A Beautiful Kitchen Renovation

We’re thrilled to be rolling out a new batch of “Project Spotlight” articles for you! Everyone loves a good “before and after”. These renovations inspire us and show us what is possible with the right planning and the right team in place.

This “Project Spotlight” is a great example of how to achieve dramatic changes and big improvements without changing the footprint of a room. We were able to create a better functioning kitchen for our clients without changing the layout or making the space bigger.

The renovation was low-impact in terms of structural work—the floors and windows stayed in place, and the plumbing fixtures did not have to be re-configured, with one notable exception.

This particular client is an avid baker, and while we all like the idea of a kitchen island with a prep sink, sometimes that’s not the best use of space. Our client would benefit more from added work-space and a bigger counter top, so we removed the less useful prep sink to tailor it to the client’s needs and preferences. In deference to our client’s culinary skills and needs, we also added a second oven, which will make cooking and entertaining that much easier.

Cabinet designer and production manager Robert Page and interior designer Brooke Stollery worked closely with project planner Brian Taber to marry the aesthetic upgrades that the client was looking for with functional improvements to make the best use of the space. A built-in sub-zero refrigerator took the place of a freestanding one, and a stainless steel oven hood was removed for a recessed option, which lets the beautiful custom cabinetry and impeccable decorative choices shine. 

Brian notes that the lovely finished project is due to everyone’s collaborative efforts, including the clients. 

“These clients had wonderful taste, and were decisive in their selections. They were able to communicate with us exactly what they were looking for, and how we could make their living space better suit their lifestyle. The end result made everyone involved very proud.”

The “after” photos speak for themselves. Take a look at this remarkable renovation and give us a call if you’re ready to make your home work better for you!

 

Meet Our Newest Team Members!

Interior designer choosing a baseboard

We’ve had some wonderful new additions to our Schrader and Company team in 2019. Meet some of the new faces behind the scenes of our award-winning projects. We hope you’ll get to know these talented new employees very soon!

Brandon Madigan – Apprentice Carpenter

Born and raised in the Scotia-Glenville area, Brandon graduated from Scotia-Glenville High School in 2006.  After earning a Business Management degree from the College of St Rose, he pursued a career in the technology field.  However Brandon couldn’t quite shake his passion for carpentry and quickly became the handyman of his family. We are delighted that in 2018 Brandon decided to trade in his computer for a full set of carpentry tools and embark on a full time career in home remodeling and construction with Schrader and Company. We could not be happier to have Brandon as part of our team.

In his own time, Brandon enjoys spending time with his wonderful wife and two children. He’s an avid outdoorsman who loves hunting, fishing and camping on Brant Lake. Brandon has a passion for animals, and has two dogs, two cats, two goats, and several ducks and chickens.

 

Erin Loiacono – Staff Accountant

Erin joined the company in 2018 in an official capacity, but this is not her first time here. She will be familiar to many of you as Peter and Christy Schrader’s daughter and Silas Schrader’s sister. While attending school, Erin worked first in the office and as soon as she was old enough to use power tools (a milestone she found more exciting than reaching the age old enough to drive) she was out working on job sites. Her career path took her elsewhere for a time, and she is thrilled to be back.

Erin has had the benefit of seeing the company from another side as well, as a client. When Erin and her husband made the decision to purchase the beloved home of Erin’s grandparents, they knew that there were more than a few updates and changes that were both necessary and desired to create the setting for the dream of their family home. They also knew there was no better team to entrust with their dream.

Erin loves reading, crafting and art projects. She enjoys wandering around in the woods, through the snow, or along a lake shoreline. But mostly, Erin loves turning to her two small children and enjoying their experience of the above activities.

 

Mark O’Lena – Project Planner

As a retired Airforce Veteran, Mark has had the opportunity to travel the world while serving our country.  Mark is passionate about history and architecture. He enjoys restoration projects, renovations and new construction.  Mark has a great habit of elevating the organizations he is a part of. Mark brings to us an extensive background in project planning and design, and we look forward to all of the talent and insight he will bring to his new role as a project planner.

Mark enjoys everything the northeast has to offer–hiking, boating, skiing and more. You might catch Mark riding through the area on his motorcycle or venturing on long treks through New England. Mark recently joined the world of CrossFit and has competed in a number of open competitions. He can be found cheering the loudest at his kids’ events and embarking on new adventures with his family.

Who We Support and Why: Charlton Historical Society

We love being an active part of our community and sharing with you the organizations and philanthropies that matter to us.

The Charlton Historical Society is one such organization, and because of the good work they do, as well as the fact that it is home to some of our valued Schrader and Company team members, we count them among our favorite local philanthropies.

The mission of the Charlton Historical Society is to promote and encourage original historical research, disseminate educational material on local history, and cooperate with educational institutions to gather, preserve, display and make available for study materials and records relating to Charlton History.

Learning more about our local history is always a positive thing. It links us to our neighbors and connects us to our roots. 

One of the ways we support the Charlton Historical Society is by sponsoring their Charlton Heritage 5K. We’ve enjoyed being a sponsor since 2013. Proceeds from the race go right back into the Charlton Historical Society to support their continuing good works. 

To learn more about the Charlton History Society, you can visit their website.

Congratulations, Brian Taber!

Project Planner Brian Taber also recently celebrated a seminal anniversary with us, and we couldn’t be more grateful for his presence at Schrader and Company.

Brian joined the business 25 years ago, and went on to define and professionalize a role within the remodeling industry that hadn’t really existed before him. To his role as Project Planner, Brian brings his own many years of carpentry experience, his trademark unrivaled work ethic, and impeccable care for our clients.

To say he has influenced our local industry is not an overstatement. We hear from our professional peers all the time that they seek out potential employees who remind them of Brian Taber, in hopes that they’ll be able to find the kind of polished, detail-oriented talent that we are so lucky to have in him.

In addition to his personal success as a Project Planner, Brian has gone on to mentor and coach our newer planners, and help grow our company and contribute to our culture of unparalleled customer service.

To thank Brian for his many years of passion and dedication, we have gifted him his choice of one of three international trips. We can’t wait to see which excursion he picks, just as long as he promises to come back. We have a hard time imagining going without him for too long.

To Brian, we extend our deepest gratitude and utmost respect. Thank you for all you have given and continue to give to make Schrader and Company great.

 

Congratulations, John Hudson!

We recently celebrated the milestone tenure of an employee who has given 40 years of hard work and dedication to Schrader and Company.

John Hudson joined our company as a Project Manager in the field, overseeing our builds and renovations, leading a team of skilled craftsman, and handling some of our largest projects with his bevy of hands-on skills and expert leadership. For 30 years John excelled in this role, and brought to fruition some of our proudest projects.

Ten years ago, John made the transition to Project Planner, where he has demonstrated a great talent for guiding our clientele to the realization of their dream homes. John’s many years of on-the-job-site experience have only made him a better Project Planner, able to see through whatever complexities and puzzles might arise, and offering solutions and competent advice along the way.

John is a tremendously loyal person, as demonstrated by his 40 year tenure with Schrader and Company. His professionalism, hard work, and care for our clients has made him an invaluable part of our team, and a much sought after in-house expert to his colleagues. 

To show our appreciation to John, and pay homage to his great love of the outdoors, we gifted him a Snow Dog ice-fishing machine, to take on what we hope will be many successful future expeditions.

John, you have our gratitude and utmost respect. Thank for all that you’ve given to Schrader and Company and our clients over the past 40 years. Here’s to many more!

The Difference is in the Details

Difference in the Details Schrader and CompanyAs is true in so many aspects of life, we at Schrader and Company have always found that when it comes to construction and remodeling, the details really matter. Trimwork is the perfect example of how precise and thoughtful finishing elements can come together to elevate an entire aesthetic.

We like to think of detailed trimwork as a level of complexity that betters overall design, and a hallmark that separates good quality from best quality.

Take for example, the intricacies involved in remodeling an older home. Part of a renovation might entail putting in new energy-efficient windows and doors. By replicating historic crown moldings and window casements that exist in other parts of the house, we can create a cohesive design that marries the old with the new, ensuring that the new construction and modern upgrades don’t look out of place.

A new kitchen or bathroom (or any recently renovated room!) should always flow into all of the other spaces in your house. Without the glue of consistent trimwork tying it all together, the remodeled parts of a home can stand out–and not in a good way.

Our award-winning Schrader and Company production team have the skill set and training to properly execute even the most detailed of trimwork. Our craftspeople are always willing to spend the time to get it just right, resulting in a finished project that looks professional, seamless, and thoughtful.

Take a look at these examples of our work, and give us a call if you’re ready to renovate your home with careful and expert precision.

Difference in the Details Schrader and Company

Who We Support and Why: Animal Protective Foundation

It’s time for another installment of our “Who We Support and Why” series, and this time we’re sharing a cause very near and dear to our hearts, the Animal Protective Foundation.

The APF is a humane society providing services to the greater capital region, founded in 1931. Their mission is to provide resources and care for all companion animals and protect the human-animal bond. The APF cares for over 5,000 animals a year, and accepts any and all owner-relinquished pets, providing medical treatment, neutering, vaccinations, and lots of love. The goal of the APF is to find a forever home for every animal they take in.

The staff at Schrader and Company are all tried and true animal lovers. Clients will of course be familiar with our beloved Lonnie, our gentle office dog. We know how much our own pets enrich our lives, and offering support to this wonderful local organization was an easy choice.

The Animal Protective Foundation is a non-profit that relies solely on the generosity of our community. If you’d like to learn more about the good works of the APF, donate, or volunteer, please visit their website.

A Winning Evening for The Boys and Girls Clubs of Schenectady

We recently hosted another of our private chef dinners in our Schrader and Company showroom, and we couldn’t be happier about the organization that benefited from the generosity of the winning bidders, or the lovely people who joined us for the evening.

We donated a private chef dinner for ten to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Schenectady’s Fall Gala. This event is held in support of the local Schenectady chapter of this national organization, which was founded in 1936 and aims to promote the social, educational, health, leadership, and character development of boys and girls during critical periods of their growth.

The lucky winners of our chef dinner package happen to be valued clients of ours, and they along with some of their friends, bid on the prize and won the auction item.

For the dinner which took place on March 14th, we partnered with Rick Sleeper of the Cock N’ Bull restaurant. Rick, along with the restaurant’s pastry chef and creative director Andrea DeCiero, prepared a decadent and delicious meal. Their generosity in participating in this venture went above and beyond.

The food was inspired, and in keeping with Rick’s long-standing ethos of farm to table cuisine. Each course was paired with a delicious libation.

We so enjoyed hosting this wonderful group in our showroom, and lending our support to the Boys and Girls Club of Schenectady. Our heartfelt thanks go to Rick and Andrea, and the generous bidders who shared the night with us.

 

Dealing with Ice Dams

Ice Dams Schrader and Company

Oh, winter in upstate New York!

It’s a treasure trove of weather possibilities. Everything from ice to snow to sleet to rain can and will befall us in the course of the season–sometimes all in one day.

This extreme weather impacts us on many levels, and it impacts our homes.

One of the true scourges of a northeastern winter is the phenomena of the ice dam, which can create expensive and far-reaching water damage to our roofs, ceilings and walls.

An ice dam is an ice build-up on the eaves of sloped roofs of heated buildings that results from melting snow under a snow pack reaching the eave and freezing there. Freezing at the eave impedes the drainage of meltwater, which adds to the ice dam and causes backup of the meltwater in a manner, which may cause water leakage into the roof and consequent damage to the building and its contents if the water leaks through the roof.

But ice dams are preventable, and we wanted to share some helpful tips with you from “This Old House” to help you stop an ice dam that has already formed, or better yet avoid a problem before it starts.

Armed with knowledge and know-how, you can protect your home from ice dams all winter long. And as always, feel free to reach out to us for help and advice anytime!

 

Who We Support and Why: SNACpack

It’s time for another installment of our “Who We Support and Why” series, where we highlight a local philanthropic organization that is close to our hearts and values, and tell you why and how we at Schrader and Company choose to lend them our support.

The SNACpack Program is an amazing local organization that is addressing the too prevalent issue of childhood hunger in our community. The Saratoga Nutritional Assistance for Children (SNACpack) was founded in 2014, when a Saratoga County student who was struggling in school and thought to be learning disabled was instead revealed to be profoundly hungry, and struggling in the classroom as a result.

While schools can provide on site breakfast and lunch to students in need, SNACpack is filling the void of weekend and school vacation nutritional needs by providing children with backpacks stocked with multiple breakfast and entree options, a loaf of bread, a milk card for a gallon of milk, snack options, fresh fruits and canned vegetables. These backpacks assure that the student will receive the foods they need to grow and thrive, and also eliminates the obstacle of requiring a family to travel to a food pantry or other food assistance center to fulfill their grocery needs. Over 8% of the students in the Saratoga County district are living in poverty, and in true need of this kind of service.

The kids take their backpacks home on Friday, feeling both secure that their food needs will be met, and a sense of empowerment that they can contribute to their families.

SNACpack runs on volunteer support. Food donations are always needed and welcomed, and  volunteer man hours are necessary as well, to stuff the bags and backpacks. Schrader and Company employees have been both donating and volunteering with SNACpack for awhile now, and we are thrilled to be able to involve even our own young children in lending a hand. It’s been a wonderful experience for our kids, and an excellent introduction to community service as assembling the bags is a simple and fun task that even the youngest volunteer can master and enjoy. 

Last year, our client appreciation dinner at Caffe Lena also served as a fundraiser for SNACpack, and we are so grateful to our clients who heeded the call and came ready with generous food donations which we turned over to the organization.

There is no better investment in our community’s future, and no more vulnerable population that our own Saratoga County youth. We love being part of SNACpack’s efforts to make sure these deserving children’s most basic needs are met.

If you’d like to learn more about SNACpack and ways to donate and become involved, please visit their website.