Posts

Greenbrook Design Center

/in /by

***Latest  Post Update 8/21/2018

CHECK OUT OUR NEW SHOWROOM!

***Latest  Post Update 10/30/2017

WE ARE MOVED-IN AT THE DESIGN CENTER!

WE ARE EXCITED TO SHARE WITH YOU OUR

DECISIONS, DETAILS, & DESIGN IDEAS!

OPENING FALL 2017 TO UPTOWN SHELBY!

GREENBROOK DESIGN, KITCHEN & BATH HOME DESIGN CENTER

Inside the Design Center, you will find a unique one-of-a-kind showroom. The kitchen and bath home design center will be sure to appeal to homeowners, interior designers as well as contractors. Plan to be intrigued and watch us GROW in Uptown Shelby.

We are excited to be under construction! Stay up-to-date with what’s happening as we share more details on this page! 

OUR JOURNEY TO UPTOWN SHELBY

Location Address: 112-1 North Lafayette St. Shelby NC 28150

Construction has officially started! This is formally known as part of the Campbell building.

Here is a sidewalk view (before) of the Design Center. We have great plans in the works.

Storefront prior to construction.

Update 10/30/2017

AND WE MOVED IN!

It’s been a busy few weeks. Before during and after moving is a big job. For this update, I am adding just photo’s be sure to read the captions for details.

Featured lighting & James Martin Vanities!

Stickwood installed!

Walker Woodworking door display.

Wellborn display in progress, of course, we still need a backsplash, appliances & lighting!

This backsplash is going somewhere…

Hardware towers and more.

Our Walker Woodworking Display! In progress, appliance install underway!

Subzero appliances on standby for install. This will be for our Walker Woodworking kitchen where we will be hosting live cooking demonstrations.

Dura Supreme display in progress, of course, we still need a backsplash, appliances & lighting!

It was exciting to reveal our tile floors that had been covered up for many weeks.

Mahogany doors being built in our shop and what they look like the day of installation. There were four doors total to make and the sizes 3′ wide by 8.5′ tall. Travis did the majority of the work on these with help from Chris Masters and Justin Webb (not pictured).

Update 9/16/2017

ANOTHER GREAT WEEK OF PROGRESS!

If you look back through this post – you notice that I keep the most recent updates at the top. A year ago on 9/17/2016, I made a post about how the work had stalled. Things are finally happening at the Design Center and we can’t wait to be able to move into our new space.

SATURDAY WORK & SATURDAY SURPRISES.

We have been working lots of Saturdays here at Walker Woodworking. Not only do we have a packed production schedule, but we also have design center items to make. One of my early visions for this building was the exterior. We were unable to make some of the changes I wanted because of the historic preservation rules. But I felt that the doors just looked so common and small compared to the massive size of the windows. My idea was to bring in taller wood-framed doors and I volunteered Travis to make them (he wasn’t thrilled about that idea at all). I talked to him into getting it done, knowing that in the end, it would be something he would be proud of that he personally had a hand in making. Travis delivered the doors yesterday (Friday) and today we went by so that our daughters could see the progress. We were pleasantly surprised to see the doors getting installed and another step toward getting this project completed.

DISPLAY CABINETS GET INSTALLED.

We have had a huge warehouse full of cabinets, lights, sinks, hardware displays and all sorts of things that we have collected over the last two years for this project. So when we started loading up the truck to take to the showroom to be installed – it was a really exciting moment for me. I won’t lie – I have been impatient and I am ready to get moved in. The gray cabinets are for our Wellborn display and the white cabinets are Dura Supreme.  These are the 2 semi-custom cabinet lines we will be offering.

Cabinet Install – Phase 1

Update 09/05/2017

FLOORS – A BIG DECISION!

One of the things I have learned during this whole process is that I can’t always let my personal preferences lead my decisions. I really wanted a stain on these floors because I really love to see color in wood finishes.  I would have been happy with just about any stain color but the light gray was my favorite. I ultimately decided to go natural for two reasons, I felt that over time the lighter finish would be the most neutral and organic color to work our displays and decor around. The other reason I went with natural is that I felt it stayed true to the original elements of the building. I am so glad I went with the natural finish, these floors are truly beautiful and full of history.  I would love to hear your thoughts – comment below!

Floors before and during finishing.  The final decision of the stain choice was to go with Natural!

FLOORS AFTER.

 

You may notice in the showroom, there are actually three different types of wood used.  Maple, Pine, & Oak.   Over the years and due to multiple renovations, the flooring is what adds so much character to our space.

Update 8/20/2017

CEILINGS GET A MAKEOVER IN WHITE.

I had a few people tell me that I should keep the ceilings black but I just couldn’t do it. I am actually a big fan of black ceilings I have black ceilings in my basement, most showrooms have black ceilings but for me, changing the ceiling back to white was the easiest decision I have made so far. Without a doubt, these ceilings make this building. They are original to the building and something we needed to show off. It has been amazing at how much bigger and brighter the space is.

Here is a before and after of the ceilings before the lights were installed. The before and after photos were all with natural light from outside.

Update 07/17/2017

WE ARE FINALLY SEEING PROGRESS TO GET EXCITED ABOUT!

This has for sure been a test of patience for us over the last 2 years but I am happy to announce that things have been moving along again. Of course, if you have been following our social media sites you already noticed! Although things have been slow to move along, this week we will begin to see lots of progress.  Some of the major things to be done include installing windows and doors which mean there is some interior and exterior work to finish up.

In order to keep the historical preservation of the building, several of these interior and exterior items had to be special ordered. Although we don’t own the building, keeping true to these historical elements is important to us as well.  Once the doors and windows are installed, we hope to start seeing some paint on the walls and ceilings and trim work getting done. From there, things should move relatively quick. This also means that Walker Woodworking will be busy building some specialty items as well.

For the latest information, we suggest that you follow us on social media. With the new ‘stories’ on Instagram, we are able to introduce more behind the scene pictures with captions, which tell you more about the locations and pictures as you view them. We usually visit daily and post updates.

Interior tile work was completed last week.

Update 9/17/2016

AND THE WORK HAS STALLED…

Construction of our Design Center has been stopped temporarily due to a Federal Grant approval process. Stay tuned, construction is scheduled to resume November 3rd.

Meanwhile, our team is still making plans, making selections and getting excited about moving to Uptown Shelby.

MAKING SELECTIONS

The process of making selections as been underway for a while now but there is still lots to do. We thought it would be interesting to see how we take certain design elements and put them together for the final product. Often times HGTV makes the construction and remodel process look fast and easy in a 30 minute TV show, but the reality is a much longer and very complex process. A lot of time and thought from multiple sources of professionals goes into making a project of this proportion come to life.

TILE

This past week we went tile shopping; Wendi and I (Stacey) spent a day visiting several tile centers – 5 in all. We have several areas that we will need to select tile. The construction plans will be adding bathrooms and office space. Although we made some progress we still have a lot more to do and more to select. Here is a peek at some of the fun things we found.  Did you know Charlotte has so many great tile centers? Daltile, Emser, Florida Tile, The Tile Collection, & Crossville Tile.

Update 5/21/2016

AND THE WORK BEGINS…

Construction officially started in early March, and the bulk of that time has been spent in the basement. More updates coming soon.

View from the mezzanine to the main showroom floor.

 Original Post 5/13/2016

HOW WE GOT HERE…

When Travis and I purchased a CNC Router at the end of 2013, we never imagined how much things would change for us and our business with Walker Woodworking. We certainly had much to learn and we definitely had many challenges to overcome, but we will save that story for another day.  The CNC router enabled us to take our company to a new level with innovation and technology and while we have embraced these changes, we also had new needs that our current space could not provide.

Learning the CNC software and getting the process up and going was initiated by Brandon Fitzmorris. Brandon was our lead engineer and helped through the initial transition. As many people may remember, our designer at the time in 2013 & 2014 was Jeneane Beaver. Jeneane had just had her first child and with another on the way she decided that she wanted to stay home and be with her kids; a decision that we respected but it left us in a position to find a suitable replacement. Brandon was eager to accept the challenge and therefore we had yet another position to fill. By the end of 2014, we had Brandon in his position as Designer and a new engineer in place, with the need for an additional engineer.

Travis and I had been debating ideas to build a new shop or open a new showroom. While we were not necessarily making any immediate plans for one or the other, we were approached in the early summer of May 2015 by excited new owners of a building in Uptown Shelby. They had heard that we may be looking for space and we were very eager to see the space. Soon after we were signing a lease. Since that time we have been patiently waiting for the process of architects, engineers, and permits from the City of Shelby to run its course. Planning the space with the owners took some time, but we are thrilled with the end results.

Meanwhile, we have been making necessary staff changes in anticipation of this new showroom. Adding staff in space you don’t have has certainly put a strain on our working environment but we became creative and made temporary adjustments to make it work.  Over the last year we have added to our staff: Jan Blanton – Design Assistant, Tyler Triplett – Engineer, and most recently Ryanne Turner – Design Assistant. Marie Walker, a longtime administrative assistant,  is patiently awaiting the new showroom to have her own office. During this transition, she has moved to a home-based office with me (Stacey Walker) and continues with day-to-day duties.  We are all looking forward to the new Design Center.

A LITTLE HISTORY…

 

Campbell Building – full corner view

The Design center building itself is located right on the corner beside of First Baptist Church. Originally, construction started on the building in 1928 and was completed in 1929. The first use was a general store, then it became a pharmacy and had a little restaurant in the mezzanine area. It was later a furniture store and they sold toys in the basement area. Within the past 10 years, the last to use the building was a furniture store. As far as we know the 2 upper floors have never been used for much except storage.

Over the years the building was handed down to generations of the same family. The new owners are the first ones to actually purchase the building. Kay, the previous owner, is the great-granddaughter of the men who built the building. One was a steelmaker and another owned a brick factory and these two men had children that married each other. That couple had a child, and that child was the parent of Kay and Edgar.

At one point in time,  all the stairs and railings were painted bright orange! A few years back, Edgar took all that paint off himself and refinished each of the railings and banisters on site. (*Please feel free to comment in the feed if you have any other information about the historic building, we want to give as much accurate information as possible about the building)

The interior of this building has some great features that are original to the building that we want to preserve and maintain as much as we possibly can. From the original tin ceilings, the beautiful wooden staircases, and the pine floors. We worked diligently with the owners & architects to help make this happen, but in order to bring the building up to date with today’s codes, there will be a big transition in some areas inside and out that can’t be avoided. In the near future, the upper floors will be renovated as well. The 2nd floor will be Uptown Indigo – an event space and the 3rd floor will be the residence of the building owners.

Old Newspaper – Campbell Building

Old Ads From Furniture Store

Old Newspaper Ad

Follow us on Facebook & Instagram – #walkerwoodworking #greenbrookdesign #uptownshelby #shelbync for more photos and event updates!

Greenbrook Design Center

/in , , /by
Read more

Remodeling 101 Part 3 Construction

/in /by

Part 3: Living in a Construction Zone

under sonstruction

It’s here, it’s finally here!!! The day you’ve been dreaming of has arrived……construction begins! Then it hits you…..construction chaos has arrived! I now realize, I need more time!

It can be stressful to have your home torn apart and even more daunting to think of living in your home the entire time during the renovation.  But you can do it.  If you’ve read and followed our previous blog posts in our remodeling series, Part 1 and Part 2, then you should be well prepared for the demolition and construction phase.  The pre-planning done during those stages of your project should make this most arduous phase as brief as possible, getting you smoothly to Part 4 – Finishing Touches –  and ultimately to the reward of tasting the first delicious meal in your new kitchen.  

Before the construction crew arrives  

  • Clean out the cabinets and haul off old appliances.  This is a good time to purge.  You probably have more than you need in terms of kitchen gadgets, and cookbooks that have been replaced by e-versions.  Use this time to clear out the clutter.  Bonus: if you give them to charity you can keep the receipt for a tax write-off.  
  • Set up a makeshift “kitchenette” somewhere that is easily accessible.  During my own personal experience, my husband and I used a mini fridge, toaster oven, and microwave to survive our construction phase.  Coffee is essential for me as well, so I also set up a coffee station in our bathroom.  Keep your take out menus in a convenient spot; they will come in handy to help you survive life without a kitchen.
  • Find a place to store excess food until the job is completed.  We turned a spare closet into a temporary pantry while our home was being disassembled.
  • Setup dust barriers if possible, or have this quoted from your contractor.  This will depend on your layout and the scope of the project, but if possible you can hang sheets at the construction entrances to minimize dust and debris extending beyond the work zone.
  • Breathe – you’re prepared, enjoy the process as much as you can   🙂

Demolition Day  

The contracting crew will disassemble walls, cabinets, floors, etc.  Whatever is required to create a “clean slate” for your new design to become reality.  It will be exciting to see the old cabinets leave the space.  Seeing the new open area can help you envision how the new plan will come together.  Once our space was emptied I used my plans to draw out the footprint of the kitchen.  I really became excited, to see the reality of my vision finally appearing before my eyes.

The work continues

Depending on the scope of your project the work may take a few weeks to complete.  However, things will generally happen in this order:

  • Plumbing and electrical rough in changes will be made.  New pathways will be made for outlets to be accessed and for a new sink placement if needed.  
  • Framing and drywall will be completed.  This is where the dust barriers will come in handy.  The process is messy.  I’d recommend painting the new walls once they are ready; that way the walls will be completed prior to new floors going in.
  • Floors are installed.  Whether wood or tile, the flooring installation can last a few days. They will be beautiful in the new open space.
  • Cabinets will be installed next.  I believe this is the most exciting part of the construction process, because these custom components are the backbone of the new work-space.  The day they arrive will be better than Christmas.  The beautiful finishes, hardware, spacious drawers, and custom pullouts are finally arriving in your home! Yay! The installation will last a few days, then a counter-top template can be finalized.  
  • Counter-tops are next to go in.  The gorgeous tops you’ve selected will be the icing on the cake.  If you need any of these to be cut on site, the dust barriers will need to be in place for this as well.  You are almost to the finish line!
  • Last electrical and plumbing can now be completed.  Appliances can be installed, and you can now have a working sink, as well as a better place for your coffee machine (no longer in the bathroom).

Cabinets Arrive! Work Continues.

Prepare for hiccups:  I know what you’re thinking. “That doesn’t sound too bad,” and you’re right. The idea of living in a construction zone doesn’t sound too bad here.  If only a project could be finished in the time it takes to read this article, but alas, it cannot.  Any home project takes time, and a major remodel is definitely a lengthy process.  Be flexible and expect at least one delay to come up; they are inevitable.  Be courteous to the people working in your home, if you are respectful to them, they will be more inclined to treat you and your home with respect. Be sure to report anyone that comes into your home that is not courteous. Small business owners appreciate knowing of any problems as soon as they arise.

Working Toward a Completed Project

Take some before, during, and after pictures to share with friends and family. It is exciting to see the progression.

Last tip: Don’t bother trying to clean up until the job is truly complete, because you’ll be dissatisfied and will be doing it more than once. If a General Contractor is looking after your project, he may have clean-up included as part of your estimate.

Once construction is done it will be time to put your kitchen back together and get ready for Part 4 –  The Finishing Touches (coming soon to complete our renovation series).

Article by guest blogger: Jeneane Beaver, Former Designer at Walker Woodworking

“Having worked with Walker Woodworking for 7 years, I have the opportunity to share my experiences as a designer as well as a client, I remodeled my own kitchen in 2012.”  ~ Jeneane Beaver

If you are only in the dreaming stage of beginning your project, we’d love to talk to you and work with you to fine tune your very own remodel plan.  If you’re ready to be further from dreaming and closer to construction, call Walker Woodworking today 704.434.0823.

Please feel free to add a comment about your own personal experience with remodeling.

Did you miss the intro to this remodeling series? Click this link to see it now.

Did you miss Part 1 Budgeting and Planning Remodel Budget Analysis? Click here to see it now. 

In case you missed it – Part 2 Making your selections. Click link to view post.

Remodeling 101 Part 2 making your selections

/in /by

Remodeling 101 Part 2 – Making Your Selections.

We continue our remodeling 101 series with part 2 –  making selections for a kitchen remodel project. A remodel is like a journey, so to speak. To make a journey successful and memorable, much planning must take place. The purpose for the journey must be established up front, of course.  Financially, plans must be made and adhered to. Small details must be addressed while at the same time, the big picture of the journey must not be lost in the details.   Otherwise, the journey may result in a miserable experience for everyone involved.  Avoid these types of problems when planning for a kitchen remodel.

Let’s get started

Now that you have determined your budget goals (Remodeling 101 Part 1:  Budgeting and Planning Remodel), it’s time to talk “ design.” A kitchen remodel must begin with focus on planning and designing for the space you have. Cabinetry will most likely consume the majority of your budget in the kitchen and will dictate the space and layout.  

A major kitchen remodel must be completed in the right order for maximum efficiency.  Working with an experienced kitchen designer is a key factor to obtaining the best layout for function, organization, aesthetics and overall flow of your kitchen remodel.

 

A kitchen designer can help you with all the elements involved and will suggest that you make your selections in this order. Consider the Selection Guide shown here:

  • Cabinetry design & space planning                         
  • Appliances
  • Flooring
  • Cabinet finishes
  • Countertop material & finishes
  • Backsplash
  • Sinks & fixtures
  • Lighting
  • Cabinet hardware

While the Selection Guide may seem daunting and overwhelming, the biggest factor is to understand all the possibilities up-front instead of as an afterthought. Please note that cabinets are mentioned 3 times in this process. After 15 plus years of remodeling kitchens, we know the process that works best for most of our clients. The only time the process doesn’t follow this order – is when the planning & design function is completely left up to the designer. (Omitting the client)

Keep in mind that this Selection Guide will provide the order in which your decisions should be made.   It’s okay to be thinking about all of these components at the same time. But, ideally this is the order that works best for most clients, even those that are well organized and know exactly what they want. Based on our past experiences with our clients, the more our designers use the Selection Guide with clients, the better satisfied the clients are with the final product.  Now, let’s break down each step.

cabinet design ideas, kitchen design ideas, remodeling

Cabinetry design & space planning in your kitchen layout.

Cabinetry design & space planning

During this stage of the process, you really should postpone thoughts of  everything else and focus on designing your space. When remodeling a kitchen, think function, efficiency, style and longevity. Choose cabinets you love and a layout that works for your family’s lifestyle. If you like to cook, organizing your kitchen for your cooking style may be your priority. Let’s say that you love to entertain in your kitchen.  If so, you need a layout that allows for people in your kitchen while maintaining your work zone. Maybe you want your kitchen to be the main command center in your home. A desk area where you would sort mail and work on your computer may be needed. Of course some people like  the “WOW factor,” and insist on the newest styles and trends.    Kitchens are used in different ways by couples and families. Allow your cabinet design & space planning to meet your specific goals.  Needless to say, the majority of our client time is used for design & space planning.

custom hood, wolf range, appliances

Appliances need to be selected early in the process. Location and sizes are important in design.

Appliances

If you thought about appliances during your budgeting phase, you probably have an idea of the features you would like. In order to finalize your cabinet design, you need to make your final appliance selections. Size matters and depending on your selections, you may gain or lose space for your cabinets. So plan carefully and discuss your decision with your design team.

Flooring

I am sure by now you have been thinking about what type of flooring to use. Many people already have hardwood floors in their kitchen and opt to have those refinished for a fresh new look. Changing out and replacing your floors can be an expensive part of the project compared to keeping and refinishing an existing floor. Before you make other finish selections, we recommend you give much consideration to the flooring selection.

Choose cabinet finishes

Over the years we have found that often people approach cabinet design with a picture. And while we can certainly replicate most finishes, we can’t make a picture of a kitchen fit into your space. Once you have decided on the cabinet design and your appliances, (the most expensive parts of the remodel), you can think about your finishes.  We provide sample finishes in our showroom from which our customers may make the selections.  If a custom sample is needed we usually start with a selection of crown molding in order to establish a color.  Once that decision is made, we provide a sample cabinet door. Sample cabinet doors will prove to be invaluable  when you are ready to select the countertops and backsplash that you prefer.  

white cabinets, quartz counter-tops, marble backsplash

Cabinet finishes, counter-tops and tile backsplash bring together all the elements for the final touches.

Countertop material & finishes

Now that you have your cabinet finishes selected, it’s time to shop around for the perfect countertop. The options are only limited by your budget as price is usually based upon the type of material used and the quantity available. Of course the most common material used today is granite, but marble and man-made stones are in very close second place.

Backsplash

Often you can select your backsplash at the same time you select your countertops. It’s highly recommended to make an appointment when you decide to shop around for tile and granite, the most popular choices for a backsplash. When you enter a showroom with an appointment, you are more likely to be served quickly. Be sure to bring an elevation view of your design drawings so the vendor will be able to provide a quick estimate of materials that you will need for the backsplash.   For the visit to your first vendor, we recommend that you allow yourself at least 1 hour for your tile presentation /discussion and 1 hour for your granite presentation/discussion.  By the time you visit your next vendor, you will be much more informed about what you are looking for and can narrow your selections down much faster. We would advise that you to visit only two vendors per day.  Too much information and too many choices can be overwhelming.

For a bathroom remodel

If you are working on a bathroom project and plan to have floor and wall tile with several patterns and pieces, you will need to schedule two hours at each showroom.

white cabinets, antique brass fixtures & hardware

This homeowner chose to use antique brass for her lighting, fixtures and hardware finishes.

Sinks & fixtures

Selecting your sink and fixtures will likely be the easiest decisions to make. However, keep in mind that specs for farm sinks, apron front sinks, and oversized sinks need to be provided to your cabinet designer early in the planning stage.  Nothing can be more disappointing than having a sink too big for your countertop  due to lack of communication. Clients tend to worry about fixture finishes. There is no right or wrong selections when it comes to mixing metals. For example, a stainless steel sink and faucet will complement just about any type of hardware or light fixtures.   

Lighting

Lighting can be a great selection to add a touch of your own personality. Many people consider lights to be a complement to the kitchen design. Selecting the perfect pendants or chandelier can be time consuming with so many options available online. We recommend selecting lighting components that will provide you with plenty of light, that are easy to clean, and will add charm to your kitchen.

Cabinet hardware

Cabinet hardware has improved greatly in the last 15 years. With so many options, narrowing down your favorites can prove difficult.  As much as we would love for hardware to be selected when the cabinet finishes are selected, it is rarely the reality. Clients tend to let hardware be one of the final decisions they make. Selecting the perfect hardware for your kitchen is, of course, another big decision.  We understand that you want the hardware to coordinate with all of your other selections. It can be difficult to visualize which hardware will look best.  For example, some pieces are minimal while others are bulky.  Don’t hesitate to seek the advice of your kitchen and bath designer. Having seen many styles and finishes over the years, we have a good idea about which pieces look really great and those that only look OK.

ONE STEP AT A TIME

Taking things one-step-at-a-time and having the guidance of a kitchen and bath designer will make your kitchen remodel a more enjoyable experience. Following our recommended order in the Selection Guide will allow you to soar through the process with all decisions made at the appropriate times. Kitchen and bath designers can help with as little or as much of the process as you need. Some of our clients prefer to take an active role in making the decisions while others leave all the options to us.

The scope of your project will determine how long this process takes. The process of simply removing old cabinets and installing new ones is definitely less complicated than removing walls and/or changing plumbing and electrical locations. Whatever the scope of your project may be, please maintain patience and focus so that you will be pleased with the end result.

The next part in our Remodeling 101 Series is “Tearing it out and Replacing it with beautiful Walker Woodworking Cabinetry.” Click this link to view post. 

Thanks for reading, tell us what you think, was this article helpful? We would love to have your comments.

Did you miss the intro to this remodeling series? Click this link to see it now.

Did you miss Part 1 Budgeting and Planning Remodel Budget Analysis? Click here to see it now. 

Remodeling 101 Part 1 Budgeting and Planning Remodel Budget Analysis

/in /by

Project PlanningRemodeling 101 Part 1  Budgeting & Planning

Setting a realistic budget

Does remodeling your kitchen and bath seem so intimidating that you are not sure where you should begin?

Do you want to remodel but can’t get started because you know you must stay within a certain budget?

Whether you are planning a kitchen or bath remodeling project, or some portion of that, the questions stated above are the common obstacles that keep many people from taking on what may seem like the daunting task of getting the process started.

It has been our experience over the years that most people want to know what the overall project will cost before they start.  If the project is out of your total budget then you may have to re-evaluate what you can realistically afford or make decisions on how you want to spend the funds you have.

Not so fast…  

Cabinets are probably the first thing most people think about when remodeling a kitchen. Cabinets can be a major portion of the expense of a kitchen remodel but not necessarily the most expensive. Most people don’t realize what cabinets, countertops and appliances really cost. Discussing these topics with a professional will help you make the most of your budget by explaining the different options and the cost of each.

How we integrate this into our process.

Getting a ‘budget analysis’ is the first step we like to start with to help our clients narrow down expenses for each part of the remodel task. We determine the products that are needed and the amount willing to be spent on them.

-calculator-webWhat is a “Budget Analysis”?

A budget analysis will give you an idea of what the scope of your project will cost. We have found that this method is very beneficial for all of our clients. We simply take some preset formulas, add them with measurements in your home and then discuss each element of the project with your preferences to determine an estimated cost.

So how exactly does the Budget Analysis work?

For starters we will need to know some simple things, we ask A LOT of questions. Are you keeping your same cabinet layout or starting with a fresh plan? Do you want to remove walls to open up your space? Are any of the walls that you want to move load bearing? Are you wanting to add a new addition to your home?

Determine how to spend your budget.

Another area of important topics that we will ask; What is the purpose of remodeling? Are you remodeling to sell? Is this your forever home? Are you updating to get newer appliances? What is the value of your home? This will help determine what your budget levels should be.

As an example, Walker Woodworking offers 3 types of cabinetry; basic-standard cabinets, semi-custom cabinets and custom cabinets. The price difference can vary from 30% to 50%. If you are updating your kitchen in order to sell in a couple of years, you may not want to spend your budget on custom cabinets. 

Other options; you can mix and match cabinets. Let’s say you have a fairly large kitchen or you want to splurge on appliances. You can spend less money by purchasing semi-custom cabinets and have a custom hood built. There are solutions for most situations. We help our clients get the most out of what they want to spend while making their space functional and unique to their lifestyle.

Are you overwhelmed yet?

Don’t be overwhelmed by all of the questions. People remodel for many different reasons. By determining what your goals are will ultimately help you determine where you should invest your budget. As professionals of our industry, we are here to help guide you along the way.

At our very first meeting with our clients we discuss budget. By asking questions and taking some simple measurements, we will leave you with a budget we feel is a close estimate of your project. Is it exact science? Of course not, but we are usually within 8% of the actual cost. This process can take up to 2 hours or more depending on the scope of the project.

Don’t be discouraged by the numbers, there are always ways to save. Once you make your final selections you still have plenty of ways to decide what you want to spend your money on.

Once you have settled on a budget that you feel comfortable with, it’s time to make selections.

NEXT ~ Making selections is our next phase of the remodeling process.  Let’s see what that entails.

Tell us what you think, was this article helpful? We would love to have your comments.

Cerused Oak Remodel

/in , /by

Cerused Oak Remodel Project.

We were so excited when our client, Mrs. Young, wanted to use a new finish technique that we were in the process of making to showcase at the 2016 Southern Spring Home & Garden Show.  After making a few samples, we decided that we would use the color combination of Revere Pewter for the perimeter cabinets with cerused oak on the island. We were just in love with this color combination but before we could get the cabinets made for the show, it caught Mrs. Young’s attention.  Dr. & Mrs. Young had just purchased a home and wanted to remodel the kitchen before they moved in.

Photo by Walker Woodworking Staff – All Rights Reserved.

Kitchen – Before Photo

What are your needs?

First, we had to determine what the homeowner needed and what their style preference was. Travis Walker, company owner met with Mrs. Young in her home and started the process of gathering measurements and information. Travis will usually take pictures like the one above to share with Brandon as part of the planning for the first design meeting. We also ask our clients what they like and don’t like about the design of the kitchen they currently have. Getting as much information as possible prior to the design meeting helps Brandon, our designer plan the layout of the kitchen before meeting with the clients.

“My husband and I both love to cook and spend time together in the kitchen, so a good flow with plenty of prep space was critical. We also really believe in function over form, so we were leaning toward more of a commercial style kitchen… Of course we think we got both function and form with this remodel!” ~ Mrs. Young

Photo by Walker Woodworking Staff – All Rights Reserved.

After Photo. When looking at the before picture notice that the refrigerator and ovens are still in the same location.

What are your style and color preferences?

We also asked Mrs. Young to share her thoughts about this as well as her idea books from Houzz so that Brandon could see which style and color preferences she was leaning toward. Idea-books from Houzz are one of our favorite tools to use when planning a new customer design meeting.

“As to color choices and cabinet style… I have to credit Brandon with quickly figuring out our design style preferences (I.e., clean, simple, elegant) and showing us the new cerused oak cabinet he’d been working on. I loved it from the moment I laid eyes on it. While gorgeous, it isn’t formal or stuffy. It perfectly fit the environment of our kitchen, the floors, the stone fireplace, the flagstone patio, and generally, the natural views through the picture window. Once I had the sample doors, I was able to select a complementing paint color and flooring… The granite was the final touch that pulled all the colors together.” ~ Mrs. Young

The cerused oak for the island and bar area are custom painted with a color we named  ‘hunting lodge gray’ with a white glaze. Revere Pewter from the Benjamin Moore Historical collection is the perimeter color of the kitchen.  

Photo by Walker Woodworking Staff – All Rights Reserved.

The cerused oak for the island and bar area are custom painted with a color we named ‘hunting lodge gray’ with a white glaze. Revere Pewter from the Benjamin Moore Historical collection is the perimeter color of the kitchen.

“People are highly complementary when they see the kitchen… Thanks to you all!” ~ Mrs. Young

 

See all of the photos from this project. Click this link to see our photo gallery of this project. 

Find our more about our Kitchen & Bath Services

Making a quiet comeback

For about 2 years now we have been seeing cerused oak in furniture pieces, and now it is being incorporated into kitchens.  Cerused oak can have many different colors due to a technique that is used to bring out the grain.

Photo by Walker Woodworking Staff – All Rights Reserved.

Photo by Walker Woodworking Staff – All Rights Reserved.

What is Cerusing?

Cerusing is a time-honored French finish technique in which the open grain of oak is filled with a contrasting white pigment. The stain and colors of the white pigments can be mixed and matched to create unique color combinations.  What I love the most is the texture that you can see and touch. This technique is mostly used on quarter sawn white oak.

cerused oak example

Notice the white glaze in the wood grain.

Why Oak?

Specifically we use Quarter Sawn White Oak. This wood has an amazing straight grain pattern that lends itself to design. Quarter sawn lumber is defined as wood where the annular growth rings intersect the face of the board at a 60 to 90 degree angle. When cutting this lumber at the sawmill, each log is sawed at a radial angle into four quarters, hence the name. Dramatic flecking is also present in red oak and white oak. When quarter sawn oak is cerused, we are able to add a white glaze and use a special brush to make sure the glaze seeps into the grain without affecting the color of the stain, thus giving texture to the surface of the wood.

Quater sawn Oak example

Quarter Sawn White-Oak stain only

Find our more about our Kitchen & Bath Services

Want to see how we can incorporate cerused oak into your home? Give us a call today to schedule a design consultation 704-434-0823.

Custom laundry room

WSJ Laundry-Closet

/in , /by

The story behind our 5 minutes of fame with the Wall Street Journal.

The famous laundry-closet

We were pleasantly surprised recently when The Wall Street Journal contacted Walker Woodworking and spoke to Travis Walker about a particular laundry room.  The laundry-closet is one of many featured rooms on the Walker Woodworking profile site at Houzz.com and is how the Wall Street Journal found Walker Woodworking.

This particular laundry room closet combination has had over 454,787 impressions and over 5,193 adds to idea-books on Houzz in just the last year. Houzz is a website and online community about architecture, interior design and decorating, landscape design and home improvements.

With permission of the homeowner, we gave the WSJ the homeowner’s information and she was contacted for an interview. Shortly after being contacted, a photo shoot was scheduled at the home.

WSJ photographer getting photos of laundry-closet.

WSJ photographer getting photos of laundry-closet.

It’s not every day you can say your home was photographed and videoed by The Wall Street Journal, but that is exactly what happened to Mrs. Ellie Cartner.  At Walker Woodworking we are equally excited to say our cabinets have been featured in The Wall Street Journal.

We want to thank Mrs. Cartner and her family for allowing us and the WSJ into her home.

Click here to view our Houzz profile.

Click here to see the article from The Wall Street Journal – be sure to click the photo to see the video.

We also have this home featured on our website. Click here to see the photo gallery.

Today’s Laundry Rooms

Laundry rooms today are a HUGE deal to homeowners.  They are becoming the central work station for all members of the household.  

Design and function are important in the beginnings stages of new construction or a remodel.  With the many functions you can have in a laundry room, taking advantage of space is a MUST. Organized clean up can save you time.

Today the options are endless on the items that can be built into a custom laundry room:

  •    Docking drawers for technology devices, phones, tablets, etc.
  •    Desk area with mail sorters and dividers for family members.
  •    Built in message center with chalkboards or bulletin boards.
  •    Cabinetry positioned at a comfortable folding height.
  •    Built in storage bins for laundry sorters.
  •    Hanging rods for dedicates to dry, as well as pull out drying drawers with screens for sweaters and such.
  •    Pet centers are also being incorporated into the laundry rooms, with storage bins for food, beds, and feeding areas.
  •    Personal lockers for each family member to store book bags, coats & shoes.
  •    Craft supply storage, rods for wrapping paper & ribbon.

The possibilities are endless, especially with custom cabinetry. Good design and planning should start prior to construction to make the most out of your space, this will also save you time and money.

Wash, dry & repeat!  Laundry is a never ending thing in any house, so why not enjoy the command center of your home, with useful amenities, and beautiful cabinetry!

Thanks for taking time to read about our 5 minutes of fame, it was certainly an honor for us at Walker Woodworking. Jan Blanton – Walker Woodworking

photo of camera on a tripod at photo shoot

On a Photo Shoot

/in /by

On a Photo Shoot

Last week I went out to do a photo shoot at a beautiful home in Walnut Cove near Asheville, NC. with my side kick @Marie Walker. We got so carried away with snapping pictures in the kitchen that I forgot to get a few with my iPhone- which I really like to do. I just can’t explain how much fun taking pictures can be when the lighting is just right. It saves us so much time during the processing phase because we are – after all – just amateurs.

 

desk, crackled finish

Custom crackled finish, by Walker Woodworking

Here is a close up of the desk we did at Walker Woodworking. Yes, this finish is very detailed and required precise attention to get it just right, but overall it really adds character to the desk.

antique distressed mirror gold

Antique distressed mirror with gold, rocks out this custom wet bar.

This area was small and difficult to photograph, I was able to get a close up with my iPhone – this antiqued glass is awesome. It has gold and burnt orange coloring that looks great with the black cabinets.

white cabinets, inset, cup pulls, photo shoot

See the photo gallery for more pictures.

Here’s a sneak peek of the kitchen – we will have these photos added to our website very soon.  You will be able to view the entire project and all the unique details our custom cabinetry has to offer.

It’s always a treat for us to get out of the office and see the final product of our cabinets in the setting of a beautifully furnished home.  We get a chance to actually enjoy time with the homeowner in their atmosphere, rather than in our office always working and discussing details.

Check out our online photo gallery to see more great finished projects.  www.walkerwoodworking.com

Stacey Walker

 

Charlotte Homearama at Cheval, Luxury Custom Home

/in , , /by

Charlotte Homearama at Cheval

This years Homearama is now over, but we have lots of pictures. Mary and Laura, with New Old Luxury did a fantastic job with all of the details, design and decor of the home, be sure to scroll down to see more.

To view only the photo’s  Visit Our Online Project Gallery

Walker Woodworking is proud to announce their custom cabinetry will be featured in this years Charlotte Homearama at Cheval.
Open to the public July 18 – August 2. Custom Home Tour open in Mint Hill.

Homearama has something new and exciting for everyone to see. Whether you are looking to build new or remodel, you will find design trends, and decorating ideas from all the homes. You can shop for furniture and artwork while browsing too!

Cheval is located in Mint hill, NC 4 homes will be presented in the tour, which is one of the most celebrated home tours in the Southeast. More Photos Coming Soon!

Walker Woodworking HOR

Unique Oven Wall Featured in Homerarama

 

The “The Welsh House” constructed by New Old Luxury Custom Homes features 5 Bedroom – 5 1/2 Bath, 4, 879 sq. ft home with the charm of an English Countryside equestrian setting.

Walker Woodworking Custom Cabinetry can be seen throughout the home, in the kitchen, his & hers dressing rooms, the family command center, media center and more.

His & Hers dressing room has unique built ins for organizing accessories and clothes. The family command center is the central location for laundry, dog bed, feeding station and craft room all in one! This room is blended with painted custom cabinetry as well as reclaimed lumber to add a distinct feature in the laundry room.

The home has a build method of Inset cabinetry. The inset door gets its name because it is set inside of the cabinet frame, typical cabinet doors rest on the outside of the frame. The door is designed and constructed with extremely precise measurements so that it nests inside the frame and opens and closes properly.

Walker Woodworking HOR1

Kitchen Hutch

The media room displays cherry counter-tops along side of the charcoal painted cabinetry and the office bath has a cozy feel with rustic alder cabinetry that has a black-wash rub through.

Contractor Information:

New Old’s roots run deep. Mary Ludemann’s passion for designing and building high-quality custom homes with timeless period details comes from generations worth of experience. Mary’s father, Tom Murtaugh, began building custom homes in upstate New York in 1978. His drive and passion for impeccable quality is still felt at New Old today. Mary gained years of valuable experience and craftsmanship by working alongside her father.

new-old-logo
New Old Luxury Custom Homes Founder, Mary Ludemann
Mary Ludemann has been designing and building homes for the past 10 years. She has an acute eye for detail and specializes in new home space planning as well as built-ins, cabinetry and interior trim. She loves a wide array of design style ranging from Coastal Cottage, Farmhouse, Nantucket, European, Craftsman and High Country to name a few. She strongly believes in keeping design fun and simple; designing in a casual setting to eliminate as much of the pressure homeowners feel when designing their custom home. She’s known for intently listening to her clients to discern how their family lives and helping them discover their personal style. Happy to lend as much or little design help as each of her clients prefer, she narrows down the daunting array of custom selections and ensures that each of her homes reflect that client’s personal style in a balanced and beautiful way.

Walker Woodworking has worked with New Old on many projects and most recently on the “Welsh” Home for the 2015 Homearama in Cheval (Mint Hill). https://www.charlotteobserver.com/living/home-garden/article27434743.html

Contact Information:
Located in South End at 1920 Abbott Street, Suite 300, Charlotte NC 28203
Phone: 704-975-5196
E mail:building@newold.com

 

 

 

IMG_4728_edited-1

Her dressing area.

IMG_4398_edited-1

Pantry

IMG_4715_edited-1

Laundry Room

The Marble in this kitchen was beautiful as well as the French Brass fixtures.

IMG_4083_edited-1

Kitchen Island & Sink

 

 

IMG_4162_edited-1

Master Bedroom

 

IMG_5736_edited-1

Office

flat surface cooktop,stainless hood,contemporary kitchen,custom cabinets

Jeneane Beaver Kitchen Remodel

/in /by

Kitchen & Bath Designer Jeneane Beaver Creates contemporary look for her own 1980’s home.

As a kitchen and bath designer, Jeneane Beaver loved making her clients dream come true.  It was her job to create beautiful and functional spaces every day.  The home her and her husband live in was built in 1980 and the kitchen was not ideal for a person who cooks, nor did the room offer much storage.

Before Photo

Photo by Walker Woodworking Staff – All Rights Reserved.

The renovation process began April 12th, and was completed May 18th.  Follow this link to see more before and after photos of this contemporary remodel.

Jeneane Beaver has been designing kitchen and bath cabinetry for Walker Woodworking since 2008. She gained her foundation in cabinet design by earning her Bachelor’s Degree in Interior Design at Western Carolina University and is certified as an Associate Kitchen and Bath Designer through the NKBA. With 6 years of design experience Jeneane is able to truly create unique, user-friendly spaces and educate consumers on the many different cabinetry options available.

“It was hard to see all of those beautiful and functional plans I work on everyday, then go home to a decrepit outdated kitchen in my own home.” says Walker Woodworking designer Jeneane Beaver.

Walker Woodworking Custom Cabinets

Photo by Walker Woodworking Staff – All Rights Reserved.

Planning a budget became a top priority, for the project to move forward. Cabinets, granite, electrical, floors, plumbing, and eating out all became part of our budget.

The wish list:
*drawers around the prep area
*a vented hood
*built in trash and recycling area
*more storage
*space for brooms and ladders
*better functioning cooking appliances
*more countertop space and improved workflow

custom storage,drawer style,utensil storage,double decker drawer,dovetail drawer

Photo by Walker Woodworking Staff – All Rights Reserved.

flat surface cooktop,stainless hood,contemporary kitchen,custom cabinets,kitchen island

Photo by Walker Woodworking Staff – All Rights Reserved.

“We are absolutely thrilled with the results. Keeping in style with the house and leaning towards a more contemporary look we went with simplistic darker cabinets and lighter floors to contrast.”

“We know this will greatly add value to our home and it is definitely much nicer to use.  I can now say with pride that I love my kitchen!”  said Jeneane Beaver, Kitchen & Bath designer for Walker Woodworking.

Walker Woodworking can help you make the most of your space and design your Dream Kitchen, give us a call today 704-434-0823! There is no charge for us to provide you with an estimate and set of drawings.

Portfolio Items