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Apex Design Build

Residential Remodeling

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Bittersweet APEX Remodel

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Val had scheduled her initial APEX consult for just after the 2019 Minnesota State Fair because her partner, David, would be too busy parking cars to meet during the event. With thoughts of aging in place together, they wanted to add an accessible main level bath to the St. Paul home.

home addition

As planned, APEX would demolish the deteriorating double-decker deck. Then we would build a small addition off the 1916 home for the new bathroom with a curb-free shower, a small mudroom and an expanded basement with an egress window. It was reminiscent of another St. Paul remodel that had earned APEX the 2017 NARI Regional Contractor of the Year Award for additions under $250,000.

APEX completed Val’s addition in June and her stamped concrete patio in July, but David didn’t get to enjoy either. Sadly, he died on May 9. Today, the project stands as a beautiful reminder of a good man. Val loves it.

“There is hardly a day that I’m outside in my yard, when a neighbor doesn’t give me a compliment on the addition or even ask to come in to see it,” Val said.

Interior Designer Lisa Stoll says the project also serves as a poignant reminder that universal design benefits everyone and can look beautiful — and that we never know what tomorrow may bring.

“You don’t have to be older or disabled to appreciate an adjustable hand shower, large curbless shower, shelves that are rated as grab bars, a comfort height toilet and better lighting,” she observed.

John Wardell drew the plans for this APEX addition as he did the award-winning project. A door replaces a window off the back of the house and the sheltered landing is served by dual stairs.  Val originally hoped for a little second floor balcony where she could “shake a mop,” but she got a good-sized deck over a flat EPDM roof.

Read Val’s full review here.

  • Before
  • Before

COVID-19 Guidelines

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Dear APEX Clients,

  1. Projects in production – We are monitoring the health of our workers, our clients, and ourselves daily and will not go to work if anyone is not feeling well. When we do go to work we are taking extra precautions to keep our distance via additional containment barriers on the jobsites and asking clients to respect the new social distancing norms. We will also ask clients on a regular basis if they are comfortable with us continuing our work in their homes.
  2. Projects in design  – Aside from the physical on-site need to take measurements, we are/will be using technology for all communications: email, teleconferencing, and when possible, video teleconferencing via Webex with presentation/whiteboard capability.
  3. Future projects – When possible, we are replacing on-site project previews with client “before” photos, sketches, and emails to assemble a general scope of work and render a ballpark budget range.

 I expect projects currently in the design phase to continue into construction if essential services continue to be allowed to work.

JB Biancini,
President
APEX Construction Management

 

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.

Design-Build at Work

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This client desired to increase the amount of useable area on the main level and create an open floor plan. The catalyst for this project was to expand the cramped kitchen and create more working and serving areas that would allow them to entertain guests more frequently. Their lifestyle needs drove the design objectives to create a new kitchen, dining space, reading/media space, and a fireplace space themed after the north woods Boundary Waters Canoe Area that they both love so much. An additional design objective was to replace all windows and doors for improved energy conservation.

APEX was initially chosen by referral and survived the interview process to become the General Contractor for the project. The relationship was further reinforced when it became evident that APEX not only understood their needs, but more importantly, understood their north woods lifestyle. APEX exceeded the client expectations by designing and building their new two story addition that fit their lifestyles precisely.

In order to understand and meet the design objectives precisely, APEX guided the client through several iterations of the design process before the construction was started. The following design elements were implemented:

  • A two story addition was built to meet the client need for additional space on both levels
  • The kitchen was expanded significantly with an open view to all of the main level spaces
  • Kitchen storage space was increased by over 300% with well designed cabinets and a built-in hutch
  • A reading/media room was added to the main level, one of the primary design objectives
  • A fireplace room was created on the main level with a north woods design theme
  • The new upper level spaces are well defined but softened by arches and complemented by arched windows
  • Additional windows were installed to maximize the amount of natural light in all areas of the main level
  • The lighting was designed to provide an abundance of general, task, and ambience lighting at night
  • An upper level deck was added to create additional exterior space for grilling and relaxation
  • The lower level rooms were rearranged to provide a view to the back yard when going to the lower level
  • The additional lower level room became an exercise area which freed up existing space for a master suite
  • Consideration was given to integrating exterior and interior spaces which drove the landscape design

Of particular interest in this project, the initial budget for the new addition came in at over $225,000. APEX felt that this was an ‘over-investment’ for that property and engaged a real estate advisor who confirmed the potential over-investment and provide some guidance for the future resale value of the property. The advisor also made design recommendations that would increase their return on investment, which the client accepted. As a result, the floor plans for both levels were revised in accordance with the advisor’s recommendations, and the project budget was reduced by over $50,000.

APEX also delivered on its stated goals of Advanced Construction Solutions and Old World Craftsmanship with fastidious attention to detail at every step the project. The new spaces created by the addition far exceeded the functional and aesthetic expectations of the client. The client was extremely pleased with APEX and described the finished project as fitting them just perfectly in every way and are doing more entertaining with guests as a result.

This is another project that was highly successful because of active client participation from the initial design throughout the ongoing decision-making during the course of the project. As a result, APEX was able to improve their quality of life.

Changing Spaces for Changing Lives

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Our client had raised three children in their split level home of 30 years. The kids have now grown into adults and have moved out of the house so their lifestyle needs had changed. They were not happy with the typical main floor plan of that era which consisted of multiple small rooms connected together by long, dark hallways. They wanted a more open floor plan that would better allow them to entertain frequent guests and visits by family members. Their lifestyle changes drove the design objectives to create an integrated kitchen/dining space with a separate reading/media space that was also separated from the living room. An additional design objective was to replace several windows and doors for improved energy conservation. We were engaged and charged with changing their spaces for their changing lifestyles.

The Process… in order to understand and meet the design objectives effectively, we guided the client through several iterations of the design process before the construction was started. The stated design elements were identified and implemented as follows:
• Kitchen Upgrade: The kitchen was completely deconstructed and redesigned with a new floor plan. It was originally separated from the dining room by a wall, which was removed to create a much larger open space. A new floor plan, lighting, cabinets, countertops, appliances and flooring plus the creative combinations of materials, colors, and textures came together to create a beautiful new kitchen.
• Open Floor Plan: The under-utilized dining room was seamlessly integrated into the kitchen space by removing walls and creating a large open and inviting space with much more functionality that satisfies the needs of this client’s new lifestyle. Strong lighting design provided more than enough light for a full range of evening or nighttime activities.
• Increased Interior Privacy: The half bath and master suite were plainly visible in the old plan. The new plan effectively increased the privacy of those spaces with a minimum amount of cleverly placed walls that included an art alcove.
• Increased exterior privacy: The view from the road below into the house was effectively obstructed by the design and placement of the windows and kitchen cabinetry without compromising the amount of natural light entering the space.
• Improved View: The view down to the lake was dramatically improved by the placement of several high performance windows and a patio door along entire wall facing the lake. The lake is now visible from throughout the new space.
• Natural Light: Achieving this design objective exceeded everyone’s expectations! Numerous large high performance windows and a patio door allowed natural light to flood the combined spaces during the day.
The Challenge… the key challenge for this project was managing and balancing the conflicting design objectives of openness and privacy. In the client’s own words, we achieved this and exceeded all of the design objectives by 150% of their expectations.

In the client’s own words, they are 150% satisfied with how we met their design objectives. They felt that we provided a lot of great ideas and options along the way and remained flexible in accommodating the typical changes and unexpected challenges during their project. They liked how we developed a theme around their idea for arches and carried that theme throughout the project, including the arched windows in the new spaces. They were also happy that we opened up the front entryway and installed larger windows that flooded the living room with natural light. They also appreciated the superior craftsmanship and fastidious attention to detail that is evident throughout the project.

One of the reasons this project was so successful was the active involvement and participation of the client. This is a discriminating client who understood what quality and craftsmanship meant and who knew exactly what they wanted. With that guidance, we were able to exceed their needs and improve their quality of life at home. The client was so pleased with the functionality of their new open spaces that they invited our entire company over for dinner to celebrate their project completion!