Learn the lingo – Muntins and Mullions

If you’ve ever gone shopping for windows, you may have come across the terms “muntin” and “mullion”. The two terms often get confused, so we’re helping to clear up that confusion.

The framing that is used to separate and hold pieces of glass within a window is called a “muntin”, sometimes called “muntin bars”, “sash bars”, or “glazing bars”. Typically muntins are made of wood or metal. Historically muntins were used because it was less expensive to use smaller pieces of glass, rather than a large single pane of glass.

A mullion on the other hand is a bar or post that separates window units. Mullions are primarily a structural element, but have also been used as a decorative element in some architectural styles.

A Stunning Kitchen Renovation for Avid Home Cooks

No matter the skill-level of the cooks who inhabit it, the kitchen tends to be one of the most used and most enjoyed rooms of any house. Quite literally the hearth of the home, the kitchen often becomes the setting for holiday memories, the place where guests and hosts converge as special dinners are prepared, and the room where the business of family life is conducted.

When one is a serious home cook, as is the case for the homeowners in this Project Spotlight, the importance of the kitchen grows exponentially. A cohesion of careful planning and smart design resulted in this stunning renovation, which gave the clients a beautiful, efficient and spacious kitchen in which to enjoy their passion for cooking and entertaining.

The original kitchen was a large space, but the homeowners wanted better functionality, a more efficient cooking ventilation system, and improved lighting.

To accomplish the goal of letting in more light, the existing mulled double hung windows at the sink were removed, a new larger opening was framed, a plumbing vent was repositioned, and a new Springline fixed window unit with two flanking casements window (which open for venting) were installed alongside it. The existing six foot wide patio door was also removed, the opening reframed, and a new eight foot wide sliding patio door was installed.

Another design goal was to cordon off the mudroom/laundry area from the kitchen proper. This was accomplished with a pocket door wall between the two areas with a full light, decorative glass door.

Cabinets are the cornerstone of any kitchen, and this project called for extensive custom cabinetry, made under the direction of Robert Page in the Schrader and Company Cabinetmaking Shop. To make the most of the ample space and take advantage of the existing nine foot ceilings, the drywall soffits were removed which allowed the new upper cabinetry to extend to within six inches of the ceiling. The cabinets were then trimmed out with an attractive cherry cove moulding. Outlets were mounted in strips underneath the upper cabinets. They provide for an undisturbed tile backsplash and a much cleaner look, and allow for complete convenience when using any electronic device or appliance.

The cabinets offered another opportunity to meet the client's’ desire for better light in the kitchen. Undercabinet LED lighting was installed, and all of the upper, glass door cabinets are illuminated with LED lighting.

The homeowners had also expressed a need for better ventilation. A low-profile, ceiling mounted system made by Best was installed above the new kitchen island, and with careful trimming and framing, it blends seamlessly into the ceiling.

In addition to the storage provided by the cabinetry, a large two-tiered island was constructed. Other major changes to the space included new wood flooring and new large-format tile backsplash, as well as the installation of top of the line appliances.

Project Planner Brian Taber speaks for much of the Schrader staff as he recalls this renovation being particularly beautiful and luxurious.

“We were able to give these clients what they wanted and needed as serious home cooks. I know they are enjoying and relishing in this space every single day, and that gives us tremendous satisfaction.”

Hosting the Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Rotary Club

As many of you will know from following our “Rebuilding a Better Tomorrow” initiative, we as a company have prioritized our local philanthropy efforts in recent months, learning about worthy causes that impact our greater capital region and partnering with the wonderful organizations who strive to make a difference in our communities.

One such organization is the Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Rotary, and Schrader and Company, Inc. Vice-President Silas Schrader is a proud board member, on the ladder to become the organization’s president.

On the global level, Rotary defines itself as “a network of 1.2 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who come together to make positive, lasting change in communities at home and abroad.” In operation for more than 110 years, rotary brings together passionate, motivated citizens to take action against the world’s most persistent issues. There are over 35,000 individual Rotary clubs.

The Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Rotary Club is in involved in all kinds of good works, including fundraising for local schools, support for regional food pantries, and providing educational platforms for such issues as clean water and the eradication of disease.

On April 3, Silas hosted fellow Rotary members for their meeting at the Schrader offices, and was able to share the Schrader and Company mission and history with these other involved citizens. Silas’s wife Leigh Schrader is also a membership chair for the Burnt Hills Ballston Lake MOM’s Club.

For the first time, the MOMs club will be joining Rotary by hosting a kids craft table at a popular annual fundraising event, a pancake breakfast on April 29th. Proceeds from the event will benefit the local Burnt Hills Ballston Lake community. Details can be found here.

We are proud of Silas’s involvement in such a worthy organization and the strong community connection he shares with Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake. We look forward to learning more from him and this excellent club in the future.

Do’s and Don’ts of Houseplants

Houseplants have become prominent in interior design lately, and for good reason. These green little wonders can purify the air in your home , lift spirits on those grey winter days, and add visual interest to your favorite rooms. Before you go out and start buying plants though, read through these tips.

Do – Think about children and animals when choosing your plants

Before you bring a houseplant home you should look up whether or not the plant is toxic to humans and animals. If your home is filled with inquisitive little ones – of the human and/or pet variety- keep any potentially toxic plants out of reach and make sure to pick up any fallen leaves of debris from the plant.

Here are a few resources to start off with: 

List of toxic plants from the ASPCA

Poison.org

If you find contradicting information it is best to err on the side of caution if you are concerned about accidental ingestion.

Do – Know how much light exposure the room in your home has

Certain plants can thrive in dark rooms, while others simply won’t tolerate it. For happy houseplants check out their light requirements and put them in proper spaces in your home.

Do – Know how big the houseplant is going to get.

Your new houseplant might not stay small forever.  Some houseplants, like the parlor fern or some philodendrons can get big, or can get unruly overtime. Large houseplants may end up requiring a support system so keep that in mind when choosing new plants

Don’t – Crowd your plants

When you bring your new houseplant home chances are good that you’ll have to repot it. Choose a new pot that is at least two inches larger than the current container. That should give your plant plenty of room to grow.

Don’t– Overwater your plants

It can be really easy to overwater your new plants, a good rule of thumb is to let the soil of most houseplants dry out between waterings. Of course there are exceptions to this rule, which is why it is always important to check individual plant’s requirements.

Don’t – Feel bad if your first attempts at keeping a houseplant don’t go well

Things happen and houseplants can die, that doesn’t mean that you have a black thumb. There are plenty of low maintenance plants for you to start out with and build up your knowledge on proper care of houseplants.

Welcoming Spring – Looking at drainage

If “April showers bring May flowers” then we should be expecting a bloom filled May here in the Capital Region.

 

If your yard looks like this, call a professional.

Until then it’s time to shift focus to the foundation of your home and the land around it. What we’ll be looking for is any potential drainage issues near the footprint of your house.

Gradually the ground around your home may become impacted, or erode away over time. Inspecting the grade of the land around your home on a regular basis can save you a whole lot of headaches and money in the long run.

If you notice any areas that allow water to pool near the foundation of your house take note. Small spots are easy enough for most home owners to fill in with topsoil and tamp down the new soil by hand, no need for expensive machinery.

Larger depressed areas around your home’s foundation may require professionals to take care of the job and fix any underlying drainage issues.

A Spa-Like Bathroom with Custom Details

In this “Project Spotlight” we go behind the scenes of a bathroom renovation that not only enlarged the space for the homeowners, but brought great opportunity for collaboration and custom design.

This second floor full bathroom was separated into two compartments by a pocket door, and accessible from both the master bedroom and the hallway. In order to enlarge the usable space, the pocket door was removed, and both plumbing and windows were relocated. Moving the toilet and removing an existing vertical window in favor of the new window located in the shower opened up the space considerably.

With those larger elements relocated, Project Planner Brian Taber set to work on a collaborative design process with the homeowners, which was a positive experience.

“These are long time clients with whom we’ve developed a real rapport and trust over the years. They are detail-oriented and come to the process with great ideas. Working with them is always a pleasure.”

Cabinet Designer and Shop Production Manager Robert Page created the new custom vanity with undermount sink, which sees to the client’s’ storage and convenience needs. And the rest of bathroom elements, masterfully crafted by Project Manager Jeremiah Mills, came together in a meeting of rectilinear, modern style and spa-level luxury.

The custom shower features a hinged glass door which swings in both directions, a rain shower head located in the the ceiling, stacked porcelain tile, and a new fiberglass window in the shower with a specialty stone sill, all resistant to rot, which can open to let in fresh air. It also features a recessed niche and a seat.

The overall effect is one of streamlined elegance–clean, modern, and efficient.

“The clients were thrilled with the end result, and we are about to begin our next renovation with them,” says Brian. “That’s the most rewarding part of any project, knowing that you’ve met your customer’s needs to the point where they are looking forward to calling you back for the next item on their wish list.”

 

Finding Your Home’s Style

Let’s say you’re looking to change things up in your kitchen but don’t know where to begin? or maybe you’re not sure how to communicate your ideas to a contractor. Finding your own style isn’t all that hard and you can create a style board o that  Well you’re in luck, we’ll be discussing how to find your own personal style for your kitchen, but this process can be used for virtually any.


Start collecting inspiration

When you’re first starting out we suggest collecting anything and everything that catches your eye. Whether digitally, physically or a combination of the two, add freely to this collection- don’t think about it. Editing happens later, right now we are building a collection of elements that call to you. Some of these images may not end up being used at all and that’s fine. By collecting different images and ideas without editing yourself, you’ll end up finding a pattern or common thread that you naturally gravitate to.

Categorize

Now that you have a collection of inspiration for your kitchen it’s time to start breaking these images down into categories. The categories that you chose to use are up to you and your collection. A few example categories could be – “Kitchen Islands”, “Back Splashes”, “Lighting” and  “Color Palettes”. Again, don’t edit yourself in this stage, that comes next.

Refine your collection

In the beginning of this process your collection of inspirational images consisted of anything and everything that caught your eye. Now it’s time to go through and look at everything you’ve saved. Some images may have lost their appeal to you, and that’s fine, put these images aside and keep going.

Define your collection
Once your collection has been edited down it’s time to look at the images and define what elements of the photo that you like, and anything that you might not like. For example “I really like the shape of these tiles used in this backsplash” or “I like the style of the cabinet doors, but I would prefer to see it in a different finish”. Write down your thoughts as you go through the images and hold onto it for the next step.


Bring it to your contractor

Take your curated collection of images and your notes on the specifics of what you like to your contractor. With a clearly defined picture of what you want, communicating your vision with your contractor should be a breeze.