If you’re a regular follow of The English Contractor on our Facebook and Instagram pages, there are probably some projects that really stand to you. Our favorites? We could never say! We put so much into each custom build and bespoke renovation and remodel that would be like picking a favorite child. Not only does our work stand out on social media, but also when presented to one of our trade association, the Ohio Valley Chapter of the National Association of Remodeling Industry, a group that certifies professional remodeling contractors and its stands for the remodeling industry in our region and around the country, our work is recognized once again. The English Contractor team was awarded seven NARI awards this year and we couldn’t be prouder.

We were presented with NARI Contractor of the Year awards in the following categories:

Residential Bath Under $25,000 

This Milford area bathroom is a fan favorite. Is it the colorful wallpaper from Schumacher? The marble patterned flooring by Ann Sacks from the Benton Mosaic collection? Or the stunning clawfoot tub with cross handle, deck mounted faucet, both from Signature Hardware. We love this room because it’s so bright and cheerful, crisp and clean.

Residential Interior Under $100,000

This Hyde Park, Cincinnati remodel included three rooms, including a master and hall bathroom and a laundry room. The laundry room gives plenty of space for laundry and stashing away home supplies. Both bathrooms are just filled with details we love, including tile perfection.

Residential Addition $100,000 to $250,000

The English Contractor team is so much more than kitchens and bathrooms. We were awarded as well for our work on this large home addition, which added a light-filled family room and fireplace with stone surround. This new space also opened up the kitchen and added a new laundry room.

Residential Addition Over $250,000 | Residential Exterior $100,001 to $200,000 | Residential Detached Structure

This Hyde Park, Cincinnati addition majorly transformed this home, from the inside and out, winning a trifecta of awards along the way. It includes a beautiful new kitchen, laundry room, sunroom and more, plus new siding, windows, and this outdoor living space. Plus this project included a free standing garage, complete with car lifts.

Residential Exterior Under $50,000

We found ourselves in Mount Lookout, Cincinnati, where we added a covered porch to this stately brick home. To call this project a covered porch, though, isn’t doing it justice. Our work included rebuilding a brick walkway, extending it all the way to the driveway. The new porch includes a slate covered floor, a new door, and a stained headboard ceiling. These homeowners left no detail uncovered and it shows.

Of course, this is just a small recap of the many projects we tackled in 2019. We’re proud of all the work we’ve done, and continue to do in 2020. Each of our projects includes careful, thoughtful management coupled with detailed craftsmanship. We treat each home as if it were our own, partnering with our customers along the way. Are you interested in learning more about our process and seeing our stunning results? Give us a call.

‘Tis the season for reminiscing about past projects and predicting styles and trends for the new year. We’re gearing up for a busy 2020, with plans to build several new homes, manage many complete home remodels, and renovate a few kitchens, bathrooms, basements and outdoor spaces. We’ll be sharing these projects as we go. In the meantime, here are some fun trends that we’re starting to see, and expect to see more of in 2020.

1. Wide Open Spaces.

The check list of must have features for any home buyer on House Hunters often includes the wish for an open concept home. For The English Contractor new build team, that’s an easy wish to grant as we’re building a home from the ground up. However, open concept can be more complicated and/or more costly in a home renovation. Removing a wall can often mean rerouting electric, HVAC and plumbing. We love to brainstorm with our clients to find creative ways to give the feeling of open space, without totally gutting the interior space.

These work-in-progress shots of a recent home remodel show how we made an older home feel more modern by removing a portion of a wall that connected the older part of the home, built in the 1940s, with an addition that was built onto the home in the late 1990s. We replaced drywall with a railing that matched those already existing in the home. This simple project flooded the front of the house with light, gives a view from the front of the home to the back yard, and makes the finished basement feel more like an integrated living space. A true open concept home would have been cost-prohibitive for this remodel, but this small detail gives the best of both worlds.

2. Add some color.

White kitchen cabinets still reign supreme. We probably do more white kitchens than any other color, with some glazing, distressing and other details that adds some depth and personality. While we don’t expect the white cabinetry trend to ever go away, several of our homeowners are really making a statement with their kitchen cabinetry by using color.

We finished up a new kitchen that features the 2020 Pantone color of the year, classic blue. We have several new kitchens on our construction schedule in 2020. We’ll keep sharing our in-progress photos, as well as those of our finished projects to see what they inspire for you.

3. Homes are getting smarter.

We’re installing more and more smart technology in to our home renovations and new builds.

Our projects have included a smart shower system from Kohler, technology-enabled kitchen appliances from Samsung and app-connected ovens and ranges from Wolf Subzero Cove. We’re anticipating that our homes are going to get even smart as 2020 kicks off.

4. Back to basics.

No matter the project, we love the bells and whistles. But our homeowners also care about the basics and will continue to invest in important improvements in their homes. Our projects for 2020 include upgraded windows, new siding, and new roofing. Our new builds this year will include foundations from Nudura, windows from Marvin and siding from James Hardie.

5. Attention to detail.

Whether it’s new build, whole home remodel, or kitchen renovations, homeowners are paying more attention to the small details that really make a house a home. We’re loving the trend we’re seeing in specialty finishes like brass hardware and faucets from companies like Signature Hardware. Many of our bathroom remodels are including free standing bathtubs and large scale showers. Laundry rooms and butler’s pantries are making English Contractor homes the envy of the block.

Are you ready to see these trends in action? Be sure to follow The English Contractor on Instagram and Facebook to continue to see details about our projects. We’re excited about what the year 2020 has in store for us and our customers. If we inspire you to try out one of these trends in your home, let us know! We’d love to partner with you for your new building or remodeling project.

Do you see a trend that you want to learn about for your own home?

If subway tile could have a persona, it would be Audrey Hepburn: simple, classic and always in style. Quite possibly the little black dress of home improvement, subway tile goes with just about every type of style and décor. Dress it up. Dress it down. We’re sharing some of our latest and greatest subway tile projects to inspire you in your next remodel.

Clean and Crisp

All white subway tile with a matching white grout gives a beautifully clean look. Here it provides a backdrop with staying power, acing the test of time as your personal style evolves over the years. We love this wonderfully neutral background to let shower fixtures and accessories really pop. That’s the true beauty of this neutral tile. Your styles may change over the year and your subway tile will embrace it all.

Contrasting Grout

Here, white subway tile with a darker grout makes a real statement. We especially love the pattern and color pay here, pairing the white subway tile walls with the grey hexagon floor. Talk about a match made in heaven. Using a contrasting grout gives subway tile a more modern look, while still keeping it clean and crisp. Still very much neutral, the contrast makes a great statement.

Pattern Play

We love the utility of this tile. This herringbone pattern ups the elegance factor in this kitchen, making this Thermador range a real focal point and giving the kitchen a beautiful, custom look. Adding a pattern with subway tile does take a little more installation time, but the relatively inexpensive cost of subway tile makes special touches like these fairly budget friendly. We’ve also installed subway tile vertically instead of the traditional horizontal layout, giving a sleek and modern elongated look.

Add an Accent

A basic ceramic subway tile is relatively inexpensive. That’s one of the reasons why we love it so much. It’s also easy to elevate. For a more luxe or custom look, consider an adding an accent, like we did here with a blue glass tile in a mosaic pattern.

Variation on a Theme

There are so many variations of the standard subway tile. You can easily upgrade your selection with a subway shape with a handmade tile finish, a beveled edge, an enlarged subway tile, or, in this case, a with a subway tile in marble. We love the elegant combination of the marble hexagon floor with the marble subway tile in this master bathroom shower. Talk about a total classic.

Pick a Color, Any Color

Subway tile comes in more than white. A simple off-white adds depth to this space on this kitchen backsplash. It’s a great compliment to warmer, off-white cabinetry. White and off-white aren’t your only subway tile color options. Select tile in a bright color for a shower or backsplash for a real statement.

The Golden Touch

We’re seeing lots of brass fixtures right now, in the kitchen and in the bathroom. We’re loving this finish, which adds an element of style to any room. White subway tile, with a contrasting grout, paired with brass fixtures, provides a beautiful palette of color in this shower, yet is still wonderfully neutral, allowing for an array of paint colors or accessories over the years. Keep in mind that a shower fixture is easy enough to change when it’s time for an update. But the tiled shower wall has real staying power and will be ready to embrace the next trend.

A Neutral Backdrop

Neutral doesn’t mean boring. In this laundry room backsplash, subway tile provides a beautiful yet basic backdrop, ready to embrace any accent color, style or trend. From modern to traditional to shabby chic. Subway tile knows how to make it work.

Of course, there are so many options out there beyond subway tile when it comes to exploring options for your home. There’s just about any shape, any size or any color. But more and more of our customers are leaning towards subway tile, a timeless and practical staple in the tile world. Dress it up. Dress it down. Subway tile is your wardrobe staple. Your faithful friend. A tried and true workhorse. Do you need some subway tile in your life? Is it time to overhaul your kitchen or bathroom?

Do you spend your weekends watching Flip or Flop or Fixer-Upper marathons? Even though we’re in the home building and home remodeling business, we often find ourselves in the same television trance as we too are amazed at the dramatic transformations that happen on these shows. 

It’s almost like they happen by magic. 

As much as we love these home shows, they paint a really different picture of what we do on a daily basis. That’s because we are professional remodelers and renovation specialists. These shows detail the art of the flip. Believe it or not, those are two very different things.  We’ll explain how—the difference between Fact and Fliption.

We know a thing or two about a televised home remodel. The English Contractor and team led the complete remodel of this Oakley Dutch Colonial for the 2018 HGTV Urban Oasis.

Is it Fact or Fliption?

Fact: A remodel or renovation is focused on changing the house to make it more up-to-date or comfortable to live in.

Fliption: A flip is focused on making changes to the house so that it can be sold quickly and for as much profit as possible.

When you’re planning a remodel or renovation, you’re really taking a look at how you currently live in your home, versus how you want to live in your home. That may mean improving your kitchen work triangle,  increasing square footage of your living area, or adding on new outdoor space. Changes like this can not only add to your enjoyment of the home, but can also boost the home’s value over time. A flipper doesn’t have the same focus. You might find a kitchen filled with shiny, new appliances, but with poor workmanship beneath the surface. A kitchen remodel doesn’t just include upgrades to the appliances and the functionality of the work triangle. Workmanship matters in installation of the backsplash and countertops. Plus, there are a lot of hidden features, like the installation of the garbage disposal, dishwasher, drains and more. An odd placement of appliances, for example, may mean that the kitchen makeover was purely cosmetic, and electric and plumbing were not included in the makeover. Workmanship takes time, and quality in these hidden areas make a difference. However, this is time and skill that many (but not all) hobby flippers do not have.

Fact: A remodel can encompass changes and upgrades that are cosmetic, structural, value-add, personal preference or some combination of the four. 

Fliption: The focus on a flip is often cosmetic.

Any flipper worth his or her tool belt is going to make sure their house project is structurally sound. Wiring is important. No obvious leaks. A sound foundation. There are things that any buyer is going to expect with a new home purchase. But at the end of the day, a flip is a house with renovations that focus on most amount of value for the least amount of money. Once the house is structurally sound, the extent of the renovation is up to the homeowner and is typically tailored to make life in the house more comfortable and convenient to the owners at the time.

Fact: The devil is in the details.

Fliption: Depends.

As home builders and remodeling experts, we love the details that add special touches to a home. Items like crown molding, wainscoting, and ceiling detail. We love details like a beautiful front door, upgraded kitchen hardware, and cabinets that extend all the way to the ceiling.  Custom touches can make all the difference, yet you’re not always likely to find them in a home that has been flipped since these additions take time and money.

Fact: Budget is a primary factor in planning a remodel or renovation.

Fliption: Budget is a primary factor in planning a flip.

Money talks, whether it’s a home that is being remodeled for the homeowner to live or for a flipper, who wants to improve and unload a soon as possible. Budget can dictate the extent of the renovation and the cost and quality of the finishes. However, there is one important difference. A homeowner has the luxury of time. Improvements can be prioritized according to available funds and even staggered over time if necessary. Do you need to update a kitchen, bathrooms and put on a new roof? That can seem like an overwhelming amount of work, but prioritizing projects can help you put together a plan that spans a few years to get the work completed to your exact specifications. A flipper doesn’t have that luxury. Budget over a relatively short period of time is a primary focus here. Once the money is gone, the work has to stop. 

Home flipping is both a science and an art. We know many who do it so very well, mastering that delicate balance of time and money to give new life to an old un-kempt home. This is not to say that a flipped home isn’t full of quality work that focuses both on the structural and the cosmetic. A home remodeler, however, just looks at it a different way. Both a remodeler and a flipper may approach a structural issue the same way, although some homeowners may opt for a more expensive or specialty roof shingle. But a kitchen? Probably not. This is a place where the specialty details, that require additional time, money and expertise  just aren’t going to pay off for a flipper. The magic of TV does a lot to show the fun of a flip—without even mentioning the behind-the-scenes crew and experts that aren’t factored into the overall budget that the viewer sees. We love those shows as much as you do. They might inspire some great ideas for your own remodel, but the budgets and timelines might be a tad unrealistic for what a professional home remodeler will present to you.

Do you want to work with a builder who can separate Fact from Fliption?

Winter weather advisories! Colder temps, ice and snow are on their way. Is your home ready? Your home is likely your biggest investment and needs year-round care. We’ve compiled these tips for our clients and are happy to share them with you as well.

It’s all in the details. We thought that as we worked with these homeowners to renovate their bathroom, adding new fixtures, tile, vanity and lighting to refresh the space in a way that compliments the home’s own style.

 Let’s take a minute and reminisce for a second. Not to brag, but this bathroom is pretty amazing. 

Once we spruced up the inside, these homeowners were ready to move outside, tackling the front porch to improve the home’s curb appeal, and to add on a place to relax outside and watch the world go by. 

Changes to this porch were both structural and cosmetic. We were able to use the existing porch foundation, with some modifications. The steps, which once led to the detached garage, were modified to lead to the front door, making the space that much more welcoming and accessible to guests. The existing metal awning, original to home, was dating the space and in need of repair, so we removed it during our demolition process.

With the metal awning gone, we built a new structure with Hardie wrapped posts and beam, making them more durable and weather-resistant. A new beadboard ceiling includes new recessed lighting, giving this space real utility any hour of the day. The wall mounted lighting fixtures add to the ambiance.

We didn’t stop there. To integrate the new porch with the rest of the house, we replaced the existing siding with new Hardie board in a prefinished color. The posts and beams of the porch were painted with Sherwin Williams Tin Lizzie to coordinate with the Hardie. A vertical cable railing system in bronze and steel from EADS Fence Company was the finishing touch, giving an industrial touch to this traditional home. 

 Remember that metal awning over the porch? There was a smaller one over the front window of this home. We removed it and replaced it with a custom-made wooden awning, mimicking details of the front porch roofing. The result is a more modern and refreshed look for the entire home. 

But why should the house get all of the attention? The garage got an update, too, with a new door from Clopay Door, an Ohio-based garage door manufacturer we know and love well.

Is your home in need of a refresh? Are you ready to update our home? We can help you with the details, inside and out.

If you’re planning a kitchen remodel, you have more to think about than new appliances and countertops. You need to plan for several months living through a renovation. If you decide to stay at home during your renovation, you’ll need to think about daily life without a kitchen. Keep on reading for some tips on managing daily life during a kitchen renovation.

• Check That Calendar.

  Most kitchen remodels take about 12 weeks, although sometimes that timeline can be condensed or expanded based on the extent of your remodel or any underlying issues that are uncovered during demolition. You might want to time your remodel for a time that fits into your family’s schedule, keeping in mind holidays, celebrations and plans for entertaining. One of our customers planned a kitchen renovation during soccer season, knowing that her family spends a lot of time eating on the go and traveling for tournaments, making it a little less painless to go without a kitchen for a few months.

• Purge, Baby, Purge.

  Before a kitchen renovation can begin, those cabinets have to be emptied. Invest in some clear, plastic containers as you clean out your kitchen, so you can see exactly what you’re stashing away. Be sure to label, too, so you can easily locate any items you might need to unpack during your renovation. This step, while time consuming, will help when it’s time to load everything back into your kitchen, following the remodel. Think of it as your first step in organizing your new kitchen.

• Set Up A Temporary Kitchen.

  No matter what, you’ll need some type of temporary kitchen during your remodel. A coffee pot is enough for some of our clients. Others use a small microwave and hotplate. Still others get more creative, making use of their Air Fryer and InstaPot. Many of our customers rely on paper plates and disposable cutlery to make clean up easy. A dishpan is helpful to collect dirty dishes, since you may have to transport them into another room to get them washed.

• Make Your Plan B.

  Come up with an overall meal plan for how you’re going to prepare meals without a kitchen. With a new Whole Foods opened in Kenwood, Cincinnati, many of our clients are making use of their prepared meals, along with those from nearby Fresh Market or Trader Joes. A quick zap in the microwave, and you’re good to go. Another option are prepared take out meals, with The Wheel, Daveeds Culinary and La Soupe offering some great meals here in here Cincinnati. But bringing prepared meals in is not your only option. Going out to dinner will seem like a very special treat, so make the most of it.

  You might find that you miss cooking after a while. See if you can enlist a friend to help. You do the cooking and cleanup in their kitchen both your family and theirs. Win win!

  If you’re a lover a kitchen gadgets, now’s a time when you’re Air Fryer and InstaPot are going to shine. Both of these small appliances have some great utility in these situations and are real powerhouses in preparing great meals without a lot of space. If weather permits, commit to the grill. Every night can be a cookout during a kitchen reno.

• Dream!

  At times, a kitchen remodel may seem to drag on forever. But it’s only temporary. Take a deep breath, close your eyes and take a minute to dream of your new space. Before you know it, you’ll be back to your regular life, this time in a sparkling new kitchen.

Are you ready to take the next step in your kitchen remodel?

Here’s a home that now checks all of the boxes, inside and out. Chef’s kitchen with ample storage, an enviable mudroom, a sunroom outdoor living, not to mention new siding, windows and doors. The list goes on and on, including phase two of our project, which includes a grand master bathroom renovation.  And that’s before we even get to the brand new garage. The coup de grace. The icing on the cake. The feature that made us feel so especially lucky that we got to be the home builders who got to bring it all together.  These homeowners are really happy with their new space. But you know who else is happy—we are because this space takes our portfolio to the next level.

 Let’s start outside and then work out way in. (We’re saving the garage for last, so keep reading!) This Hyde Park home got quite the facelift, as well as a spacious new addition. It went from white to grey with siding from LP Siding, for renewed curb appeal in an instant. Our partners at Marvin provided the new windows and doors from their Marvin Essentials line. The good bones of this house really shine through with new windows and siding—all the character and none of the “old house” maintenance. A stroll around to the back of the house reveals a new, low-maintenance, IPE deck. The stone accents, provided by Semco Outdoor, and the deck railing, from EADS Fence Company, makes this outdoor space seem more like a roomy extension of the house than a run-of-the-mill deck. The steps of the deck lead to a new patio, perfect for grilling and dinner al fresco.

But be careful when you walk through the Marvin Essentials doors. You’re going to have house envy. The new deck leads to a brand, new kitchen. And it is a stunner to say the least. Custom cabinets, finished in a crisp, clean, white, reveal tons of organized storage, with pull out drawers and an appliance garage. The central island is painted with a custom Sherwin Williams grey, which makes the apron front farmhouse sink from Kohler really stand out. 

Glass-paneled upper cabinetry flanks the impressive ventilation hood, for a modern farm house look. The commercial-look range is from Thermador, as well as the paneled dishwasher, which beautifully blends into the cabinetry. The granite countertop from Ohio Valley Stone ties the grey of the center island and the white of the surrounding cabinetry together perfectly. 

A special nook in the kitchen can become a bar for entertaining—just add an ice bucket! The undercounter beverage refrigerator from Thermador is nestled in this corner next to a pull-out cabinet, which houses libations now, but could also store glass drinkware or serving pieces. The lighted cabinet above makes this corner is a great detail, making it a focal point during parties or special occasions. 

 From the kitchen, the layout of this addition flows into a cozy, light-filled sunroom. Serving as a connector to outdoor living or family space, this kitchen now truly is the heart of the home. If you can pull your eyes off the kitchen long enough, check out the room’s vaulted ceiling with exposed beams. We love adding these types of custom detail to our homes.

 People always say that a kitchen is what makes a house a home, but we all secretly know that it’s really the mudroom, right? With a spare refrigerator, washer and dryer and plenty of cabinetry that complement the kitchen, this room really keeps this house in business. The secret here is that this room used to be the kitchen. We modified the homeowner’s existing cabinetry to continue the look and feel of the kitchen. The additions of new countertops, a sink, cubbies and a built-in desk make this room a real workhorse. 

Pretty much a dream house, right? 

And we haven’t even gotten to the garage yet.

The English Contractor team built this new structure from the ground up. It’s a 3-car garage that actually can fit 6 cars. How can that be? Magic? 

It’s magic, all right. The magic of car lifts. Just when you thought the garage space couldn’t get any better, take a look at the epoxy floors, courtesy of American Sealing Experts.

The lush landscaping so beautifully accentuates the details of this home. We wish we could take credit for that, but this homeowner is a talented landscape architect—and it shows. New home amenities with real character.

 It may look finished, but we’re still working away on this home. It could be that these clients love us enough that they never want us to leave. Or it could be that this house has such a special place in our hearts that we’ll keep taking new projects. Either way, this project continues. Just when you thought it couldn’t get any better.

Are you ready to turn your house into your dream home?

It’s not like what you see on TV, where a glamorous host seems to magically transform a house before your eyes. It takes several weeks or even months, depending on the size of your project. And it takes blood, sweat, tears and lots of dust. Of course, with a little bit of preparation, those tears can be tears of joy once you see your newly renovated home. We manage home remodels of all different sizes, from whole home renovations to projects that stay in just one room, most commonly a kitchen or bathroom. We’ve also lived through these renovations in our own homes. A whole home remodel typically means that you’ll need to temporarily relocate. But plenty of our clients stay in their homes during a renovation. We’ve gathered our best tips of what you can do to live through a home remodel while keeping your sanity.

1.     Prepare, Prepare, Prepare.

Embarking on a home renovation project is exciting! You’ll start imagining yourself cooking in your new kitchen or putting your feet up in front of the fireplace of your new home addition. You’ll want to drop off that deposit check and have us start demo right away. But not so fast. The planning and preparation can take several weeks or months while we source your products and start placing orders. In stock tile or fixtures can be at your front door within a few weeks. But something custom made or in a specialty finish can take over 8 weeks. The last thing we want to do is to demo your kitchen and then have you live amongst the rubble for weeks with nothing to show for it. We’ll work with you to determine all we need to order for your new space. You can help keep the process moving by approving selections and costs as we give them to you. We don’t like to do demo until we have everything we need to put it all back together. This part can seem like an eternity, but trust us when we say it is worth the wait and will save time in the long run.

A renovation project can seem like hurry up and wait. You’ll have a flurry of activity at your house, only to then have weeks where nothing seems to happen. In a typical kitchen or bathroom remodel, demolition will take a few days. You’ll hear lots of noise and see lots of dust. But then, it’s going to be quiet for a while as our plumbers rough in plumbing and our electricians do their thing. This behind-the-scenes effort takes some time.  Sometimes, their work is not immediately evident either. But it is an important part of making your new space functional and safe. After plumbing and electric, your room will start to come together again, as you see tile, cabinetry, faucets, appliances and more. The space will start to look like the kitchen or bathroom that you have dreamed of. Understanding the basic timeline will help you see the progress over time.

 Of course, a schedule is not set in stone. When you’re undertaking a large renovation, you never know what is lurking behind your walls. Sometimes, we find electrical, plumbing or structural issues that need to be addressed before the project can go on. 

2.     Know the Schedule.

A renovation project can seem like hurry up and wait. You’ll have a flurry of activity at your house, only to then have weeks where nothing seems to happen. In a typical kitchen or bathroom remodel, demolition will take a few days. You’ll hear lots of noise and see lots of dust. But then, it’s going to be quiet for a while as our plumbers rough in plumbing and our electricians do their thing. This behind-the-scenes effort takes some time.  Sometimes, their work is not immediately evident either. But it is an important part of making your new space functional and safe. After plumbing and electric, your room will start to come together again, as you see tile, cabinetry, faucets, appliances and more. The space will start to look like the kitchen or bathroom that you have dreamed of. Understanding the basic timeline will help you see the progress over time.

 Of course, a schedule is not set in stone. When you’re undertaking a large renovation, you never know what is lurking behind your walls. Sometimes, we find electrical, plumbing or structural issues that need to be addressed before the project can go on. 

3.     Drop It Like Its Hot.

Drop those drop clothes all over the place. Renovation is a messy job. Or crew is meticulous, but dust and dirt is inevitable. We’ll seal up the room where we are working as much as we can. Plus, we clean up before we leave each day. Protect your belongings by packing up what you can and covering up larger furniture items in adjacent rooms. If you decide to stay in your home during renovation, pick a place where you can cook, eat and just relax that is far from the demo debris. Many of our clients do stay put during construction, but some find temporary housing elsewhere. 

4.     Channel Your Inner Marie Kondo.

If you’re clearing out a room to make space for renovation, use this time to declutter and organize. Are you surprised by the number of boxes you’re packing up as you’re clearing out your kitchen? Before you pack it away  (only to unpack it a few months later), take stock of the appliances and cooking tools that you’re holding on to. You’ll love your new space that much more if it is organized off the bat.

 5.     Don’t Demo What You Can Donate.

Talk to your contactor about what can be reused or repurposed. So many of our clients want to minimize the environmental impact of their renovation and do some good for their community. In the Cincinnati area, we work with Restore to come and pick up cabinetry, appliances, and plumbing fixtures to be sold in their second-hand store, proceeds of which benefit Habitat for Humanity. Check your own community or Habitat for Humanity website to see what is available in your area. Many of our clients find the process of donating their old appliances and cabinetry therapeutic. 

6.     Keep Talking.

Start with a preconstruction meeting before anyone starts swinging a hammer. Make sure you are on the same page as your contractor.  Our clients receive a weekly email, so that they have the big picture week by week of what is next in the construction process. Before a major milestone, we’ll schedule face to face meetings as well. And we’re always just a text or phone call away. 

Above all, before you start the process, make sure you have a contractor you like and trust. After all, for a major home renovation, a contractor could be in your home for weeks or months—or longer. Our goal is to have you miss us when we’re gone!

Are you ready to get started?

Give us a call and we’ll work with you to put together a plan.

Remember our bathroom remodel with the beautiful blue accent tile with walls painted a serene blue to match? Our work with this homeowner went far beyond a bathroom renovation. These clients also worked with The English Contractor team to turn their existing family room into a new dining room. And then we added a completely new addition to the home to create a beautiful space for this family to spend time together.

And who wouldn’t want to spend time here? The kitchen now opens up to the family room, with a bar that not only provides a great space for a quick breakfast but also is the perfect serving spot for drinks and snacks when entertaining. A natural extension of the kitchen, we know this family room will be the place to be during a party.

 This addition is large enough to accommodate a comfortable seating area. New windows, from the Marvin Integrity line, offer plenty of natural light, but as evening approaches, the room is illuminated by recessed lighting. The space was completed with French doors, also from Marvin Integrity, provided, along with the windows, by Marsh Building Products

 Our carpenters outdid themselves with the beautiful fireplace surround, offering niches for family photos, books and accessories, as well as pull out drawers for some extra storage. What’s more, these built ins offer extra seating, too, with window seats that offer a cozy nook to sit with a book.

 A gas fireplace provides both atmosphere and warmth. This beautiful focal piece is accented by stone and a stained wood mantle. The English Contractor team completed this space with gorgeous wood flooring, stained to match the mantle. 

The special details our team added to the space are almost too many to count. Are you looking to add some upgrades to your home? Give us a call and let’s talk.

There are lots of options to think about when preparing for a kitchen remodel: appliances, countertops, lighting and flooring. These are the big picture items that make up the total aesthetic of your remodeled space. 

But another aspect to consider when preparing to renovate your kitchen: functionality and organization. 

And while we love Marie Kondo and the idea that every object has its place, we take it a bit further when helping our clients plan a kitchen renovation by considering mis-en-place.

Mis-en-place is a French culinary term. It literally means “put in place” and is a term that chefs use to have everything at hand to prepare a meal before the cooking begins. In a commercial kitchen, where hundreds of meals must be prepared quickly with streamlined efficiency, without sacrificing flavor or appearance, mis-en-place ensures that the chef has everything prepared and within easy reach.

The basic concept of mis-en-place is that planning, preparation and organization ahead of time results in a better finished product. To make that concept a reality at the dinner table, The English Contractor worked with these homeowners to create a kitchen that is a model of efficiency and functionality.  Kitchens are in our wheelhouse for sure—but not just designing cabinetry on the outside, but also what they will look like as well as what they will hold on the inside. We go beyond the hailed work triangle to really think about every inch of functionality within the kitchen.

On the surface, you can see that these homeowners wanted a kitchen that was an elegant extension of the house and a model of efficiency. Designed to allow easy access to the primary dining area and the family room, this kitchen allows multiple people to work while still having access to the action in the rest of the house, ideal for family dinner and entertaining larger parties. 

That’s not where it stops. This room has been transformed into a chef’s kitchen with tools and ingredients close at hand, without sacrificing design or style.

Between two SubZero refrigerators, both beautifully concealed with antique white wood panels, lives a custom-made appliance garage, with the drawer microwave located conveniently below.

No more searching in a deep, dark pantry for ingredients. This narrow cabinet was created to keep everything in view, making the most of this corner of the kitchen.

But not everything in this kitchen was designed to be immediately visible. Electrical outlets were placed underneath the upper cabinetry, out of view so as to not disrupt the tile backsplash.

The dishwasher was given a custom-made wooden panel to look like drawers to balance with the drawers at the other end of the cabinet run. Now you see it, now you don’t. The only downside of this symmetrical design is that the children in the household have a valid excuse for not loading the dishwasher if they can’t find it. 

In addition to offering abundant storage and counter space, the center island also houses a Wolf warming drawer, to make every day cooking and more formal entertaining a breeze. 

From continues to follow function in this remodeled kitchen. The Wolf range is surrounded by all the necessary cooking and meal preparation supplies, neatly organized so beautifully in drawers that each one is a work of art in itself. From spices to cooking tools, each drawer is customized to both organize and display its contents. 

Peg organizers in deep drawers give the homeowners a way to store dishes that keeps them well organized and close at hand. In every inch of this space, these clients have maximized storage space. Upper cabinetry allows some storage, but also glass doored shelves allow for display of decorative items.

Stylish organized continues in the adjacent dining area with coordinating custom cabinetry. 

This panoramic view of the kitchen highlights the gorgeous cabinetry in antique white and stained cherry finishes. Looks beautiful, doesn’t it?  The kitchen is the heart of the home. But now you know hidden behind those beautiful cabinets are the organizational bells and whistles that make this space a workhorse, too. 

Are you ready to add custom organization to your kitchen?

Give us a call.

Did you know that The English Contractor is a Marvin Authorized Replacement Contractor? We’re proud of our relationship with Marvin and to install their windows and doors in so many of our projects—as well as in our own homes.

We’ve been installing Marvin windows and doors for years, so it’s a product line we’ve come to really know and trust. True, there are lots of contractors or builders can install your windows and doors. The English Contractor team, however, goes the extra mile to receive additional training and education about the products we really believe in. We never stop learning or getting better—and we never want to—so we can deliver meticulously well-crafted whole home renovations and new builds with the best possible products around, time after time. 

In addition to being well-built, durable and energy efficient, Marvin products are a thing of beauty. When evaluating new products to use in our clients’ home renovations and new builds, we look for a company with staying power. Marvin is a family-owned company that has been in business for over a hundred years—and counting. They stand behind their products, and so do we, from the selection through to the installation and beyond.

 Every home renovation project is unique. If your home renovation includes new windows, we’ll help guide you through what can seem like a complicated process. Marvin windows are available in both full-frame replacement and insert replacement versions. With availability in custom sizes and the Marvin guarantee of quality, leading technology and lasting dependability, we know that no matter your style or the scope of your project, Marvin has an option that will work in your home.

 Of course, if the scope of your project is just to replace your windows and doors without a full scale renovation, we’ll give you the same guidance, customer service, attention to detail as we would on a whole home renovation, taking into account your home’s esthetic, the intricacies of installation and budget. With any project, we treat your home like we would our own.

 Are you ready to renovate?

Is it time to replace your windows and doors?

Do you want to learn more about our partnership with Marvin?  

We build houses. We build additions. We remodel. But sometimes, we get to help accessorize a home, as we did with this house in Mount Lookout, Cincinnati, with the addition of a a stunning new front porch.

This home already had plenty of curb appeal, if you ask us, with its stately brick, dramatic black shutters, and lush landscaping. These homeowners partnered with an architect to take their vision for their home to the next level. We were happy to be called in to help bring the plan to life, making this home the new shining star of the neighborhood. 

 The short story is that these homeowners added a covered porch to the front of their home. However, to call this masterpiece a covered porch is truly not doing it justice. Look up. Look down. Look all around. No detail was left unnoticed in this outdoor space that makes an impressive, welcoming entrance to this house. 

 The crowning glory of this space is the stained bead board ceiling that adds a beautiful detail. The new door was stained to match, creating a unified, well-designed look to the entire space. 

 The door hardware is from the Baldwin line on build.com. We love how this darker finish compliments the existing shutters. The sconces and ceiling-mounted fixture, from Rejuvenation’s Thurman collection, tie it all together.

Are you ready to add some curb appeal to your home?

The English Contractor team can help.

You may know The English Contractor team as remodelers, but our expertise goes far beyond your standard renovation. We’re custom builders, too, with a keen eye for detail. We were lucky enough to have been selected as the contractors for the HGTV Urban Oasis 2018 home, right here in the Oakley neighborhood of Cincinnati. We took a Dutch Colonial through a major transformation, both inside and out, making it the shining star of the block.

Join us now for a private tour of the inside of this home, where you can explore the new parlor with Rookwood tile fireplace, the custom kitchen with Samsung appliances, and too many more eye-catching details to list.

There’s a certain beauty to a work-from-home day. Not only can you throw on a load of laundry between phone calls and emails, skip cafeteria lines when it’s time for lunch, and stay cozy in your slippers all day long, but you also keep to take a break from harsh overhead lighting, uncomfortable furniture and the buzz from the photocopier. If you’re spending the day at home to get some work done, why not make the process a little bit fun, just like these homeowners did. 

 You may feel like you know these homeowners already, since this is our hattrick project for them. Remember that amazing outdoor room? What about that spring-like bathroom? Kind of makes you want to meet them in person so you can be invited over for drinks. This space won’t change your opinion of them at all. 

We’re not interior designers, but we sure do get to have some fun when our homeowners pick out some extra special finishes. That isn’t a really precise gallery wall—it’s wallpaper! Wallpaper is back and it is more fun than ever. We had a blast installing this wallpaper, which gives that English hunt feel with the dark, subtly patterned wallpaper, filled with ornate gold picture frames.  But the animals inside each frame, all dressed in their Sunday best, show a bit of whimsy and a good sense of humor. Look up from your laptop to see this view, and you’ll surely smile. And, if you remember from their bathroom project, this family wants to update their space, while paying homage to the home’s history. This fun wallpaper certainly does the trick, that takes an antique-look and presents it in an entirely new way.

 The hunter green painted walls add to the English hunt feel, with a collection of framed photos and artwork to complement the playful adjacent wallpaper. 

 No industrial carpeting in this office. This home office was completed with new hardwood flooring. The combination with the oversized chair and tufted ottoman that the homeowner selected could help this space swing into happy hour as a comfy den for after work drinks. And isn’t that how we’d all like to end the work week? By putting up our feet, and relaxing with a beverage of choice. If you’re going to work from home, might as well do it in style? 

Do you have a space in your home that is need of some sprucing up? Give us a ring? From cosmetic touches like painting, wallpaper installation and hardwood flooring, to bigger renovations, home additions and new builds, we can help you transform your home room by room. 

You may have fallen in love with the whimsical bathroom that we just shared, a beautiful melding of modern aesthetic with the historic bones of an older home. We loved working on this project, in part, because it was such a fun challenge. But we have a special place in our heart for these homeowners, who called us back into work on this space a year after we completed another project for them: an outdoor room.

This project began as a concrete slab. And while that makes a fine place for holding a barbeque grill and maybe a table and some chairs, at the end of the day, it’s just a concrete slab. These homeowners wanted to extend their living space and transform it into an outdoor room, complete with all of the comforts of the indoors. 

A roof both adds protection from the elements, but also makes this space look like a natural extension of the house. To us, that’s a barometer of a project well done—one that, once it is complete, you can’t imagine what the house looked like without it. 

 But it wasn’t enough to add just a roof and screens. The tile flooring is both durable and stylish. A gas fireplace with wall mounted television above it gives another taste of the indoors. 

The grill still has a place in this space, with an inviting table nearby. Add some good friends and you have an instant party, all in one space.

See more of this beautiful space and hear more about the specifics of this project from The English Contractor himself, Craig Russell. 

Do you have an outdoor space that could use some attention? Are you imagining an outdoor room all your own? Give us a call today.

“You may think that spring showers bring May flowers. But in this case, spring showers brought us very happy homeowners.”

Don’t you love those beautiful spring mornings? The ones where you wake up to beautiful sunshine. Flowers are in bloom. The birds are singing. The kind of morning where you just can’t wait to leap out of bed and greet the day? 

 For some lucky homeowners, with a creative vision all their own, that’s every morning, every season of the year.

 The English Contractor was contacted by these Milford homeowners to remodel their bathroom, after we’d successfully worked with them to create an outdoor room, that you can see here. Of course, one of our most frequent requests is to help refresh and renew a bathroom. But this one was special and our task was specific: remodel this bathroom to make it modern and new while paying homage to the legacy of their historic home. 

 If you’ve ever lived in a historic home, you know you are much more than a homeowner. You are a steward of a domicile that was home to many families before you. And, thanks to your caretaking, will likely hold many other families under its roof for decades to come. A house like this has a personality, even a spirit, all its own. Your job is to keep this home a representation of the time period in which it was built, while gently and carefully welcoming the modern era in. 

 We wax poetic, but it’s true. 

 Take a look at these photos and see for yourself. This free-standing soaker tub with elegant claw feet is reminiscent of another era. The original home likely had a bathtub just like this. It makes a statement. It screams personality, acting as a piece of furniture in this perfect nook. The deck mounted faucet with cross hatch handles screams vintage, while at the same time gleaming shiny and new. Both the bathtub and the faucet are from our friends at Signature Hardware.

 We’re so in love with the tile floor from Ann Sacks, a chevron pattern given a new look with an elegant curve from the Benton Mosaic collection. The shades of gray add some interest to the area and are a beautiful, modern juxtaposition against the stately, vintage-look bathtub.   

 But let’s talk about that shower. The subway tile here, with grey grout, adds a nice, neutral backdrop for the rest of the space. Three recessed shelves add plenty of storage. It’s the brass shower fixtures that really makes this space sing. We love it when the most functional item is also beautifully decorative.

And when we say sing, we mean sing like the birds on that cheerful wallpaper. Talk about bringing the outside in. So many of our homeowners have embraced the “everything old is new again” wallpaper trend. We particularly like this one, selected by these clients. It’s so cheerful and happy, a modernized toile that once again takes a vintage space and makes it more current, with a slight nod to the home’s heritage. The stained-glass window is the icing on the cake, letting in plenty of natural light while beautifully reflecting the design of this space, both inside and out.

This sweet pedestal sink is just so perfect for this space, with the brass faucet with cross hatch handles reflecting this mix of new and old, both from Kohler. The white chair rail and detailed paneling lend a crisp and clean feel to the space. And isn’t that just how a new bathroom should feel.

Is your bathroom ready for a transformation? We’d love to tell you more about this project, as well as some of our other recent bathroom remodels that you can preview here and here. Give us a call. We’d love to show off our latest work—and talk about how we can help you.

Your home is likely your biggest investment. And it’s not a one-time cost, either. It’s one that requires maintenance and upkeep as well. As a homeowner, this is an exciting time. Inspiration and ideas exist every step of the way, thanks websites like Pinterest and Houzz and networks like HGTV and DIY. 

 We’re inundated with step-by-step demonstrations of home improvement projects. We’re taking it all in, right along with you. We take learning about the latest trends one step further, as we partner with different suppliers to continue our education on best practices for products and installation throughout the home. Our certifications and training help us provide you with a renovation that is managed efficiently with masterful craftsmanship and expertise. We’re respectful of our clients’ budgets, too, and are skilled at providing advice on when to splurge and where to save. 

 However, there are some costs that are unavoidable when planning a home renovation. In fact, it is more expensive to remodel an existing home then it is to build one new. A home remodel goes beyond picking out appliances and final finishes. We love showing off our latest projects. Gorgeous millwork. Shiny new appliances. Beautiful, custom details. But what these photos don’t show is all the behind-the-scenes work. There are other important cost considerations when planning a remodel or renovation of any size and scope. Read on to see if you’re ready for a major renovation in your home.

Demolition Day!

Pick your favorite home improvement show, and they all have a fun montage of demolition scenes. Most major home remodeling projects require some type of demolition, from flooring and cabinetry to walls and ceilings. It may seem like any homeowner can just take a sledge hammer to their space to save costs. Yet this stage isn’t quite the fun and games we see on TV. Demolition has to be done skillfully and carefully to avoid damage, which can add up to substantial costs.

Coping with Construction.

We’re neat freaks by nature, and even as hard as we try, the job site can be messy. And noisy. Any major renovation comes with some disruption to your daily routine. Projects can be completed more quickly in a new build than in an occupied home. We work hard to take the steps to minimize the disruption to your life, taking the time to clean up each day when our work is done. However, dust, tools and disruption of water and electrical service are all to be expected with any major renovation.

Demo Detective Work.

We’re home contractors. We’re remodeling experts. But did you know we’re also detectives. We have a pretty good idea what’s behind your walls, but the only way to know for sure is to carefully do a little demo. Cost and approach of a project sometimes has to be modified while we’re in process, depending on what surprises are lurking behind your walls, floors and ceilings. We’ll keep you apprised every step of the way to manage this process, but discoveries beneath the surface can add to the total cost of a project. 

Behind the Scenes.

A kitchen or bathroom renovation often requires just as much behind the scenes as it does for the final finishes. Pipes and wires are what keep these spaces running. It is much easier to plumb or wire a new build before the drywall has been added. Changes to plumbing, electric, or HVAC in an existing home are slightly more complicated and require a bit more in terms of budget.

Balancing Act.

A home renovation is one-part construction and one-part logistics. Especially when you consider the scale of projects like a full kitchen remodel or a new addition, there are many moving parts and pieces, including different specialized trades people who have specific tasks to perform at precise times during the project timeline. In addition, projects require the incredible amounts of products, from the behind-the-scenes elements for electricity, plumbing and structure of the project, as well as appliances, fixtures and all the finishing touches. Sourcing all of these products includes soliciting pricing, communications to confirm product type and coordination of delivery. On top of all of that is project oversight and price management. The project managers at The English Contractors are skilled at taking care of these logistics behind the scene. They make it look easy, but many of our clients are surprised to learn that a remodel of an existing kitchen takes just about as much time and energy as totally building a new home. 

Let’s Get Started.

Are you ready to renovate? Reach out to the team at The English Contractor and we’ll partner with you to walk you through the process of what these details will look like in your own home. Each and every project is different. Our team will provide you with the guidance you need to add custom details that will truly make your home your own. Contact us today.

“Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping… I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers — so many caring people in this world.”  

  - Fred Rogers

In the wake of a natural disaster, like the recent tornadoes in the Dayton and Celina, Ohio areas, we see these words come to life. With destruction and devastation mere miles away from us here in Cincinnati, we see our own neighbors spring into action. It warms our hearts to see Cincinnati-based organizations head to Dayton, including La Soupe in order to feed the hungry with World Central Kitchen, Matthew 25 to clothe and comfort with the Tide Loads of Hope mobile washing units and personal care items from Procter & Gamble, and other generous and giving individuals who are ready to lend a hand, donate a product or write a check. It’s times like these when we see how kindness and giving can repair and sustain a community.

Unfortunately, there are those who seek to take advantage of disaster victims, quickly and unfairly attempting to turn a profit from others’ misfortunes. If your home has been damaged, you might feel the need to find a contractor who can get to work quickly. While most contractors out there are honest, hardworking and willing to help, there are always a few who just want to help themselves. The English Contractor has put together a quick list to help you tell the difference. We don’t typically service the Dayton area, so this is us lending a helping hand in our own way.

 Do your research.

You may have a tried-and-true contractor at the ready. But if you don’t, how do you sift through your options? Ask for recommendations from neighbors, friends and family. Ask the contractor for references and diligently check them. The Better Business Bureau is also a good resource, as is your insurance agent or adjuster. Check them out online on review sites to see their reputation, for good and for bad. Do they have a physical address? A little homework now can help in the long run, no matter how anxious you are to get started.

Verify.

Following a disaster, some contractors go door to door offering their assistance. Don’t assume that because they pull up in a truck printed with a name and logo, and have tools and business cards that they are professionals. Are they who they say they are? Check out their website and if they have a physical address as well, as well as confirm references and reviews. In fact, you’ll want to make sure that they are licensed within your community, too. Your area might be filled with out-of-town people looking for work. A local, licensed contractor will know the codes and regulations specific to your community, including knowing what local permits are necessary to perform your repairs. Make sure they carry insurance. (An uninsured contractor often provides a bid that is significantly lower than their peers.) Hire a contractor who is a member of a reputable industry trade organization, including:

• National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI)

• Restoration Industry Association (RIA)

• American Indoor Air Quality Council (ACAC)

• Institute of Inspection, Cleaning & Restoration Certification (IICRC)

But don’t take their licenses, memberships and insurance proof at their word. Ask to see verification for yourself.

Move fast.

 With water damage to your home, time is of the essence. Take pictures and document everything for insurance before you remove carpeting or sheetrock. If you’re concerned about structural damage to your home, first contact a building inspector, architect or engineer. If you need to make some quick, temporary repairs, beware of a contractor who wants you to spend a lot of money-making temporary repairs. Always check with your insurance company first to double check policy coverage and specific filing requirements. Save receipts for any temporary repairs. 

 But not too fast.

 You want to get your life back to normal as soon as possible, but don’t feel pressured into making an immediate decision for repairs that aren’t immediately necessary. Take your time in selecting a contractor and be wary of a contractor who wants to start without taking the time to prepare a contract and an estimate. 

 Take care of your paperwork. 

That contract is important. It should include the cost, scope of work, timeline, guarantees and payment schedule. Materials and labor should be itemized. Ask for a written warranty for the work that is done.  Avoid a contractor who asks you to pay the entire balance at the start of the project, who accepts only cash or offers a price that seems too good to be true. Don’t ever sign a blank contract and make sure that the contractor’s business name, address, license number and phone number are included—and correct. Ask for a copy of the final, signed contract and keep it on file for at least two years following the repairs. Get a final invoice, marked paid in full, to also keep on file upon completion of the project.

If you feel you have fallen prey to an unethical contractor, file a report with your local law enforcement agency or district attorney’s office. Of course, if your project has been successfully completed, you can take a big sigh of relief. But you’re not done yet.  Take the time to leave an honest review of your contractor on a website like Angie’s List, Houzz or Yelp. Your honesty could one day help a homeowner in the same position.

When touring the HGTV home, many people ask us specifics about the finishes and furniture. From working on the project from the beginning to end, we can answer a lot of these questions. When it comes to the nuts and bolts of the HGTV Urban Oasis home, we can take a lot of credit for the craftsmanship of the project. But our job was really to bring the vision of the designer, Brian Patrick Flynn, to life.  And while our project managers receiving training from all different suppliers—from Subzero, Wolf and Cove to Marvin Windows—and have exquisite taste to match, our job is to our job is to listen carefully and lend our expertise to give structure to a designer’s or home owner’s plans. 

That’s the beauty of working on a team of contractor, architect and designer. All of us have the goal of ultimately making the homeowner’s dream come true. As contractors who specialize in high end home renovations, we are constantly exposed to best practices in kitchen and bathroom finishes. We can make recommendations on a counter surface—marble, granite, soapstone, or butcher block—depending on your kitchen use. We’re up to date on the latest technology in the loo—from electronically controlled showers to touchless toilets. By attending trade shows and training, we know what’s coming down the pike. So it’s not all about swinging a hammer. We can certainly work with you and your designer to help you build your dream home—from the studs down to the paint.

Are you ready to tackle a major renovation? The team at The English Contractor is here and ready to help. Let’s connect to discuss your plans. We’d love to be part of your dream team to make the magic happen.