House Renovation During the Coronavirus: Plan Now, Build Later!

by Interior RenovationRemodeling Tips

Before the coronavirus outbreak, did you have thoughts of starting a new house renovation project? If so, did you decide to put it on hold because of social distancing? We’d love to help you keep your design dreams moving! Although we’ve temporarily stopped active construction and closed our in-person Design Center, we can still work together virtually on project planning and design and development. 

At Custom Craft, we have a thorough preparation process that precedes production. Thoughtful design is at the heart of everything we do and ensures that we create a space that is tailored to your wants and needs, and is executed with care, high-quality craftsmanship, and efficiency. By planning now, you will: 

  • Get ahead of other prospective customers and avoid a crowded market. When the pandemic ends, many people will start requesting renovation projects at once. By getting started now, you’re far less likely to experience construction delays down the line. We’ll hit the ground running right away.
  • Focus on perfecting the details. Many homeowners get excited when they kick off a renovation project and want to rush right into construction. We’re just as excited as you are, but we encourage the opposite approach. Rushing may result in an end product that doesn’t match your vision. Since you’re spending far more time at home right now – and given that we can’t even begin construction – it’s likely you’ll be more engaged in our planning process by starting now. This will help us produce the highest-quality outcome that exceeds your expectations.

We do recognize the economic impact that the coronavirus has had on families in our community and that financially, a home renovation may not be a feasible project to take on right now. However, for those who do feel positioned to consider it, we encourage you to read on to learn more about our virtual design process and how to get started.

Phase 1: Virtual Introductions & Project Planning

Over the course of a few virtual meetings, we will:

  • Discuss your goals and objectives for the renovation and potential challenges
  • Take a virtual tour of the impacted areas in your home
  • Review and align on an initial design proposal
  • Review a preliminary scope of work (including timing and budget)

Ultimately, we consider this a partnership, so our goal in this phase is to determine whether Custom Craft is the right fit for you, and that you’re the right fit for us!

Phase 2: Virtual Design and Development Process

Once we’ve agreed to move forward, we’ll dig deeper into the project (virtually) with one of our designers. We call this your “At-Home Design Center.” We will:

  • Present a schematic drawing of your new space and a palette of finishes so you can see how the materials look side-by-side.
  • Package all of our recommended finishes and materials, which we can drop off on your doorstep, or you can pick up curbside.
  • Create a 3D rendering based on the finishes you select. This will help you visualize the new space.

Once we’ve aligned on design and budget, we’ll prep for production! We’ll create a tentative schedule, contingent upon us receiving formal approval from the government to resume construction. Important to note, even when the quarantine ends, we will continue to provide a safe environment for you and our staff, and will follow all guidelines from the CDC. Read more on our precautions here.

So, are you feeling inspired to start planning your next project? Or perhaps you just want to brainstorm some preliminary ideas? Please contact us. We’d love to hear from you!

Wishing you and your families lasting health and safety as we navigate this difficult time together.

laundry drying rack mounted on wall

Clever Laundry Solutions For Your Home

by Remodeling Tips

laundry drying rack mounted on wallMust Have Laundry Features

When it comes to remodeling, one of the most frequently overlooked areas of a home is the laundry room. Yet, when you calculate how much time is spent working in that space, it makes sense to give the design careful consideration. If you are planning to update your laundry, we recommend thinking beyond the washer and dryer by including user-friendly features to make your domestic chores less onerous.

There are a variety of clever features which can be incorporated into your laundry room to make your life easier, like this wall-mounted, retractable drying rack. Here are a few additional options to consider:

  • Laundry basket cubbies/drawers
  • Counters for clothes folding
  • Built-in cabinetry surrounding the washer & dryer
  • Pocket doors
  • Utility sinks

We have collected several project photos to illustrate how these clever solutions can be used to make your household chores easier. Tap or click on any of the images below to launch the slideshow and learn more.

To start a conversation about your next remodeling project, contact us at 610-584-0665

Entertaining-Friendly Spaces

by Remodeling Tips

Host holiday and other gatherings in stylish comfort with these custom-made serving spaces

It never fails. Whenever guests gather for an event in the home, they inevitably congregate around the kitchen. This can create quite a challenge for the hosts of the event, as they attempt to navigate around guests while they serve dinner and drinks. Sound familiar? The good news is that with some thoughtful planning, and a little Custom Craft ingenuity, your kitchen can be equipped with entertaining-friendly features to resolve these kitchen conundrums.

If you enjoy entertaining and are longing for a more functional space, consider including these features in your next remodeling project:

  • Cabinetry with serving counters placed away from the meal prep area
  • Accent lighting beneath perimeter cabinetry
  • Decorative glass to showcase stemware
  • Under counter beverage refrigerators
  • Decorative tile features for visual interest

In the slideshow below, we highlight a few of the solutions we crafted for our clients. We encourage you to toggle through the photos for ideas and inspiration. As always, if you have any questions about how you can achieve a more entertaining-friendly environment in your home, please do not hesitate to contact us at: 610-584-0665.

house-stethescope-sm

Remodelers are Like Surgeons for Your Home

by Remodeling Tips

You Need A Proper Diagnosis Before Being Prescribed A Cure

house-stethescope-sm

Your home is one of the biggest financial investments you are likely to make. It is also the hub of family life. For these reasons, when renovations become necessary it is important to select a remodeling contractor with great care–similar to selecting a physician. After all, home remodeling is a lot like surgery. Before any procedure is completed, it is critical to perform a thorough examination.

Understanding Patient History

As time consuming as it is to complete the survey forms before your doctor appointment, providing your physician with that history is important. Those factors need to be taken into consideration when analyzing your current condition and developing an appropriate treatment plan. The same concept holds true for your home. At Custom Craft, we dedicate the time to conduct a thorough interview with you to understand the circumstances that prompted you to contact us in the first place. Just like a doctors appointment, this initial assessment can be somewhat time consuming, but is essential to the success of the project.

Where Does it Hurt?

Like a doctor, we need to know what is causing your pain. Is your room too dark? Are pathways cramped? Do you lack storage? Are appliances in need of replacement? Is anything broken, leaking, or otherwise malfunctioning? These issues are what we commonly refer to as your pain points. Understanding these frustrations helps us to identify the sources of the problems, and plan appropriately to resolve these challenges to your satisfaction.

Forming the Diagnosis

Once Custom Craft has performed a thorough assessment of your home, we are able to identify the sources of the pain you are experiencing, and develop a custom solution to meet your needs. By necessity, these solutions are unique because you, your home, and your needs are also one-of-a-kind. We never use off the shelf designs. In medical terms, trying to utilize a cookie-cutter solution for a unique problem would be about as effective as applying a bandage to an ankle in order to treat a sprained wrist.

The Renovation Remedy

Similar to a surgical procedure, a remodeling project can sometimes be painful–especially during the construction phase. Let’s face it, remodeling is disruptive to daily life. That said, Custom Craft will work to ease that pain by communicating with you throughout the process, and taking measures to remove irritants like dirt and debris. We will also create temporary spaces for cooking and even doing laundry if necessary. In the end, our objective is to ensure that your renovation remedy will be well worth the investment of time and resources.

Have a problem area in your home in need of a diagnosis? Give Custom Craft a call at 610-584-0665

french door wall oven

Save Space with a French Door Wall Oven

by Remodeling Tips

french door wall ovenWhen it comes to designing kitchens, creating a safe, congestion free environment is always one of our top priorities. One of the most troublesome spots we address is the area around the oven–particularly when the oven door is open.

Traditional oven doors open from the top and extend about 20″ into the kitchen floor space on average. These drop-style doors force cooks to navigate around, and bend over, hot oven doors to get items in and out. Whilst the cook is tending to the oven, foot traffic in the immediate vicinity comes to a halt. To avoid this sort of congestion, we endeavor to place this style of appliance strategically. Because the oven needs to be located within easy proximity to the refrigerator, as well as the sink, this can create challenges and design limitations–especially in smaller spaces. Fortunately, appliance manufacturers have recently begun offering ovens with French doors which open in the middle.

When open, French doors take up significantly less floor space making them much easier for home chefs to maneuver around. In addition to their space saving benefits, French door wall ovens are easier on the back. Cooks can easily place and remove large sheets or roasting pans without awkwardly bending over a hot oven door. French doors are also easily opened and closed with one hand. In short, French door wall ovens provide home chefs with a safer, more convenient meal preparation experience.

We incorporated the GE Café Series 30” Built-in French-Door Single Convection wall oven (pictured here) in a project we recently completed for homeowners in Plymouth Meeting, PA. Follow this link to view the project photos. If you are curious to learn if a French door wall oven would be the right solution for your kitchen, give us a call at 610-584-0665. One of our designers will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

pa home remodeling newsletter

Read the Latest Home Remodeling News from Custom Craft

by Remodeling Tips

pa home remodeling newsletterIn the Spring 2018 edition of the Craftsman newsletter, we share details of a stunning contemporary first floor renovation we recently completed in Wayne, Pa. Inside you will also learn about our latest award, and how to achieve a blemish-free back splash. Plus, we also reveal the newest addition to the Custom Craft family (hint: it’s a boy!)

Tap or click this link or the thumbnail image to read the latest home remodeling news from Custom Craft.

Dust Control is Critical to a Healthy Home Remodeling Environment

by Remodeling Tips

The Importance of Dust Control for Home Remodeling

build clean dust controlDid you know that the vast majority (approximately 90 percent) of homeowners stay in their homes during remodeling projects? Unfortunately, some live to regret that decision. Why? Because of dust.

Without the proper control, dust can permeate every part of your home, from your toothbrush to your dog’s fur. Even with barrier walls in place, dust can and will find its way into your home. At Custom Craft, we recently implemented the BuildClean Dust Control System because it takes away up to 90 percent of the airborne dust, even on the most challenging projects. The BuildClean unit draws in the contaminated air and passes it through a series of filters before returning the “scrubbed” air back into the space. Watch this video for a brief demonstration of a BuildClean unit at work.

Dust isn’t just a nuisance. Remodeling and demolition dust can trigger asthma attacks, allergic reactions and problems for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Jobsite dust can also have an adverse effect on the health of pets that are in the home during construction. In addition, particles from sawing, scraping and sanding can contain hazardous materials such as asbestos, arsenic or lead.

You and your family deserve the best, which is why you need to make sure your contractor has a dust control plan to meet your needs.

3D renderings enhance home remodeling process

How 3D Renderings Enhance the Remodeling Process

by Remodeling Tips

3D renderings enhance home remodeling processOnce we have developed a floorplan for a project, the next step is to work through the style and finishes for the space. Among other things, this step involves selecting cabinetry, flooring, lighting, countertops, and fixtures. It can be challenging for homeowners to communicate their style preferences in this stage. From traditional to contemporary, and everything in between, the options for finishing a space are seemingly endless which can make establishing a style preference complicated.

Most homeowners we meet need help in defining their style preference. To get things started, we have our clients prepare ideabooks in Houzz with photos of homes they find appealing. While ideabooks can be helpful in advancing the material selection process, they have their shortcomings because what works in someone else’s space may not work very well in yours. Enter 3D renderings.

A 3D rendering brings the floorplan to life. Because it is an illustration based on the actual dimensions of the space, it enables a homeowner to better visualize how their design features and material selections will look when the project is complete. Take this image for example. The top photo is how the back wall of the kitchen looked prior to our client’s renovation. The middle image depicts the 3D rendering of the floorplan we designed. The bottom image is a photo of the finished space.

As you can see, the rendering closely reflected how the finished space would appear. By providing this tool, our clients gain greater confidence that the designs we have created for them are going to suit their style tastes and preferences. 3D renderings also reduce the incidence of expensive change orders, since our clients can see how the colors and finishes will work together within the space, and make any necessary adjustments prior to ordering materials.

Video: Home Remodeling Construction Site Prep

by Remodeling Tips

Home Remodeling Construction Site Prep Overview

As you know, home remodeling can generate a lot of dust and debris. Prior to construction, a question we are frequently asked by clients is “How will you keep my home clean during construction?” We thought a video would help to illustrate the techniques we use to protect our clients homes during renovations. Watch this brief video to learn how homes are prepped when construction is about to commence.