Despite the economic downturn, homeowners are still remodeling, according to vendors at the Adams County Home Show.

The 28th annual show features 50-plus vendors that are within about a 50-mile radius of Adams County. And most of those who have remodeling services say that business has not been faltering.

"It's definitely more affordable than buying a house," Jocelyn Wywadis, with Basement Finishing Company in Mount Carmel, said of a minor home makeover.

And the remodeling being done in homes is unique to the times, some vendors said.

"It's kind of strange," Les Hegarty said. "But with the economy, I've been seeing things I've never seen before."

Like mini-kitchens built onto homes,

Shoppers at the Adams County Home Show browse the vendors Friday night. The 28th annual show will continue Saturday. (THE EVENING SUN BRETT BERWAGER)

said Hegarty, who has been in the remodeling business for about 30 years. Or a basement converted into a tiny apartment.

And with college graduates moving back home with their mothers and fathers, Hegarty said homeowners have also been adding on so their children can still have that sense of independence.

Carol Caba, with Pennsylvania Home Solutions in Harrisburg, said when people contact her company for a bathroom remodel, it's not just for curiosity. They almost always end up having a remodel done.

A lot of homeowners have wanted to move from a bathtub to a shower, usually one complete with seat and railing. And maybe that's a sign of an aging population, she said.

Michele Reecher, of Gettysburg, attended the show Friday

night with a motive. She and her husband have lived in their home for 11 years, and they need new kitchen counters.

But that's an easy fix, said Jim Pickard, with Kitchen Saver in Lewisburg. And by just remodeling the counters or cabinets, homeowners save about a third of what a full kitchen remodel costs, Pickard said.

The 2012 Adams County Home Show is organized by the Builders Association of Adams County. Proceeds from the home show benefit the Builders Association of Adams County

Doug Beal, of Dog Guard, looks at some of the other stands on display before the opening of the Adams County Home Show on Friday night. More than 50 vendors were at the annual show. (THE EVENING SUN BRETT BERWAGER)

scholarship program. The group awards $2,000 each year to each of the seven Adams County schools. The scholarships are available to students interested in pursuing a higher education or training to enter the building trades and professions.

The home show is the group's biggest event of the year, and typically funds the scholarships completely, according to Kelly Crist, an executive officer.

jpalochko@eveningsun.com; 717-637-3736, ext. 151 IF YOU GO:

What: Adams County Home Show

When: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. today

Where: Allstar Events Complex, 2638 Emmitsburg Road, Gettysburg

Details: Admission is $4 for ages 17 and up; 16 and under are free.

Link:
Home show offers budget-friendly upgrades

New One-Stop Site Offers Inspiration, Advice and Community For Kitchen Design and Remodeling

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Williams-Sonoma, Inc. today announced the launch of Cultivate.com, a content site and online resource for kitchen inspiration and design. The website provides information about kitchen design and remodeling in one single destination, offering consumers advice from acclaimed kitchen experts, thousands of inspirational photos, recommendations for local kitchen professionals, and unique planning tools.

“Cultivate.com is part of our strategy to engage customers online around subjects they care about, and to help them enhance their homes”

Part online design magazine, part community networking site, Cultivate.com is focused on providing information and inspiration for kitchen design and remodeling – it is not an e-commerce site and does not sell merchandise. Designers, architects, and other kitchen professionals upload free profiles with information about their business and albums of their best kitchen projects. Consumers who join the site can then create private, online inspiration folders with their favorite kitchen designs and information on the professionals they are interested in working with. Cultivate.com also provides an opportunity for consumers to share their ideas and their kitchens with other enthusiasts.

“Our customers are passionate about their homes, and when we surveyed them about kitchen renovation we heard a common theme – that designing a kitchen can be overwhelming,” said Katherine Rice, vice president of business development, Williams-Sonoma, Inc. “So we created Cultivate.com to offer a resource with an inspirational yet practical point of view, helping make their ideal kitchen a reality.”

Other features of the site include articles and savvy advice from Cultivate.com’s key contributors, a hand-selected group of top designers, architects, craftsmen, and kitchen professionals who share their best design advice, and planning tools such as the Cultivate.com remodeling budget calculator.

“Cultivate.com is part of our strategy to engage customers online around subjects they care about, and to help them enhance their homes,” said Pat Connolly, chief marketing officer, Williams-Sonoma, Inc. “Our e-commerce sites attract more than 100 million unique visitors annually, all of whom share an affinity for creating a beautiful home, and now those visitors can tap into all that Cultivate.com offers.”

For design professionals, the site offers a unique opportunity to showcase their expertise and connect with a large audience interested in kitchen design. In addition, the site partners with leading kitchen manufacturers—including Cambria USA, Miele, Walker Zanger, Sub-Zero and Wolf, and Benjamin Moore—who lend their expertise to the site.

For many, the kitchen is the most important room in the home, and it is a passion point for the Williams-Sonoma, Inc. customer. Cultivate.com will offer a wide range of exciting new content, as well as innovative features and functionality, including a new social media component that will allow consumers to connect on an even greater scale with the kitchen professionals they admire.

As part of its launch activities, Cultivate.com is conducting the “Cultivate Kitchen Makeover Sweepstakes” from February 13 through April 9. A $15,000 grand prize will be offered in conjunction with key sponsors. Details can be found on Cultivate.com/sweepstakes.

ABOUT WILLIAMS-SONOMA, INC.

Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is a specialty retailer of high-quality products for the home. These products representing seven distinct merchandise strategies – Williams-Sonoma (cookware and wedding registry), Pottery Barn (furniture and bridal registry), Pottery Barn Kids (kid’s furniture and baby registry), PBteen (girls’ bedding and boys’ bedding), West Elm (modern furniture and room decor), Williams-Sonoma Home (luxury furniture and decorative accessories) and Rejuvenation Inc. (lighting and hardware) – are marketed through 592 stores, seven direct mail catalogs and six e-commerce websites.

More here:
Williams-Sonoma, Inc. Debuts Cultivate.com

Virginia Remodeling Company Uses Unique System to Renovate a Client’s Kitchen and Adds Another Award to Their Design Portfolio in the Process

Reston, Virginia (PRWEB) February 24, 2012

Continuing to defy the odds, this less than four (4) year old construction firm uses their proprietary Renovation Roadmap™ system to nab an award for another kitchen renovation, impressing clients and industry experts alike.

On January 21st during a ceremony at the National Conference Center in Leesburg, Synergy Design & Construction, Inc. (dba Synergy D&C) was awarded the 2011 Capital CotY Merit Award for “Kitchen $50,000 to $100,000” from the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) Metro DC Chapter.

“The Capital CotY Awards are presented to the best of the best design and remodeling firms in the DC area,” said Mina Fies, President and CEO of Synergy D&C. “We are thrilled and honored to be recognized for this kitchen in the most competitive category, amongst other highly qualified firms. Our Renovation Roadmap™ has become an essential part of every project we do, and we couldn’t be prouder to share it with our clients.”

About the project: The clients love their suburban home because of its great neighborhood, however, their old kitchen was dysfunctional for their lifestyle. As avid cooks and frequent entertainers, they requested a complete re-design to better support their family.

Relocating key elements of the kitchen and reconfiguring the oddly-shaped island was first and foremost in creating expanded counter space and storage. The clients fell in love with a red range and custom-painted hood, and a custom banquette with matching red cushions was built to tie the space together and contributed to the kitchen’s ‘wow’ factor.

The clients are thrilled. “From the moment we met Mina and her team, we knew they were our choice. They took the time to understand our taste, our lifestyle, and our personalities, and helped us bring a very lofty vision to life. They communicated with us every step of the way, helped us manage through the inevitable bumps in the road, and ultimately delivered to us a jaw-dropping, stunning kitchen that made us fall in love with our home all over again. We couldn't be more thrilled with the result, nor the experience we had working with Synergy.”

This latest award for the less than four (4) year old company will be added to a portfolio that includes a COTY Grand Team Award for “Residential Interior $250,000 and Under” in 2010, a 2010 Master Design Award for “Finished Basement” by Qualified Remodeler magazine, and two (2) Master Design Awards, for “Kitchen Less Than $50,000” and “Finished Basement,” in 2011. But Synergy D&C doesn’t rest on their laurels. Just one look at their extensive portfolio of unique kitchens, bathrooms and additions and you’ll see why this young company is making a name for themselves.

Photos of the winning kitchen can be seen on our Facebook Page:

About Synergy Design & Construction, Inc.

Synergy D&C is an award-winning woman-owned, Class A General Contractor serving Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia. Their mission is to provide outstanding renovation experiences by using their proprietary Renovation Roadmap™, which helps clients understand the design, plan for the exact costs, timelines, and schedules. Synergy D&C launched at the height of the recession, on September 19, 2008 as a home design and remodeling business and has represented construction costs valued at over $5 million.

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Mina Fies
Synergy Design & Construction
(703) 766-6333
Email Information

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Synergy Design & Construction’s Renovation Roadmap™ Leads to Another Remodeling Industry Award

Kitchen Remodeling Company, Cambridge Kitchens Creates High-Tech 3-D Designs to help clients visualize what their kitchen will look like.

Hicksville, NY (PRWEB) February 21, 2012

For more than 20 years, Kitchen Designers, Cambridge Kitchens has been the leading name in premium lifestyle products for homes in New York and the tri-state area. The company has now introduced a revolutionary concept of computer generated 3-D designs that will allow homeowners to visualize their kitchen beforehand.

The process begins with a meeting between the company's expert designers and home owners, and often the property architects and designers too. But all that Cambridge Kitchens really needs are the dimensions of the room, and the door openings and windows, etc.

"With our advanced designing program, you are now able to see your kitchen the way it would look like in your home," says Cambridge Kitchens CEO Nick Vassi. "Our strength lies with turning a simple idea into a work of enduring beauty."

After meeting with the homeowner Cambridge Kitchen designers take a picture of the existing kitchen as well as the dimensions. After that Cambridge presents the homeowner with a visual 3D sketch of what their kitchen will look like once it it complete.

Once the design has been finalized, the woodworking artists get busy and it takes them at most 2-3 weeks to manufacture a kitchen. The material used, including hardwood, is hand-picked to ensure durability, quality and a perfect finish. Machines using cutting-edge technology and software are skillfully combined with traditional woodworking talent for shaping and sanding wood into the required shape with precise measurements from the computer-based design.

Technology and computing innovations have an impact on every aspect of life today. This impact often changes lives for the better. But when cutting-edge technology is combined with a designer's vision and 20 years of traditional woodworking, the result can only be a magnificent masterpiece.

A little history about Cambridge Kitchens

The Hicksville, NY based company designs and manufactures dream kitchens on Long Island. With a decade long history of delivering quality kitchens and custom designed cabinets, Cambridge Kitchens has a rock solid quality assurance program in place that ensures every single cabinet is built to strict standards. The creative part is taken care of by the company's expert designers, whose job it is to come up with ideas and concepts for a spectacular remodeled design.

With over 20 years of happy customers all over the tri-state area under their belt, the experts at Cambridge Kitchens intuitively know what customers want, and this fact has been consistently appreciated by customers once they see their new kitchen.

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Nick Vassi
Cambridge Kitchens
516-935-5100
Email Information

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Kitchen Designers, Cambridge Kitchens Goes High-Tech With 3-D Designs

30-06-2010 14:50 We're creating an open plan kitchen by removing a wall and extending an existing wall.

See more here:
Open Plan kitchen remodel - Video

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Residential contractors are hoping that tight-fisted consumers will decide they need a new bathroom.

Or maybe it's time for those old kitchen counters to go.

Perhaps it would be better to add another bedroom than move?

After three years of slumping business, builders anticipate that the home remodeling and improvement sector will pick up in 2012.

"We have been in a downturn and a weak market for a really long time," said Paul Emrath, a researcher with the National Association of Home Builders. "But we are starting to edge up to the tipping point.

"The phones are ringing, people are calling and making appointments," Emrath said last week at the association's annual meeting in Florida. "But the next challenge is to turn those over into actual jobs."

In 2011, U.S. residential remodeling added up to an estimated $279 billion, about the same as in 2010 but down almost 15 percent from 2007. And new-home starts have fallen more than 70 percent around the country since the market peak in 2005.

"All things considered, remodeling has held up well in this cycle," said Kermit Baker, a senior fellow at Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing Studies.

"We think we are going to see better numbers coming out of the industry as we move into the second half of this year and into 2013," he said.

The National Association of Home Builders is forecasting an almost 9 percent increase in remodeling this year and more than an 11 percent jump nationwide in 2013.

"We are still not going to be back to where we were at the peak," Emrath said. "It's difficult to get financing.

"And a related problem is the decline in house prices; people don't have as much equity," he said. "People may not want to remodel when they are seeing house prices going down."

Remodeling accounts for close to 70 percent of U.S. residential construction expenditures.

The biggest share of home improvement spending, roughly 20 percent, goes for exterior repairs or upgrades. But kitchen and bathroom jobs are a close second at 19 percent of remodeling work.

Some of the glitzy fix-up jobs of years past are on hold, regardless of what they show on home decorating television shows.

Until nationwide home values improve, homeowners will be more conservative with their remodeling, Baker predicts.

Read more:
Contractors anticipate better market for remodeling

February is the anniversary month of East Bay’s Mara Construction. This local and general contractor, offering bath remodeling, kitchen remodeling, home additions and more, is celebrating 23 years of business.

Orinda, CA (PRWEB) February 15, 2012

Mara Construction, a general contracting company that offers services like bath remodeling, kitchen remodeling and home additions, is happy to announce that it has been successfully serving the East Bay’s needs for 23 years.

“By offering excellent customer service and good communication with clients, we have been so successful that the majority of our business has come by referrals,” Anthony Maramonte of Mara Construction said. “We like using new technology and take the time to do the job right. We offer complete residential services, from foundations and structural repairs to trim and finish to tile work. I am always on the job site and in constant communication with homeowners.”

Maramonte pays special attention to details, budgets and schedules and all of the staff at Mara Construction places emphasis on listening to the homeowner’s ideas. Great communication is crucial for a general contracting business. Maramonte also features extensive experience working with local architects and provides free estimates.

Mara Construction, one of the most reliable remodeling contractors in East Bay, is a full-service general contractor that offers a variety of services, including kitchen remodeling, bath remodeling, home additions and general renovations. They also complete repairs for foundations (re-leveling, structural or drainage), retaining walls and electrical wiring. Other services include new custom builds, design and engineering, doors and windows, tiles and pavers, foundation repairs, custom wiring, and a myriad of remodeling services.

For more information about any of Mara Construction’s services, call 510-385-8251, or view the company on the web at http://www.maraconstruction.com and http://www.remodelingcontractorseastbay.com. Mara Construction is located in Orinda.

About Mara Construction

Mara Construction provides prompt and efficient construction services at reasonable prices throughout the Bay Area because it believes that customers deserve reasonable prices for projects that will last a lifetime. Mara Construction takes pride in building and remodeling houses and guarantees that customers will remain happy and content living in a brand new or newly remodeled home.

Mara Construction is a big enough company to handle any size job, yet a small enough company to give the customer the personal touch they deserve.

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Anthony Maramonte
Mara Construction
(510) 250-3770
Email Information

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East Bay’s Remodeling Contractor Mara Construction Celebrates 23rd Anniversary

(ARA) - Upgrading the kitchen is on many homeowners' "to do" list. And for good reason. A minor kitchen remodel ranks fourth on the list of the top 10 home improvement projects that deliver return on investment, according to Remodeling magazine's 2010-11 Cost vs. Value Report.

But whether you're in it for the investment, or just to freshen up the space in your home where people spend the most time, a new kitchen look could be a fun, impactful improvement to your house. Some may start with a weekend project and a $40 can of paint, while others will jump into a $50,000-plus remodel. Either way, one thing is for sure - you can't go wrong with a beautiful, highly functional kitchen.

A simple refresh

If time or budget constraints limit you to changing just a few basic elements of the kitchen, focus on things that make the most impact. Even novice do-it-yourself homeowners can complete many of these items on their own:

* Paint the walls. Painting always tops the to-do list when a mini makeover is in order. It's an affordable, high-impact way to change the decor of a kitchen. If you're not changing out cabinets or countertops, be sure to select a color that complements those major elements.

* Add new accessories. Switching out the small decor details in a kitchen can make the room feel entirely new. Maybe it's replacing bar stools at the island, reupholstering pillows or a bench cushion, or even hanging a few new pieces of art or photos on the wall.

* Change the faucet. Often underestimated, the kitchen faucet has a lot of influence in the overall style of the room. Choosing a more up-to-date pull-down or pull-out faucet not only improves the look of the room, but can add significant convenience and functionality.

"Faucets in the kitchen are much more than what they used to be," says Kevin McJoynt of Danze, a manufacturer of decorative plumbing faucets and fixtures. "They play an important role in setting the decor and focal points of any kitchen."

A full remodel

Homeowners throughout the country are staying in their homes longer than they once did. Because of that, significant remodeling projects tend to rise to the top of the priority list. If you're in it for the long haul (or even to ensure you get that return on investment), a complete kitchen remodel could be for you.

When the entire room footprint is your canvas, the possibilities are exciting. While a contractor is recommended for most of these projects, make sure you're involved in exploring the options that will help you use this space as wisely as possible (yet provide beautiful decor in the process):

* Install display shelves. This hot kitchen trend is an eye-catching alternative to hanging wall cabinets. Taking down cabinets is a pretty simple task for two and hanging the shelves is even easier.

* Evaluate the flow of the workspaces. Adding more water sources to your room could improve efficiency and ease. Consider a simple, yet beautiful faucet on the island for prep, a pot filler by the stove to help while cooking, and a hard-working faucet at the main sink for clean-up.

* Mix and match your surfaces. Replacing countertops is one of the most noticeable changes to any kitchen venue. Quartz surfaces are a popular choice, providing a unique combination of quality, hygiene and a look of natural stone. Selecting a lighter color surface for the perimeter and a darker, bolder color for the island is a great way to add another design element to the room.

"With today's growing popularity in cooking and a rise in the number of at-home chefs, kitchen flow and workspace needs are critical aspects to consider when completely remodeling your kitchen," adds McJoynt. "The sink and faucet choices for each of these areas can play a big role in the functionality and enjoyment of the space."

Manufacturers such as Danze offer a wide range of faucet styles in various functional designs, according to McJoynt. So, whether you're looking to enhance a traditional decor, add sleekness to a contemporary professional-grade room, or something in between, leveraging faucets and other elements can help set the tone for the entire room.

To learn more about the beauty and variety of Danze, visit danze.com.

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Planning your new kitchen - renew or redo?

Boston, MA, February 14, 2012 --(PR.com)-- Massachusetts has one of the most stringent building codes in the US.

Here is a quick list of things to prepare and know before you start tearing up your kitchen or bathroom.

1. First off, have your licensed contractor file a building permit at your city building, or inspectional services office. Usually they meet in the mornings between 8am-10am and 3pm-4pm, but call your local office for hours of operations. They will let you know what you require for your permit.

2. You will need a drawing of your design and any alteration you will be making to your kitchen or bathroom. They may even get specific and ask you what type of appliances will be installed. Be sure to have all these items available for your contractor.

3.Your contractor will require a valid CSL or Construction Supervisors License, an HIC or Home Improvement Contractor license, and a Workers Compensation Insurance Affidavit form. (You should always ask for a Certificate of Insurance from your contractor to make sure he and his company is insured.)

4. The contractor will also have to present either a contract with your signature, and/or the permit application signed by you. This is to make sure you are authorizing the work to be performed as well as to confirm the cost of the project. The cost of the project will determine the cost of the permit. Typically $10.00 per every $1000.00 of construction. (i.e. If your kitchen remodel will cost $35,000.00, the permit cost will be $350.00.) Do not forget, this will not be the only time you are charged a fee for a permit. You will also pay for the electrical permit and the plumbing permit. Typically, the electrical and plumbing contractor add these fees to their price. Be sure to find out what those fees are. Fees vary from city to city, so you could either call your city building department ahead of time or ask your contractor to be informed.

5. Typically you can start the next day or so depending on how swift your local inspector is at writing permits. Be sure that you and your contractor abide and listen to your inspector.

If you follow these simple steps, your project will be headache free and run smoothly.

Aureli Construction is a licensed and insured company providing commercial, retail, residential and medical construction services in Massachusetts.

http://www.aureliconstruction.com

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Original post:
Aureli Construction Releases Tips to Prepare for Kitchen and Bathroom Remodeling

21-10-2011 12:30 kitchencabinetvalue.com Cherry kitchen cabinets are stylish. Cherry kitchen cabinets are in high demand in new homes, renovations and kitchen remodeling projects. Cherry wood is hard, durable and beautiful in color and grain. The heartwood is red to a deep reddish-brown, with a fine closed grain. At first, the color might be light when used to build kitchen cabinets, but it darkens with age. Solid cherry kitchen cabinets are among the most expensive of all kitchen cabinet wood choices. For many homeowners, the cost of solid cherry kitchen cabinetry is prohibitive. There is, however, another way to do a kitchen remodel with the elegance and beauty of cherry without the higher cost. The secret to affordable cherry kitchen cabinets is to buy quality cabinets that are stained cherry. The stain can be deepened and smoothed by glazing the cabinets. Cherry kitchen cabinets are a good choice. They are versatile. Cherry kitchen cabinets never go out of style. They look good in any design or door style. They work with any kitchen décor choice from colonial to contemporary. They blend beautifully with all countertop materials, flooring choices, color schemes and kitchen layouts. Like all cabinets available from Kitchen Cabinet Value, our glazed cherry kitchen cabinets feature - Solid wood dovetailed drawer boxes with steel under-mount, full extension and soft-close drawer glides. - Five-piece raided panel door and drawer face design. - Full overlay door and drawer design. - Cabinet ...

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Cherry Kitchen Cabinets - Video