Note: This is the second posts of a three-part series. Please find the first post here: Kitchen Remodel: A Top to Bottom Country Makeover : Part I

Although it might be difficult see, we added close to 5 feet of width to the kitchen. Clearly this was a lot of space to work with and we took advantage of that. We completely re-worked the placement of the appliances and made the space and efficiency of the kitchen vastly improve. Along with changing the appliances, we added an island with bar seating and elongated the nook changing the flow of the kitchen from being not very inviting to an area where people feel welcomed and most importantly comfortable.

Floor Plans: Before/After

In the progression of things we now were ready to remove the old support beam for the original small opening and put in a larger and longer beam to carry the larger opening and its roof load. To remove the old beam we had to support the ceiling/floor joist carrying the upper floor and the main roof load by building temporary support walls on each side of the beam. To get the old beam out we had to jack up both temporary walls to take off the roof load pressure so we could remove the old beam and then install the longer new beam.  It was unbelievable how much more open the home felt with this larger opening from the kitchen to the family room.

On January 2, 2012 we resumed the remodel job in Laurel Springs.  The holidays were over and the kids were back in school.  Phase two entails a complete remodel of the kitchen, creating a larger opening between the family room and the kitchen, exchanging the swinging door into the utility room with a space saving pocket door, adding hardwood floor to the dining and living room, and removing wallpaper in the dining, living room and entry.

As in any remodel, Kaufman Homes schedules the job for maximum time efficiency and always considers the Customers disrupted lifestyle.  Our highly skilled workers have the ability to do almost any job in a remodel except electrical plumbing and heating and they are very good at being polite and considerate of the Customer.  It is always our priority to finish the remodel as quick as possible to get the family’s life back to normal.  Kaufman Homes knows that if we take to long to do a remodel we quickly wear out our welcome.

In Salem, as well as most parts of Western Oregon, our weather is usually mild enough to allow certain remodeling projects and custom homes throughout the Fall and Winter without serious problems. In past years, Kaufman homes have begun many various size new homes, remodels and additions in October and November without significant problems. Ideally, if you can get the shell of the structure up and “dried-in” before mid-October, the remaining exterior work can dodge the storms, and the interior work can proceed unimpeded. If the roof must be removed, it is often easier to protect the house from snow than from Spring rains, since snow can be removed before melting.

When you start a Remodel or Custom Home is CRITICAL

Timing, however, is crucial. If a surprise storm brings a foot of wet snow or a week of sub-zero temperatures just after the basement or crawl space is excavated, you may incur costly delays or remedies in order to form and pour the foundation. On the other hand, the same storm an hour after the foundation is poured may be nothing more than a minor inconvenience.

As baby boomer aging has become more real, Kaufman Homes has become more aware of what should be done to make a custom home a place to age comfortably. Whether your goal is to build a custom home or remodel an existing home, we can enable you to live out the rest of your years without having to seek suitable accommodations.  We also know that even if you are young now you will get older, you develop physical problems which may limit mobility or friends and family may come to your home and have mobility issues.

Single story homes have always been easier to age in place, but at least if you have a two story make sure there is a master bedroom on the main floor.  Consider a home without steps, no sunken living areas; tri-levels are an issue, keep driveways to a minimum of grade for ease of driving up and ease of walking not to mention ice.

Don’t be moved by age. According to the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), older homeowners overwhelmingly prefer to age-in-place, meaning to live at home safely, independently and comfortably.

When Kaufman Homes was developingThe Villas at Illahe Hills an issue that we had to overcome was the sound of trains that were present behind the homes. Whenbuilding a custom home or remodeling your house choosing the right windows and insulation can not only dampen sound but also increase energy efficiency. You have to take into consideration the site and the surroundings. Just like when you selected the land that you were going to build your custom home, selecting windows or even types of windows in various areas of the house is very important.

Back to the Villas, we took this process very seriously. After much research, talking to sound consultants, window manufacturers and insulation providers, we came up with two very successful solutions. Item # 3 on the list below cut down window noise tremendously. That along with doing blown in blanket insulation instead of traditional batt insulation, almost completely eliminated those two noises. Current homeowners at the Villas” will attest to this.

I know many of you want to do some updating of your home but are afraid you will have to spend a lot of money! Many of these items can be done by you if you have the time and are handy with tools, paint brush and etc. Some items are beyond the scope of what many of us can do so we must rely on professionals. A good way to work with costs is to set a plan of action and prioritize your list to do the most needed things first and on down the list as you can afford. Understand that you still may have to live in the house as you are doing these things, so do not let the process drag out to long and disrupt your daily lives to much. Time factor may be a reason to have a company like Kaufman Homes who can do the job in phases and always does the job as quickly as possible with a minimum of living disruption.

Door knobs and hinges, cabinet knobs, plumbing faucets and hanging light fixtures.

10-15 years gold finishes were the trend with gold faucets, gold cabinet knobs and gold door knobs. While gold is nice, when new it proved to be trendy and was not as durable as other finishes. The new trends which seemed to be more durable and timeless are chrome, nickel, brushed nickel or bronze.