Contributing Editor- Trent Haston with Andrew Roby Inc. in Charlotte,NC (UHM Feb/Mar 2013)

Posted on February 27, 2013 by admin

If These Walls Could Talk

If you’ve ever endured the painful process of removing wallpaper from your walls, you’ve probably sworn it out of your life forever. While wallpaper has been scraped, scoured and peeled right out of décor for the last decade, I want to urge you to reconsider this misunderstood design
element. History repeats itself, as they say, and I believe we will be seeing a lot more character on our walls in 2013.

Maybe it’s just my opinion, but I have always seen wallpaper as tacky, cheap and outdated. Over the years, I have come to prefer and appreciate a more clean, crisp and monochromatic aesthetic.

However, I’ve noticed many of our clients going beyond the basic painted sheetrock wall and incorporating various wall coverings in their homes instead. And I have to admit; the special pop it adds has really won me over.

Today’s wallpaper has come a long way from our grandmother’s homes. You will find bold colors and patterns, some textured grass cloths and even some luxurious fabrics. The options are endless, so make a statement and don’t be afraid to use it in unconventional places. Use it in your laundry room or stairway, for example. It’s an easy way to instantly add character to drab rooms. Wallpaper is not the only upgrade you can make to your walls, however. Another old-new trend is wood paneling. Wood slats can be hung horizontally or vertically, and can be applied in either tongue-and-groove style or butted. Instead of slats, you can add constructed panels that are built-in like cabinets. Many people are using antique or reclaimed wood for a rustic feel, but new wood will give a more sleek appearance. Either way, wood adds a lot of warmth to a room, whether you do an accent wall for a little pop or the whole room for that cabin feel.

Stone is another option for your walls. Depending on the look you are going for, you can use full slabs or smaller tiles with grout joints. Where wood adds warmth, stone adds grandeur and formality.

Stone has been very popular in kitchen and bath applications, but take it to your foyer or formal living areas for that special wow-factor.

If you are just not friends with wallpaper, can’t warm up to wood and feel cold about stone, you can always just change the paint for an updated look. A lot of people feel married to the wall colors in their homes, but remember, paint is the easiest and cheapest way to update and spice

up your home. If you haven’t changed the paint colors in your home in the last decade, give it a try! Go for a textured paint, do a bold accent wall or paint a pattern. Do something different to make your home feel brand new.

Whatever your style, I urge you to make 2013 the year of upgrades in your home. If your walls could talk, I think they’d thank you.

Trent Haston is CEO of Andrew Roby and has spent many years in project management, focusing on style and craftsmanship for custom home projects. For more information call 704-334-5477 or visit www.andrewroby.com.

A Formula for Success- E3 Cabinets (UH Charlotte- Feb/March 2013)

Posted on February 25, 2013 by admin

Written by Dana Todd

Regardless of design trends, e3’s staff, which has more than 75 years of experience in construction and cabinetry, devised a formula for cabinetry design and installation that ensures success for homeowners’ projects.

Historically, Charlotte is a traditional market when it comes to interior design, according to Carolyn Hyatt, who heads up the design department at e3 Cabinets and Design.

“We’re seeing the move to a more simplistic design,” Hyatt says, “Softer colors in cabinetry, such as grays and variations of white, contribute to the

simplicity.”

Hyatt and her team of interior designers work with homeowners who are embarking on new construction projects, renovations of kitchens and bathrooms and room additions that include cabinetry to handle storage needs.

The first step of personally meeting with the homeowner results in a written list of goals for the cabinetry team to accomplish. With so many custom and pre-manufactured options available, designers can conceive and find the right cabinetry and accessories to fulfill a range of functionality and aesthetics for individual spaces. Homeowners can submit ripped out magazine pages or electronic files from sites such as houzz.com or pinterest.com that inspire them. This is also the appropriate time to provide a preliminary budget to the designer. The designer will provide feedback on what the homeowner can achieve within the allocated budget.

Next, e3’s designer will work with the homeowner to choose colors. With interior designers on staff at e3, color choices are not limited to cabinetry. The team will work with homeowners to ensure all adjacent tile and paint colors will coordinate with the finished cabinetry.

One of the toughest parts of a renovation project is choosing the right contractor. A benefit of working with a company like e3 Cabinets and Design however is their knowledge of the construction industry, their relationships with contractors and a staff that includes in-house licensed contractors, all working successfully with Charlotte clients. That knowledge is passed on to the homeowner, who can choose the contractor that best matches their needs from a vetted range of professionals in the Charlotte market.

“If you are contemplating new construction or a remodel, e3 Cabinets & Design provides consultations to help in decision making,” says Hyatt. “We will provide all the right tools to design the dream area in your house, weather it’s a kitchen, bathroom or built-ins. Our goal is to help make the thought process and project run smoothly while allowing you to enjoy it at the same time.”

Design your dream kitchen in 2013 and add storage to your home. For more information call 704-523-5181 or visit e3 Cabinets and Design at 130 Southside Drive or www.e3cabinets.com.

From Europe to Charlotte- Hans Krug (Best of Guide- Charlotte, NC)

Posted on February 25, 2013 by admin

Charlotte homeowners who appreciate the luxury of streamlined European cabinetry will be excited to learn about our city’s newest showroom. Hans Krug, an international manufacturer of European designed and engineered cabinets, recently opened its flagship showroom in Charlotte’s renaissance Westside.

Hans Krug owner Tony Battah says the brand offers the same features and quality of high-end European cabinets such as SieMatic, Poggenpohl, Snaidero and Scavolini, at a fraction of the price.

“Our cabinets use Blum premium hardware, the TANDEMBOX plus system and optional motorized Servodrive,” says Tony. Blum hardware is known throughout the industry for its integrated drawer slide system, which closes drawers and doors silently and effortlessly.

“Our friendly prices and short turnaround times will setHans Krug apart in the market,” says Tony, who explains that the cabinets are all made to order in less than ten weeks. “That’s less time than it takes most American based cabinet companies, at a cost that is less than a kitchen at a big box store.”

German kitchen designer Michael Schlütter is the product and design manager for the Hans Krug line. Michael developed his passion for kitchen design at the age of 16, working as an apprentice in his father’s kitchen design studio in Germany. He studied business management in Boca Raton, Florida before returning to Germany to work for SieMatic Kitchens. He was also a kitchen designer and project manager for 3er Kitchens in Munich, Germany.

Now Michael is enjoying the challenge of setting the standards of excellence for Hans Krug showrooms, which will soon open across the world. Showroom openings planned for 2014 include Singapore, Manila, Taiwan, Munich, Miami, New York, Dallas, Chicago and Los Angeles.

T he Hans Krug showroom in Charlotte is also a Miele premiere store, the largest in North Carolina, with more than 50 Miele products on display. Hans Krug partnered with Cosentino for its Silestone countertops and with Harkey Tile & Stone for the beautiful countertop fabrication. The result is a showroom that Tony calls ‘a cook’s dream.’

With more than 28 different finishes on the cabinets and over 370 sizes, Hans Krug promises to have something for everyone’s taste. “We have a wide range, from modern cabinets with electric drawers to classic and transitional,” says Tony.

Open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., the Hans Krug showroom is on the corner of Freedom Drive and Morehead Street. The showroom welcomes the general public, builders, architects and designers.

Visit the showroom at 1500-B West Morehead Street in Charlotte, NC, 28208. Call 704-370-0809 or visit www.hanskrug.com for more information.

To view this article click here or visit www.urbanhomemagazine.com

Home Away from Home- Trent Haston with Andrew Roby, Inc. (Best of Guide, Charlotte,NC)

Posted on December 13, 2012 by admin

As 2012 comes to a close, I have time to look back on the projects Andrew Roby has worked on and reflect on the custom home trends of the past year. Thankfully, I see that we are starting to put the FUN back into our homes. When the economy initially took a nosedive, people hesitated to spend money on their homes and I think it’s fair to say that most contractors were surviving on maintenance type projects – repairs and fixes that were absolutely necessary.

However, once things began improving a little, we started seeing need-based additions and renovations; projects that would allow homeowners to remain comfortable in their current homes when selling them wasn’t an option. This year, I see a few trends that give me hope for better living ahead.

Outdoor living areas were one of our most popular projects of the year: pools, patios, kitchens and decks. I see this trend reflecting our desire to get out and enjoy the company of our friends and family.

Over the past 12-18 months we have completed at least 15 outdoor spaces, over half of which have included pools. Outdoor kitchens are also on the rise—and these are not skimpy kitchens. Outdoor kitchen appliances are rivaling indoor kitchen appliances in cost, design and practicality. Customers use these kitchens in the same way they use their indoor counterparts. Patios and decks are also reflecting our desire to bring quality living outside. We are using a lot more Ipe (Brazilian hardwood), which is a virtually weatherproof wood that hardly shows its age. Ipe has surpassed its demand of 2007 as the “high end” outdoor product of choice, and one that I highly recommend.

A nother popular project in 2012 was the spa-inspired master bathroom. These bathrooms are becoming roomier, with more open floor spaces and larger private water closets. Fixtures, such as glass bowl sinks and waterfall faucets, are bringing design and ambiance along with their functionality.

Perhaps the most spa-like features are showing up in the showers. Homeowners are going larger and more indulgent, adding various showerheads, body sprays and spectacular frameless shower surrounds.

These bathrooms are also becoming more personal. In a recent article, I urged homeowners to consider a bath remodel in effort to make this space a retreat. I suggested adding heated floors, towel warmers, plush furniture, TVs and special art. These are exactly the trends I have seen echoed in our projects throughout the year.

There is another major trend that has become hard to ignore, as it has spurred several new divisions for Andrew Roby – the return of the vacation home. We are finding that our customers in the Charlotte and Raleigh markets are longing for that fresh mountain
air and sea salt life on the coast that are so conveniently located to the urban areas of North Carolina. We are currently in various stages of the construction process for
seven new homes in these areas, as new custom construction (as well as remodels and maintenance) are trending up. The quality has not gone by the wayside either, as
they seek to match or exceed the quality and product selections of their primary homes. Projects in these areas are using top-notch materials such as Ipe wood decks,
Nano doors and Marvin/Pella/Jeldwen windows, just to name a few.

T his year has shown me more than ever that we all long to be home. Country clubs, spas and resorts may be fun for a while, but home is truly where the heart is, even on vacation.

To view similar articles by Trent Haston click here or visit www.urbanhomemagazine.com

Why Hire An Interior Designer- Charlotte, NC (Oct/Nov 2012)

Posted on October 23, 2012 by admin

Written by Anne Marie Ashley
Traci Zeller Design /Dustin Peck Photography

Your home is distinctive; it’s a reflection of your personality and your lifestyle and hiring a professional to help you design the perfect space allows you to focus on enjoying it. Hiring an interior designer can take expression of your style to a whole new level while taking the pressure off to get the job done in your free time. We spoke with the experts at the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) for the Carolinas to get some tips on hiring the perfect designer for you.

How do homeowners hire the right designer? Designing the interiors of your home is as
personal as selecting your wardrobe, so choosing a professional that understands your style is key to loving the finished product. Have an idea of what you’d like your space to look like and use inspiration from magazines and design websites to get your message across to the designer.

ASID offers some key considerations when hiring a designer:
• Is the professional accredited as an interior designer? (If required in your state, be sure
the designer is licensed)
• Does the designer have experience in the type of project you are doing?
• Has he/she demonstrated creativity, talent and resourcefulness in their portfolio?
• Is the designer attentive, responsive and do they communicate well with you?
• Be sure the designer has a record of reliability and good work habits.
What can a professional interior designer bring to the table?

As ASID points out, when you hire an interior designer, you get the benefit of an experienced professional who can solve problems, help you avoid costly mistakes and, most importantly, create an attractive, affordable space designed specifically to meet your lifestyle needs. Interior designers offer a trained eye that can help you bring your vision to
life, possibly in ways you never imagined. They also provide specification and purchasing services for materials, furniture, accessories and art, some of which you might not be able to find on your own.

What should homeowners expect to pay for an interior design project? Designers, like other professionals, are different from one another in their combinations of talents, knowledge, experience, and specialties.

What and how they charge will vary accordingly. Here, ASID outlines the common methods or combined methods for residential designers, tailored to fit the client’s needs:
• Fixed fee (or flat fee) — The designer identifies a specific sum to cover costs, exclusive of reimbursement for expenses. One total fee applies to the complete range of services, from conceptual development through layouts, specifications and final installation.

• Hourly fee — Compensation is based on actual time expended by the designer on a project or specific service.
• Cost plus — A designer purchases materials, furnishings and services (e.g., carpentry, drapery workrooms, picture framing, etc.) at cost and sells to the client at the designer’s cost plus a specified percentage agreed to with the client to compensate for the designer’s time and effort.

ASID offers this final word about cost: How you choose to furnish your interior and how you work with your designer will have tremendous impact on the final cost of the project. Items such as antiques or custom-made furniture, and modifications that involve altering or moving load-bearing walls or beams will significantly increase the cost of your project, as will requesting changes mid-project or making excessive demands on the designer’s time. The more research and planning you do before you start, the more you will be able to help keep costs down during the project.

To find an interior designer in Charlotte, please visit www.asidcarolinas.org
or www.interiordesignsociety.org for more information.

Click here to view the article or visit www.urbanhomemagazine.com

Urban Home Magazine