Everyday Conscious Living
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Your hosts: Kathy and Dennis Lang. Contact them with your opinions at Dennis.Lang@PrudentialNetworkRealty.com |
Kitchen Remodels and Remodeling Contractors in a Going Green Plan
Kitchen remodeling requires a serious budget and working with many remodeling contractor; which will challenge your patience at times. Despite all this, Dennis and Kathy were ready to take on their second kitchen renovation. The other one was about five years ago in a different house. Back then they defined the space and selected materials and appliances based on décor and brand, independent of value or basic function.
This time, the consciousness and awareness of everyday practical ways to steward our world, led them to focus on conscious living in addition to décor, function and value. So the constraints were different. This home has an Asian influence with a Koi Pond and Japanese bridge in an interior courtyard. Matching the feel, flow and Feng Shui influences of this home was essential to their objective with the kitchen project. Selection of materials and appliances were tied to sustainability and energy efficiency.
If you have any questions about the process, budgeting, materials, remodeling contractor selection and management, or referral to a therapist, please contact them. They would be glad to help.
Kitchen Remodeling Plan
We bought the house in August of 2006. We liked the galley layout but not the enclosed space. It was very confining and extremely antisocial as well as claustrophobic at times. We decided to live with it and wait to get a feel for the flow and get settled before making a major change. Taking a pause is best when there is any uncertainty when making large purchase decisions and ones related to significant changes in living spaces. In the fall of 2007 we made the decision to go ahead and to do so with an awareness of everyday conscious living for a good life.
We wanted to keep the efficiency of the galley layout but open up the space which would require a contractor to address demo and structural details; making the project beyond the scope of the typical kitchen remodel contractor. We wanted to recycle as many materials and appliances as possible in support of local charities and to avoid dumping anything in the landfill. Utilizing energy efficient appliances (e.g. Energy Star rated) was also important to us. Considering resale value, functionality and sustainable issues simultaneously throughout the process would require a lot of attention.
Kitchen Remodeling Costs
We set a budget of $23,500 inclusive of cabinets, materials, labor and two new appliances.
Going Green Pre-Demo Stage
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| Our sink and stove countertops before renovations |
We chose to use Kustom Kitchen Designs, a local company that we had used previously with positive results. Kraft Maid cabinets were chosen as they use certified sustainable harvested hardwoods which is very important when selecting wood products of any kind.
Green Energy appliances
We chose energy star appliances or better by JennAir refrigerator and a Bosch microwave to add to our existing appliances (JennAir slide-in oven and Bosch dishwasher).
Appliance Recycling and the story of Recycled Counters
Much to our surprise, we found recycling an issue. Finding a “taker” for our old cabinets, granite and appliances was not as easy as we thought. We had about 20-25 feet of beautiful granite to recycle as well as upper and lower cabinets. The problem was to find a charitable organization that would take the materials and reuse them in a rehab or new construction project. Habitat for Humanity could not take a small lot such as ours. We ran into the same issue when we tried donating toilets last year during two bathroom renovations we completed. After many calls we found a “taker”. Builders Care, a part of the North East Florida Builders Association, is a small organization that does rehab, ramp installations and new home construction locally for needy families. We were very happy when they told us they would be more than happy to recycle all the materials and appliances.
Finding unique sustainable materials and contractors who install them locally for residential renovations is not straight forward in Jacksonville. Yes, you can buy bamboo flooring and install it, but can not find bamboo cabinets here as you can in other locations around the country. Northeast Florida has a ways to go in the green initiative to catch up to other part of the country. We decided to go “Green” where we could, even in the smallest ways. We found a bamboo utensil drawer insert for one of the drawers and bought some organic cotton kitchen towels. Every little bit helps.
108 Gifts from Providence to conscious living plan
We believe that taking the step toward more conscious living helped reduce problems. The writer Goethe wrote,
"Concerning all acts of initiative there is one elementary truth: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too."
No problems were encountered during demolition. Removal of the soffit's did not reveal any strange electrical or structural issues. Removal of the wall between the kitchen and dining room was indeed non-structural as originally thought and there were no other issues to deal with. Overall, the demo and drywall prep was on schedule and not an issue.
Auspicious 108 and Cabinet Installation
Overall installation went well. The look and functionality was good. We had a couple communications errors that increased the kitchen remodeling cost and caused delays.
First, the finished dimension and location of the “1/2 wall” at the end of the bar was incorrect. What became known as the infamous “105 inches” was the minor detail leading to the wrong installation of the “1/2 wall”. The “105 inches” should have been to the inside drywall rather than the exterior drywall edge… so it had to be removed and shifted along with an electrical outlet replacement. Kustom Kitchen Designs agree to split the cost of this error so we were happy about that. The correct number should have been “108 inches” which is interesting because it is that auspicious number we all know about. What a coincidence!
Second, corbel supports were installed when they were not intended to be used. The bar top will actually be narrow, only about 15 inches in total width and will not require them. These had to be removed and the dry wall refinished. More money but not much. We did get credited for the corbels which were not used.
Third, the upper cabinets were to be “full overlay” which means that the doors butt up against each other with no show through between them, but they were not. Each center rail was removed as we had originally intended. New doors were ordered to provide full overlay closure. Finally, the microwave installation kit was bigger than originally planned which means we had to cut a larger hole in the cabinet which required shorter doors to be ordered for the cabinet above. It’s funny how it’s all interconnected.
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| Our sink and stove countertops after renovations |
Granite and Appliance Installation along with another small change
Granite Depot sent in a representative to template all countertops. There were no special concerns. Appliance installation was completed with no issues. As we all know, one thing leads to another….the older cabinets in the adjacent laundry room detracted from the “look” we wanted so we asked the contractor to remove them which also meant patching and painting for the drywall guy.
Final Evaluation and Key Take Away Points
Kitchen Remodel Cost and Schedule: Started on 1/3/08 and completed on 1/18/08… 15 days total. The original plan was for up to 30 days. We finished much quicker than we ever thought. We exceeded the original budget due to the small, unforeseen issues along the way but not by much.
Fit, Finish and Function: The look is absolutely what we were wanting. As you can see from our pictures of the remodeled kitchen, the new layout maintains the efficiency of the original galley kitchen but adds the openness for an updated look.
Remodeling Contractors
Would recommend all involved! Kustom Kitchen Design was on target for concept and design. Actual cabinets delivered were not full overlay as ordered, but were easily modified onsite. New doors were ordered for refit.
DKB Enterprises – the contractor (Don Bergeron): Excellent design, remodeling and finish work with his subs.Gary’s Dry Wall – Gary was excellent with great attention to detail. All surfaces were refinished perfectly.
Knight Electric – Paul was excellent as well. Very good advice for electrical layout.
Overall Satisfaction Rating: “Two Thumbs Up”
Our first party in our new space is scheduled to celebrate Chinese New Year on Friday evening, 2/8/08. Invitations were sent out and RSVP’s are coming in... So now it’s complete… OH WAIT, the existing dining room furniture does not match. It was purchased for the renovation we completed at the other house. The saga continues… it’s all connected and interrelated.
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| Kathy enjoying their new kitchen |
Summary
- Finding recyclers for your used materials and appliances can be frustrating because building material recyclers will only accept large volumes. Save time finding a recycler by starting with calls to local charities.
- Shop for appliances which have the ENERY STAR logo. You can also get a list of ENERGY STAR appliances at this site. You may also be able to get rebates at this site
- Shop for products made from bamboo, e.g. floors, cabinets, kitchenware