Kitchen Remodel: Arlington, VA

Kitchen Remodel: Arlington, VA, originally uploaded by lauren_taggart1.

This is an excellent example of an out-dated, problematic kitchen and the creative solutions our design team came up with to give it both an updated, beautiful new look and much greater functionality.The original design of the kitchen was a typical condo unit with laminate countertops and cabinetry. Storage space was lacking & inefficient, and the sink faced a wall.

To remedy these problems, our designer, Erin Watson, moved the sink to a new location on the free-standing part of the counter, allowing for the addition of more cabinet space on the wall where the sink used to be. Part of the counter next to the entry door was shortened, making room for a new floor-to-ceiling pantry. The cabinets were also re-configured around the refrigerator to increase usable storage space, and one of the floor cabinets next to the new sink was replaced by a stack of large drawers.

The homeowners selected a raised-panel door style in Mocha Maple and Blue Pearl granite countertops.

Stair Remodeling: Woodbridge, VA

Before Stairs, originally uploaded by lauren_taggart1.

One of the areas that most people don't think about the impact of for their homes are their stairs. When a person walks into a foyer or entrance of their house, the stairs are kind of an afterthought, just a method of getting up and down between two floors of a house. However, the impact becomes quite more noticeable when a boring old staircase becomes transformed into a stately piece of furniture....

The difference is amazing! The railing system has been cut back to allow for the installation of a bullnose with a volute. The railing system was changed from a basic post-to-post pre-assembled rail to an over-the-post railing system with a volute and continuous handrail that goes around the bend in the wall and continues up the stairway. The end result is a beautiful, polished look for the entrance foyer.

Kitchen Remodel/Recraft: Warrenton, VA

Before Picture of Kitchen: Warrenton, VA, originally uploaded by lauren_taggart1.

This kitchen was a standard 14-yr old builder grade kitchen from 1994. The cabinets were a gold flat panel oak and the oak wood veneers on the side of the exposed ends had faded from exposure to the natural sunlight, which is very typical in such an old kitchen. The laminate countertop was also the same countertop that had been in the house for 14 years, and while it had held up extremely well for all that time, it was time for a new, updated look.

The kitchen after being recrafted by Signature WoodCrafters. The cabinet boxes were kept in place, but the existing face frames, doors, and drawers were replaced with custom-manufactured Natural Maple Raised Panel doors. The exposed ends, which used to be covered in wood veneers, were replaced with finished door panels. Crown moulding and a valance were added to give a polished, continuous look to the top of the cabinets. The old white laminate countertop was replaced with a Baltic Brown granite countertop. The end result is a stunning difference.

Before

After

Cabinet ReCrafting/Refacing: Fairfax, VA

This video explains the how-to of how Signature WoodCrafters installs its solid hardwood refacing/recrafting product. Enjoy the show!

Kitchen ReCraft/Refacing: Rockville, MD

Kitchen ReCraft: Rockville, MD, originally uploaded by lauren_taggart1.

One of the things that I love about our Recrafting product is the moment of final transformation of a kitchen. When you see a kitchen go from looking drab to unbelievably gorgeous, you feel an acute sense of pride and accomplishment knowing that you have played a small part in bringing beauty into a person's life.

This kitchen that we recently recrafted in Rockville, MD was worked on by our designer Devonne Yankey, who helped the homeowners go from the original 20 yr. old cabinetry to a Franklin Shaker Natural Maple door complete with glass doors and contemporary mullions. The homeowners had already updated the look of their kitchen by installing new granite countertops and were looking for a way to complete the transformation. They contacted us, and well, you can see the final results up above!

Our recrafting product is best suited for homeowners that have already made an investment in their kitchen, be it their countertops or floors. Recrafting allows the installers to not cause any damage or disruption to the countertops or floors because our product is custom-manufactured to fit the existing face frames of the original cabinetry. By not disrupting the countertops or flooring, you get the same custom cabinetry that you would get from a full kitchen replacement, without causing any possible damage to the investment that you have already made.

Costs of ReCrafting

A lot of people have the misconception that Cabinet ReCrafting (Signature's own solid hardwood refacing product line for cabinetry) is cheaper than a cabinet replacement. This assumption is actually pretty false. Recrafting/refacing can actually cost just as much as a full cabinet replacement because the cost of most cabinetry is in the new doors and drawer fronts installed on the existing cabinet frame. There is a great article that talks about refacing and the appropriate costs to have in mind when considering this project. Check out the article on cabinet refacing over at Furniture Reviews by Rissla for more information and expectations on the true costs of refacing!

Kitchen Remodel: Fairfax, VA

Kitchen Remodel: Fairfax, VA, originally uploaded by lauren_taggart1.

Doesn't this look gorgeous? Signature WoodCrafters' Erin Watson completely redesigned this kitchen, adding beautiful details like this corbel on the new kitchen island. Details will be coming soon about an open house to be staged for this kitchen in the fall!

New Beginnings

Signature WoodCrafters recently took on a new intern for the summer, Alicia Beck. Check out Alicia's thoughts about the working world versus college and all that she's learned so far!

Transitions and New Beginnings:

Happy Friday everyone! My name is Alicia and I began interning with Signature WoodCrafters last month after graduating from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) in May. Go Hokies! I just wanted to share a little of my experiences so far while working here. We all have been there. The day approaches when we say to ourselves, “What’s the next step in our lives?” It’s a scary thought after all those years of school, and now it’s time to take that step and join the ranks of the working class and the long joyous rush hour traffic that northern Virginia likes to bring us (anyone else become a fan of books on CD?). I majored in Apparel, Housing, and Resource Management: Housing Option where I was part of an accredited program of the National Kitchen and Bath Association. There I learned many things, from hours and hours dedicated to drafting homes and different kitchen layouts to the new technology that different appliances now have. When I left college, I knew that I wanted to be involved with remodeling and luckily, the wonderful company of Signature Woodcrafters decided they wanted me to join their team. So began my new journey in the world of remodeling.

Knowing different terms is vital within the remodeling business. As you probably know, Signature’s major remodeling areas are kitchens, baths, built-ins and stairs and a vast array of terms comes with those areas. Bullnose, Over-the-Post, Post-to-Post, Loose Parts, and Pre- Assembled are just a few terms that I learned and that’s just stairs! No worries here though. The employees here are extremely helpful and I soon found myself saying “I can do this!” I have even found myself looking in my own home at the stair configuration and kitchen layout and saying to myself what they would be classified as. I learned a lot about the ReCrafting process here and in my opinion it’s a great thing they’re doing. Taking ¼” solid wood instead of just a thin veneer gets the homeowner that great quality that they may be looking for. Also the designers are fantastic. Talking about knowing your stuff, these people are on the top of their game. The best part is seeing the before and after pictures. Amazing! Well that’s just a few of my observations that I wanted to share with everyone. Have a fantastic weekend

Stair Recraft: Warrenton, VA

Stair Recraft: Warrenton, VA, originally uploaded by lauren_taggart1.

This is a Pre-Assembled Over the Post Wood Railing System, comprised of newel posts, balusters, handrail, and wood plate. It was converted from a Post-to-Post System with builder-grade balusters.

Isn't a Railing just a Railing?

When you walk up and down your stairs, most likely you have a railing on one or both sides that your hand holds on to, in order to steady yourself as you walk on the stairs (which is great for people like myself who suffer from an unsteady depth perception from time to time!). But I bet you don't think about all that goes into the railing that you hold on to, or the different parts that make up the railing, or even what kind of railing system you have! Because a railing is just a railing, right?

Of course not! Like most all things out there, this piece of your stair that you don't normally think about is way more complicated than you would ever think. Over the next couple of posts, I'll explain all the different aspects, nuances, and parts that go into a railing system. But for now, just to get a feel for the complicated nature of railing systems, take a look at this diagram.

Railing Diagram, originally uploaded by lauren_taggart1.

So, It's Been a While...

Wow - How does time fly so fast?? I can't believe that the last time I posted anything here was back in March - and it is now firmly the middle of June. Incredible.

But maybe that is what happens when you become really busy! Which is a good thing!

We've had a lot of great successes recently at Signature WoodCrafters - lots of kitchen recrafting, stair recrafting, and railing replacements going on. The staff have been busy with lots of new customers and consumers, which is a welcome respite from the past couple of months.

But all that being said, we'll be getting back to regular posts about our products and services shortly, as well as sharing some of the before and after pictures of our successes! I'm looking forward to communicating with everyone again and hope to provide some useful information to all who have questions about our products and services.

If you have any questions that you would like answers to, please leave a comment!

~Lauren

(Be sure to follow us on Twitter, @sigwood_lauren)

Going Green

Signature WoodCrafters parent company, Signature Companies is a stair and rail manufacturer (as well as cabinet provider) for home builders in the Mid-Atlantic region. We supply stairs and rails for all kinds builders, from the big guys like K. Hovnanian Enterprises, Centex, D.R. Horton, and Winchester Homes to smaller custom home builders.

Signature Companies was recently mentioned in an article post by Sarah Yaussi of Hanley Wood's Big Builder Online publication. Sarah had gone to Hovnanian's Landover Group home that they are building in conjunction with the Department of Energy. This house is a test home for new energy-conscious building products. I can personally attest to Khov's Landover Group's dedication to going green and participating in both the regional and national dialogue in regards to what "Going Green" means in the building industry.

The stair system that Sarah mentions in her article is called the Ultimate Tread, and is actually very similar to our Stair ReCrafting product. You can check out Signature Companies website and click on the Downloads portion of the site to view more about the benefits of using the Ultimate Tread in new construction projects.

In the meanwhile, check out the Big Builder article!! Thanks again to Sarah for mentioning us!

Thinking Outside the Box

This article was written by one of our very own designers, Kris Forness, who is a C.K.D. Check out her thoughts on new uses for cabinets, and check out her own blog, http://krisforness.wordpress.com!

Thinking outside the box….or in this case, outside of the kitchen.

Manufactured kitchen cabinets are made in standard sizes-usually 3”increments in width, limited heights and standard depths for the wall, base and tall cabinets.

These sizes work well in most kitchens and bathrooms, and have been a standard in designing these rooms for years.

But, have you thought about using these same standard cabinets in other ways? Clear your mind of the preconceived uses and get creative with these well-constructed boxes.

Here are some ideas for unusual uses for kitchen cabinets.

Tall oven cabinet = Coat Hook Cubby.

Manufactured double oven cabinets are usually 27, 30 or 33”in width, 24”deep and 84”, 90” or 96”high, The cabinet comes with a large open space for the oven installation.

Instead, finish the interior of the opening with paneling-a beaded look is nice- install coat hooks on the back wall, a finished platform at the bottom and voila, you have a perfect place for coats, backpacks, and sports gear. These cabinets usually have a deep drawer on the bottom which will provide additional storage. Install the cabinet in a mudroom or entryway for an attractive and useful addition.

Deep wall cabinet= a bench or window seat

Wall cabinets for the area above the refrigerator are made deeper, at 24” and are from 12” to 24” in height. Take this same cabinet down to the floor and you’ll have a great bench and storage unit. It would be best to build a platform or add decorative “feet” to raise the bench to the proper seat height for your installation. This will guarantee clearance for the doors to open, as well. Reinforce the top with a piece of finished plywood or wood countertop, that rests on the frame of the cabinet. This will strengthen the bench. Add a cushion or pillows and you have a cozy spot for taking off your boots or reading a book by a window. This bench could be installed next to your Coat hook Cubby that you made above, or center it in your walk-in closet. It would also provide great toy storage in your child’s room.

Wall Cabinets=Coffee Table or Nightstand

The same deep wall cabinet mentioned above can be used as a coffee table. Many styles of decorative feet are available-bun, tapered, Queen Anne style-or add casters for mobility. Simply turn the cabinet upside down, install corner blocks diagonally for stability and attach the feet or casters in the 4 corners.

Usually the back of the cabinet is unfinished, so paneling will need to be applied to finish it. Add some molding or a decorative embellishment for detail. The top of the new table can be wood or a beautiful piece of granite.

Or, you can create a shadowbox effect. The cabinet usually has a 1”-1 ½” recessed area on the top. Stain this space or cover in a dark fabric and place your mementos or artwork in the recess. Have a ½”piece of glass cut for the cabinet top. You’ll have a personalized and useful furniture piece.

This same idea can be applied to a narrow, 30” high wall cabinet. We are often left with a narrow space bedside, leaving little room for a nightstand. Use a 12” or 15” wall cabinet, install feet and a wood top and you’ll have the perfect spot for your alarm clock.

Drawer Bases = Bedroom furniture

The depth and strength of kitchen drawers make terrific clothing storage. If you have the space, a three drawer, 24” deep kitchen cabinet can hold quite a bit more than the standard bedroom dresser. Many manufactured cabinets now have full-extension drawer glides which give you full access to the drawer contents, as well. Install 2 cabinets, side-by-side, add a wood countertop, some decorative bun feet or corbels and you’ll have a lovely, functional furniture piece.

Wall cabinet = Powder Room Furniture

There are some beautiful contemporary bathroom furniture pieces available, however their price can be beyond the budget, or size not right for your room. To get a similar look, use a deep, 21”-24”, wall cabinet, hung at vanity height. If it’s a wall to wall situation, secure the cabinet at the sides, as well. If a freestanding look is wanted, attach table legs to the 4 corners. Depending on the look you’re after, the legs can be a simple square, or an intricately turned shape. You’ll have to cut into the top of the cabinet for the sink and plumbing. Install your countertop of choice. This application works well with the vessel sinks that are popular today. For added stability, storage and aesthetics, you can add a finished shelf below the cabinet, between the decorative legs.

So many ideas, so little time…..more to come

To Remodel or Not Remodel - that is the question

If you click on the Title of this post, it will take you to an informative article on the benefits of remodeling in a slow market. It seems that 70.9 percent of the investment that you make in your kitchen is recouped when it comes time to sell (if you even want to sell after redoing the kitchen). Our Kitchen ReCrafting product line is perfect for a beautiful update, at a low price. The quality that you receive for the money that you spend is bar-none. Take a look at our portfolio page on our website, www.signaturewoodcrafters.com, to see what I mean!

The things you notice...

I notice that every time I learn something new, I usually carry it with me wherever I go. Everything that I see gets filtered through this new knowledge.

The past year, I have learned a ton about the nuances of stairways and railing systems. I never knew that there was so much that goes into a staircase and how complicated a railing system can be. But with the stuff that I have learned in 2008, I now find myself walking into people's homes and automatically analyzing their staircases. Or when I'm watching a movie, I notice a Box Newel Post or an old staircase that they are walking on. So the other day, when I was flipping through Pottery Barn's newest catalog edition, I saw this picture and found it unique because of the stair's configuration.

This particular staircase would be termed as an open stairway in the stairbuilding industry. It is considered open because the actual stair steps are not enclosed by a kneewall, typically called the stringer (the structural supporting diagnol part of the stair). Instead, the stair treads are attached on top of the stringer.

The thing that I found interesting in this photo, is that usually with an open staircase, the railings are attached directly into the stair step/tread, with a loose parts railing system. But in this particular case, only the newel (the supporting post) is attached directly into the tread. The railing is in fact a rake pre-assembled railing system, that runs perpendicular to the rise, or diagnol, of the stringer. A rake pre-assembled railing system means that this railing system was manufactured and then assembled at the plant, versus on site by a rail installer. Pre-Assembled railing systems are easier to install than Loose Parts railing systems, which have to be assembled and installed by an experienced carpenter on site.

This photo of the Pottery Barn stair is interesting because it just isn't very typical. While there are examples of open stairs with old pre-assembled rake iron railing systems (what I term, porch rail), I had never seen an open stair with a pre-assembled wood rake railing system. Unique, to say the least!