The kitchen has become the hub of the home. Not only is the kitchen the place where you prepare foods, more often than not, it ends up being the gathering place for family and friends. At Titus Built, our client’s input is essential when designing their kitchen. When thinking about a kitchen renovation their lifestyle plays an important part of the design and material selection. Keeping up with the Jones’ is not the key factor, but rather what suites their budget and lifestyle. Resale is also a key factor when considering a remodel. When choosing a remodeler to renovate your kitchen it is important to hire a partner that can enhance your lifestyle as well as increase the value of your home; a partner that will ensure a smooth and positive experience. It’s critical that you understand your partner’s vision, philosophy, and values to make sure they align with your goals.
Design is a crucial part of the remodel. Quality cabinetry is another key component to a good kitchen renovation. You want your dollars to last and not “look good” for a short period of time. Fine cabinetry uses quality materials and workmanship as well as offers unique, custom styles.
Below are photos of fine quality cabinetry including clever kitchen ideas:
Our Harbor View clients’ wanted a kitchen where they could entertain. We designed and handcrafted a kitchen where each custom piece of cabinetry was made completely by hand at 1″ thick, with self-closing soft touch technology and substantial marble countertops providing ample space for prep, cooking and entertaining during large gatherings.
One of our Redding clients brought us their ideas and we worked with them right down the smallest details to give them the kitchen they desired. Cabinet doors were designed and fabricated to the millimeter of our clients’ specifications; wood for countertops was hand selected by Jeff Titus and the clients; the stone surround and stone incorporated into the island were handcrafted to complement the adjacent family room fireplace; and, the organization of the info center was tailored to our clients’ requirements. Photo is of the veneer stone surround with spice shelves installed inside the surround.
A New Canaan, client wanted to make sure her newly remodeled kitchen stayed uncluttered, so she requested cabinet built-ins for paper towels. General manager Jeff Titus and the architect worked together on the design, which includes a holder to the right of the main sink and the island sink. Other details in the kitchen include a variation in depth of base cabinets; a custom made china hutch; and a full walk-in pantry.
Our Westport clients wanted more room in their home to accommodate their three growing children and make the whole family more comfortable. At the same time, it was important to them to maintain the integrity of their 1914 house. They wanted the remodel to look as if it had always been a part of their home. Titus Built designed and built a 1-1/2 story addition, including a family room and additional living areas, to the back of the Westport couple’s home. The couple also wanted a functional laundry room in the kitchen/family room area, but wanted the washer and dryer units concealed. Titus Built designed and built cabinets to hide their washer and dryer units. Custom cabinets can be designed and handcrafted to accommodate both apartment and full-sized units.
Here are some other clever kitchen ideas that you should think about including in your kitchen design:
You may also want to consider a closet pantry, pantry addition inclusive off drawer refrigerators, room temperature and chilled wine storage, a closet turned into an office… the list is endless. With Titus Built, our master craftsmen create the custom-designed details that make your home one-of-a-kind. Ask us about the difference.
Titus Built is honored to be recognized by two local magazines this month: East Coast HOME & DESIGN and New Canaan, Darien & Rowayton Magazine. If you get a chance, please pick up a copy.
Portfolio of Kitchens & Baths 2013, Titus Built,
East Coast HOME + DESIGN, Feb/Mar 2013 issue, pages 64 & 65
“Bright and sunny, this classic kitchen is one more example of attention to detail and fine craftsmanship that clients have come to expect from the West Redding firm of Titus Built, LLC…” ~ East Coast HOME + DESIGN
street smart, New Canaan, Darien + Rowayton Magazine
“Some homes make great first impressions. They couple good symmetry with architectural details, custom touches, carefully chosen colors and lush landscaping. The result is incredible curb appeal. These dressed-up facades are nothing sort of street smart. To celebrate the many fine examples of fashion-forward houses in our towns, we’ve photographed four that showcase eye-pleasing elements that add style and interest.” ~ New Canaan Magazine
Titus Built is also honored to be nominated by the JDR team for the 2013 Best Microblog Award, Twitter. We would be pleased if you voted for us as one of your favorite professional remodeling industry bloggers. Voting Closes on April 12th 4pmPST ~ Thank you! 2013 JDR Industry Blogger Awards
The Redding family brought us their ideas and we worked with them right down the smallest details to give them the kitchen they desired. Cabinet doors were designed and fabricated to the millimeter of our clients’ specifications; wood for countertops was hand selected by Jeff Titus and the clients; the stone surround and stone incorporated into the island were handcrafted to complement the adjacent family room fireplace; and, the organization of the info center was tailored to our clients’ requirements.
Oak Cabinets in Kitchen before Renovation
Fireplace in Family Room
Kitchen Island before Renovation
Kitchen Island after Renovation
The kitchen cabinets were custom made out of cherry wood in our millwork shop located in Redding, CT. The cabinets were designed with recessed panels inset doors and drawer fronts with plenty of organizational storage per clients’ requests. The kitchen island barn board was handpicked by client and Titus. The barn board was handcrafted into a 2” oblong shape with eased square edge countertop with a less porous finish but at the same time retain the look and texture of reclaimed boards.
Veneer Stone Incorporated into Handcrafted Barn Board Island Countertop
Veneer Stone Surround with Spice Shelves Inside the Surround
Custom Cherry Wood Cabinets with Clear Seedy Glass Inset in Upper Cabinet Doors
Appliances:
GE Profile 30″Built-In, Single/Double Convection, Wall Oven
GE Profile Spacemaker II(R) 1.0 Cu. Ft. Microwave Oven
Sub Zero 42” Side by Side Built-in Refrigerator – SS Tubular Handle
Bosch Dishwasher – panel ready 46 decibels
Dacor 30” 5 Burner Gas Cooktop-LP
A hydronic (hot water) radiant floor heating system was installed in the kitchen, mudroom & powder room under Jerusalem gold French pattern chiseled & brushed travertine tiles.
Jerusalem Gold French Pattern Chiseled & Brushed Travertine Tile Floor
Radiant Floor Heating
The 1 ¼” Colonial Cream Travertine Countertop was fabricated with a brushed finish and a drainboard to the right of the sink.
1 ¼” Colonial Cream Travertine Countertop with Drainboard
Loving this kitchen remodel! Stay tuned for updates on this Redding family’s custom mudroom with an info center and plenty of shelving and storage as well as an Asian influenced powder Room. In the meantime, you can check out our kitchen remodeling portfolio here: http://www.titusbuilt.com/kitchen-remodeling.htm.
The original home was of humble design and size but located directly on the water in a quaint beach community. The homeowners planned to live in the home with their four children and large groups of visiting friends and family during the summer and other vacation times. They wanted their new environment to be a comfortable and luxurious retreat for themselves and their children, with surroundings conducive to frequent entertaining and overnight guests. Because the home is in an area that experiences seasonal hurricanes, practical considerations in the planning were an important part of the process. As frequent travelers and connoisseurs of art, the couple wanted to express their eclectic tastes and interests throughout the home, with a focus on compelling architectural elements, unusual materials and interesting found objects. They wanted their home to evoke a classic Nantucket style suitable to its environment, with its own memorable character and detail.
Constraints:
Because of the home’s setting in a very tight-knit community, the remodeling process significantly affected neighbors. Keeping a clean and efficient job site and diligently communicating with the neighborhood’s private association was crucial to the project’s success. In order to accommodate the dumpster in the front yard needed for cleanup, the patio had to be ripped up and removed.
Neighborhood zoning restrictions had changed since the home was originally built in the 1950’s, so tearing down the original structure and building a whole new home would have necessitated a smaller footprint. In order to retain the home’s original footprint, the first level up to the ceiling had to be preserved, while the rest of the home was demolished and then built up.
Since salt water eats away at typical woods and metals, the home’s waterfront location presented a challenge when planning exterior materials. To address this while establishing the desired aesthetics, classic natural shingles were partnered with PVC synthetic trim.
Hurricane codes were mandated in an area frequented by significant storms. All windows were built to withstand hurricanes. In the area beneath the first floor designated as flood elevation, required vents were installed to allow water to flow through should flooding occur. Nothing mechanical was allowed below flood elevation.
Construction Features:
The first level was retained up to its ceiling but completely gutted and two additional levels were added. The first level was remodeled to include a foyer, a mudroom, a powder room, a kitchen, a wet bar and an expansive space with dining, living and family/sitting areas. The second level includes a master bedroom, master bathroom, master closet, two bedrooms, a hall bathroom and a laundry room. The third level includes a family room, a guest bedroom and bathroom. The exterior of the home was completely redesigned and built, including two decks and a cupola.
First Floor: Upon opening the front door, one is immediately engaged by the stunning view in a design that was carefully planned to capture the essence of relaxed and luxurious waterfront living.
A wall of hurricane windows provides protection from strong storms while framing the amazing views in classic Nantucket style. The expansive area, defined by a graceful coffered ceiling at top and antique oak parquet flooring imported from France underfoot, is alive with light and circulation. A large Ipe wood deck with a built-in fire pit and built-in masonry grill extends living and entertaining to the outdoors and enhances the joys of the waterfront lifestyle.
In the kitchen, delicate blue walls provide a calming backdrop for the cabinetry, each a custom piece of millwork made completely by hand at 1’ thick, with self-closing soft touch technology. The kitchen was outfitted with all new top-of-the-line appliances for enduring value in a home full of children and frequent guests. Substantial marble countertops provide ample space for prep, cooking and entertaining during large gatherings. Above the peninsula, a trio of gleaming bulbs brings a subtle illumination to the surroundings.
The wet bar features a backsplash crafted from a cement block with origins in Hong Kong, providing a reliable conversation starter and the allure of interesting material detail desired by the homeowners. Lighting was designed to bring a soft glow to the backsplash at night. This captivating effect is continued into the adjoining powder room, where the backsplash wall was built so that its other side is visible in the powder room.
Second Floor: The second level is where the family sleeps in a master bedroom and two bedrooms – one for the girls and one for the boys. The second level also includes a master bath with a steam shower and heated floors and a hall bath with laundry room. The master bedroom is equipped with a lavish master closet, with oak cabinetry custom built with meticulous detailing to meet the storage and dressing needs of the homeowners.
In one of the bedrooms, a pair of custom built bunk beds sleeps four and beckons with classic charm. Throughout the second floor, storage was built into the nooks and crannies below stairs and in hallways as an ingenious solution for a modern family in a home with a limited footprint.
Third Floor: At the top of the stairs on the third level, a remarkable pair of antique doors – imported from France for the project – graces the entry to the large family room. Originally from a church, the nine foot tall doors feature distressed oak on one side and antique mirrors on the other. The beamed ceiling is built with a reclaimed barn board, crowning the room with rustic appeal.
Custom built cabinetry holds entertainment systems and a small refrigerator. The room opens to an Ipe wood deck with stunning views of the water. The third floor guest bedroom delights visitors with oak beams and an open view to the cupola.
Exterior: The exterior of the home is a strategically planned marriage of desirable aesthetics and practical considerations. The home is finished with white cedar shingles, PVC synthetic trim, a 2” thick stone veneer on an exposed foundation, seawall, Ipe wood decking and an Ipe wood stair railing. While required for protection from strong storms, the placement and style of the hurricane windows were also designed to bring abundant light and circulation to the home.
The latest innovations in home technology allow the homeowners to control every function in their house with their mobile devices. Temperature, music, television, lighting and security systems can be accessed from anywhere, including the ability to view their home remotely from the home’s cameras when a storm threatens. The home abounds with refined design details, from the decision to leave a rough finish on the wood floors for a strong sense of character to the solid iron spindles on the stairway’s oak railings. Every piece of cabinetry and wainscoting was custom built, lending the home a solid and memorable essence of enduring beauty. It was a pleasure for Titus Built to build a home with such an extent of custom details and we wish our clients a lifetime of success, peace and happiness in their new home.
Titus Built, LLC of Redding, Connecticut, is proud to announce the company was awarded with “Best Residential Remodel $750,000-$1 million” in the 2012 HBRA of Connecticut HOBI Awards for this Coastal Haven Renovation:
Titus Built’s client wanted to make sure her newly remodeled kitchen stayed uncluttered, so she requested cabinet built-ins for paper towels. General manager Jeff Titus and the architect worked together on the design, which includes a holder to the right of the main sink and the island sink. Since Titus Built, in West Redding, Conn., has an in-house cabinet and millwork shop, the company was able to design and build the detail into the kitchen cabinets. The dowels that hold the roll are placed on brackets in the opening. —Nina Patel, senior editor, REMODELING.
Our New Canaan clients loved their home but needed significant updates to bring their environment up to date with 21st Century style, comfort and greater energy efficiency. They asked Titus Built to give their home an exterior facelift, expand their kitchen and perform other improvement projects throughout the home to meet their current lifestyle needs.
Our clients’ life is centered around family and entertaining so it was important to them that their home renovation have a good traffic flow. This home is situated on five acres with an exterior pool and pool house. Titus Built was contracted to design, remodel and build an addition to the home with the inside integrating easily to the outside to work well for entertaining.
The new design features a turret addition with upholstery seating where family and guests can relax and mingle while in the kitchen. The design also flows nicely from the inside to a mahogany deck and to the landscape and pool. The new turret adds an abundant amount of natural light and ventilation to the kitchen with 12′ high windows. Other details in the kitchen include a variation in depth of base cabinets; a paper towel holder designed in the cabinet to decrease countertop clutter; an island cabinet with another paper towel holder; a custom made china hutch; and a full walk-in pantry.
The renovation also included a home office with a custom built desk; a mudroom with custom built dog beds under cabinets; an insulated ½ cord firewood bin outside accessible from the family room; living room renovation with custom columns and millwork; a balcony off of the master bedroom; a basement exercise room; exterior improvements including a wood roof; new windows; and many exterior trim upgrades.
For more information on this home renovation check out our November 2011 Newsletter and read our progress report blogs on Titus Built’s website.
Check newsstands for this New Canaan, CT Amazing Home Transformation in the July/August 2012 issue of East Coast HOME + Design Magazine: Titus Built & Michael Smiths Architects, pages 32-33.
We have had several new contracts signed the last couple of weeks in June. Our Artisan Cabinetry and Millwork Shop continues to create the custom designed details that make homes one-of-a-kind. Thought I’d give you a run down on some of our new jobs:
Kitchen, Mudroom & Bath Remodel
Complete renovation of rooms including custom cabinetry and millwork. Note the stone veneer surrounding cook-top, range hood and at the end of island facing table in the kitchen.
Basement Remodel with Pub and Lounge
The basement remodel incudes windows, doors, sound proofing, lighting and electrical, HVAC as well as audio and video. Our custom millwork shop will also design, fabricate, finish and install custom cabinetry as per plan including:
TV/Media Cabinet
Back Bar Cabinets
Island Cabinets
Reading Nook
Family Room Remodel
The family room renovation includes demolition, insulation & water control, heating & cooling, electrical as well as fabrication of custom painted cabinetry and millwork as per plan including the following:
Entertainment Center
Window Seat w/ Built-ins on each side
Fireplace mantel
Drawing of Fireplace and Pergola
Pergola with Fireplace and Built-in Masonry Grill & Cooler Station
Thank you to Craig & Jana, Brendan & Kristy, and Marc & Wendy of Wilton; Mike & Julie of New Canaan; as well as Joe & Dorothy of Redding, Connecticut. We look forward to making wonderful improvements to your homes.
Selecting handles, knobs and pulls for your cabinetry is an important part of the design process. Details can truly make the difference in any project. When remodeling a kitchen, one of those details is your choice of handles, knobs and pulls on the cabinets. Choosing the right style and finish hardware for your kitchen cabinets is essential. You want the hardware to be aesthetically pleasing; have the best functionality for your family; and, create continuity throughout the home. Well designed and visually pleasing kitchen cabinetry can make your kitchen a haven for your family. It is important to us at Titus Built that our in-house collection of cabinet knobs and pulls include a varied selection of styles and finishes, are durable and of high quality.
Top Knobs Cabinetry Hardware
Top Knobs cabinet hardware samples are available at the Titus Built showroom in West Redding, CT. Their hardware is among the highest quality hardware for kitchen or bath cabinets. The manufacturer takes great pride in their craftsmanship and innovative designs with over 2,500 decorative knobs and pulls; separate lines for kitchens, baths, and closets collections; as well as 26 different finishes. Top Knobs claims to be the “number one manufacturer for decorative knobs and drawer pulls.” Many of the designs in their cabinet hardware collection cannot be found anywhere else, so we believe you will be very pleased with the selections from this manufacturer.
Cliffside Industries Ltd. hardware samples have been available at Titus Built for many years and their high quality materials and pricing is an asset to our cabinetry. They are an award-winning, family owned, distributor of their own brand of decorative hardware. Cliffside’s extensive line of cabinet knobs and pulls are available in solid brass, lead crystal, marble, corian, pewter and stainless steel. Their crystal knobs and pulls, novelty hardware pieces, and bath accessories are made or assembled in the United States and distributed from their warehouse and office complex located in Lancaster County, PA. “Our mission is to serve the hardware needs of consumers through our business customers in the kitchen and bath industry with excellent service and ageless, elegant products crafted from high-quality materials.” ~ Cliffside Industries
Whether you choose hardware from one of our in-house samples such as Top Knobs, or another one of our hardware sources, you can be sure that with Titus Built, you know your cabinetry will look beautiful and original.
Complementing our high quality custom built cabinetry
Titus Built’s artisan cabinetry and millwork is benchmade in our millwork shop in West Redding, CT. Our master craftsmen create the custom-designed details that make your home one-of-a-kind. To complement our high quality cabinetry, Titus Built sources all building products for you as well as provides you with in-house samples of several industry leading products. Below is an overview of some of our in-house countertop samples:
Hollinsbrook™ / 2012 Designs
“Bold and sumptuous, this powerful union of black, chestnut, gray and white brings to life
the rhythmic and rocky tumble of this northeast England waterway. Expressive, rich and lively,
Hollinsbrook lends a luxurious and dignified air to any space.”
Cambria Quartz & Ceasarstone – All engineered stone is made by the patentedBretonstone® process:
Cambria, a family-owned business, is the only American-made producer of quartz surfaces in the United States and offers more than 100 designs. It is not available in “big box” stores and is the color innovator of engineered stone which one reason why it is highly recommended by our twitter industry friends.
Ceasarstone is made in Israel and produces over 40 innovative colors and textures. The company proclaims to be the original quartz surface manufacturer and has earned the respected Good Housekeeping Seal. Since the product is made outside the USA its color range differs from Cambria and is available in honed finishes and marble-like textures. With Ceasarstone you can also buy quirky, funky, and dramatic colors.
According to many fabricator plants, quartz is slowly overriding sales of granite and many twitter friends’ agree:
It holds up better than granite on every level.
It is a nonporous natural quartz surface that is scratch resistant, impact resistant, burn resistant, never has to be resealed. (Manufacturers do not recommend placing hot pots directly on the countertop.)
Impervious to wines, fruit acids, vinegars, etc.
You can cut on it & it won’t hurt the stone, will just dull your knife.
Not interested in Quartz? Looking for a natural stone? Natural stone continues to be the leading countertop material of choice at Titus Built. White and many shades of grey seem to be the most popular colors with marble, travertine and limestone leading granite. Popular stone finishes are hones and textures with less emphasis on a polished material.
Why not consider leather finish granite. Leather finish is a matt finish instead of a glossy finish. The finish gives the granite a river-washed appearance. The leather process closes the pores (unlike honed finish) and is a smooth, soft look. A leather finish enhances the colors and textures while achieving a higher uniformity in the surface appearance than honed; smudges and fingerprints are less noticeable; is easy to clean and maintain; and, is pleasing to touch.
Concrete countertops come in of variety of textures, any color
and mix glass, shell… anything you can think of.
Concrete Countertops – Diamond polishing is economical, sustainable, durable, and beautiful!
Our precast concrete samples come from Get Real Surfaces in Poughkeepsie, NY. Besides provided countertops Get Real Surfaces provides fine architectural concrete products for clients such as Anthropologie International, architects and builders in the NYC & the Hamptons as well as fabricate concrete Metro tubs. The company custom manufactures countertops, sinks, tubs, fireplace surrounds, mantles and hearths, floor and wall tile. Get Real Surfaces boasts a 20,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Poughkeepsie, New York. Get Real offers tours Monday-Friday, which allows the customer to view the process of manufacturing countertops from start to finish as well as a Manhattan Showroom.
Wood, Stainless Steel, Zinc, Pewter, Copper, Bronze, or Glass Countertops
Richard Brook, president of Brooks Custom, said they are seeing people consistently choosing butcher-block tops, premium wide-plank wood countertops, and stainless steel or zinc countertops. Brooks Custom is one of the top manufacturers of high quality, innovative products such as custom countertops and range hoods including a vast array of materials. Check out the company’s excellent chart comparing different countertop materials: http://bit.ly/Jn2P89
NEOLITH by THESIZE in the top 20 finds from the Kitchen & Bath industry show by Susan Serra.
Neolith by thesize Porcelain Slabs
Another product, rather new to the market, is Neolith by thesize porcelain slabs. “NEOLITH is a high performance material ideal for applications such as kitchen coverings. NEOLITH does not scratch, does not stain, is heat and fire resistant, and, thanks to the extremely low absorption rate of technical porcelain, ideal for food contact and processing.” ~ Neolith thesize
Titus Built samples of the Neolith thesize collections are Colorfeel, Fusion, Iron and Textil. The porcelain slabs are super thin panels made of raw materials for applications such as countertops, flooring, wall cladding and facades.
Whether you are choosing Cambria Quartz, leather finished granite or another countertop surface or product, feel free to contact Titus Built to ask for their insight and expertise on today’s building product.
Just the other day, Lisa M. Smith’s, The Decor Girl Blog, husband asked the same question. Lisa replied, "Honey, a good white kitchen never goes out of style. My only disclaimer is with some of the pebble finish thermafoil cabinets from the 1980′s – they can look tired." and proceeded to show off some stylish white kitchens which included a couple of Titus Built kitchens. Below are photos of white kitchens created for Titus Built clients’ lifestyle:
Classic white kitchen with beadboard and vintage style drawer pulls.
Hidden washer & dryer unit in the kitchen – Your Home. Your Lifestyle.
Curved marble backsplash in the kitchen or bathroom adds a level of elegance to the room.
Columns with archway between serving counter and dining room add a touch of elegance and enhances the spacious feeling of the kitchen.
Adding a desk to your kitchen creates organization and functuality. Your Home. Your Lifestyle.
6 burner with griddle commercial ranges continue to be a trend for the kitchen.
We are honored to be included in Lisa’s blog. Below is a link to her recent blog on The Classic White Kitchen:
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