There has only been one area that has caused me some sleepless nights: the kitchen backsplash!

Kitchen Backsplash

The Design

Here’s a 3D rendering of the entire space.

Kitchen Backsplash Choices

Standing at the front door, you will be able to see this entire space- including the wall of windows. As such, I was thinking that the kitchen backsplash may be a good place to have a little bit of ‘wow’ factor. Here are 3 kitchen backsplash tile ideas that I was looking at.

Choice One

Beautiful black, white, and grey tile with sexy curvy lines.

Choice Two

This was the very first tile I grabbed and held on to. I loved the black and white theme in this tile.

Choice Three

As you can see, this tile is simply white. What drew me to this tile is the shape of the tile.

Kitchen Backsplash: Where people make mistakes

This is exactly where people make mistakes with a kitchen backsplash.

Too often, one may look at a gorgeous tile on it’s own, or an image of some fantastic tile, and think,

I love it, and want it in my home!

Case in point: look at these gorgeous spaces using the tile!

Let’s take a look at the entire space for this kitchen.

Here’s what we already know:

Outer cabinets are a matte white.
Island cabinets are a matte black.

Here’s what else you need to know about this space:

Hardware for the white matte cabinets will be matte black.
The black matte cabinet hardware will be gold.
The pendant lights will be black and gold.
All of the appliances are black stainless steel.
There will be all white quartz counters.

Kitchen Backsplash Decision

Do you see how sexy those pendant lights are? There will be three of these gorgeous beauties going to be installed over the island.

If I was going to pick a kitchen backsplash tile independently and NOT think of the entire space, hands down I was going to pick Euro Ceramic Tile. However, there are other elements in the kitchen that I wish to stand out.

Taking into consideration the entire space, I know any patterned tile will be too much. It will make the space feel too busy and that is not the look I wish to achieve. I also have to make selections that will appeal to numerous potential buyers.

Have you guessed what tile I’m going to go with? Hands down, for this space, it’s the Soho White Tile!

Kitchen Backspalash

Here is one thing to remember about kitchen backsplash tile: do not to pick it independently. Have all of your samples with you: cabinet samples, flooring, hardware, and if you have picked out your lighting, have that in mind as well. You will thank me for it in the end!

Eye Candy

I thought it would be fun to add some sexy lighting and tile choices for you – in case you were in the market for some.

The items below may contain affiliate links. Any purchases, at no additional charge to you, are most appreciated and make this blog possible.

Please note, all of the tile choices below are peel and stick tiles. I have never used a peel and stick tile, but the patterns are super cute and would be great for a DIY project!

Kitchen Cabinets: The difference between custom vs IKEA cabinets

Posted by Sheri on

Saturday, March 23rd, 2019

in Design, Interior Design, Kitchen

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Since January, I have started to work on 6 new kitchen designs. In my past kitchen design work, I have worked with both my custom cabinet company as well as with IKEA. When it comes to looking at kitchen cabinets, what is the difference between custom cabinets vs IKEA cabinets?

difference between custom vs IKEA cabinets

DESIGN

When working on a kitchen renovation (or any renovation for that matter), the design needs to be in place before any pricing can be obtained. The design of the kitchen also needs to be functional. Most clients are having their kitchen remodeled due to it not functioning or being outdated. Here are the differences between custom vs IKEA cabinets.

Custom Cabinetry

I create all of my designs using my 2D and 3D computer software, Chief Architect. Being able to create conceptual designs to show my clients what their kitchen is going to look like is something I love to create. I also love the fact that my cabinet company uses the same software so I can easily send my plans over to them.

With my software, I can make changes quickly and easily, and use any cabinet size that is required. This is especially great when working in tighter spaces that may or may not fit ‘stock’ size cabinets. I can also make any customizations that are needed. For example, one of my clients is looking to have some toe kick pull out drawers. That is customized!

A custom cabinet company will offer a full service which means, they will come out and remeasure once the space has been created (if walls are coming out, etc.). They will also re-check their drawings and if there are any discrepancies, they will address them and look after those for you.

IKEA

I typically end up swearing, at least a half a dozen times, when working with the IKEA software. I find the software so glitchy that I end up having to waste a lot of time.

When it comes to the actual design of the kitchen, IKEA offers ‘stock size’ cabinets. That may mean that a bit of function may be compromised due to the cabinet sizes that are offered. I say, ‘may be’, as it has happened to me in the past. When I could have used a 26 3/8″ base cabinet, I have had to settle for a 24″ base cabinet with a filler. Ugh! You should also note that if there are any measurement discrepancies, you will be on the hook to address those and fix those.

What I do like about IKEA’s software is that it readily can spit out the design and the cost in one click!

IKEA also offers a number of services such as a measuring service and an in-home planning service. These two services are great for the DIY’er who wishes to ensure that they have planned out their kitchen correctly. These services are at a cost.

CHOICES

When the functional design has been solidified, the next step is to make the functional kitchen pretty. There are some pretty significant differences between custom vs IKEA cabinets!

Custom

When you chose custom cabinets, you can have your cake and eat it too! If you have wood cabinets, they can be stained, sprayed any colour, or have some custom finishes (antiquing) done.

IKEA

When it comes to using IKEA cabinets, you only have a certain number of choices to pick from. That includes the style and colour.

There is a company that I can purchase other doors through that will fit on IKEA base cabinets, however, I do not use them for one reason. Most clients will choose IKEA due to budget. The minute you start to change and/or customize, the budget increases.

TIME

Once the design is in place, it’s time to order the cabinets. IKEA wins this hands down when we compare the differences between custom vs IKEA cabinets.

Custom

As a rule of thumb, once the design has been accepted and a deposit has been made, I look at roughly 4-6 weeks for the cabinets to get made. If my cabinet company is swamped or it is a very busy time of year, I may have to wait 6+ weeks.

I know that in advance and plan my construction calendar accordingly.

IKEA

Depending on stock, you can order and pick up your cabinets on the same day! For my projects that use IKEA, I get all of the cabinets delivered. I will often go in about 2 weeks prior to needing the cabinets, place my order, and arrange delivery.

INSTALL

All of the thought has gone into the functional design and picking out the pretty. Now it’s time to actually see the space come into shape! The biggest difference between custom vs IKEA cabinets is the ease of using a custom cabinet maker.

CUSTOM

Oh, how I love it when my cabinet company arrives and I know there will be no issues I have to worry about. I also love knowing that the cabinets come put together! All of the boxes are made and ready to be installed!

Custom cabinet companies have their own installers who do this all.day.long. I am typically onsite to ensure there are not questions, state where the knobs and/or pulls need to be installed, and then let the crew work!

IKEA

When IKEA gets delivered, they are delivered in boxes and are not put together! Prior to having the cabinets installed, you will need to have the cabinets put together. There are three ways to have IKEA kitchens installed.

Put the cabinets together and install them yourself.
Hire a certified IKEA installer to do the work.
Hire someone (a General Contractor or Carpenter) to do the work.

It really doesn’t matter who you choose to look after your cabinets. Any way you pu it, the cabinets need to be put together and installed.

In the past, I had a carpenter put together and install the IKEA cabinets. Now, I strictly use certified IKEA installers. Why? They put together and install IKEA cabinets all the time. They are quick, they are efficient, and a large kitchen can be put together and installed in a couple of days.

A large kitchen may take a carpenter a week or more if they are not used to the IKEA system. My two apartment kitchens will be put together and installed in one day!

An important part to know about is your role during an IKEA install. For the certified IKEA installers I use, I am requested to be on site for the entire time in case the installers need something. This does take up my time to ensure there are no delays in having the cabinets put together and installed.

BUDGET

There are many factors when looking at the budget and determining if IKEA is more cost effective than custom. If you are looking at a full DIY project, there will be a huge difference between custom vs IKEA cabinets. If you are doing a partial DIY or wish to customize anything with IKEA, there may not be a huge difference!

FULL DIY

If you plan to do all of the:

measuring
ordering
accepting the delivery
putting together all of the cabinets
installing all of the cabinets.

IKEA will definitely save you money! The only thing you will need to factor in is the time it will take you.

If you start to engage companies for measuring, putting together and installing the cabinets, adding on any ‘extra features’ like a different crown molding or a furniture kick around your island, then you can expect your budget to increase.

CUSTOM

The entire list above is looked after for you when you go with custom cabinets. While the cost of custom cabinets may be more than a full DIY IKEA kitchen, there isn’t one single thing you have to worry about.

The value of time vs money plays into this. If you value your time, then you will want to hire someone to do the work for you. If you wish to save some money and are comfortable with doing the work, then an IKEA kitchen may be in your future!

Looking to remodel your kitchen? Contact Sheri today to discuss your options!

Removing a load bearing wall: What our choices were

Posted by Sheri on

Saturday, March 16th, 2019

in Interior Design, Kitchen, real estate

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In a current project, I had some options to remove a load bearing wall. What were my choices and what did I end up doing?

My Love At First Sight project has been rolling right along. For this project, I had planned to take out two walls on the main floor to open up the space. The reason behind removing the two walls was to ensure anyone would be able to see the gorgeous front windows from anywhere on the main floor.

What I had to work with

When I first viewed this property, both online and in person, I instantly fell in love with it. Pride of ownership is something that you can spot a mile away). You know when you enter a home and it has a ‘feel’. This home gave me the feels!

I instantly fell in love with the home! I have often said to the Mr. that we should keep it when we’re all done, that is how much I love this home!

Option 1 – Use 2 posts to replace the load bearing wall

Once we got possession, I had my engineer in to analyze the situation and make is recommendations. His recommendation, due to budget, was to use 2 posts in order to remove the load bearing wall. In my original plan, I had full intentions of using two posts. I had intentions of incorporating the posts into the island, and bada-bing, bada-boom, all would be good.

The conceptual rending below gives you an idea of incorporating the posts into the island.

What really happened?

The engineer visited the home and made his recommendations. When I saw where the posts actually had to sit, the words out of my mouth?

Oh shit!

The posts were too far to incorporate into the island. Here is what the plan was looking like.

You saw the words I used above right? This was going to be a no-go. On to Plan B.

Plan B: use the two posts and create a larger island

With the posts having to sit on a particular ‘line’, I looked at making the island larger. While I could have made the island larger (as in the conceptual design below), the island was becoming a monstrosity! Just imagine all of the cabinets and stone I was going to need – just for the island!

Option 2 – Remove the posts and use a beam

It was clear that the posts were not going to work. I started to investigate removing the posts and using a beam.

Hurdle 1 – The Scope of Work

It is very hard to get a price on work when you’re not sure what is needed to be done.

My GC and I had the engineer back to the house to give us a full write-up as to what was needed. With the directions laid out by the engineer, I was able to clearly see the scope of the work.

Below is what we required to be done in the basement.

Hurdle 2 – Cost of doing the work

How much?

I ask that question often. With the scope of work finalized, I needed a number to go along with the work. With all of the work, I was looking at a rough budget of $3500 – $5000 more dollars to install the beam.

Making the Call

When I have to make choices for an investment property, I am making the call. I reviewed the options with my real estate agent, the Mr., and my GC. It was a no-brainer to remove the load bearing wall and the two posts! It was full steam ahead to fully open up this space!

Removing the Load Bearing Wall

While we did not need to increase our footing, we did need to install a new post.

The second part was to install two temporary walls and prepare for the beam. Below is the 26′ beam (5 ply).

Taking this $3500 – $5000* hit to the budget is not one that I took lightly. I looked at all of my options, weighed the pros and cons, and made the decision to install this beam. Let me tell you, there were a few sleepness nights! There is no doubt in my mind that this decision was the ONLY decision to proceed forward.

*The final invoice has not been submitted as I wrote this however I know that it will not be exceeding $5000.00.

As I often say to my residential clients, we are one day closer. Although it looks like we have a lot of work to still complete, we truly are one day closer!

Looking to invest in real estate and don’t know where to start? Contact me today!

Black Fixtures in the kitchen and bath were hot, hot, hot at KBIS 2019

Posted by Sheri on

Saturday, March 2nd, 2019

in Bath, Design, Interior Design, Kitchen

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Going to KBIS is always exciting. We get to see the trends, we get to spot new and innovative products, and we always get to give our personal take on things we saw. With our Love At First Sight Project. rolling right along, I had my eyes peeled to see if black fixtures were hot. The entire theme for the home is black and white (including using gold accents for the lighting fixtures). I was super excited to see that black fixtures were hot, hot, hot!

Black Fixtures

As I had black fixtures on my brain, I was happy to see it in full force at KBIS 2019.

Black Fixtures: Shower Doors

It was one year ago that this wall of showers doors was a hit on Instagram.

This year, the trend was simply black – a timeless colour in my personal opinion.

From the simple look, to a more statement piece, Dream Line® offers some amazing options that are simply stunning in just black.

Black Fixtures: Faucets

A matte black finish, along with some new stainless steel black, was easily spotted at KBIS 2019 in the fixture department. From kitchen faucets to bathroom faucets, black was in the house!

Brizo Rook Widespread Lavatory Faucet

One thing I did notice is that most of the black fixtures were against white backgrounds. The white background makes the black fixures just pop! In my recent One Room Challenge, I paired a matte black faucet against white quartz counters and a white sink.

Every time I walk past this bathroom I stop in my tracks!

If you’re looking to add some spice to your spaces, I’ve put together some of my top picks for you.

Now over to you. Would you be so bold to install black finishes?

Please note this post may contain affiliate links. If you click to buy one of these, I will make a tiny percentage, at no additional cost to you.

Creating a Smart Home: Simple home automation solutions

Posted by Sheri on

Friday, February 22nd, 2019

in Bath, Design, Interior Design, Kitchen

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I’ve been home from KBIS 2019 for two days now and scouring through all of my pictures to decide what to report back. As I looked at all of my pictures, there were some consistent themes I saw. One of the most interesting, and a bit scary for this old chick, is home automation. While there have been stories in the news about security breaches, the inclusion of technology in the home is not going away. And while there are pros and cons for everything, I’m going to break down some easier things you can add to your home to be on the path to making it a smart home.

Smart Home – What does that even mean?

According to Android Authority, a smart home is

…a residence equipped with a number of devices that automate tasks normally handled by humans.

Smart Home – Lighting Dimmers/Switches

You all know how I LOVE Legrand’s adorne® collection. This year, I was introduced to another Legrand collection, the radiant® collection. While I won’t go into a lot of detail with this blog (as I’ll be using these in our Love At First Sight project and will dedicate an entire blog to these beauties), here’s a really quick look at these sexy switches!

What I love about Legrand products is that they are sleek looking and can easily replace existing switches. The radiant® smart switches can control lighting, audio, or the entire home.

These switches can be connected via the app from Legrand or by any other smart device (Google, Alexa, etc.)

As I always like to share the pros and cons, I am going to save that for my dedicated blog on these beauties. Stay tuned for this blog!

Smart Home – Plumbing

Yes – you read that correctly. What could there possibly be in the bathroom to make it a smart home? Ohh….let me show you just how many wonderful ways!

Showers

I had the opportunity to take a shower with Moen. I mean, we kept our clothes on (keep it clean people)!

U by Moen has

…forever transformed showering to create a personalized showering experience. Now with three ways to control your smart shower: voice, phone, and controller.

The whole process starts with either choosing 2 or 4 outlets. Let me tell you, if I was to install this little touch of smart home goodness, go for the 4 (better known to my clients as the entire car wash experience).

Creating your dream shower

With Moen’s innovated controller, you can control your shower without ever stepping foot IN the shower. Simply click on the app, adjust your settings, and you’re good to go. With the customization features, you can:

Set a timer enabling you to keep on schedule (and not fall asleep in the shower – yes – my Mr. does that) or shut the shower off (my son – I am looking at you when I write this).
Use the start and pause feature to conserve water. When your shower has heated up to your desired temperature, and you’re not quite ready to hop in, pause the water until you are ready.
Control the temperature before you ever step foot into the shower. No more cold blast of water!
Receive notifications when your shower is ready.

Installation

You would think a shower of this magnitude would need a lot of extra plumbing. I’m here to tell you my friends, that it really isn’t that complicated. Moen put a lot of thought into what goes behind the wall. Here’s a peek at the valve(s) that smartly fit between the studs.

TOILETS

Automation with toilets gives a whole new meaning to the phrase, ‘royal flush’. These toilets are really built for a king and/or queen! The toilet below – comes with a hefty king and queen price tag! When I had the opportunity to visit the Kohler booth, I was shown the Numi® 2.0

Just take a look at how this automation works for this toilet

A few of the smart features with this particular toilet:

Ambient lighting with eight colors and three programming options.
Built-in speakers play preprogrammed custom Numi® song, FM radio or your personalized music from a portable device with BLUETOOTH®* technology
User presets for up to six people to recall individual saved preferences.

This may fall in the category of TMI, but I personally prefer to be in and out. You know – get in and get-er’ done and get out. While I’m not sure I would enjoy all of the benefits from this toilet, I am 100% positive that the Mr. would. In fact, I may not see him all weekend!

PLUMBING SAFETY

When it comes to creating a smart home, it’s not always about the bells and whistles that you see and use every day. There are some great innovations when it comes to water safety. Nothing is more unsettling than dealing with a flood. Here are some shocking stats.

Grohe Sense is a smart water sensor that can detect:

Water leaks
Frost risks
Harmful humidity

How does it work?

The puck-like sensor is placed in a room, such as a laundry room, close to the appliance or fixture. If water is detected, GROHE Sense will send you a notification via the GROHE ONDUS app. If there is a water leak, you will be notified and get there in time to stop the leak becoming a flood.

The Grohe Sense Guard is installed directly to your plumbing lines.

This device also uses the GROHE ONDUS app to notify you of any micro-leaks, burst pipes, etc. Again, you would get a notification through the app and you can either manually turn off the water or have it automatically shut off (you can set that up when you configure your device.)

Whether you are away on holidays or are simply at work, you can rest assure that water damage will be the thing of the past!

SMART HOMES

When I see automation(s) like the above, the little techy-geek in me gets all excited. I love that technology can assist us like never before. I mean,

Who wouldn’t want to set the temperature for the shower and the water will be the exact temperature that you’ve asked it to be?
When I go to use the toilet, I can be ever so comfortable (so comfortable that I may not want to leave the water closet).
My holiday will never be interrupted by a water leak.

While I do get excited, the older me has a feeling of apprehension. It seems we’re moving into a world where devices do all of the thinking. Do you ever think twice about using the toilet and sit there wondering why there isn’t music playing? Do I really need a toilet that serenades me while I’m using it? Has it ever killed me to turn on the shower – with my hand? Does it really kill me to get up and turn down the lights? Never.

The fact is, I like using my brain, I like to think, and I don’t ever want to lose that ability – ever!

Whatever the future has in store for us, automation and creating smart homes is definitely not going away. That was truly evident at KBIS 2019. So while we don’t have to embrace every little new thing, there are certain items that I see as a great benefit to being a smart homeowner.

Over to you. What are your thoughts on automation and smart homes?

SHOP NOW

Please note this post may contain affiliate links. If you click to buy one of these, I will make a tiny percentage, at no additional cost to you.

What happens in Vegas will not stay in Vegas: An insider look at KBIS

Posted by Sheri on

Friday, February 15th, 2019

in Bath, Interior Design, Kitchen

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I will be traveling to Las Vegas on Monday and I’m giving you my insider look at KBIS 2019. I know most of you do not attend this show and for me, this is THE ONE that I will not miss! In fact, there are actually two big industry shows – the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS) and the International Builder’s Show^® (IBS). I am extremely fortunate to be attending both!

Last year, I was part of an exclusive group and part of a blog tour hosted by Modenus. We had jam-packed days filled with learning, learning, and learning (ok – and just a wee bit of fun)! This year, I am attending this event on my own and crazy enough, I have scheduled myself in to see many suppliers and companies. This is gearing up to be another fantastic learning opportunity! Here’s a sneak peek at how I have prepared my days to provide you with an insider look into KBIS.

Day 1

I have strategically chosen these companies as I either do a lot of work with them and/or I want to see what is new, what is improved, and more importantly, what my clients could potentially use for their upcoming renovation. I plan to use this day to see as many other suppliers as well. I’m sure my Instagram and Facebook feeds will be full of my insider look at KBIS.

Day 2

This day is filled with a lot of professional development. I look forward to seeing the New American Home Tour as I missed that last year due to a late incoming flight. Of course, the day will wind down with a fantastic social event – The Bash. The event starts at 8:30 pm and if you know me, I’ll most likely be back in my hotel room by 10:00 pm (and that’s pushing it)!

Insider Look At KBIS

When friends hear that I’m off to Vegas to attend KBIS, I get a typical response.

You’re going to have such a great time. There’s so much to do in Vegas. Which show(s) will you be seeing?

I do get the giggles as I write this. I’m such a nerd as there are no shows in my agenda. Truly, I am there for business. And while I will attend The Bash on Wednesday night, I’m there to focus. I have a strategy for each day (I know…don’t laugh) and plan to write many blogs when I return. I find that the more information I can arm myself with, the better designer I will be. To give you a little insider look at KBIS, and provide you just how extensive this show is, take a look at the halls below, and all of the vendors and suppliers that will be attending!

I hope you enjoyed my insider look at KBIS and hope you’ll join me for a wonderful week of learning. I look forward to updating everyone on all the exciting new things from KBIS as well as items from the IBS.

What are cabinet options when updating a kitchen?

Posted by Sheri on

Saturday, January 26th, 2019

in Interior Design, Kitchen

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This past week we started an entire home project that consists of a number of areas that we will be addressing in the home. One of the areas that we will address is the kitchen. So what are the options when you are updating a kitchen?

Updating a kitchen

Replace the cabinets

When it comes to updating a kitchen, the most common option is to tear out the old and install new cabinets. When I work with clients who wish to do this, we typically look at the function and in most cases, we end up changing things around.

PRO: You can get an entirely new kitchen layout that is more functional than what was previous. All of the cabinets will be new (including the boxes and the doors). You also will be getting a new counter. This can be in the form of granite, quartz, or other various materials at different price points.

CONS: This is often the most expensive option. As mentioned above, most people look at layout changes which often involves plumbing changes, electrical changes, flooring changes and of course, new appliances. All of those items can really start to add up. This can often also take a bit longer from start to finish.

Painting the Cabinets

If your cabinets are in good shape, and can be painted, this may be a great option for you. A huge transformation can definitely take place!

PRO: Your dated, old cabinets can get a total new look. By painting your cabinets. you do not need to fill up the landfill or having to worry about selling them. In addition, you can carry out some minor updates. Different crown molding can be added prior to being painted. One of my favorite pros is that you can choose any color you want! The image below shows how we had a custom hood fan built to replace the old cabinet and hood fan.

CONS: When cabinets get sprayed, it stinks And when I say it stinks, it stinks! For the most part, you really should not be in the home while this is being done. This can be anywhere from 3 – 5 days. In addition to the smell, there is a lot of prep work that has to be done prior to spraying. That means that having your cabinets sprayed can take longer than having brand new cabinets installed. In addition, you need to be aware that paint can eventually chip. While painters do a very good job in prepping the cabinets, it is just paint.

Refacing Cabinets

Refacing means that the cabinet doors and all gables (and anything else that is on the outside) will be replaced. A laminate or veneer is used on the cabinet boxes to match the new doors.

PROS: Refacing is where you have the opportunity to totally change the look of your cabinet fronts. Most clients will choose a totally different look for the cabinet fronts (going from a dated profile to a more streamlined look). Another pro is that an entire kitchen can take about one week from start to finish. Since there are no changes to the layout, there is no need for any flooring repairs. By having cabinets refaced, you also have the opportunity to add extra cabinets (if needed) and adapt cabinets if necessary.

CONS: While there are many pros, one con is that you only have a certain number of choices for colors as well as the style of doors. You know what a stickler I am about using the right color – especially white!

How are we going to be updating this kitchen?

While this entire blog is about options when updating kitchen cabinets, it really is important to understand the lifestyle that my clients have. We discussed hopes, dreams, and wishes for their space. Here are some key points that came out during our discovery stage.

The existing kitchen layout was working just fine.
Their family of three enjoy the raised eating area and did not wish to change that.
There are three cats that are also part of this family. Take a peek at where at least one, likes to sit.

After reviewing the three options, we have decided to go with having the kitchen and all bath vanities refaced. There really is no need to rip of good cabinets and painting them was never going to be an option (with the cats climbing up to the top). While the cabinets are being refaced, we are also going to be installing new quartz counters. The entire process will take one week from start to finish to re-face this kitchen. I can’t wait to show you how this has all transformed!

Want to stay in touch with how this project is coming along? Follow me on Facebook as I carry out live video updates!

A Bakers Dream

Posted by Sheri on

Saturday, November 10th, 2018

in Design, Interior Design, Kitchen

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My clients recently purchased a home and were wanting to make some spaces more efficient and user-friendly. On my list was to create a butlers pantry and a closet-makeover. While they were two totally separate spaces, we addressed both areas at the same time. This is Part 1 of a two-part series for this home. For this blog, I’ll be going over the Butler’s Pantry Makeover.

Butler’s Pantry Makeover

The Concept

Let’s start with this space that is located just off of the kitchen. When my clients moved into the home, they did a lot of painting. Part of the painting was the existing cabinets. The gorgeous hood fan in the kitchen is a lovely blue.

Sherwin Williams Ancor’s Aweigh SW 9179

This blue is such a strong and rich statement. We decided to do all of the cabinetry in this color! I have used this color before and was excited to be working with it again! After discussing the items on the ‘wish list’, the conceptual design was created.

Design by Sheri Bruneau

My client loves to bake and there were certain things on her list that she wished for. The items we were adding were:

A tall cabinet to house the cleaning supplies, brooms, a vacuum, etc.
An apron sink.
My clients wished to have their microwave (in a base cabinet).
Floating shelves were a must!

And here is the 3D conceptual rendering of the butler’s pantry makeover:

Butler’s Pantry: Before

Here is what the butler’s pantry looked like prior to the work getting done.

Part of the space was used as a dropping zone for….things.

The previous owner had plumbing in already for a sink and we were lucky there were also outlets at counter height.

Butler’s Pantry: The Reveal

The tall cabinet that now houses the cleaning supplies (out of sight).

We chose a beautiful, delicate knob in a Golden Champagne finish. This finish, with the blue cabinets, is just so damn pretty!

For the faucet, we continued with the Golden Champagne finish.

My client LOVES to bake and can’t wait to use her new space!

Butler’s Pantry Makeover

This was such a great space to create. I absolutely loved working with my client and I wish to give her a special shout-out. Our initial conversation started in March of 2018. I had mentioned that I was pretty booked but she patiently waited for me to fit her in. We had a couple of long delays with things (no fault of anyone – just an extremely busy renovation summer). In the end, although this space took longer to get it all done, I am extremely grateful for such great clients. In a recent email, my client said,

Love my Pantry! It so much fun to work in.

Coming next week I’ll be showcasing their master closet makeover! I hope you stay tuned.

Trade Day: How to prepare and be organized for your renovation

Posted by Sheri on

Saturday, June 30th, 2018

in Design, Interior Design, Kitchen, renovations

| comments: (2)

This past week, I had a Trade Day at one of our upcoming renovation projects. There was a lot of preparation that went into getting ready for this day so I thought it would make a great post.

First, if you are going to manage your own renovation, this post may give you some insight into how prepared you should be to obtain quotes from any trade.

Secondly, if you are not going to manage your renovation, this will give you an inside look at to all the work that goes into this stage.

Trade Day

First of all, what is a trade day? A trade day is a day where I book a block of time at the renovation site. I invite all of the required trades to meet me to carry out a walkthrough of the site. We discuss what is in their scope of work, we discuss any potential curve balls that we may run into, and we briefly discuss timelines.

For this upcoming renovation project, I met the following:

Electrician
Plumber
Painter
Flooring
Contractor

All the paperwork needed for my Trade Day.

Organizing the Trade Day

In order to get this all organized, I needed to do the following:

Arrange a day/time with my clients.
Communicate with my clients the lists for each trade and add in/delete any task required.
Call/email/contact the above trades to see if they could accommodate the date and time.
Create a schedule for the trades.
Create a list for each trade.
Have the detailed drawings for each trade.

Just so we have total disclosure, the above took a total of 6.5 hours to pull together in total.

Trade Day: Electrical

For this renovation project, the electrical part is the largest part and therefore, has the longest list. Part of the scope is to upgrade the electrical panel, add pot lights throughout the home, add additional light for the kitchen cabinets, and add outlets for the new island.

I always create a ‘conceptual design’ for a lighting plan KNOWING that we will discuss options on site. Together, we make any changes so that the quote that I will receive is the most accurate.

Trade Day: Plumbing

For this project, there isn’t a ton of plumbing changes that will occur. That being said, the home that is going to be renovated is an older home so I need to prepare (both timeline and budget wise) for any curveballs that may be seen. For the most part, the only thing changing is the location of the dishwasher. We will be adding in water lines to both refrigerators. We will also need to relocate a cold air return that currently sits on one wall that is coming down. That means the wall that I have planned to be installed may need to be moved 6″ – 1′ to accomodate this. THIS is something I need to know in advance and I’m happy to make that small change on my plans.

Trade Day: Flooring and Paint

I typically give my painter and flooring guys the same plan. What they really need to know is square footage.

For my painter, he also needs to know how many doors, if he’s including baseboards and casings, how many colours of paint we plan on using, etc.

For the flooring, we need to know who is looking after the substrate (preparation), and what my contractor will be handling and what they will be handling.

Trade Day: Contractor

I left this for the last as the scope for my contractor is the ‘fill in the gaps’ from the above. Some items on this list are:

Demolition of 3 walls in the kitchen.
The new framing of 1 wall.
Install of drywall on the new walls.
Install of all interior doors, baseboards, casing.
Finishing work

Trade Day – Why Do I Bother?

As you can see from the above, there is a lot of preparation and work that goes into planning out a Trade Day. So why do I bother with one? After the trades have their information from me, they have seen the site, they can provide me with a fairly accurate quote. The reason I say

fairly accurate quote

is due to the fact that their quote will not factor in any curveballs that we may run into. While we do our very best to prepare, investigate and plan ahead, there sometimes are surprises and curve-balls that we just did not anticipate. The quote that I receive from the Trade Day also does not include any extras that my clients may add on after the fact.

My Facebook Live video prior to going in for the Trade Day

When the trades have provided me their quote, then the clients and I can continue to source product for their renovation project to pull together a final budget.

I love knowing that I have a number of trade companies that I can call upon for all of my projects. Although I use more than one plumber, one electrician, etc., this is the crew that is going to be working on this project for me. While we look like a goofy bunch, we have a lot of fun working together and I know that these guys truly are part of my ‘A Team’.

Click here to join in the fun!

Farmhouse Sinks and Faucets: get the look

Posted by Sheri on

Sunday, June 17th, 2018

in Design, Interior Design, Kitchen

| comments: (1)

I am currently working with two clients who love the look of farmhouse sinks and faucets. While one client likes the more traditional look, the other client likes the more modern look. As I started to source the farmhouse sinks and faucets, I thought it would be neat to put together some of my findings.

Please note, this specific blog contains affiliate links. While these links are at no additional cost to you, I will earn a very small commission if you click through and make a purchase. As I write about the products below I wish for you to know the views expressed in this blog are totally mine.

Farmhouse Sinks

While many people know these as farmhouse sinks, what most people really wish for are called apron sinks. When renovating and getting new cabinets, the cabinet needs to be able to fit an apron sink. This means the front of the cabinet needs to have an opening for the front, or apron, of the sink.

Image source

Farmhouse Sink

Here are a few of my favorite finds when I was sourcing farmhouse sinks:

Purchase this sink

This particular sink comes in many colors including this sexy Thunder Grey. The height of the apron (front) is 9 5/8″ and has a beautifully curved corner. And straight from the Kohler website:

Crafted from enameled cast iron, this sink resists chipping, cracking, or burning for years of beauty and reliable performance. A standard apron front makes it easy to install on 36-inch apron-front cabinetry. The Self-Trimming^® design requires only a simple rough cut, overlapping the cabinet face for beautiful results.

Here is the same sink in a Double Basin. Image source for the image below is here.

Purchase this Sink

There are also stainless steel options for apron sinks and this beauty definitely caught my eye!

Purchase this Sink

This Strive kitchen sink offers professional style with easy-to-clean curved corners. Made of thick, premium quality 16-gauge stainless steel, the apron-front sink has a Self-Trimming design that requires only a simple rough cut, overlapping the cabinet face for beautiful results.

For a more traditional look, here is one that I spent significant time looking at for one of my clients.

Purchase this Sink

This beauty only comes in two colors: white and parchment.

Purchase this sink

What I love about a bowed apron front sink is that it gives a nice feminine curve to a space.

Farmhouse Faucets

I know there are many ways to do things, but I typically source the sink first and then source the faucet. Here are a couple of farmhouse faucets that caught my eye for my clients.

Bridge Faucets

A bridge faucet is popular to pair with an apron sink. I love the look of this faucet as it works with both the traditional look as well as a more modern look. This particular faucet comes in Brushed or Polished Stainless Steel.

Purchase this faucet

This faucet below is by far, one of my favorites! For me, it just screams farmhouse style AND it comes in so many finishes!

Purchase this faucet

Single Handle Faucets

Purchase this faucet

This faucet is one of my favorite single handle faucets. It has a pull-down spout with the DockNetik^® magnetic docking system. There is also a 3-function sprayhead feature that includes Kohler’s Sweep^® and BerrySoft^® spray.

Purchase this faucet

This faucet comes in 5 finishes that include English Bronze, English Gold, Polished Chrome, Polished Nickel, and Satin Nickel. These faucets are made in Great Britain using regionally sourced solid brass and ceramic components. What that really means is they are very well made!

Farmhouse sinks and faucets

Sourcing is one of the tasks that I love the most. While starting to source for my clients, I love seeing what options are available, what finishes are available and what the price points are. I always know that there is a way to get the look my client wishes for, within their budget!

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Archive for Kitchen

Kitchen Backsplash

The Design

Kitchen Backsplash Choices

Choice One

Choice Two

Choice Three

Kitchen Backsplash: Where people make mistakes

Here’s what we already know:

Here’s what else you need to know about this space:

Kitchen Backsplash Decision

Kitchen Backspalash

Eye Candy

DESIGN

Custom Cabinetry

IKEA

CHOICES

Custom

IKEA

TIME

Custom

IKEA

INSTALL

CUSTOM

IKEA

BUDGET

FULL DIY

CUSTOM

Looking to remodel your kitchen? Contact Sheri today to discuss your options!

What I had to work with

Option 1 – Use 2 posts to replace the load bearing wall

What really happened?

Plan B: use the two posts and create a larger island

Option 2 – Remove the posts and use a beam

Hurdle 1 – The Scope of Work

Hurdle 2 – Cost of doing the work

Making the Call

Removing the Load Bearing Wall

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Black Fixtures

Black Fixtures: Shower Doors

Black Fixtures: Faucets

Smart Home – What does that even mean?

Smart Home – Lighting Dimmers/Switches

Smart Home – Plumbing

Showers

Creating your dream shower

Installation

TOILETS

PLUMBING SAFETY

How does it work?

SMART HOMES

SHOP NOW

Day 1

Day 2

Insider Look At KBIS

Updating a kitchen

Replace the cabinets

Painting the Cabinets

Refacing Cabinets

How are we going to be updating this kitchen?

Want to stay in touch with how this project is coming along? Follow me on Facebook as I carry out live video updates!

Butler’s Pantry Makeover

The Concept

Butler’s Pantry: Before

Butler’s Pantry: The Reveal

Butler’s Pantry Makeover

Trade Day

Organizing the Trade Day

Trade Day: Electrical

Trade Day: Plumbing

Trade Day: Flooring and Paint

Trade Day: Contractor

Trade Day – Why Do I Bother?

Farmhouse Sinks

Farmhouse Sink

Farmhouse Faucets

Bridge Faucets