A lot of things have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, and construction and design are no exception. Here are three ways that design trends have changed in 2020.
How to Create a Custom Range Hood in Your Kitchen
The custom range hood of this black-and-white kitchen in one of our custom home remodels is the perfect focal point for the room.
More and more homeowners are steering away from industrial-grade, stainless steel range hoods and are opting for custom millwork to complete their kitchens. If your stove is the focal point of your kitchen, then the range hood should complement it accordingly. But installing a custom range hood is not just a matter of building a wood box and painting it. As in all things construction, you can’t forget about the logistics behind the finish piece, and that often involves multiple trades. Here are a few tips to help you when considering a custom range hood for your kitchen.
What Reclaimed Wood Can Bring to Your Design
Reclaimed wood fireplace mantel made from wood salvaged from the Belleview Biltmore Hotel that opened in Clearwater, FL in 1897.
Using reclaimed wood is a large part of sustainable design for those wanting to re-purpose and reuse materials. That said, there is so much more reclaimed wood can bring to your home.
Using reclaimed wood is exciting and can bring character, interest, warmth, and texture to a room. Weathered boards and old beams can add a sense of history to new homes or contemporary spaces. Ceiling planks can help add charm, warmth and a European feel to a kitchen or home.
Exposed Bulb Lighting – A Very Popular Lighting Choice
Exposed bulb orb pendant lighting over a kitchen island in one of our home remodel projects.
Exposed bulb lighting has become increasingly popular and looks like a trend that is here to stay. Rather than hiding the bulb behind an opaque shade, exposed light fixtures put the simple, sculptured form of the bulb on display, creating an outstanding point of interest.
For those captivated by the look, there are a remarkable variety of options. Pendant lights are one of the most popular and widely available forms. They are being chosen to replace chandeliers and track lighting and work wonderfully well over kitchen islands.
Spring Show Stopping Kitchen Inspiration for 2020
An award-winning show stopping kitchen.
Show-stopping kitchens are the top amenity asked for by homeowners.
Designing a stunning kitchen is more than just updating an old counter-top and appliances and putting on a fresh coat of paint. To truly create a show-stopping kitchen you need to consider all the details that will help bring everything together to make an aesthetic space both you and your loved ones can enjoy together.
And what are “all the details” that you should consider when wanting to create a show-stopping kitchen? To answer this question, here is a list of some of the top details you can consider adding to your kitchen design.Read More »
The Art of Mixing Metals in Your Home
Brass and stainless steel are the perfect combination in this custom kitchen in Harbor Oaks. Glass cabinet knobs add even more elegance and texture.
We love to see more and more homeowners jumping on the mixed metals bandwagon. Gone are the days of monochromatic finishes, when interior designers and homeowners were limited to a single metallic finish in their faucets, light fixtures and hardware. Combining a variety of metallic hues like copper, bronze, gold and silver is a trend we can definitely get behind, for not only does it add texture and depth to a space, it gives us a diverse color palette with a ton of room for creativity. Like anything, though, this design technique can be misused and end up looking more like an afterthought than an aesthetic feature. Here are some guidelines to help you understand the art of mixing metals when selecting the finishes and fixtures on your home.
5 Construction Tips When Building or Remodeling Your Home In Florida
When Building or Renovating Your Home in Florida, Consider These 5 tips.
Renovating a house in Florida is not like construction in the rest of the country. Not only do you have to deal with the humidity (hello, mold), there’s also the hurricanes, termites, frequent rainstorms and beating sun (which lead to dry-rot). It’s no wonder the construction industry is so heavily regulated down here.
So what do you need to know to properly navigate the ins and outs of a renovation in Florida? Read on for five important tips.
“Can You Actually DO That?” Tales of Wonder in Construction
From the Great Pyramids of Giza to the cathedrals of Europe, construction over the ages has been a source of wonder and amazement. Whether dealing with plumb-bobs and rugged stone or lasers and steel, builders and tradespeople are viewed with a sort of awe, as they carry a wisdom and courage about the material universe that seems several notches above the average person.
Although we are not building cathedrals or pyramids, today’s builder or remodeler is still accomplishing feats that often go un-acknowledged, because all people see is the finished product. Until one experiences or hears the tale of the barriers one had to overcome (and there are many), it seems that building or remodeling is routine and mundane, as if one need only stack up some lumber and slop on some mortar to build a house. The truth is, no one construction project is the same, especially when it comes to custom home building and remodeling, and we’re here to share some stories (and Before and After photos) of construction projects we’ve done that were, each one, an adventure in itself.
2017 © Nickolas Sargent Photography
How Design-Build Helps You Save Money
Did you know Design-Build can actually save you money? You have probably heard that if you want to build a custom home, the first place to start is with an architect. Even Contractors will refer you to an architect if you don’t have blueprints done, because they need plans in order to give you a proper estimate. The trouble with this is that most architects are going to draw you whatever you want and will not give you much guidance on what things cost. So if you have a budget, you will likely experience sticker-shock when you bring your completed blueprints to your Contractor and find out it will cost you far more than you expected to build what you want.
At our company, we saw many tears and much frustration in our conference room when homeowners discovered that they could not afford to build what their architect had drawn them. Since our purpose is to make the building and renovating process less stressful and more enjoyable for homeowners, we decided there had to be a better way to help our clients create their dream homes within their budgets. Because, let’s face it, not everyone has the cash flow of Warren Buffett – and even Warren runs a tight budget. That is when we discovered Design-Build.
What is Design-Build?
Design-Build is a project delivery system in the construction industry in which one entity handles both the design and the build aspects of a construction project. This means that one company (in our case, the Contractor) runs the design and planning portion of the project in addition to the construction. Not only does this give both the Contractor and the homeowner more control, it saves the homeowner a ton of money.
New Air Conditioning Solution for Historic Homes
Solutions for Historic Homes
Every once in a while, we come across a solution for a remodeling historic homes problem that is just too good not to share.
There is a large inventory of older and historic homes in Pinellas County and the greater Tampa Bay area. These historic homes are very desirable and hold tons of appeal – from architectural windows and solid plaster walls to marble windowsills, crown molding, pocket doors, arched doorways and in many cases higher-quality materials and finishing touches than are used today.
A potential drawback to these charming homes is that interior rooms can turn into a sauna with our hot and humid summer days. Older homes often don’t have the space to install ductwork for a conventional central air-conditioning system. Attic space is small, many times there is no basement or crawlspace and there isn’t enough room between the outer and inner walls for ductwork. Window units are loud and unsightly.
In recent years, a solution to air conditioning these historic homes is the ductless mini split system that consists of an indoor unit mounted on a wall or ceiling and an outdoor unit that houses the compressor and condenser. They allow each room to have a different temperature setting.
The mini split ductless system is efficient; however, they are not always considered aesthetically pleasing by homeowners who may not want a conspicuous wall, ceiling or floor unit competing with their décor.
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I would hire Nelson CR again in a heartbeat. No construction new project and/or renovation is without issues. However, if you want a company and a team that will resolve those issues to your satisfaction then NCR is that company. The thoughtfulness, professionalism, quality of work, communication and a resolution oriented team are the best... 
