They say you can't do work that's "fast, cheap and good" but I beg to differ. (Please, please, let me differ!) Check out this recent backsplash repair which I did for one of my clients. She had a ledge behind her bathroom sink which was made from particle board. Since particle board is basically just sawdust and glue, it had started to swell and crack: The first thing I did was take out the particle board and replace it with luan board, which won't swell up: Then my client purchased a set of the "gel" tiles from the hardware store. I usually have my doubts about faux tiles, but these looked great. I didn't even have to use a tile saw, since they cut with scissors: They even look good up close: If you've got an ugly little problem like a work-worn backsplash, we'll be glad to help. Just give us a call or use our handy online contact form.
I recently replaced a kitchen sink for my clients that was so ugly, it broke my camera. Well, that's not true, but it was ugly, and I did forget to take a picture of it. However, I got a picture of the hole it left behind. Since I don't have a picture, I'll just explain that it was one of those old fake farmhouse sinks with lots of cracks and stains in the porcelain. It was making this nice clean kitchen look worn out. So we added some easy "kitchen appeal" with this shiny new stainless steel sink: As you can see, they've got stainless hardware and appliances, so this will be a perfect match. I've got a stainless sink in my own kitchen, and I must say that it holds up well to heavy use. I also replaced this cracked bathroom pedestal sink. Only the bowl was cracked, so I was able to save time and money by leaving the pedestal in place.
Awhile back I showed how one of my clients renovated her kitchen on a budget. Her strategy is to do one project at a time as her budget allows. She recently finished her bathroom renovation, and I thought I would share pictures of some of the stages. Unfortunately I don't have a picture of the bathroom when she bought the house, but her first step was the least expensive: adding a bold blue paint color to set off the woodwork. Next, she had me panel over the popcorn ceiling and swap out the light fixture. At that point, we also took out the horrible sliding shower door. Finally, she brought in a tile specialist to retile the tub area. A beautiful vintage rug was the finishing touch. You probably remember the custom wooden bathroom vanity counter which I made and installed for her a few months ago. We had also swapped out the sinks, faucets and light fixtures. When the tile guys came in to retile the bathtub surround, they also put in a few tiles around the sink. I returned to install a little trim around the sink and mirror for a built-in look. In pictures, it looks like this renovation happened overnight, but this took place over the space of about five years. It goes to show that with patience and planning, you can have a beautiful home on any budget. Does your bathroom need a little TLC? Get in touch... I'll be glad to help. Keep Reading
Those of you who love chocolate (and who doesn't?) might recognize the downtown office building I've been working in recently. It currently houses Kilwin's Chocolates on the ground level, and it has gorgeous office spaces upstairs.
Check out a few "before and after" photos to see what a difference a coat of paint can make.
By pushing their desks to the center of the room, the agency was able to keep its office running while I painted. After I finished painting, I hung magnetic boards on the walls so that each employee has a place to pin up ideas.
Since this is a working office, they needed a place to make their lunch... but since they invite clients to their office for meetings, the break area also had to look good in the room.
They chose glossy white Ikea cabinets which blended nicely into the decor. I also added a shelf above to store a few supplies.
I really love what they've done with this space. It's contemporary while still retaining the beautiful details from the past. The open, airy nature of the room seems like an excellent place for creative work. You could say that it leaves room for thought. This was a dramatic update to the room, and I was glad to be a part of it. I wish the Griffin Agency the best of luck with their beautiful new office space... I think I'd enjoy working in a room like this.
Do you have a room that could use a coat of paint? Give me a call. I'll be glad to help.
Keep Reading:
I was sorting through my picture file recently and came across a few photos of a project I did several years ago. I thought it might make a good show-and-tell, since rustic beams are very popular right now. This was a large room addition with a kitchen and living room, plus a whole-house remodel of the rest of the structure. It's a much bigger project than I take on these days, simply because I enjoy the smaller repairs more. Take note of the beams. The cross-beams are real, very heavy, 4"x8" cedar beams. On the other hand, the gable "rafters" you see aren't really structural pieces. They are simple 1"x4" cedar boards which are screwed over the Sheetrock ceiling and into the real rafters. This is a neat way to have the character of "exposed beams" while keeping the lower cost of standard framing. As a builder, my favorite part was that the false rafters went right over the Sheetrock joints, so I didn't have to tape, mud or sand the ceiling. The homeowner even saved money on labor. I do think that the real wood is superior to the faux stuff made out of Styrofoam. Real wood has a texture and visual depth to the surface that synthetic materials just can't match. The homeowner picked out some really cool details to play up the beams, including two wrought-iron chandeliers which draw the eye up so that you admire the ceiling. There's also a ceiling fan in the top (which you can't see at this angle) to help moderate the room temperature. The dark kitchen cabinets set off the room with a medieval look, and the collection of globes on top of the cabinets also draws the eye upward. This was such a big job that the property was practically my second home for six months. It makes me a little nostalgic for my days as a builder. Then again, I still get to do a lot of
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April 2022
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