Summary
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When upgrading a kitchen, it's important to consider how to get more storage and workspace. In our case, we wanted to remove a small high bar island and create a more functional layout with plenty of counter space and cabinets.
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Finding the right contractor and designer is crucial. We worked with Omar and his team, who provided excellent suggestions and collaborated closely with us to enhance our initial plans. Building a good relationship with your contractors can lead to better outcomes for your project.
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Attention to detail in craftsmanship really matters. The team we worked with demonstrated incredible precision, even in areas that wouldn't normally be visible, which assured us of their commitment to quality.
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When tackling major renovations, it's wise to address other potential projects simultaneously. Since we were redoing plumbing in the kitchen, we took the opportunity to transform a utility room into a wine cellar and bar area.
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Be prepared for unexpected challenges. We discovered an unauthorized structural change made by previous owners, which required additional engineering work. Quick action and creative problem-solving by our contractor minimized delays.
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Personal touches can make a big difference in aesthetics. We repurposed wooden crates from a winery to create an artistic cover for a water shut-off valve, turning a functional necessity into a beautiful feature.
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It's important to find contractors who respect your home and are trustworthy. We felt comfortable enough with our team to leave them working in our house even when we weren’t there.
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Good communication and project management can keep a renovation on time and within budget. Regular updates and trust in your team are essential to maintaining peace of mind during renovations.
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Once you find a great team, they can become like family. We were so satisfied with their work that we enthusiastically recommend them to others considering similar projects.
Video
How To Take Action
I would suggest implementing some thoughtful steps if you're planning any renovation or personal growth project. A low-cost and high-value strategy is to enhance what you already have. For instance, if you’re redesigning a kitchen, focus on creating more counter and storage space by removing unnecessary structures, like high bar islands, to make the area more functional.
Finding the right team is essential. Spend time interviewing contractors and designers who feel like a good fit. Building strong relationships, like the one we had with Omar and his team, can make a huge difference. You want to work with people who listen and offer great suggestions, ultimately improving your original plan.
Attention to detail is something you don’t want to underestimate. Whether it's in the craftsmanship or how projects are managed, it’s vital. Choose professionals known for their precision, even in hard-to-see areas.
Consider tackling multiple projects simultaneously if they overlap. For example, while redoing plumbing, it might be a good time to repurpose or upgrade other spaces.
Always prepare for unexpected challenges. Have a proactive problem-solving plan and be flexible, turning obstacles into opportunities for creative solutions.
Personalizing your space with unique touches can add appeal and character. Simple, low-cost ideas, like repurposing items for decorative use, can make a big impact. Lastly, keep communication open and clear. Regular updates help keep projects on track and within budget, making the experience smooth and enjoyable.
Quotes by thisoldhouse
#### "Their work is incredible, the attention to detail is beyond expectations"
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#### "We pinch ourselves when we enter every room each day"
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#### "We fell in love with a lot of things about the house"
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#### "It was like we invited family in to be part of the project"
*- thisoldhouse*
#### "The finished product is beyond our expectations"
*- thisoldhouse*
Full Transcript
[Music] hi my name is chck Hendershot we're at uh saddle Down's Place uh in Centerville Virginia and the Virginia run Community uh just outside of Washington DC just off of 66 here [Music] we purchased this home about 5 years ago 20 2019 um it was it was actually a very quick purchase we fell in love with a lot of things about the house and we were making a place to have my mother-in-law come and join us uh and live with us at that point uh moving from Pennsylvania uh so we came in we loved everything about the house except for the kitchen at the time but we uh we Liv with it and we bought it and then uh this year we decided that it was time to put our stamp on the place and start making our changes and the first thing my wife wanted to do was change out the kitchen uh and get it into a kitchen that she had so there used to be an island a high bar Island that would run right across in front of where I'm sitting now that separated the kitchen in into two areas a kind of an eating area uh and then everything back on this side but it didn't leave a lot of counter space it was a smaller island is set here at an angle um not a lot of coverboard space not a lot of storage not a lot of pantry room so those were the objectives in the project was to upgrade it to something that was more our style uh get the look that my wife wanted uh and expand our storage area our work area [Music] we started looking around and we interviewed contractors uh we started working with the designer at that point who was Omar and we had some ideas on a plan he came out we very quickly formed a working relationship and he had great suggestions that enhanced uh what we wanted to accomplish uh the biggest thing he had to put up with us was us going and finding the the pieces that we want I I must have been to every uh granite and slab company and Northern Virginia looking for just the right piece but he came in great design ideas worked it smoothly uh and a very quick turnaround we started working in the middle of June and we were at a point where we had a design a contract idea and were're ordering the cabinets and everything so that we were ready to start in September so it was only about a month uh to get the designs finished that we wanted uh and so that was that was the first part and so that was we were very comfortable working with the design team the suggestions the give and take there and the ideas that they had to make it even better than what we were looking [Music] for the team led by ton uh and Gloria and Oscar came in here and their work is incredible um the attention to detail I tell the story that we have a a hood here behind it with a backsplash that runs up behind the hood you'll never see anything behind that hood but every bit every opening that the tile was caught perfectly around it like it was going to be something on display and if you take that much attention to detail there you can imagine the attention that has been paid to everything else in this room so they came in they respected our house we were here while they were doing it it was clean it was cleaned up every day they were great it was like it was like we invited family in um to be part of the project and to do this project for us and it was [Music] wonderful well we started the project we were because we were making a some major moves with plumbing the the kitchen sink used to be be right here and we were moving it over and I said well as long as we're going to be tearing up plumbing we might as well right below this was a utility room uh they connected out to a finished basement uh that we have and we uh collect a fair amount of wine from California and I always wanted to have a wine seller so it was like well we might as well do these projects at the same time and we took a utility room an old utility room that was just junk uh opened it up uh with the design team again from Omar and and Ton's team on on the buildout we created a a beautiful space we took uh one end of the room and created a a cooled area Wine Cellar uh that looks like a cave we arched the ceiling uh got the wine racks in uh the lighting is incredible and then we put a glass front across there to close it off and seal it for a an air conditioned area for the wine and and then we came outside and created a nice bar area with a wet bar um nice display cabinets and we had an idea we went and bought a piece of black walnut uh Live Edge black walnut and we designed a a floating um bar down there across some some display and storage capacity [Music] [Applause] we didn't know that the prior owners had done any changes in the basement and we opened it up the inspector from Fairfax County came out and he asked us if we'd moved a post that was holding up an ibeam that supported most of the house and our answer was no we had not moved a post but our prior the prior owners had they simply cut the post out supporting the beam that was on a pier and just moved it 4 feet and put a jack post and a 2×8 in to hold up the beam was not engineered at that point and um Fairfax County said well that's a problem that was never approved and inspected within an hour of us getting that typhoon had an engineer here we re-engineered we came up with solutions that didn't impact our design and our the the picture we had of our wine seller and and Gathering area uh got it done it was it was a bunch of extra work they had to cut through concrete and get a 4ft pier in uh to hold up post and put two posts in on either side but it was done and the delay was for the problem was very minimal uh we may have added a whole one whole week uh to the whole project but that's that's a credit to The Elegant kitchen and bath te to Typhoon and their ability to reach out and get what is needed for for the customer one of the challenges down there actually had two challenges down there one was easy and that was we had a water shut off cabinet that we had to keep access to so we came up with an idea from one of our uh favorite wineries fantasa wineries in Napa Valley uh they sent everything all their wines came in wooden crates and when you opened them up there were SS on the lids of all the crates so we took those crates we cut them down to sze and we made a a basically a piece of art to cover the wine or cover the water shut off uh valve there in the room and it's something that turned out better than uh than I expected uh Gloria even said the other day she goes I wasn't sure about this when we started but I'm can't believe how beautiful it is now so that was one the other thing that gives you I think demonstrates the flexibility the care uh for customers that the people at um elegant kitchen and bath have is when we open this room [Music] up first of all we are a static with the overall result I mean we pinch ourselves in when we enter every room each of the two rooms every day uh it the finished product is beyond our expectations we've already recommended kitchen and bath I'm I'm telling everybody that says oh I'm looking at doing this that I'm sending them to elegant kitchen and bath because these guys listen to the client have a good attention to detail and the design great P attention to detail and care when they're in your house uh that touches all the bases and and they do become like family they become friends uh that was never uh never had any one disagreement or say we can't do it or or anything the the project we had a budget they stayed with the budget they had a time frame they stayed with the time frame everything was cleaned up we could live in here the whole time and we were very comfortable we have a place in Upstate New York uh and there was for a few weeks my wife and I had to go up to Upstate New York and we were comfortable we dealt with them with FaceTime with Typhoon or whatever uh to keep the project going and we're absolutely comfortable having them in our home uh even when we're not here so high recommendation to the team to the project managers to the to the group leaders and to the design team and what we have them do yes we'll have him do I I'm even trying to convince him that if I have want to do something in Upstate New York if I can get them to come on up yeah this is a great group of people great company and great work product [Music]
