Coming together

Everything is coming together beautifully, which can be a concern when you're making selections initially from small sample pieces.  But Donna is the key at helping with ideas and designs.   We're loving the look and feel of the cabinets, tile, and hardwood floors.  We're particularly anxious to have the tile work completed, as some very unique and creative tile and layout designs are planned thanks to Donna's creative juices.  Should be a "wow" first impression.

We met with Donna again last evening to discuss closet design, with "his" and "her" closets having minor differences in order to meet our individual wants.   Nice to know we aren't having to do a cookie cutter approach to things. 

Things continue to progress well, with much anticipation for completion.  As always, a great team and crew to be working with. 

"the Pretty Part "

Well, we've made it through the first dip in the "Remodeling Curve" as we call it.  This is the time, during sheetrock, when we have dust.  We take extreme measures in sealing off all areas of work from the remainder of the home. We provide sticky mats as you enter the remainder of the home that will removes debris from shoes.  We also advise our clients, as well as take it upon ourselves, to change out the furnace filters. 

OK, so now begins the "pretty part" as Jeanette calls it, when all the elements start appearing to put things back together.  Hardwood will be patched in and partially finished next week and then trim will begin.  The plumbing fixtures are on site and the cabinetry is being delivered tomorrow, a little early, but better than late. 

I am also excited about our decision to relocate the window.  It it the right thing to do, and really won't be a big deal.  I'm sure Tim can handle this change in less than a day. 

With two month exactly, to our finish date of March 24th, a lot will be happening on a weekly basis from now on.

Donna

The 3 W's: Walls, Windows and Water

The sheet rock is in, so now the true feel of the space with "real walls".  It is going to be beautiful having a vaulted ceiling in the bedroom.  (From the inside this sure isn't going to look like a 55 year old ranch style home any longer.)

Last week during the walk-though we made a last minute window change for the glass block window in the bathroom, changing it from a vertical position to a horizontal position.  I appreciate the team not saying "too late", as we have all agreed, this is going to look much nicer now. 

And sounds like the crew had some extra water events yesterday, as their note in the communicate notebook stated, "You may see a little water in the basement.   A sheet rock screw hit a water line."  Accidents happen, and everything was cleaned up before I got home.

I know the next step is dry wall dust.  And of course that's when  family from out of town just happen to be coming to visit.  But at least I will have an excuse for not passing the white glove test.  No housework for me this time in preparing for family.  If they want to stay here, they just have to accept things as they are right now.  Will definitely be a memorable visit. 

Everything continues to go well and on schedule.  Hard to believe it's not even been a full month yet since anything started. 

Home Alone

Nothing like going on vacation, leaving the fish and snake "home alone" with the contracters, and coming back to the addition being framed in.  Now that's the way to do it. 

Everything has been going great.  But I could have guessed as much, as my second time in using Schloegel Design Remodel and I wouldn't have it be any other company.   We are currently at what I call the "non-pretty" part of the project, as completing all the "in the wall" projects of electrical, plumbing, heating/cooling.  But simply means getting closer to the "pretty part".   Thanks  to good weather and a great crew, ahead of schedule, which is fantastic. 

Communications have been great.  Between the communication notebook at the house, e-mails and cell phones, quick responses/replies to any questions.  No detail or stone left unturned by Donna who catches everything.  Even to the point of measuring our height so the shower, body sprays, lights, etc are all "just right" for us.   

I ran home over lunch today to let the dog out, and "only" 8 vehicles parked out front.  I'm sure the neighbors are talking.  But a warm spot in knowing so many people are working at making our home addition perfect for us. 

More later.  But loving it.  Especially in doing this addition/remodel with my new family.  And loving the experience with Schloegel Design Remodel again. 

Subs are playing nicely together

There is so much going on today.  We are at what is called the "rough in" stage.  This stage involves all the wiring, plumbing and heating and cooling locations.  Detailed drawings have been created with the location of each outlet, light fixture, and plumbing location.  This phase is critical to all future finishes.  The shower has been designed to include several water sources. A thermostatic valve with three volume controls operate a stationary shower head, two body sprays and a hand held shower head.  At this weeks client meeting we measured the client and determined finish heights and locations of each valve and water source.  I met with the lead carpenter prior to plumbing rough in to specify all studding and blocking needs.  When I arrived today a few items needed to be adjusted due to the amount of tees and elbows that are required to make this complicated system work.  A review of the design of all the light fixtures yesterday gave me the information I needed to specify the proper heights of the sconce fixtures in the hall, vanity and tub location.  The last critical issue is the roman tub filler that was selected for the whirlpool bath.  With the tub on site and the deck built, we did a visual inspection to insure that the tub spout will in fact project over the tub rim and the hand held will work on the tub deck and not interfere with the tub overflow.  All is well.  As they say "measure twice, cut once".  I will be meeting with the client tomorrow morning to review all items prior to drywall which begins on Monday. 

Tile Work!

The focus recently has been tile work: granite tile countertops, travertine backsplash with a feature tile in the bar area, with tile for the face of the fireplace and rock for the hearth . David has done a great job, both in laying the tile, but also in helping to choose the grout colors - four different tiles; four different grouts!

When we decided on the pattern for the feature tile, aided by Debby's creative ideas, it's purpose was to duplicate a glass pattern in the stained glass of the light fixtures over the bar area. When I was deciding what size tiles to use in the feature, I decided to do a mock-up in my kitchen upstairs.

After completing the mock-up, it reminded me of something, but I could not put my thumb on it. Then finally, it hit me. The pattern was similar to the National Fallout Shelter sign!

Basement remodel progresses

The basement has changed dramatically following the demolition of two walls and the construction of new walls,  the bar area, the fireplace and the stained concrete floor.  We are very pleased with the progress so far and are anxious to see the final product. 

Tim and Dave have made a great team and are meticulous in their work. It shows in the quality construction of the oak trim, the oak columns and the installation of the cabinetry. Windows were installed this past week which really gave the space a more open feeling and brings in so much more light.

We eagerly await the installation of the tile, both in the bar area and on the fireplace. The painting and staining this coming week should also bring a dramatic change to the appearance of the space.

Our overall theme for this finsh is an "Arts and Crafts" style that is really becoming apparent as the trim details are completed. Debby has been wonderful to work with and extremely helpful in making design decisions in keeping with the "Arts and Crafts" look. Brad has been on top of all the scheduling and ordering which has made this project stay on track and continue smoothly.

We look forward to the coming weeks to see the project come to completion.

Bob and Lea Morrison

Lower Level Completion

Bob and Lea Morrison wanted to finish their lower level.  Part of this area had been finished when the home was built, but a recreation room and bar area had not yet been completed.  The Morrison's have a truly unique home appointed with oak columns, stone fireplace and an overall arts and crafts flair.

The future site of the recreation room was octagonal in shape.  This provided opportunities as well as challenges in the design phase of this project.  The walls that currently divided this space from the open area (and future bar area) would be removed.  The new recreational space had some requirements - a fireplace, new windows, an art wall and a storage/display cabinet.  Bob had drawn his vision of the fireplace finish - it included oak beams, a stone hearth and a tile surround, so we were off to a good start.

The future site of the bar was an existing finished space that was largely unused.  The original house plans showed a bar lay-out for this space, but neither myself nor the Morrison's were in love with it!  We started to plan a new lay-out, but we were encountering some challenges in this space.  Lea realized that if we removed a section of wall (that was non-structural), we could have the bar design we desired, actually better!

The cabinetry we selected in the design phase has an arts and crafts inspired door style and used this impetus to help us select the rest of the finishes.  Some of the exciting and challenging moments in any project will come in the finishes - we are looking forward to:  concrete stained flooring, the oak cabinetry, granite tile countertops, stone tile backsplash, oak columns to mirror the existing home, the fireplace stone, hearth and surround. 

The "before" pictures will give some perspective of the space we started with, we have our plan for construction and we are ready to build...

Welcome To Reality Remodeling

The remodeling clients, project managers, and project designers all weigh in during the course of a real life remodeling project in the Kansas City area. Reality remodeling gives you the opportunity to experience, first-hand, what it's really like to remodel your home.

We here at Schloegel Design Remodel hope you enjoy this revealing experiment.