kitchen remodeling

APEX kitchen remodel and bath facelift just what the doctor ordered

December 4, 2019 By Tom Sweeney Leave a Comment

Thomas Wolfe may have been wrong when he wrote You Can’t Go Home Again. APEX has completed two kitchen remodel projects this year for clients who acquired and immediately updated their childhood homes after years of living away. The latest was for a young doctor in Vadnais Heights. From outside, the house looks the same. But that changes the moment you walk through a door.

Kitchen remodel reserving the past

The small 1973 ranch style home was typical for its age. A back door had dumped into a small kitchen. The dining area was a small ell off the living room. Bedrooms and a bath completed the floor plan down the hall. Rooms were small and dark. Work surfaces and storage were limited.

Lisa Stoll designed the kitchen remodel and guided selection for both the kitchen and the bath. APEX Project Manager Matt Grudzielanek supervised construction. The team gutted the kitchen, including the stubby peninsula and overhead cabinet by the back door and both interior walls. This created a larger footprint for the kitchen and integrated it with the living room. Finally, the bathroom received a throughout facelift with new fixtures, tile surfaces and a stylish vanity with a custom concrete top.

Lisa Stoll leads tour of remodeled kitchen

A large island with a range top and high seating forms the centerpiece of the project. It’s ideal when Brian entertains his many medical colleagues and friends. The rangehood helps to define the kitchen space without obstructing the view into the living room. This new kitchen is open to a small drop zone by the back door. The new refrigerator moved to the end wall and is flanked by a tall pantry cabinet.

Lisa specified a versatile stainless steel undermount sink with a low divider and tall spray-in-spout faucet. Glass panel upper cabinets display heirloom glassware. And Luxury Vinyl Plank flooring integrates the kitchen, living room and hall.

Client recommends APEX for kitchen remodel

The client gives APEX high marks for overcoming old house challenges and staying on schedule and budget. “I would recommend APEX and hire them again,” he said.

Contact APEX President John “JB” Biancini to learn how you can transform your home’s outdated floor plan and give your kitchen and bath new life.

APEX builds memories into Vadnais Heights kitchen remodel

October 13, 2019 By John Biancini Leave a Comment

APEX projects are not just about making everything fresh and new. We recently completed a Vadnais Heights kitchen remodel where preserving family heritage was every bit as important as the granite counters, custom birch cabinets and new appliances.

Bright, easy clean surfaces

Barbara’s dad had designed a wall of cabinets when she and her husband Pete bought their home. They wanted to keep the upper cabinet, which still was in decent shape after 17 years. APEX’s custom cabinetmaker matched the design for all of the new cabinets. He even incorporated the original flour and sugar bins in a lower cabinet drawer.

: New kitchen with restored original upper cabinet on left

: Original, dad-designed lighter cabinets

: Original baking bins in new base cabinet drawer

: Low pull-out shelf

Barbara also wanted to be able to display her grandmother’s fine English china, which had languished in boxes in the basement for years. Because space was limited, APEX Designer Lisa Stoll incorporated a built-in china cabinet with glass doors facing the dining area. Now Barbara can appreciate the pieces every day and access them on special occasions.

: Built-in china cabinet

: Grandmother’s English china

: Original view from hall

Meanwhile, Pete wanted the new kitchen to showcase the old bird clock that played different birdsongs on the hour and had guided family schedules since the children were young. “The morning dove means it is 7 o’clock. That was time to get the kids out the door for school. It’s been the way this family works for a long time. We know what all the bird sounds mean. It’s how we keep track of time,” Pete explained.

Lisa chose a dark stain for the panel over the new range to create an eye-catching accent surface for the clock that’s visible from the dining area.

Accent panel for featured clock in kitchen remodel

Accent panel emphasizes bird clock over new range

Finally, the couple hated to lose the 17-year record of their children’s heights when we replaced the coat closet door in the dining area. This time, APEX Project Manager Matt Grudzielanek had the solution. He salvaged a foot-wide strip of the marked plywood from the old door and laminated it to the back of the new door, complete with the tiny childhood photos.

: Original coat closet door with children’s growth chart

: Growth chart from original closet door laminated inside new door.

At APEX, we look for opportunities to preserve a bit of the past when we remodel because memories are what make a house a home. Our goal with every project is to enhance our clients’ quality of life at home. By taking time to get to know our clients, we can incorporate design element and features that make each project unique and special.

Remodel’s Functional features

Still, APEX understands that it takes more than nostalgia to pull off a successful remodel. We also must conduct ourselves with integrity, stay on schedule and create an environment that’s attractive and works. This Vadnais Heights project features natural birch cabinets with soft-close drawers and doors, a deep undermount sink with spray-in spout faucet, two ovens, undercabinet and recessed ceiling lighting, easy-clean luxury vinyl flooring, and an upgraded electrical panel and new water heater.

Excellent Value, 5 ‘Ruff’ Rating for Kitchen Remodel

“I would definitely recommend APEX. The workmanship was high quality. What a pleasure it was to have people who are experts in their field do the work after living with the results of not-very-good DIY work,” Barbara said. “With APEX, you get an excellent value for your money. They’re not the cheapest, but I would not want to go with the cheapest anyway. “We had another contractor give us a quote that was so low and at the bottom it said, for an extra $500 he would file permits. I don’t want to work with somebody who is going to try to do it under the table. That’s not what I believe in. I’m not trying to cut corners because you pay a lot more in the long run.”

Barbara gives the entire APEX team high marks. “All the people who worked on the project did a great job. They also were very friendly and they were nice to our dog, Sparky, who can be difficult. It was a good experience,” she said.

Note to self: Restock trucks with treats.

Banquette Kitchen

September 24, 2019 By Tom Sweeney Leave a Comment

When this Chris bought his childhood Circle Pines home from his parents he knew the kitchen would need to be remodeled. Wife Renee wanted two tables, no formal dining room, extreme storage and a particular refrigerator. He wanted a premium Wolf range with griddle, better traffic flow and lighting, and more functional surface areas. And they both insisted it reflect their traditional, wood-centric style and be completed before the fall school year.

The couple gave APEX a 100% score in its Guild Quality survey and began to refer us to colleagues and friends even before the project was completed on July 8. “If you want a remodeling done and have no worries, hire APEX,” Renee remarked. “Lisa (APEX’s designer) got me.” Best of all, the young boys love the new space — especially the cool banquette — as much as their parents do. Menu please!

High-functioning kitchen

Making it work

The design challenge was to reconfigure three disjointed rooms and create one cohesive open space to connect this family of 5 during the most important parts of the day: mealtimes. Daily life now revolves around the island banquette in the open floor plan.

The combination center island/banquette provides seating for 6 while keeping dinner table free. It’s perfect for breakfast, lunch and homework during dinner prep. Both tables are used daily, vs. the seldom used former dining room.

Other practical improvements include:

The large L-shaped island is ideal for buffet-style meals and entertaining.
Storage and work surfaces increased with ceiling height cabinets and the larger island, and accessibility improved with deep drawers and pullout shelves on full-extension slides.
Eliminating the clipped corner pantry closet and the entrance from the formal dining room created a better dining room turned piano room, improved traffic flow in the kitchen and increased wall space for cabinetry. No more choke points!
The new kitchen enjoys an efficient work triangle separate from traffic. The accessible coffee center with Wolf toaster is conveniently positioned by the banquette.
Dual Wolf steam and conventional wall ovens are perfect for canning, baking and reheating leftovers.
Enhanced, dimmable overhead and undercabinet LED lighting and open plan created brighter, safer, more pleasant heart of the home.

Modifying walls changed everything

Removing the former living room wall and converting the space to a dining area improves sight lines from the entry hall and the kitchen and spreads natural light from the patio door and rear windows.

The design incorporates two tables in one open space without making them look like they compete. Bright banquette cushions complement the wall paint and accent the natural wood and stone surfaces. Rich knotty alder perimeter cabinetry and weathered oak island cabinetry replace blah honey oak cabinets. Dated popcorn ceiling was removed.

The honey oak floors were refinished and stained a medium tone for an updated look that complements the dark cabinets. The mixed mosaic stone tile backplash and cool walls and cushions update the décor.

Custom cabinets were expertly built, finished and fit. New oak flooring was laced into old where walls, island and closet were removed. Ceilng patches from wall removal disappear behind skimcoat despite soundproof assembly.

APEX scheduled trades back to back to complete construction in just eight weeks so the family could move in and get settled before the school year.

Tour Award-Winning Laurel Ave. Addition in Remodelers Showcase This Weekend

March 15, 2018 By Tom Sweeney Leave a Comment

The charming Laurel Avenue addition that APEX Construction Management will feature in the Parade of Homes Spring Remodelers Showcase this weekend (March 23-25) is unique among the 63 projects on display during the tour.

Spring 2018 Remodelers Showcase We hope you will visit the home, not so much because you want something just like it, but because you don’t. At a time when many trendy makeovers look so familiar and cool, the 1660 Laurel Ave. addition is a decidedly different and heartwarming reminder of an era when life was simpler. The point is, APEX loves different.

The owners, Richard and Shirley Erstad, view homes as “durable goods.” Most importantly, they believe remodeling should build on the past, not erase it. APEX’s John “JB” Biancini truly listened (no small feat for someone who is profoundly deaf). He worked with designer Carmin Meyer, Project Manager Matt Grudzielanek and the homeowners themselves to deliver the period perfect environment while hiding modern conveniences in plain view.

Indoors or outside you will be hard pressed to identify where the old house ends and the new addition begins. But the homeowners certainly appreciate the difference a larger kitchen, new main level bath, improved entry and basement laundry make in daily life.

The remodeled space incorporates a new bank of Marvin windows that overlook the picturesque backyard, custom cabinetry from Modern Design, a custom commercial tile floor, and salvaged art glass, entry door, balustrades, and plumbing fixtures. There even is a functional antique wall phone! The kitchen features a fully restored, eight-burner, three-oven circa 1920s Reliable gas stove and 1930s GE Monitor refrigerator.

Remodelers Showcase Adds to Project’s Acclaim

The acclaimed APEX remodeling of the 1912 home already has generated plenty of attention leading up to the home tour. Last November, the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) named APEX Minnesota Contractor of the Year (CotY) for additions up to $250,000. Then the industry group chose APEX last month for the best addition in its nine-state North Central Region. The project is a finalist for the national title next month. Finally, the Builders Association of the Twin Cities (BATC) is featuring the project in an editorial spread (page 22-23) in the Parade of Homes Remodelers Showcase guidebook publication.

Remodelers Showcase guidebook article

“These clients knew how they wanted the space to look and feel. It was up to APEX to figure out how to make it work,” JB remarked. “Now the family has an unforgettable addition that embraces their storybook backyard.”

Meet APEX Construction Management

The project is R60 in the Remodelers Showcase guidebook. The home will be open to visitors from noon to 6PM Friday through Sunday. For more information contact APEX at 651.653.6300 or jb@apexdesignbuild.com.

Time-Sensitive St. Paul Remodel

October 1, 2017 By Tom Sweeney Leave a Comment

Many remodeling projects are similar. This one was anything but. It also was one of the most rewarding and satisfying challenges APEX faced all year.

Vintage stove in kitchen addition.

Start with a beautiful 1912 St. Paul Victorian on a tight lot with no open access from the alley. Then add accomplished DIYr clients who envisioned an authentic environment for vintage kitchen appliances they had been collecting and restoring for years. Finally, bump out to improve the kitchen layout and add a mudroom and bathroom without encroaching on their storybook backyard. Oh, and the “new” space needed to blend seamlessly with the old so you would never suspect it wasn’t part of the original house.

None of this was a problem for APEX because JB prides himself on listening (okay, reading lips) . He’s also good at assembling the perfect team to execute the clients’ remodeling vision and overcome unexpected obstacles, which are as common as sloping floors in historic homes. And he has the processes in place to manage complex projects.

Remodeling Clients Inspired Us

Truth be told, the real stars of this project are the clients themselves, Rich and Shirley. Rich is an attorney who appreciates that details matter and who happens to be a heck of a woodworker, painter and eBay/CraigsList shopper. Shirley is an avid gardener and executive director of a nonprofit that supports parks and trails.

Richard said something to me as the project drew to a close,“Houses are durable goods.” He feels remodeling should improve upon the past, not erase it. That’s why the kitchen has three types of cabinets, marble and granite countertops, and millwork profiles that matches the rest of the house.

The vintage appliances are extraordinary, but my favorite feature is the bank of four new windows that look out over the Secret Garden with its colorful sauna and plantings.

Dream Kitchen From Flooding Nightmare

March 2, 2017 By Tom Sweeney Leave a Comment

Leak leads to major kitchen remodeling

The Jorrisens turned a nightmare flood into the motivation they needed to obtain their dream kitchen remodeling last Christmas. They are living proof that our attitude toward events, not the events themselves, is what defines our quality of life. That and a little help from APEX Construction Management.

Steve and Marie Jorrisen enjoy their APEX Construction Management kitchen.

The Vadnais Heights couple had already updated their kitchen’s counters, backsplash and cabinet hardware several years ago. They were planning to overhaul the space after their son finished college. But when they returned from their cabin last October and discovered a plumbing leak had soaked through the laminate flooring, the timetable got a jolt. As ServiceMaster removed the base cabinets to address the water damage, they agreed to seize the day.

“There was no way those 1987 honey oak cabinets were going back in,” Marie recalled.

Jump-start the kitchen remodeling project

Most major kitchen remodeling projects take at least a month to plan and families prepare to set up temporary kitchens during the work. The Jorrisens didn’t even begin to think about the project until the cabinets were out.

They chose APEX Construction and Hearthwood Kitchens to design and build their new kitchen. APEX completed the project in time for their dozen family members to christen the new space on Christmas Eve. While APEX and Hearthwood’s Angie Cote worked hard to meet the holiday deadline, they credit the Jorrisens for their own contributions. For instance, the couple taped off the dogleg island profile on the floor to make sure they would be comfortable with the width of the traffic zone. They also had the idea to replace the left opening French door with a right opening sliding patio door to eliminate an awkward choke point at the porch.

Kitchen built around the DIYrs’ own backsplash

Perhaps the biggest challenge was that APEX had to build the new kitchen around the diamond-pattern backsplash the couple had personally installed during the earlier facelift. That required meticulous attention to the height of the new luxury vinyl floor, transition to adjacent rooms and the ceiling-height upper cabinets.

Best of all, the insurance claim offset some of the cost of the major kitchen remodeling. Bonus: the family got a Christmas present it will never forget and continues to enjoy all year long.

“APEX Construction Management’s core purpose is to improve our clients’ quality of life at home,” said APEX President JB Biancini. “We helped the Jorrisens turn a surprise setback into an opportunity to upgrade their kitchen with cherry cabinets, premium appliances and an island that’s perfect for parties and everyday use. That’s quality living!”

Here’s their story.

Tale of Two Kitchens

October 20, 2016 By John Biancini Leave a Comment

APEX strives to deliver great client experiences, one project at a time. What better way to demonstrate this than to let you hear directly from a couple of homeowners who recently chose APEX to enlarge and remodel their kitchens. One project was near Stillwater, the other in Burnsville. We hope you enjoy these videos. Please contact JB to share your own remodeling dream.

Value of joy in APEX Construction projects

March 29, 2016 By John Biancini Leave a Comment

Each year, Remodeling Magazine publishes its Cost vs. Value Report that benchmarks the cost of typical home remodeling projects and how they might impact the home’s resale value. It’s a handy reference if you are wondering how much more a project will cost you this year compared to if you had completed it last year. Hint: it seldom costs less. It also is useful to avoid over-improving if you plan to sell your home in the next couple of years.

This time, the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) also teamed with the National Association of Realtors (NAR) to produce the Remodeling Impact Study, which may be even more valuable. While Cost vs. Value measures financial payback, the Remodeling Impact Study assesses appeal and enjoyment. In other words, how much will the project enhance enjoyment of your home, and how will the improvements influence your home’s desirability in the real estate market?

Not surprisingly, the projects that are best at holding dollar value seldom are the ones we truly love. Exception: Replacing a worn or damaged roof is worth more than it costs and is highly recommended by Realtors. Apparently, we all appreciate the value of staying dry. And both home inspectors and insurance carriers are quick to flag faulty roofs.

The Remodeling Impact Study found that 3 out of 4 of those surveyed wanted to spend more time in their homes after remodeling and more than 9 in 10 were happy or satisfied with how their projects turned out.

Although our homes often are among our most valuable investments, they are much more. With the rise of Millennials, a recent report found that life is more about experiences than things. Homes form the backdrops of many life experiences. How does someone who enjoys cooking or entertaining put a value on an updated, open floor plan kitchen that’s integrated with an outdoor living environment? When a family loves its neighborhood but need more space, what’s the real worth of refinishing the basement or tastefully adding on? And don’t forget the Kodak moments (make that iPhone snapshots) that will be preserved in digital photos for generations.

Please contact JB at APEX Design Build (aka APEX Construction Management) to discuss your remodeling needs.

Top Value Remodeling Projects

The Remodeling Impact survey found that a new bathroom, complete kitchen remodeling and master suites are the top three “Joy Index” interior projects. Meanwhile, Realtors are most likely to recommend a kitchen facelift, bathroom remodel and hardwood floor refinishing to prepare an older home for resale.

Here are links to the complete reports:

Remodeling Impact Study

Cost vs. Value Report

An APEX Kitchen Designed For Just For You

June 29, 2015 By John Biancini Leave a Comment

John “JB” Biancini in North Oaks kitchen he remodeled.

APEX Construction Management (APEX Design-Build) understands that your kitchen is the heart of your home. It’s the one space in your home everyone calls theirs, so it needs to work for multiple people and serve multiple purposes. The APEX philosophy on kitchen design is summed up in one short statement, “Builders design kitchens for houses. We design kitchens for people.” Your kitchen needs to be a perfect fit for the way you use it every day.

We’ve compiled a list of the things you should consider when planning your new kitchen. This list has been refined over many years of experience from both a personal and professional perspective. We hope that you find this helpful:

Workflow. Good design takes into consideration many factors including how many people tend to be in the kitchen at the same time. You need room to work and your family and guests need space to socialize. Be sure the counters, island, range, and refrigerator all work together. The work triangle is a key design element that ties together the sink, the range, and the refrigerator.
Counter Space. Most people who regularly cook and entertain in a kitchen will agree there is no such thing as too much counter space. Whether you’re preparing a meal or setting up a buffet for your son’s hockey team dinner, having extra counter space makes time in the kitchen more organized and calm.
Storage. Another factor in keeping things calm in the kitchen is having enough storage space. Pots that are continually falling out of the cabinets or drawers over flowing with unorganized kitchen gadgets make things more stressful and increase your meal prep time. There are so many exceptional features in cabinets today, it’s possible to make the most of every square inch in a kitchen thus making a space for everything so everything can have a place.
Lighting. If you can’t see, how can you cook? Even if your eyesight is 20/20 it’s still nice to have proper task lighting to read a recipe, measure a quarter cup of something, or to make sure all the crumbs are dusted from your counter when finished for the day.
Flooring. Some days in the kitchen are longer than others. Be sure your floor is friendly to your feet and back. Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) has become a very popular choice for kitchen flooring. This product looks like wood or tile, but gives you the benefit of a softer and warmer surface that helps reduce fatigue. LVT flooring also helps prevent some items from breaking items if they are dropped.
Power Sources. Outlets are important! Think of all the extra small appliances you use when you’re in the kitchen. Hunting for a power outlet will make whatever you’re doing more time consuming and frustrating.
Ventilation. Having proper ventilation in your kitchen is a must! The fish you made on Monday smells terrible the next day when it’s still lingering in the air.

Things to consider when purchasing a range vent include; a) Will the range vent exhaust straight up, out the side wall, or is it a downdraft unit? b) The vent must be installed properly, including providing sufficient make up air to meet code requirements if the output is greater than 300 cubic feet per minute. c) The physical size must be equal to or wider than the range that covers. d) How loud is it when turned on?

Ready to start your next remodel? Call us today to get started!