The Ancon Group - Design, Renovations and Estate Management

The Hierarchy of Selections

Why do some rooms seem to be so together while others are just a bit off?  This can often be attributed to disregarding the Hierarchy of Selections.  Clients will often present a color chip and say "I want my kitchen to be THIS color".  But that is putting the cart well before the horse.  After the space planning is done, assuming that has been done well, the next thing to select would be appliances.  Only then would we want to begin to think about the finishes, color and materials that are to be used.  Hard as it may be to do, the room should only be thought of in a wire-frame, black and white outline of what is to come.  Why?  Because each choice that is made determines what will come after.  If you started with a particular wall color, you have dramatically reduced your options.  

 

Here is our Hierarchy of Selections:

Flooring

Is it contiguous from an adjoining space?

Cabinetry

painted

stained

light

dark

Countertop Materials

natural stone

manufactured 

concrete

This is the first actual material that will be selected.  If using natural stone, the slabs should be selected at this time.  Why now?  Because this will be the key to everything else.  The cabinetry finish must work with the tops.

Backsplash Materials

Slab stone

tile (stone, glass, ceramic, porcelain)

metal

glass

These actual materials are then selected.

Cabinetry color or stain

The actual color selected

Fauceting, sinks and hardware (surface mount lights and cabinet hardware)

While very functional items, they also serve as the jewelry of the space.  Will their finishes be light or dark, shiny or matt, bold or subdued?  This is the time to make that choice.

And finally: wall and ceiling colors

paint

paper

 

Why is all this so important?  Because each choice leads to the next and removes the possibility of other options.  I call this the Rule of Diminishing Availability.  The way in which a material or color works within a particular space can vary hugely.  So starting with the items from which there are the fewest to chose, leaves open your options as you work you way down the list.  When making these choices, you will also want to keep the boredom factor in mind.  You will be able to dramatically change the look of a space by simply changing the wall and ceiling colors.  You will have move color choices if those are your last selection rather than your first.  But it is all for nothing, if you don't have a great space plan.  So concentrate on that, follow the guidelines above and you will have a far easier time insuring that you choices are good ones.

Ask Alex: Color

Dear Alex,

I recently painted my family room plymouth brown73 HC- from benjamin moore. We have white trim/crown moulding and wainsotting going up the stairs and hall. The small living area is called chelsea gray HC-168 another ben moore color. You can see both rooms from my foyer/hall area. Here's my dilemma, I need a transitional color for my foyer and hall going up the stairs and down another hall. The foyer doesn' get much light facing north, but when you go up the stairs tons of light from southern exposure. 
Thanks in advance,

 
Denise
 
Dear Denise,

I think that AC-1 Coastal Fog  would be a great choice.  It it a cooler neutral but still brighter than your two adjacent rooms to keep the Foyer from becoming too dark.  If the other colors look good with your wood floors, than this one will too.

If you are feeling adventurous, and would like to stay in the same color family, you could go to HC-169 which would be striking, but may be too gray for you personally.  I, however, love it.  I think it relates beautifully to your selected colors and would be as dramatic as the colors you have chosen.  It feels right with the color of your Living Room and would relate to the Family Room while allowing the Family Room to be a dramatic space.  The fireplace and windows are handsome and really pop with this color while letting the wood floors glow.

Keep me posted!  Will be excited to see what you ultimately select.

Alex

 

Family Room -  Plymouth Brown

 

Living Room - Chelsea Gray
 

Foyer - Coventry Gray
 

Foyer - Coastal Fog
 
     

How much will it cost?

I was asked the other day how much a new kitchen costs.  It was in a social setting so I answered by asking "How much do people spend on dinner?"  The range of answers to that question can run the gamut from $4.99 for "all you can eat pizza buffet" to $2,800 Wagyu steak.  My Scotch ancestors would spin right out of the graves at the very thought a single meal costing more than a coach class ticket to Paris so I relate to beer fed beef massaged by soft human hands while listening to Chopin  But kitchen remodeling and home improvements can carry price tags that are just as wide ranging.  
 

So how do you decide what it will cost?  The only way to really know is to price out the design and get hard numbers.  But that doesn't mean you shoot for the moon (only to crash back to earth when the job costs come back).  A really good design should be based on two things: client needs / desires and budget.  All great designers keep that foremost in mind while developing a plan.  So how should you determine your budget? 

There are a couple rules of thumb that are pretty easy to follow.  We recommend that a client select all the appliances they would like to have for their new kitchen.  Easy to do on-line or if you have access to a great appliance store.  Every single item should be included from the refrigerator to the disposal.  Add them all up. 

Client Appliance Selections

Cook-top $1,400

Ovens (two) $5,200

Microwave & Trim Kit $685

Dishwasher (two) $1,900

Ref $3,185

Wine ref $1,200

Disposer (two) $285

____________________

Total $14,955

So how much would this Client's kitchen cost?  It is clear that that they are using appliances at the upper (but not top) end of the spectrum.  We would expect the kitchen cabinetry, counter-tops, flooring and hardware to of equal quality resulting in a target budget of $74,775.  Why?  Because appliances are typically 20% of the total cost of a complete kitchen remodel with special lighting and finishes provided serious structural modifications are not being made.  How do we determine if this $75k budget is appropriate?  The answers to these three questions will tell us:  

1.  What is the value of the Client's home?

2.  How long do they plan to be in their home?

3.  Are they comfortable with this budget?

If a client lives in a home with a typical "lot to improvements" value (meaning the value of the land vs the value of the house) then it would be expected that they would spend 15% of the value of their home a complete kitchen "gut" remodel.  So with this $74k kitchen, it would be expected that it would be built in a home with a total value of $500.000  
 

 On average a kitchen remodel (nationally) will return 68% of the cost.  Let's say the homeowner plans on being in their home for a minimum of 7 years. That means that if they only recoup 68% then the kitchen will have cost them $284 per month.  Is it worth that to have exactly what they want?  Only the client can answer that question but I believe that is a small price to pay to really love something you are going to use every single day, year in and year out.  Of course, there are those that believe houses are only property and should be viewed solely as investments.  In which case, I say paint it all beige, do nothing more than the minimum maintenance and wait to turn it over to the next occupants.  If someone is living the kind of life that requires that they relocate every year of so, then that makes sense.  For the rest of us, it really doesn't. (I am reminded of the homeowners I see on the TV show "Designed to Sell".  Why do they live in such a mess only to fix things up for the next owners?  Wouldn't it be so much nicer to be able to live well in a home while THEY were there?  But that is a topic for another time)

"Are they comfortable with the budget?" is a key issue.  If a client spends one dollar more than they are comfortable spending, there is nothing that can be done, no kitchen so wonderful, as to erase that buyer's remorse.  So avoid this problem be honest with yourself and your designer /builder about how much you want to spend. 

So what if you don't live in a $500,000 home?  Easy, just determine what 15% of your homes value and that should be your target budget.

I have said it a million times (well almost) "No matter how large, every pile of cash is finite and must be spent responsibly"  A true professional will design accordingly.  Be honest about your budget to help the project along.

If you have questions about a project you are considering, drop me an email at the contact address and I will do my very best to help!  Have a wonderful weekend!

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Tips On Selecting a Home Remodeler

Home remodeling can be expensive, noisy and difficult.  It can be much worse if you are not working with a remodeler that is professional and responsive.  How do you find one and what do you say when you first speak by phone?  I offer some tips to make the job easier! Questions to Ask the Contractor: 1. How long have you been in business?  2. Are you licensed and insured?  3. Are you currently registered as a Builder and is your certificate available for review?  4. How many projects like mine have you completed in the past year?  5. Do you have design services available?  6. Have you done background checks on your employees? 7. Will we need a permit for this job?  8. Can you direct me to or recommend a financing source?  9. Can I see a remodel in progress and/or a completed one?  10. Can you provide me with a list of references covering projects from the past and present? Questions to Ask Previous Customers: 1. Did the contractor communicate well with you?  2. Were you pleased with the quality of work?  3. Did the crews show up on time?  4. Did the contractor stick to the budget?  5. Was the job completed on schedule?  6. Did the contractor fulfill his or her contract?  7. Was the contractor flexible?  8. Did your contractor seem genuinely interested in the project's outcome?  9. Was the contractor accessible? (Could you reach him or her when you needed to?)  10. Most importantly, would you recommend this contractor to your mother?  What to Avoid / Red Flag Areas: 1. Be cautious when given vague or partial answers.  2. The contractor is not accessible.  3. The contractor does not listen to your needs as a homeowner.  4. Companies which can not be found in the phone book or listed with professional or trade organizations.  5. Companies who cannot provide copies of insurance, license or references. 6. Oral agreements, get everything in writing.  7. Request of deposits or payments in cash. Always pay by check.  8. Companies who offer a "special discount" for any reason, if you sign today.  9. Contracts which do not have a very clear description of the scope of work to be performed. 10. Contractors who do not present a portfolio of previous work.  Questions?  Contact me and I will do my best to help! AD