Custom Vanities From Owners Wood

A client came to us with some ideas for vanities and a pile of rough sawn, barn dried wood...and we got excited. It is a great pleasure to be able to take a clients own wood, work it down to it's finish size, then build custom cabinetry that embodies personal meaning, creating a unique, one of a kind piece of furniture.

The wood the owner brought to our shop: walnut, cherry & ash

Planing down to finish thickness

Routing the mortise and tenon rails and stiles

Aligning grain in rails and stiles

Mortise and tenon detail

Face-frame construction

Fastening face-frame to cabinet box

The finished product with (2) coats of a clear conversion varnish

Dovetailed walnut drawers, 3/4" walnut interior plywood boxes

Dovetailed ash drawers, 3/4" cherry interior plywood boxes

Kitchen Remodel With Custom Handmade Cabinets Transforms Ranch

This '80's ranch was the ideal blank canvas for an open & beautiful kitchen transformation. See before and after photos below, as well as what the client had to say about the process & product on Angie's List:

before/after 1

before/after 2

before/after 1

Review Date: April 07, 2013

"First of all I want to say that I had personally seen the quality of work that Meyer Bros. & Sons performed.  At that time, I was hoping that one day I would be able to hire them to do a major project for me.
It all started with a visit from their architect.  He listened to my ideas and then gave some options and direction for coming up with a final plan.  After that I was was given a quote for the major work along with optional items that I could select to compliment the design and function.  I decided on going with their higher end product line (cabinetry), a decision I am more than pleased with.  The entire remodel progressed on schedule and finished on time.  Everyone on the Meyer team was professional, prompt, courteous, friendly and dependable.  Any minor bumps in the road were quickly smoothed out.  
After visiting this years Home and Garden show, no one compares to the superior quality of Meyer Brothers & Sons product.  Their craftsmanship was unmatched.  I firmly believe you get what you pay for and I glad that I used Meyer Bros. & Sons.
Overall this was a most wonderful experience and I absolutely love my kitchen.  As far as I am concerned my kitchen is the best kitchen ever!  I can't think of any company I recommend any more highly that Meyer Brothers & Sons.

-Mickey"

"6 Must-Know Lessons From a Serial Renovator"

These lessons seems to good not to share:

(excerpt from an article written by Bud Dietrich, as published on http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/9162941/list?utm_source=Houzz&utm_campaign=u257&utm_medium=email&utm_content=gallery11)

"1. When it comes to size, use the Goldilocks rule.
With all the talk about houses that are too big and the trend toward small, what's sometimes lost is the notion of the right-size house.
Rightsizing is just that: making a place that fits you and your needs without excess or its opposite. So, unless you own a catering company, a kitchen that allows for plenty of counter space while avoiding the need to be on roller skates to get from sink to stove to refrigerator is an example of rightsizing.

2. Yes, details do matter.
With all the talk about houses that are too big and the trend toward small, what's sometimes lost is the notion of the right-size house.
Rightsizing is just that: making a place that fits you and your needs without excess or its opposite. So, unless you own a catering company, a kitchen that allows for plenty of counter space while avoiding the need to be on roller skates to get from sink to stove to refrigerator is an example of rightsizing.

3. Avoid saying, "While we're at it, we might as well ... "
Often the trick to managing a renovation project is knowing when to say when. It's really easy to go beyond what you initially thought would be the project, because everything in a house is so interconnected. But unless you have the funds and the desire to tackle the whole house at once, take it in stages. But first make sure you have a game plan, so you know what the end result will be.

4. Understand that the hip bone is connected to the leg bone.
Sometimes tackling the whole house is unavoidable. It just makes a lot of sense to bring everything up to current standards. This is especially true for historic and older homes. And improvements to heating, cooling, plumbing, electrical, roofing and structural systems just might be necessary before tackling the fun stuff anyway. It makes no sense to have that dream kitchen if you can't keep the house warm in winter.

5. Make decisions early and often.
You can never plan too much when it comes to a renovation. It doesn't matter if the project is to be done all at once or over several years.
Think of the project as an excursion. Sure, you can just land in a foreign country and figure it out as you go, but chances are you'd have a better time at a lower cost if you plan your trip beforehand. The same applies to a home renovation. You'll definitely have a better experience by making decisions early and not changing things in the midst of construction.

6. Keep your sense of humor.
Everyone considering a home renovation should watch The Money Pit first. The dialogue is filled with classic lines, such as "two weeks" as the stock answer to the question about when the project will be finished. Just remember that if it can go wrong, it will go wrong — and that it'll be all right in the end. So do your homework, trust in the professionals you've hired and enjoy the ride."

Looking for a new deck or decking surface?

Great Kitchen Remodeling Advice

Thinking of remodeling your kitchen? As a professional in the industry, this seems to be wise counsel. Check out this article I came across on Houzz: http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/1198907/list/Homeowner-s-Workbook--How-to-Remodel-Your-Kitchen

Virtual Landscape Master Plan

There seems to be a growing demand for 3 dimensional design drawings in order to help homeowners seeking to remodel gain ideas and vision for their potential project. This client has what she refers to as a dated '70's backyard and desires many updates, which include a screened-in porch, relocating her hot tub, new stamped concrete pool surround and landscaping. These drawings were created all via remote communication. From Google Maps I was able to obtain aerial images, from the auditors website a building footprint and the client sent me dimensions and site pictures. In order to gain her design sense, she created an idea book on Houzz containing several images that appealed to her. With this information, the following design was created:

 

Will I recoup my remodeling cost?

That is a very frequent question I get when potential clients are contemplating remodeling there home. I typically recommend considering cost vs. value but also encourage people to think more personally about their remodel. Do you plan on staying in your home indefinitely  Have you been waiting a long time to do this remodel? Once it is complete, will this be the home you plan on spending the rest of your days in? 
If you answered yes to any or all of these, I would highly recommend weighing your personal desires equally or greater than cost vs resale value data. Only you can answer the personal questions, and here is a resource that can help guide with the statistical data as compiled in the Remodeling 2012–13 Cost vs. Value Report (www.costvsvalue.com).