A common question for us at DreamMaker is “What is the best countertop to use these days?”  We understand the question; technology changes the options and trends tend to change our style.  But we always reply, “The answer is as individual as you are.”  How you use the countertop, how you want (or don’t want) to keep it up, how long you expect it to last, your budget, your perception of “green” materials, the style of your home and your personal style…these are just some of the things that will give you your answer.

Here are a few different countertops in our portfolio of projects.

Quartz: Caesarstone

Quartz: Cambria

Stone: Granite

Stone: Marble

Stone: Soapstone

Wood

End Grain Wood

Glass

Stainless Steel

Paper

Solid Surface

Plastic Laminate

Before: dated vanity was lovely in the 1990s

After: modern washstand

Before: a touch of Victorian excess

After: clean and uncluttered

Before: busy, high contrast materials feel cold

After: natural textures and colors add warmth

Before: tub/shower area in need of a face-lift

After: simple patterns with tile

Before: brassy gold tub fixtures

After: a new showering experience

New accessory: modern version of Tarzan?

A new standard vanity cabinet in richly stained wood was elevated to furniture status by sizing it slightly smaller than the vanity nook and affixing stainless steel legs onsite.  The traditional washstand is further evoked with a contemporary bowl sink and a modern water vessel accessory.  More natural tones  in large porcelain floor tiles and matching smaller accent tiles, a deeply veined Latte Mocha marble vanity top, and bronze fixtures convey the simplicity and serenity of the forest.  A whimsical twig mirror, a candle burning in a ceiling suspended holder, and an animal print cube bench all give an interesting edge.  And what woman wouldn’t welcome her own personal Tarzan to keep watch on her vanity top?

We recently completed a remodeling project for a very small bathroom.  The client is a vivacious modern woman, and her five-foot by six-foot bathroom did not speak to her spirit nor did it work for her lifestyle.  She had lived in Ireland for several years and appreciated the clean, simple functionality embraced there, but wanted a pop of personality as well.  (We understood–the thing that immediately drew us into her home on our first visit was the beautiful bright red Marmoleum floor in her kitchen, which said everything about her wonderful personality!  So we knew this was going to be fun.)  She shared with us a magazine photo of a bath that was something like what she wanted, and asked for help reinterpreting that idea for her space and her budget.

Have a look at the before and after shots:

Before: not so pretty, not so functional

After: bright and open... and color!

Before: tiny footprint

After: same footprint, feels larger

Before: crowded fixtures

After: space-saving pedestal sink

Before: outdated shower

After: updated shower with waterproof window, glass screen, handheld fixture

To visually open up the room, we tore out the bulky sink cabinet and installed the smallest pedestal sink we could find, and changed out the three mismatched cabinet/shelf units with our client’s vision of half-inch-thick open glass shelves that float on the wall.  The new frosted glass window panel is private and waterproof while preserving natural light.  Also, look closely–the pesky shower curtain was replaced with a 33″ clear glass shower screen.   For functionality, a handheld shower fixture makes showering a snap and then easily rinses down the entire shower.

Light gray sandstone tiles on the floor, bright white fixtures and walls, four shades of blue/green sparkling glass wall tiles–there is the personality that we see in the client.  The room, like the client, makes us smile.  And she loves it!

One thing left: a new light fixture above the mirror.  We are waiting for the perfect one.

The starting gate: Step Up for Down's Syndrome

Sunday was all the best that autumn has to offer.  Crisp clear morning air, dew melting and jackets pealing with the warming afternoon.  Diamond glints thrown by a low sun onto the ripples of the lakewater, and the occasional crunch of a stray multicolored leaf underfoot.  Later, a band and tents and picnic baskets, popcorn and ice cream and Rice Krispy bars.  Giggles and shrieks of children at play, and laughter and exclamations of friends and cousins and siblings and grandparents catching up.  And all for a reason–Step Up for Down’s Syndrome, the 13th annual two-mile walk around Lake Como to promote awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding of Down’s syndrome, celebrate the accomplishments of those with Down’s syndrome, and raise funds for the Down’s Syndrome Association of Minnesota.

We were there to support a family of our company and were humbled to see the thousands walking together for a common cause.  It was a beautiful day.

Interested?  Go to www.dsamn.org and maybe we will see you there next fall.

The tunnel approaching Lake Como

Lake Como

The top of the waterfall

The home stretch

The first thing to consider is cabinet style: face frame or frameless. Face frame is generally a more traditional look but can be made more contemporary with full overlay doors and a contemporary door style. Wider cabinet widths can be accommodated with less sagging. Frameless is a more modern look but can be made more traditional with a traditional door style. It provides for more usable space inside the cabinets. One is generally not much more expensive than the other, if other factors remain the same.

Face Frame

Frameless

Consideration number two is cabinet box material: plywood or particle board, in 3/8″ or 1/2″ or 3/4″ thickness, with a wood veneer or melamine interior side.  The great majority of cabinets made today are of 3/4″ particle board with a melamine interior, because it is readily available and at an affordable price point.  It provides for a reasonably sturdy cabinet and the melamine interior is easy to clean.

Number three concerns the construction techniques (how the cabinet is put together).   This covers a wide range from well-constructed cabinets with glued joints and corner blocking, to knock down units with metal cam-loc connectors put together by the purchaser.  Pricing varies accordingly.

The fourth consideration is the doors and drawer fronts, which accounts for most of the price difference between different cabinet choices.   At the higher end is solid wood in premium wood species with a furniture finish including several applications of stain, glazing, and distressing.  In the middle are common solid woods, veneers (although they can be expensive in exotic woods), and most metals.  Less expensive are thermofoils and plastic laminates.

The fifth consideration is hardware and accessories.  Hinges in most cabinets made today are of a high quality with a 10-year or lifetime warranty.  Drawer slides, however, vary from simple epoxy coated slides to full-extension, heavy load, self/soft closing slides, and this is reflected in the price.  Space-maximizing interior accessories such as pull-out corner units, recycling bins, knife blocks, etc. also increase the price.

Finally, if your existing cabinets are in good condition and you do not need to change your basic floor plan, you may want to consider refinishing, painting, or refacing your cabinets.  You can add some interior accessories, change out the handles, and add a few cabinets if you need them (for a new island, for example).

There is more, but this gets you started.  Cabinet quality is a complicated subject, and the answer to the question of best value is as individual as the person asking the question.  Begin by working through these six considerations to decide which factors are important to you, depending on the value of your home and how long you plan to stay in it, your budget, the way you use your cabinets, and your personal tastes.  In general, it usually pays to consider your cabinetry an investment and purchase as good a quality as you can afford.

You can see why it is an advantage to work with a professional kitchen and bath designer when planning your cabinet purchase.  There are lots of options, and our DreamMaker designers have all these options available and can help educate you and personalize the selection process so you get exactly what you want.

Galaxy Drive-In

Our company practices open-book management, most of which happens at our all-company meetings.  The day of our most recent all-company meeting was a beautiful summer afternoon: mid 70s and sun-drenched with a soft breeze.   So we locked our doors, piled into our cars, and drove a couple of miles down Louisiana Avenue to the Galaxy Drive-In to hold our meeting out on the picnic tables while having a mid-afternoon nosh.  If you have been there, you get the picture.  The Galaxy Drive-In (www.galaxy-drivein.com) is the new incarnation of the old Wagner’s Drive-In, the same original iconic 1951 structure upgraded by Steven Schussler with a retro “Jetsons meets Alice in Wonderland” decor.  The s’mores fire pit was roaring, the servers were rollerblading, and the kids at the next table were licking chocolate and melted marshmallow from their fingers.  And we were having our meeting.

The take-away?  Charts and graphs and balance sheets are more easily digested with a burger and fries and a root beer float, and ideas and plans of action become clearer in the sunlight of a fine summer day.  Just saying.

PS: When I contacted Steven Schussler about a photo for this blog, he gave me a heads up about the October 5, 2010 release of his new book, “It’s a Jungle in There,” www.itsajungleintherebook.com.  Steven, one of our local creative geniuses, is not only behind the Galaxy Drive-In but also such concepts as the Rainforest Cafe, so we can’t wait to read about his creative insights and entrepreneurial lessons.   All net proceeds of the book will be donated to Smile Network in their mission of surgically repairing cleft lips and palates of impoverished people around the world who otherwise could not afford surgery (www.smilenetwork.org).

Closet system: hanging space, drawer space, shelving

No matter what your closet size or purpose, you can make it work harder for you with a closet system.  Closet systems for both reach-in and walk-in closets typically consist of three essentials: hanging space (including single and double hanging rods and pull-down devices for higher ceilings), drawer space, and shelving.  Also available is a range of customizing accessories.  Two of our favorites, and the most commonly requested, are the slide-out or tilt-out hamper and the valet rod (which slides out to hold your next change of clothes or your dry cleaning).  We have also installed belt and tie organizers, pull-out pants racks, mirrors, hooks, and various lighting options (since closets are naturally dark spaces).   And oh yes–storage for all the shoes!  Shoes seem to be the thing, and there are several options for shoe storage.  You need to decide which of the custom features would personally benefit you and your family.

Valet rod

Valet rod used for backpack

Closet systems vary from basic standard modules made of white melamine to high-end fully custom-designed units in a choice of wood species, door and trim styles, and hardware.  We like to suggest melamine in a Wild Cherry wood color, which is not as formal or as expensive as dark solid wood but more fun than basic white melamine.  Accessories are available in varying price ranges also; for example, the lighting can vary from a simple ceiling fixture to a rod light, which is a light embedded in the hanging rod that focuses the light downward on the clothing.  Our most unique custom lighting solution?  We used aluminum framed LED panels for the shelves.  They are manufactured with tempered etched glass and energy-efficient LED lights, and powered with very safe low voltage 12V DC.  The embedded LEDs emit light in all directions, making everything on the shelves easy to see.

Illuminated shelf

Properly planned, closet systems help take the frustrations out of everyday living by making your storage space more efficient and easy to use.

Cherry Walk-In Closet System

In many ways we live in an era of uncertainty, which is inspiring us to reevaluate and simplify our lives and our homes.  We get back to the basics by recognizing and embracing what is personally important and letting the rest go.  This includes sorting through our possessions to decide what to keep, donate, and discard.  But what to do with what is left after the purging?  Plan closet systems to store it all!

Seriously, redesigning your closets can double or even triple your current storage space.  The process?  When we are working with our clients on their closets, we visit the home to measure and photograph the existing closet space and take inventory of the items that will be stored in the closet.  We discuss the possibilities with the clients to determine what type of closet systems and accessories would work best for them.  At a second meeting, a plan is presented and appropriate accessory options are offered, along with a budget.  We then handle the ordering and installation, and voila–no more chaos behind closed doors!

After the closet revamp, our clients have commented on the sense of calm and orderliness resulting from (1) sorting through possessions, (2) creating a space for every remaining possession, and (3) making it easy to keep those possessions in their place.  (A tip: if you are a hoarder and the very idea of item #1 above makes you hyperventilate,  enlist the help of a trusted–and patient–family member or friend!)

More on closet systems to come, from high-end to cost-effective.