If you’ve been considering a remodeling project in your home, you may wonder . . . “What would happen during an in-home visit with Bella Vista?” To answer that, we’ve simulated a visit with “Linda” who is considering a kitchen renovation. We begin with her call . . .
Linda: Our kitchen hasn’t been updated in ten years. It’s closed off from the rest of the house and isn’t very useful as a gathering place.
Jan (our Coordinator): Let’s schedule a free consultation for one of our partners to meet you and and answer any questions you may have. He’ll talk with you about your needs and your taste in design, and he’ll give you some ideas and more information about us.
Lance (at the home, after the initial meet and greet): This is a tudor home and it looks like the kitchen was last remodeled in the late 80s. Today’s kitchens are more functional, especially as a gathering place. Does anyone Who else lives in this home?
Linda: It’s just me, my husband and our daughter when she comes home from college.
Lance: Ok, so the design doesn’t need to incorporate features for children or seniors. What style do you have in mind? Do you like a more modern or more traditional things feel?
Linda: I like a classic look and but I also want some modern design touches, and definitely more modern conveniences.
Lance: Even though your kitchen is outdated, the last remodel incorporated some of the original materials, which may be worth preserving. Are we working with things we already have in the kitchen, or is it a complete gut?
Linda: I think the kitchen would lose its original character without the hutch. I’d really like that area to be a focal point, with a nice backsplash.
Lance: Great, we can get a lot of bang-for-the-buck by livening up the hutch and doing something special with your backsplash. You can choose materials in our design studio and our interior designer can also take you to our suppliers to choose the tiles. You’ll be surprised how many options there are. With your hutch and an elaborate backsplash, I’d recommend painted cabinets to retain a classic look and feel. There are hundreds of styles of cabinets, and lots of conveniences like lazy susans, chef’s pantries, and pull-out drawers that I can show you. By the way, what kind of counter surfaces do you like?
Linda: Granite. I love the black with a little bit of shimmer to it. My husband loves the marbled look, but we’re both curious about what other looks there are in granite.
Lance: There are tons of colors and textures in all different price ranges. We buy our materials from the quarry to keep costs low. 90% of the remodels in this neighborhood use some form of granite. If you think you know what styles you want for counters, flooring and other materials, we can provide a close initial estimate for your project. I see wood flooring in most of the pictures you’ve shown me. Is that your preference?
Linda: We love hand-scraped wood, and we’ve seen that in some of our neighbors’ homes. But is it a good idea to use wood in the kitchen?
Lance: A lot of people have reservations about wood, but wood holds up well unless you soak it on a regular basis without quickly drying it. It also adds value to your home if you choose to sell someday. With our suppliers, wood can be as cost-effective as tile.
Linda: My husband wanted me to ask, what are the most cost-effective, energy-efficient changes you can make to my kitchen?
Lance: Even though we’re talking about your kitchen today, the first thing we’d want to do is start with your attic insulation. About 60% of your heat loss goes through your ceiling. You might consider energy star appliances or a tankless water heater. Today’s light and plumbing fixtures are much more energy efficient as well. We exclude appliances, decorative light and plumbing fixtures from our contract as those are separate purchases you would make after shopping around. I can help you with what to look for and where to shop, and we will include the installation in our bid.
Linda: I know what I like from my friends, magazines, and HGTV, but what are the latest kitchen design trends in this area?
Lance: As you know, we do existing home remodels and new construction. Right now, wood floors have become more popular, and with the competitive cost, people prefer their richer look to tile. People also want more storage solutions, cabinet features like sliding drawers and appliances integrated into the cabinetry. People want lighter textures or smooth finishes on their walls, but with rustic details including light fixtures to retain, but modernize the original styles. There are more and more choices each month for counter surfaces, fixtures, plumbing, and the range of styles goes from rustic to modern art. We’ve installed it all, and made it work with the existing home and neighborhood design standards.
Linda: What kinds of protection will I have against malfunctions and breakage?
Lance: You’ll have all the manufacturer warranties. Our warranty is ten years on anything structural, 2 years on mechanical, electric or plumbing, and we give a 2 year labor warranty which is twice the industry standard. It’s uncommon, but we can offer that assurance because we take great pride in doing things right the first time.
Linda: Do you have any additional information including references I can contact?
Lance: Now that we’ve gathered all the information about what you might want to do, we’ll put it all together in the initial proposal. We’d like to invite you back to our office for that information. We’ll give you a thorough packet that will answer every question our new customers have had. When you come back in, we’ll go over insurance, time frames, and references who have had kitchen remodels similar in scope to yours. We can schedule a visit to our office today, or you can feel free to think about what we’ve talked about and call us when you’re ready.
CALL US. WE’RE HERE TO HELP. (214) 823-0033.
PDF of Original Article. Lakewood/East Dallas Advocate, May 2011
Buyers increasingly prefer warm, functional spaces, to cold, austere, and energy-inefficient two-story caverns. Double story entrance foyers, dual staircases, and gratuitous volume spaces are now passé. “Our customers are tired of expensive heating and cooling bills. They want more value with functional living spaces on both floors,” says Bella Vista Partner Darin Breedlove.
Expensively decorated, barely-used formal rooms are now the antithesis of today’s pragmatic design concepts. Integrated areas for daily living and formal entertaining, with the kitchen as the central hub, are the new norm.
