Making a Historic Home Work for a Modern Family

Everyone loves the irresistible charm of an older home. There is much to recommend them–charming mouldings and wide-plank wood floors, abundant nooks and crannies, and a sense of history that can both transport and ground us. But it can also be challenging for modern families to live in spaces designed for a different time and a different way of life.

When issues like this arise, renovation is often the answer. Such was the case in this Project Spotlight, in which we transformed a late 19th century home to better suit the needs and wants of contemporary living.

This large-scale remodel involved the renovation and redesigning of several rooms. A first floor bathroom was completely renovated. A laundry room was moved from a closet-like space in the kitchen to its own second floor location, with much more storage and usable space. A former changing room/walk-in closet off of the master bedroom was re-divided to allow for several upgrades, namely a true walk-in closet, a dedicated master bathroom, and an additional bathroom for the client’s daughter.

These renovations solved the client’s chief problems of needing more bathrooms for their family, and much more storage. As always with a historical renovation, there were inherent challenges that called for innovative solutions.

Project Manager Jeremiah Mills led a field team of talented craftsman in meeting those challenges. There were issues of structural flooring and framing. Lots of hands had touched this more than 100 year-old home, and a solid and straight foundation was needed before any further work could commence. Because this remodel called for lots of work on bathrooms, and we did not want our clients to be overly inconvenienced while the work was taking place, we planned and installed a temporary fiberglass shower unit in the first floor bathroom for their use during the renovations. We removed it when the work was complete.

When it came time to focus on the design elements, it was important to make choices that would reflect the traditional style of the home, while incorporating modern aesthetics. Interior designer Brooke Stollery was on hand to help marry the historic with the contemporary.

“The clients wanted to create a simple ‘boutique’ feel while still suiting the character of the historic home,” says Brooke. “I think the new clawfoot tub, mosaic marble flooring, and traditional, antique style of the selected fixtures pulled that together really nicely.”

We also milled trim to replicate what was already existing in the home to create a cohesive look to all of the rooms. Custom Schrader cabinets in the new laundry room, double pocket doors, and refinished wood flooring and stairs also elevated and improved the look of the whole house.

“Our clients were wonderful to work with and we take tremendous pride in knowing that we were able to take the home they loved and make it work so much better for their family,” says Project Planner Brian Taber.

The end result is a charming example of how respectful updates to a historic home can make all the difference for the families that inhabit them, keeping them livable and well-loved for many generations to come.

 

Congratulations on 25 Years, Val DeCesare!

Val DeCesare

At Schrader and Company, we believe strongly that our success as a company is down to the quality of the people on our team. This year marks the 25th anniversary of one such highly valued employee, and we feel so fortunate to have had his talent in our ranks for all these years.

Val DeCesare joined Schrader and Company as a Project Manager on July 27, 1993. From that time to now, Val has contributed to our company culture and reputation for excellence with his consummate professional skills, superior customer service focus, and fine leadership qualities.

Val DeCesare

Val is a “do whatever it takes” kind of craftsman, always ready to jump right into any project, take initiative, and tackle the most complex and challenging problems. This high-energy approach is paired with his brilliant, mechanically-inclined mind. Val always keeps an eye on the finest details and approaches each aspect of a job with finesse and great care.

Because of this specialized skill set, Val is entrusted with some of our largest and most complex renovation and construction projects. As a master carpenter, everyone on the team can look to Val for wisdom and guidance. Over the years, Val has proven to be an excellent teacher to newer employees, imparting his vast knowledge and providing encouragement and freedom so others may grow in their own skills.

In addition to this rarified litany of professional skills, Val personifies all that Schrader and Company prizes in quality of character. He is a devoted family man. He gives generously of his time and talents to the Boy Scouts. And he treats our clients as anyone would want to be treated, often welcoming them back into their new and improved homes with a homemade baked good or treat.

We knew we wanted to do something special to celebrate Val and his successful 25 years with our company. As an avid outdoorsman and lover of nature, we hope he will relish our gift of a cross-country trip to the Western part of the country to discover and explore a new landscape with his wife.

Congratulations to our friend and team member Val DeCesare on 25 years of hard work and dedication. Thank you for elevating our company, keeping the bar so high, and for beautifying countless homes across our region. We look forward to many more years of successful renovation with you.

  • 1994

 

 

A Guide to Good Design: How We Help Our Clients Create Their Dream Space

At Schrader and Company, we are always striving to deliver the very best in home renovation and construction along with impeccable customer service to our clients. Part of our job is to understand our customer’s experience of the home remodeling and building process, and do everything in our power to make it a seamless, stress-less, and fun experience. From the first time you meet with us to discuss your ideas, to the day we pack up the last of our tools and leave, we want you to feel comfortable and involved in the process of turning your house into your dream home.

One way that we can guarantee our clients a better renovation or construction experience is by offering the impeccable design services of Brooke Stollery, our in-house interior designer. Brooke is here to guide our clients through any and all design and selection decisions, offering ideas, a helping hand, and expert insight.

Once a client has committed to working with us on a project, Brooke’s services become instantly available. And there are many different ways she can assist, depending on the client’s individual needs and preferences.

“When meeting with clients, I will typically talk with them a bit about their project expectations, what they have in mind for finishes, how they make decisions, and then tell them about our process. Our selections process is great because it can really be altered to fit our customer’s individual needs”, says Brooke.

The first and most common way for Brooke to work with clients on selections is for her to organize, schedule, and attend all meetings with our trusted Schrader and Company vendors, so the clients don’t have to worry about who to contact or at what point in the process to make those appointments. For material selections–things like backsplash, flooring, countertops–Brooke will usually make some suggestions based on a thorough consultation about the client’s preferred style. This format gives Brooke the opportunity to discuss the project and scope of work with our contacts at each vendor beforehand, ensuring productive meetings for our busy clients.

Another option is to have Brooke source and bring material options right to the clients. This path works well for our busier clients or those that are overwhelmed by too many options. This takes a bit more up-front design conversation and a better understanding of the client’s personal design style. Brooke will then use her understanding of the client’s preferred style based on information gathered during initial meetings to choose proposed selection options.

“To give an example, if I am working on designing a new bathroom for clients, we would need to choose (in addition to many other things) floor tile. After some design meetings, possibly some shared inspiration pictures, I would make a trip to our tile vendor, sign out three or four solid options, and bring them to my client to ultimately make a final tile selection. Keep in mind that I would not only be signing out floor samples, but for a bathroom, I would most likely be bringing them floor tile, shower wall tile, shower floors and countertop samples all in one trip,” explains Brooke.

The third type of path to design selections is a little more hands off. Brooke will meet with the clients, get an understanding of what they need, and create a selection sheet. The selection sheet is specific to their project, so if they’re renovating their kitchen, Brooke will include a section for appliances, cabinetry, flooring, backsplash, countertops–all the ingredients necessary for their kitchen–so they’ll know what to shop for. We also provide a vendor contact list, sharing our trusted associates at each vendor and how to contact them. This option is best for independent clients who are quick decision makers and know what they want.

“My job is really to be a resource to our clients, to help design them the kitchen, or bathroom, or mudroom of their dreams, while seamlessly blending it with the rest of their home,” says Brooke.

Whether our client needs a full service designer who can help guide all of the selection decisions, or simply a knowledgeable resource who can frame out the specific needs of the project, Brooke is here to help.

We are proud to offer this service to our Schrader and Company clients, and know that Brooke’s wealth of design expertise has been of huge value to our customers.

If you’re excited to make some changes to your home, give us a call and let Brooke, along with our talented team of planners and craftsmen, transform your space into the magazine-worthy house of your dreams.

 

A Silver Lining Renovation

As happy as we always are to be welcomed into a client’s home to begin the exciting process of renovation and transformation, we recognize that sometimes our services are called upon due to less than desirable circumstance. Such was the case in this Project Spotlight, where we came in to do an extensive remodel for a client whose home had suffered significant water damage. But this project is the perfect example of making lemonade out of lemons, and the end result is one that we are proud to share with you, and most importantly, made our client very happy.

We came into the project following remediation of the impacted areas of the home, which meant we were starting at square one–a largely gutted house. We worked with one of the trusted architecture firms in our network, Tim Gallagher of Architex , on a Design/Build interior renovation, which encompassed a new master bedroom on the first floor, a new master bathroom with aging in place features, a new kitchen, new windows, doors, and flooring throughout, new spray foam insulation, new electrical, and renovations to upper floor bedrooms and a bathroom.

Our goal was to create a beautiful new interior for our client, and to take the opportunity presented by this disaster to make updates that would allow for aging in place. Wherever possible, safety features were added like wider doorways and hallways, step in showers, stackable laundry facilities, and a first floor master bedroom.

It was also important to preserve some of the original features of the home, like the brick fireplace.

We were sensitive to the fact that our client had been displaced by the water damage, and we wanted to get her back in her fully-functioning home as soon as possible. Project Planner Brian Taber and Project Manager Kevin Connor had all of these goals in mind from start to finish.

This project was a true collaboration and involved working closely with the client and her family to ensure that the result would be a better, safer and more beautiful living space. The size and scope of the work meant that we were basically rebuilding this home from inside out, and only through lots of conversation and careful planning could we ensure that no detail was overlooked. All of the new improvements, from custom Schrader cabinetry, new appliances in the kitchen, and a special lower height baking counter to bathroom safety features and energy-efficient windows were “whole team” conversations.

The hard work paid off and our client ended up with a renovated home with maximized storage, aging in place safety features, and eclectic and charming design details.

We were thrilled to be the engineers of the silver lining following a serious storm for this homeowner, and she was thrilled to be back in the home she loves, enjoying all of the fresh new improvements. We know she will continue to enjoy her home for many years to come.

Schrader and Company Friends and Family Picnic 2018

We recently gathered with staff, family, and some of our most trusted colleagues in construction to celebrate the people who make Schrader and Company possible. We value the contribution of every employee and vendor for their hard work, professionalism, and talents. A great time was had by all.

Thank you to Lynn Fredericks and Leigh Schrader for organizing a wonderful day. And thank you to everyone who came for all of the ways you support us and make our company so great!

You Don’t Need to Go Bigger to Get Better

When clients come to us with hopes to remodel their existing home, we know they are doing so because they want to remain in the house that they love while improving the functionality of their space. One might think this necessarily means making rooms larger–adding square footage or knocking down walls. But sometimes all that is needed is imagination, innovation, and thoughtful design.

In this Project Spotlight, a kitchen is remodeled to improve the function and design for two avid home cooks. And with careful planning and some inspiring design elements, no changes needed to be made to the kitchen’s original size and footprint.

The work began with some structural basics. The kitchen was actually part of a previous home addition, and the floors had not been perfectly leveled to the original structure. Once the Schrader team rectified that and improved insulation to exterior walls for energy efficiency, the design improvements could begin.

The kitchen already featured a lovely hexagonal, windowed eating area and a kitchen island with seating. The island was completely reconstructed with new countertops and a wider work surface area, and by re-orienting the seating at the island, the flow of the room was improved and more space for cooking was created.

This project also posed a unique venting challenge. These skilled home cooks have an induction stove top, but a skylight was positioned directly above it. To work around this venting issue, a pop-up vent was installed, which rises out of the counter and then slides back down at the bush of a button–an exciting technological innovation that also works with the room’s streamlined aesthetic.

For added storage and functionality, Aventos by Blum soft-function lift-systems were added, to house small appliances and whatever else the homeowners might need.

The final look of the complete kitchen is light, bright, and modern. The clients were enthusiastic participants throughout the renovation, researching ideas and products and collaborating with Project Planner Brian Taber and Schrader cabinet craftsman Robert Page closely on all aspects of the work. Project Manager Val DeCesare oversaw the work to its successful and beautiful completion.

“This particular project is a perfect example of how to increase functionality without increasing space,” says Brian. “The homeowners love cooking and entertaining in their new kitchen and that’s the most rewarding thing for us.”

 

 

Who We Support and Why: Logan Strong

Here at Schrader and Company Construction Services, we believe in the importance of investing in our local community and supporting the causes that speak to our own values.

One such organization is “Logan Strong”, and we’d like to tell you a little bit about it and why we’ve chosen to support this worthy cause.

Jennifer and Kevin Fogg are two local parents like so many of us. But they face an unimaginable challenge as they navigate their son Logan’s cancer diagnosis, a journey which began in his infancy. Jennifer is a member of Rotary and several Schrader staff members have met her through their shared volunteer efforts there.

Throughout Logan’s experience, the Foggs have focused their efforts on raising awareness for childhood cancers in general, benefitting many other families in the same situation. Logan is truly a tiny superhero, and such an inspiration to everyone who hears his story. Logan and his family recently received some great news, which you can read about on their blog where they chronicle his journey.

We are proud to have sponsored “Logan Strong” events and will continue to show our love and support to Logan and his remarkable family.

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and the perfect time to donate or become involved in this worthy cause.

If you’d like to learn more and be part of the #LoganStrong effort, you can visit the facebook page and website.

 

The 3rd Annual Peter H. Schrader Scholarship

This past June, Schrader and Company Construction Services awarded our third annual Peter H. Schrader scholarship to a graduate of Scotia-Glenville High School.

This scholarship, which honors the ethos of integrity and excellence in the field of construction of our company founder, is given to a high school senior interested in pursuing a career in construction or a related field.

Peter Schrader started attending Scotia-Glenville schools in the same one-room schoolhouse as his mother. After graduating from SGHS he left the area to pursue higher education in Florida. Peter left college early to join the Navy as a Heavy Equipment Operator in the “Can Do” Seabees and deployed to Vietnam and Puerto Rico. Upon completion of his term of service with the Navy, Peter decided to return home to Glenville and started working in construction with his brother. Peter gained a great satisfaction from working in the residential remodeling and construction industry. In 1973, he started working on his own as a carpenter from his Volkswagen bus. Over the years he refined his carpentry skills and started building a remodeling firm.

Peter led his firm to earn an indisputable state and national reputation for unparalleled craftsmanship and design in remodeling projects. His leadership role and ability to give back are apparent in his involvement in the community. Peter has conducted classes for local Continuing Education Programs, led career awareness training workshops for high school students and participated in regional seminars on the NYS Home Improvement Contract Law.

Peter represents the industry with character and dignity and has provided a standard that his peers aspire to achieve. He is an exemplary role model for the industry he relentlessly serves. Peter is a past president of the local Home Builders Association, past president of the NYS Builders Association and was inducted to the NYS Builders Hall of Fame.

The chosen recipient of our scholarship must demonstrate the skills and strong work ethic that has defined Peter’s career in our field.

This year’s recipient of the Peter H. Schrader scholarship is Warren Weaver. Congratulations to Warren! We wish him much luck in all of his future endeavors.

 

Investing In Our Team

Investing in our Team Tools

Here at Schrader and Company, we strongly believe that our greatest asset is our employees. Without their dedication, talent, and work ethic we would not be the business we are today.

Because we hold our team members in such high esteem, we are always ready to invest in them. To that end, we recently sent two of our apprentice carpenters to Hudson Valley Community College to take some courses that would increase the depth and breadth of their construction knowledge.

Investing In Our Team Schrader

These kinds of continuing education classes benefit not just our individual employees by adding skills and knowledge to their wheelhouse, but benefit our company as a whole, enabling us to better serve our clients.

“We are proud of the long tenure of our average employee, and funding relevant coursework to accelerate their learning and training is one way that we support our dedicated staff,” says Silas Schrader.

Schrader and Company maintains the related goals of having employees for life, and clients for life, and only by having the team with the highest levels of skills and professionalism can we meet that goal.

If you’re interested in being part of Schrader and Company and learning more about our company culture of growth and respect, don’t hesitate to apply today.

Breaking Down the Barriers to Your Dream Layout

One of the things that makes home remodeling and renovation so rewarding and exciting is that it enables a homeowner to stay in the home that they already love, while opening up all of the possibilities to the home of their dreams.

Sometimes renovation entails the modernization of a space to keep up with the times, or the expansion of a space to grow as a family’s needs might. And sometimes renovation means completely changing the flow and layout of a home to better suit the desires of the homeowner and the way they wish to live. This was the case in this Project Spotlight, in which we took down the walls that defined many smaller rooms to create an open, airy flow. The results are incredible, and if you didn’t know the before and after photos were the same residence, it would be hard to imagine.

These clients came to us with hopes for a much more open floor plan for their home. They are avid cooks, so creating a flow from the kitchen to other rooms that could be used for entertaining, dining and food storage was paramount. Walls were taken down to achieve this goal, and a new pantry, mudroom, bathroom and sunroom were renovated in addition to a fully updated kitchen.

The remodeled space boasts may cool features, including two kinds of countertops–a solid surface stone on the curved kitchen island (a notable feature in and of itself) and walnut underneath a row of custom cabinetry. The new cabinets are a shaker-style, constructed in our cabinet shop. There’s a beautiful bead board backsplash in the kitchen as well as a sleek hood over the range which does not obstruct the view to the sunroom, and adds to the open feel of the space.

Even though this was a large-scale renovation, we were committed to minimizing the inconvenience to our clients, as is always our priority. We were thrilled that they reported to us that the experience was low-impact during the construction, and they were able to go about their lives, and even work from home as the renovation progressed.

The results speak for themselves, and the transformation of this home is one we are always proud to share with prospective clients to illustrate just how much change is possible with the right design plan in place, and the best of skilled tradesman at work.

Take a look at the stunning before and after gallery below and give us a call if you’re ready to open up your home to some fresh possibilities!