Stepping It Up

In the outdoor project we've been following, we've watched as the area has been cleared, fill dirt has been brought in and graded, and now we're ready to start forming the steps that will lead from the pool area down to the nature area behind the house.

Laying out steps like this takes time and considerable expertise.  First, the amount of "drop" is determined, which will dictate how many steps will be used.  There is a fair amount of variation on the supposed standard measurements required for risers and steps.  But generally, what's most important is that the steps are consistent.  In this instance, the steps were intentionally fashioned in different sizes to give them the appearance that they were casually placed into the wild landscape.  Regardless, the formation of the steps took a lot of time!

The steps are being formed with stacking blocks.  These will also be used for the retaining wall at the top of the step area.

Once all of that is in place, these coordinating pavers will be used to form the treads of the steps, and the step-out patio area at the top.  Slow work, but it's going to look great.  More next week!

Making the Grade

Last week we took a look at some "before" images of a landscape project we had started. The largest single issue with this project was drainage.  Lots of water converges at this corner of the house and pool deck, from 3 gutters, a channel drain in the deck and overflow runoff from the roof.  After several years, it had created rivulets and what basically amounted to a mud pit, flowing down to a wild bog.

We worked closely with Argentine Landscaping to come up with a comprehensive drainage plan before any actual work was begun.  This plan would channel each gutter downspout and the pool deck channel drain into their own underground drain pipes.  These pipes would all channel into a 6" PVC pipe that will carry the water down the slope and come up into a box drain in the boggy area.  Additionally, a channel drain will wrap around the new outdoor paved landing to insure that any water that might collect at this area will also be channeled into the 6" drain pipe, and not wash out the hill.

Once all the plans are in place, two truckloads of fill and top soil are brought in to regrade the area.  It's amazing how much better it looks already!

 

But even this work comes at a price.  Heavy equipment was necessary to move this much soil efficiently, but this work was begun right after a big rainstorm.  Muddy ground and a large backhoe are not a good recipe for a lawn!

But this can all be corrected at the end of the project.  Next week, the fun parts of the project begin!

Nature and Chaos

When a new home borders a nature preserve area, the residents generally appreciate the view and the privacy that this brings.  But often, the building process has disturbed the natural ground plane to some degree.  In the case of this project, the home was built about 5 feet above a natural semi-bog area.  At the back corner of the house where the pool cage exits to the yard, the ground was never graded properly, and the soil constantly washed out.  This was exacerbated by the fact that several gutters and pool deck drains convened at this exact corner, and during heavy rains everything would wash right down the hill.

We took a quick look at these grounds last year. Here's a reminder.

The area had become a wilderness, and was somewhat hazardous to walk out into due to the uneven ground and rivulets created by improperly routed drain water.

The project was about a year in the design phase.  A fire pit was part of the original design that the homeowners decided wouldn't be used often, so the design was altered accordingly.  And certain elements were refined to make them more budget-friendly.  But the project has been completed now, and the results are exciting.  We think we were able to create something that is fun, while appropriate to the site.  We'll watch the progress over the next few weeks.  Hope you'll enjoy it along with us!

Completed Puzzle

Over the past couple of weeks we've seen the bare wall, the drawings for a built-in cabinet, and the pieces of the cabinet waiting to be assembled.  Ready for the finished product!

In some instances we like to design cabinets that go wall-to-wall.  However, in this case, the angled junction of the fireplace mantel and hearth would have made a wall-to-wall unit awkward.  The new piece is wrapped with the same base molding as the rest of the room, and the whole piece is crowned with the dentil molding profile used on the mantel.  These elements tie it beautifully to the room.

The central area of the cabinet will house the flat-screen TV, and the electronic components are tucked into a cabinet below.  The unit still affords a great deal of space for toys, games, videos, etc, and the open shelving on the side will be for decorative items.  These side niches are glass shelves with an appropriate piece of wood trim adhered to the front edge, and they're lit with a tiny, elegant LED light fixture, about the size of a 50-cent piece.

It makes a beautiful and very functional addition to this room!  The type of "furniture" that will be there as long as the house stands!

How Many Pieces?

Last week we looked at a "recipe for a built-in", as we like to call it.  Built-in cabinetry is without a doubt one of the best ways to hide things behind closed doors (in a beautiful way!), and help keep your home free from clutter.  And since they're custom-built, they add significance and value to your home!

Here is the drawing that we prepared for the cabinet builder.

Here is the shop drawing prepared by the cabinet builder.

Now, how many pieces do you think this one cabinet would be broken down into for building?  Here's a sample!

Amazing!  But when you see the finished product, you'll understand why.  Check in next week to see!

What Does This Spell?

A large sunny room, and a wide-open wall with a flat screen TV sitting on a stand...  To us that is the recipe for a built-in cabinet unit!

The room has a couple of strong architectural elements that can be incorporated into the wall unit.

Follow along with me over the next few weeks to see the solution we came up with!

Resurface Reveal

Remember the kitchen we looked at least week?

Tired and dated, and in need of a new look. 
Here's a list of what we didn't change:
-Basic layout
-Flooring
-Counter tops
-Positions of major appliances and sink
-Cabinet boxes
And here is a look at what we did change!

The client selected a mosaic glass tile for the back splash, which led us to choose a rich, warm color for the walls that complements the granite counter tops and Saltilo floor tile.  New Shaker-style cabinet doors in a clear oak finish were chosen, and the cabinet boxes were re-faced with matching oak laminate.  A new exhaust hood, European oven and dishwasher were selected in a stainless steel finish to match the existing refrigerator.  The hanging pot rack that clogged up the corner of the room was removed, and replaced with wall-mounted pot racks to display the owner's gorgeous collection of French copper cookware.  A new window blind was selected in a pleated fabric shade design to offer more privacy when needed, and a little softening to the room.  The soffit area above the cabinets (previously covered with the cabinet laminate) was painted to match the walls.  All vestiges of the original 1980's cabinet trim pieces were covered with new squared off profile trim pieces in the same clear oak finish as the cabinets, crown molding was added, LED under cabinet lighting was added to warm up the counter tops below, a new ceiling fan in a complementary finish was installed and new bar stools were selected with an appropriate wood finish and leather seat.

The new kitchen space is warm and inviting, and even though the process was relatively non-invasive, the results are big.  One more way to make a big difference in your every day world!

Skinning the Proverbial Cat

Even typing those words makes me cringe...where do those sayings come from?  But the point is, there is more than one way to do it, and that's what this story is about.

Not every kitchen redo allows for a complete gutting and reconfiguration.  There may be budgetary or space restraints...or it could just be that the kitchen works as efficiently as is needed, but maybe it's just time to freshen it up.  We're going to look at a kitchen where this was the case.  It is a small kitchen that was a little dreary, and definitely dated, but functioned well.  Though the laminate covered cabinets hearkened back to the 80's, the construction was solid.  And there were other elements of the kitchen that were nice enough to work with in the renovation.  Let's take a look at the before photos.

The function is there, but not a kitchen that makes you feel excited to walk into.  When we're done, this kitchen will take on an entirely different look, without moving a single element!  Check back next week.