Kitchen Remodel - Andersen Mill

The kitchen at the Pena residence was our first kitchen remodel this past summer.   

The wish list included:

• Bring the kitchen "out of the 1970's"
• Open up the space
• Remove a double oven and adding more storage
• Install new cabinets and appliances

As you can see, the kitchen did need some updating.  In order to open up the space, we removed the upper cabinets separating the kitchen from the dining room.  Then we removed the light box at the kitchen ceiling.  This allowed us to "bump" up the ceiling 12 inches.  These two decisions opened up the kitchen.  What do you think?

We then added these great shaker-style, espresso-stained cabinets from KitchenCraft.  The cabinets are frameless, allowing for less wood to be used, as well as increasing storage capacity.  Combined with integrated storage solutions, the cabinets are much more efficient than the previous ones. 

We also installed a New Venetian Gold granite countertop from Rodeo Marble and a travertine backsplash to compliment the cabinets and granite.  

Overall, the kitchen looks cleaner, updated, and much more open.  Another kitchen remodeling success!

Looking to update your kitchen?  We would love to help. Contact us at info@duarteconstruct.com or 512.275.6500.  

Laundry Room Makeover

While many hours each week are spent in the laundry room, it may be one of the least thought-out rooms in the house.  It is all too common to focus your attention on the kitchen or master suite, but the laundry room is just an afterthought.

But when someone takes the time to think through the features and logistics of a laundry room, it can make the necessary chore of doing your laundry a much better experience.

Take this laundry room renovation that I tackled this summer.  My client had a typical laundry room that did the job, but was narrow and had limited storage.  And with two active kids, the laundry baskets often piled up.

So they decided to change things around a bit.  The wish list included:

• More storage
• Everything to have its place
• More open space  that would make it easier to move around in
• A room that could function like both a laundry room and a mud room

And with a design by Austin designer Jon Salinas AIA, we jumped into the project.  

We extended the laundry room by using some of the existing garage space.

Then we added much needed storage in the form of cabinets and an island from QSI Custom Cabinets.  The cabinets work well for all of those random items that end up in the laundry room: dog food, water bottles, etc.  The soapstone island countertop from Dorado Soapstone serves as a great work surface to sort and fold clothes.

And my favorite part of this renovation are the perfect-sized cubbies to hold those laundry baskets and the cloth bins that can hide the clutter.  Everything has its place.

The final touch was a fresh coat of paint. The mustard yellow warms up the space immensely.

When an overlooked laundry room gets the attention that it deserves, the results can be extraordinary.

Should you be your own general contractor?

This is a hard question to answer in my opinion. Bottom line is that it is like everything else. Yes, you will make rookie mistakes. Yes, you can do a lot of the work yourself. And yes, you can be successful in being your own general contractor.

But before you pull out the hammer and blueprints, let's look at some of the advantages of hiring a general contractor so that at least you are aware of what you are up against. General contractors have a few big advantages over a do-it-yourself home owner.

• They have relationships with sub-contractors that make it a lot easier to create a schedule and stick to it.  When a general contractor calls a plumber and asks him to start a job, that plumber will show up when expected and get the job done.  When a homeowner calls a plumber, that homeowner is at the mercy of the plumber's schedule and priority list.

• A general contractor most often knows where to get the best quality products for the least amount of money.  Because he often buys products in bulk and has a relationship with the supplier, he can get a better rate than the average person.  In addition, he knows from experience which products have the best quality.  It is better to spend a few more dollars on a sink that will hold up, than one that is cheaper but will require a warranty call in a matter of months.

• A general contractor can also save you time.  Knowing exactly what inspections need to happen when, the shipping time of a product, and the scheduling conflicts of the sub-contractors, a general contractor can anticipate problems before they happen.   A homeowner won't know all of this and probably has other full-time responsibilities that will draw out the timeline even more.

My advice... When planning a major renovation or new construction project, really sit down and evaluate your skills. Be honest with yourself. Do you have the time to dedicate to this project? How is your construction knowledge? Do you have connections in the construction industry? Are you on a strict schedule?

Depending on your answers to these questions, being your own general contractor might be a really wonderful, gratifying experience. However, if your answers to these questions cause some doubt, then it might be worth reaching out to a general contractor who can partner with you to make your project a success.

Rebate Date Changed

The SECO rebate reservation date has moved to April 7th!  More information can be found at:

Also, it appears that rebate programs in other states have either sold out rather quickly or the computer servers were having issues due to the amount of traffic to the sites.  So be sure to log on early and get your reservation number.

Tax Credits, Rebates, and More Rebates

As many people are well aware of the extended Federal Tax Credit for Consumer Energy Efficiency (tax credit is 30% of the total cost of the product up to $1500), few may be aware of great state and local rebates that are available in addition to the federal tax credit.  A couple are outlined below:

In Texas, the State Energy Conservation Office (SECO) offers the Texas Trade Up Appliance Rebate Program with rebates available for upgrading to appliances that improve the overall energy efficiency of a home.  This includes everything from refrigerators to water heaters to entire HVAC systems.  For example, if a qualifying water heater was purchased for $1500, the SECO rebate would be $330 (after recycling the old one) and the federal tax credit would be $450 (30% of $1500).

As funding for the program is limited, the SECO rebates are only available for a specified time and require a reservation.  Rebates can be reserved beginning April 5, 2010 and the qualifying product must be purchased between April 16 - April 25, and be installed within 60 days of the reservation.  For more information regarding SECO rebates, please visit: 

           

In Austin, Austin Energy offers the Home Performance with EnergyStar program that has rebates for upgrading the HVAC system, radiant barrier, and insulation to name a few.  The rebate is 20% of the total cost, up to $1575.  To qualify for the program, a Home Performance energy analysis would have to be completed by a participating partner.  For more information regarding Austin Energy rebates, and to see a full listing of current available rebates for residents in the Austin area, please visit:

For more information regarding your specific needs, please contact us at 512.275.6500 or at  info@duarteconstruct.com

Product: Hardie with ColorPlus

During a recent addition, we had the opportunity to work with James Hardie siding with ColorPlus Technology.  This is a fantastic product!  It is essentially pre-painted Hardie cement fiber boards.  Once installed, the nail holes and joints are caulked with a color-matched caulking and that's it.  Done!  The house has new siding and paint all in one day!

 

The cost of this product is about 25% more than using the conventional system of installing standard primed Hardie and painting it in the field.  However, there are some distinct advantages of using ColorPlus:

 - zero maintenance
 - color is guaranteed to not chip, peel, or warp for 15 years
 - 400% better paint adherence
 - 30% better fade resistance
 - installation labor also guaranteed for 15 years


For more information regarding your specific needs, please contact us at info@duarteconstruct.com or 512.275.6500.

8 Hot Kitchen Trends

From the 2010 International Builders' Show... 8 Hot New Kitchen Trends.  Some really good ideas.  Check them out: