Bridgehampton Custom Kitchen

This custom kitchen remodel in the Bridgehampton neighborhood was a challenge in that the homeowners wanted to reuse as much of the existing cabinetry as possible from both a cost perspective and an environmental one. The main objective was to remove the peninsula and create a grand island for additional prep space and seating. The result marries newer black painted cabinetry with the existing maple stained cabinetry in a very intentional, one of a kind combination. Every cabinet except for the old sink base was reused in the new configuration.

BEFORE: A sink in the middle of the awkward peninsula leaves little prep space

AFTER: The new "L" shaped island complete with prep sink, wine refrigerator and lots of extra storage

BEFORE: It was tight between the sink, refrigerator and passage to the foyer. The counter to the left of the refrigerator becomes a catch-all.

AFTER: We closed the passage way and relocated the sink to the corner to open up the area for the new island

BEFORE: This wall was never meant to be changed... 

: 

...But by replacing the cooktop cabinets with new black painted ones to match the island it made the two toned cabinetry look much more intentional and it dressed up this wall to coordinate with the rest of the space

Details, Details...

Regardless of the size of any home remodeling project, details in the design are what make each and every project unique. While it is true that there's hardly such a thing as an original idea, the way in which those ideas are implemented adds personality to your space. Here are some examples of recent Case projects where the details had a larger impact on the finished product. While none of these details are functionally necessary, they influence the overall design greatly.

Natural stone mosaic medallions dress up this tub face.

This double vanity features matching bowed sink cabinets & furniture legs, making an otherwise simple master bath just a touch more elegant.

This counter top tower features a mirrored back, finished interior, glass shelves, puck lighting & a bottomless frame so the quartz counters can be seen throughout. Functional & stunning.

Never underestimate the wow factor of wainscoting. Make it even better by continuing the top of the wainscoting around the vanities as the backsplash.

Solid surface shower curbs & benches are not only more attractive to look at, they're easier to keep clean.

Mix & match textures! Use glossy finishes with matte finishes, smooth surfaces with textured surfaces. Whether you're conscious of it or not your eyes will notice the contrast & the design becomes more visually appealing.

Kitchens Designed to Free Women

This is an interesting story from National Public Radio. Studying the evolution of kitchen and bathroom design over the last century gives us a great look at the sociological changes in our society. It's fascinating how kitchens were designed for women for decades, but the majority of high ranking professional chefs in our culture are still men...

Now, more than ever it is so important to consider men, women, children and even the family dog when designing a kitchen. While food preparation techniques have evolved over time one thing remains true: the kitchen is the heart of the home, and it must be designed in such a way that it accommodates all of the people who utilize it.

Photo courtesy of MoMa, found at NPR.org

A Kitchen Revolution Aimed at Freeing Women
by Robert Smith


"This week in New York, the city's foodie elites gathered to poke around an 80-year-old kitchen. It was designed in 1926 for a housing project in Frankfurt, Germany. But rather than being updated with Ikea fixtures, the entire kitchen was ripped out and shipped, piece by piece, to New York.

The Frankfurt Kitchen is now in the Museum of Modern Art, in between the Andy Warhols and the MoMA snack bar. It's the centerpiece of a new show called Counter Space: Design and the Modern Kitchen. The kitchen is tiny, the size of a VW bus. It's mostly outfitted in gunmetal gray — no granite countertops. But through one of the first architecturally designed kitchens, you can see the ideas that launched a million home remodeling projects: built-in bins, undercabinet storage, pullout drawers and a four-burner stove. These days, there are magazines and television programs devoted to kitchen design, but in 1926 it was a new idea. In fact, curator Juliet Kinchin tells NPR's Robert Smith, designing a kitchen was actually a political act.

The Politically Progressive Kitchen
"There's always been that political dimension to kitchens," Kinchin explains.

"For centuries, really, the kitchen had been ignored by design professionals, not least because it tended to be lower-class 
women or servants who occupied the kitchen space," she says.

"The kitchens were often poorly ventilated, shoved to the basement or annex, and caused a lot of drudgery in the kitchen."

It was women who led the reform of the kitchen into an efficient space — one to be proud of. Kinchin says, "they were trying to adopt a scientific approach to housework and raise the status of housework."

"The designer of [The Frankfurt Kitchen], Grete Schuette-Lihotzky, was passionately concerned about the quality of women's lives," Kinchin continues. "She felt without sorting the drudgery they were involved in, they'd never have time to develop themselves in a professional way."

The Perfectly Designed Housewife
"The exhibit features a lot of industrial movies from the '20s through the '50s, which make it clear that once you let designers into the kitchen, they don't know when to stop. Architects weren't just creating kitchens; as it turns out, they were also designing the perfect housewives to go in them. 

In a corner of the exhibit, there's actually an architectural drawing of a woman with all her dimensions clearly marked. Her name is Josephine. "She's the 5-foot-4 incarnation of the average American woman, life-size," Kinchin says. "This is what interior designers and architects worked with when they were designing the dimensions of the modern kitchen."

The designers obviously felt designing the perfect kitchen was liberating for women — but not all women agreed.
"Schuette-Lihotzky did make women's lives a lot easier," Kinchin says, "but she has been criticized by feminist critics in the 1970s for actually isolating women in the kitchen."

If you treat a kitchen like a factory, the criticism goes, then a woman becomes like a factory worker. "She becomes like a robot."

But the ideals of designers are often countered by reality. As Kinchin points out, no amount of design can overcome the chaos that happens in the kitchen. "When we start cooking, we create mess and disorder — however rational and perfectly well-organized they are."

Appliance Finishes

One of the most common questions I get asked during the beginning stages of a kitchen renovation are whether or not stainless steel appliances are going to stick around. The short answer is: YES. Stainless has been around for a long time and it's not going anywhere. 90% of the kitchens I design use stainless appliances. Even if you want a traditional look to your space, stainless steel blends well and keeps the design interesting when repeated.

I will say that with stainless steel appliances, just like everything else you get what you pay for. While technology is improving as far as keeping the surfaces less fingerprint prone, here are some things to consider when it comes to sticky fingers:

     - The reason finger prints leave such awful marks on stainless steel is because the metal is covered in tiny grooves. When your hands touch the surface the oil on your palms hangs up in those tiny grooves leaving a mark. The higher the quality stainless steel, the closer the grooves are and the less likely it is to show finger prints. Sub Zero and Wolf have some of the finest stainless steel (and technology) on the market, but it comes at a high cost.

     - Only clean your stainless appliances with approved stainless cleansers. They are made specifically to fill in those groves, keeping those surfaces print free.

     - ALWAYS rub the stainless appliances in the direction of the grain of the steel; up and down or left to right. Don't ever use a circular motion or a zig zag pattern when cleaning or you'll never get rid of those streaks.

Never the less, if stainless still isn't your favorite here are some equally attractive alternatives.

Jenn-Air recently introduced their Oiled Bronze Finish. I must say that it's not as pretty in person as I had hoped, but it's certainly interesting and has it's place in the right space. I had hoped it was more of a matte copper, but after I saw it in person for the first time it almost looks like a shiny copper that's been painted over black and then scratched (althought the texture is smooth).

Here's something else fun from Jenn-Air: Floating Glass! Available in black or white, floating glass appliances are chic and sophisticated. I love how this white refrigerator was built into the cabinets and paired with stainless steel wall ovens.

Still too boring for you? Well how about an Aga range in Heather? For the investment you'll be making with Aga, I hope you love heather!

Then of course there are always custom appliance panels. Appliance panels are made to match your cabinetry for a completely seamless approach to kitchen design. Regardless of your taste ro style custom appliances panels are always the right answer.

LEAD BASED PAINT

Common renovation activities such as sanding, cutting, and demolition can create hazardous lead dust and chips by disturbing lead-based paint, which can be harmful to adults and children. Lead poisoning interferes with the nervous system.

To protect against this risk, on April 22, 2008, EPA issued a rule requiring the use of lead-safe practices and other actions aimed at preventing lead poisoning. Under the rule, beginning in April 2010, contractors performing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in homes, child care facilities, and schools built before 1978 must be certified and must follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination.

Concerned about your anticipated renovation? Here are some guidelines:

1. The rule applies to any home built before 1978
2. The rule applies to any surface disturbed over 6 square feet on the interior, 20 square feet on the exterior
3. By law, ANY contractor of any trade must be Certified by the state of NC for performing work on homes that match the above criteria
4. Approximately only 35% of pre-1978 homes contain lead based paint
5. CASE is certified to conduct a test for the presence of lead, NOT the amount of lead. WE ARE NOT CERTIFIED FOR REMEDIATION, ONLY RENOVATION. There is a difference.
6. If there is no lead, we do not need to use containment and disposal procedures beyond our customary procedures
7. If lead is present, we must use lead safe work practices which mean detailed procedures for record keeping, site containment, cleaning, and disposal.
8. Lead safe procedures will add anywhere from $75 - $1,000 to the cost of the job, depending on the size of the area requiring containment
9. Lead safe procedures are NOT optional for the client. CASE can be fined $32,000 for not following these procedures.
10. Very few contractors in Charlotte are currently certified
11. Our firm’s NC certification number is RRP0127
12. North Carolina is one of only three states whose rules preempt the EPA rules, therefore certification is only required with the state, not the EPA.

Let's all be safe so we can all be healthy.

Hembstead Kitchen Face Lift

This is a perfect example of how a cosmetic kitchen remodel can completely transform an outdated kitchen with minimal disruption on a modest budget. This single family home had great looking, good quality cabinetry that really didn't need to be replaced so we called in Just Faux You once again to lend us their talented hands to repaint them.

This kitchen gets an enormous amount of natural light throughout the day and the white on white finishes exacerbate the glow. Because of this we were able to darken every surface without creating a cave. The end result is a warm, rich space sure to delight for years to come.

The existing perimeter cabinets were painted using Sherwin Williams Standish White. They were glazed with chocolate (SW Deer Trail) and butterscotch (SW Graham Cracker) to give them an aged appearance. The island was painted a custom green and glazed with SW Deer Trail to tie it to the perimeter cabinets. White laminate counter tops were replaced with Tropic Brown Granite on all surfaces and the island bar seating was brought flush to the counter top height for a seamless look and extended work space. On the backsplash we used a dark chocolate marble and a travertine and glass mosaic over the sink that mimic the cabinet colors; lighter grout accentuates the diagonal pattern. Recessed can lighting and two handsome oil rubbed bronze chandeliers replaced the outdated and equally unattractive fluorescent light. Under cabinet lighting completes the lighting scheme. The client chose rich oil rubbed bronze pulls to coordinate with the new faucet.

BEFORE - Bright & Sterile

AFTER - Warm & Rich

Backsplash Detail

*Note the white switch plates will be faux finished to disappear into the stone

Faux Finishing: Susan Johnson & Renae McGuire, Just Faux You, Charlotte, NC

Granite: Tropic Brown, polished - Intown Granite, Charlotte, NC
Tile: 4" x 4" Louyang Cafe Marble, 1" x 1" Staccatto Travertine & Glass Mosaic, The Tile Shop; Charlotte, NC
Cabinet Hardware: Black Hawk Hardware; Charlotte, NC
Faucet: Moen, HD Kitchen & Bath Collection; Charlotte, NC
Island Chandeliers: Lee Lighting; Pineville, NC

Myers Park Kitchen Facelift

This kitchen belongs to a young couple in Myers Park. The goal was to update the completely whitewashed space in a timely and cost effective manner so that they could enjoy it over the next few years (while considering the possibility of resale or completely blowing out the back of the house and adding on their dream kitchen for a more permanent solution).

We would consider this a cosmetic kitchen remodel as all of the cabinetry and appliances stayed. The white Corian counter tops were replaced with Verde Butterfly granite on both the perimeter cabinets and island. The blue and cream delft tile was removed and replaced with handsome handmade 3" x 6" earth tone glazed ceramic tiles with a crackle finish to soften the look. The white and blue wallpaper was removed and a warm, soft neutral faux finish applied to the walls. A new stainless steel undermount sink and oil rubbed bronze faucet complete the fresh, warmer aesthetic.

When the homeowners bought the house the kitchen came with a very large wooden hutch. In order to update the hutch to the homeowners' taste we had it painted and distressed in a chocolate grey. Interior cabinet lighting was added and new crystal and oil rubbed bronze hardware adorns the doors. The island was repainted to match the hutch, creating a balanced, cohesive look.

BEFORE - White

AFTER - Warm

Hutch BEFORE

Hutch AFTER - Freshly painted & distressed with new hardware, lighting & glass shelves

Faux Finishing: Susan Johnson & Renae McGuire, Just Faux You, Charlotte, NC
Granite: Verde Butterfly, polished - Intown Granite, Charlotte, NC

Tile: Haven 3" x 6" Field tile in Bark, Renaissance Tile & Bath, Charlotte, NC

Cabinet Hardware: Restoration Hardware; Charlotte, NC
Faucet: Moen, Ferguson; Charlotte, NC

Room at the Top: Attic Transformations

Converting Dark Storage Space into Livable Areas

Once considered a dark and dingy storage area, the utilization of attic space represents a new way of providing an additional area for families to maximize and enjoy. The trend to convert these areas into comfortable bedrooms, home offices, play areas and guest suites are increasing, as homeowners recognize they can acquire additional square footage without having to go outside of the original boundaries of the home.

Many of today’s attic designs focus on being able to transform the underused square footage into an open environment boasting natural light and volume. And just because it’s the attic doesn’t mean it lacks in the amenities department. In fact, the once overlooked square footage rivals many of the other rooms in the home featuring modern amenities such as recessed lighting, crown molding, built-in cabinetry, hardwood floors and a multitude of options, delivering high style, elegance and function, defining a new brand of attic living.

There has been a dramatic increase in the number of homes that are transforming their attics into livable areas. It’s every homeowners dream to have more space. Attics are a great source of untapped, inexpensive living space. With the right design, an attic can be as inviting as any room in the home, increasing the appraisal value without having to add new space.

Nine Home Energy Tips for 2010

Nine Home Energy Tips for 2010

Tips will help Consumers Reduce Energy Usage and Save Money

Data from the U.S. Department of Energy suggests that heating and cooling are the largest energy expenses in most homes across the U.S. As most homeowners look for ways to reduce their energy usage and save on their utility bills, here are nine helpful tips to make your home more energy efficient for 2010.

1. Energy Saving Appliances – In the kitchen, energy and water usage can be greatly reduced by up to fifty percent with energy efficient appliances.
   
2. Lighting – Replace standard light bulbs with CFL’s. They last up to ten times as long and use one-fourth of the energy. Skylights are also a great way to brighten up dimly lit areas and save on electricity.
   
3. Windows – Window replacement will dramatically reduce your energy usage. New energy efficient windows are twice as efficient as the average window produced ten years ago. They are available in a variety of options and designs. If new windows are not in your budget, you can boost your home’s energy efficiency by repairing older windows that are rotted, damaged with cracked glass or missing putty.
   
4. Walls - Make sure that any exterior wall penetrations into the house (including dryer vents, cable television lines, power lines, gas lines, or hose bibs) are properly sealed from both the outside and inside. Make sure all interior access points into unconditioned spaces (includes attic or basement/crawlspace access) are tightly closed and well insulated.
   
5. Basements - Seal basements and crawlspaces with caulk, spray foam, or weather-stripping. This will have a great impact on improving your comfort and reducing utility bills.
   
6. Attics - Adding extra insulation to your attic can make your home more comfortable in the winter months, in addition to lowering your energy bills. A foot of fiberglass or cellulose insulation in the attic floor is recommended as a cost-effective measure.
   
7. Plumbing - Insulate hot water pipes and add a re-circulating valve at the far end of a water supply stack. Put in low flow shower heads to regulate the times when you need hot water.
   
8. Hot Water Heater – Make sure to replace your hot water heater with an energy efficient model. Also, invest in a hot water heater jacket. The jackets cost around twenty-five dollars and can potentially save ten to twenty dollars a month in energy costs.
   
9. Inspection - Have a specialist look over your HVAC system at least once a year to ensure that your system is running at optimal performance.