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kitchen remodeling

Contemporary Kitchen for Forest Lake Chalet

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Chris is from Switzerland, an old-world carpenter’s daughter accustomed to being surrounded by natural wood and clean design. The Forest Lake chalet she and husband Brian bought in 2019 offered big rustic beams and soaring wood ceilings and walls. But the kitchen failed them both aesthetically and functionally.

The range hood was not vented to the outside. Appliances were nearing their end. The island only seated three comfortably. And the cathedral cabinets were dated. Chris imagined a clean, contemporary kitchen where she could cook more efficiently and their three-generation household could gather. But  she and Brian also wanted to work within a budget that would include higher end appliances. 

APEX Construction Management and designer Lisa Stoll teamed with Chris to create the bright, easy clean, high-function kitchen she envisioned. It features a 9-foot island that seats six, whitewashed wood cabinets with perfectly matched horizontal grain and hardware, dual wall ovens, a vented range hood, granite tops and luxury vinyl tile flooring.

End of Project Snapshots

These are snapshots taken after APEX completed the project. APEX will commission professional photos when Minnesota’s COVID guidelines allow. Stay healthy and safe!

Budget tradeoffs

High-end laminate cabinets would have delivered the clean euro look Chris liked and a contrasting wood “rug” could have purposefully filled the gap in the main level hardwood flooring that emerged after the old island  and peninsula were removed. Chris and Lisa agreed on custom wood cabinets and LVT flooring to control costs. This tempered the impact of splurges on distinctive lighting fixtures, cabinet hardware and hard-working appliances.

Horizontal lines

Chris specified that all  cabinet woodgrain and pulls run horizontally for a more contemporary look. Although the upper cabinet doors look like they swing up, they actually are hinged from the side. “I wanted horizontal lines everywhere,” Chris explained.

Lisa designed the island cabinet with inverted corners to accommodate stools on both ends and increase elbow room for those in the middle. The big island is Chris’s favorite feature.

“I love it. We have a  big family and everyone is able to sit in the kitchen together. We have breakfast and lunch and sometimes dinner at the island,” she said.

Chris also appreciates the double ovens whose height Lisa set for her personal comfort. “I use the ovens a lot and I didn’t want  to bend when moving heavy pans in and out,” she explained.

The ceiling posed an unusual challenge because the kitchen extends beyond the upper mezzanine into the towering cathedral area that overlooks the lake. The design features a long, slender LED light bar over the island that is suspended from the two ceiling heights with black cables that virtually disappear. This was important to the couple because they did not want the lake view from the mezzanine to be disrupted.

Contemporary selections

Selections included Mayfair White granite countertop and island top, Fossil Piombo Hexagon ceramic tile backsplash, Mannington Adura Baltic Stone Storm LVT flooring, Blanco double bowl metallic gray undermount sink, and Delta Essa faucet. Chris chose appliances from KitchenAid and Zephyr.

Although APEX tackled the project during COVID, Chris said she felt crews kept her family safe, cleaned up well and showed respect.

 

Most Popular Remodeling Projects in 2019

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If you think remodeling your old kitchen will make you happier, you probably are right. Complete kitchen remodels achieved a perfect “10” Joy Score in the 2019 Remodeling Impact Report. The most popular remodeling project also is the top-rated improvement to make a home more desirable among future homebuyers. The findings are based on extensive surveys by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) this year.

popular kitchen remodel

To be clear, updating your kitchen won’t improve your profit at resale. You’ll only recoup about 59 percent of your investment. But your home will be more appealing and should sell faster and you get to enjoy it until you move.

Seriously, we could have guessed these results without a survey of nearly 2,200 consumers and 4,400 NARI members. Kitchens are the center of both family life and entertaining. It’s no wonder a more functional and attractive kitchen will serve up smiles.

 

favorite remodeling projects

What does remodeling joy mean?

The joy index is based on answers to three questions: First, does the project make you want to spend more time in the space? Second, do the improvements actually enhance your enjoyment of the space? Third, do you feel a sense of accomplishment after completing the improvements? I think the first two questions overlap and skew the scores. But because the same rules apply to all 20 projects, the study is a useful tool to compare alternatives for one’s remodeling dollars.

The good news is that you don’t have to overhaul your home’s social and functional hub to find happiness. The survey said renovating a closet also carries a 10-point joy grade and for a fraction of the cost. What’s more,  repainting your home’s interior finishes a close second at 9.8. Just be sure the results look professional and you choose the right colors.

 

Buyers value new roofs

Remodeling ROI in 2019

The survey also estimates how much of your remodeling investment you are likely to recoup if you sell your house in the next few years.  For example, if your home would sell for $400,000 with your old kitchen and you spend $68,000 on a new kitchen, the survey predicts you will get $440,000 at resale. So, you are at least partially remodeling the space for yourself, which should be anyone’s prime motivation. 

Once again, the only projects that Realtors say homebuyers will value more than they actually cost the sellers are replacing an old roof or installing new wood flooring.  The Realtors valued the payback on a new roof at 107 percent and wood flooring at 106 percent.

Homebuyers probably appreciate new roofs because lenders won’t underwrite mortgages unless deteriorated roofs are replaced. Meanwhile, wood floors are seen as a healthier alternative to wall to wall carpeting, which collects bacteria, allergens and cleaning chemicals residue over time that can compromise indoor air quality. Installing wood flooring after purchasing a home also would delay the move in date.

Visit the National Association of Realtors  HouseLogic link to view the entire Remodeling Impact Report with Joy Scores, costs and paybacks for all 20 projects.

How the remodeling report was done

In June and July of 2019, HouseLogic surveyed consumers on the last remodeling project they undertook. A total of 2,193 respondents participated. The Joy Score was calculated by combining the share who were happy and those who were satisfied when seeing their completed project and dividing the share by 10 to create a ranking between 1 and 10. Higher Joy Scores indicate greater joy from the project. In March and June 2019, NARI emailed a cost survey to its 4,400 members. A total of 378 responses were received. The survey had an adjusted response rate of 11.6 percent. In July 2019, NAR emailed an interior remodeling project survey to a random sample of 52,491 Realtors. A total of 2,485 responses were received. The survey had an adjusted response rate of 4.7 percent.

 

APEX kitchen remodel and bath facelift just what the doctor ordered

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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. Meanwhile, 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.

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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 metro kitchen remodel

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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.

birch kitchen remodel

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.

Keepsakes on display

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.

Meanwhile, Pete wanted the kitchen remodel 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.

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.

Kitchen 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 island kitchen transforms childhood home

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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 banquette island 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. 

Arden Hills Kitchen Collaboration

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cherry kitchen photoAfter 32 years in an Arden Hills home that the previous owner had built to learn construction, Chris and Mark were ready for a new kitchen and bath and squeak-free floors. First they joined more than 400 fellow dreamers to tour the award-winning kitchen and bath project that APEX Construction Management displayed in the Parade of Homes Remodelers Showcase last spring. Then they hired APEX for their own project.

Chris says the APEX team members of John “JB” Biancini, Lisa Stoll and Matt Grudzielanek were consummate collaborators. They  absorbed ideas she and Mark had been noodling for years and melded solutions and product suggestions of their own. Ultimately, they agreed on cherry cabinets and display shelves, deep drawers and pullouts on full extension slides, soft close door hinges, granite tops, undermount stainless steel sink, spray-in-spout faucet, luxury vinyl plank flooring, muted subway tile backsplash and LED lighting.

“They nailed it,” Chris remarked, adding that she would not change a single thing.

Quality of Life Upgrade

“JB stated from the first meeting that his intent was to improve our quality of life at home. It was evident throughout the project that it truly was his goal, and he did it!” Chris said. “APEX is a very different company from others we contacted. Some didn’t even call us back.  JB and Matt were always easy to reach with questions and concerns. They provided reassurance and guidance throughout the project.”

While many of the elements are familiar, some are unusual by design. For instance, the couple specified dark laminate base cabinet because they are impervious to their pawing cat, Jack. The feline also got his own protected pet dish nook.

Other benefits are less obvious, starting with the luxury vinyl plank floor used in the kitchen, hall, dining area and family room. “Matt was instrumental in screwing down the subfloor so we don’t have squeaks anymore,” Chris explained. She also noted that visitors routinely mistake the flooring for real wood. “It fools everyone.” And she credits Lisa for the idea to paint the end wall cabinet to match the wall so it makes the space feel larger. “It blends into the wall,” she said.

As I emerged from the home after touring the new kitchen and bath, I was greeted by a flock of large wild turkeys parading through Chris’s yard. Clearly no one warned them about her new double oven and range hood.

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

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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 ShowcaseWe 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

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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

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

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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.

APEX clients Steve and Marie Jorrisen

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.