Month: September 2016

One Rebuilder Supporting Another

It’s been a rewarding and productive summer for us at Schrader and Company as we began our “Rebuilding a Better Tomorrow” initiative. We have so enjoyed partnering with some of the best philanthropic foundations in the capital region to raise funds and awareness for their causes and learn more about how we can all come together to strengthen our community.

We have another event coming up in October, and this one, for obvious reasons, is especially close to our hearts.

Rebuilding Together Saratoga County, founded in 2003, is the local branch of the National Rebuilding Together organization, which renovates and revitalizes homes for low-income families across America. Founders Michelle and Dan Larkin and a staff of committed volunteers have helped bring hope and renewed pride to the owners of over 500 homes in Saratoga County.

As their website explains, Rebuilding Together Saratoga County provides the following invaluable services to our neighbors in need:

Home Repair provides critical repairs for low-income homeowners, including weatherizing, making plumbing and electrical repairs, patching and painting, cleaning, re-carpeting, siding, and landscaping.
Safe at Home provides home safety assessments and safety and accessibility modifications for low-income homeowners who are older adults or are living with a disability.
Nonprofit Facility/Community Beautification provides safe and welcoming spaces for communities to gather through renovation and beautification work for community centers, supportive housing facilities and outdoor community spaces.

We will be joining Rebuilding Together Saratoga County for their Annual Fundraising dinner on October 13th at the Hall of Springs. Our donated item for their auction is another fantastic private chef dinner in our showroom. The featured chef for this package is Rick Sleeper of The Cock N Bull Restaurant in Galway, a capital region institution. The lucky winner of the auction item will be treated to an intimate, exclusive dining experience for ten, and complimentary concierge service to coordinate the details.

To learn more about Rebuilding Together and their upcoming event, visit their webpage at: rtsaratoga.org

Two Modern Luxury Bathrooms for a Historic Home

A wise person once said,

“The key to a happy marriage is separate bathrooms.”

Add every conceivable luxury and convenience to the equation, and you’ve got the makings of a very joyful union.

Historic homes are undoubtedly appealing. They offer abundant charm, and tell their own special stories with every squeaky floorboard and slanted door. But even the most devoted lover of historic preservation can agree that there are certain rooms in our homes where we most appreciate all the advances that modern technology has brought to our lives. Namely, the bathroom.

For this project, the homeowners wanted to update two bathrooms in their early 1800s colonial home with the very latest in modern conveniences and technologies. The stunning result did not come about without careful consideration to the unique challenges of renovating an older home.

Project Planner Brian Taber knew that to attain the modern look desired by his clients for each of their respective “His” and Hers” bathrooms, much work would need to be done “behind the scenes”. The beautiful large format tiles in the “His” bathroom required perfectly straight walls, which few older homes have. The skilled crew of Schrader craftsmen carefully shimmed the walls to achieve the required correct angles. The same needed to be done in the “Her” bathroom to allow for the new tub and tile. Underneath the layers of horsehair plaster, wood lath, and brick behind the walls, everything needed to be replumbed and reframed.

From that new squared straight foundation, the coolest of modern conveniences could be added. Hot water radiant heat was installed under the tile flooring of both bathrooms, and a round dome Sun Tunnel skylight was added, which allows for natural light while taking up less space than a typical skylight. The “His” bathroom features a hinged tempered glass panel that can alter the size of the shower or toilet space as needed. The curbless shower floor has a linear drain. And both bathrooms feature safety and convenience features like benches and grab bars, which will help the homeowners age in place.

Looking back on the project, Brian says he’s most pleased with the way Schrader and Company was able to meet the client’s’ vision for their space. “We worked closely with the owners to tailor both bathrooms to their specific needs and wants. The collaborative result is clean, modern, sophisticated, and luxurious.”

The bathroom is a room for comfort, even in the quaintest of older homes. This renovation shows what’s possible when history and technology come together in one cohesive design.

Learn the Lingo: Bay vs. Bow Window

Bay and box windows often get confused for each other, and it’s very easy to see why. Both styles of windows can make a stunning visual impact on the room in which they are located in, adding light and airiness to your living space. Likewise both bow and bay windows offer the homeowner a fantastic view of the outside surroundings. Today we’re sharing with you the differences between these two popular window styles.

Bay Window

Bow Window

Has three windows, consisting of one large picture window with a smaller window on either side of it.
Comes out farther from the exterior wall adding more interior space.
Normally not as wide as a bow windows because they do not have as many panels.

Has 4-5 window panels. The window has a rounded look when viewed from outside because of it’s curved structure.
Lets more light in due to having more glass surface area
Bow windows can be placed in the corner of a house, creating a cozy light filled nook inside the house, while creating visual interest on the outside of one’s home

Lingo windows

Project Spotlight: A Budget Friendly, Open and Airy Kitchen Renovation

Glossy magazines and countless home design websites are filled with galleries of incredible kitchen remodeling project, all aimed to inspire and excite, to remind us that when it comes to remodeling the rooms in which we live our lives, the possibilities are endless.

But behind every transformation lies a great deal of thoughtful planning and hard work. Over the past four decades, Schrader and Company Construction Services has helped homeowners turn their varied home renovation dreams into livable realities.

In this blog series, we’ll take an in-depth look at some standout home remodeling projects, all of which are notable not just for the remarkable improvements made to a space, but for the way inherent obstacles were overcome, innovative techniques and materials were used, and the skills of the Schrader and Company team of professionals brought the desired result to fruition.

Every renovation comes with its own particular set of challenges, and often one of those challenges is budget. But with the right team and tools, a stunning transformation can also be cost-effective.

For this kitchen renovation, the goal was to open the space, create more storage, and keep costs down.

The homeowner and Project Planner John Hudson identified the existing island as being problematic, both agreed it was an obstruction to working in the space. Its removal opened up the flow of the room, and at no detriment to storage, which was created by the addition of more cabinetry.

The custom cabinet choice also afforded an opportunity for style and function to merge perfectly. “The simple elegance of the white Shaker cabinetry is not only timeless, but fits in perfectly with the original Craftsman styling of the home,” said Hudson.

The windows and doors, much of the interior trim work, a large portion of the wall coverings, and plumbing locations were all able to remain, keeping costs at an acceptable level. Other budget friendly improvements to the space included resilient vinyl flooring, LED light bars as under cabinet lighting, and bead board panels as a backsplash in lieu of tile.

The light, bright, and airy final results speak for themselves. What was once a tight space with limited functionality is now a Pinterest-worthy “after”, achieved through thoughtful design & planning, consideration for the client’s budgetary needs and seamless execution.

kitchen renovation spotlight