Whether you are trying to tackle a kitchen renovation or building your dream house, the selection process can be daunting. Our interior designer has provided a breakdown of the 7 most common kitchen countertop options available to help make that process a little less overwhelming.
Granite For some time, granite has not only been the leading choice in countertops but is also the first to mind for many with its natural beauty to define any space. Coming in nearly 3,000 different color variations, there is sure to be a style to appeal to everyone – but maybe not to everyone’s budget. While the cost for granite has come down in recent years as the demand increased and more engineered options became available, it is still considered a very expensive material due to the fact it is a natural material and its labor costs.
Soapstone Soapstone is sometimes put into the granite category because it is another natural stone, but it really should be seen as an alternative for all its other wonderful characteristics. Coming in a traditionally dark, even color that can vary from gray, green, blue, and black with a satin finish that accents both historic and modern homes beautifully. It has been growing in popularity because of its flexibility.
Marble This natural stone is considered more temperamental than its counterparts granite and soapstone due to its porousness and fragility. Once it is scratched or stained, the repairs are difficult. If used in the right locations, such as a baking island, marble can really elevate a kitchen’s luxurious feel.
Quartz The countertops are usually about 93% quartz particles mixed with resins to create the slabs we are familiar with. Due to this, it can mimic the dramatic veining and other natural occurrences that are loved in marble and granite while also being nonporous and scratch, stain, and heat resistant. The latest trends have included integrated quartz sinks and blending recycled glass particles into the resins.
Solid Surface Solid Surface is a completely manmade option made from a blend of acrylic particles and resins pressed together into sheets. The appearance can be a deterrent for some because of the lack of elegant veining the natural options provide, but for those that do not mind speckles, they can browse the wide array of colors and patterns solid surface has to offer. Now considered one of the mid-tier options for the countertop solutions expense-wise, solid surface can look great in all kitchens.
Laminates
Also in the manmade category, we have laminates which are plastic-coated synthetics that are easy to clean laminated to a piece of particleboard (MDF). The great thing about the laminate option is that there are literally thousands of colors, patterns, and styles to pick from now that there is a resurgence in demand for the product. It can be found in pre-formed segments that are ready to use or can be custom fabricated.
Wood or Butcher Block
Coming in several different varieties that provide a warm and cozy connection back to nature, wood countertops can be fairly expensive and potentially problematic from bacteria build-up if not properly maintained. They are relatively easy to clean but must be oiled and sealed regularly. It is another great option as an accent counter such as on an island or used with rustic or farmhouse-themed kitchens.
Our first Net-Zero design came back in 2005. At the time Solar PV was expensive and rare for most of our projects. We focused on building energy-efficient to reduce energy usage, but Solar PV almost never got added. Then the price of solar thermal dropped and we starting seeing more interest in that technology. Today, things have switched drastically in the favor of Solar PV as panels are very affordable. As energy costs continue to rise renewable, “Green energy”, is rising in popularity. The switch to renewable energy seems like a no-brainer, there are several benefits to taking the plunge into a more environmentally conscious lifestyle, more specifically – solar power
GiveSolar is a non-profit that not only understands the benefits of solar power but is working towards installing panels for 20 Central Valley Habitat for Humanity households with twelve solar panels through their Solar Seed Fund. This project will not only make solar power more accessible but also promote green energy and the economic benefits of going solar. GiveSolar has been an active member of their communities since 2016, beginning with a solar barn-raising, since then they have been striving to eliminate poverty through green energy.
Solar power pulls energy from the sun that would otherwise show up on your utility bill, this form of energy reduces electricity bills, cuts down on carbon emissions, and can even increase property value! These panels save homeowners roughly $14,000.00 in a span of thirty years, panels not only work for you but work towards keeping our environment healthier. You might be asking yourself why doesn’t everyone switch to solar? There are common misconceptions that sway homeowners from going green, one of those being unpredictable weather, when in fact cloud coverage doesn’t significantly affect the power the panels absorb. Solar panels also don’t require warm weather in order to work, what’s stopping you from going green?
Have you ever found just the perfect shirt? One the fits just right and makes you look and feel good? I recently found a nice short-sleeve button-down shirt that is a heavy enough fabric, cut right for my robust shape, and came in my favorite color – black. It is rare to find just the right article of clothing since they are designed for the “average” person, meaning they don’t fit right for a large majority. Most of us have never had clothes designed specifically for our desires, body type, and preferences. Most of us have not experienced design rather live in a world of “no design.”
In the construction industry, this is also very true. Design can change how you live, work, and play for the better. Yet, design is almost always cut out of the budget. You hear the phrase code minimum as a standard to achieve when it is actually the minimum quality allowed by law. The result is seen in projects that in no way are customized to meet your goals for living, working, or playing. Most of our buildings and outdoor spaces are not designed to enhance our lifestyle or business or family life, they instead rely on “no design.” In the United States, we largely have not experienced quality design. Our homes in many cases are built to the lowest possible quality and are generic, not designed for a specific lifestyle. Many of our commercial projects are also generic, maximum leasable space the site will allow without thought to what could be if time was spent on design thinking.
How can we change the future if we don’t stop and design the future we want. We need to have skilled and trained designers creating our spaces where we live, work, and play. We need to raise the quality of our built environment to make intentional decisions about what is important for our collective future. Design matters and together we can build a better future through design. If we continue to move towards generic solutions for our built environment we will miss the opportunity to live the fullest life possible.
Our world is a better place because of music, art, and architecture. “Music is liquid architecture; architecture is frozen music” according to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. We work hard to deliver quality architecture and at supporting the music and art community. From ourFirst Friday art openingsto sponsoring the Shenandoah Valley Children’s Choir, we look for ways to promote art and music in our local community. So when we were approached about doing a renovation design for the stage at Natural Chimneys Park and Campground, we jumped at the opportunity.
Natural Chimney park and campground, located in Augusta County, is a beautiful place on its own, but it is also home to some of the best music we have ever experienced. Each year, the Red Wing Roots Music Festival takes over the campground for a weekend in July. This annual family-friendly event brings together amazing music and people. The existing stage on the campground was adequate, not designed for musical performances, and in need of a facelift. We came up with a bold scheme after meeting with the festival organizers and hearing their goals. We learned more about lighting, photography, and sound for a band performance in order to create the right type of space. Our goal was to make a performance venue that fit the surroundings, could be built for the desired budget and framed the performances. We wanted it to belong to the place, telling a story, inviting others into the space to create memories.
The result of our design work is this heavy timber structure built in collaboration with Herr and Company, Venture Builders, and Blue Ridge Timberwrights. This space, which was intentionally designed, has become one of our happy spaces in the valley.
“Music is liquid architecture; architecture is frozen music” according to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
Remodeling your home can be an overwhelming venture especially when you don’t have a solid vision. There are a million questions to answer once you decide to remodel your home – Should I add cabinets? What color should they be? Will the cabinet color match the floors or should I get new flooring? It is easy to drown in what-ifs, but hiring an interior designer can relieve most (if not all) of the stress that comes with this decision-making.
Interior designers have the ability to take a step back and look at the bigger picture, they break down this process step by step and make it easier for clients to maneuver. They can completely envision a room by just looking at paint swatches and floor tiles. This is what makes them such a crucial tool in the remodeling process- they act as a guide that listens and understands your own individual style and brings in complementing elements. No need to worry if your style is still undiscovered – that’s another part of their job, discovering it for you. Basically, they can see the future of your home before the construction process has even started.
Our in-house interior designer, discusses what she does and how she makes the design process easier, and cheaper for those looking to remodel their homes. This kitchen in Mt. Crawford is an excellent example of how to translate ideas into reality. This particular client was wanting to expand their kitchen and open it into the rest of the house, with one simple change of removing a wall we took a once closed-in overwhelming space and transformed it into an area the whole family could cook together. We also brought in details such as a chrome sink, tiled backsplash, and white countertops to make this space easy to clean for a growing family. Interior designers don’t just consider the now, they consider the future and the direction of your life.
If you are considering remodeling your own kitchen and have no idea what direction to go in you can rest easy knowing that interior designers do that for you. Our job is much more than selecting colors and finishes, we interview clients on their lifestyles, hopes, and goals and creates spaces for that unique individual. Aesthetics aren’t everything when it comes to her design process (although they are very important). Functionality takes the driver’s seat when it comes to details, from the way the sun reflects on paint and how rooms interact with one another through the home. Online house plans don’t listen to or understand your lifestyle and home needs, interior designers do.
The Elk Rock Meadow Farmhouse has started to take shape. I visited the top of Afton Mountain yesterday to see how things were going and to enjoy the views. Herr and Companyhave started their work with site layout for this majestic farmhouse project that will capture views across the Appalachian Trail of the Blue Ridge. This new neighborhood has a couple of houses already and the addition of this farmhouse continues the tradition of beautiful homes.
The challenges of the last year have been well documented. We were forced in a very short amount of time to adapt our business to a virtual world with remote workers. I met with these clients on a regular basis using zoom, text, and phone calls. We exchanged ideas as they told me their dreams of living in this beautiful place close to family. We sketched, erased, changed, and modified to develop the finished product. The Elk Rock Meadow Farmhouse will sit near the entrance of the neighborhood and fits just right into the topography of the site.
Working with clients online and remote was a challenge. It makes it harder to read body language, or to point at items on the screen, and communicate desires. We had to learn from each other through the process to be better at communicating and the process has made us stronger designers. We achieved Architectural Board Approval for the design with no modifications – a difficult challenge for any neighborhood. The house has a sophisticated style and one that will fit well in the neighborhood. The interior layout will enhance livability for this family, I hope for many generations. The house is custom just for them and is designed withaging-in-place features, durability, and of course healthy indoor air in mind. I cannot wait to see it take shape.
