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.

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.

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.

fireplace renovation

Fabulous Fireplace Ideas

by Interior Renovation

fireplace renovationWhen it comes to adding warmth to a home, nothing does it quite so well as a fireplace–both literally and figuratively. Fireplaces are the focal point of any room and offer a wide variety of benefits including:

  • Versatility! A fireplace can be installed anywhere in a home, from family rooms to outdoor living areas
  • Fireplaces can reflect any style, from traditional to modern
  • They offer a cozy place to congregate with family and friends
  • Gas fireplaces offer a cleaner heat source than their traditional wood-burning counterparts and can be used to create heat efficiency in strategic areas of the home

On the downside, old fireplaces are often a significant source of heat loss. When we perform energy audits in homes, we frequently find that fireplaces are a major source of drafts. The good news is that they can easily be updated to be more energy efficient and attractive.

I’ve pulled together some of my favorite fireplace photos in a Houzz Ideabook for you. Check it out for some design inspiration. If you have any questions about updating your fireplace, feel free to give us a call at (610) 584-0665.