Contribute Your Own Artistic Touch

Some years ago we did a lovely kitchen remodel for Jan and Carol of Berkeley. They chose a striking dark green granite slab for their countertops, but for the backsplash they chose ceramic tiles. 'Backsplash' is the term for the area just above the counter, against the wall, that will get splashed by you when you cook or run water. Frequently the choice of finish there is a continuation of the counter surface, be it tile, granite, marble, Corian, Silestone, etc.

However, Jan and Carol desired a contrasting lighter surface. The tiles were a pretty cream color and performed excellently for their task. Every so often a different-looking tile would appear in that backsplash, because Jan had handcrafted it and illustrated it with a color image of an animal. Some were pets they had owned, others were not: a Labrador retriever, a Siamese cat, a colorful parrot, a lizard, and so on.

Jan let us know before the work had even started that she wanted to make her own tiles. We allowed a little extra time in the schedule for her to accomplish her creative goal. We placed the special tiles randomly in the backsplash throughout the kitchen. The animal tiles brought a magical look to the kitchen that made the final result even more endearing to Jan and Carol.

You can also contribute to your own home remodel. If you have a special skill like Jan, who is a graphic artist and professional potter, let us know. We'll examine ways for you to create something that will enhance your home remodel, making it even more personal and intimate.

When Friends and Family Pitch In

I was getting a fabulous massage the other night, and then the masseuse said something that made my muscles seize up: "I have a friend who's having problems with her remodel." "Really?" I asked noncomittally. "Has she started it yet or is it in progress?" "She's in the middle of it.....It's being done by friends."

Over the twenty plus years we have been in business remodeling homes, we have heard the same story over and over. The masseuse continued with her friend's situation. "The deck isn't up to code and has to be fixed. There are other problems with the kitchen. And they're working without a permit." She didn't know any more of the details, but I could have easily filled them in.

Here's the secret to avoiding this type of remodeling disaster: DO NOT hire friends, relatives or in-laws to perform any phase of remodeling upon your beloved house. Most of them, I am sure, are wonderful people in many ways. Many are even very professional. But there's something about the intimacy of your relationship with them that tends to excuse and dismiss that level of professionalism required for excellent, well-thought-out, high-quality design and build.

I was in a friend's kitchen some years ago, listening to her tale of woe. Her husband had hired his brother, a professional remodeler, to remodel a substantial amount of their house. It was a huge project, and at the end of it, many design details hadn't been worked out and were not well built. The two brothers haven't spoken since.

So if you think you're going to save lots of money and get a great deal on your design/build project by hiring Sis or best friend Jeremy, think again. Hire a licensed, insured architect and general contractor with solid reputations that you aren't related to. You'll be doing yourself, your family and friends a huge favor!

Come Into My Home: An Inviting Entryway

Hello and welcome to an historical moment: my first blog! We're in the midst of an exterior entry project in the Oakland hills. The homeowner is single, retired, and travels frequently. Picture this: an old wooden fence, an equally old wooden gate which opens onto an uneven, chipped and scratched walkway. The walkway leads to three cement stairs and a porch covered by a plastic awning. Not such an attractive introduction to the house, eh?

First Go Round

Because of structural issues and proximity to the neighbors' property line, we brought in a licensed architect. But whoa Nelly - the project skyrocketed to $150,000! This entry remodel had been overdesigned for its true purpose.

Second Go Round

We sent the architect away and went at the drawing boards ourselves. Steve, brilliant as always, drew a simpler, more scaled-down version that maintained its elements of beauty. The cost to construct now was $50,000, quite acceptable to the homeowner's budget.

Where Does The $$ Go?

Much of this project involved demolition, excavation and hauling. Then came the selection , ordering, purchase, delivery, layout and setting of some downright beautiful 24" x 24" slate tiles. Bye-bye plastic awning and entire porch overhang: We built a new structure in our shop, disassembled it and moved it to the jobsite, then reassembled and installed it. Posts and beams support a new porch overhang with red Spanish tiles to match the roof. Also included in the budget are new steps and a pretty new wooden gate, not yet built. The walkway extends further than the original.

Is the Homeowner Happy So Far?

She's tickled pink, and is asking for more work to be done. When we are done with the first project, she would like us to replace a cracked and sagging 60' retaining wall and add a railing.

Want To See It?

Be patient. We will soon have a slide show of this project on our website, from demo to finished entry. The announcement will show up in our newsletter.