For those of us that remember Grandma's house, let's take a stroll down Memory Lane. Think back to her kitchen cabinets... What do you see? Well, of course, the answer will be different for all of us, but, surprisingly, if you polled a certain number of people, the ratio of painted to un-painted cabinets would be about 50% either way.
Today, the trend in kitchen remodeling, especially in the San Diego remodeling scene, actually comes out to the same ratio when it comes to painted or stain grade kitchen cabinets. Even though many of our client seem to believe that most cabinets are specified to be natural or stain-grade, we remodel contractors also know that go through long periods where painted cabinet are en vogue. Additionally, as stain grade cabinets age, the easiest and least expensive way to go about making them look new again is...yes, to paint them.
Another trend in the local San Diego remodeling industry is to mix and match. In the last year or so, in kitchen remodels throughout San Diego County, we have done many kitchens where the islands are painted and the upper cabinets are stained, or vice versa, or any combination that can be thought of.
From painted to unpainted, two tone to monotone, the rule of thumb in design and remodeling in as chic a locale as San Diego is that sometimes there is no rule of thumb! Check with yiour local San Diego remodeling contractor or design/build contractor to see what the latest fashions and trends are in custom kitchen remodeling.
From painting to custom tile on your custom remodel project, use our vast experience to enhance your home by calling Sheen Fischer at (760) 738-6270 or emailing sheen@specialtyhomeimprovement.com.
Whether or not to share your remodeling budget is a sticky subject, assuming you have set a firm budget (which you should have) by the time you are ready to accept bids.
The first thought that most people have is that if they tell potential remodeling contractors their budget, the contractors will most likely find a way to use up every penny…and then some. On the other hand, most remodeling contractors are so used to being stonewalled when asking the budget question, they may not even bother to ask.
One Contractor's Opinion...
My opinion is this – you should be concerned if a potential remodeling contractor doesn’t ask about your project budget. Project budgets can range from very low to very high, depending on the quality of fixtures, workmanship and detail requested by the client. Most reputable remodel contractors know that without at least having a basic budget to shoot for, it is impossible to bid a project properly.
What’s the Range?
For this reason, it is wise for you to at least share a budget range with potential contractors. If, for instance, you are planning a guest bath remodel and know that you would like to spend a total of $15,000 to $20,000 for the entire project – that is the number you should share with the contractors bidding on your project. On the other hand, if you have $60,000 to spend on your custom kitchen remodel project, let your contractor know that, too.
The Bottom Line
Here’s the bottom line… most good contractors can do a bathroom remodel project from somewhere in the $3,000 - $5,000 range all the way up to the $100,000 range. If you don’t let them know what your budget expectations are, bids may come in all over the place.
The most common complaint I hear from potential clients is that they received bids that are all over the map. The first question I ask is whether or not they shared their budget up front. Without doing so, it is impossible to get apples-to-apples bids from multiple companies.
Look at it this way, If you walk onto a car lot and simply say, “I want to buy a car” without sharing your budget with the salesperson, what keeps them from showing you the most expensive cars? Now, it may be that you can afford and want the most expensive car. If that’s the case, then you don’t want to waste your time looking at the cheapos.
Have Some Reserve
See what I’m getting at here? Leave a little bit of your budget in reserve. Do a little shopping for fixtures, appliances and cabinets prior to meeting with potential remodelers. Understand your project and budget and make sure to give this information to potential contractors so they and provide accurate bids. It will save you time, money and give you an opportunity to choose your contractor based on the scopes of work and the contractor’s reputation and experience instead of deciding who to hire solely on the basis of price.
As in every relationship, the most important factor in a San Diego Remodeling project is trust. And it is not just that the client should trust the contractor...the trust needs to be a two way street.
Both the client and the San Diego remodel contractor should start forming the basis for a trusting relationship very early in the process of planning the project. By checking references and licensing, the client can ensure that they are working with a contractor that has a reputation of performing and completing his projects in a manner that meets with their expectations.
Many San Diego remodeling contractors I know also take care to check out their potential clients. From Google search to websites like Linkedin and Facebook, there is a wealth of information available now about the people who we will be doing business with.
Why is it important that this strong sense of trust be developed?
Too often, while riding the emotional roller coaster that remodeling a home can be, if a firm basis of trust was not established, then the project can fall apart. Accusations of mis-deeds can fly from both sides as well as bad feelings being fermented.
A remodeling project is tough enough when everyone is on the same page and getting along...walls torn down, pipes and cables hanging, holes in the floor and a crew showing up at 7:00 a.m. in the morning, every morning to make more noise and dust - without a firm sense of trust established, this can be a recipe for disaster.
Each day of a remodeling project, whether it be a San Diego kitchen remodel, San Diego bathroom remodel or a San Diego room addition can bring to light new unanticipated issues that need to be discussed and figured out and this can only be achieved with a clear and stable line of communication.
Check out your San Diego remodeling contractor, make sure up front he (or she) is the right person for your project and try to remember that at 4:00 in the morning when you're in the middle of creating your dream remodel!
We will lose the sleep so you don't have to - receive award winning customer service on your custom San Diego remodel project by calling Sheen Fischer at (760) 738-6270 or emailing sheen@specialtyhomeimprovement.com.
Take a quick look at your kitchen cabinets. What do you notice? If you're seeing what most people see, it's mostly doors. Think about what kitchen cabinets in the San Diego remodeling scene and the rest of the world are - basically a box, mostly unfinished on all sides except the face, with a door attached.
And, with the trend for the last decade or so being "full overlay" or "Euro-style" cabinets and doors, on many new kitchens, the doors will be the only thing you will see on the exterior of your kitchen cabinets.
With this said, you would think that cabinet manufacturers would be pushing the envelope to develop new cabinet door styles and profiles to meet the whims and wishes of San Diego remodeling clients - a sophisticated lot always looking for the newest in design and remodeling options.
Not so. In general when it comes to cabinet doors, there are really 3 basic styles: slab, recessed panel and raised panel. Within these three basic styles, different trim options, mouldings or other applications are used to create different looks. By using these various options when designing kitchen cabinet doors, literally an infinite number of styles would be available.
However, as with anything, unlimited choice often leads to unlimited confusion. And, generally speaking, most of the really cool and popular door styles have already been designed. Interestingly, we find that often when our clients are agonizing over their final selection for their door style in their San Diego kitchen remodel, the difference is either a very big one or a very small one.
In other words, our clients may be torn between a shaker style door (which is transitional and, depending on the pull hardware used can be either traditional, contemporary or anywhere in between) and a raised panel door - or, they may be unsure as to whether they want that extra line of detail on the inner edge of their recessed panel door... or not.
Leaning on an experienced San Diego kitchen remodeling contractor or kitchen designer should help to clear up this confusion and get your project moving forward. There's nothing worse than having your San Diego kitchen remodeling project unable to get through the doors...pun intended!
Take away all the confusion and leverage our extensive experience in San Diego kitchen remodeling by calling Sheen Fischer at (760) 738-6270 or email sheen@specialtyhomeimprovement.com.
I found it interesting recently while chatting with a new acquaintance in a sushi bar my wife and I happened across in San Diego that, after describing what I do as a local San Diego remodeling contractor and how passionate I am about it, my new acquaintance commented, "It's your art!"
Wow, it's so nice to hear someone else say that! I've often self described what I do as my art, but I have to be careful who I say it to. Many people see the construction side of custom remodeling in San Diego as a dusty, noisy, inconvenient nuisance - especially, after days, weeks or even months of having their home torn apart.
Yes, construction and remodeling in San Diego is all of the above, but it also culminates in beautiful living spaces, artfully and even delicately designed that will last our client a lifetime. It takes vision, management skills and a willingness to take risks with new processes and techniques in order to keep up with the ever evolving interior design challenges and requirements of San Diego's sophisticated remodeling community.
Imagine Michelangelo on scaffolding laying on his back painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel for months and years on end. Was he a painter? Well, yes he was. But he was painting something that has lasted for centuries and has come to be known as some of the finest art the world has ever seen.
So, next time you're thinking about your custom San Diego home remodeling project, San Diego Kitchen Remodel or San Diego Bathroom remodel and which San Diego remodeling contractor you may hire - look around for the one who isn't just a builder, but an artist, too!
To see our art in your home, call Sheen Fischer at (760) 738-6270 or email sheen@specialtyhomeimprovement.com.
Whether or not to share your remodeling budget with your San Diego home remodeling contractor is a sticky subject, assuming you have set a firm budget (which you should have) by the time you are ready to accept bids.
The first thought that most people have is that if they tell potential San Diego remodeling contractor their budget, the contractors will most likely find a way to use up every penny…and then some. On the other hand, most remodeling contractors in San Diego are so used to being stonewalled when asking the budget question, they may not even bother to ask.
One Contractor's Opinion...
My opinion is this – you should be concerned if a potential San Diego remodeling contractor doesn’t ask about your project budget. Project budgets can range from very low to very high, depending on the quality of fixtures, workmanship and detail requested by the client. Most reputable remodel contractors know that without at least having a basic budget to shoot for, it is impossible to bid a project properly.
What’s the Range?
For this reason, it is wise for you to at least share a budget range with potential remodel contractors. If, for instance, you are planning a San Diego bathroom remodel on your guest bathroom and know that you would like to spend a total of $15,000 to $20,000 for the entire project – that is the number you should share with the remodeling contractors bidding on your project. On the other hand, if you have $60,000 to $80,000 for your dream San Diego kitchen remodel, let your prospective contractors know that as well.
The Bottom Line
Here’s the bottom line… most good San Diego remodeling contractors can do a bathroom remodel project from somewhere in the $3,000 - $5,000 range all the way up to the $100,000 range. If you don’t let them know what your budget expectations are, bids may come in all over the place.
The most common complaint I hear from potential clients is that they received bids that are all over the map. The first question I ask is whether or not they shared their budget up front. Without doing so, it is impossible to get apples-to-apples bids from multiple companies.
Look at it this way, If you walk onto a car lot and simply say, “I want to buy a car” without sharing your budget with the salesperson, what keeps them from showing you the most expensive cars? Now, it may be that you can afford and want the most expensive car. If that’s the case, then you don’t want to waste your time looking at the cheapos.
Have Some Reserve
See what I’m getting at here? Leave a little bit of your budget in reserve. Do a little shopping for fixtures, appliances and cabinets prior to meeting with potential remodelers. Understand your project and budget and make sure to give this information to potential contractors so they and provide accurate bids. It will save you time, money and give you an opportunity to choose your San Diego remodel contractor based on the scopes of work and contractor’s reputation and experience instead of deciding who to hire solely on the basis of price.
For the best value on any budget, give me a all at (760) 738-6270. Or, email sheenfischer@specialtyhomeimprovement.com to take advantage of our free in-home consultations to start moving forward with your dream home improvement project.
One of the benefits of living in a big and vibrant city like San Diego (or in any of the many cities surrounding San Diego) is that it has a style all its own. Personally, I think it’s important to understand the style and architectural flavor of the area where you live…as well as what’s going on so you can join in!
That’s why I took some time and put together a list of the top San Diego home and lifestyle magazines for this post. All of these magazines have an online presence, so you don’t even need to buy a subscription to get the benefit of some of their articles or to get ideas for your new San Diego remodeling projects on your own castle.
San Diego Home/Garden Lifestyles
This magazine is a favorite of San Diego remodeling contractors, interior designers, architects and landscapers, because it regularly highlights some of the most beautiful homes throughout San Diego and San Diego County. Their glossy spreads are also perfect brainstorming material for anyone looking to remodel or redecorate their own kitchen, bathroom or home.
For example, if you know you want your San Diego kitchen remodel performed but are having trouble visualizing the outcome, go to the magazine’s website www.sandiegohomegarden.com, and check out all the amazing resources they have under the “Home Design” section in their menu. You’ll be able to see before and after pictures, check out an entire section for kitchens and baths, read expert advice articles and swim through the magazine’s vast archives. There’s no way you won’t come back up with a ton of great ideas.
San Diego Magazine
San Diego Magazine is a go-to magazine for all things San Diego. The content is varied, but provides a strong overview of the many different communities, interests and events that make up life in San Diego. San Diego Magazine is a great resource to learn about new restaurants and events and keep up on the local trends that affect San Diegans.
San Diego Magazine also includes a home section with articles and advice on all aspects of the home. They occasionally feature home spreads and discuss relevant San Diego remodeling topics, so if you already have a subscription, don’t forget to flip through for some possible remodeling ideas that are best suited for the San Diego area. For those without a subscription, the magazine has plenty of archives online.
Riviera, San Diego
Riviera, San Diego is published under the Modern Luxury imprint, and is a high-end lifestyle magazine catering to San Diegans who like to hang out in the top tax brackets. The content of the magazine varies, but includes San Diego architectural and luxury home commentary. It also offers portraits of different cities in San Diego, which can be helpful to those who are considering moving or remodeling in San Diego or those who are searching for a new home somewhere local. Other content covers local events, restaurants and hotspots.
Pacific, San Diego
Pacific is a free magazine about all things San Diego. You won’t necessarily get San Diego kitchen remodeling ideas here, but you’ll get a great flavor of the city, including upcoming events, great restaurants, local people and organizations doing cool things, and more. If you live in San Diego, Pacific can be a great resource to get a more in-depth picture of what’s going on in your city.
So there you have it. Any of these four magazines will keep you in touch with San Diego culture and some of the best San Diego Interior Design and Remodeling trends and tips. Check them out if you have the time. If you like the content, consider buying a subscription to support local media.
To take advantage of the wealth of knowledge we have here at Specialty Home Improvement as well, call me, Sheen Fischer at 760-738-6270 or email sheenfischer@specialtyhomeimprovement.com.
There's something about a San Diego kitchen remodel that always comes down to one important element... the backsplash!
Ironically, enough, the backsplash is usually the last element to be installed during a kitchen remodeling project. It is also the thing that most kitchen remodeling clients agonize over more than any other decision on their kitchen project.
There are tons of choices for backsplashes in a kitchen remodel. From the 4" - 6" standard granite or solid surface backsplash to the myriad tile sizes, shapes, patterns, colors, designs and deco pieces - the backsplash decision can simply be overwhelming.
Keep in mind during the design phases of your kitchen remodeling project that your top level
San Diego remodeling contractors should have alot of resources to help with this decision. From interior designers to hands on experience with many different materials and products, most San Diego remodel contractors can "ease the pain" of this difficult decision.
It is also okay to wait until the project gets nearer to completion before selecting your backsplash. By waiting until later in the build, you can start to see what your cabinets, granite, appliances and paint are going to look like together. Often the backsplash can be the unifying theme that gives a kitchen its cohesiveness - making a nice kitchen remodel into a stunning major home improvement!
Utilize our ability and experience in designing and managing all phases of custom remodel projects in San Diego by calling Sheen Fischer at (760) 738-6270 or emailing sheen@specialtyhomeimprovement.com.
Recently, we performed a large entire house remodel in San Diego. The remodel was located in Mission Beach and was on a 1940's built home which had been added on to. As a result, there were alot of "legacy" repair issues that included electrical, plumbing, structural and a host of others that needed to be addressed as part of this large remodel project.
As one of San Diego's top Design/Build Remodel Contractors, we kept budget in mind during the design phase of this project. While there were a lot of things that just needed to go, we identified early in the design phase of this San Diego remodeling project that the existing 80+ year old floors might be a place that we could not only enhance the natural charm of this home, but also save some money.
Our first step was to have a DNA test performed on the floor to find out if it was white oak or red oak. This was important, as the the two types of oak will take a stain differenly and can come out looking differently if it is not matched properly.
During the remodel phase of this home improvement project, we saved all of the original floor. In attached areas where we had to remove the flooring, we then "laced" in new red oak planks to match the original.
A good sand and finish on the floor with a stain that the owner picked out ensured that this new "old" floor beautifully enhanced the overall feel and design of this beach front San Diego remodeling project while resulting in a substantial savings to the owner.
Take advantage of our extensive experience in all phases of custom home remodeling in San Diego, call Sheen Fischer at (760) 738-6270 or email sheen@specialtyhomeimprovement.com.
It’s actually really easy to find a San Diego Home Improvement contractor in North County. All you have to do is Google “remodeler or remodel contractor [your city in North County]”, and Google well bestow upon you a vast bounty of results.
Finding a GOOD San Diego home improvement contractor North County…now that’s another matter entirely ;)
A search engine can’t possibly determine if the North County remodeling contractor websites it’s returning belong to good home improvement contractors or the "not so good" kind. A bad home improvement contractor can be just as savvy at search engine optimization as a good one. He can also just as easily list his company in the Yellow Pages, put a flyer on your windshield or advertise on the radio or in the North County Times. What a bad contractor can’t do (although there are always exceptions), is get a lot of customers to gush about how great his service, communication, integrity and, ultimately, his product are.
So, the best way to find a high quality San Diego remodeling contractor in North County is to find the online water coolers and see what people have to say about the contractors they’ve actually used. There are a lot of great websites that provide this very service.
One of the most reputable is the Better Business Bureau. By putting in your North County zip code, you can either find a BBB-accredited remodeling business in your area or check up on a remodeler that you’re considering. Any remodeling company that’s been in business for a while should have a BBB profile. The BBB also provides records of any complaints that have been lodged against a company, which can be very informative.
There are also consumer review websites like Yelp, Angie’s List (requires paid subscription), CitySearch, and others, where you can search for North County, San Diego home improvement contractors or follow up on a remodeling company to see what real customers say about them. Most remodeling companies are hyper aware of these websites and actively encourage customers to leave feedback. If you find that a San Diego remodeling company you are considering doing business with is not listed on any of these sites, consider that a red flag.
Lastly, there is a website that I strongly recommend to all homeowners looking for a San Diego home improvement contractor. Guild Quality specializes in measuring customer satisfaction in the homebuilding, remodeling and contracting industries. Remodeling companies pay a monthly fee to be a Guild Quality member. In return, Guild Quality surveys past customers and builds a customer satisfaction profile for the company. Guild Quality is a very well-known and trusted organization in the field, and their results are authentic and objective.
If you have any questions or would like to talk more about finding a home improvement contractor that is the right fit for you, email me, Sheen Fischer, or give me a call at (760) 738-6270.