Kitchens come in all shapes and sizes. Maximizing space and efficiency are the biggest challenges and offer the greatest rewards. No matter how wonderful the rest of your home is, during the long, wet winters in Seattle, guests tend to hang out in the kitchen. It’s important to have a floor plan that makes it fun and enjoyable for not only the guests, but the chefs as well. How frustrating to have people chatting away in your work space while you’re putting the finishing touches into the meal! We’ve installed everything from kitchen islands, large countertops, separate knooks and open floor plans to accomodate the entertainment style of our clients. I’d love to help you layout a kitchen that allows for great entertaining and cooking. Please give me a call at 425-313-1813 or email me at kallen@acs-allen.com for suggestions!
Posts Tagged ‘Seattle Remodel’
Seattle Remodeler - Kitchens
Tuesday, May 5th, 2009Swine flu - one more reason for a Seattle Remodel!
Friday, May 1st, 2009I don’t know about you, but it seems to me that I’m being given a message loud and clear - Stay home! This is a great opportunity to create a more inviting, fabulous entertaining and relaxing retreat right in your own home. Instead of traveling away from Seattle, now’s the time to tackle the home improvement projects and remodel rooms that you’ve put off. Is your kitchen ready for a makeover? How about your bathroom or basement? Are they ready for a remodel?
Let’s face it - getting away can be a lot of fun - but it often has a lot of chaos and headache that goes along with it. And with Swine flu - there’re added risks. So, why not stay home, relax and enjoy yourself and family. A few tweaks on your already loved home will bring your vacation to you without all of the risks. Consider including some of the luxuries that destination vacation spots offer. Have you thought about adding towel warmers to your soon to be newly remodeled bathroom? Heated flooring, multiple shower heads, music throughout the house, granite countertops, the list is endless of the many ways that you can bring your vacations to your home. Tantalize every sense - fill your kitchen with your favorite foods, set the table with your fine china, bring the spring flowers inside and inhale their wonderful aromas. Create an outside dining room or retreat with a water feature and decorative lighting, teach your children to make umbrella drinks. They can deliver them to you pool side (you do have an inflatable pool for your yard don’t you?)
Allen Construction Services, Inc. doesn’t teach cocktail making, but we do remodel, build and create value for our clients. We have helped many local families (Seattle, Bellevue, Issaquah, Kent, Renton, Redmond and more) remodel their homes - kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, decks, patios, new additions, basements and more. We’ve helped transform houses into homes that are great places to live and love.
Fall in love with your home again so it lures you in and makes you want to be there.
Give Allen Construction Services, Inc. a call to see how we can help you vacation at home - without sacrificing! Send me an email with some of the fun home improvement projects you’ve tackled.
Call me or email with any questions! Looking forward to helping you vacation at home,
Kelly Allen, 425-313-1813, kallen@acs-allen.com, www.acs-allen.com
Happy Earth Day - Remodel Seattle!
Thursday, April 23rd, 2009A look back over the last 50 years and it’s noticeable that we, as a society, have evolved in our efforts to preserve planet Earth. The construction industry continues to introduce new technologies and innovations to go “Greener”. In many cases, the cost to go green is still more than standard practices. Why is that? Do we get real answers when we ask, “Why?” I did. I recently visited Ecohaus in Bellevue and asked candid questions about the products and I got candid answers. I was asking about the catch phrase, “carbon footprint” of transporting exotic woods vs. using manufactured woods, why one stain that was 300% more expensive than the traditional was better for the environment, and many other Q&A. The bottom line is this - it’s my responsibility and yours to ask the questions and to make decisions that are right for each unique situation and individual. What is “Green” for one person, will not be for others. Awareness is the key - asking the questions that are meaningful to you and making the purchases that support your values.
At Allen Construction Services, Inc. we take the time to find out why our clients want to have their kitchen remodeled, the deck enlarged, the patio resurfaced, the bathroom renovated. In the Northwest, our clients are particularly aware of “green” remodeling. But, there are many shades to green and we try to find the right one for our clients.
Seattle homeowners choose to live in an area that is surrounded with nature - from the waters of Elliott Bay and Pacific Ocean, to the Cascade Mountain range - beauty and nature are luscious and ready to be explored. We look for ways to live with consistent values that include preserving that which brings us so much joy - the environment and our homes.
If you would like to find out more about Green Remodeling in Seattle and neighboring areas, please give me a call. Or - just send a comment to me requesting a copy of our free newsletter! I look forward to hearing from you. Kelly Allen, 425-313-1813. Kallen@acs-allen.com
Seattle Kitchen Remodel
Monday, March 23rd, 2009To remodel or not to remodel, that is the question. In really good times when cash is readily available and accessible, banks are viable and the housing market is booming, a remodel makes sense. But does it still make sense in today’s market? Absolutely - go ahead and spend the money on your home. Where else can you find enjoyment and get away from the stresses of the world outside?
When you’re remodeling, though, it’s very important to have a plan. What do you want renovated and why? Be sure to ask the why. We often find that once we dig deep to the “Why” we uncover aspects of the project that are essential while eliminating items that may be costly but serve little purpose.
For example, as part of a recent Seattle basement remodel that added approximately 500 sq ft to the house, it became clear that the current furnace would not meet capacity. Therefore, the cost of the project would increase for a new furnace. Not the end of the world. However, instead of incurring the additional expense, our client was able to select a highly efficient gas fireplace to add to the basement space. True - the gas fireplace did add costs to the project, but it also added ambient value. (And the cost of the fireplace was a fraction of the cost of a new furnace!) The fireplace created a warm and inviting atmosphere that otherwise may not have been achieved. It solidified the project.
Go ahead - add value to your life by remodeling your home. And - give us a call to help you plan, remodel and create value. Kelly Allen, Allen Construciton Services, Inc. 425-313-1813, www.acs-allen.com
Seattle Remodel - it’s all about the journey
Tuesday, March 10th, 2009Snow in March in Seattle. A lot like a Seattle Remodel.
What - how can March snow be like a Seattle Remodel? Let me tell you… Thanks to the unexpected snow, our plans were thrown out the window yesterday as our family all had to shift into snow routes to get home. It took the children almost 3 hours and a really frustrated bus driver to get home; I found myself in a long traffic delay and taking an alternative route, leaving my car on the side of the road to be picked up later; our daughter walked a fair distance home; and my husband, Doug, became the chariot for several neighborhood children, a neighbor and myself - getting us all home safely. In many ways, yesterday’s travels home reminded me of a remodel project. Our day started with a plan. We all knew when we had to be at our destination, how long we would be there, how we were getting home, and when we would get home.
A remodel, also starts with a plan - architectural drawings, a contractor and scope of work, and a schedule. Like our day, unexpected things do come up that change the plan, may change the outcome, prolong the project, etc. Like our day, the remodel is as much about the journey as it is about the destination. With a remodel, being able to expect the unexpected is a great skill that will help you endure the journey. Remodels in Seattle, Bellevue, Issaquah, Redmond, Renton, Kirkland and all other cities have a building jurisdiction that may impact the journey.
In a recent Mercer Island remodel, the detour began on day one. When we began our excavation, we found a buried septic tank. This wasn’t a huge detour from our plan, but we did need to figure out what to do with it. In spite of the detour our client says, “We had such a great experience working with you, and Doug”- Nan Mitzel
Is it possible to anticipate detours? Absolutely. The critical points of the project are when you’re working in areas with unknowns. So, to be ready for the unknown, think about the points in the project where some details may be missing, where there are unobserved conditions, or when you may still need to make some decisions. Key areas are at excavation - who can really know what’s under the ground? Places where the remodel may tie into the existing structure. For example, an addition to an existing house has a new roof that tied into the existing roof. Because the old and new are coming together, there’s a limited amount of responsibility that the roofing company will have for the existing roof. Obviously, they can’t guarantee that the existing roof is not going to leak and won’t need further repair. And the third place that can be nerve-wracking, is the finish phase. During this phase, all of the final details are brought together. Having your finishes picked well in advance will minimize the frustration and delays. Be sure to check lead times on cabinets, tile, granite, and other specialty items.
At Allen Construction Service, Inc., our goal is to make the journey as enjoyable as possible. Communication is key. We talk to our clients about what are the potential detours in every phase of the project. We provide a drop dead date for finish selections so we can avoid potential delays due to delayed orders. We find out what your biggest fears are in advance of the project so we can address those and give you a great experience. Our service areas are most of King County and a p0rtion of Snohomish, including Bothell, Mill Creek, Everett, Redmond, Lynnwood, Shoreline, Seattle, Wedgewood, Sandpoint, Queen Anne, Bellevue, Somerset, West Bellevue, Clyde Hill, Issaquah, Renton, Sammamish, Newcastle, Fall City and more.
At the end of yesterday’s snow day, we all made it home safely. As we gathered around the kitchen island, enjoying warm left overs from the night before, we all shared our experiences and felt very happy to be home. The journey was long and we were glad for the comfort of home. We want to make your journey a great experience, complete with the comfort of home.
Please call me at 425-313-1813 or email me at kallen@acs-allen.com to find out how we can make your remodel project a great experience.
Kelly Allen
www.acs-allen.com
Bellevue Remodel
Monday, February 9th, 2009Remodeling is all about finding a solution to a problem. The bathroom may be too old, the kitchen too small, the deck too weathered, the basement unfinished. Whatever the problem, Allen Construction Services, Inc. offers solutions. If it weren’t for problems, we wouldn’t have a job!
In Bellevue, one of our clients completed a full house renovation - kitchen remodel, bath remodel, new entry way, pergola, covered deck area, and new addition. The house is in Somerset, with a spectacular view, massive windows, and full sun exposure (when we have it!). Air conditioning didn’t seem practical to the homeowner for the few days a year that it gets hot here in the Pacific NW. In order to maximize air flow and keep the house cool even when temperatures are high, we installed a pretty trick opening skylight system down the length of their hallway (approx 15′ long). This has made a huge impact for the family - making their house comfortable on those warm days of summer.
Give us a call for a free consultation at 425-313-1813 - let’s find solutions for your problem!
Visit our website at www.acs-allen.com