Award Winning Projects!

The META awards, sponsored by our local chapter of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry, are given out for projects that showcase a "metamorphosis" of a space through remodeling.  Judges look for aesthetics, functionality and fulfilling clients needs.  We have enjoyed taking part in past competitions, since our company is active in NARI and respects its mission.  Therefore we were very happy to receive FIVE awards (one for each entry we submitted) earlier this month!  Here is a description of each project:

Kitchen Remodel - Platinum Award

Designer - Tali Hardonag

This family is all about the cooking, enjoyment and sharing of food. They needed an update to their cramped kitchen that was bursting at the seams and not well-suited for the regular entertaining they often enjoyed. With the re-adjusting of a few walls as well as a 4 foot addition, the space has been transformed to a cooks paradise. A new island with butcher block counters offers plenty of prep space. Stainless steel counters at the perimeter take a beating but clean up easy. A commercial grade cooking center has a range, indoor BBQ and separate broiler all under a large hood. This makes for a kitchen that can take on any cooking challenge!

Bath Remodel & Addition - GOLD Award

Designer - Patsy Zakian-Greenough

The client had just purchased the home but was not satisfied with the accommodations of the two small baths. The remodel was centered around the hall bath, with the decision to add space to fit a large luxurious tub with handheld shower. This is a great alternative to the master bath which has a shower only. The new addition created a vaulted ceiling with skylights to offer natural lighting to the space. A large vessel sink with modern faucet and light fixtures creates a very streamlined design. The wall hung vanity and toilet further the modern look. Floor to ceiling tile, radiant floors and a towel warming bar add to the "spa-like" feel that creates an atmosphere of relaxation after a long day.

Interior Remodel - GOLD Award

Designer - Toni DeWaal

This space was previously occupied by a playroom off the kitchen/dining area. Since the children were getting older, the space was going unused. The client decided to change the space to something the family could enjoy together. Custom cabinets add functional storage as well as display areas in the form of bookcases. A work station with computer and printer offers a convenient spot for homework that can easily blend into the background when not in use. Cabinet crown and door casing draws attention to the vaulted ceiling, while new flooring brings a maturity that was lacking in the old space.

Bath Remodel - GOLD Award

Designer - Toni DeWaal

This master bathroom was a little cramped and outdated. The clients had been looking forward to treating themselves to a new space, but the budget had to stay reasonable. That meant a focus on fixtures and finishes, with no walls moving or major mechanical re-working. An all new vanity (from Dynasty cabinets) with apron sink and darker finish creates a rich base. The reduced depth at the far end of the vanity is to allow for easy entrance to the new shower enclosure with hinged door. The vanity and pendant light fixtures create a modern look with clean lines. A mosaic tile backsplash adds accent color that ties to the vanity and floor tile. The transformation of the space got rid of the poor function and gloomy look. Now the clients are very satisfied and enjoy being able to appreciate the new space on a daily basis.

Bath Remodel & Addition - Silver Award

Designer - Patsy Zakian-Greenough

This master bathroom (toilet, vanity and bathtub) was squeezed into one small room. The client desired more space for a larger shower and master closet. With a small addition onto the rear of the home, enough space as created to build a "spa-like retreat" of a shower. The 5’ x 7’ shower room is equipped with a large overhead rain shower head, body sprays and corner bench. Windows and skylights bring in natural light and views of the mountain hillside setting. An all new master closet also uses some of the added space to create a walk-in layout with floor to ceiling cabinets, open shelves and two levels of closet rods for storage. The space that once held the existing bathroom is now used for the vanity and toilet only, so the space is much less crowded. A wall hung vanity with vessel sink creates an updated modern look. The homeowner loves to have the luxury of this new space, especially to relax after returning from traveling.

Please visit our website and Houzz profile to see more of these and other past projects. Contact us via email or at 408-287-4886 with questions or to talk about your own project!  

E-Newsletter for November 2013

November 2013

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Forget Cookie Cutter Kitchens: Remodel for What You Love! It's great fun to go online to be inspired by all the beautiful kitchen remodeling projects you can find on Houzz, Pinterest or home décor sites. But at Chris Donatelli Builders, we think remodeling should give you more than what "other people" like. We believe the kitchen you'll love the most will be the one designed around the activities you love the most. Here are some ideas to get you started. Baker's Kitchen Marble countertops are ideal for kneading dough and rolling flaky pastry but they're easily stained by berries, vanilla and lemon juice. A solution is to create a marble work station that's lower in height than the other counters (thus perfect for working with dough) and then use engineered quartz (like Caesarstone) for the rest of the counters. The quartz offers the same cool-to-the-touch baking advantages but it's far easier to maintain than marble.     You may want an island workstation with plenty of "elbow room" for rolling dough. A heavy duty slide-out shelf can lift a stand mixer out of a lower cabinet up to counter level and send it back when you're done with it. No heavy lifting is required and you've saved valuable counter space. Or, you may prefer a baking center where large mixers can stay out on the counter, but hidden by a pull-down tambour door when not in use. For storing flours, sugar and other ingredients, drawers offer easier access than cabinets. Still, it's good to include some deep cabinets for organizing large baking sheets, muffin tins and racks. A double oven lets you bake in large batches and at different temperatures, and new ovens with steam injection are perfect for crisp yet tender breads and pastry crusts. Gourmet Kitchen Gourmet recipes call for chopping, simmering, searing and more! That's why your dream kitchen needs multiple types of lighting, counter heights and work surfaces. Butcher block may not be right for all your countertops, but it makes a perfect inset for a chopping station that's also designed to keep knives handy. You may want to plan the kitchen so several cooks have room to work, but consider keeping the central prep area smaller so you can be most efficient when cooking alone. If you use lots of fresh ingredients, consider a bottom-freezer refrigerator that raises fresh food to eye level. The latest "French door" models solve the problem of side-by-side refrigerators that may be too narrow to accommodate large platters and trays, while keeping the convenience of two narrow doors instead of one large door. An extra pot-filler water faucet at the stove makes filling heavy pasta and stock pots a breeze! And if you like to have blenders and food processors handy on the counter, there are ingenious new ways to make them "disappear" when not in use.   Comfort Kitchen Dreaming of a luxurious but cozy kitchen? You're not alone! Stainless steel continues to be popular for appliances, but new oiled-bronze finishes (like those from Jenn-Air) offer warmer choices for more traditional kitchen décor. To remodel the kitchen for a welcoming, "furnished" feel, leave room for comfortably upholstered armchairs around the table, consider a built-in refrigerator and dishwasher with cabinet-front insets and set the kitchen island off with different finishes than the cabinets. Plus you can use furniture flourishes like table legs or display shelves. To keep your kitchen comfortable – and accessible – for everyone, consider including a variety of lighting options, counter heights and workstations for adults, kids and even friends and family with limited mobility or less-than-perfect eyesight. What's Your Dream Kitchen? An Entertaining Kitchen? A "Green" Kitchen? A Kid-Friendly Kitchen? Even if you're not ready to remodel right away, we'd be happy to share some ideas and new products to keep in mind as you begin to think about how to turn "what you love" into a kitchen you'll love for years to come. Just give us a call and we'll talk about turning your dream kitchen into reality! Maintenance Tip: Check Your Home's Exterior for Potential Problems Autumn's a great time to inspect the outside of your home. The area around your foundation should be graded away from the house. Downspouts should carry runoff at least 3 to 4 feet from the foundation. Also make sure mulch or woodpiles don't come into contact with siding, as this invites termites and carpenter ants into your home. If You Like Our E-newsletter, Pass It On! We would like to thank all our new readers who have signed up for our e-newsletter. If you know someone who you think might like our e-newsletter, please forward them a copy. Unless they then choose to subscribe for themselves, they won't be on our e-newsletter mailing list for future e-mails. (We promise!) Chris Donatelli CR, CKBR, CGBP