We are excited to announce the winners of our Facebook and E-Newsletter Sign-up drawing! If you are one of the lucky winners we will be contacting you in the next week or two.

Drum roll please……

Terri Johnson – $50 gift card to Target

Julie Bye - $50 gift card to Target

Brent See  - $50 gift card to Target

Bryan Delmont - $50 gift card to Kwik Trip

Tom Krzmarzkick - $50 gift card to Kwik Trip

Cynthia Lind - $50 gift card to Kwik Trip

Renee Johnson - $50 gift card to Cub

Susie Bauerle - $50 gift card to Cub

Beth Pruden - $50 gift card to Cub

Thank you EVERYONE for signing up to follow us on Facebook and to receive our e-newsletters – we look forward to sharing our projects, along with other fun information with you. Also, we appreciate all of your referrals – thank you!  If you are interested, here’s a link to our referral program page.

Sincerely ~ Juke

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!

Hastings remodeling · home improvement · kitchen makeover · kitchen remodeling · Minneapolis home remodeling · Minnesota remodeling

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!

Apple Valley remodeling · Bloomington remodeling · Eagan remodeling · Edina remodeling · Farmington remodeling · home improvement · kitchen considerations · kitchen remodeling · Lakeville remodeling · Minneapolis home remodeling · Minnesota remodeling

We hope you had a wonderful and relaxing holiday season! One of our goals in 2012 is to keep in better touch with our past clients, supporters and friends.

The two main ways we are staying in touch and sharing what we are up to is through our quarterly e-newsletter and Facebook fan page. We like to share information about recent projects, home maintenance tips, decorating ideas, and our community involvement.

Please take a moment to visit our website homepage and Facebook page to sign up  for an opportunity to WIN one of the following (sign up for our e-newsletter on our website and “like” us on Facebook to be entered in the drawing).

PRIZES

3- $50 gift cards to Target

3- $50 gift cards to Kwik Trip

3- $50 gift cards to Cub Foods

Registration is open to anyone (so pass the word) and will end on January 31, 2012.  Remember, you must sign up for both to be eligible. Winners will be announced on our Facebook page in February. If you are already signed up on both you are automatically entered to win!

Arguably, no room’s ambience is more important than that of your bedroom.  Your master bedroom and bathroom can serve as your home’s retreat and your overall respite from the day.  Get the most out of your space by implementing one of this year’s most popular color trends to create a master suite atmostphere you can truly unwind in!

Glamorous Gold: Shades of gold are expected to be amongst the most popular color choices in 2012.  From mustard yellow and marigold to varieances of sunflower, this bright hue will serve as the shaping element for many a 2012 room.

Gorgeous Grays: After gold, tones of gray are expexted to be the next most popular color pallete in 2012. Great for creating a clean, spa-like feel, gray makes the perfect bathroom base color.

Bring The Outdoors In: Emphasis will once again this year be placed on bringing natural elements into your bedroom.  Use earth tone colors to create a tranquil setting for rest and relaxation.  Earth tones also offer the added benefit of being relatively neutral and, as such, serve as great backdrops for stronger accent colors.

Cohesive Collection: While starkly contrasting rooms were a popular trend in the past, 2012 will be the year of cohesive room
collections.  Coordinating color palettes between rooms not only helps to create a sense of cohesive flow, it can also visually increase the size of your space.  If two rooms of the same color are a bit too cohesive for you, obtain the same impact by using the same color but varying the shade from one room to the next.

Are you ready to create your dream bedroom and bath?  Contact us today to get your project underway!

color in your bedroom · Farmington Renovation · home improvement · Master Suite · paint trends · painting · using color

If you are a Minnesota homeowner, dealing with the possibility of frozen pipes is an inevitable part of winter.  Frozen pipes occur when water trapped inside them freezes.  The real danger, of course, comes from the consequences of frozen pipes.  As the water freezes and expands, it can cause your pipes to burst resulting in serious damage to both your plumbing system and your home as a whole.  However, this is certainly a situation in which an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!  Take these preventative steps to avoid frozen pipes in your home:

• Before cold weather hits check to make sure all of your pipes are properly insulated.  Disconnect garden hoses and use an indoor valve to shut off and drain water leading to faucets outside the house.

• If you know of a pipe particularly prone to freezing, allow the faucet to drip ever so slightly.  Keeping the valve open a small amount will help to prevent frozen pipes by allowing excess pressure to drain.

• High risk  areas include pipes located in garages or crawl spaces or pipes that run through cabinets or closets.  To help avoid frozen pipes in these areas, keep garage doors closed as much as possible and open closet and cabinet doors to allow warm air to circulate around the plumbing in these areas.

• When traveling in the winter months, shut off and drain your water system, deactivate any fire protection sprinklers, and never set your thermostat  below fifty-five degrees Fahrenheit.

If your pipes DO freeze, don’t panic.  Frozen pipes do not necessarily mean burst pipes.  However, if you turn on your faucet and nothing comes out, leave your faucet valve open and contact your plumber immediately.

frozen pipes · Minnesota remodeling · pipe maintenance · preventing frozen pipes · seasonal home tasks · winter maintenance

With 2011 coming to a close, we thought this would be the perfect time to take a look back at what the year has brought us.  Check out our list of the past year’s most popular remodeling trends!

Bathroom Remodels: 2011 was the year of bathroom remodels!  According to the National Association of The Remodeling Industry, “Bathrooms are the hottest 2011 project. Baths cost less than a kitchen or addition and most houses have more than one bath, so there are more available to be remodeled.”

Warm Tones: In the past year we saw a transition from the minimalist white designs of previous years into warmer and cozier earth tones.

Opening Up: Open floor plans have continued to rule.  Thus, the removal of interior walls was a favorite trend in 2011.  Because open floor plans facilitate flexible use of space and the maximization of a home’s square footage, this is one trend we expect to see continued in 2012!

Going Green: Homes have gone green!  From energy-efficient windows, lighting, and appliances to the use of recycled and sustainable products, it has never been more on-trend to reduce your carbon footprint.

Baring It All: In 2011, homeowners got down to the bare essentials and replaced carpeting with floor surfaces such as ceramic tile, hardwood, and laminates. The one exception to this has been the bedroom, where carpeting is still the most popular choice.

We’re looking forward to ringing in 2012 and seeing what the New Year brings to the remodeling world!

2011 remodeling trends · 2012 remodeling trends · Minnesota remodeling · remodeling trends · year in review

 From all of us here at Shaeffer Contracting, we would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! May you be surrounded by all the things that bring you Christmas cheer.

The term man cave has become a popular phrase in the English language today – so much in fact that whole websites are devoted to the observation and discovery of great caves! One such website, defines a man cave as, “A dedicated area of a house, such as a basement, workshop, or garage, where a man can be alone or socialize with his friends.” However, in reality a man cave is simply a space where a guy can relax or an environment that that makes him feel completely fulfilled. Because of this, man caves can take many forms. Here are some of our favorites:

• Man Cave Gymnasium: Does your idea of relaxing involve breaking a sweat? Consider making a man cave gymnasium, complete with non-slip flooring, ceiling to floor mirrors, and central air. Add cardio equipment and weight lifting machines before installing a macho stereo system to give you just the motivation you need to finish your workout strong!

• Man Cave Entertainment Room: A man cave doesn’t have to be a solitary space. To the contrary, some of the best man caves are those centered on entertaining a group. Create a focal place for your television, install a bar for pouring drinks for the gang, and invest in stadium seating for easy show viewing and your man cave will be the new weekend hangout!

• Man Cave Workshop: Installing shelving, work benches and tool cabinets can turn your man cave into a workshop for all sorts of masculine handyman projects. To ensure your undertakings don’t disturb others invest in noise-reducing insulation before picking up your power drills.

• Man Cave Game Room: Whether your gaming trends tend toward board-games or cards and poker, a game-based man cave can be enjoyed by many. Combine comfortable seating with a pool table, billiards board or other large components to create a space that is fun for all. Ground your space with functional and durable flooring that will withstand whatever play time has to offer and prepare for your man cave’s first game night!

Are you ready to create the perfect environment for you? Contact Schaeffer Contracting and let’s begin building your man cave today!

basement remodel · entertainment room · game room · gymnasium · man cave · Minnesota remodeling · workshop