A Recipe for Renovation

Written by Mont A. Kuykendall

A Recipe For Renovation

Step by Step to a Dream Kitchen – Part 1

"You never really know how to do something before you actually do it, they say. But, the challenge of remodeling a kitchen drove that statement home again and again,” says Mr. Jarvis, one half of our featured couple, at the onset of their kitchen remodeling project. “The biggest misconception that we had was thinking it would be a quick, easy process – wrong!”

The first thing to remember is to do it right, it will take time. In this case, where the whole kitchen is being updated – the flooring, cabinets, countertops, and appliances – it will take approximately 4-6 months from start to finish. Seem like a long time? Well, it is and it isn’t. When you consider the hundreds, if not thousands of choices, it isn’t a very long time at all.

“After ten years in the same house, we decided it was time to update our kitchen, rather than try to move,” comments Mrs. Jarvis. “Something we found helpful was collecting pictures from magazines, and even websites that contained ideas or products matching our tastes and vision for our new kitchen.” Looking at other existing kitchens can also be a source of inspiration. “We traveled to several display homes in the area and got some great ideas. It is hard to imagine what options you might have, until you explore other similar size spaces.” she concludes.

With so many different product lines, options and colors available, it helps to work with a kitchen designer. The Jarvis’ made a smart choice and decided to work with the staff at Cabinets & Interiors Inc. (C&I), located at 949 West Terra Lane in O’Fallon. With over 50 years of combined experience in the home improvement field and certification by the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA), they are more than capable of guiding clients through the remodeling maze.

“A designer can make a huge difference in the remodeling process,” says C&I Owner Matt Chapman, CKD, CBD. “Many people think that trying to do it themselves saves a lot of money, but the truth is, in most cases we can complete the work for about the same price.” A good designer can serve as the project manager, recommending other reliable contractors, such as an appliance retailer, marble supplier, and flooring contractor, to provide a smooth transition of work flow while maintaining control from start to finish; a big stress reducer for the homeowner.

“We are unique.  We provide design as well as help with interior decorating, which can sometimes get overlooked in a kitchen remodel, such as paint, lighting, window coverings, and blinds. All of the finishing touches that make the kitchen truly complete,” says Sharon Chapman at C&I.  This process usually involves several different companies.  “It is nice to have a one-stop shop for the design and decorating details.  I had no idea a place like this existed.  This has made the process much smoother,” added Mrs. Jarvis.

Know ahead of time how much you want to spend. “The hardest thing to get some people to reveal is their budget,” comments Melissa Platipodis, a designer at C&I. “Until we know what the customer wants to spend, it is very hard to guide them in the right direction.” With a BFA in Interior Design, Melissa knows how to coordinate the wants of the homeowner with the associated costs. “We love an educated consumer,” she says. “We like it when the person is honest about their budget, and has done enough homework to at least know what they don’t like. We can then work with them to choose the styles, colors and products that will best reflect what they have in mind for their dream kitchen at the best possible price.”

When it came to selecting their appliances, the Jarvis’ chose Authorized Builder Sales, Inc. (ABS), owned by Lyle Downs, and located in St. Charles. “The large showroom was filled with a wide variety of appliances,” comments Mr. Jarvis. ”Everything you could possibly need in the kitchen was on display. It helped us visualize how it would look in the kitchen, and, Sherry Knoblauch (ABS) was wonderful to work with.”

“We enjoy working with people who want to personally select the products and appliances that are installed in their home,” says Sherry Knoblauch at ABS. “Many times we are able to let them know about products or designs that they may not be aware of. We can also work with them on verifying that the structure of the house, utilities and space are sufficient for the appliances that they are interested in buying. We work closely with the kitchen designer to insure that everything comes together as planned.”

“The guidance from C&I and ABS has been priceless,” Mrs. Jarvis notes.  “We had no idea we needed to select our appliances so early in this process.  Now that we know all of the elements - appliances and cabinets, are so closely integrated, it all makes sense.”

“Eight weeks into the process, and the design is now complete,” says Mr. Jarvis. “It took several reworks, nine I believe, of the original layout to get our final design, but now we have moved to phase two – ordering the products and appliances and scheduling the construction.”  

“Getting to this point has taken several weeks of effort. And, all of this planning is only on paper to date,” exclaims Mrs. Jarvis. “But I know we are getting closer to seeing some action.  Marble & Granite Worldwide, our countertop fabricator, sent us to Global Granite & Marble to actually choose the slab of marble to be used.  There is no substitute for seeing the full slab versus a small sample.  They all have so much character.  We are a little leery of the upcoming construction but we are anxious to see the project move forward, and can’t wait to see the choices we have made become reality in the form of our new kitchen.”

As the Jarvis’ continue to follow their recipe for renovation, we will chronicle the assembly of their dream kitchen, and reveal the finished creation in the next issue of Saint Charles Magazine.