“Oasis of Elegance”

It may seem like transforming your masterbath into an "Oasis of Elegance" is a bit over the top. 

I mean really... you spend such a small fraction of you day there!  But if you think about it the time you spend in your masterbath is truly "Quality" time.  It is the first room to greet you on most days and the last one to send you off to bed.  If it is a depressing disfunctional mess it may have an effect on your day not unlike missing your morning coffee! 

Wouldn't it be nice to walk onto a preheated floor like this one a cold winter morning and be greeted by bright cheery lighting illuminating your own "Oasis of Elegance?"

Exterior upgrade

Just a quick look at what is to come!  Just look at it now!

We will soon show you what it was before!

Come see next week.

Lighting makes a kitchen

Since we are showing off our kitchen and our wares, having fun with cabinet accessories and colors, cooking with all the latest gadgets and making sure there is adequate furniture for all the guests who hang out where the food is being prepared, we must not forget the lighting.

Having the most charming mix of natural wood cabinets, granite countertops, creative displays of dinner ware, vegetable sinks, handy cutting boards and work stations won't matter if it doesn't have the right accent lighting to show it off and make it useful.  Even an older kitchen can gain new charm if the lighting is renovated.  Let's try ----------- spending some of your kitchen dollars on illumination renovation.

“Cabinet displays: Showcasing your wares”

Wikipedia says "Increasing interest in household efficiency led, in the 1920s, to pioneering motion studies of housework by industrial psychologist Lillian Moller Gilbreth. Improvements in kitchen design led to today's familiar built-in cabinetry."

But really, who cares about kitchen efficiency if you don't get to show off a little?  Kitchens offer so many ways to spice up the visual experience of your home.  A good mix of cabinets that can first of all hide the not-so-pretty kitchen tools and disorganized stacking and second display some of the more glamorous cook wares , candles, decorations etc. in the form of art.

I still believe strongly in a kitchen designed for great cooking!  However, the purpose of a kitchen has gone so far beyond just cooking efficiency.  It is now also command central, party central, homework central, tea and cookie central and many other centrals. 

So don't miss your chance to design your next kitchen cabinets to show off grandma's china from the old country or a special shelf to display your back yard roses.  And remember lighting!!

Thanks for listening.

Kevin

Trimming your house with Crown - the molding of Monarchs!

I still remember the first time I saw crown molding on cabinets as a kid.  It was love at first sight!

A crown literally is the ornament of Kings and Queens.  When I first encountered the rich profile of a proud cherry wood crown molding sitting elegantly at the top of the kitchen cabinets I could hardly believe the transformation  it made to otherwise ordinary cabinets.  Since then I continue to find many beautiful new applications and reasons to add it to just about any design style.

You can add crown to the entry way, the study, in coffered ceilings and in one two or three pieces.  It can hold accent lighting or be tight to the ceiling.  There are hundreds of styles to match your design taste.   So, call us and let us bring some royalty to your home.  It may not make you richer but you will feel that way!

Thanks for listening,

Kevin

Cabinet fun to spice up your living!

Sometimes your remodeling doesn't have to be practical it can just be fun.

We all love to have some conversation piece in our homes or office and usually more than one.  It is there to remind us of the joy of living (which is mostly what we do in our homes, we live in them). 

It's been said that our home is our biggest investment, however, we rarely walk in the front door and think of our home value.  Yes our homes are a big investment but we expect more out of this investment than any other.  Our homes become a part of us that is forever imprinted on our memories.  We watch our kids grow up, we remember Thanks giving dinners with friends and family, snow storms and hot chocolate, good books by a warm fire, lemonade, hamburgers and hot dogs, ping pong in the basement and on and on. 

So, when you are ready to upgrade your kitchen, expand the family room or even turn your master bath into a personal spa, I would ask you to include fun and enchanted living in your mix of requirements.  The pay off will be in so much more than dollars.

We have had more fun talking about this little cabinet addition than many other fancy gadgets in the kitchen.  Not to mention the reward we get when company comes and we see their little children so fascinated with our cabinets.  Like most spices, it doesn't take much to make a big difference!

Thanks for listening,

Kevin Minne

Sun Homes Inc.

Budgeting for home maintenance

Did you ever wonder how much money you spend on just maintaning your home each year?  Would it help to know how much to budget for home maintenance?  Most of us just spend the money that is necessary and don't even think about how much it averages out to over time.  We are often asked to give an assessment of the condition of homes and what maintenance may be required in the near future.  Of course there are variables but studies have shown that you can expect to spend 2% of you homes value each year.  Now you may not spend it each year but you may spend 10% one year after saving for 5 years on a kitchen remodel.  So, just keep in mind that there is an expense to owing a home above and beyond a mortgage and it helps us to plan for it rather than be suprised.

Thanks for listening,

Kevin

Curb appeal

We recently completed a curb appeal upgrade to a home in the Highlands area of Denver.

What a difference it made to the feeling of “welcome home” that came from the residence.  The rich wood tones from the new custom made front door, accented by the dark trim color and the beveled glass windows all brought a charm to the home that whispered “come in!”  Even the Brazilian cherry wood used for the front porch decking seems to suggest a timeless sense of style.  Does your home welcome you and your guests from the street?  Does it bring a sense of style and charm to the neighborhood?  Come have a look http://sunhomescolorado.com/construction-services/sun-homes-gallery/curb-appeal

Thanks for listening,

Kevin Minne

President, Sun Homes Inc.

Return on investment

In the very recent past when people thought about investing in redesign and remodeling of their living or work space they wanted to know how the upgrade would affect resale value of the property.  Now that real estate prices have fallen many people cannot see how investing in redesign and remodel could ever have a positive return.  However, at Sun Homes we have always believed living and work spaces are for living and working not just for buying and selling.  If we are investing to bring more family connection and unity or more entertainment and relaxation value to our homes it will pay off.  Also, if we are investing in our work space to bring more inspiration, creativity and productivity it will pay off in many more ways than the selling price may reflect.

We believe that all people respond positively to beauty and functionality in their living and work spaces.  Just like having the right tool for the job, having the right mix of elegance and functionality that matches our lifestyle and work practices will bring a much higher level of quality to our lives. 

We humans are all influenced emotionally and psychologically by our senses of sight, smell, touch, taste and hearing. Just as  the smell of autumn leaves or a picture of a favorite colorful vacation spot can elicit memories and emotions  so can the right lighting accent of wall colors and textures or the beauty and functionality of an office or kitchen. 

This then is proof that investing in the beauty and functionality of our surroundings will have a positive return on that investment.

Thanks for listening!

Kevin Minne

President Sun Homes Inc.

Buying value not price!

Have you ever heard the saying, "you get what you pay for" or "the cheapest isn't the best" and how about "if you pay peanuts you are likely to get monkeys"?  Most of us have heard some of these quotes so why is it so hard for all of us not to get caught up in the price thinking it is the best indicator of value?

Maybe we look at price because it is the easiest.  At least some of us are a little lazy when it comes to doing our home work.  So, rather than look at the differences in the company, it's crew and it's services we look at the product and the price and think it is all the same in the end.  But it is not! 

It is a lot harder to find out how well trained  and conscientious a company's crews are or if they have a really good follow up with customers and product warranties, or if they really are meeting or exceeding building codes and safe work practices.  How can the homeowner know when building permits should be pulled and what the advantage of one building material is over another?  For most people the building industry is not their profession and not knowing the details will make it more difficult to determine value over price.

However, there is hope!  Just spending some time and discussion with your contractor on the above mentioned issues will give you a much greater insight into the value and service that is included in the price.  In the end you will be very glad you did because understanding those details will help establish measurable expectations for the entire project.  

Thanks for listening,

Kevin Minne

President, Sun Homes Inc.

Shrinking homes growing kitchens

After all the years of growth in the square footage of homes it is now clear that the current trend is less is more. 

Except when it comes to kitchens.  Kitchen size is actually growning!  Life styles have certainly changed over the years and even though we don't cook as much as we did in the 60's and 70's we are finding new uses for the kitchen than ever before.

The kitchen is more and more the center piece of the home in terms of elegance and function.  Functions for kitchens now include numerous activities and whether it means doing home work for kids, cooking for mom or dad, entertaining guests or paying bills it all needs to fit into the new kitchen design.

Growing the kitchen and adding energy saving appliances, work space and accent lighting and plenty of storage are top choices for home owners.

The average family getting a kitchen remodel this year will spend aproximately $15,000 to upgrade.

Gimme Shelter

In my first truly independent space—a single dorm room with Band-Aid colored walls—I could touch nearly everything I owned from my desk chair. The semester delivered an unexpected lesson in minimalism and spatial relevance: just how much room was necessary to generate a new thought?

My first grown-up home was a 2-bedroom and I marveled at how the former owners had raised four children in 900 sq. ft. It wasn’t until I’d survived remodeling a mid-century ranch—twice—that we landed on a prescient notion: the Great Room vs. traditional and rarely used living and dining rooms.

We tore out walls and ceilings, rerouting traffic flow to a system that made better sense. We installed thick European beams overhead that introduced a sense of timelessness not unlike a Cotswold cottage. Underfoot, we installed hardwoods that could withstand tricycle wheelies. The walls were hand-painted to resemble marble by a spirited painter who signed his bill for services “Picasso.” Even the upholstery was selected for its texture ability to disguise the spills that inevitably happen. Well-used and welcoming, the room was feet-up comfortable and lasting, sort of eternal. Sadly, the marriage wasn’t.

Nancy Clark, Gimme Shelter (2010)