Renovation Archives - Kandrac & Kole Interior Designs, Inc.

Lake House Update – Part 7

January 20, 2019

Written By: kelly

We are nearing the finish line on our lakehouse remodel. The money well is dry and the fun is almost over (or about to start depending on how you look at it). We drove up to North Carolina this weekend to check on the progress and it was an exciting day!

The beams are finished and they are AWESOME. We ended up mixing two different Minwax stains for the right finish – Classic Gray and Weathered Oak. They match the kitchen cabinets and flooring perfectly which was actually NOT my intention but I am really happy with the end result. It’s a warm brown with a hint of grey.

The brick hearth will be painted white. How about those LVT floors? Gorgeous:)

Also note the 4″ LED square recessed lights we put in. Now I look up at my 6″ round ones in my Woodstock home and they look huge.

I had a bit of a panic attack this week regarding the sconces on the fireplace. I chose a pair that looked amazing on line and then went to the showroom and saw them in person and did not like them AT ALL. Fortunately, Joann and I were at the AmericasMart January show and stumbled across a husband and wife team out of Nashville who custom make gorgeous light fixtures from reclaimed wood. I promptly ordered (2) of these beauties. Crisis averted!

Another slight panic attack regarding the floating shelves for the kitchen. I had hooked up with some guys from Alabama that I met at my beloved Scott Antique Market and we had grand plans for these super cool live edge floating shelves in old walnut they were going to custom make for me. Long story short they flaked out on me so my team at RCM Custom Moulding in Robbinsville are coming to the rescue. Stay tuned for the final product which involves live edge wood and industrial black piping…

The subway tile is next and will go from the countertop to the top of the wall where the vault starts. Then (2) other side cabinets will go back up. These shelves (and the way I will stylize them) are going to add huge personality to this little kitchen.

Just for kicks – here’s a photo of the original kitchen. I’m dying!

A side note here: I’ve been sick for the last 2 weeks with the Norovirus and then the cold from HELL. Literally – I’ve just been trying to put one foot in front of the other and merely survive. Normal renovation issues keep coming up and Joann is so proud of me for being very calm, cool and collected. What she doesn’t realize is that my throat is numb, there are ocean waves in my ears and elephant size pressure on my face so I have no choice but to remain calm…..

Oh yeah – another phone call this week came regarding the island quartz top. My husband and the guys had tweaked the size of the island for a final size of 80″x70″. Everybody (including me) forgot that we were stepping outside of the limits of a jumbo slab of quartz (65″wide). Sooo….. at the last minute we had to take out a power panel that gave us the 6″ we needed…. Keep calm and carry on….. this shit is part of the renovation party!

One thing I’m really proud of myself (and my hubby Mike) for during this renovation was standing firm amongst the professionals we were working with to have the things we wanted. For example – that bank of floor to ceiling pantry closets was our idea. During the first course of drawings and renderings, the architects (who we paid huge money to) were trying to sell me on a tiny pantry closet on the other side of the kitchen. Huh???? They also wanted to put (3-5) vertical beams in the big new opening between the kitchen and living spaces for support. I really hated the idea and they were adamant about it. We ended up with one and it’s all it needs.

The bathrooms are looking great. We organized all the cabinet hardware this weekend for what goes where so those will go in next week. I took a final measurement for mirrors in the master bathroom too. (I’ve decided on 2 mirrors vs. one big one).

This is the basement bathroom waiting for the weathered wood mirror I purchased at Nadeau to go up. The mirror will take up that entire wall thanks to some professional measuring by moi:)

This is the master bathroom. I chose Fantasy Brown Marble with a leathered finish. It looks like the bottom of a tropical ocean to me. The lighting is from Hudson Valley and the faucets are from Brizo. All with a touch of a casual industrial vibe. I purchased these mirrors on Amazon for 1/2 of the price of those on Pottery Barn. Hee hee.

This is the upstairs guest bathroom. I found a perfect weathered wood mirror at Homegoods that will go up this week.

We really repurposed every square inch of the house in this remodel so each space is compact but efficient. Whatever art and rugs I buy will be very meticulously chosen for their WOW factor and for their ability to pull all of these neutrals together. I have every little measurement in my phone in case I run across that perfect thing. I’ve definitely been a Hi-Lo designer for this house – making investments in certain places and then scoring budget deals in other places.

One of my favorite things in the house is the staircase. I gotta give props to Gerald, Reed, Kyle, Trevor and all the guys on our construction team at RCM. Their workmanship is top notch. To be able to find an inspiration picture on Pinterest and hand it over to them to recreate was awesome!

This isn’t finished yet as there will be (3) rows of industrial cable running thru the wood but you see where it’s headed….

As a reminder, here is the inspiration photo I gave them…

Just another reminder of what the staircase was originally! O.M.G.

We are starting to move in on February 1st! My next update will be of insta-house (as my husband calls it). Stay tuned for more!

Kelly

Everything you Need to know about Countertops

January 10, 2019

Written By: joann

We have such an abundance of showrooms, boutiques, art galleries and design centers filled with luxury and quality furniture as well as antiques, fabrics, rugs, linens, flooring, tile, cabinetry, outdoor living and so much more in the Atlanta area. We could literally take a “field trip” every week for a year and never see it all!

Kelly and I are extremely lucky to live in an area that is brimming with a healthy design community and numerous resources.

Speaking of field trips, we recently visited Construction Resources, a one stop shop in Atlanta that carries a huge line of products of more than 60 brands across 11 product categories.

We visited the massive showroom a couple of months ago and could not believe the selection of products. We were really impressed with the variety of options for natural stone such as marble, granite, quartz, solid surface and ultra-compact surfaces. For those that don’t know “ultra-compact” surface is used to describe a countertop material that is made by putting raw materials found in glass, porcelain and quartz, under extreme heat and pressure to create an almost indestructible material.

A big plus was that we were able to view the large quantity of slabs in a climate controlled area, not outdoors or in a hot/cold warehouse (depending on the time of year). It was a pleasure to browse! These were our favorites:

**Left – Sequoia Brown (leathered finish) Quartzite**
**Right – Fusion Light (polished finish) Quartzite**

Choosing countertops can be very confusing. There are many different looks, styles, characteristics and price ranges to take into account. Here are some options to consider based on appearance, lifestyle and budget.

Kandrac & Kole Blog on Countertops - Construction Resources — MARBLE – This is considered a “classic”. It is a soft stone and is susceptible to etching and staining. A polished finish is what most people are used to but a “honed” or “leathered” finish is considered to be the best option for marble counters. This means the surface of the stone has been ground to a smooth, flat consistent surface giving it a more “matte” look. It also can be lower maintenance – fingerprints and watermarks are less conspicuous than on a shiny, polished finish. – $75-$250 per square foot

QUARTZITE – A metamorphic rock that was originally pure quartz sandstone. Sandstone is converted into quartzite through heating and pressure. This is not to be confused with Quartz. $70-$120 per square foot

QUARTZ – A synthetic material that’s made in a factory out of stone chips, resins and pigments. Great qualities of quartz is its attractive appearance and durability. It does not have the weaknesses of natural stone. It is non-porous so it resists staining and for cleanliness, it means that it will not harbor bacteria. There is a much wider range of colors as well. $60-$100 per square foot

GRANITE – Granite is harder than marble so it is more resistant to chips and scratches. It can be quite durable but must be properly sealed every one or two years. Granite is still a viable option, but not as popular as marble or quartz. $45-$200 per square foot

LIMESTONE – A natural stone generally pure white to off-white with some color variation but typically neutral. This is one that is porous and soft so maintenance and care is very important. The best option to avoid stains is to protect the surface with a protective sealer. $55-$125 per square foot

SOAPSTONE – An attractive alternative for those that want a natural stone instead of granite. It’s appearance is somewhat more rustic and casual. Mottled white, off-white and gray tones are predominant. It is heat resistant, non-porous and doesn’t need to be sealed. Excellent durability and low maintenance. $60-$185 per square foot.

One of the advantages of shopping for countertops at Construction Resources was the huge selection of slabs, and of course, the great lighting in the showroom. As I mentioned, there are so many design resources in Atlanta and what I loved about Construction Resources is that it is a one stop shop. Once you selected a countertop, you could take your sample to the other parts of the showroom to select tile, cabinets, lighting, etc. – no running around in the crazy Atlanta traffic!

I only touched on the countertops but this is what else you can find there:

Appliances, cabinets, lighting, tile and flooring, fireplaces, garage doors, sinks and faucets, outdoor living and closet systems.

Speaking of fireplaces, check out this one:

A new build or remodeling project can be very daunting if you try to do it on your own. A lot of the selections go hand in hand and so the beauty of doing it all in one place is awesome!!

Here are two Kandrac & Kole designed kitchens:

Kandrac & Kole Blog - Countertops — photo credit
**We love the use of the marble as the backsplash (very popular these days)**

Making selections for a new space or a renovation can be overwhelming, but it can also be really fun. Making the decision to work with trained professionals in the field can simplify the process and save you stress, time and money!

Click here to go to the Construction Resources site and here for their blog where they share lots of inspiration and tips!

Joann

Our Top Ten Design Before and Afters of 2018

December 31, 2018

Written By: joann

I love to look back on the year and reminisce about all of the homes and commercial projects we transformed. Here are a few of our favorites from this past year!

This space went from a child’s room to a serene and luxurious guest suite.

Kandrac & Kole Interior Designs, Inc. - Best Before/Afters 2018

The gorgeous mercury glass lamps are from Currey and Co. and the beautiful linens are from Eastern Accents.

The bathroom got an update as well! Love this Thibaut wallpaper (T75172 – Treviso Marble)!!

The guest bedroom then became the “tween” room.

And the adjoining bathroom:

Here is one of the many multi-family projects we worked on in 2018. This is a clubhouse in Duluth, Georgia.

We were able to work in these beautiful art prints by Erin Gregory from One Kings Lane.

Here is a charity project we worked on that was held at ADAC in Atlanta. We designed a vignette using donated furnishings where for all items were sold and the proceeds went to Dwell with Dignity.

We started out with a blank space….

A big thank you to these donors:

1. Taylor Cox – one of her signature beach paintings

2. Jay Scott – 48 x 60 Serene landscape in gray/pink

3. Laura Park – Colorful abstract art

4. Pamela Copeman – original art of blonde lady in colorful jacket

5. Currey and Company – Funky cool floor lamp

6. Couture Lamps – Buddha and black and white lamps and accessories

7. Surya Rugs – 2 8′ x 10′ – colorful pink and orange rugs

8. Greg Fleming Designs – terrarium, succulents

One of our most favorite ever before/after projects is the work we do in Guatemala working with Catalyst Resources International. In 2018 we built a home for Maria and Gustave who have ten children (7 of them living at home). They were living in a one room shack with a tin roof, dirt floor and 2 beds for all 9 people. We also gave them a working toilet and water purifier. You can read more about his project here!

This project turned a dated, dark kitchen into a light bright and happy space!

The navy blue island (Salty Dog SW9177 from Sherwin Williams), large pendants, concrete tile backsplash and bistro counter stools from Serena and Lily make this a stunning kitchen!

This transformation was for an “empty nester” couple who had always lived with traditional furnishings and decided to break out of their comfort zone and go in a transitional style!

The gorgeous chandelier is from Troy Lighting, dining chairs in performance fabric by Vanguard Furniture and drapery panels and tape trim by Kravet.

Sofas by Lee Industries, Stressless Sunrise Recliners, Cocktail Table by Theodore Alexander, Custom made floating shelves and custom area rug by Prosource.

Headboard and linens by Eastern Accents, bedside tables by Vanguard Furniture, Lamps by Currey and Co., white chairs reupholstered, and bench at the end of the bed by Bernhardt.

And to finish out the year, we completed an amazing transformation of a master bedroom, taking it from dark and dreary to bright and relaxing.

Headboard and dresser by Universal Furniture. Etagere from Woodbridge Furniture, bench by Fairfield Chair and chandelier by Visual Comfort. Check out what we did with the fireplace!

Wishing you all the best in 2019!!

Stay tuned for lots of new content on our podcast – Inside Design with Kandrac & Kole.

Joann

Lake House Update – Part 6

December 2, 2018

Written By: kelly

So, we didn’t move in by Thanksgiving but that’s ok – we are making good progress! I’m still making a mish mash of constant decisions so I thought I’d just share a few with you for Update Part 6!

First of all, ship lap is almost finished! Let the haters hate and say it’s trendy, farmhouse, blah blah – I love it and I always will. To me it will never go out of style.

The first coat of paint is also up. I’ve left clear communication for the contractor throughout this process and it has really helped eliminate any drama or last minute stresses. Here you can see my love notes I left a few weekends ago.

The upstairs gets a lot more natural light than the basement level so I tweaked the colors slightly. The upstairs walls and ceilings are Sherwin Williams Pure White 7005. The trim and doors are Sherwin Williams City Loft 7631. Downstairs, the walls are ceilings are SW 7757 Highly Reflective White and the trim and doors are SW 6070 Heron Plume.

My kids are shocked that I didn’t put “color” on the walls. I really wanted the view to take precedence in this house and with so many windows, it was the right choice.

Trim work is also almost finished. I chose a simple shaker/farmhouse look.

The most exciting update so far – the tile is up in 2 of the 3 bathrooms!! The guys did an awesome job.

This is the master bathroom (grout not in yet).

This is the guest bathroom upstairs. I adore the baby window. There’s nothing like taking a shower with a breeze.

Notice the exterior wood beam details added over the front door. “Kelly – we need a stain color…..” Decision number 782…..

I asked for (3) stain colors – Ebony, Jacobean and Espresso. I chose Ebony. It looks great against the grey and will make sense with the black gutters.

“Kelly.. what kind of bannister/handrail do you want going down the stairs?” Decision number 783…

Here’s my choice (thank you Pinterest) – SO EXCITED!

This weeks decision … what color for the interior beams. I’m working on that now. This is the simple design we will end up with for the vaulted part of the kitchen. I like the simplicity of it.

Last week I also selected and purchased all of the hardware for the cabinetry throughout the house. Black Friday and Cyber Monday were my friend:)

I love these pulls and knobs in matte black from Emtek I chose for the kitchen. (And don’t think I didn’t specify on every cabinet drawing what pull/knob goes where for the contractor so there was no confusion – #longdistancedesign).

My job yesterday (before the UGA/Alabama championship game – but let’s not talk about THAT) was to select toilet paper holders and towel hooks (I really hate towel bars). The choices are endless. I have to say I am SO HAPPY to see so many matte black choices out there. No more oil rubbed bronze for me.

I really like bath sheets over bath towels (much bigger) so the hooks have to have a good projection on them to properly hold the towel. (Note: if it seems like I’m particular about a lot of things…. well, I am… it comes from experience (and lots of trial and error) my friends.) I chose these from Rejuvenation.

To encourage all potty participants to change the toilet paper roll when empty, I’ve made it as easy as possible…

Next decision (are you tired yet? I am!) – How to handle the fireplace wall.

I shared in Update 5 that I decided to wrap the wall in shiplap, do a reclaimed timber mantle and a painted brick hearth.

But, these 8′ ceilings keep throwing me for a loop (my home in Woodstock has 10′ ceilings).

So I was contemplating this wall for a while yesterday. My fear is that if I install a cool, beefy reclaimed timber beam as a mantle and then the 3″ shaker crown goes in, I’m going to have a whopping 24″ of height remaining for art. Art placement is always a priority for me. Thus – change of plans.

I think I already mentioned my current obsession with art by Dawne Raulet. This is the piece I covet for over the fireplace which is a 40″ square. (See why these measurements art SO IMPORTANT?)

So then I was thinking – since I’m loosing the cool funky mantle, why not add two sconces for some extra jazz. Soooo….. if my electrician can slide this change in, I’m leaning towards these new sconces that my friend Denise McGaha designed for Currey & Co.

How AMAZING would these look with the other selections I made (refer back to Update 3).

This week Joann and I are heading to Scott Antique Market (my happy place). I will be on the hunt for authentic rugs for some key places.

Stay tuned!

Kelly

Lake House Update – Part 5

October 28, 2018

Written By: kelly

On Saturday I went up to the house for the first time in 5 weeks and it was SO exciting to see the progress! Electrical and plumbing rough ins are complete and sheetrock is up! The siding is 80% complete and the new shingled portion of the roof is complete along with the metal portion too.

I’m dying for the black gutters and yellow door to be installed!

You can’t really see the black metal roof on the new bump out but it’s cool.

This is the light fixture going to the right of the door that I bought from Build.com.

It’s so nice to finally have walls and to feel the plans on paper coming to life.

The main living room will be getting ship lap but all the windows are in! It’s so exciting to see this wide open space we have created. PARTY TIME!

The fireplace wall is really wide so I’ve been working on the design with my contractor Kyle at RCM Robbinsville.

A few inspirational ideas thanks to Pinterest:

I like the thought of a wrap around mantle but after seeing the house today, we don’t have room on the right side to wrap around. I’m also a big fan of painted brick so I liked the combo of the ship lap and brick.

Photo Via

I’m also a big fan of penny tile and reclaimed beams so this photo appealed to me.

Photo Via

Unfortunately, I don’t have enough inset room for this idea without pulling the fireplace out more into the living space (which I don’t want to do).

I’ll report back on the final result.

Hint: It will be a combo of ship lap, a flush painted brick hearth and an old reclaimed timber floating mantle.

The other thing we’ve spent a lot of time discussing are the ceiling beams – how they should look (truly reclaimed timbers or made to look old) and where they should be placed. We have straight beams going up in the living room and dining room and then more interesting ones going in the vaulted portion of the kitchen.

Photo Via

I’m struggling with exactly how I want the kitchen beams to look. There will be three. I’m totally in love with this look but I think it’s a budget breaker (because of the rounded wood) and I fear I don’t have enough height (remember the vaulted portion of our ceiling was a surprise revelation and it’s sort of shallow.) Oh the limitations of a renovation!!

I think we are headed towards this idea but my gut keeps telling me it’s a tad on the boring (i.e. expected) side of things….

Photo Via

I keep gravitating towards arches. I love the simplicity of these.

Photo Via

I could paint them and make them a little more contemporary looking like this. These choices are keeping me up at night! I need to hire a designer to make these decisions for me. HA!

Photo Via

Meanwhile, I’ve been draining the checkbook with some cool purchases.

I bought this bed and (2) bedside tables from Classic Home for one of the guest bedrooms and the lamps from Currey.

I bought these (2) stools from World Market for the living room for flexible seating and/or ottomans.

I bought this dining room table and chairs from my local Woodstock Furniture Outlet (self storing leaf for big parties) but then gave it a little jazz with black custom wicker chairs at the heads of the table from my friends at Mainly Baskets. (Hi-Lo design is my motto after all)

See a neutral theme going on? A very new design aesthetic for me but I’m loving it.

These stools from Uttermost are going at the end of the bed in upstairs guest bedroom.

When I can afford it, I’m dying to commission a piece of art over the fireplace from artist Dawn Raulet. There is a farm down the street from our house full of cows and horses. They are beautiful creatures.

Mike asked what kind of Nest thermostat I wanted. Black and brass of course!

As you can see, my mind is going in 20 different directions at once with this house. Like I said, I wish I could hand this all over to a designer so I don’t have to deal with it. LOL. Joann? Are you free?

Until next week’s Saturday visit,

Kelly