Annemarie Diaz
Development & Engagement
TRS Build
Happy Returns! A New Kitchen for An Old Friend
Annemarie Diaz • September 23, 2021
We are always honored to have past clients call us back for additional work on their home. Early this year, we received a phone call from a client who remembered us with gratitude.
The family was looking for an upgrade, focusing on the kitchen but bringing in the butler pantry, new flooring and a new mantle to match the updated style of the home, and removing a column between the kitchen and living space. We were excited to bring in the team to get started working with them on some design options including a new configuration for the island and butler pantry, and eventually also landing on enclosing the front den to provide for a much needed versatile home office area.
With new cabinetry, a new island, and flooring, the kitchen would be entirely new. Not only aesthetics comes into consideration when a family is looking to remodel. We take into consideration the walking space, sink/dishwasher location, and light sources as an important part of the design process. These details will all play a huge part into the new functionality of the new kitchen.
Their current island was crescent shaped, technically a peninsula attached to the unwanted column. The new design seemed simple; yet highly functional. Rectangular in shape, turning it slightly to face the windows. The family had mentioned their appreciation of the greenbelt outside, blending with their backyard. Along with a love for their neighbors and community, the proximity to the beautiful green Austin space kept this family invested in this house. We looked for ways to incorporate what they already loved into their new kitchen design, and made sure it would work for their lifestyle.
Demo-ing the wall and the peninsula meant they would lose some cabinet space. We recommended the use of drawers for lower cabinets, an efficient use of storage with ease of access. For the uppers, ceiling height cabinets provide some extra space to store seasonal items, and a deep cabinet above the fridge is always useful. Another feature included the microwave placement, formerly above the stove, now under the countertop, flushed with the lower cabinets and easily accessible to heat a quick meal for the kids, and nicely incorporated to make way for the popular modern kitchen hood.
Many clients ponder what to do with their pantry. Removing it is not an idea many are comfortable with, however ,many options are available to keep the functionality with an updated look. For this family we suggested squaring off the back walls and adding pantry cabinets with roll-out shelves combined with open shelving for a beautiful modern look without sacrificing storage space. After seeing some photos of previous kitchens along with a beautiful rendering of what theirs could look like, they didn’t hesitate. This new kitchen was being tailored to their needs and wants, and we were excited to see it all come together
The family was also in much need of a new door to the office for the man of the house, and added a complete wall to enclose an open office space for the woman of the house as well! They both were ready to have private offices with working doors, especially needed in this new normal of WFH (working from home) while having a big family. They were ready to increase both their productivity and relaxation in their own homes.
After deciding on all the features of the remodel, it was now time to choose colors, and finishes for the new kitchen. The goal was open, clean, and light. After visiting the cabinet and countertop showroom together, our client explored different colors and materials and finally settled with light gray cabinets, white countertop. After seeing a few design renderings, they agreed on a backsplash that would make the kitchen even more beautiful, a dark grey glass arabesque - absolutely gorgeous!
While many of our clients choose to live in the home while undergoing remodeling, we generally recommend fitting in a vacation or visit to family at some point in the process, or even consider renting another place when a major part of their home is under construction. This is one of the optics covered in our Pre-Construction meeting, the focus of last month’s blog.
And onto construction!
A key feature of this project is the removal of a column and addition of a structural beam designed by a licensed engineer.
This family had recently purchased new appliances therefore they were not interested in changing for new - which helped us to get started quickly on construction. If you are looking to do a kitchen remodel and interested in new appliances we suggest to start looking for those sooner rather than later as long lead times can delay the arrival of these items. Delays for material and installation continue to occur due to many issues including container shipment delays and supplier labor issues due to the global pandemic. While there are a few solutions we come up with when surprises arise, once construction begins it is best to either have most items on site or firm delivery dates for arrival. A “typical” kitchen remodel can take from 2-3 months, having materials on site and/or available is essential to keep the work on schedule.
Finally, the chimney also saw a fantastic improvement. The tile was redone, mantle and it creates that final touch the first floor needed for the whole house to look really fresh and modern. We love the tile selections the family picked. They are ready for a new school year, season of working from home, and spending time together.
Thank you Melanie and family for your amazing warmth, communication with our team, and being a great partner with us. We appreciate you trusting us with your home. We wish you many more special memories in your home with friends and family!
At TRS Build , we believe having good processes in place is essential to support efficient and smooth project delivery, from initial project development through design and construction. That is why we take great pride in our Design-Build process, ensuring every project we take on in Austin , Georgetown , and surrounding areas is completed with the utmost care and attention to detail. From the initial design consultation to the final walk-through, our goal is to provide a seamless and rewarding experience for our clients while delivering outstanding results. If you’re considering a home remodel , home addition , or custom home in Austin , understanding the process can help you feel confident in your decision to move ahead with a home remodel or construction. In this blog post, we’ll take you through the step-by-step process of working with TRS Build from design to completion, giving you insight into what makes our approach unique and why it’s trusted by homeowners throughout the Austin area.
The home foundation - one of the unsung heroes of new construction! It lacks the natural beauty of a hardwood ceiling, the refined finish of fine tile, the sparkle of a new quartz counter. It has its brief but fabulous moment as the star of the show when first breaking ground, then is soon covered by beautiful things that will carry all of the attention and applause. A good foundation's raison d'etre is to be forgotten below the beauty and never thought of again. But as builders we know, that massive block of cement (or collection of piers and beams) is one of the most crucial components of a new home or home addition, and deserves consideration as well for a major home remodel. When embarking on any home project, a key player in the final product that cannot be overlooked is the foundation. At TRS Build , we understand that a strong foundation is, literally ... the cornerstone of every successful new build and home addition. Whether you’re adding a room to your home, undertaking a complete remodel, or building from the ground up, the foundation ensures the long-term stability and durability of your entire project. In this blog post, we’ll explain why stability and durability begin with a solid foundation, and how we make sure the foundation of every TRS Build project is done right.
My husband (who is also my business partner, apparently we truly can’t get enough of each other!) frequently says that we will become like the five people we spend the most time with, that we are shaped by the environment we choose to immerse ourselves in, and more importantly, the people in that environment. I think the same is true of our companies. That is why at TRS Build we choose to surround ourselves with fellow members of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) . I was reminded of that this month during our Austin NARI Builder and Developer Roundtable meeting where I had the opportunity to engage with like-minded business owners, exchange ideas on what is working best to deliver to our clients, employees, and tradespeople, and I could personally share from our SERVICE value focus and the importance of trust and remaining trustworthy to our clients and team. We choose to spend time with other NARI members because they run reputable businesses, provide amazing results, and like ourselves, invest in knowing other reputable contractors and finding opportunities for us to learn from one another. Each of our companies is different in our value proposition and project focus, but we are all the same in our drive to raise the bar on customer experience and affirm the trust we have established over years or even decades of delivering to homeowners in and around Austin.
