My wife and I have been saving for two years to be able to remodel our kitchen and we believe we are ready to go.  We have several friends that have done major renovations and they all have stories of going over budget and way over their promised time lines.  I want to start interviewing contractors but how do I know what to ask and how to determine who to hire?

Thanks,

“Man with a mission”

Dear Missionary Man,

This is an important question and I feel it’s important to add the advice of a trusted contractor, Emery @ MAC Millworks.

Emery says, “I should write a book on this subject because everyone needs the answer to this question. Here are a few good questions and suggestions that will go a long way in finding the right contractor.

1) Ask people you know if they have had a good experience with a contractor and if they are satisfied. You must be realistic in getting what you pay for, Champaign for the price of beer is not realistic. And most of all “Would you hire this contractor again?”

2) When interviewing a contractor ask for references and check them.  Ask about time line, budget, quality of work.

3) If you like what you hear ask the referral if you can come by and see the work.

I recommend my clients see three projects – one in progress (they can see what a home under construction is like to live in), a recently completed job (the new and old clients can talk about time line, budget, and the whole experience), and a job at least 5 years old to quality check the work.

4) Your contractor should spend “A LOT OF TIME” planning the project.  If he wants to start on the job before you have everything decided RUN!  The key to staying within budget is having a complete plan or “Scope of work”. Every job is different and each scope must be unique, typically I write a scope of work for a kitchen remodel that is at least two pages describing each step in the construction process along with a construction calendar that details the time line of the project.”

See, told you he’s good!

Now you have a PLAN not just a Mission…

Cheers, Kelli

________________________________________________________________________________

The Realest Housewives of OC

As many of you watched, Jeana and I had a blast remodeling her Bedroom and Living Room into her ultimate haven. You probably “owwed and ahhed” over her stunning bedding from Beyond The Sheets, and I could hear you cheering when I removed the, now famous, Moose painting from over her fireplace!  I am here, once again, to help you recreate some of the magic you saw in Jeana’s home. Truth be told, we remodeled her home on an average budget. You can create the very same look for much less than you expect!  Although georgeous, the expensive bedding could very easily has been replicated with a quick visit to that “Beyond” store or “Home Goodies”, as I call it. When looking for that rich, elegant look, buy one expensive, colorful, accessory ie; throw, duvet or pillow, and “go faux” with the rest!  European shams and dust ruffles don’t have to be expensive, they will just be covered up. And, Wal-Mart, (I nearly passed out in the isle) sells 600 thread count sheet sets for $80!! For a huge impact, copy what we’ve done here and paint the walls with a deep solid semi-gloss, and then glaze it with a metallic bronze. In a weekend, you too can have this budget friendly, beautiful haven you always dreamed of!

“Kelli has done an amazing job on my refresh of my home, her easy style and the way she really listens to how you live in your home, I have had other designers that would tell me how much I am going to love an ancient Japanese black kimono in my guest room, I hate it is depresses me!”….. Jeana Keough

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Make it Work!

After a month of boxes, tape, and bubble wrap I can finally see the color of the beautiful carpet in my new home!  If you are anything like me, 4 am is a perfect time to find a new home for vases, hang art and fluff pillows.  My mind was spinning as I tried to find new ways to design rooms using my furniture and my fiancé’s furniture harmoniously… Alas,  I listened to my own advice, “Find one unifying color to tie everything together” and viola, a cohesive, beautiful design.  Even if you haven’t moved but need a change, you can apply the same design principal and make it all work.  Walk around the room you wish to remodel. Look at every item that will stay in the room.  What color is visible on every single item in the room? For me it was black, yes, BLACK!  As I walked around my new surroundings, I noticed the black kitchen cabinets, black iron scroll railings, and black granite on the bar.  If my accessories didn’t already have black on them, they were going to soon! I left Lowe’s looking like I was going to graffiti the house, rather than spray paint sconces, lamps and mirrors.  I painted walls and even the mantel black. The result is gorgeous with that “designer” look everybody desires.  Don’t be afraid of paint, and just make it work!

__________________________________________________________________________________________