Dual Kitchen Islands-A Fitting Design?

Photo Credit: Dan ZbichorskiRecently we were provided with an opportunity to design a new kitchen in a space that is double what we normally have to work with.  Most kitchens here on Cape Cod are small, have too many doors and windows and provide numerous design challenges even in houses that are less then 10 years old.  

In this upcoming kitchen remodel located in Centerville, we may move some walls as well as a door and two windows increasing our design flexibility.  Going forward, I've been kicking around the idea of creating a kitchen with two large islands rather then the traditional galley or L-shaped kitchen.  Having two islands, will meet the homeowners desire to have more reachable storage and avoid walls filled with banks of cabinets.  

More to come...

Jobsite Notes: Review of VIGO Bypass Shower Door

Recently we completed a complete remodel of a bathroom located in Maushop Village which is a condo development overlooking Vineyard Sound which is on the south side of Cape Cod.  During this remodel, we removed  the bubble tub/shower enclosure that was installed in every condo unit back in the early 80's.  

In it's place, we installed a cast iron shower base from Kohler and also installed white subway tile on the walls and ceiling with glass tile as an accent to break up the white area.  Very sharp looking!  The key feature of this small (5x7) bathroom remodel was the bypass shower door.  

We have installed many glass doors in the bathrooms we have remodeled and they are usually bypass or swing doors and for the most part, all have been of the frame-less type which lends to a cleaner, more contemporary look. We've also installed shower screens which keep water in, provide easy access and add a touch of style to a bathroom.  Read our review of shower screens

During the design phase of the Maushop bathroom makeover which was part of a whole house remodel that we were putting together, I offered the homeowners two options for shower doors.  Option one was the standard frameless sliding door with heavy duty 3/8" glass. (We rarely install any glass thinner then 3/8" thickness as it feels flimsy and can rattle when used)  Option two was a new find from a company called VIGO.  I had discovered this company while doing research on new products to be used in bathroom remodeling.  What caught my eye was the hardware that supported the glass just really had an cool look about it.  You could clearly see how the doors operated and what was holding up the glass. I also liked how the whole assembly looked more open with a solid rod rather then a enclosed track that sits across the upper opening.

The homeowners of the Maushop bathroom remodel loved the look of the shower door and requested that it be incorporated into the design and remodel of their bathroom. Once installed, the VIGO shower door really added a unique touch to the bathroom.  

Review of VIGO Frameless Bypass Shower Door. VG6041

Shipping:
Once ordered, the shower door arrived flat packed on a large shipping crate in excellent condition.  In fact, everything was well wrapped and protected. There was quite a bit of packing cardboard and foam around all of the glass that it took sometime to open it all up.  The cardboard and other packing materials were recycled locally.

Assembly:
The step by step instructions were easy to read and follow after looking at them a couple of times and matching up all of the assorted parts. I found the fit and finish and all components to be of excellent caliber.  The only issue I really had was the clear spacer disks for the door handle were spotted in some kind of black oil or grease.   For the most part, assembling the door was a one person project and only required another set of hands when it came time to install the fixed panel.

I should note that this model has a fixed panel on one side and the other side is the operating door panel.  When laying out the shower fixtures, we had to relocate the shower head and controls to the opposite side from where they were in the previous location to keep the shower head on the same side as the door.  Doing so, prevents water from getting in between the door and fixed panel and leaking out onto the bathroom floor. 

The most challenging part of assembling the VIGO shower door was taking the fixed glass panel with the 5' support rod attached and maneuvering it into the tiny bathroom into it's final location while taking care not to bang into freshly painted walls!

One side of the fixed panel is held into place with a small bracket at the bottom. Installing this bracket required drilling into the cast iron shower base. Fortunately I had planned ahead and installed blocking on the floor under the curb of the shower base which created an attachment point for the screw holding the bracket.  This required forethought, planning ahead and a really good bit for drilling the cast iron!

Once the fixed panel was in place, it was a simple step by step process of assembling the upper roller hardware to the door and then hanging it in place. The rollers have a small adjustment that allow adjustment for walls that are out of plumb. Once the door was in place and adjusted, I attached the handle, set the threshold and the seal strips.  The final step was to use silicone labeled for bath and kitchen service to seal the edges of the fixed panel.

Thumbs Up: 

1. Well packaged for shipment.
2. Parts were easy to identify.
3. Fit and finish was off excellent quality.
4. Door glided open along upper rod almost silently.
5. Excellent customer service from VIGO as I found a blemish in the fixed panel and they shipped out a replacement at no charge within a week.
6. I love this shower door!   Fairly straightforward to install and just fabulous to look at!

Thumbs Down:

1. From an aesthetic point of view, I would prefer to have a U shaped receiver mounted to the walls on both sides rather then a seal strip that is inserted on the edge of the glass.
2. The threshold strip needs to be improved. The current configuration provides a solid strip of metal that is held in place with silicone.  I would suggest that this be changed to a u shape channel that spans the entire width of both glass panels and is open on one side for insertion of the fixed panel and solid on the door side. 
3. Instructions should suggest that the fixed panel be sealed with silicone prior to installing the door. It is difficult to lay down a full bead at the panel bottom once the door is installed.

Overall this VIGO Shower door is ranked 4.5 stars out of a possible 5!

Semi-Custom Cabinets Used to Build a Bed Surround?

The following is a blog post from our kitchen designer who has worked with us in designing a number of kitchen remodels. We thought the idea of using ready made semi-custom cabinets was a great and are planning to suggest it to several of our clients and even do it in our own home in the near future.

By Jayelynn Carlson 

I’ve designed small kitchens, large kitchens and every size in between in houses, cabins and even a boat. I’ve also designed bathrooms, offices and entertainment centers,  but until recently, I never thought to use semi-custom cabinetry to build a built-in bed surround.

The cabinetry really is the showpiece in the bedroom

Since this past May, I’ve been working with Joe Miller, a professional contractor and owner of Melina Home Solutions in southeast Florida. We’ve worked on a variety of his cabinetry projects together, like the ones I first mentioned above. He’s a great guy, and we’ve built a great rapport over the year. He’s an experienced installer who trusts what I do and who I, in turn, can trust to make the cabinetry look its best.

In August, Joe asked me to use Cliq Cabinetry — which is typically used for kitchen cabinets, I might add! — for his client’s built-in bed surround. Even though I never had a project quite like this, I was excited to get started and push my design skills.

We used the same cabinet on the bathroom vanity for continuity between the spaces

Joe’s clients had limited storage in their home. Instead of buying standalone furniture, the goal of the bed surround was to add the much needed storage in an elegant, impressive way that didn’t add clutter. After discussing with Joe what he envisioned, I created a first draft of the cabinetry design.  He then presented it to his clients; we made some small revisions and it became a done deal. In September, we shipped the cabinets!

To get the high-end look Joe’s clients wanted, we used the traditional raised-panel Carlton door in the rich Cherry Russet finish. The details of the cabinets, combined with the crown molding stack at the top really make this a beautiful, handsome unit. Joe’s clients love the his and hers night-stands with deep drawers. The open shelving and upper cabinets provide the extra storage they were looking for.

Along with the bed surround, the project also included a bathroom vanity and closet. We used the Carlton cabinets in Cherry Russet again for continuity. The vanity is a simple basic unit with doors in the center and drawer storage on each side. For the closet, we inserted a pantry cabinet into a framed alcove and added molding, giving the bathroom a completely custom look.

Love the contemporary look!

I knew from the beginning that creating the bed surround was going to be a challenge. The hardest part was translating what I imagined into a design that worked within the parameters of the cabinets. While managing all the small pieces and components of the custom unit, I needed to make sure there was enough storage and that it still looked remarkable. With Joe’s expert installation, I think we pulled it off. The unit has a uniqueness that really shows what’s possible with a little creativity.

The cherry closet across from the bathroom vanity.

Jayelynn Carlson has worked in the design/remodeling industry for over 20 years and loves making her design projects spectacular. She has a keen understanding of what makes a kitchen a joy to be in, whether cooking, entertaining or just relaxing. In her spare time, Jayelynn is an avid hockey Mom, logging in many hours at the rink volunteering. She loves shopping, both in the mall and on the Internet, and is always looking for the best deal. The best part of her day is spent hanging out with her kids and new puppy.

 

Cape Cod Bathroom Design & Usability Idea- Shower Base Options

Showering Spaces..The MVP of the Bathroom.

Most folks love a good long hot shower. It's also a great place to relax and do some productive thinking.

When it comes to building a new shower space, options are plentiful and be warned- Showers are usually the most expensive space within a bathroom. Many custom shower spaces run well over $6K and we done some in the double digit range.  This is because a considerable amount of work and materials go into constructing a durable and leak proof showering space.

Below I have detailed the various options that are available as well as the pro and con of each type of base.

Stock Shower Base This refers to a type of shower base that is readily available and installs quickly.

Cast Iron. There is as of this post, only one company that makes cast iron shower bases. (Kohler) and they have only 5 sizes/styles to choose from. All single threshold.  However, I personally believe that a cast iron shower base is the way to go in shower bases. The durability and ease of cleaning of cast iron makes it a worthwhile investment.

Up: Built like a tank. Easy to clean. Will last more then a lifetime.

Down: Heavy and challenging to install. Very limited options in size and  curb placement. 

It's on my wish list for Kohler to create a cast iron shower base measuring 48x36 0r 60x36 with a double curb.  This would allow for a corner shower with a glass wall which would be fabulous in many of the undersized bathrooms that we remodel.

Cast iron bases are usually used in tandem with tile walls.

Composite. Typically these are shower bases fabricated from acrylic or fiberglass.

Up: Available in many sizes, shapes and colors.  Most are durable and easy to clean. Installation is a breeze. Most cost effective way to create a custom shower. 

Down: Can easily be damaged by a dropped tool, susceptible to scratches. Can feel spongy unless embedded in structural mortar.  (We typically set our bases in mortar.)  

Composite bases can be used with tile or with color matched surrounds.

Custom Shower Base This refers to a type of shower base that built on site and fully customizable. 

Metal Pan. Many custom shower bases are constructed using a metal pan fabricated from sheets of copper. This method allows for a base of just about any size. Typically the metal pan is made by folding up all sides of a sheet about 4-6 inches and then soldering any joints to create a water tight base.  The base sits directly on the sub floor and cement is poured inside the pan to create a sloped plane from all sides towards the drain. The tile is usually set over this cement base.  

In addition to the pan, a curb must be made on the outer perimeter of the pan. Poured concrete or bricks usually make up the curb which is covered with tile and/or stone.

Up: Can be customized to fit any space. Built like a tank.  Some methods of construction will allow for a trench drain and larger tiles sloped in one direction.

Down: Labor and material intensive. Can be expensive.  Copper can corrode from chemicals in modern soaps and shampoos.

Composite Pan. We have used composite pans when we have needed a custom size or a double curb. Made to our specs with drain placement where needed, this is a proven and successful method of creating a tileable shower base. We order them from showerbase.com and they are shipped pre-sloped with the curb built right in. We can set it in place with a layer of thinset, set up the walls with cement board and water proofing and then start tiling.  

Up: Customizable for any space. Saves labor, time and money.  Will last a lifetime. Stock sizes immediately available. 

Down: Lead time is about 2-3 weeks for custom sizes. 

Recommendations

For a durable easy to clean shower base, I would recommend cast iron if the sizing works.

If your need a standard size and a base that is easy to clean, a stock composite base will be just the ticket.

For a fully custom base covered with tile, a composite pan is the way to go. 

Wow! We're Recognized As Best of Houzz for 2013!

@designREMODEL of Mashpee Receives  Houzz’s 2013 ‘Best Of Houzz’ Award

Annual Survey and Analysis of 11 Million Monthly Users

 Reveals Top-Rated U.S. Professionals 

January 31, 2013 – @designREMODEL of Mashpee MA has been awarded  “Best Of Houzz” 2013 by Houzz, the leading online platform for residential remodeling and design.  The Cape Cod based bath and kitchen remodeling firm was chosen by the more than 11 million monthly users that comprise the Houzz community.

The Houzz “Best Of Houzz” award for 2013 is given in two categories: Customer Satisfaction and Design. Customer Satisfaction award winners are based on homeowner members who rated their experience working with remodeling professionals in 12 categories ranging from architects, and interior designers to contractors and other residential remodeling professionals.  Design award winners’ work was the most popular among the community of 11 million monthly users, also known as “Houzzers,” who saved more than 124 million professional images of home interiors and exteriors to their personal ideabooks via the Houzz site, iPad/iPhone app and Android app.

"@designREMODEL is honored to be in the top 3% of Remodeling professionals  chosen on Houzz for their commitment to provide an exceptional remodeling experience."

“Houzz provides homeowners with an in-depth, 360-degree view of building, remodeling and design professionals through images of their work, reviews and an opportunity to interact with them directly in the Houzz community,” said Liza Hausman, vice president of community. “We’re delighted to recognize @designREMODEL among our “Best Of” professionals for exceptional customer service as judged by our community of homeowners and design enthusiasts who are actively remodeling and decorating their homes.”

With Houzz, homeowners can identify not only the top-rated professionals like @designREMODEL but also those whose work matches their own aspirations for their home. Homeowners can also evaluate professionals by contacting them directly on the Houzz platform, asking questions about their work and evaluating their responses to questions from others in the Houzz community.

About @designREMODEL

Located on beautiful Cape Cod, @designREMODEL specializes  in  baths, kitchens and whole house remodels while providing our clients with an exceptional experience by Doing Remodeling Right.

About Houzz

Houzz (www.houzz.com) is a leading online platform for home remodeling, providing inspiration, information, ‘advice and support for homeowners and home improvement professionals through its website and mobile applications. Houzz features the largest residential design database in the world, articles written by design experts, product recommendations, a vibrant community powered by social tools, and information on more than 1.5 million remodeling and design professionals worldwide who can help turn ideas into reality. @houzz_inc

Whole House Makeovers. Transforming Houses Into Homes.

With the real estate market here on Cape Cod improving for the 13th straight month, home sales have taken quite a jump. As a result, we're seeing more requests for whole house makeovers where we remodel, update and fix just about every part of a home prior to the homeowners moving in.

A whole house makeover involves restoring part or all of house to a like new condition. Often times much of the work will involve making changes requested by the new homeowners wanting make the house a home with changes that reflect their personal style.

As I write this post, we have a condo makeover underway in Maushop village which is located in New Seabury MA. This makeover has us doing the following:

1. Remodel main bathroom which includes removing the outdated tub and installing a cast iron shower base with tile surround. Replacing all of the drywall on the walls and ceiling. Installing all new fixtures and fittings as well as new floor tile.

2. Removal of wall paper throughout and repainting the walls, ceiling and woodwork. A fairly involved process as the wall paper was installed over walls that were not properly finished smooth and are in rough shape.

3. Complete remodel of kitchen which includes adding more cabinets, granite counters and a tile backsplash with cool glass accents. Convert electric stove to gas.

4. Update 1/2 bath with new fixtures, fittings and new flooring.

5. Correct and update electrical wiring. Add outside water spigots. Insulate exposed heat pipes. Build and install rain baffles over vents in attic. Add and update lighting throughout. Install new venting and ceiling fans.

6. Refinish floors and stairs.

Once completed, the entire inside of this Maushop condo will be all new and ready for the homeowners to use as their home away from home on Cape Cod!

Another example of a whole house makeover that we are scheduled to start this winter, is located in nearby Waquoit, a village within the town of Falmouth.  This project is much like the Condo makeover above except on a much larger scale.

The following is planned for this project.

1. Installing wide pine floors in the rooms that currently have carpeting.

2. Replacing windows and doors that are due for replacement.

3. Fabricating and installing built-in shelving throughout the house for the homeowners large collection of books.

4. Replacing all of the interior doors, jambs and casings. Replacing woodwork that was poorly installed.

5. Complete remodel and expansion of the kitchen.

6. Full remodel of the master bath.

7. Correcting issues in a recently remodeled (by others) guest bath

8. Painting all walls and ceilings, finish stained woodwork throughout home.

9. Build out home office.

10. Correct multiple issues that were found by home inspection company prior to the sale of the house.

11. Complete interior sanding and finishing of all wood floors.

12. Change out exterior decking and railings.

These kind of makeovers are intensively involved and costs range anywhere from $60,000 to $250,000 Many of these projects are about creating "Forever Homes" that the homeowners are planning to enjoy for the balance of their lives.

Whole house makeovers are one of our favorite projects as we can really transform a house into a home! 

@home On Cape Cod Newsletter. November 2012

My heartfelt THANKS! to you for helping us have another great year!  And this thanks goes out to all of our clients, trade partners, suppliers and friends because each and everyone of you have contributed to our success in big and small ways.   Happy Thanksgiving! Willy Wonka. A Family Affair... Do It At Cotuit! has become the catch-phrase for this powerhouse of live theater and a wide variety of arts and media.  Located right on Route 28 in Cotuit, they have an ever changing art gallery, multiple venues for live shows, and educational classes & workshops are also on going. So there is always something happening. And speaking of shows, this year's holiday production features the zany fun of Willy Wonka with a  good number of families participating as cast and crew. This year, my daughter KatieBeth performs in "Willy Wonka" as an Oompah Loompah. This is her second holiday production at Cotuit. Her first was performing as Zuzu in It's A Wonderful Life. In addition, my better half Tara, takes yet another turn as the production coordinator for the entire show. A position she has volunteered for many times. I will serve a supporting role as one of the stage hands working back stage.  For our family, Willy Wonka will provide much fun together at the holidays!  If you want to enjoy Willy Wonka, don't delay ordering tickets. As many shows are of big city caliber and tickets sell out fast! There will be 12 shows spanning Dec 7-23rd. Tickets can ordered online at the web link below. If You Go: Cotuit Center for the Arts 4404 Falmouth Road (Route 28) Cotuit. 508.428.0669 ArtsOnTheCape.org Getting Ready For Winter With Winter around the corner, here are some reminders to prepare you for the cold, snowy months ahead. 1. Locate and place in an accessible location.  Ice Scrapers Snow Shovels Ice Melt Jumper Cables 2. Shut off any exterior water supplies and disconnect any hoses hooked up to frost free spigots. 3. If you have a fire hydrant near your property, mark its location with a tall stake and be sure to clear it out after any snow storms for access in case of a fire. 4. Clean out your gutters...again! Ice build up over clogged gutters can lead to leaks. 5. Protect any prized shrubs exposed to winter winds with a stake and burlap surround. Our Next Issue  In our next issue of @home, I will share Cape Cod Winter Living... How To Survive! @home Tip Are You Ready For a Nest? Recently, I left a job-site early on a chilly fall afternoon. I picked up my iPhone and with a few taps, turned up the heat so the house was toasty warm upon arriving home. Then later that night, I felt a bit too warm so I turned the heat down using the my iPhone that was on my night stand. For some this might seem like old hat. But for others, this is something right out of Star Trek. From one of the designers of the iPod, we can now have much improved control over how we heat or cool our homes thanks to a well-designed piece of technology called NEST.   NEST is a digital, self-learning thermostat that can be controlled by any device that has online access such as a smartphone, computer or tablet. The beauty  lies not only in its good looks, but also in its ease of use and simplicity. Once installed, you use it as you normally would any thermostat adjusting it to suit your comfort. After about ten days, the NEST will start setting itself based upon your usage pattens. It will also go in to an away mode if it senses that no has occupied the space for a certain length of time.  In a nutshell, NEST is a worthy technology for your home because: 1. NEST looks fabulous on any wall. No clunkiness here. 2. No complicated use or programming instructions. 3. Turn it up, turn it down. Done. 4. Nice big numbers that are easy to read. 5. Cool Tech to show off to your friends! For more details on NEST, read the Slate.com review. Go to the NEST website. For clients of @designREMODEL, I'll be happy to help you decide if NEST is right for your home. Just give me a call or shoot me an email.

Better Bathroom Storage

Orginally posted on FineHomeBuilding.com

by Jamie Goldberg

The house I grew up in had only one full bathroom, which my parents, sister, brother, and I shared. Somehow, we made it work, as do millions of families today. But almost any bathroom will work better if a little more storage is added to the mix. The best time to maximize a bathroom’s storage capacity is, of course, at the design stage, but you can explore plenty of storage-boosting options while remodeling or simply when updating fixtures and cabinetry.

Whether incorporated into the original design or added after the fact, bathroom-storage expansion its into three categories: (1) increasing the capacity of traditional storage areas like vanity cabinets; (2) maximizing existing floor and wall space with new storage options; and (3) identifying storage possibilities in spaces that are not traditionally used for storage. These approaches are outlined on the next page, and strategies from all three are used in the illustrated examples.

The Full-Function Vanity

It’s not uncommon even for large vanity units to fall short on functional storage. In this example, the space between the sinks is wider than 30 in., allowing a stacked 24-in.-wide butt-door cabinet pair. The double doors and lack of a center stile allow access from both sides. The lower unit is backless and contains a wall outlet, making it useful for housing and charging electric shavers and electric toothbrushes. The 12-in.-deep space above houses daily-use items that are too large for the medicine cabinets.

False panels in the sink bases have been converted to tilt-out trays for toothpaste and dental-floss storage. Doors are equipped with storage racks, including one for hair dryers. If extra storage is needed, U-shaped shelves can double the capacity of the sink cabinets. The center drawer’s functionality is increased with a tiered divider, while the basic linen tower has been made more useful with a quartet of roll-out trays in the lower section.

The Compact Bath

This typical, small master bath offers occupants two sinks and a shared drawer bank but not much more in the way of storage. National Kitchen & Bath Association design guidelines recommend 30 in. of clearance (or a minimum of 21 in.) in front of the vanity and toilet, eliminating the opportunity for floor storage on the opposite wall. However, a 12-in.-deep shelf runs the length of the wall above the entry door to hold occasional-use items. The shelf can be supported by L-brackets or decorative supports, as long as they don’t interfere with the door swing below. Taking advantage of otherwise unusable space behind the in-swing door is a tall, shallow cabinet installed between the wall studs. It holds occasional-use items that might otherwise be stored in a recessed medicine cabinet, freeing that valuable point-of-use space for daily needs. An 8-in.-deep cabinet above and within reach of the toilet offers point-of-use storage for spare rolls of tissue and other items.

The Maximized Master Bath

This remodeled bath maximizes daily point-of-use space in all three functional areas: tub, vanity, and toilet. The water closet features a floor cabinet for backup toilet paper, a toilet brush, and toilet-cleaning supplies. The wall cabinets above the toilet, only 8 in. deep to avoid collisions, hold supplies within reach of the user. Occasional-use items for the water closet can be stored in the upper section. The shower includes double niches to hold each occupant’s bathing necessities. One is within 15 in. of the shower bench for easy reach. The tub deck is extended with storage in front for towels and other bath essentials. The deeper deck also facilitates a safer sit-and-swivel entry. In the vanity area, the linen tower offers space for a roll-out hamper in the bottom section. The opposite vanity takes advantage of an extrawide countertop to offer additional storage above for small electric devices with access to an outlet. Each wall cabinet is only 12 in. deep to allow counter space in front.

Three ways to boost bathroom storage

1. Increase the capacityof traditional areas
• Add two-tiered organizers to any 4-in. or taller vanity drawer boxes, thus creating extra half-drawers without altering the existing cabinet.
• Install a storage rack on the back of every vanity base-cabinet door. Special racks are available for space-hogging hair dryers.
• Add roll-out trays to the bottom of base cabinets, and use them in place of shelves in linen towers, making what’s stored in the back more visible and accessible.
• Wrap a U-shaped shelf around undersink plumbing to add an extra level of storage.
• Convert the false panel below a vanity countertop to a tilt-out tray.

2. Maximize existing floor, surface, and wall space
• Maximize point-of-use vanity storage with countertop cabinetry. Use 12-in.-deep cabinets, keeping them at least 3 in. from the sink edge to prevent water damage. The cabinets can extend to the ceiling with a decorative crown molding, or stop a foot lower if there’s a vent or light above. Regardless of height, they should be finished with a topcoat that protects against moisture, and be kept as dry as possible to prevent moisture damage at the point of contact with the vanity top.
• Increase point-of-use commode storage. If it is not situated under a window, install a single or stacked cabinet to the ceiling above the toilet. It should be low enough for a seated user to reach inside and extend no farther out than the toilet tank to avoid causing injury.
• If there is a window directly above the toilet, space might still exist for a shorter cabinet or shelf to be installed between the window and the ceiling for backup supplies. Ensure that the bottom is finished because it will be highly visible.
• Take advantage of unused floor space to create a built-in furniture armoire, floor cabinet, or storage bench for backup and occasional-use items. Remember to allow for clearances when adding storage of this type. National Kitchen & Bath Association design guidelines recommend 30 in. in front of a vanity, commode, or shower. NKBA guidelines are often more stringent than building codes, but be sure to check local requirements to ensure that you’re in compliance whenever undertaking a bathroom project.

3. Identify storage possibilities in nontraditional spaces
• Add a finished shelf above the bathroom entry door to take advantage of otherwise unused space for occasional-use items. Whenever possible, run it wall to wall.
• Take advantage of the forgotten space behind an in-swing door by building a tall, shallow cabinet into the wall between studs.
• Create a shower-wall niche for each bathroom occupant to accommodate daily point-of-use bathing items. At least one should be built within 15 in. of the shower bench for seated access.
• Plan open-storage cubbies for towels or bath supplies on the front end or exposed side of a new tub deck.
• Plan built-in, open wall-shelving units at one or both ends of a tub-only enclosure for daily point-of-use bathing
items in storage baskets.

Drawings: Martha Garstang Hill

From Fine Homebuilding217 , pp. 88-92 January 20, 2011

© 2012 The Taunton Press, Inc. 

More good stuff from Fine Homebuilding here.

@home On Cape Cod Newsletter. September 2012

The first delicious tingles of fall are here. Love those cool mornings and warm days!  

In this issue, We're about cooking pizza, peels and a local gem for those who love working in the kitchen. And I'll share a cool website for serial remodelers to visit and wrap it up with a question for you: Do you have money holes in your home?

This newsletter allows me to share about living life on Cape Cod and also keep in touch with our many fabulous clients. Please enjoy!

John 

@designREMODEL

An A-Peel-ing Place to Visit on Cape Cod

With busy lives, pizza is often a great quick meal that everyone enjoys. And lately, we've taken to making our own as finding good ones, either take-out or store bought have been less then satisfactory. And making a delicious pizza is really simple as I start with a pre-made crust from BOBOLI and top it with some marinara  sauce. On top goes either turkey sausage or pepperoni. And we round it out with a nice layer of mozzarella cheese. For fun, I've experimented with different items from the pantry such as diced tomatoes or assorted spices. Tomatoes were good...Spices well, I need to work with pinches rather then spoonfuls...

Ten minutes in the oven and the pizza is done. Especially when using the pizza stone that my wife Tara bought home one day. So all was good in making pizza.  But sometimes getting a loaded pizza out of the oven was a challenge. Tara suggested that we get a peel. "A peel?" I asked my lovely wife,  "Is that a long handle thingamajig used in pizza parlors?"  "Yes, and I know exactly where we can get one." she responded with a hint of delight at a possible shopping expedition. 

The following Saturday found us heading into Hyannis on a mission to acquire a peel to round out our collection of pizza making tools. (We had already upgraded from the small wobbly pizza cutter of my bachelor days to a stainless steel, ribbon slicing, take no prisoners  and cut in one pass pizza cutter.) As per the missus's directions, we drove around on one way streets until we ended up on Main Street Hyannis. Opposite the train station, where we had boarded the dinner train one year for a memorable and delicious Thanksgiving dinner.

We parked right in front of our destination, which had a glass store front and style of building that recalled a earlier, slower time.  Hanging in the front, was the sign that said All Cape Cooks Supply. I thought..This should be fun... Not.  Going in the front door, we were greeted with a tsunami of cooking paraphernalia.  There was stuff everywhere!  Bowls, ladles, glassware, very large cooking pots for very serious cooks. Appliances and gadgets. Lots of grilling tools. Tools to slice and tools to dice. And our purpose for visiting. The Pizza Peel.

All Cape Cooks Supply. Main Street. Hyannis.

Tin Ceiling With Peeling Paint Adds Charm

We found a nice selection of Pizza peels. Short ones. Long ones. Thick and thin. We chose one that was about 24" long with a thin, yet sturdy aluminum blade and a solid wood handle. Mission Accomplished! But then I spied the electric teapots, while Tara dashed off looking for a special fruit colander.  So along with our pizza peel, we walked out with a fabulous glass electric teapot from Germany,  a new well made colander and a small rack for baking fish on a cookie sheet. (Fish cooks perfect this way. FYI)

 

What made this store so fun to visit, was the charm of the location and the almost overwhelming selection of anything to do with cooking. That, plus the thrill of discovery of something you had not seen before.  Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys cooking!

 

If You Go.

 

All Cape Cooks Supply

237 Main St. Hyannis

AllCapeCooksSupply.com

A Website for Serial Remodelers

 

This is an idea that I wish I had come up with. A website for serial remodelers.  You know who you are. You look at a house, a room, a corner and think about how you would remodel it, change it, make it better.  Well, do I have a website for you! Houzz.com This is the website for those of you who enjoy looking at pictures, reading stories and getting ideas for remodeling and makeovers. 

 

One of the coolest and most useful features is called Ideabooks.  This is where once you have set up an account, you can start creating your own Ideabooks of assorted projects for later reference.   

Pictures and ideas for baths, kitchens and more abound.  74,000 pictures of bathrooms, 126,000 pictures of kitchens, 61,000 pictures of home exteriors and 36,000 pictures of landscaping!   Lots to see and enjoy.

@designREMODEL has set up an online portfolio to start showcasing some of our work in hopes of connecting with new clients. If you have a few minutes, please write a review of the work we did and your experience of working with us.  Click this link to write your review. Thanks!

  

Next Issue

 

In our next issue, I will share some annual tips on how to get your home ready for the winter season. Plus, you'll hear about an upcoming holiday production at the Cotuit Center for the Arts that will involve my family!  A great show to look forward to for the Holidays. 

@home Tip

 
Does Your Home Have Money Holes?
Money holes is a term I came up to describe the big gaping holes in your Home's insulation barrier that are costing you money. Here are some examples.
 
  
Attic Access.
Do you have pulldown stairs? Chances are they are un-insulated and allowing air and heat to flow out of your home through the attic.  A simple cover like the one pictured to the right, properly installed will go along way to blocking heat loss.
 
If you have a hatch entry cover that you lift up and out of the way to gain access to your attic, you are losing heat if it's not insulated. Adding 2-3 layers of rigid foam to the backside of the hatch cover, will go a long way towards reducing heat loss. It's also important to use weatherstripping to block air movement.
 
 
Fireplaces
Many times fireplaces are overlooked as source of heat and energy loss.  Make sure the damper is closed when not in use. Also consider installing glass doors to create a secondary air barrier.  And if you rarely use the fireplace, place some fiberglass insulation inside a large garbage bag and tuck it up inside the chimney.  (Leave a tag on the damper handle to remind you that you have insulation inside the chimney flue.)
 
Basement Doors
Many homes on Cape Cod have exterior basement access though bulkheads.  The thin steel found in the doors of these bulkheads is the only barrier between the basement and the elements.  Time and again, when we have installed an insulated door at the bottom of the bulkhead steps, clients have told us what a tremendous difference the new door has made in keeping their basement warm!

Stainless Is Over

Move over stainless steel. Your time in the kitchen is done. Whirlpool  recently rolled out at the 2012 Kitchen and Bath show it's brand new Ice Collection of appliances which is a fresh take on classic white. This updated version has a glossy sheen that is almost glass like in appearance. In addition, Whirlpool is also releasing a Black Ice Collection.

So if you are getting ready to remodel your kitchen here on Cape Cod, should you dump the stainless look and go for the new look of the Ice Collection?  Consider that not surprisingly in Europe, opaque glass-fronted appliances with an elegant whitish or black hue are trending high on most remodeling to-do lists. When it comes to choosing stainless or the new Ice, it will depend upon personal tastes as well as what your choice are in cabinets and counter tops.  If I was doing an all white kitchen, I would go for the White Ice, not so much however if my cabinet choice was maple or similar light color.  Stainless can be a great neutral color that goes well with many colors.

Personally, I think stainless will always have it's fans, certainly amongst those that prefer the look of a professional kitchen. However, I do think that new choices such as Whirlpool's Ice Collection will quickly gain a following.  For me, I like the idea of having appliances that blend into a kitchen, show no fingerprints and are less vulnerable to  scratches. I'm also keen on the smooth and crisp edges of the white ice.

Over the next year, I believe that you will see other manufactures rolling out their own versions of the Ice Collection.

Click the link if you want to learn more about the Whirlpool Ice Collection