This was your year to get organized, right? To create a system to manage ALL the paper, to go through your belongings and get rid of the excess, to make your space beautiful and light and clean… Are you always organizing yet never organized? It’s tough to relax in a place that feels out of sorts or as though it could always use a good straightening up. Tougher yet when you know that you could do better and live better, that you have it in you to finally get your home squared away and eliminate some of the headaches that occur over and over due to a lack of storage or a system that makes sense. As we are on the cusp of Spring Break, you are timely in thinking about how to improve, upgrade, or start from scratch to organize yourself and your family before the next “break” – summer! I’ve heard that summer bodies are made in the winter, and the same can be said for organizing your home. If you can get a grip on clutter and chaos now, you will be in good shape come June when the madness really takes over. Swimsuits and towels, sunscreen, crocs, hats, fold up chairs, bikes and helmets, sand toys, sunglasses, bug spray, water bottles, snack bags – these little devils are on the way. It doesn’t have to drive you crazy though, you can get started now to create a calming and enjoyable home to make your summer absolutely lounge-worthy! There are many styles and theories on how to organize, but I believe that only you know what will work best for your home and routine. It doesn’t make sense to purchase an off-the-shelf system that includes a tilt-out hamper for instance, if collecting laundry isn’t a challenge for you. Some people like to have transparent bins while others prefer to cover them with fabric. Drawers, cupboards, rails, slide out bins, and chests are some of the (many) options available for closets and mudrooms but again, the space should be designed around a purpose and not just what looks good. Case in point, I was inspired by this post from Instagram: It wasn’t long after I began taking measurements in my mudroom before I realized that having everyone’s shoes crammed into those bins below would be a total nightmare. Two shoes x multiple styles x 5 people (3 of whom are very spoiled children!) makes for a lot of footwear, and we needed a better way to find the ones we needed while trying to get out the door. While the image is still appealing, I’ve organized the shoes elsewhere using a system that provides one bin per person (well, someone has two bins…hint – it’s not me!) and also allows for an at-a-glance inventory to determine who needs new shoes. Other areas that can be challenging but incredibly rewarding to organize include the pantry, master bedroom closet, and wherever your sporting equipment is stored. Currently, I’m working on a proposal for a Sienna family settling into their new home. They were clever enough to realize that it made sense to create some built-ins now, amid the challenges of moving into a new space, so that they can get organized from the get-go. If you could benefit from a consultation in your home to figure out how to better utilize existing space, add some cabinetry, and finally GET ORGANIZED, please reach out to schedule an appointment.
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I’ve been fortunate this week to spend time with some lovely Sienna Plantation neighbors in their homes to look at items such as sheetrock/paint repair, whole home paint jobs, cracked brick mortar, a water penetration issue, and a cabinet hardware install inspired by the before and after images featured in my last post. I’m slightly biased, but believe two things to be true – first, that the homes in this community are some of the most beautiful (and LARGE, because… Texas) and second, that those living in them are inspired and determined to create living spaces that are both comfortable and welcoming. Thank you for your support and the opportunity to work with you and with your home. While it’s my business (and pleasure) to consult with homeowners on repairs and remodels, I understand that it isn’t everybody’s reality to be at a place where even necessary fixes are possible. The costs associated with day-to-day living (please don’t get me started on child care expenses…) coupled with picture-perfect images from Pinterest, home magazines, and those fix-my-everything shows can be incredibly discouraging and make anybody feel as though their home isn’t enough. I follow a blog and Instagram account which feature the #homeyouhave tag and feel the message is something that many can appreciate. It’s easy to say that we should be grateful for all that we have – our health, employment, children, love and support, a roof over our heads and clean water – but in this age of ultra-competitiveness, it seems we are being encouraged to look for more. Always. Those messages contradict each other, which is why I am focused on gratitude and appreciating all that I’ve worked for and been given. Now, that’s not to say that you can’t enhance your surroundings, even on a tight (or non-existent) budget. Case in point: the large wall featured below. Painting the whole space wasn’t in the cards at the time, but the room needed something. Hanging artwork was ruled out as it would have required numerous and properly-scaled (read: large) pieces to fill it appropriately. The second request was that the end result be child-friendly and stimulating. Oh, and finally – that the materials required not cost a cent. It took some time and effort, but here are the before and after images: I was fairly pleased with my efforts when it was all said and done, and even more so when Martha Stewart featured a new décor inspiration recently – a framed piece of wallpaper, which was a similar idea to mine. Both of these examples demonstrate a growing desire to transform our spaces with simple and often affordable changes. I'll leave you with this quote featured on #homeyouhave. If you are looking for changes big or small (or somewhere in between) or would like an estimate to perform one of the projects I’ve written about, please reach out for an in-home appointment.
If you’re a fan of Chris Rock, you’re likely familiar with his piece about the differences between men and women. Namely, that women can’t go backwards when it comes to lifestyle (and men can’t go backwards in another area…but that’s a whole other topic!) When we moved to Houston, I was absolutely rattled by the grade of kitchens supplied by production builders. The market I came from was known for high-value and fully customized kitchens with many cool features, few filler pieces, and – wait for it – cabinet hardware. Of course, these kitchens came at a (steep) price, and the tradeoff seems to be for the exterior appearance and cladding - Houston area homes use more expensive materials (stone, brick, cement board siding, stucco) than what was typically used in construction back home. To come back to my earlier point, it was difficult to go from Lee Valley knobs and pulls to …nothing. Literally, grabbing the edge of a cabinet door or drawer by the very edge to open and close it. If this is your reality, I hope these before and after images are of interest to you.This is a recently-built production home in Sienna Plantation. The cabinetry was upgraded from the basic offering but hardware was not included. The finish is brushed nickel to compliment the stainless steel appliances. Large European bar pulls were selected to scale with the size of some of the taller cabinet doors and the cups were added for charm. No other changes were made in the “after” photos but the impact of the hardware addition is very noticeable. The addition of hardware to the cabinetry also offered an improvement to the functionality of the kitchen. Opening doors and drawers via pulls and knobs is much easier than grasping them by the edges. It’s also easier on the cabinetry itself – previous to the hardware being installed, one of the longer utensil drawers broke and had to be repaired, likely because it had been opened improperly so many times which added strain to the construction. Finally, the natural oils from your fingertips (not to mention sticky ones covered in frosting, candy, and the like - just my house?) can work to wear down the stain or paint on your cabinets. If you’re considering adding hardware to your kitchen, it’s a good idea to do so before your cupboards begin to show signs of deterioration. If you would like stop prying your doors and drawers open by the edges, contact The Ashbury Construction Company today for a complimentary hardware consultation. You won't regret adding a WOW factor to your kitchen or making daily tasks such as unloading the dishwasher or setting the table more enjoyable!
I don’t cook. But I love kitchens! As a gathering place, the heart of the home and base camp for entertaining friends and family this space can’t be beat. I’ve been fortunate in my adult life to own 9 different homes. Most were new but two were resale and included older kitchens, one of which was absolutely dreadful and required a full replacement while the other needed only new hardware and counter tops in order to obtain a current look. Having built more than 25 houses (some of which had more than one kitchen) I’ve been around the block a time or two when it comes to this important room. While I haven’t seen it all and the trends are ever-changing, my grasp on components such as cabinetry, hardware, and overall layout is firm. I speak frequently about working with and improving builder-grade features because this is the reality that I am currently living in a production-built home. If it is yours as well, I hope to give you a jumping off point or at minimum, some inspiring ideas as to how to personalize and make positive changes to your space. If you are living in an older home many of these tips will work as well, although you may find charm and character have already been “built-in” to your home – lucky! If you find yourself staring at your kitchen day after day, in the space between not-quite-hating-it-yet-not-quite-loving it, there is hope. Without embarking on a full gut and remodel job, there are changes that can be made to improve the appearance of your kitchen as a whole. Hardware is one of the easier places to begin. If you are living in a new production-built home, there is a good chance that you don’t have any cabinetry jewelry at all, which is actually a good thing. You have the opportunity to choose the style and finish, without the limitations of existing drill holes or required patchwork. I’m finishing a hardware project right now and will have a post about it shortly with before and after shots to demonstrate the impact of hardware where there wasn’t any before. Adding a backsplash can not only improve the look of your kitchen but its functionality as well. In one of my homes, we decided to forgo a backsplash and paint the wall between the cabinets and counter a complimentary color instead. Until the first time my husband made spaghetti sauce (told you I don’t cook!) and it splashed everywhere. Fresh paint doesn’t wipe well and we ended up installing a tile backsplash in the end. Grease splatters are also far easier to wipe from a backsplash than a wall. Tile is a popular choice but I have also seen wallpaper, beadboard, and tin used to great effect. It’s possible that you like your kitchen but are either missing or have an extra “area” such as a desk or butler’s pantry that you aren’t sure how to use. These can be repurposed with a few tweaks into a showpiece with function. Many times the model homes have coffee bars, full bars, a china hutch, or a baking area on display for our visual delight. Selling a home has everything to do with how people feel when they are in it – if the looks of the brewer station had you feeling cozy, it’s possible to replicate this in your own home. Especially if there is an area in your kitchen that isn’t being put to good use – an example is the desk area. Years ago, these did serve as great command posts, but with cell phones and laptops it isn’t as common to set up a permanent space to accommodate these devices and the desk area has become a little lacking. It’s easy to allow the cabinets over the desk to become overrun with school papers, magazines, phone chargers, and the like (ask me how I know…) but a bit of time to clear that clutter and organize the central space into something useful and loved is time well spent. These are a few of my favorite spots that I have used for inspiration over the years (photos are from 2011) as created by John Weiland Homes in North Carolina. Painting your cabinets or adding a decorative finish such as a glaze or distressing is also an option; albeit a messier and more expensive one. There are DIY options available, but they have a tendency to make this project appear easier than what is realistic. I would suggest having a painter or contractor perform this job, and expect that all of your cabinet doors will be removed for the duration. You will likely need to empty all of your cupboards as well, which starts to sound like a bigger job for some than for others.
Other cabinetry options include:
Hopefully this has given you some ideas for your kitchen. The Ashbury Construction Company can help with any of these projects – please call, text, or email if you’d like a consultation, including cost estimate. I may not cook – but I still have plenty to bring to the table. Enjoy! Thursdays and Fridays used to be my jam. Then, I had three kids. And left the 9-5 grind. Meaning every day can either feel like a Monday or a Saturday, depending on how crazy the kids are or how heavy the workload is. With the advent of current technology, an office in pretty much every home, and trying to do more in less time, the expectation is that we are always “on” and ready for more. I know I’m not alone in this, but it always causes me to SCRAMBLE come Friday afternoons. Reviewing what has happened (or…not happened) during the week and planning for the next.
I was excited to start a cabinet hardware project this week and will share the before and after photos in a blog post just as soon as it’s complete. This project, like every other, included several lessons. I’m definitely eating a bit of crow over here; surely you can’t wait to hear all about it… My plan designer is almost done with the prints for the new build in Quail Valley but we are at a bit of an impasse. The master bath can be drawn with or without a corner soaker tub and everybody has a (differing) opinion. After building a house without a tub in the master bath and watching it sit on the market for too long, I’m pretty unwilling to omit it in this case. Several realtors have assured me it’s not a big deal, as there is a tub in the secondary bath on the same level but I’m not sure. The room is much more spacious without the tub, and it is one less to clean if you’re an optimist like me. If you have any thoughts on this dilemma, I would be grateful for your opinion. Finally, I’ve been trying to track down paint chips from the now defunct Martha Stewart line. The paint codes are tough to come by so an actual color to match from a chip seems to be my only option. I have ventured to eBay in hopes of finding somebody willing to part with theirs to no avail. I’m guessing that there are two types of people – the kind that throw away paint chips once they are done with them, and those who cling to them forever. If you have a line on any I would appreciate your help. Gosh, those shades are beautiful! If you’re interested in a hardware installation yourself, or would like further info on the new home I’m building in Quail Valley please call, email, or text. If these colors by Martha have you coveting a new paint job, we would be happy to help with that as well. May your weekend be filled with everything you love. I’m looking forward to basketball playoffs, (lots of) coffee, and landscape cleanup with my three helpers. Enjoy! I really loved my last job. Loved the work they did, loved the never-two-the-same days, loved the people. And I REALLY loved the water cooler talk. Except that it was more coffee maker talk, because construction runs on coffee. In my current venture, there is still (plenty of) coffee, but not much talking. So pour yourself a generous mug – none of that half caf nonsense please - and settle in for water cooler talk about…water.
I’ve lived in different homes, cities, and countries and can tell you that the water is different everywhere. Well versus city water; treated versus untreated; hard versus soft, and even the surrounding soil can have a tremendous impact on the quality of water you rely on each and every day. We drink it, cook with it, bathe in it, and use it to nourish flowers and plants – some of which we then eat. Personally, I am always far more concerned about the effect something will have on my children than on myself and water is certainly no exception. 1980’s parenting offered children in my home the choice between two beverages: milk or tap juice. For the uneducated, tap juice is water. I have followed suit with my own three children, meaning they consume many glasses of water daily. Just ask the dishwasher! Your water can also affect the way your skin and hair feel and look, the scum in your showers and glass, a strange film on your counters even after you wipe them, and even more worrying – build up where you can’t see it (inside pipes and water heaters for example). There has been much talk of chloramines lately and I feel it’s only the beginning. In Sienna Plantation (the community where I reside), a temporary switch between surface water and well water for a period of a few days had the residents buzzing. Is it safe? Why does it smell like chlorine? Who can I call and IS IT SAFE TO DRINK THIS STUFF? Water issues are the things of nightmares in developing countries – not the cushy suburbs of North America, right? While our concerns certainly pale in comparison, you might be uncomfortable with some of the information that is circulating regarding our water supply or experiencing some of the issues mentioned above and wondering what you can do about them. It is possible (and fairly straightforward!) to treat your own water by having a water softener, conditioner, reverse osmosis system, or combination of those installed by The Ashbury Construction Company. We promise not to conduct any of those scary high-school-chemistry-gone-wrong tests at your kitchen sink or to give you a high pressure sales pitch. What we will give you is piece of mind and higher quality water. The appointment is free and we have installed pricing starting at $1500. There are a variety of systems to treat a variety of issues and we will work with you to find the one that works for your home and your budget. Let’s not forget the unsung hero of this post and the majority of my construction work, without which this would all be impossible – but requires plenty of fresh water – coffee! Come on over here you sweet temptress and lie to me about all of the wonderful things we are going to accomplish today. I am so excited to get started on some refresh projects in the Missouri City area this month and wanted to explain what those projects entail and the motivation behind creating a construction program specific to the space that lives between a remodel and status quo.
This will be my tenth year in the construction industry (fingers crossed for diamonds and not tin or aluminum…ha!) and as such I’ve been privileged to cross paths with dynamic professionals from all trades, who have been willing to share their tips and insight along the way. Sometimes, the advice didn’t come until AFTER something went wrong, but in both construction and life, it’s true that experience is what you get when you didn’t get what you wanted. One such professional, Jennifer Hilton, is a fabulously talented (and immensely funny) interior designer and I give her full credit for the “refresh” concept. She is very much about working within your means and always finds a way to stay on budget – no small feat in the design industry or new construction in particular. She believes that simple changes can make a big impact and are within reach for most people. A fresh coat of paint, updating trim or moldings, adding cabinetry hardware, or switching out a light fixture are all part of her repertoire due to their price point, level of complexity, and the fact that they don’t leave much of a mess behind. Besides the refresh possibilities mentioned above, you may consider:
I’ve included photos below of similar projects but have found that the most meaningful ideas have come from those looking to improve their own space – the clients themselves. If you are thinking about a refresh of your own, please contact the Ashbury Construction Company today for a site visit and price. Good advice included at no charge. It’s day two of extreme rain fall in Houston complete with flash flood warnings, school delays, closed interstate highways, and abandoned cars. I hope you’re safe and dry and if you hail from parts north of the Mason Dixon line, are likely glad all of this rain isn’t snow. With rain comes spring and thoughts of renewal, of a fresh start. This often turns to thoughts of what needs to be cleaned, fixed, or improved at home. If you need help to remedy your house because of flood damage, please contact us for a fast response and site visit. If your needs are (fortunately) more of an enhancement nature, we would love to assist with this as well.
Living in a production-built home has its benefits and I’m proud to call my digs home, but can we please talk about the paint? Lord. There’s a reason the model homes are decked out in beautiful colors – I don’t believe any builder could sell these homes if the buyers were greeted with builder beige. There’s an old joke that the standard color is “mix” – as in the builder mixed all of the leftover paint together – but the shade can be fairly overwhelming for many and is often the quickest and least expensive way to personalize your home and make a large impact. Standard builder-grade paint quality could be better, as evidenced by many nicks, scrapes, and chips. If you have young kids and/or pets, repainting with a higher-end product will make a world of difference. Often, the trim and ceiling colors aren’t the most desirable either but they too can be altered during a refresh for a major improvement. The Ashbury Construction Company can assist with your repainting project, whether it’s a simple room refresh or painting your entire home. We recommend quality paint from Sherwin Williams and can color-match any brand, including Farrow & Ball. I will tell you that the results aren’t perfect; I’ve compared a Benjamin Moore match versus the exact shade of their own paint and there was a difference, but it can work if you are willing to accept that it won’t be replicated absolutely. We are fully insured, licensed, and manage your project from start to finish. I’ll end with a photo of one of my all-time favorite paint jobs. The light, the shade, the application all came together to create a flawless finished product. The color is Bunny Gray 2124-50 by Benjamin Moore and it is perfection. If you’d like something like this in your home, please contact us now! Happy New Year! Here’s to a bright 2017 and the realization of your professional goals and personal wishes, no matter how grand they seem from where you’re standing. The start of the school year and the start of a new year are always incredibly inspiring for me and I’m both grateful and humbled for the opportunity to look back as well as the chance for yet another shot. Last year was tremendously challenging for many (myself included) and I feel seriously connected to anybody proclaiming this will be their year.
The last quarter of 2016 was busy and ended on a good note. We were privileged to have taken on a few smaller projects in Sienna Plantation and appreciate those clients reaching out and allowing us the opportunity to serve them. If you find yourself needing some work done at your home in the Houston area, we would love to be a part of it. Feel free to contact me directly via email or text/phone so that you can be counted among our growing legion of satisfied customers! I was hopeful that there might be time to build some shelving and cabinetry in my own living room but that wall must have grown between my imagination and the measuring tape – when I took the dimensions and realized it was nearly 13 feet long my vision of a quick and dirty project vanished. So the wall remains naked…for now. We’ve also been busy prepping a lot in the Quail Valley neighborhood of Missouri City for construction of a new home. It’s taking some time to get the plan just right – the lot backs on to a golf course and I want to ensure the spectacular view is showcased to death. Pretty sure the designer is tired of hearing about it, but I’ve rushed through plans before and regretted it. I’ve learned the hard way too many times how much faster, cheaper, and easier it is to make the changes on paper rather than on site. Once the design is finalized, I will share it here as well as on our upcoming projects page. As it is being built on spec (that is, without a buyer) it will likely be listed for sale on MLS fairly quickly as well. I will leave you with an image of the view I’m enjoying these days – my office. I have never had a space outside of my home or one entirely to myself and it feels incredibly luxurious. I’ve added this to this list of what I’m grateful for and know that it will contribute to continued success this year. This post is long overdue, but has been on my mind and I hope you’ll humor me. The blog entries I wrote for my previous construction company varied between too much personal content versus strict construction information – I enjoyed sharing pieces from both areas of my life and had readers who felt similarly.
In July of this year, my family’s Visas were revoked without notice and we had to leave Texas in order to work out our immigration issues from Canada. We left our home, our friends, most of our belongings, and our jobs. For the second time in a year I drove an F-150 and a covered trailer close to 2000 miles over four days, only this time headed North instead of South. While the trip was thankfully uneventful, the days were some of my darkest as I worried what good was in our future. Within a span of four months, we were able to obtain new Visas and re-entered the US in November (on my birthday, no less). Along the way, there were many helping hands, kind souls, and moments of such generosity I’ve been left eternally grateful. While the deportation process was calm, cold, and devoid of any compassion, effectively blowing our lives up in a matter of 30 minutes, I’m focusing on that which came after the bad news which was nothing short of a miracle. Our family, friends both new and old, and perfect strangers banded together to ensure that we felt cared for and capable of resolving this. While this ordeal has left its mark in more ways than one, I am choosing gratitude as we settle back into our “old” life. Thank you for your thoughts, prayers, and encouraging words. Thank you for helping our family in any way possible. Thank you for looking after our home and for your help finding a temporary one in Canada. Thank you for believing in us and sharing our hope that we would indeed return. Thank you for listening and sharing your advice. Thank you for your kindness to our kids. Thank you for lifting us up and the reminder that a set-back is just that. Thank you for not giving up. Thank you. |
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April 2020
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