Uncategorized•
on October 14th, 2011•
Clients in the Hill Top neighborhood of Denver, CO wanted to remove an old worn down kitchen addition and build a larger kitchen for the wife who loves to cook daily meals for her family. For their addition, they had previously worked with a prominent Denver builder however, things did not work out. When the clients came to us, it was agreed that we would use the footprint developed by the builder but, we would take it from there and make it spectacular.
We met with the wife to discuss her goals and desires, both functionally and aesthetically. From that point, we developed three floor plan options for the kitchen addition. Option 1 was basically the builder’s kitchen plan but, improved to bring it up to the National Kitchen and Bath Association’s (NKBA) kitchen design standards. This gave the client a very small and almost useless island, not much cabinet space, and an eating area isolated from the rest of the kitchen. The client chose Option 3 which we used as a starting point to create the kitchen of her dreams.
In addition to designing the kitchen addition/remodel, we reconfigured the adjacent powder room. This added space for storage areas outside of the powder room for the client’s children to store their coats and school supplies, when entering the house from the garage.
Next, we worked with the client on the finish and product selections for their spaces. They wanted contemporary spaces that incorporated classic modern design styles such as an Eero Saarinen table and chairs for the eating area of the kitchen. We presented the client with several options each for tile, cabinet finishes, plumbing and lighting fixtures. Once the initial selections were made the design was well on its way.
Powder rooms can be the most challenging room in your home to decorate as they are usually small with no natural light. This is a space that should be opulent & luxurious and it’s an ideal space to step out of the ordinary. This room is a perfect venue to adorn your walls with a tame texture, delicate damask, fun floral or stately striped wallpaper.
I know what your thinking wall paper in a bathroom “not a good idea”, however powder rooms have very little moisture build up due to not having a shower or bathtub. Many of us still remember the curse and horror of peeling and out-dated wallpaper that clung to the walls of our homes. It seemed like such a great solution to add a little pizzazz to your room but, as many good ideas go, wallpaper fell short. This once mainstream wall covering went by the wayside and was thought to be the thing of the past.
However—with innovations in the printing processes and distribution—wallpaper is making a comeback into the market and into our home. With these new wallpaper possibilities many homeowners are reevaluating its many virtues. Wallpaper has the ability to add texture, color and pattern to your walls. No matter what your style is; wallpaper has an option out there ready and waiting to make your walls stand out in a beautiful way.
Wallpaper manufacturers even have an option for the Eco-conscious consumer. Wallpapers are now being printed on recycled or FSC (Forest Stewardship Certified) paper with water-based inks. Some manufacturers are reclaiming old used vinyl wall coverings and using it to produce new wall coverings. Making it easier to have your very own Eco Chic room!
Below are some images of wallpapers from a couple of manufacturers who offer a green wallpaper solution. Along with an image of how Debra spiced up her reception area with her own custom wallpaper.
Reception Area
Graham and Brown’s Eco Collection
Versa – Versa Collection
Bathroom Design•
on October 4th, 2011•
Last week, we had an amazing opportunity to share Debra’s personal home as well as the Debra Toney product with nearly 2,000 community members as part of the Park Hill Home Tour. On a hot September Sunday, seven homeowners opened their doors to the community, and Debra was one of them. Though her home was by far the smallest home on the tour, we think it packed the most punch.
The newly remodeled bungalow is a model for urban living. Debra gutted nearly all the interior walls during the redesign, and the result is an open floor plan perfect for the way we live. The Home Tour’s brochure cited the space’s rich color combinations that create a retro ambiance, the flow and space provided by the layout, and the kitchen-centric design suited for modern living as highlights of the home.
When a home is built with the homeowner’s use in mind, the result can be a highly functional, beautiful space, just like the one Debra created for herself and her family. The front porch with comfortable lounge seating invites regular Sunday guests and the warm whites in the kitchen provide an ideal backdrop for culinary adventures with grandkids. One major plus of this home: the ‘walkability’ of the neighborhood.
It’s just a few blocks from a wine store and a local coffee shop, and the neighborhood is always hosting community-oriented events like the Home Tour, street fairs and block parties.
In order to prepare for the tour, Debra was forced to complete a few final touches on the space, one of which included forgoing the existing traditional blinds on the glass front door in favor of a privacy-creating, but very charming, decal featuring aspen trees and birds.
Bathroom Design•
on September 26th, 2011•
Remodeling kitchens and bathrooms is a hot topic these days. A designer’s services will assure you of quality and distinctive style, but you may question – will a designer remodel break your bank? Debra Toney emphatically says, “NO!”
“We believe that an investment in good design enhances one’s quality of life and should be available to everyone and priced accordingly, “states Debra Toney, 3 Week Kitchens – Baths in A Week.
Previously a well respected builder of homes in the premier Denver neighborhoods, Cherry Creek, Crestmoor, Hilltop and Park Hill, Toney now focuses her expertise on design services for remodeling, with a specialty in kitchens and bathrooms.
“As a builder, I have been very mindful of project costs at every stage of every project. As your designer, I will help you identify your budget and work within it, offering you the latest quality products with exceptional value and workmanship”, Toney states.
Value for dollars is more important than ever. Selecting the correct remodeler can be a mystery and today’s homeowner wants to feel assured that the contractor is going to deliver on all agreements, finish within the promised timeframe, and, will not exceed project budget. Debra Toney offers kitchen and bath remodeling installation within an attractive 3 week timeframe, and is well within range of current remodel cost averages in the Denver area.
Whether your project is on the low down, midrange, or upscale, Toney has a personalized approach that is never the cookie cutter variety that so many remodeling companies resort to – all within published regional cost averages. Comparisons of Debra Toney’s Traditions Series and Signature Series kitchen packages, to the latest Remodeling Magazine “Cost vs. Value Report’ reveal that Debra Toney pricing is, indeed, comparable. These comparisons supports Debra Toney’s claim that you can have your designer kitchen and bathroom at an affordable price!
“Why is my remodel taking so long?”
This is something I hear a lot lately, and as a person who prides herself on exceptional customer service, it makes me cringe! But it’s a question that needs answering: why is it taking so long just to get these projects designed, bid, approved by the homeowners and into the production queue? I’ve got a few ideas.
Getting into the queue:
Since the burst of the housing bubble, if you’re still in business, you’ve trimmed your staff significantly. For a small to mid-size architectural/design firm, that means that you’ve cut back to one or two designers who perform most all the office functions; the designers are now acting as not only designers but they answer phones, work the front desk, serve as production assistants, estimators, etc. The owner might be taking care of the sales and administration on top of being the design director. Suffice it to say that those that are left are wearing multiple hats.
For the small business owner, this means that you might be everything; you’ve let the design and administrative staff go and you’re trying to do your bookkeeping and job bids in the evenings after you’ve worked all day in the office or the field. This is especially true for our subcontractors and trade partners who are by and large small business owners.
Obtaining building materials:
Many of our suppliers can’t afford to keep inventory. The demand for product is low due to the slowdown in the home industry; manufacturers will not extend vendors the credit they once enjoyed, which enabled them to keep their shelves full of product. As a result, everything must be ordered and shipped in; we produce very little for the housing industry here in Colorado.
All of these factors lead to a much longer lead time just to get to the construction stage.
The good news is that trades people are more available and more willing to work with designers on pricing, which is good because our clients are much more value-conscious. We have to work especially hard to find new ways to value engineer projects- the good old days when everyone, including (especially) the bank, was throwing money around are gone.
At Debra Toney, we have adjusted our practices in order to scale back the time you are in construction, and we are seeing that this offsets that annoying lead time to get into the queue. Through some very strict building systems and procedures, we can minimize the time spent in construction once we have crossed the threshold of your home. Hopefully, that’s the memory that you’ll have of your project- just how smooth and quickly things went once we (finally) got started!
The role of the kitchen in the house and in the family has changed. Where kitchens of the past were rooms of utility, hidden away in the recesses of a home, now designers and families are recognizing the beauty and function of this space as the core of a home.
Almost any host can attest that, try as they might to prevent it and encourage guests into other rooms, the kitchen draws us in. We gather around islands and the kitchen becomes the emotional center of the home. Kitchen-centric design reflects this feeling and creates a space that is as comfortable and well lived in as any living room.
In the late 20th Century, the idea of the open kitchen came about, and the walls between family rooms and kitchens were torn down. Now, this idea has evolved, and kitchens are becoming integrated rooms that are completely livable as architecture comes to reflect how Americans live their lives.
There is the notion that kitchen and home design should be holistic; a kitchen is not one element, but part of a working whole. This creates that feeling of security and comfort in the home; it gives kitchens spirit and nurtures all who live in it.
The kitchen-centric design should emphasize space and light as well as function and durability. Kitchens not only shape families, but communities too. School-aged children gather around kitchen tables to share ideas, and so do community leaders. It only makes sense that this important room is designed in a way that makes breaking bread and sharing ideas effortless and beautiful.
Adapted from “Kitchen Centric” by Mick De Giulio and Karen Klages Grace, (Balcony Press, 2010)
Uncategorized•
on June 29th, 2011•
In bathroom design, “green” is more than just a color. With homeowners adopting a heartfelt commitment to environmental sustainability, manufacturers are following suite and providing solutions for modern families. Creating an eco-friendly bathroom can save money and resources without sacrificing an ounce of performance or elegance.
During a bathroom remodel, an easy way to go green is to select low-flow fixtures. Switching to water-efficient plumbing fixtures could save the average household as much as $50 to $100 a year on water and wastewater bills, and also reduces the environmental impact of the household.
One beautiful, new option from manufacturer TOTO is their DuoFit In-Wall Tank System. TOTO is the only plumbing manufacturer to receive the EPA’s Water Efficiency Leader Award and this design, released this year, reflect what TOTO calls a “commitment to great design, water savings and making life easier for our customers.”
This system features a high-efficiency dual flushing system that optimizes water usage by allowing the user to choose 0.9 GPF (gallons per flush) for liquid waste or 1.6 GPF for solid waste. Because the tank is behind the wall and the toilet mounted off of the floor, you also gain more bathroom space and cleaning around the toilet is much easier. Its design is sleek and European inspired, perfect for an upscale remodel.
Aquia Toilet, courtesy of Toto USA, featuring the DuoFit in-wall tank system
Another design from TOTO is the Aimes High-Efficiency Toilet. This high-efficiency toilet (HET) incorporates the Double Cyclone flushing system, which delivers the most effective 1.28 GPF performance for the best customer satisfaction. The Double Cyclone system also works without rim holes, so there are fewer places for debris to collect, leading to easier cleaning and consistent performance. It uses 20% less water than traditional 1.6 GPF models and features a transistional design.
Manufacturors have also made other bathroom fixtures more eco-friendly. If your bathroom was designed before 1992, your showerheads probably put out 5 gallons of water a minute (GPM). Newer showerheads, like Moen’s eco-performance showerheads in various styles, use as little as 1.75 GPM.
Similar savings can be found by updating faucets to low-flow but high-performance models. Manufacturors like TOTO, Kohler and Moen are partnering with WaterSense, an EPA labeling program that encourages water efficiency and the use of water efficient products. Both of this brands have WaterSense-labeled products that meet the EPA standards for water efficiency and performance criteria. Items with this designation are toilets that are 1.28 GPF, faucets with 1.5 GPM and showers are 1.75 GPM.
The kitchen is often the heartbeat of the home; it is where memories are made, where friends gather and where family members connect. Something this personal should not be one-size-fits-all. A designer kitchen takes a family’s needs into consideration instead of using a standard mold.
Designer kitchens reflect the unique needs and tastes of the family who uses it.
“Designer” equates to a kitchen where the finishes are thoughtful and unique to the client, where the space performs at the highest level and still looks beautiful, and a comfortable and functional workspace is created.
While builders or general contractors may have seen hundreds of kitchens, they don’t have the same design sensibilities as a designer, says Debra Toney.
Designers like Michelle Ku ask specific questions geared toward getting to know a client well before the design and finishes are considered. Everything from how often you play bridge to how often you clean is relevant in designing a kitchen that’s catered to your needs.
A professional designer also has a vast and ever-increasing knowledge of trends. Ku and Toney learn about the newest materials, appliances and advancements well before the general public, and use their expertise and resources to benefit their clients, whether its 5- star quality food or an eco-friendly space that’s the goal.
MaryJo Camp, of DesignCamp, says that though people are varied, they do have some common needs. In kitchen spaces, these needs include invisible and beautiful support, as well as storage, space and design for different activities, as modern spaces often multi-task. How these elements are incorporated into a kitchen is a personal process that reflects one’s way of life.
A designer kitchen takes into consideration your complete family make-up and how you’ll use the space, making it a far more personal room that will serve everyone in the household.
In addition to having an individual take on design and functionality, a designer kitchen is beautiful. Kitchen designers, more so than other industry professionals, might have a better gut for putting materials together. Pairing materials, appliances and finishes in a beautiful and useful way is the art of design.
Clients in the Denver Polo Club were looking to update their master bath before putting their home on the market. The existing master suite consisted of: the bedroom area, separate his and her baths, and an office. In a previous remodel, the office was converted into a walk-in closet.After Michelle Ku met with the clients to discuss their goals and desires, she developed three floor plan options all within the existing footprint of the two baths. The clients wanted his and her water closets and vanities along with a jetted tub and a shower. Since it was extremely difficult to provide all those amenities within the existing space, Michelle proposed that they incorporate the hallway that was created when the walk-in closet was built, into their bathroom space. This added an additional four feet to the north/south dimension
Additionally, we suggested they take one foot from an extra wide walkway from the bedroom to the walk-in closet, adding additional space to the east/west dimension. After discussing the pros and cons of the three options and agreeing to add the proposed additional square footage, the clients decided on a combination of floor plan options one and three.
Next, we worked with the client on the finish and product selections for their bath. They wanted a contemporary bath that stayed within our Price Level One category. We presented them with four tile/cabinet/color schemes and several options for plumbing and lighting fixtures. Once the initial selections were made their new bath was well on its way to completion.
The major design elements that give this bath its striking appearance were the tile layout on the floor and the accent tile in the tub and shower areas. With the exception of the accent tile, all the product selections stayed within our Price Level One category. The small additional cost of the accent tile, allowed us to provide this bath its distinctive look.
Company News•
on March 22nd, 2011•
Reuse, Resurface and Revamp.
To assist our clients in maintaining their budgets as well as promote our passion for reducing our carbon footprint whenever possible, we’ve added cabinet refacing to our program- click here for a brief description of our proprietary program exclusively offered by Thomas Taylor.
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