Building Dreams...

New Products Using Reclaimed Materials

Just in time for Earth Day!  I am loving these bathroom vanities made from recycled materials (from Bristol and Bath's Second Chance Collection) that I saw in this month's Remodeling Magazine!  We've never used this particular vendor, but I think it's a fabulous idea.  They've taken old oil drums, cleaned and refurbished them, and finished in copper or pewter.  A sink is then set into the top of the drum, and a mirror is made out of the old drum lid. 

They've done the same thing with old wine barrels - very chic! 

We love using reclaimed materials in our projects, like we did on this customer's house.  A great resource for salvaged architectural materials is Old Portland Hardware & Architectural (view their website here).

Spring Cleaning

Winter weather, regular use, kids, pets and other of life's joys can take a toll on our houses.  Often times, an area can be spruced up with regular painting.  This customer was getting ready to sell their home, and wanted to make a better first impression.  Here's how the front porch looked before:

And after:

A little paint goes a long way!! 

Master Suite Remodel Update

Cabinets are installed!  They need a little cleaning of course, but they're looking good!  Check back for granite pictures later.

Planning Ahead Saves Money on Remodeling

I saw this article (Remodeling in Stages Fits a Family's Budget) in last week's Oregonian newspaper's Home & Garden section about a family who is completing their remodeling project in two steps.  They wanted to add space to their home and also remodel their kitchen, but couldn't afford to do both.  Their designer came up with a plan to add on the space now, and plan for the kitchen later.  The important part of this process was that they put infrastructure in place during the first remodel to accomodate the future kitchen.  This future planning allowed them to not only save money by doing portions of the work that pertained to both projects, but also to create a space that looks cohesive, rather than looking like several independant (and non-flowing) remodels.

We've followed this same protocol several times for our clients as well.  One time, we built a two-story addition with a master bedroom on the second floor.  The first floor was an unfinished area currently used for storage, but the homeowners plan to use it for a game room in the future.  In another instance, we built an office that is pre-plumbed to be converted to an apartment for guests, aging parents or a revenue source later on.  This can also be good for resale, if the way you're using a room might be different from how someone else will want to use the room in the future.

Photo: A second story bedroom addition done several years ago -

How the EPA's New Safety Requirements Will Affect Your Remodeling Plans

The Environmental Protection Agency exists to protect our natural resources, and to protect us from natural hazards.  Many homes built before 1978 were constructed with some hazardous materials like asbestos or lead paint.  These materials are no longer in use, but we are still dealing with their effects when we remodel older homes.

When we cut into a wall that contains lead paint, dust or paint chips can be dangerous if eaten or ingested, especially for children or pregnant women.  To make remodeling these homes safe, the EPA has created new laws for the procedures we follow when making renovations in homes where lead paint is found.  Markt & Company became certified to provide these renovations by taking an 8 hour training class and registering through the EPA.

Before starting the job, we'll test the walls for the prescense of lead.  In short, we'll need to do a lot of extra protection and cleaning to make your home safe if we find lead paint.  Unfortunately, this can add some additional cost to your project, but it is worth it to us to keep you and your family safe!

Here is a photo of a job we finished recently of a master suite with a workout room:

Just completed - Bedroom fit for a princess!

We just completed this adorable bedroom addition in West Linn for a little girl's room.  The size of the addition was dictated by the size of the first floor of the house - there was a small area that didn't have a second story where this room could be added on.  The roof lines and window bumpout give architechural character to the room, and the owl motif and chandelier light fixture are extra special touches.

We also remodeled this customer's kitchen, adding bench seating in the nook and changing the island.  Here are before and after pictures of that part of the house.

 

The original kitchen had a nice-size eating area and an island with white cabinetry.

After: A new island in cherry wood with a granite slab countertop offsets the white cabinetry and butcherblock counters in the rest of the kitchen.  A new built-in seating area has benches with storage compartments, built to match the white cabinetry in the kitchen.

A close-up of the new bench seating area.