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
“When selecting a company to design and build your custom home or remodeling project, you’re hiring a partner to enhance your lifestyle and increase the value of your home. To ensure a smooth and positive experience, it is critical that you understand your partner’s vision, philosophy and values to make sure they align with your goals.” - Jeffrey A. Titus
As professional remodeling contractors in Fairfield County, Connecticut, it is important to us that we provide continuous improvement through all of our services, from Home Renovations and Remodeling projects to Architectural Design work.
We hire and train the best individuals, subcontractors and vendors that reflect our Core Values.
We actively solicit feedback from our clients and continually improve our processes.
We continue to create efficient systems and use innovative products.
We continue to improve our business methods and provide the highest level of service to our clients.
Motto ~ “Building clients for life … one home at a time”
At Titus Built, we strive to exceed our clients’ expectations by delivering excellent service and value with integrity, accountability and a positive “can do” attitude.
Last month our blog discussed a New Canaan, Connecticut family that is a prime example of our motto. We recently completed their master bathroom renovation as well as their daughter’s bathroom remodel and currently are in the progress of finishing a pergola addition for them.
Daughter’s Bathroom:
3cm Bianco Nuevo Polished (White Glass) vanity countertop with undermount sink and 4" backsplashes.
We hope you are enjoying “news that’s on the straight and level” from Titus Built. Our online community continues to grow and is a fun and immediate way to stay in touch with the latest trends and local news in home design and remodeling. Titus Built is on Twitter and Facebook and, of course, our blog.
This New Canaan, Connecticut master bathroom renovation is a prime example of our motto “Building clients for life … one home at a time.“
Our clients came to Titus Built via a customer referral. Back in 2007, this New Canaan, CT family had frozen pipes and were in need of miscellaneous project done around their home. Since then we have done several projects for them and are very grateful they’ve entrusted their home to us for their home remodeling and addition projects.
The most recent projects completed are a master bathroom renovation as well as their daughter’s bathroom remodeled. Check out this mater bathroom renovation below:
Master Bathroom materials used on countertop, floor, shower and tub surround:
White Cararra Honed Vanity with (2) undermount sinks and 4″ backsplashes.
2cm white Cararra polished shower curbs/knee wall/saddles with eased edges.
White Cararra honed 12×24 floor with white Cararra/Bardiglio hexagon polished mosaic shower floor.
White Cararra polished 6×12 shower walls & ceiling, installer cut to 6×6 above border, with white Cararra/Bardigio hexagon border 3×13. White Cararra polished bar liner 1/2×12 on Both Sides of border.
White Cararra honed 12×12 tub deck with custom panel surround.
Floor Plan and Elevation of Master Bathroom Renovation
Drawing of Wainscot Paneling in Master Bathroom
Before & After Photos of Master Bathroom Renovation; note the custom wainscot paneling instead of the tile.
Before & After Photos of Master Bathroom Renovation; note the drop-in ThermoMasseur bathtub w/ custom wood panel surround.
Before & After Photos of Master Bathroom Renovation;
note the ultra-frameless shower enclosure.
We are currently working on their exterior with a pergola, outdoor fireplace & grill and landscape. To view the daughter’s bathroom remodel and the outdoor space check out our blog post: Building Clients for Life… One Home at a Time Cont…
Over 15 years, Titus Built has earned our reputation for the highest standards in custom building and remodeling in Fairfield County with award-winning designs and an unmatched design-build process. Our in-house Artisan Cabinetry and Millwork Shop create the custom designed details that make your home one-of-a-kind. Ask us about the difference.
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.
Referrals are still Titus Built’s best sales leads. Referral leads converted to contracts top all other categories, followed by Repeat Customers and SoMe… Advertising is way down the list.
We are grateful for all our referrals. Referrals are more than a sales lead – they are a report card. We also understand that referrals to us are the referrer’s clients and friends, and therefore, it is important that we treat them with utmost courtesy and respect.
As a thank you for your loyalty, Titus Built has initiated a new referral program. Should you refer us to a client who undertakes a construction project with Titus Built (including a signed Construction Agreement of at least $10,000 value)** we will express our appreciation by offering you a Referral Reward.
1st Referral Rewards (choose one)
-$100 donated to the charity of your choice (via www.JustGive.org)
-$100 gift certificate for a local restaurant of your choice
-$100 American Express gift card
2 or more referrals within same calendar year (choose one)
-$250* donated to the charity of your choice (via www.JustGive.org)
-$250* gift certificate for a local restaurant of your choice
-$250* American Express gift card Also, upon signing a Titus Built, LLC Construction Contract Agreement of $50,000 or more, your referred friend will receive a $500 LILLIAN AUGUST Home Furnishings and Interior Design Gift Card.
*for each referral
Regardless of whether any referral turns into a project for Titus Built, we greatly value your referrals and extend our sincere appreciation!
**The reward will be based on the signed Construction Agreement and will be fulfilled within 30 days of the contract signing.
A Center Hall Colonial Gets an Updated Exterior and an Interior Designed to Enhance Family Time
When the Frattaroli family came to Titus Built for a remodel of their Center Hall Colonial, they had two priorities in addition to the desire to update their home. They wanted to be able to stay in their home during the remodel so their teenagers’ school and personal lives would be undisturbed and they wanted to live in a more open space that would promote a feeling of togetherness when the whole family was at home engaged in different activities.
The original home exterior was plain, with small windows and little visual interest. In the new design, the number of windows has been doubled, dramatically increasing the amount of light the home now receives. Architectural details, including a new portico, bring a fresh interpretation to the home’s facade while honoring its original character. Structural changes, such as new gutters and wood shingles, enhance the home’s eye appeal and add enduring value.
Once a cramped nook, the new kitchen was significantly expanded using space from the front hallway. The entire bottom level of the home was designed as an open layout. It was important to the Frattarolis that the new space encompassing the kitchen, living and family room areas be expansive and inviting while retaining the architectural integrity of their home. Their teenage children can now have friends over or do homework in one area while the parents are preparing meals in the kitchen and the family can easily interact. With such a comfortable and appealing new space to share, the Frattaroli children now enjoy hanging out with their friends at home.
Jennifer Frattaroli says she loved the experience of working with Titus Built. The family especially appreciated that they could live in their home while the remodel was being completed. "Titus Built made the process as easy as possible for us. They were non-invasive and respectful and their level of follow through was exceptional."
"The renovation achieved everything we wanted to achieve," says Jennifer, "We were particularly happy with the quality of the cabinetry work in the kitchen – it was just exceptional. The design and architecture phase was organized and detail-oriented. Once the construction phase was underway, we always felt taken care of. When the inevitable issues arose, due to weather or some other unexpected factor, Titus Built took care of our concerns immediately. We never felt like our project was at a stand still. We have worked with other construction companies and the level of detail and follow through that Titus Built offers is much higher than we have experienced previously. We could not be happier with our home and our remodeling experience."
It’s always a pleasure for us when a client requests us to update the exterior of their home. The renovation gives us the opportunity to bring the existing home up to date with 21st Century style, comfort and greater energy efficiency.
One of our clients in New Canaan, CT wanted us to give their home an exterior facelift as well as expand their kitchen and other smaller projects to meet their current family needs. The home renovation took us approximately eight months to complete, but both the clients and the Titus Built Team are very pleased with the outcome and would like to share some of these photos with you.
New Canaan Exterior Renovation Front Before Remodel
New Canaan, CT Exterior Renovation of Front After Remodel
New Canaan, CT Home After Exterior Renovation – Rear of House
New Canaan, CT Home Before Exterior Renovation - Side View of House
Before and After of Exterior Renovation - Rear of House
French Doors Before Wood-Shingled Overhang
French Doors After Wood-Shingled Overhang
Hope you’ve enjoyed previewing the photos as much as we have remodeling the home. To see previous blogs on this home renovation, please view: Transformation of a New England Style Home with 21st Century Embellishments: http://bit.ly/lqooXE
Stay tuned for update of the interior renovation of this New Canaan, Connecticut Residence!
Home has become a personal retreat for most families ~ a place where they can enjoy spending time with their family and friends. Multi-functional basement or attic rooms are a trend at Titus Built. Many of our clients are deciding to increase their home’s footprint by renovating their basement, attic or adding outdoor entertainment spaces.
If a homeowner is thinking about renovating it is important that they understand that the key part of a remodel is the design. Each homeowner’s criteria for their basement or attic renovation is different and it is important that they choose an architect or design-build remodeler that maximizes the footprint to meet their specific needs while adding function to some of the most underused space in their home.
The first group of photos is of an attic remodel in Wilton, CT. The original part of the home was built in the 18th century, and therefore, the attic was the best choice to renovate for the children’s playroom and an area for our clients’ to workout.
Kitchenettes are often included in an attic or basement renovation.
A home office, or a bedroom with a bathroom, is also a great choice when remodeling the attic.
Another client was interested in renovating the basement for their parents. They wanted a room where their visiting parents could sleep as well as spend some quality time by themselves. It was important to our clients that the entire renovated space feel like it “belonged” with the rest of their home.Besides the bedroom and sitting area they also wanted us to create storage space for wine.
Cool teen hangouts, pantries and home gyms are frequent basement renovation requests. Below are photos of a few more of our basement remodels:
Basement before Kids’ Recreation Room Renovation
Basement After Kids’ Rec Room Renovation in Wilton, CT
New Canaan, CT client opted for home gym and pantry for their basement remodel.
We are currently working on a basement renovation in Greenwich, CT. Our client wanted a room where the kids could access the room from the exterior of the house. The exterior entry has been completed and we are in the process of remodeling the interior of the basement. The rooms will consist of a home gym, full bathroom, kitchenette, and rec room with pool table, home theater and 2 3-high bunk beds to sleep six… Talk about a Cool Teen Hangout!
(Progress Report: Basement Remodel in Greenwich, Connecticut:http://bit.ly/oY4V4m)
After the basement or attic renovation is complete it is important to call your home insurance agent and upgrade your homeowner’s policy. If you are looking to remodel your attic or basement, call 203-834-0275 to see how we can help.
Happy Remodeling!
For more Attic & Basement remodeling tips visit the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI):http://bit.ly/mXjmNR
Interested in expanding your home’s footprint thru Outdoor Spaces: Decks, Pergolas, Patios & Screened-in Porches http://bit.ly/qGkNMm.
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