Even Lucy is Refacing!

To be more accurate, the statue of Lucy is going to be refaced. The likeness of Lucille Ball, in her hometown of Celoron, New York, is so bad looking that the town has decided to have her refaced. The newspaper headlines vary, but my favorite is “Upstate Town Terrorized by Demon Lucy Statue”.  Thank goodness refacing is now considered an acceptable method of rejuvenating a scary, sad looking statue or kitchen.

            The mayor of Celoron, Scott Schrecengost, has chosen to reface Lucy, rather than replace her, because it is considerably less expensive to put a new face on a 400lb bronze statue than to replace it completely. And, it can be done much faster that starting a new statue from scratch. Interestingly these are the same reasons most people chose to reface their cabinets rather than replace them. It comes down to convenience and cost. With our hectic schedules, many people don’t want to have their lifestyles disrupted any longer than necessary. It’s hard enough getting everything done that we’re supposed to each day without having construction going on for several weeks. Refacing takes much less time than replacing a kitchen and is much less stressful than a total renovation.

And in most cases it’s usually more economical than a new kitchen. I say “usually more economical” because there are factors that can increase the costs of refacing. When you select thermofoil replacement fronts the cost is about 50% less than buying and installing new, all-wood cabinets. However, if you choose special shapes or wood fronts the savings begins to diminish. Another factor that can add to the expense of refacing is changing the layout of your kitchen. You realize the greatest saving when no alterations are made to the floor plan. If you intend on changing more than 10% of the cabinets in the kitchen it makes more sense to think about replacing all of them.

            The selection of replacement fronts has recently expanded exponentially. Now, Lucy’s new face could be anyone; Ethel, Marge, Wilma, or best of all, a pretty image of Lucy, as was originally intended. In your home, you can reface with real wood, choosing from maple, cherry, alder, birch, pine or exotic woods. If you want to go with laminate fronts there are close to a hundred colors to chose from, and now the laminates can be textured or hand-crafted with a glazed finish or Italian high gloss lacquer, just like real wood. Add to this all the modern internal conveniences that you find in new kitchen cabinets and refacing becomes a viable alternative.

Although, in the past, refacing used to conjure up a less-than-beautiful solution, where the material used to cover the cabinets and doors didn’t look real and would peel off in a few years. While this may have been true years ago, the materials and adhesives used for refacing today have improved dramatically. Most contractors who offer this service now replace the door and drawer fronts and cover the cabinet with the same material the new fronts are made of. Today, a custom refacing job, if done properly, looks just like a new kitchen and lasts just as long.

            If you’re terrorized because you’re living with a scary looking kitchen, like the folks in Celoron are of their statue, it might be time to consider this wonderful solution. Granted, it’s not for everyone, so it’s in your best interest to speak with a professional designer for their input, however, most kitchens will benefit from refacing. And considering Lucy was one of the most talented, beautiful and funny women in TV’s history, it is only right that her statue get a face-lift. If you find yourself upstate, stop by the Lucille Ball Memorial Park to visit with Lucy (after the work has been completed) and see what a difference a new face can make.

Remodeling Fever Delayed by Snow!

     Just when you thought the winter was over, we got another six inches of snow on the first day of spring! I think we all had enough because this unusual weather is delaying our seasonal compulsion of remodeling something in the spring. It could be a kitchen, a bath, even a closet or garage, it really doesn’t matter. Our species is predisposed to do something to our home when the weather starts to warm. Like the swallows returning from wherever they went, this need is not something to be ashamed of. We have very little control over it.

     If you are facing this uncontrollable remodeling urge, you will probably need some help. But don’t despair; you don’t have to do it alone. There are many qualified designers available to create a functional, as well as aesthetically pleasing, kitchen or bath to satisfy your desires. Look for a firm that is associated with the National Kitchen and Bath Association. This is the largest organization in the industry and it sets the standards for modern interior design. But don’t expect to get something for nothing, because you get what you pay for.

     Most trained and qualified designers charge for their initial work, however their charges and pricing structures vary greatly. I know of companies that charge anywhere from $100 to $1,000 or more, for this service. Usually, this sum can be applied towards the purchase of designs or cabinets, and I wouldn’t recommend contracting with a firm that did not adhere to that policy. After all, a good design takes a great deal of time, effort and creativity, so why should they give this away for free? However, if they’re willing to credit these charges towards a purchase, you’re not taking too big a risk.

     An argument could be made that if you don’t like the design and/or estimate you’ve wasted your money. I don’t entirely disagree with this, and that’s why I recommend finding a firm with a minimum initial design fee. This smaller expense certainly does not compensate the designer for all the time he must spend creating your dream kitchen, but it shows a commitment on your part, indicating that you are serious about the project.

Some firms have a staged design fee, which includes a minimum initial design charge. If after reviewing the design, you wish to pursue the project, they have a secondary fee (sometimes called a retainer) for additional work on the design or releasing the drawings to you. This seems to be an equitable compromise. The designer charges a minimal fee, confident that they will create an exciting design, within the budget that you specify. You get a chance to review the design and see how much the renovation will cost, before laying out a lot of money.

     At that point, assuming the design fits your budget, you have to ask yourself three questions. The first is, do you like the design? It doesn’t have to be perfect yet, but it must show promise, and you have to be convinced that it can be modified to your satisfaction. The second question is, do you like the company’s products? This includes the cabinets, countertops and other accessories. The final question is, do you trust the designer and his support staff? If the design or designer is not to your liking, or the cost is out of line, you have the option of ending the relationship without incurring additional costs.

     If you answer, “yes” to the three questions, you’re ready to move to the next step in a “staged design fee” program. If any of your answers were “no”, look for another firm that you are more comfortable with.

Once you find the right company to work with, a design you love, and a price that’s compatible with your budget, you can succumb to your impulses. Don’t feel guilty. Just as the swallows fly home, spring home improvement has been ingrained into our genes for a thousand years and it will remain that way for a long time to come.

Couple Mysteriously Disappears in the Kitchen Triangle

     Thankfully, the Kitchen Triangle is not the hazard that the Bermuda Triangle is thought to be, and headlines like this one are few and far between. However, a movement has arisen to make the kitchen triangle itself disappear, doing away with this traditional design tool that has guided us for so many years. In my profession, I find myself torn as my hero, Raymond Lowey (greatest industrial designer ever)*, said “never leave well enough alone”. So which is it? Is the kitchen triangle dead like these upstarts are claiming or has it moved to a new plane?

     Developed in the 1940’s the kitchen work triangle addressed the efficiency of the relationship of three areas of your kitchen; the cooking area, the preparation area and the food storage area. The cooking area refers to the cooktop, oven and/or range; the preparation area included the sink, and the storage area, where the refrigerator and dry storage are located. The plan was based on a single person (one person, not someone who is single) cooking in a 1940’s sized kitchen. Since then the size of kitchens has increased dramatically and, today, more people are helping prepare meals, whether they are single or married.

     If you struggled with 10^th grade geometry, this magical shape is the line connecting the stove, (cooking area), fridge (storage area), and sink (prep area), with each of these areas creating one of the points of the triangle. The basic rules were no leg of the triangle should be less than four feet or greater than nine feet and the sum of all three sides should be between 13 and 26 feet.

I recently attended a conference where they discussed the new “Kitchen Work Zone” theory, but when I realized that the work zones were the “cooking zone”, the “preparation zone”, and the “storage zone”, I began to zone out. It sounded suspiciously like new packaging for the old triangle - that they said was kaput!  Nevertheless, they did have a valid point regarding the size of new kitchens, which have grown over the years.

     In bigger kitchens (which will probably be outlawed by the current NYC mayor) you frequently are blessed with multiple cooking areas, additional preparation areas and a several areas of storage space. Does this mean we should abandon the triangle? Not at all. We just use multiples of them, keeping in mind that you want to avoid crossing the kitchen with hot pots and pans, making sure that the sink isn’t too far from the cooktop and that you have decent storage near (each of) your refrigerators.

     If more than one chef will be involved in the preparation of meals, then we need to utilize one triangle for each person. If they overlap, the two triangles will create a STAR! (You can try this at home with pen or pencil). In fact, I think I will give a lecture and call this concept the STAR kitchen design zones, just to confuse everyone.

      As usual, most design comes down to common sense. Once your designer has created a plan, review it carefully and make sure that the basics of the original triangle have been adhered to where possible and that nothing seems “out of whack!” If the fridge is 25 feet away from the sink, you’re going to be miserable, no matter how pretty the kitchen looks.

* Among a million other things, Raymond Lowey designed my favorite car, the Studebaker Avanti; my favorite locomotive, the GG-1; the interior of Skylab (back when we had a space program); the interior of the Concorde supersonic jet; the Coke bottle and their vending machines; the Shell and Exxon logos, etc. etc.

Counter(top) Intelligence

            Archeologists have found, even before recorded history, that people have had an area in their home devoted to food preparation. Traditionally referred to as “THE KITCHEN”, over the millennium this specialized subdivision of the household has developed from a simple work surface to the exciting kitchens of today. And, one of the most exciting parts of a new kitchen is the countertop.

The countertop, and its vertical counterpart, the backsplash, can add to your kitchen’s distinctive style, but choosing a material for the surface is not as easy as it was a thousand years ago. There are so many types of countertops available today that it can be very confusing when you decide to get a new one.

            Although certainly a factor, your kitchen’s work surface should not be chosen solely for its aesthetic value. When you’re ready for a new counter, find a contractor who will take the time to review your specific needs. What types of foods do you prepare? How much do you cook? Do you have kids? The answers to these questions will help determine the appropriate counter material for you.

The laminate counter, referred to by many as “Formica,” is the most economical of all the choices and, with proper care, can last twenty years. Easy to clean with good stain resistance, it does have limitations: you can’t cut on it and it will scorch if you place anything hot on the surface. Once a laminate top is damaged it is difficult or impossible to repair.

The most popular countertops today are those made out of stone, which, by the way, is just what the archeologists found in the kitchens of yesteryear. The most popular stone materials are granite, marble and the new tops made up of crushed quartz. Granite, the traditional standby, is considered by many as the most beautiful surface available because granite has movement! Movement is the suggestion of motion in the elements making up the finished surface. The swirls and patterns created by nature cannot be fully duplicated in a stone that is fabricated. If you exercise a little care with granite, you can avoid stains and scratches, and have a work surface that will last until the next batch of archeologists digs up your home. Granite should be sealed when it is installed and at least once a year afterwards to avoid staining.

Quartz, sold under the trade names of Cambria, Caesarstone, Silestone, etc. is the second most abundant mineral on earth, and is a basic component of granite. In a typical quartz countertop, the raw quartz is crushed and combined with pigments to give it color, and resins (sticky stuff) to hold it together. The resulting process creates one of the most durable countertop surfaces on the market today. It is harder than granite, more scratch and stain resistant, and non-porous. For the geologists who follow the K&B Insider, quartz ranks #7 on the Mohs hardness scale! Only diamonds, sapphires and topaz are harder. The cost of quartz and the average granite slab is comparable.

The newest offerings in countertops are the eco-friendly products such as PaperStone and Richlite. They are made from recycled paper and/or cardboard and come in several colors. IceStone is made from recycled glass (supposedly beer bottles), and Portland cement. These products are great for the environment, however, as with most “green” products, they are usually more expensive than their traditional counterpart.

            As with all decisions in upgrading your home, don’t rush in making your selection for the countertop.  Thoroughly investigate all the possibilities with your contractor and select a surface that is suited to your needs, as well as visually pleasing.

Professionals Admit Refacing Finally Acceptable!

It took over twenty-years, but finally refacing is being recognized by the kitchen and bath industry as a legitimate remodeling solution for the consumer. In the January issue of Professional Remodeler magazine, for the first time ever, refacing is not only mentioned, but included as the fourth item in their list of “Kitchen and Bath Design Trends for 2014”.

So what made the kitchen industry leaders finally accept this alternative remodeling technique? Apparently, so many people are choosing to reface, rather than replace their cabinets, they didn’t have much choice. Especially since the results are not only beautiful, but with additional accessories, rival the functionality of an all new kitchen. The process couldn’t just be ignored any more.

            Granted, in the past, refacing, (or resurfacing as it is also called), used to conjure up a less-than-beautiful kitchen, where the material covering the cabinets and doors didn’t look real and would peel off in a few years. While this may have been true 20 years ago the materials and adhesives used for refacing have improved dramatically. Most contractors who offer this service now replace the door and drawer fronts and cover the cabinet with the same material the new fronts are made of. Today, a custom refacing job, if done properly, looks just like a new kitchen and lasts just as long.

            The selection of replacement fronts has expanded exponentially over the past few years. You can now get real wood, and select from maple, cherry, alder, birch, pine and exotic woods. If you want to go with laminate fronts there are close to a hundred colors to chose from, and now the laminates can be hand-crafted with a glazed finish or Italian high gloss lacquer, just like real wood. Add to this all the modern internal conveniences that you find in new kitchen cabinets and refacing becomes a viable alternative.

            Over the past twenty-years, I’ve found that the two most popular reasons for refacing cabinets, rather than replacing them, are convenience and cost. With our hectic schedules, many people don’t want to have their lifestyles disrupted any longer than necessary. It’s hard enough getting everything done that we’re supposed to each day without having construction going on for several weeks. Refacing takes much less time than replacing a kitchen and is much less stressful than a total renovation.

And in most cases it’s usually much more economical than a new kitchen. I say “usually much more economical” because there are factors that can increase the costs of refacing. When you select thermofoil replacement fronts the cost is about 50% less than buying and installing new, all-wood cabinets. However, if you choose special shapes or wood fronts the savings begins to diminish. Another factor that can add to the expense of refacing is changing the layout of your kitchen. You realize the greatest saving when no alterations are made to the floor plan. If you intend on changing more than 10% of the cabinets in the kitchen it makes more sense to think about replacing all of them.

            If you are thinking about renovating your kitchen, bath or wall unit, it certainly would be worthwhile to investigate all the possibilities. Especially now that the taboo associated with refacing has been lifted, it’s a good idea to visit showrooms that offer both new cabinets and refacing. And, with the wide range of replacement fronts available you may be pleasantly surprised.

Government to Limit Size of Kitchens!

If you’ve been following the news in The City you’re probably aware that the mayor has proposed a ban on jumbo-sized sodas and sugary drinks. Officials from his Board of Health are now talking about banning large servings of popcorn, all in an effort to end obesity. I’m all for ending corpulence, but does anyone think that this will really work? The legislation allows for refills on the sodas and does not prohibit anyone from buying a second bag of popcorn. (And, the only reason I go to the movies is to buy the wonderfully disgusting, artificial butter-type substance that I try to get on every single kernel of my extra-large popcorn).
If the authorities are allowed to regulate the size of our sodas and popcorns, what’s next in their bag of tricks to reduce the girth of size-challenged people? I can only image that the appropriate committee will decide that large refrigerators must be made illegal because they can be used to store large amounts of sugary drinks. A ban on large pantry cabinets would logically follow next, because, God forbid, you could put large boxes of sugary cereal in them. Clearly, large kitchens themselves would be on the agenda, because if you only have a small kitchen it would encourage people to be smaller so they would have more room to move around.
Of course, this is all nonsense because people should be allowed to purchase food in the quantities that they want and certainly, they should be allowed to have any size kitchens. However, if you don’t have a large kitchen, you can make your size-challenged one look and feel larger by following a couple of design tricks.
If you’re working with a small space the first impulse is to use wall cabinets that extend to the ceiling. While this will add an extra shelf in each cabinet it will also close in the room, making it appear smaller. If you have 96” ceilings, stick with standard 30” or 36” high wall cabinets, but order an extra shelf for each one. In most kitchens, cabinets are not used to their maximum potential due to a lack of shelving. Frequently an extra shelf in a standard height cabinet can increase its useful capacity by about 20% and by leaving a little space open at the top of the cabinets it makes an “airier” look. You can store some decorative cookware there.
Consider adding open shelving between some of the wall cabinets. Although this will not actually increase your storage capacity, this technique will help to make the kitchen look larger.Keep all the cabinets level with each other rather than jogging them up and down. By keeping the cabinets level, including open shelving and leaving the soffit open, it draws your eye horizontally instead of vertically, making the space appear larger.
The best way to maximize storage space in any size kitchen is with accessories like lazy-Susans, roll-out trays and tilt drawers. Corners are almost impossible to avoid in some kitchen designs and if you have a corner the best way to deal with it is to install lazy-Susans in the corner cabinets. Although they are not 100% efficient, (you loose some space on the sides), it makes everything much easier to reach. And you can also add an additional shelf to a lazy-Susan or adjust the bottom shelf up several inches to allow you to use the base of the cabinet as an additional shelf. Avoid blind-corner cabinets at all costs! Those are those horrible cabinets, which are jammed into corners to fill up space. If there is no way to avoid having a blind-corner base cabinet insist on ½ moon shelves, which make it the space more accessible.
Roll-out trays enable you to pull out all the items in a base cabinet so that they are easily reachable without having to dig around in the back for something you lost several years ago! It’s also a lot easier on your back because you don’t have to bend down so far to retrieve pots and pans.           If you presently have a small kitchen, or the government regulates that you cannot have a large one, by manipulating some design elements and maximizing the internal space, your undersized kitchen can feel and act much bigger than you ever thought possible. And you can hide the Frosted Flakes in your bedroom.

Nothing Will Come of Nothing

The warmest winter on record is over, and now many people’s thoughts are turning towards the traditional, yearly ritual of home improvement. And, of those contemplating this seasonal compulsion, many are focusing on their kitchen or bathroom. Like the swallows returning from wherever they went, this need is not something to be ashamed of, our species simply has no control over it.

If you are facing this uncontrollable urge to remodel, you’ll probably need some help. But don’t despair, you don’t have to do it alone. There are many qualified designers available to create a functional, as well as aesthetically pleasing, kitchen/bath to satisfy your desires. Look for a firm that is associated with the National Kitchen and Bath Association. This is the largest organization in the industry and it sets the standards for kitchen/bath design. But don’t expect to get something for nothing because, (if I remember my Shakespeare), “nothing will come of nothing”.

Most successful kitchen designers charge for their initial work, however their charges and pricing structures vary greatly. I know of companies that charge anywhere from $100 to $1,000 or more, for this service. Usually, this sum can be applied towards the purchase of cabinets and I wouldn’t recommend contracting with a firm that did not adhere to that policy. After all, a good design takes a great deal of time, effort and creativity, so why should they give this away for free?

An argument could be made that if you don’t like the design and/or estimate you’ve wasted your money. I don’t entirely disagree with this, and that’s why I recommend finding a firm with a minimum initial design fee. This smaller expense certainly does not compensate the designer for all the time he must spend creating your dream kitchen, but it shows a commitment on your part, indicating that you are serious about the project.

Some firms have a staged design fee, which includes a minimum initial design charge. If after reviewing the design, you wish to pursue the project, they have a secondary fee (sometimes called a retainer) for additional work on the design or releasing the drawings to you. This seems to be an equitable compromise. The designer charges a minimal fee, confident that they will create an exciting design, within the budget that you specify. You get a chance to review the design and see how much the renovation will cost, before laying out a lot of money.

At that point, assuming the design fits your budget, you have to ask yourself three questions. The first is, do you like the design? It doesn’t have to be perfect yet, but it must show promise, and you have to be convinced that it can be modified to your satisfaction. The second question is, do you like the company’s products? This includes the cabinets, countertops and accessories. The final question is, do you trust the designer and his support staff? If the design or designer is not to your liking, or the cost is out of line, you have the option of ending the relationship without incurring additional costs.

If you answer “yes” to the three questions, you’re ready to move to the next step in a “staged design fee” program. If any of your answers were “no”; look for another firm.

Once you find the right company to work with, and a design you love, at a price you’re comfortable with, you’re ready to proceed to the next step, which I’ll cover in an upcoming article.