Category: Renovations
Get Inspired with These Outdoor Living Ideas
As spring approaches and the winter doldrums subside, many of us will think of spending some quality time outdoors. What better way to enjoy the spring, summer and fall months than to create a desirable outdoor living space.
You may know that Metzler Home Builders specializes in designing and building custom homes and stunning additions and renovations, but did you know we also can help you create that perfect outdoor living space to compliment what’s inside your home?
Decks, patios, screened porches, and pergola’s are a few of the items that could help create your backyard oasis. Take a look at some of the pictures below and get inspired!
Project Spotlight: Combining Households, Maintaining Privacy
Like many baby boomers, John and Cathy had a decision to make about an aging parent. In their case, it was no longer safe for John’s mother, Betty, to be living alone. But unlike most in their generation, the decision they had to make was not about nursing home care. They wanted to care for Mom, at least for the time being.
Now, their decision was which house to expand to accommodate separate living quarters for them all: their home or Betty’s? After much discussion, the scenic views of horse country and the proximity to work for John and Cathy made Betty’s home the answer.
The plan was to keep the first floor as John’s mother’s quarters and add a second floor that would function as John and Cathy’s main living space. In fact, the views of horses and bison on the surrounding hills were the primary reason why John and Cathy wanted to add a second floor rather than expanding the ranch home. However, the conversion of the natural stone and brick home to a two-story home with highly personalized and detailed finishes was not going to be without its challenges.
First-floor renovations of the existing kitchen, dining room and living room opened the flow of the spaces and provided room for the large island – a high priority for Cathy. Since John’s mother no longer cooked for herself, a separate kitchen was not needed. With the location of the staircase to the second floor, an open foyer was incorporated which also allowed natural light to flood the previously gloomy space.
The second floor was to be John and Cathy’s retreat. Having this separate private living space was a high priority for all of them, including John’s mother. The second-floor caretaker’s retreat contains an expansive great room, study with wet bar, oversized master suite and Cathy’s sewing room. Large arch top windows were incorporated into the second floor to add architectural flair, as well as a second-floor deck and screened-in porch so John and Cathy could take in the breathtaking views.
Customize Your Interior: Kitchen Cabinets & Countertop Selections
Kitchen and flooring installations begin to really show the customizations of your one-of-a-kind home.
Kitchen Cabinets: There is a lot to consider when selecting cabinets: construction of the cabinet, finish or color, door style, hardware options, moldings and cabinet heights. The cabinets will also tie in with your other kitchen features, such as flooring, faucets and appliances, to name a few.
While this can seem overwhelming, we feel comfortable referring you to one of our experts and trusted suppliers to help walk you through this selection process. Janet Metzler is also available to assist in selections as needed, or you may have an interior decorator or designer that can help you making your selections. Don’t be afraid to turn to these resources, as they are the experts – they help customers pull together beautiful kitchens every day.
Countertops: Formica countertops provide the most cost-effective solution and also allow for many different color and finish options. There is no shortage of hard surface upgrade options, though, and many people immediately think of granite when considering a countertop upgrade. After all, it is readily available and is the most popular option for a hard surface countertop. Quartz is another natural stone option, and Corian, a man-made product, is another hard surface option. Wood and concrete tops are not quite as popular but are available for those who desire a unique countertop solution.
We asked Phil Clemmer, our trusted salesman from Swartz Kitchens and Baths, about the trends he is seeing in terms of cabinet and countertop selections. This is what he had to say:
“For the last few years, the cabinetry industry has been doing the same things in the kitchen. Having said that, we are now incorporating a couple of things together to create a perfect environment to work in. The two main colors being used are the Espresso and the soft white paint, with some manufacturers calling them different names, like Chiffon or Antique. We are using them together by designing the kitchen’s perimeter in soft white and the island in Espresso. Two-toned kitchens are still very much in vogue.
On the cabinetry architectural side, staggered cabinetry is being used in many upper-end kitchens because most ceiling heights in these homes are nine foot. Wall cabinetry height varies from 36” to 42” which leaves a 12” to 18” open soffit above, which creates stunning detail by creating a look that is not so typical where every cabinet is the same height.”
“A similar effect can be created by altering the depth of cabinet throughout the perimeter of the kitchen. By integrating the use of multi-colored along with varying heights and depths of cabinetry, a stunning effect can happen where the kitchen now looks much more like furniture than it does a ho-hum kitchen.”
Read more about customization here.
Whole House Renovation: A Ranch Addition
After inheriting a 1970s ranch home, Greg and Janice were not only faced with the task of cleaning out the home, but they also needed to determine what should happen with the property. After much thought, they realized this home provided an excellent opportunity for them to move from their three-story row home to one-floor living in a detached home. The only thing that stood in their way was tackling a whole-house renovation – not an easy task.
For starters, there were significant drawbacks to this idea. The home’s square footage was limited, and the ’70s architecture and confined spaces were all drawbacks. Additionally, it was hard to look past the dated wallpaper, flooring and dark paneling to see the possibilities. But once they started working with us, they began to see the home’s beauty and the potential to remodel it into exactly what they were looking for.
We added an addition onto the back of the home. This gave us greater freedom in designing an expanded Craftsman-style floor plan to give them the space they desired. We also raised the ceiling height to transform this home into one that Greg and Janice can enjoy well into their retirement years.
See more photos of this project by visiting our feature projects page >>>
Get to Know Two of Our Fine Subcontractors
John Leibley of Leibley Plumbing
John Leibley and Leibley Plumbing of Manheim have been performing Metzler’s plumbing for new home construction, additions and renovations since 2001. John and his team have many years of experience in the trade and carry a wide variety of products to meet our customers’ needs. Along with new construction and remodel work, Leibley Plumbing also specializes in plumbing service and repairs and water treatment.
John and his wife, Gretchen, live in the Manheim area with their daughter, Emily. He enjoys hunting, fishing and watching football in his spare time.
Brian Hackman of A&H Excavating
Brian Hackman, of A& H Excavating, has been performing excavating work for Metzler Home Builders for over 10 years and is a favorite of both the Metzler team and our customers. Brian’s vast knowledge and experience in residential excavating, his attention to detail, and his ability to communicate and connect with homeowners make him our “A” choice for custom home and addition projects. He also specializes in building boulder retaining walls. In his spare time, Brian enjoys attending Penn State football games.
Re-Defining Rooms with Interior Trim
Are you feeling that certain rooms in your home are lacking that extra pop or finishing touch? Certainly paint colors, furnishings and decor can give any room a different look, but sometimes interior trim can be the missing piece to give you the detail you are looking for. Several options exist for installing interior trim that are cost effective and can add value and warmth to your home. Here are just a few:
Wainscoting or Panel Molding & Chair Rail: A great idea for your dining room or kitchen.
Crown Molding: Instantly adds appeal to any room, particularly bedrooms, by adding this classic molding where your walls and ceiling meet.
Coffered Ceiling: A creative way to spruce up the ceiling of your dining room or great room.
If any of these touches sound like the right solution for you, contact us to discuss your interior trim project and receive a free estimate.
Customizing Your Interior: Plumbing & Faucet Selections
When building your home or starting an addition/renovation project with Metzler Home Builders, your plumbing and faucet selections will be one of the first interior decisions that you’ll need to make, as plumbing rough-ins generally happen immediately after the house is framed.
There are many different options to consider when making your faucet selections, such as style, finish and handle spread. By the time to you get to this step, you may have a style and finish in mind, or you may not have given it much thought yet.
One way we can help you is by suggesting you visit our plumbing supplier’s showroom. There, you can touch the faucets to see how they look and function. While at the showroom, you will have the opportunity to pick out your toilet, bathtub and shower selections, as well.
Not the same as big-box stores.
What is interesting to note is that while the big box stores, such as Lowes and Home Depot, do sell some of the same brands that we supply, the faucets they carry are generally not of the same quality. Even though they look identical, they are made with lesser internal components.
If you choose to purchase your fixtures through one of these chain stores, we’ll gladly install them, but keep in mind that we are not able to warranty the installation of these the same as we do the faucets from our own supplier.
No matter where you purchase your plumbing fixtures and faucets, however, we want you to get the look and function that you want. This is why we’ll assist you as best as we can in making wise interior choices for your home
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Project Spotlight: A Place to Retire
After inheriting a 1970’s ranch home, Greg and Janice were not only faced with the task of cleaning out the home, but they also needed to determine what should happen with the property. After much thought, they realized this home provided an excellent opportunity for them to move from their three story row home to one floor living in a detached home. The only thing that stood in their way was tackling a whole house renovation.
Kitchen Remodeling: Getting the Kitchen You Want
Time and again, one of the best renovation bangs for your buck is a kitchen remodel (see the 2014 Cost v. Value Report). Whether you are looking to remodel your entire kitchen or just give it a face-lift, upgrading your kitchen is one of the most noticeable – and pleasurable – changes you can make to your home.
However, before you get started, do your homework. A kitchen has many features and functions, and there are thousands of options. You can easily become overwhelmed with the vast array of choices, so do not rush into any spur-of-the-moment purchases or decisions. This is not a room to “piece together” without the full vision in place.
Spotlight Project: Open Spaces
With the living space of their home divided by walls, John and Carole felt confined and knew it was time for a change. Openness, flow and functionality were high priorities when it came to designing their home’s new floor plan. A spacious kitchen and large area to gather as a family were also important. In search of a builder that was experienced with performing whole-house renovations and additions, John and Carole found Metzler Home Builders.
The new addition included a family room and sunroom and provided the perfect spot for family gatherings. The foyer, kitchen, dining room, laundry and side entrance were completely revamped. The dining room was moved to the front of the home and the kitchen moved to the back to make ample room for a formal dining room and a larger, airy kitchen. Distinctive arches were utilized throughout the project to provide flow and allow open spaces that can be enjoyed for years to come.
