In our last post we revealed one of our favorite products – Cambria Countertops!  This week we wanted to explain exactly what you need to do to get your own Cambria Countertop installed.

Find A Location: While we like big box hardware stores like Home Depot and Lowe’s as much as the next person, you won’t find Cambria products at those retailers.  The Cambria company prides itself on establishing long-lasting relationships with a limited group of retail partners.  Our personal favorite such retailer is The Cabinet Store located in Apple Valley.  We love working with The Cabinet Store and our clients to create custom solutions.

Choose Your Aesthetic: Cambria countertops are available in more than 100 designs.  Color options range from calm neutrals to bright modern styles, creating enough variety for any aesthetic.

In addition to your color choice, you will also need to choose an edge profile.  As with other countertop materials, a choice of square, bull-nose or ogee edges are available (plus many more).  However, keep in mind that an ogee edge will be slightly more prone to chipping than the alternatives.

Get Your Estimate: To order your countertop, you will need the dimensions of your cabinet layout, information regarding backsplash requirements, edge profile selections, and the location and dimension of your sink and stove. Which of course we can help you with!

If there is any additional questions that you have about Cambria either give us a call here at Shaeffer Contracting or feel free to visit Cambria’s excellent Common Questions webpage.

Are you ready to purchase the perfect countertop for you?  Give us a call, and we will help you get started!

We recently had the opportunity to remodel a kitchen in Savage. The goal of the remodel was to update the kitchen, giving it more function and style. Prior to the remodel, this two-story home built in 2000, had a standard all white kitchen with basic countertops and white appliances. To give the homeowners the updated look they desired we installed new maple cabinets, Cambria countertops, a slate backsplash and under-counter lighting. We then refinished the hardwood floors to contrast the cabinets and updated the lighting cans. Lastly, the homeowners purchased new stainless steel appliances in a style that fit perfectly with their beautiful new kitchen.

In this, the last of our storage series installments, we are going to be talking about solutions in the bedroom.  Organization in our bedrooms is key as research shows that we sleep better in clean, well put together rooms!  Get your sleeping space into gear with these easy ideas:

• Headboard Storage Space:  Take advantage of any and all nooks and crannies afforded within your room.  The headboard is an often overlooked storage opportunity.  For a truly unique statement piece, consider having a customized built-in bookcase headboard installed to house lamps, books, knick-knacks, or photos.

• Under Bed Stowaways: Utilize the space under your bed by packing it with storage bins filled with off-season clothing, extra linens, or other seldom needed items.  Use clear containers to keep items visible for future reference and attach casters or drawer pulls to make for easy access.

• Expand Your Closet:  If you lack the proper storage space, it is hard to stay organized no matter how hard you try!  Bedroom storage centers on the closet.  If yours is simply too small for your needs, consider expanding your closet with a bedroom renovation.

• A Place For Every Item: The key to organization (regardless of the room being organized) is to have a home for each and every wayward item, making cleanup and storage a breeze.  Consider those things that are most often found strewn about your room and designate a specific place for them.  For example, if your throw pillows can more often be found on your bedroom floor than the on the bed itself, place a large wicker basket in your room as a catchall for wayward bedding.  If your necklaces routinely end up tangled in a heap on your nightstand, place a few hooks just inside your closet door for an easy place to drop jewelry at the end of the day.

With this installment we are wrapping up our storage series, but stay tuned for more home improvement tips and renovation ideas in the weeks to come!  In the meantime, check-out our solutions regarding bathrooms, basements, and kitchens.

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This week we are going to kick off a month of posts on storage solutions!  Are you looking to cure cabin fever?  Start by clearing out your counters, corners, and crannies to give your home some more breathing room!  We’ve had kitchens on the brain lately with last week’s post on our recent kitchen project and the post the week previous on kitchen remodeling.  So what better place to start looking for storage solutions than in a favorite room of the house – the kitchen!

Everything In Its Place: One of the number one rules of home storage is to ensure that everything has a place and every item has a home.  With that in mind, make sure random items that typically get dropped on the counter or stuffed in a drawer have a specific place to be returned to.  For example, aprons can be hung on easily installed (and removable) Command Hooks or kitchen pegs.

Clear Your Counter Space: Counter space is always premium in kitchen.  Make good use of yours by only storing items that are used daily on your counter.  Small appliances that are rarely used can take up residency in a kitchen cabinet, pantry, or appliance garage.  Keep knives and other regularly-used utensils off of the counter by installing a magnetic strip on the wall above the stove to mount these regularly-used tools on.

Custom Cabinets: Do you need additional storage space?  Consider replacing your kitchen kickboard with custom made cabinets perfect for baking sheets or other flat objects.  Make your existing cabinet space work for you.  Arrange your cabinets by frequency of use, with everyday kitchenware on easy-to-reach lower shelves and rarely used pieces placed up above.  Install a Lazy Susan to help maximize space and ensure easy access to all cabinet contents.  A Lazy Susan is also great for containing any spills or drips from messy items or liquids.

Do you need some help beginning your kitchen reorganization?  Contact us for more information on how we can help you make your dream kitchen a reality!

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The kitchen – often referred to as the heart of the home – is one of our favorite spaces to work in!  Thus, we were excited to have the recent opportunity to spearhead the kitchen remodel of a Hastings home.  The homeowners’ goals were simple – they wanted to update and refresh their space without completely gutting or remodeling the existing room.  Over the course of three weeks, we took their outdated kitchen, complete with old appliances, unusable counter space, and antiquated countertops, and created a fresh and modern room, perfect for functional meal preparation or fashionable entertaining!

We began by replacing the kitchen’s bland, tan countertops with a sleek charcoal Cambria solid-surface. To add more warmth and character to the room, we added a bit of color to the kitchen cabinets, installed contrasting crown molding, and installed new stainless steel appliances.  Next we upped kitchen storage capacity through the addition of much-needed pantry space.  Finally, for a completely polished and posh look, we installed a slate backsplash around the kitchen’s perimeter.  To highlight the new countertops and backsplash, we installed under cabinet lighting – a feature which has the added benefit of providing task lighting for meal preparation.

Overall, this project was a great exercise in giving an outdated kitchen a great makeover, without breaking the bank!  Are you ready to take your kitchen from drab to dazzling?  Check out our kitchen gallery for inspiration and contact us today to get started on remodeling your space!

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The kitchen is likely one of the most used rooms in your home.  Be it for gathering as a family or cooking as a single, the kitchen serves as the hub of a home’s activity.  As such, it is also one of the most popular home renovation projects.  However, kitchens must be more than just aesthetically pleasing; they must also be functional and efficient.  Take these considerations into mind when planning for your next kitchen renovation.

1. Angle Your Appliances: Whenever possible, make use of the classic kitchen appliance triangle by arranging the sink, refrigerator, and stove in a triangular pattern.  This layout is widely accepted as the most efficient use of kitchen space and the best way to minimize steps between work stations.

2. Plot Your Path:  Allow for spacious walkways.  A minimum width of 42” between countertops and islands will allow for easy access to workspaces and ease of movement throughout your kitchen.  When planning walkways, keep in mind the additional clearance areas that will be needed to open appliances such as the stove and dishwasher.

3. Storage Space: Kitchen storage space is often at a premium, so don’t forget to factor it into your plans.  Now is a great time to outfit your cabinets with large deep drawers and pull-out shelves for easier access.  Or, if your home does not have one already, consider adding an island for added storage and additional workspace.

4. Our Design/Build Approach:  Our goal is to make your kitchen remodel as simple and fun as possible. We want to take all of the confusion out of the process for you- as it’s our job to remember and take care of all those fine details. To learn more about our company and our remodeling approach check out our Design Build page.

Are you ready to remodel your kitchen?  Get inspired by checking out our kitchen gallery and contact us for more information on how we can help you make your dream kitchen a reality!

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We are excited to share with you photos of this home that recently received a new kitchen, bathroom and living room – and as you can tell from the photos the remodel turned out beautiful. We had a great time working with the wonderful homeowners to help them make their home a space the entire family loves!

Some of the behind the scenes work for this remodel included removing and relocating the stairs, removing a kitchen load bearing wall, and relocating the main floor bathroom. The homeowners picked rustic alder cabinets, Cambria countertops and slate for the flooring and backsplash. Seeing all the selections come together beautifully is always a fun part of our job! Check out the before and after photos below – you will be amazed!

A note from Anna: “I wanted to send you a note to tell you how much I LOVE MY KITCHEN! I need you to know how happy Dave and I are with all you did for us and how we are so happy we picked your company to change our house and our family forever!! I know being in business it is not always easy and we often don’t hear the thank yous, more the complaints. But I need you to know how thankful we are for all you did for us in the project!”

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