This is a look at the open wall as well as the “Bar” countertop.  The reason we call it a “Bar” countertop is because Beth raised it approximately 6″ above the normal kitchen counter height to 42″.  There is a small hole in the kitchen countertop by the wall; this is for the phone cord.  Our clients still wanted access to their home phone on the peninsula area, so Brian put an outlet in the cabinet beneath it and drilled a hole in the granite so all the cords and plug will be hidden.  It will keep a nice, clean countertop to show off that Typhoon Gold!

The sink they chose is a stainless steel, double bowl sink.  The left bowl is a little larger than the right and the faucet will go behind the right bowl.  Our client chose this sink and configuration based on the way she does her dishes.

The little white things lying on cardboard at the top, right-hand corner of this picture is the backsplash tile.  Brian lays all the tile out first, puts the sealer/color enhancer on it, then cuts each tile.

Brian started installing the backsplash tile right as I walked in to snap pictures. He draws on the drywall where he thinks accent tiles will look best.  Brian also tries to space them out to avoid any electrical outlets.

Unfortunately the pictures don’t do this granite justice.  Look at the movement and color variation!

The next step for Brian will be to install the rest of the backsplash tile and mantle over the fireplace.  The mantle hasn’t been delivered yet, but hopefully it comes in before the end of the week.  It’s all starting to come together!

The bar area has all new drywall, but won’t be textured because it will be spanned with cabinets and backsplash tile.  There are three different colors of plaster you’re seeing on the ceiling.  The white is the existing, the light gray color was done the previous day and the dark gray was still drying because it had just been completed that morning.

When working in a room this large, our drywaller has lots of room to blend the existing ceiling with the new ceiling she’s texturing.  She’s able to float the ceiling, meaning add a little extra drywall mud and plaster, in order to blend the pattern from the existing ceiling to the new ceiling.

There are still a few areas that need to be hit, including around the window, the ceiling in the kitchen, and to the right of the entry to the back hallway.

It’s tough to picture what this room is going to look like with all the shades of plaster, drywall, and drywall mud.  When we check in in a few days, paint will be on the walls and the hardwood floor installation will be starting!

As you can see by the miter saw and nail gun, Chad is still finishing the baseboard and door casing.  Baseboard is installed before carpeting and about a half inch from the sub floor.  The reason for this is so the carpet installers have enough room to tuck the carpet underneath the baseboard.  The baseboard, along with the tack strip, helps to hold the carpet in place.

The doors our clients chose are all nice 6-panel, solid core, stable doors.  The only doors that are not 6-panel are the doors to the storage/utility room and the laundry room.  These rooms need good air circulation and the louvered doors allows that to happen.

The bathroom vanity is something Chad is still working on as well.  The countertop, vanity doors, and faucet still have yet to be installed.  He ran into a bit of a problem because the faucet we helped our clients chose was too tall for the mirror/medicine cabinet to operate.  He couldn’t move the medicine cabinet up because then it would get in the way of the light fixture.  Chad came up with a couple of ideas to solve the problem, so we’ll check back in next week to see how he worked it out.

The carpeting is scheduled to be installed next week.  By that time, Chad will have the trim work and bathroom complete.  The shower door will be installed by then as well.  The shower door is measured after the shower base is put in place.  This is the only way they can get an accurate fit.  It takes several weeks for shower doors to be manufactured and is usually one of the last things to be installed in a bathroom this size.

The next time you see this lower level, Chad will have the space finished and ready for our clients to use.  The transformation is almost complete!

The upper cabinets are not installed with the doors because it makes them that much heavier.  Our guys all install their cabinets by themselves.  It truly is amazing to see them holding a 36″ x 39″ cabinet in the air against the wall with one hand and screwing it into place on a level line with the other hand.  Then you throw in the difficulties with walls not being square and it can be a bit of a challenge.  The shims, again, are helping to keep them plum with each other.

The cabinets are held about 3″ down from the ceiling in order to give crown molding enough space to be installed.  Again, even the upper cabinets have to be level in order for the crown molding and back splash tile to look right.  Brian will normally draw on the wall exactly where he wants each cabinet so he can visually see the proper spacing while holding them up.

In this cabinet, you’ll see an outlet in the top left-hand corner.  This is for the low-voltage, LED, under-cabinet lighting to be installed later in the project.  This outlet will be linked to a switch on the wall so our clients can turn the under cabinet lights on from there.  They will also have remote control that will dim the lights as well as turn them on and off if they choose.

    

The fireplace tile has begun and the TV mount above has been installed.  The cutout underneath the TV mount is a spot for one of the speakers.  The other two speakers will be going on either side of the TV/fireplace.

The laundry room tile floor has been completely installed.  Brian has not grouted the floor yet, but will be doing that soon.  Most likely, he’ll be waiting until foot traffic coming in and out of the garage door is down to a minimum.  There will be less chance of getting dirty.

The surround sound speakers have also been installed in the ceiling in the front and back of the room.  They are flush with the ceiling and almost disappear.  This will be a great room for 3-D Action movies!

The next major change we’ll be looking forward to will be the granite countertops.  I’ve seen the actual slabs of granite they chose, and the color will absolutely blow your mind!  The granite has tons of movement and lots of character that will blend wonderfully with the cabinets and flooring.  I’m very, very excited (I know our clients are too)!

In the shot on the left, the triple LVL Beam is at the top of the picture.  It’s sitting on a post that is four 2″ x 4″s wide.  Randy buried the post behind drywall and created more framing in front because he still needed to run a return air duct from the basement to the main floor.  The drywall makes it easier to create a chase to put the duct in.  The vent is the metal rectangle at the top.  The shot on the right is where the custom-built bar will be.  Hot and cold water lines have been added as well as the waste line for the bar sink.

Rough electric took quite a while to finish in this large space because so many recessed cans were added to help lighten up the kitchen and family room.  As you can see, Randy had to drop the ceiling in the kitchen area because so much woodwork had consumed it previously.  He did not have to drop the ceiling in the family room area and was able to snake the wire through where he needed it.

The kitchen area looks empty now, but once the drywall and cabinets start to be installed, it will really take shape as a kitchen.

Now that rough electric and plumbing have been complete, drywall, paint and flooring will be the next main tasks over the next couple weeks.  The entire main level will be getting gorgeous new hardwood floors.  This kitchen will be one of a kind!

Brian has started to set the base cabinets in the kitchen because the countertop measurement is a very critical date.  It takes several weeks for granite countertops to be fabricated and to keep the project moving along, Brian had to get the base cabinets set first.

As you can see, the island has been removed completely and our flooring experts have weaved and blended new flooring with the old.  They sanded, stained, and refinished all the wood floors in the house so it looks as though it has always been that way. Brian takes great pride in protecting the work he’s completed so far.  This is why you see cardboard taped in place to the floor so he can protect them from cabinets, tools, appliances, etc.

The small strips of wood you see underneath the cabinets are called “shims”.  Brian uses these when the floor slopes to make sure all the cabinets are level.  If that does not happen, the countertop, backsplash tile, etc. won’t be level either.  For everything else to be installed correctly, it’s imperative the cabinets are all in one level line.

The beautiful new floors you see below are in the front entry.  Our Designer, Beth, put a lot of thought into the new stain of the floors.  She wanted to blend the floors with the existing wood work in the house as well as compliment the new, lighter, cabinet color.  She ended up choosing a Cinnamon color for the crown molding, which then blended with the floors.  This is going to tie the new kitchen in with the rest of the house.  It will be absolutely gorgeous.

The fireplace is completely framed and has been wired for the television and other audio/visual equipment.  The hearth has been eliminated and porcelain tile will replace the face frame.  The beautiful mantle our clients chose will be installed after the tile.

The next step for Brian will be installing the upper cabinets, countertop and fireplace tile.  This is the really exciting part of a project, when you start to see big changes and the rebuilding starting to take place.  Check back to see how the kitchen transforms again before your eyes!

The storage room has been framed, drywalled, and doors are ready to be installed.  Anyone needing access to the water heater and furnace will have optimum space.          

The fireplace room has been cleaned up and the walls have been skimmed.  The term “skimming” means applying a very thin layer of drywall mud to any imperfections in the wall or where drywall sheets have been taped together and screwed to the wall.  This is done to make absolutely sure the wall is flat and prepped for paint.  Chad also skimmed the areas where the chair rail was removed.

The hallway to the laundry room, bedroom, and bathroom has been completed as well.  Chad framed in the doorway to the washer and dryer which is ready for a new door.  The new doorway into the bathroom is ready and will provide much easier access now that the traffic pattern doesn’t force you to enter through the bedroom.

The bathroom is now ready for flooring, vanity, toilet, and plumbing fixtures.

The electric panel has been upgraded with Arc Fault Protection, a much safer panel for our homeowners.

The column and stairs are also ready for finishing touches.

The next step for this project will be to paint throughout the entire lower level.  Then the electrical work will be completed, including the installation of energy-efficient LED light kits.  Chad will also be installing all of the doors and trim, and working on the bathroom.  Carpet will be the last item to be installed.  Check back soon to see the color our clients chose for the walls!  They are very excited to see things taking shape!

The final design that Erich, Beth, and our clients decided upon called for the wall between the kitchen and family room to be removed, an island with the cook top, and a custom-built bar. Randy is our Project Manager on this particular project and will be taking the lead.

Below I am comparing the “before” pictures and the “demolition” pictures from the same angle. The first angle shows the peninsula, garden window, and ceiling with bead board.

These two are showing the wall between the family room and kitchen and the same space without the wall. Before Randy began demolition, he and Erich did quite a bit of research to make sure that wall was not supporting the upper level. After studying the basement and the original floor plans and drawings, they were 99% sure the wall was not load bearing. As Randy began demolition, he unexpectedly found a column and an air supply buried in the wall. The silver rectangle you see is the supply duct that circulated air to the upstairs bathroom and the column is to the left. As a result, a beam will have to be installed the entire width of the room to distribute the load. Another column will also have to be installed in the basement to carry the load all the way down.

This is where the desk area was and where the new bar area will be going. As you can see, the fake beams on the ceiling were removed to lighten the space and allow for new can lights.

This is where the kitchen table was before the cabinets were stacked waiting to be donated to Montgomery County Material Reuse Facility. The picture on the right is showing the cabinets, wall, and flooring removed.

Visit us next time to find out how Randy removed the column and the ducting to totally open up that space. He also dropped the ceiling in the kitchen area because there were so many recessed can lights to install. Our Drywaller will have a bit of a challenge matching the complicated plaster design on the walls and ceiling. Check back to find out how she ties everything together.

The fireplace has been completely demolished and he has started to rebuild it with non-combustible material.  Brain ran into a little bit of a surprise when he was deconstructing the brick and hearth.  The fire box wasn’t built exactly the way we anticipated which brought up a few questions about how to place the mantle where the clients wanted it and construct it according to code.  Brain cannot attach the mantle the clients chose directly to the concrete block because it would compromise the fire box structure.  Our options were to choose a larger mantle that would attach to the wall outside the firebox or pad the wall out in front of the fire box so the mantle has something from which to hang.

We have an interior designer on staff, Beth Spegal, who plays a major role in our design process and works very closely with our clients to generate a look and style they love without compromising functionality.  To Beth, a larger mantle was absolutely not an option because it would not look proportionate to the fireplace.  Our best bet was to pad the wall out, which is what you’re seeing in the picture below.  The metal surrounding the box is non-combustible.  The wires you’re seeing are for the TV, speakers, and various AV cables so our client has all the recent technology at his fingertips.

The old carpet has been removed all the way down the hallway in preparation for new.  New carpet won’t be installed until the very end of the project.

Brian has removed the portion of the wall that’s opening up the space.  New can lights are being installed so proper lighting will be available over their new peninsula.

There was quite a bit of electrical wiring placed in the soffits that Brian removed.  A decent amount of time had to be spent reworking those wires to get them out of the way.  When that happens, the insulation tends to become a mess.  All the insulation that has fallen will be reinstalled or replaced after drywall is installed.

Brian was working on removing and widening the doorway from the garage into the kitchen for better wheel chair accessibility.  Again, all the wiring and switches in that wall had to be shifted over to the left to accommodate the new opening.

After the rough electric and framing has been completed, drywall will be the next task on Brian’s list.  There’s a lot of drywall work to be done with the new soffits, new door opening, new fireplace face, and new peninsula wall.  Now it’s time for the rebuilding to begin!

In the storage room, Chad framed a wall to create a smaller storage room with access to the water heater, furnace etc., if they ever need to be replaced.  This opens up the rest of the room as a sewing/craft space, or play area for the grandkids.

The fireplace room feels much more spacious and open with the removal of the hallway wall and lower stairwell wall.  The pole you’re seeing that’s wrapped in foam is a plumbing stack.  It will be buried in a column Chad has framed (see the third picture below).

This shows the new wall framed for the hallway/laundry room door and the new door to the bathroom.

The shower insert has been installed.  The lip around the outside of the stall is where the drywall will overlap to finish off the edge shower.  Chad also custom framed a space for a new medicine cabinet.

The client wanted to remove the wall enclosing the stairs to visually open up the entrance to the lower level.  A banister was necessary for safety, so instead of removing the whole wall, we removed half of it to create a knee wall.  It will still make the lower level feel more inviting and spacious coming down the stairs.

The last major change that took place last week was the rough electric.  Our client’s existing electric panel was a Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) panel.  Federal Pacific Electric panels were common from the 1950′s to the 1980′s, but later discovered they failed to provide protection from overcurrent and short circuits.  The breakers can fail to trip which results in outside power surging to the panel, overheating, and fire hazards.

Another problem with the FPE panels is that Arc Fault Circuit interrupters (AFCI) don’t fit in that particular design.  An Arc Fault Circuit interrupter is designed to detect non-working electrical arcs and prevent fires by disconnecting the power.  When our client learned these two points, they elected to have the entire panel replaced.  It will be a much safer product for their entire home. 

To bring the rest of the house up to electric code, we

As I stated, the next big milestone in this project is drywall.  There is a lot of drywall to be done, but this lower level will look like a whole new place when it’s done!

So, here we are in their new, beautiful bathroom with a luxurious shower and tub.  Tile and grouting have been complete.  The grout we use is called Quartz Lock and it’s a polyurethane based grout, which means it’s a water-resistant product.  Another benefit is that it’s stain resistant as well.   That doesn’t mean you don’t have to clean it, but it is a great product that will stand the test of time.

Doors, drawers, mirrors and light fixtures have all been installed in the vanity area to really finish off that look.

The master bedroom built-in furniture is complete with all doors, drawers and hardware.  Talk about storage!  You can store everything from clothes, to shoes, to hats to whatever else your imagination can dream up.  The window seat is a great touch that also provides storage.

The master bedroom, hallway, and three other bedrooms throughout the upstairs have all received plush new carpet.  The carpet they chose is called Parabus Best Tigressa Berber Fleck in the color Pebble, and, from what the clients says, it hides everything.  Nobody wants to feel like they constantly have to clean, so this has been a wonderful addition to their entire second floor.

The hall bathroom was finished much quicker than the master bathroom and turned out very nicely.

Brian and his help did a wonderful job on this project and our client is very happy with the final results. If you have any questions about this project, please feel free to comment on any of the posts and I will respond within 24 hours.  I want to thank our clients for allowing me to report on the progress of their project.  Remodeling is a stressful process, but they were wonderful people to work with. Stay tuned to see other projects by Remodeling Designs!

After the storage room was demolished, Chad discovered that one of the walls did not have proper framing to hold the drywall sufficiently.  Although the existing wall is not structural, the framing was measured at 48″ on center.  This means there is 48″ from the center of each 2″ x 4″ to the 2″ x 4″ next to it.  To do the right thing, meet building codes and support the amount of drywall we’re putting up, Chad will frame the new wall at 16″ on center.  He will build the entire wall on the ground first, then lift it up to stand on-end and put it in place.  You can see he’s started to build the wall in the picture below.

The door location to the bathroom has moved for more convenient access from the hallway.  A small storage area on the right-hand side has been removed to accommodate that new door.

The full bathroom has been gutted and the rough plumbing is taking place.  Plumbing fixtures aren’t moving locations, but valves and pipes need to be replaced.

Chad will also be constructing a new wall and door to enclose the storage space beneath the stairs.  The other wall that will be newly framed is the wall between the hallway and the laundry room area.  Chad had to remove the wall because it wasn’t constructed properly and in order to hang drywall, it needed to be rebuilt.

Chad will be tackling the rough electric and finishing up the framing this week.  Drywall will be the next major task on his list.  Check back to see how and where the walls were framed and how the bathroom is coming along!

Wheel chair accessibility and ease of maneuverability through the family room and kitchen were critical components to the design of this project.  You will see throughout the project how we have incorporated our Universal Design ideas to help make our client’s life a little easier.  Both Erich, the owner of Remodeling Designs, and Brian, our Project Manager, are Certified Aging in Place Specialists (CAPS).

Brian has already started demolition work.  To depict the change that has taken place in the three short days he’s been there, I have placed the “before” and “after” photos side by side.

In the family room, Brian is completely remodeling the face of the fireplace and mantle to give it a whole new look.  We will be lowering the mantle so our clients can mount their TV on the wall above it.

Brian will be removing most of the wall between the family room and kitchen, leaving the bottom for cabinets and countertop space to get a peninsula look.

We have removed what once was an island in the middle of the kitchen to open it up for better flow and more room for our client to get around.

Soffits were removed, and the door to the laundry room will be widened for better wheel chair accessibility.  A tile floor will also be installed.    

Stay tuned for more photo updates to the project as we watch Brian transform a good kitchen into a more functional and beautiful kitchen!

There are four main spaces in this basement that will be remodeled: the fireplace room, a storage room, a bedroom, and a full bathroom.  Throughout this project, I will take pictures of the rooms from the same angles in order to best depict the change taking place.  Before we can witness the change, we must view the “before” pictures.

This is the front and back view of the fireplace room.      

This is the view of the storage room.

This is the bedroom.

And last, but not least, the full bathroom.

Normally, we try to post about our projects once a week depending on the progress Chad is making.  This will allow you to see major changes and what’s going on in the four main areas.  Feel free to “subscribe” to our blog, to get notifications when new articles are posted.  Comments and questions are welcome and I’ll try to respond within 24 hours.  Thanks so much for following along!

The style is Brookside Square with Cherry wood and a Nutmeg stain.  The drawers are all Slab fronts and the doors have a raised panel.  All door and drawer hinges were installed with an integrated soft-close feature to prevent them from slamming shut.

Crown molding was also installed at this time.  In these pictures, I have shown how Brian achieves the tightest crown molding miter possible to give the appearance that the wood truly turns the corner.  He actually has clipped them together to hold until the wood glue dries and the nails have been put in place.  After they dry, Brain will go back and fill the nail holes to blend with the wood.

The handles our clients chose for the drawers are the Amerock 96mm Pull Mulholland with an Oil Rubbed Bronze finish.  The knobs for the doors are the Amerock Square knob Mulholland with the same finish.  To allow for more countertop space, our clients elected to mount the television on the wall.  The area under the window becomes a more useable space with this design and now the room has a much cleaner look.

The last and final component to this roject that is keeping our homeowners from moving back into their bedroom and bathroom is the carpet.  Check back next week to see their carpet choice and how it ties the whole upstairs together!

For example, the niche in this shower just happened to layout in a very difficult spot that required a lot of tile cutting.  When looking at the niche straight on, Brian made it look as though the pattern continues without a break.

The accent tile going around the tub deck and shower is a 3″x12″ tile called Universal Accent by Daltile.  Both the wall topper and the bench seat in the shower have the same granite as the countertop.  From a design standpoint, this is what takes a good bathroom to a great bathroom.  The next element to be installed in the shower will be the heavy glass shower door.

The hall bath has been finished and is completely functional for our clients.  Some of the things to pay attention to in this room are the cabinet, mirror, light fixture and plumbing fixtures.

A sink base cabinet does not have the room underneath it for drawers because the plumbing is in the way.  What we’ve done here to give the client space for organization is to install a tilt tray.  This is a place for sponges that may be wet or small cleaning supplies.

The mirror is framed with the same wood and stain as the cabinets which is a detail that finishes off the look and ties everything together.  The light fixture is a Kichler, 4-Light Bath Strip in an Olde Bronze finish.  It matches very well with the plumbing fixtures which are also an Oil Rubbed Bronze finish.

The next major changes we’ll see in this project are the cabinets in the master bedroom.  Those will be installed followed by the carpet in the entire upstairs!

Check out our new video to learn a little bit more about Remodeling Designs and meet the owners of the company, Kelly and Erich Eggers.

Take a look at the tile detail around the dub deck.  It’s not finished yet and still needs grout, but you can start to see the accent tile take form.  Brian uses spacers and pieces of cardboard to make sure the tile doesn’t sag and keeps a level line.  After the tile around the tub deck is finished, the tub will be installed.

Cabinet doors and drawers are one of the last items to be installed on a project like this. Finish plumbing also still has to be done and having the cabinets opens like this helps Brian to connect the pipes from the wall to the sink and faucet.

The Medura Gold granite color in the master bathroom is the same gorgeous color the client chose for their kitchen.  These close up shots give you an idea of the movement in this particular granite, but a picture just doesn’t do the product justice.

The hall bathroom granite is called Beige and has a biscuit color sink bowl.  It blends beautifully with the tile.  Brian is hoping to have the hall bath completely finished and functional for our clients so they can use it while the master is getting the finishing touches.

Next week, we’ll have more detail on the finish plumbing and electrical fixtures.  Also, don’t forget about the new carpet to be installed as well as the built-in cabinets in the master bedroom.  This project still has a ways to go, but will be gorgeous when it’s done!

The second reason is larger tiles visually make a space feel larger. Here is a closer look at the beautiful tile chosen by the clients.

Another really cool feature of this master bathroom is hidden underneath the tile floor.  A company called Warmly Yours specializes in electric floor heating systems which allows for a more enjoyable bathroom experience.  This system is installed in the thin set right beneath the tile.  It operates on a timer, so it is only on during the times the space is used the most.  A heated floor makes you feel as though you’re in a luxury hotel and is one of the unique elements of this bathroom.

Brian has created a “Low-Threshold” shower for our clients.  This means there will be no curb, wall or any type of barrier between the shower floor and bathroom floor.  Right now, only the Wedi board is visible between the 2″ x 2″ shower tiles and the 18″ x 18″ bathroom tiles, but he’ll install a piece of granite that will match the countertops to distinguish between the two areas.  This type of shower installation provides easy entry, confidence and safety.

The hall bathroom has progressed a little more quickly than the master because it’s a much small space.  Brian has built a niche into the wall for shampoo bottles and soap.  The niche is a prefabricated, water proof product that is inserted into the wall between the studs and then tiled.  The accent tile you are seeing is a Daltile Tumbled Natural Stone accent strip using Antalya Dark, Sienna Gold, and Mediterranean Gold colors.

The next phase is cabinet and countertop installation.  It’s amazing how these projects have changed so dramatically over such a short period of time.  We’re really excited to see how they turn out!

When we first met with these clients, the goal for the master bedroom and bathroom was to create a larger shower, update finishes and fixtures, and allow for more clothing storage in their bedroom.  They plan on staying in this home and wanted to make the space exactly the way they wanted it to fit their needs.  Here’s a look at the before pictures to get a good idea of what is taking place.

In the hall bathroom, the priority was really to make updates to the standard size room.  There was no real design or layout change but a new vanity, countertop, plumbing fixtures, flooring, tile in the tub area, and light fixtures were all on the list of changes to be made.  The before picture is below.

While we were upstairs making major changes to the bathrooms and master bedroom, the client also decided to take this opportunity to install new carpet in the entire second floor as well as a new coat of paint.  The carpet in the hallway and three other bedrooms has not been removed yet, but will be just before paint is applied to the walls and new carpet is installed.  What a huge difference this will make in tying the whole upstairs together!

Here is the progress our Project Manager, Brian, has made so far! He has completely gutted the master bathroom, removing half of the wall in between the tub and shower to open things up visually.  He has also removed the wall and dead space that was to the left of the shower in the “before pictures”.  Rough plumbing for the new shower location and new sinks has been completed.  All rough electric and drywall repair has been done also.  Brian has framed the new walls of the shower and the tub deck with the Wedi System.  The Wedi System is a completely water tight, mold proof system made of a light-weight, concrete board/Styrofoam type material.  It’s a fabulous product that is easy to install and has a full system warranty.  Now that we’ve reached this point, Brian is ready to start paint and tile work!

The hall bathroom has made much of the same progress as the master. All the demolition, rough plumbing and electric, drywall, and Wedi have been completed.  Paint and tile will be next.

The master bedroom has been cleared out and carpet removed.  Once the new carpet is installed cabinets will be added, which will make a dramatic change to the functionality of this large bedroom.

So far, Brian has done a great job to keep this project on schedule and moving smoothly.  We’re excited to see how the space changes along the way and, of course, the final product. Check back to see the project moving forward!