Remodeling Inspiration, Big Project Planning, and Kitchen Design Ideas
Host:
Welcome to the Home Remodeling Show with Edge Construction on News Talk 1310 WIBA. Have a question? Email it to EdgeConstructionRadio@gmail.com.
Now, here is your host, Sean Prebil, on News Talk 1310 WIBA.
This is the Home Remodeling Show, brought to you by Edge Construction, online at EdgeConstructionCompany.com.
That is all one word, Edge Construction Company dot com.
It is a great website and a great resource to learn more about Edge Construction.
Also, one really cool feature is that you can check out their portfolio with the slider on all the different projects. It is very, very amazing.
There are also awesome links to Houzz, Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram. You can find all of that at EdgeConstructionCompany.com.
Mike, how are you doing?
Of course, I do not want to put you off your game.
It is so cool, though, because what I love about it is that each platform has different applications.
We think of Facebook, and you guys have a presence on Facebook, and that is great stuff there. But then you start getting into Pinterest and the design and decor side of things. Then there is Houzz, which, when we talk about remodeling, is such a cool site.
From EdgeConstructionCompany.com, you can check out the Houzz stuff you guys are doing.
It is such an amazing place for ideas and to check out work. It is just great.
Mike:
Yes.
Houzz is actually my favorite.
I just like it because you can get to the projects really fast.
I think we have upwards of 150 projects on Houzz, and you can just get where you are going really quickly.
There is actually more on Houzz than on our website because when we updated our website, Houzz did not have to get updated. It just keeps rolling.
So we do not always put all the new stuff on the new version of the website.
I have friends who will say, “You have not done anything lately.”
Their version is Instagram, which I have but look at maybe twice a year.
They say, “I can see quickly what you are doing.”
Okay, I get that.
Once in a while, Mom yells at me and says, “When are you going to put stuff on Facebook?”
Then I talk to Candis and say, “Hey, Candis, come on. I am getting yelled at over here.”
Host:
We mentioned Houzz too, and one of the cool areas is that you have all those different projects up there.
It is globally accessible. You get people from around the globe literally checking out your designs and your projects and pinning them — or what do they do on Houzz?
I think you build a library.
Mike:
Yes, that is what the kids are doing nowadays.
When I look at our metrics for Houzz, and I do not look at them often anymore, it is something like 30,000 to 50,000 pictures from our Houzz page getting downloaded a month.
Obviously, that would be like the whole city of Madison downloading something, and it is not all local.
It just shows you how important Houzz has gotten for designers and people around the world who are trying to get ideas.
We do that too.
If you have a picture in your head, or if I have a picture in my head, I can start poking around on Houzz. I know our designers will do that too.
Pinterest, I have just never really figured out, so I do not do that one.
But Houzz has turned into this clearinghouse for ideas and photos.
You can see the whole picture.
If you are looking for a certain thing, you are also going to get a lot more with it. You will get ideas on design.
I get a kick out of some of the photos now where you can buy the lamp in that picture or buy the chair in that picture.
So it has been a great thing for design.
Host:
When people are thinking about remodeling, and this week we will talk kitchens and some big projects, if people come to you and say, “We need to remodel,” are you referring them quickly to Houzz and saying, “Let’s get some ideas put together and develop the style”?
Mike:
One of my first questions is, “Have you built a library anywhere? Have you tagged anything?”
If you say no, then in my head, right or wrong, I might think, “How serious are you about doing this?”
If you are just not that kind of person, or if you say, “I did not even know where to start,” then I say, “I am going to give you some homework.”
I want you to get on our website and look at stuff.
Then you can go from our website through the link to Houzz. That is not a bad way to do it.
I think there is an “H” up in the corner that takes you to Houzz.
Get familiar with Houzz and look at our stuff. Then that will lead you to a bunch of other things on there, and it helps you start putting together what you like.
I do like telling people, “Do not try to find the perfect picture.”
Sometimes it is best if you find a picture you like but you do not know why you like it. That gives us clues to your style.
Host:
Is that a challenge for homeowners?
As you mentioned that, I feel like one of my instincts as a homeowner would be, since we are talking about kitchens this week, to look for kitchens that have a similar layout but better design.
Is that a trap people can fall into?
You are saying, “Look more for the style and the design that you like, and things that you like.”
Mike:
Right.
You have to be careful with the online stuff.
When it first came out, I called it cut-and-paste remodeling.
You say, “I like that cabinet. I like this crown. I like this trim color. I want open shelves.”
You develop this wish list that suddenly has everything in it, and you are not really doing design from the ground up.
When you settle on what you like and what your style is between yourself and a designer, then we start looking at layouts. That process happens.
Then when we start filling in colors, textures, and what this is actually going to look like, all of that influences things.
Your great layout now influences the design.
Your style influences the design.
It is comprehensive instead of just pulling in these things that you like.
But it is all valuable.
I am kind of fascinated by the minds of designers because that is not my talent. If you give me the picture, I can build it, but I do not think you want me designing your project.
I know what I like when I see that done project: “Wow, that is great.”
But getting there is a mystery.
When we walk out of appointments, I will ask our designers questions about design, and they already have a pretty good idea.
By the way, when we are at your house, even that first time, they are noticing the things you have bought, the furniture, the things on your walls. They are getting an idea of what you like that way too.
Host:
It is interesting when we talk about different mindsets and how people view things differently.
Having that creativity and understanding to interpret people’s design style and apply it is a pretty cool thing.
We are talking with Mike Twohig, owner of Edge Construction, online at EdgeConstructionCompany.com.
That is Edge Construction Company dot com.
As much as we are going to talk kitchens, I want to start out talking about big projects, mostly because now is the time to start talking about big projects.
If you are thinking about having one done for the coming year, now is a really important time to start that conversation, isn’t it?
Mike:
It is.
We can usually do maybe three to four bigger projects.
We have a lot of capability. Three to four does not sound like much, but on those types of projects, that is a lot.
I am talking an addition or, a few weeks ago, we tore the roof off a house in Middleton and went up a floor.
That is a big project. It takes a lot of attention.
I want to remind people that if you are thinking about doing something like that next year, you really have to start looking now and working on design now.
Those projects tend to spend six, eight, 10, or 12 months in design, figuring out what you want to do and all the torture that goes into pricing things.
There is a lot of work that has to happen in that time.
There are things you do not think about, like zoning, permits, contracts, and things like that.
So if you are thinking you have a realistic bigger project for next year, now would be a good time to get ahold of us.
Host:
You mentioned zoning and permits.
Depending on where you are listening this morning, if you are in certain neighborhoods or certain areas, there is a conversation that comes with some of that stuff.
People think, “Why? What takes so long?”
Cities and boards and things like that, depending on where you are, like to have a little conversation about everything.
Ultimately, it is for good reason, but it does take time.
Mike:
It does take time.
You may not realize that, in some areas, it is more than just getting a building permit or zoning.
If you are in the Maple Bluff area, there are different levels of houses there. There are really nice houses, big fancy places, and some more modest houses.
They do not care so much, but they do want input.
If you are going to reroof your house there, they get to have input and decide if what you picked out is okay. They also want an approved contractor and things like that.
When you do projects there that affect anything on the outside — windows, an exterior door, an addition, something as big as an addition, exterior paint color, or a roof — we know we have to get on the list to get in front of that board and say, “We have this project coming up.”
Usually, it is not a big deal, but it does add another month into that mix.
Host:
Does it help being established?
You guys do a number of these in all the communities regularly.
Does having that foundation help — where you have talked with these folks before, they have seen the work you guys have done at Edge Construction, and they know you meet expectations?
Mike:
I think it helps because we have a feel for what they want or what kind of documentation they want.
A lot of times it is just crossing T’s and dotting I’s.
They need certain things, so we inundate them with that information and make sure they have everything at their fingertips.
Good designs, good renderings — so they have an idea of what the project is going to look like.
Then it goes to the neighbors, making sure nobody has a problem with it.
From their standpoint, the first time we did a job up there, I think they were a little like, “Okay, show us who you are. How long have you been around? What kind of work have you been doing? Are you capable of doing these jobs?”
They feel a responsibility to the people in that neighborhood, so they asked us tougher questions.
Now that they know who we are, I think it is a little easier process.
Not that it was tough at first, but we respect the process.
Host:
It is interesting when we think about the design process of an addition, whether you are going up, going out, or both.
There are a lot of factors.
Obviously, anytime you are remodeling, there are a lot of design factors, but when you are trying to tie new with old and not make it appear added on, that takes work.
That is one of the things I love when I look at EdgeConstructionCompany.com and see some of those additions and projects.
You look at it and go, “You cannot tell where old is new.”
It just looks beautiful.
Those things do not happen on their own. They require planning, design, and a lot of work.
Mike:
They do.
A lot of people worry about the construction process, especially on those big projects, but usually people are moved out, and construction is just cruising along and getting done.
There are so many decisions that get made in that year leading up to a big project, whether it is layout or general design.
I had a good moment a few days ago.
I was in the neighborhood where we put the second floor on that house in Middleton, and one of the neighbors came over and said, “We just cannot believe it.”
They were all worried.
The neighborhood was worried about the noise, the extra trucks and traffic, and there was some of that. I am not going to lie.
The first couple of weeks were hot and heavy. We did everything we could to get a roof on this thing really quickly.
Now it is standing there.
The other thing they were worried about was that somebody was going to take this modest house and make it look like a castle in their nice 1970s neighborhood.
They were all pleasantly surprised by how we preserved trees, and now this house is right-sized for the lot and right-sized for the neighborhood.
It was like a collective sigh of relief, is what I kind of envision.
But that does not happen by accident.
When people first come in and want to look at an addition, what they are really saying is they want to price it and see if they can possibly afford the project.
There is just so much work getting to that point, and then actually following through with that good design and making it fit the neighborhood and the lot.
That is a lot of work.
Host:
Are all houses capable of adding a second story, for example?
Or are there some that are just not built for that?
Mike:
Everything is possible, right?
Sometimes it might not be practical.
But in today’s climate, there is just not enough for sale out there.
A lot of people love their neighborhood and do not want to move. They like their school. They really want to be there, but they just do not have the house they want to be in.
I wish we could do 10 of these projects a year, to be honest, because I think there is a real need.
There are not a lot of people who have the labor capability to get them done.
It is picking and choosing how you are going to spend your year.
Going up has become more of a thing.
I never foresaw this when we started the show 10 years ago, that this is what we would be doing.
But lots are tight.
There are so many advantages to going up rather than out.
A lot of people have tight lots but nice backyards, and they are not willing to give up half that backyard to get more space.
So going up has turned into a good option.
Host:
Today is a great day to talk about that option and have that conversation.
Mike and the team at Edge Construction would love to work with you.
All you have to do is pick up the phone and give them a call at 608-636-3343. That number is 636-EDGE.
You can also check them out online at EdgeConstructionCompany.com.
That is Edge Construction Company dot com.
We will start talking kitchens next on the Home Remodeling Show, brought to you by Edge Construction, right here on 1310 WIBA.
Host:
The Home Remodeling Show with Edge Construction continues now on News Talk 1310 WIBA.
This is the Home Remodeling Show, brought to you by Edge Construction here on 1310 WIBA.
If you have not checked out the website yet, check it out now: EdgeConstructionCompany.com.
That is Edge Construction Company dot com.
It is a great website to learn more about the team at Edge Construction, their projects, and their latest work.
Also, there are links to Houzz, Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and all that stuff there, so you can get some great ideas and be inspired.
If you are thinking about doing some remodeling, all you have to do is pick up the phone and give them a call at 608-636-3343. That number is 636-EDGE.
We are talking this week about kitchens.
Mike, one of the things we forget is that the kitchen is there to function and make food.
At its core, correct me if I am wrong, that is generally not its only purpose, is it?
Mike:
If it was me relying on it to make food, that would be its every purpose.
But yes, that is right.
It has to do a lot more now.
People spend time in kitchens. It is a gathering point and an entertainment spot.
The cooking part — I am always amazed, especially over the last bunch of years, at how many people really cook.
They never invite me for dinner, by the way.
But they are not just into utilitarian cooking, like mac and cheese, which I would probably do.
They are really cooking. They are gourmet cooks and are very specific about the things they want in there and the placement of things.
That part is fun to design for too.
But you cannot forget all the other stuff.
You cannot forget entertaining and maybe kids doing homework.
You have kids at home. Where does your boy do his homework?
Host:
He does his homework at the kitchen table.
It is funny, though. We do not have a fancy kitchen. It is just a basic C-shape.
During summer vacation, when he is home during the day, he now pulls up a chair from the dining room into the kitchen and eats at the counter.
That is fine with me because the sink is right there, and everything is going to get taken care of, which is a huge step of progress.
But yes, he uses it that way.
What is interesting too, as you were talking about gathering places, is smaller kitchens.
Can that be done?
Are there ways to accommodate that?
Obviously, we are dealing with physics, and it cannot be occupied by two things at once, but are you able to sometimes get something like that?
Mike:
I think you can make a small kitchen inviting.
We have done a lot of galley kitchens in our past and smaller houses.
No, you are not going to get an island in there.
But the lighting makes it more inviting. The colors make it more inviting.
If we can change things around, I always think of grouped counter space.
When kitchens were designed many years ago, the ones we are replacing, they were not thinking about expanses of counter space.
A lot of times, you would have a one-foot section here or an 18-inch section there.
For anything to be usable, it has to be at least a couple of feet.
So we start thinking about that stuff.
Then you start thinking, even in a small kitchen, if two people wanted to cook together, could they do it?
That might influence your design a little bit.
There are things you can do.
Host:
It is interesting when I look at some of the pictures too.
You mentioned making it inviting.
I see some of these houses on the isthmus and those types of neighborhoods, these fantastic neighborhoods and beautiful houses with tiny kitchens.
Then I see the before-and-after work you guys do at Edge Construction, and it is pretty amazing how you can make that space feel very welcoming, like a place you really want to be, despite all the space restraints and other things.
Mike:
Yes.
It is hard to believe you can make a 9-by-10 or 10-by-10 kitchen feel that way.
Of course, it is in small ways. It is a bunch of small things that you are doing.
I always feel like, if you are going to do this house justice and get this kitchen remodel right, most of that happens in the design phase.
It is deciding what to do, figuring out what to do, and what products to get.
Your remodeler should have a really good floor on quality, so the kitchen is not being remodeled for that reason at some point.
To me, a kitchen should last 25 or 30 years, and that should be just a start.
Using great products and great design, maybe it will last longer than that.
When you start looking at those factors, it is easy to see why design is so important.
Host:
With that too, and we were talking earlier about some of the bigger projects, I know one thing you are able to do, and it feels like kitchens are often part of this, is maybe not a whole addition but just a little bump-out.
Does an extra two or three feet really make that big of a difference?
In kitchens, or any space, but especially a small home or kitchen, that extra foot or two can make a substantial difference.
Mike:
We have started doing those on smaller houses downtown.
A lot of those kitchens are 8-by-10, 10-by-10, or somewhere in between.
If we can do it, we call it a cantilever addition.
There is a way to do it.
You beam across the exterior wall, cut the floor back, and reframe so you can go out about a couple of feet.
If you are adding two feet by 10 feet to a 10-by-10 kitchen, it is 20 percent more room.
Even though it does not seem like it would make that much difference, it allows us to do a lot of things, get rid of some pinch points, and make that kitchen more welcoming.
Host:
With the kitchen area, you mentioned getting that extra space and different applications.
How are you going to use this kitchen?
For people who are into cooking and want a particular brand of range, for example, are they all universal depths?
Is the width different?
I know the width on refrigerators differs. What about ranges?
Mike:
The variance usually is not depth.
The depth of base cabinets is two feet, and almost everything we run into fits in that depth.
A stove or range is usually 30 inches wide by two feet deep. It is made to fit in that two-foot opening.
We have obviously had some bigger stuff.
I think one of our kitchens last year had a four-foot Wolf stove and a Sub-Zero monster-heavy fridge that we actually built around, believe it or not.
We tore off a section of the house over on Lake Monona, and when we started to rebuild it, we had the Sub-Zero fridge delivered. We tarped it, made sure it was safe, and then built the rest of the house around it.
Hopefully, when that thing needs to be replaced, they are calling my sons and the next generation can deal with it.
But that was quite a challenge.
Sometimes appliances can create those challenges.
You say, “I want this big thing, but how do I get it into my house?”
It is a commercial challenge.
Host:
We will talk about the different types of appliances, different lifestyles, and different uses for a kitchen.
We will break some of that down with Mike next.
If you are thinking about doing a kitchen remodel, an addition, remodeling the basement, making it livable space, or upgrading things, Mike and the team at Edge Construction would love to talk to you.
Pick up the phone and give them a call at 608-636-3343. That number is 636-EDGE.
The website is EdgeConstructionCompany.com.
Edge Construction brings you the Home Remodeling Show right here on 1310 WIBA.
Host:
You are listening to the Home Remodeling Show with Edge Construction. Email your questions to EdgeConstructionRadio@gmail.com.
Once again, here is Sean Prebil on News Talk 1310 WIBA.
This is the Home Remodeling Show, brought to you by Edge Construction right here on 1310 WIBA.
We are hanging out this week with Mike Twohig, owner of Edge Construction.
The website is EdgeConstructionCompany.com. That is Edge Construction Company dot com.
Their telephone number is 608-636-3343. That number is 636-EDGE — E-D-G-E.
We are talking kitchen remodels this week and some of the design that goes into them.
Mike, we left off talking about the use of kitchens and that conversation.
People are very specific.
Some say, “I am a baker, and I want this.”
Others say, “I like to entertain. We have a lot of folks coming over. We have kids.”
We were talking earlier about design in general and what all goes into it.
Are kitchens one of those areas where there is a lot of planning to get the ultimate result?
Mike:
Yes.
Even when we do a bigger remodel, it seems like we spend about half our time on the kitchen area.
It has a big impact on the budget, and it is a spot that gets used every day at least once.
We talked about the entertainment part.
It is seen as a common space.
If you are having friends and relatives over, they are going to be in there.
I know it is that way at our house.
We have an old farmhouse, but we have done what we can to open things up over the years and make it usable.
It is the spot where we spend the most time on design and probably the most time in our lives.
It is a big deal.
Host:
With kitchens and some of the design and planning that goes into them, making sure of things we might not always think about — obviously, we are talking about usefulness, but also lighting and ventilation — these things may not seem all that important, but they make a big difference long-term.
Having that stuff done right is huge.
Mike:
It is.
It is kind of funny because a lot of people we remodel for have the microwave over the range.
If they have been cooking in there and it is not vented outside, if it just has a recirculating fan and probably a filter that has never been cleaned, it is pretty frustrating for somebody who really likes to cook.
It just does not work.
So we find that people say, “I want to do the kitchen, but I really hate my lighting,” or, “I need a fan. Can I have a fan that vents outside?”
Yes, you can have a fan that vents outside.
There are things we start to look at as standards that have to happen.
If we are going to get in there and tear stuff apart, we are going to do everything we can to make sure you do not have to rely on a recirculating fan.
That is ridiculous.
The lighting standard has gotten to be a thing where we do not have to spend a lot of time upfront designing it.
We have tweaked it so much that, from the first bid, if your stuff needs to be upgraded, or if you need more outlets to fit code, we are just going to do that.
We are going to start with the things everybody wants: under-cabinet lights, and what we call an LED can light. It is not really a can light, but a recessed fixture.
We are going to make sure you have lots of that background lighting, and you can control it.
You can dim it down to the level you want.
Same with the under-cabinet lights.
Then we know you are probably going to want some surface-mounted fixtures, either over an island, peninsula, or maybe the sink — something a little more decorative.
So that stuff is already in there.
When construction happens, maybe right after demo, we are starting to do the rough mechanicals. Dale, our electrician, will hook up with you, and you will walk through this and say, “Do you have any special requests? This is what we are planning on doing. Does that feel right? This is why we are doing it, and this is why we figured it this way.”
That is a chance to add something or move something.
That lighting design process has really morphed over the years.
Host:
Are there ever enough outlets?
Mike:
We are laughing because Sean has heard the story a million times.
When we remodeled my kitchen, my wife complained because we had too many outlets.
I said, “Listen, Christy, I did not have any choice. Code says you have to have one here and here and here.”
She had enough outlets before to do what she wanted to do.
Now we have double, I think, and we do not use them all the time, but I kind of like having outlets.
Do you like having outlets?
Host:
There is never one where I need it.
Mike:
One good thing about the new codes is that they make sure we are putting them where they need to go.
You should not lack for outlets.
But it is not just adding outlets.
There are ways to do this where you can have too many outlets on one circuit, meaning one breaker.
So we are also looking at that.
When Dale is walking through, he might say, “Maybe I need to have the outlets on this island on a separate circuit because they told me they plug a Crock-Pot in there.”
I do not want them to do that and something heavy, like a mixer, on that same circuit.
I will make sure the stuff is separated out.
There are things like that that need to be talked about.
Host:
Some thought and planning goes into it.
I will tell you, Mike, if we ever do my kitchen, I am literally going to ask for an outlet every foot.
There are just never enough.
Mike:
You probably already have these, but do you have the charging outlets?
Host:
Yes.
Mike:
So nice.
Host:
I think we talked a couple of years ago, and I thought, “Oh, we should definitely look into that.”
We will talk a little bit about tech as well.
I also want to talk about countertops, but first, I feel like we have talked kitchens a couple of times in the past year or so, and I always want to ask about floors, and we never get around to flooring.
I feel like I have somehow failed because I know it is on the list, but we never get to it.
So we are going to get to it today for sure.
We are talking about gathering and entertaining. Obviously, you want the floor to look great, but the floor in the kitchen gets a lot of wear and tear.
You really want to make sure you are doing right by that, don’t you?
Mike:
I do.
We have had products come in over the history of this thing: LVTs, vinyls, and things like that.
Weirdly, I keep going back to a very old product, which is a nail-down, sandable wood floor.
It seems like we are doing more of those all the time.
Almost every week, it seems like we are doing those types of wood floors now, and it has sort of taken over for us.
We are refinishing 100-year-old floors in old houses that have lots of life left in them.
You are not going to find a greener product. You are not going to find a better buy.
Yes, the initial outlay might be a little bit more than something like LVT, but you can just keep going with that wood product.
It may scratch over time. It will wear and tear. But no product lasts forever.
At least this one you can refurbish, and it is like you are starting fresh and new again.
That really has gotten to be a good thing.
I think there is a push from homeowners in general saying they like natural products — stone countertops, wood — and they are less likely to do LVTs.
LVTs are a great, strong product, and they wear well, but it is still a petroleum product.
It is something that you are going to have to replace someday.
I am happy to see wood products making a big comeback.
Host:
One of the things I love seeing in pictures of the projects you guys work on is how, for example, if you are opening up a space and there were no wood planks in that area, you are able to blend that in.
For people who do not know, that is a real art to do.
It is a little more in-depth, and you guys are able to do that at Edge Construction.
Mike:
It is a trick, and it takes more time.
We feather in, which means we are randomly taking out boards through those areas and putting in new stuff.
We have even found flooring that has a finish on it, but it is a finish made to match an old finish.
We will install that and then sand that finish off. For some reason, we get a more consistent look with the old wood floor.
If you just put brand-new white maple in, you can still pick it up.
So there are little tricks to that.
Half the floors we sand, finish, add on to, subtract from, or whatever we are doing — we are also changing the stain colors.
That is really specialized work, and our people are doing a really nice job with it.
Host:
It looks pretty amazing.
Again, we talk about the lifestyle of the kitchen and what it goes through.
I mentioned earlier my son pulling up the chair, and I was thinking, yes, he is not doing it gently. It is scraping across the floor.
You want something that is going to hold up.
That is a great thing about working with Mike and the team at Edge Construction.
We will talk a little more about kitchen remodeling.
We will get into countertops and cabinets, and just a little bit about opening things up.
Everybody has heard about open concept and those things, but opening kitchens up especially has become wildly popular.
We will get the details from Mike on that next as the Home Remodeling Show with Edge Construction continues right here on 1310 WIBA.
Host:
The Home Remodeling Show with Edge Construction continues now on News Talk 1310 WIBA.
This is the Home Remodeling Show, brought to you by Edge Construction, online at EdgeConstructionCompany.com.
That is all one word, Edge Construction Company dot com.
It is a great website to learn more about Edge Construction.
Also, you can see recent projects on the website, or click over to the Houzz link right on EdgeConstructionCompany.com and see a bunch of different projects they have worked on.
Again, the website is EdgeConstructionCompany.com.
Their phone number is 608-636-3343. That number is 636-EDGE.
I am looking at some pictures, and one of them has food on the counter, and I am getting distracted.
Mike:
I am excited about that and thinking about lunch.
Host:
Speaking of countertops, quartz is king, right?
Am I right on that?
Mike:
Yes.
We have brought in some newer granites — newer to us, I guess, because there is no new granite. It has been around for lots of years.
But there are so many choices on the quartz side, and people like all the things that come with it, especially the consistency of the product.
We are in a time now where I do not know how we could do any more quartz.
We are still doing a few granites every year, but that is about it.
It has gone to stone the whole way, and quartz is a great product.
I love how they keep coming out with new designs.
What they are doing is finding natural stones around the world and mimicking those.
Some of it is made here in the Midwest, so you do not have to cut a slab out in Scotland or Italy or someplace and haul it over here.
You can actually make it here, and it is almost a better product.
Host:
We were talking about wood floors.
Do we see wood countertops at all?
Do we see anything like butcher block?
Mike:
It seems to come and go.
If you notice our pictures, there have been years where we do a couple, and then we might go a couple years and not do any.
In walk-in pantries, that has been a good choice.
It is a nice, warm countertop, has a pretty good price point, and we can do a nice finish on it.
It is fairly easy to install.
We process it all basically in-house.
On full kitchens, I do worry a little bit.
We have done several, and you can see the pictures. They look beautiful, but I am thinking, “Somebody is going to have to use this someday.”
Wood is a lot softer than granite.
Usually, it is somebody who has had it before and really liked it.
More power to them.
Host:
The quartz people are listening right now and working on a wood-look quartz.
Mike:
They probably already make it.
Host:
You mentioned the pantry too.
I keep going back to the fact that I never have enough outlets, and there never seems to be enough space to put dry goods and things like that.
Adding a pantry or expanding a pantry, regardless of the size of the kitchen, is something a lot of folks would love to have a conversation about.
Mike:
Yes.
If you are lucky enough to have the space to do even a small walk-in pantry, you can do so much cool stuff.
We probably get more comments on the cool pantries.
Even though the kitchen took a lot more effort, having that pantry space and making it useful and nice to look at matters.
It is not just utilitarian space anymore. It can be a beautiful spot.
Host:
Did I see you guys had done one recently where it was right next to or worked with the refrigerator?
Mike:
Yes, behind the fridge.
Host:
That is what I remember.
Not only do you get the benefit of having that expanded pantry, but you also have a cool space.
Mike:
Yes.
It is kind of a little niche space back in there.
I think that one even had a couple of windows in it.
The windows were there. We did not add the windows. We just used them in the space.
I am sure my wife would kill for that.
It is pretty great.
Host:
You really need to check that out at EdgeConstructionCompany.com.
That is Edge Construction Company dot com.
Everything is very, very cool.
If you have been thinking about doing a kitchen remodel or any type of remodel, Mike and the team would love to talk with you.
Pick up the phone and give them a call at 608-636-3343. That number is 636-EDGE.
Edge Construction brings you the Home Remodeling Show right here on 1310 WIBA.