February 17th, 2012
How often do you feel that your house requires additional space? The basement is perfect for additional bedroom, an extra bath, guest room or a fabulous home theater area.
One can always look inside the house for the additional space. It is how you plan it out that makes the difference.
Crucial decision
What do you add? What has to be moved or changed to get what you want? There is nothing worse than feeling like it has to be a certain way because that is how it is already, or it is a new basement and you just assume it is to be finished a certain way because some of the studs are already up. One of the most important things to consider is- PLAN, PLAN, and PLAN.
THE BASEMENT BATHROOM- new or existing
Almost always, the basement has a bathroom. Most new homes are sold with a rough in area for the future bath. Older homes may already have a SEMI bath set up. Either way the plumbing has to be planned. The most important step in plumbing a basement bathroom is to make sure you have properly vented the new plumbing system. If a system is not vented properly, you will likely not be aware until the remodel is complete. Fixing such a problem would involve a complete tear out of any work that had been previously completed. The most common problem we have seen in existing baths is a foul odor coming up from the old shower drain. A shower has a p-trap that is located below the concrete slab. In some cases, even if you have a trap installed the sewer gas can still make its way to the living space. If another component of the plumbing system has not been vented properly it may siphon the p-trap dry, allowing sewer gas to seep into the living space. This may involve tearing up the concrete floor. We anticipate this in every basement bath project we do. Not a problem for a professional crew. This is why we know SCC can adjust any space to put in what you want.
LIGTHTING
Basements are known to have minimal natural lighting. Sometimes, the height restrictions don’t allow you to install the lighting of your choice. “Can Lights” are one of the best options to overcome this handicap. Hidden cove lighting is a great way to accent a certain area, and wall sconces add additional touches. Either way plan ahead to add more than you think you need. You will be glad you did it when you start using the space.
FLOORING
Selecting a basement floor can be an overwhelming part of your basement finishing project. Many different materials are available- carpet, tile, laminate, engineered wood and others. We coordinate the flooring with the planned use of the space. We help you choose materials that will wear well and enhance the space. Here are some important points we keep in mind when we help you make these decisions.
First of all you will need to determine how well your flooring will have to hold up to traffic and moisture. The material you choose will also have a great impact on the look, feel and overall warmth of the space.
CARPET
Wall to wall style carpeting will be the warmest option. The carpet and pad will act as an insulator from the cold concrete underneath.
LAMINATE / ENGINEERED FLOORING
Laminate and engineered flooring are very beautiful and look great in a basement. The material and installation is more expensive than carpet but usually cheaper than using a ceramic tile.
Laminate is essentially sawdust and glue. It is made under great pressure and a lot of heat. The laminate finish is a picture of wood covered with a tough coating. It is extremely durable, looks great and is easy to care for.
Engineered wood is a real finish on top of a plywood core. It can scratch just as a conventional hardwood floor.
Both materials are installed over a pad and “float.” What this means is that the floor adheres only to itself, either with glue or the flooring pieces lock together. The floor is not attached to any of the walls. This allows for expansion and contraction of the material as temperatures fluctuate.
Laminate and engineered flooring will not be as cold as tile due to the pad underneath. It will not be as warm as carpet.
We don’t recommend installing any hardwood flooring in the basement in Minnesota for 2 reasons: (1) the humidity changes too much. And (2) you’ll need to install some sort of subfloor to anchor the hardwood to. (equals- additional costs / doesn’t work well with a low ceiling)
TILE and Vinyl
Vinyl tile are the most durable choices for your floor. If water happens, no problem. Just mop up and you’re done. Both durable, come in many color choices, and are on opposite ends of the budget wheel which gives you options. Tile has several advantages because you can choose the tile pattern, tile sizes and add in floor heat and make the floor toasty warm in any or all areas.
Whatever floor style choices you make, very often some compromise is necessary. Weigh all your options according to what sort of durability and comfort you need that will fit your budget. And remember we will help you plan! And then, sit back and let us do all the work for you!
Come see what we can do for you!
SCC Kitchen Bath & Home!
Tags: Basement Remodel Minnesota, Bath Remodel Minnesota, Design Build Minnesota, Design Ideas, Elk River, Finish the Basement, Full Service Remodeling, Home Additions and Exterior, Home Remodeling Minnesota, Kitchen Remodel Minnesota, Maple Grove Remodel, Plymouth MN Remodel, Remodel Contractor, Remodel Showroom, Showroom Rogers, Turn Key Service
Posted in Basements / Lower Levels, Baths | No Comments »
February 7th, 2012
Ah. A new year. New ideas. And plans to finally get to those home remodels you’ve hand on your brain for so many months. You’ve got your steaming coffee fee nearby and you’re rubbing your hands together, ready to start. You’ve got the motivation, now you just need the inspiration.
Happy Valentines Day from SCC
Since Valentine’s day is just around the corner it brings to mind a comment that is made once we sit down and start planning a new space for our homeowners. Usually this comes up when we are answering questions about the master bath and bedroom.
–Men don’t want a frilly bathroom
Romantic Style – The Feminine and Masculine Touch–This style lends itself to other clean styles, like contemporary or English country. It does well in a single room makeover or throughout the entire house. Many assume that a Romantic style is frilly and fancy, full of flowers and pink colors. Well, I’m here to tell you that it does not have to be that way. Yes, colors should be soft, but you can forgo the roses and pinks for blues or greens in stripes instead. For the masculine touch, bring in darker tones, and mix them with colors that enhance your own personal coloring. It can be something that says ‘a man lives here.’ It can carry its own fabric pattern or even its own style of furniture. A master suite is the perfect place to combine both feminine and masculine pieces of furniture. How about a four-poster bed, a chenille spread, and embroidered pillows? Make the floors hardwood with a jute rug at bedside and a captain’s trunk at the foot of the bed. Integrate the bath into the space with separate furniture style vanities and matching mirrors in dark toned woods, simple tiles, and a large spacious shower.
The idea is to bring in a little romance by way of colors, lighting, and both feminine and masculine elements. Now that’s romantic.
Are you ready?
Come see what we can do for you. From the design to the install- at SCC Kitchen Bath & Home we do it all!
Tags: Basement Remodel Minnesota, Bath Design, Bath Remodel Minnesota, Creative Remodel ideas, Design Build Minnesota, Design Ideas, Home Additions and Exterior, Home Remodeling Minnesota, Kitchen & Bath Showroom, Kitchen Design, Maple Grove Remodel, New Kitchen, Remodel Contractor, Remodel Showroom, Turn Key Service
Posted in Baths | No Comments »
January 13th, 2012
short divide- Siligranite in BISCOTTI color
Every kitchen remodel gets a new sink. This is an exciting part of the new remodel project because your sink is a large factor in how the kitchen looks when it is complete. It is also the most used item in the kitchen which means you have to love it and it needs to perform.
Most of the time we are removing the original stainless steel sink that is stained, scratched and sounds tinny when you put something in it, or an old porcelain sink that is chipped, marked or dis-colored. This is largely because the availability of sink products in the past was limited or there was not allot of thought put in to the type of sink that would work best.
“Some will say-it’s just a sink. I say- you are remodeling and you need a sink. Do you know what your options are”?
First, let’s consider that in today’s kitchens the sink style and color should blend with the room. Then look at the fact that we really do not want the sink to be a focal point. It should be that oou ahh wow factor of “that’s really cool” and it pulls the room together.
Second, I always caution people that you should be using your dishwasher and not using a double sink to wash and rinse. Dishwashers today are energy saving, and have small wash capabilities so you do not need to do small loads in your sink unless you just love the extra work. It does not have to be a double sink because that is what you have always had.
Third, do you wash baking sheets, roasting pans, large items on a regular basis? Then using a single 33” may be perfect! But you have small items and you don’t want to fill the sink? That’s what rubber-maid containers are for.
Mostly it is what you want! Once you understand the options you can make the best decision for your new kitchen. Porcelain, cast, stainless, granite, fireclay, glass, quartz, plastic are all used for sinks. The sizes are limitless, the colors fascinating, and the shapes add a whole new dimension as to how the sinks look and perform. We will help you with this. We will also help you understand how it is installed is imperative, especially since most sinks today are installed under the countertop. That is an entirely different topic I will address when we design your kitchen.
In the meantime here are photos of some of the sinks we have installed. Browse through and take a moment to explore some of the possibilities…
Granite inTruffle color
Copper Apron front
Apron front Stainless Double
GRANITE Sink- double
Fireclay- Apron front
Cast new color- Robbins egg blue
Siligranite Partial Divide double
Hi-Polished Stainless Steel Single Apron Front
Porcelain front Stainless Steel Apron 1/4-3/4
Single Stainless Steel 33 inch
Fire Clay Apron front 36" 1/4 -- 3/4
Brushed Stainless Steel Single 33" Apron front
Quartz / Resin Single 33"
Textured front- Cast - Single 24" Apron front in Buff
I’m here to help!
Leslie Copsey -SCC Kitchen Bath & Home. Rogers, MN
Come see what we can do for you!
Tags: Bath Remodel Minnesota, Design Build Minnesota, Design Ideas, Elk River, Full Service Remodeling, Home Additions and Exterior, Home Remodeling Minnesota, Kitchen & Bath Showroom, Kitchen Design, Kitchen Remodel Minnesota, New Kitchen, Quartz Countertops, Remodel Contractor, Remodel Showroom, Showroom Rogers, Turn Key Service
Posted in Kitchens, Trends | No Comments »
January 1st, 2012
When it is all done and everything is put away, sometimes it is hard to remember what it used to look like. This is a kitchen remodel SCC Kitchen Bath & Home recently completed.
Using the original footprint of this 20 plus-year-old kitchen in the North Metro area of the twin cities, we made a few changes to enhance the space. The goal was make it easy to maintain, user friendly, and look great for the next 20-years.
This is what SCC did
- Raised a portion of the soffits up
- Added a double oven, a beverage center and we switched the over-sized refrigerator to a counter depth, and built it in. We moved the microwave make multiple work-spaces.
- Added a glass and stainless 400-CFM Island canopy-hood.
- Removed the vinyl floor. Added in-floor heat and large stone floor tiles.
- New stone counter tops in contrasting colors.
- New cabinets full of inserts to keep everything organized.
- We painted the walls and soffits, and we removed the popcorn from the ceiling.
- Topped it off with a touch-less kitchen faucet.
The owners have been welcoming family and friends into the newly remodeled space throughout this years holiday season.
Thank you Steve and Connie for a fun New Years Celebration!
You can be next! Come see what we can do for you.
SCC Kitchen Bath & Home
I’m here to help!
Leslie
Tags: Bath Remodel Minnesota, Creative Remodel ideas, Design Build Minnesota, Design Ideas, Elk River, Elk River MN, Full Service Remodeling, Home Additions and Exterior, Home Remodeling Minnesota, Kitchen & Bath Showroom, Maple Grove Remodel, Plymouth MN Remodel, Quartz Countertops, Remodel Showroom, Turn Key Service
Posted in Kitchens | No Comments »
December 12th, 2011
It’s all about personality, and letting your creative side show off.
Don’t forget to bring the outdoors in.
A beautiful new remodeled Living room shows off…
The Kids room is decorated for guests.
A simple easy touch to brighten the room.
A red and White theme…
An elegant touch…
No room for a tree? This Loft gets a special touch.
And the Lake home is cozy and comfortable after the renovation!
Wishing you the Happiest of Holidays from SCC Kitchen Bath & Home!
Come see what we can do for you!
Leslie and Steve Copsey
Tags: Basement Remodel Minnesota, Bath Design, Bath Remodel Minnesota, Creative Remodel ideas, Design Build Minnesota, Elk River, Elk River MN, Full Service Remodeling, Home Remodeling Minnesota, Kitchen & Bath Showroom, Maple Grove Remodel, New Kitchen, Remodel Contractor, Showroom Rogers, Turn Key Service
Posted in Additions, Basements / Lower Levels, Baths, Exteriors, Kitchens | No Comments »
November 29th, 2011
Yes, it’s winter and you can have SCC install soothing comfort and consistent even heat under your tile, stone, laminate, engineered wood or carpet. We offer a variety of programmable thermostat options for a floor without cold spots.
Stepping onto ice-cold bathroom tile is a cruel way to wake up in the morning. It’s no wonder so many of us invest in extra-thick slippers and giant rugs.
What if you were able to shed your slippers and step barefoot onto tile that’s toasty warm? Radiant-floor heating makes that possible. SCC Kitchen Bath & Home can make this happen, when we do your next remodel project. And, it is far less expense than you might expect.
NO SLIPPERS REQUIRED…
An electric radiant system consists of thin heating cables, like the wires in an electric blanket; these are installed under approved flooring. Because the cables are so thin they don’t raise the level of the flooring much; this makes them great for remodeling.
SCC installs this system where warm floors are appreciated: bathrooms, mudrooms, the family room and kitchens. Controlled by their own thermostat, these systems don’t have anything to do with your main heating unit — they augment it, and you have control!
WRAP YOURSELF IN WARMTH
Something else to consider when we remodel your bathroom is a heated towel warmer. We hardwire them to the wall so you do not have to worry about electrical cords in the bathroom. The best part is… you can set the timer the night before so your towels are warm and ready to embrace you when you get step out of the shower!
We are here to help and ready to heat things up!
Complete Design & Remodel without lifting a finger! SCC Kitchen Bath & Home.
Tags: Basement Remodel Minnesota, Bath Design, Bath Remodel Minnesota, Design Build Minnesota, Design Ideas, Elk River, Elk River MN, Full Service Remodeling, Home Remodeling Minnesota, Kitchen & Bath Showroom, Kitchen Design, Kitchen Remodel Minnesota, Maple Grove Remodel, New Kitchen, Remodel Showroom, Turn Key Service
Posted in Additions, Basements / Lower Levels, Baths, Kitchens | No Comments »
November 17th, 2011
COLOR!
Almost every single time SCC Kitchen Bath & Home does a remodel project, the first color our clients say they want for the ceiling is WHITE.
This is until I do the final color layout. Colors need to be coordinated with all of the new product that are specked out for the new design. We need to consider if there are windows, the future furniture, and accent pieces you know for sure you want to incorporate into the new space.
The only time it is difficult to Paint a ceiling “a color” is if you have popcorn texture and are trying to do it yourself. When we remodel a home, the ceilings are generally included. If the ceiling is a knockdown, flat or sculptured finish this is the time to add drama and depth to a room.
Look at these photos and see what a great finishing effect painting the ceiling has on the entire space.
A light gray with Brown is classic
Sea Water ceiling with Sea-foam walls
Brings the outdoors into a home office.
This is one of my favorites…
No, the dog is not real.
Here is the key to understanding why this is done. You want to walk into the room and see “the entire room”. A fully coordinated space. Not just the walls. Not just the light on the ceiling. You want your eyes to slowly roll around the entire room taking in all of the beauty without an abrupt line stopping you. Once this is done, our brains make a second “lap” of the room and pleasantly accept the accents.
It’s fun! It’s custom, it’s a finishing touch anyone can have.
I’m here to help!
Leslie Copsey
SCC Kitchen Bath & Home BC216525
Tags: Basement Remodel Minnesota, Bath Design, Bath Remodel Minnesota, Creative Remodel ideas, Design Build Minnesota, Design Ideas, Elk River, Elk River MN, Full Service Remodeling, Home Additions and Exterior, Home Remodeling Minnesota, Kitchen & Bath Showroom, Kitchen Design, Kitchen Remodel Minnesota, Maple Grove Remodel, New Kitchen, Plymouth MN Remodel, Remodel Contractor, Remodel Showroom, Showroom Rogers, Turn Key Service
Posted in Additions, Basements / Lower Levels, Baths, Kitchens, Trends | No Comments »
November 8th, 2011
A stunning new faucet for our next kitchen remodel project!
Just Tap for Water
Cocoa Bronze and Stainless. Love this…
The right product for each project we do.
Tags: Bath Remodel Minnesota, Creative Remodel ideas, Design Build Minnesota, Design Ideas, Elk River, Full Service Remodeling, Home Remodeling Minnesota, Kitchen & Bath Showroom, Kitchen Design, Kitchen Remodel Minnesota, Maple Grove Remodel, New Kitchen, Remodel Contractor, Remodel Showroom
Posted in Kitchens, Trends | No Comments »
November 2nd, 2011
Brass fixtures are now lead free. Years ago, a toilet flush took many gallons of water; we’re now down to 1.2 gallons a flush. Recycled shower water—known as gray water—is next. In the past, a plumber showed you your options for a bathroom. Today, the bath is decorated with the same care and attention as the rest of the house. You can have music, furniture, textiles, and refrigerators— and if you want to drink Champagne in the bath, why not?
It can be anything you want. A room to fit your personality. A room where you rejuvenate and never get tired of.
We’ll help you plan it, coordinate it, and finish it perfectly.
Ahhhh the bath… the bathing room has changed. Come see what we can do for you!
SCC Kitchen Bath & Home. From design to install- we’ll do it all so you don’t have to.
I’m here to help!
Leslie
Tags: Basement Remodel Minnesota, Bath Design, Bath Remodel Minnesota, Creative Remodel ideas, Design Build Minnesota, Design Ideas, Full Service Remodeling, Home Remodeling Minnesota, Kitchen & Bath Showroom, Maple Grove Remodel, Plymouth MN Remodel, Remodel Showroom, Turn Key Service
Posted in Baths | No Comments »
October 26th, 2011
SCC IS A LEAD-SAFE CERTIFIED CONTRACTOR / FIRM
So many people do not know that April 22, 2010, New EPA LAW went into effect.
EPA requires that Firms / Contractors performing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in homes, child care facilities, and schools built before 1978 must be certified and must follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination.
The Danger
Lead paint poisoning hasn’t gone away. If your home or apartment was built before 1978, unqualified workers could spread lead paint dust. Even doing a small job.
• Kids: Over a million are affected right now; lead exposure can cause lower intelligence, behavior problems and learning disabilities.
• Pregnant women: Lead paint dust can be harmful to your developing fetus.
• All adults: Exposure to lead paint dust can cause high blood pressure, hypertension, and even kidney effects.
The New Rule
The EPA is requiring that contractors be Lead-Safe Certified.
• Contractors include: renovators, electricians, HVAC specialists, plumbers, painters and maintenance staff who disrupt more than six square feet of lead paint.
• If you live in an apartment or condominium, it is your right to insist on a Lead-Safe Certified contractor.
• This rule also covers schools, day care centers, or any buildings where children gather.
The Solution
Protect your family and loved ones.
• Make sure to hire a contractor who is Lead-Safe Certified.
It may cost just a little more but you’ll get the job done right.
visit www.epa.gov/getleadsafe or call 800-424-LEAD.
SCC Kitchen Bath & Home IS a Certified Firm: EPA#NAT-29771-1
Steve Copsey is a registered and certified contractor.
SCC Kitchen Bath & Home
Come see what we can do for you!
Tags: Basement Remodel Minnesota, Bath Design, Bath Remodel Minnesota, Design Build Minnesota, Design Ideas, Elk River, Full Service Remodeling, Home Additions and Exterior, Home Remodeling Minnesota, Kitchen & Bath Showroom, Kitchen Design, Kitchen Remodel Minnesota, Maple Grove Remodel, New Kitchen, Plymouth MN Remodel, Remodel Showroom, Showroom Rogers, Turn Key Service
Posted in Additions, Basements / Lower Levels, Baths, Exteriors, Kitchens, Trends | No Comments »
