Like CCW on Facebook and Raise Money for Habitat for Humanity!

CCW needs your help to raise money for the Capital District Habitat for Humanity! Click the image below and “like” Columbia CabinetWorks on Facebook.  For every “like”, we’ll donate $10 to the organization!

Want to help even more? Grab your camera and take a picture of your favorite kitchen or bathroom detail, such as your cabinet handles, your kitchen backsplash or maybe even your bathroom sink.  Once you’ve taken the picture, upload it to our Facebook Page and we’ll donate an additional $5 to Habitat for Humanity.

Our goal is raise $500 for this wonderful organization to help fund home ownership opportunities to low income households. The campaign will conclude May 6, so go ahead…be a “friend” and “like” us today.  It’s quick, easy and we can’t do it without you!

Please share this post with your friends on Facebook and Twitter.  We need your help to spread the word!

-Laura

What a Great Weekend!

Thank you everyone for stopping by our showroom at the Times Union Center this weekend.  We had another successful year at the Great Northeast Home Show and couldn’t have done it without you.  I always enjoy meeting people who are interested in renovating their homes and seeking design ideas.  It really gets my juices flowing.

With today’s economy, we were thrilled to see many homeowners at Evan’s seminar to learn creative ways to shave 10% off a kitchen renovation, without compromising on design or function.  After the presentation, it was great to hear that people found it informative and to the point.  I really enjoyed it when Evan told home owners they should consider the things they need, the things they want and the things they cannot live without in the kitchen.  Like I have said before, you should renovate a room to fit your tastes and lifestyle.  Designing and installing what you really want in your home will make you happy and make the project a success.

I would also like to give a special thank you to Ali for helping with the crowds this weekend and making sure the heaters were plugged in!  After last year’s chilly weather, we thought ahead and brought two to the arena showroom.

So whether you stopped by to grab a cookie or to discuss cabinets, we’re glad to have met you and hope you visit our main showroom in North Greenbush!

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-Laura

Great Northeast Home Show 2011 Seminar

As we get closer to the home show, we’re excited to announce that our very own chief cabinet guy, Evan Levey, will be presenting a seminar on kitchen renovations.  Evan will be discussing various ways to save 10% off your kitchen renovation without compromising its aesthetic or functionality. 

We hope you all will attend CCW’s seminar on February 12, at 2:15 at the Empire State Plaza in Albany, NY.

Looking forward to seeing you at the Home Show!

Evan Levey’s Bio 

-Laura

Want to Save $5000 off Your Home Renovation?

This month, we’re running a Home Show Special and you could win $5000 off your cabinetry order.   Visit us at the Times Union Center during the Great Northeast Home Show from February 11-13, 2011.  You can also enter to win by signing up through the link below:

ENTER TO WIN

This Home Show Special will continue through February 28, 2011.  Good luck!

Looking forward to seeing you at the Home Show!

-Laura

What Not to Do in a Kitchen Renovation

When considering a renovation for the kitchen, we all research the trends and styles for creating the perfect space.  But what should you not consider when updating the heart of your home?  Check-out these tips for redesigning your kitchen:

Never Reface Cabinets

When a kitchen is in need of a renovation, it’s not cost effective to reface the cabinets. On average, the price tag could run 75% of the cost to replace the cabinets and may not have a warranty.  There’s also a chance you could damage the front of the cabinets by having a paint job that doesn’t match the sides of the cabinetry.  Most importantly, it’s likely the layout that needs to be updated, not just cabinet surfaces to refresh your look. 

No Stock Cabinetry

Why go to Home Depot and get a standard cabinet when you could have a customized kitchen to fit your needs.  Having the freedom to design what you want in your home will make you feel comfortable in your space.  Also, there may be unusual spaces that need special attention to find that perfect fit.     

Don’t Skip on Mouldings

Reinvent your home by installing mouldings onto the walls and ceilings.  Mouldings make a world of difference by accenting the space with a creative flair. Another great benefit; they can instantly increase your property value. 

Turn Off the Fluorescent Lights

Why should your home be lit like an office?  Create an intimate space with a variety of light levels. Consider adding task lights underneath the overhead cabinets to eliminate shadows on the countertops.  Then with ambient lighting, you can soften and create a welcoming environment with flush-mounted ceiling fixtures or a pendant hanging over the island.  Lastly, add in decorative lights like chandeliers and eye-catching fixtures.     

Don’t Feel Limited in Your Space

Just because your kitchen is small, doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice on creating a roomy space. By designing an efficient layout, you can bring functionality to your kitchen.  Utilize the space you have by creating an accent wall and installing open shelves.  It’s also best to use one neutral color so the space isn’t over dramatic.

Thank You!

Thank you to everyone for coming out last night.  I couldn’t have hoped for a better evening with friends who truly made it a remarkable event for CCW.  I also hope no one forgot to grab a sponge on their way home!

Our CCW Sponge

Also, I have been feeling a little guilty and want to apologize to anyone I didn’t get to speak with last night.  The showroom was just filled with so many wonderful people that even though I tried to circle the room as much as possible, I hope no one was overlooked!

And for those of you who were unable to make it, a special thank you goes out to our designer Justina for carving that extraordinary pumpkin!

The CCW Pumpkin

-Laura

A Special Evening at CCW

I just cannot believe it is November!  It feels like yesterday we were creating the designs for the Saratoga Showcase of Homes.  With the cooler weather and the start of November, the season that I hold close to my heart begins: the holidays and a time to celebrate family and friends.  These final two months of the year always put me in the mood to surround myself with people I truly care about.  That is why I’m looking forward to our fall cocktail party at CCW.  We’ve been honored to have had the opportunity to work with, learn from and get to know so many people this year.  For some time now, I have wanted to bring many of our clients, contractors, realtors and designers together for one special evening.  It’s very rare to have everyone under the same roof and I’m looking forward to catching up with so many wonderful people. 

-Laura

Selling Your Home?

One of my friends has been looking to purchase a home, but hasn’t fallen completely in love with anything.  She recently saw a lovely house outside Albany with a huge master bedroom, a spacious den and private deck off the back. Unfortunately, the kitchen was miserably outdated, so she turned the place down.  That got me thinking, why not help people as they are selling their homes.

Selling a home can be daunting and stressful (especially in this market). The seller needs to prepare for the possible objections from the potential buyers…and if the kitchen needs renovating, those objections are sure to come. In preparation to putting a home on the market with an outdated kitchen, renovation prior to listing is an option that the seller should consider. Be aware that even in today’s market there’s a 75%-80% return on investment simply by remodeling the kitchen. (Not a bad return, I’d say!).  But what if you don’t have the time or finances to pull off a kitchen makeover?  That is when CCW comes in. 

For a limited time, CCW is offering a FREE on-site measure, plans, renders and estimates that can be used by the seller to present to prospective buyers.  So when a prospective buyer tours the home and says, ”I like it but the kitchen’s all wrong,”…the seller or his realtor can whip out a plan and render so they can imagine what it could look like.  The pricing estimates will also be available to help in the sale price negotiations.

Remember, the kitchen is the first room a potential buyer sees and the last they forget!  So if you’re trying to sell your home and your kitchen is outdated, give us a call.

-Laura

Cabinetry Design Outside of the Kitchen

Since I started this blog, most of the topics about our projects and cabinetry have involved the kitchen and bathroom.  Sometimes customers are looking for other areas in their home for renovations.  We once had a client that needed some help with a design for a stand alone piece within her walls.  Originally, she had customized a fish tank to be built into the cabinets and after 10 years she was ready for something different. After all, the cabinetry that surrounded the fish tank was starting to show wear from the salt water.  She came by our showroom after receiving a promotional postcard in the mail and Ray worked with her to create this stand alone piece.  There were many measurements and calculations that were needed to make sure it would fit properly into the space and ensure the crown molding returned to the wall where needed.  After a month of going back and forth with different designs, she decided on a white finish. This finish would blend in with the trim of the house and the built-in entertainment center in the adjacent room.  The installer for the project was also able to customize a Brazilian Cherry countertop to accent the piece. 

-Laura

Ventetian Plaster for the Parade of Homes

Recently, CCW was part of the Parade of Homes and we were honored to win the Best Master Bathroom Award for Natalie’s House, The Elms.  Now this project was previously part of the Saratoga Showcase of Homes in September.  Natalie had originally envisioned the bathroom to have a detailed texture for the walls. Unfortunately, there was not enough time to complete specific details to the walls before the showcase began. When the showcase finished, it was decided that before the Parade of Homes began, Natalie’s vision should be realized…so a Venetian plaster was used as a decorative wall feature.  This modification adds an extra layer of beauty to the bathroom with the illusion of depth and texture.    

Check out Natalie’s updated master bathroom photos!

 

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-Laura