Decorative Hardware

Once you’ve selected new cabinets for your kitchen or bath, it’s time for the finishing touches. Whether it’s knobs or pulls or even latches, choosing the right hardware can make your project a complete showstopper. There are many choices out there so focus on style and finish to create the look you want. In selecting the style of your hardware, your main choices are knobs or pulls. It’s okay to mix and match as manufacturers typically have both types within their style “collections”. If you are trying to achieve a contemporary look, go for the clean, sleek lines of a stainless steel bar. If your tastes lean more toward the traditional, look for something with a little more detail. Latches are a great choice for a retro look and work well with inset cabinets. There are literally hundreds of choices for finishes. Don’t be overwhelmed. If you want a cool look, go for something in the chrome or stainless family. If you want something with a warm tone go for nickel or maybe oil rubbed bronze for a little darker tone. Brushed finishes are very popular now; they have a softer look than polished finishes. It’s okay to mix and match finishes, but a safe bet is to coordinate your hardware with your faucets and/or lighting fixtures. Other considerations are proper placement of your hardware (measure twice, drill once) and cost. The price of hardware can vary greatly, so be sure to check on pricing before you order cost can really add up if you have a large kitchen with many cabinets. You may also want to consider new hardware as an inexpensive way to spruce up your existing kitchen or bath cabinets. From light to dark and rustic to elegant, there is hardware out there to create your personal look. For help in selecting your hardware give us a call or check out Berensonhardware.com or Amerock.com.

Graduation Time

Is Your Home Ready For A Graduation Party? Planning a graduation party? It can be exciting while daunting at the same time. Not only do you have to plan the food, music, seating and entertainment but it’s time to take a look around the home to see if it’s ready for everyone to come over and celebrate. Tired of staining, fading, sanding and starting over again every few years? Consider Trex® decking is made from 95% recycled materials and has an unrivaled fade, stain, scratch and mold resistance. Forget about sanding, staining and painting and start enjoying your free time on your beautiful new deck. What if it rains on the big day? Is your interior up to par? The party may have to be moved indoors but you can still impress with a spiffed up garage or finished basement. Consider your many options for sprucing up the inside of your home for your guests. Paulson’s can handle it all for you, giving you one less thing to worry about on the big party day. Congratulations to all of the 2014 graduates from Paulson’s Construction! Contact us now to make sure your home is ready for the big party. 517-545-8651 or www.paulsonsconstruction.com

Paint

A new paint job can completely transform the look and feel of your house. As you may know, painting is the least expensive and least time consuming remodeling project. With the right paint choice, anyone can change any space from boring to fun. Brighter colors such as oranges and yellows inspire new thought and focus, which might be useful in an office environment which we don’t see very often. Deeper colors such as blues and greens encourage efficiency and peace which may seem contradictory, but, in fact, work quite well together. Trending colors for 2014 fall more across the lines of light, and bright. If you are looking for specific designs, or just want to be inspired check out www.sherwin-williams.com. And give us a ring at 517-545-8651 or on the web at www.paulsonsconstruction.com We're here to help.

Cabinets 101

The look and function of your cabinets are critical to the success of any remodeling project; and according to the National Kitchen and Bath Association, up to 60% of the average kitchen’s cost is spent on cabinets, so you want to make the right choice. Selecting cabinets for your remodeling project can be overwhelming and you might not know where to start. Breaking down the selection process into four major categories can simplify things. The location and use of the cabinets along with your personal style will be your biggest influencing factors; you will also want to take your budget into consideration. A good place to start is start is to select your wood species. As each type of wood has its own distinct feel, the wood species will help set the tone for your kitchen. Oak has long been a traditional choice for cabinets. It tends to be warm in tone and has a prominent grain pattern. Oak tends to be less expensive than some of the popular hardwoods. Maple is an excellent choice for cabinets as it has a fine, uniform grain pattern. It tends toward the lighter tones. Cherry cabinets bring an upscale look to kitchen cabinets; they have an elegant warm feel leaning toward reddish tones with a fine grain pattern. Hickory is becoming a popular choice for kitchens as well. It has a rustic feel because of its very distinctive grain pattern and wide color variation. You might also consider some of the more exotic woods that are on the market today such as lyptus or bamboo. Next it’s time to find a door style that’s right for you. Take some time to view some design or home remodeling magazines or websites for photos of different options before deciding on one particular style or another. If you are going for a contemporary look, choose a slab front door which is a single, smooth panel that covers the entire front of the cabinet. It has a clean, uncluttered appearance. Raised panel doors tend to have a more traditional feel. A good choice to create that retro look for a farmhouse are inset cabinets in which the doors and drawers are fitted inside the face frame of the cabinet. This option does come with a higher price tag. You might also consider glass insert (beaded, frosted, or seeded) panels for a distinctive look. Once you’ve selected your material and style, you need to decide on the finish. Staining is the most popular choice as it adds color without obscuring the natural beauty of the wood. Painted cabinets are also becoming very popular. Cabinet manufacturers offer many color choices to complement every décor. You may also want to consider having a glazed finish added to your stain or painted cabinets. The glaze adds a visual effect of contrast and depth. Other considerations are adding distressing or special vintage finishing techniques which give cabinets an aged or antique look. Using two or even more types of finishes can give your kitchen a real custom look. Since your cabinets are a large portion of your budget and you are likely to keep them for many years, you will want to invest in quality construction. Features such as solid wood drawers and all wood construction will increase the cost of your kitchen, but will add to the lifespan and durability of your cabinets. Decorative features such as corbels also increase costs, but these additions can have a huge visual impact on your overall kitchen design. Selecting your new kitchen cabinets isn’t something that you can do in one day. Take the time, do your research and you’ll find the right cabinets for you! Sources: The National Kitchen and Bath Association, Showplace Wood Products, Wellborn Cabinet, Inc., and Masterbrand Cabinets, Inc. Call or email for an appointment today to see how Paulson's can help with all your kitchen remodeling needs. 517-545-8651 or www.paulsonsconstruction.com

Livingston County Homeshow Winner

Congratulations to Travis & Jeni Porta, of Brighton, they are the winners of the Paulson’s Construction raffle for a Moen MotionSense Faucet valued at over $600! Travis & Jeni entered to win at this year’s Livingston County Home Show in March! We hope you enjoy all the benefits of your new Moen MotionSense Faucet.

Historic Homes

Buying a home is one of the biggest steps you will take in your adult life. Depending on your style, a cookie-cutter house may not be the home of your dreams. Historic homes offer a lot of charming character (and usually architecture) that may be exactly what you’re looking for. However, purchasing one of these unique homes can prove to be challenging if you are unfamiliar with the process. Here are some tips to keep in mind before moving forward with your purchase: • Hire an inspector who specializes in older homes to come out and give you a formal inspection. • Have a contractor who has experience working with historic homes give you an estimate for any potential repair work that can be done to eliminate the need for expensive projects in the future. • Be sure your potential new home meets all current safety and health requirements including passing both lead and asbestos tests. • Be conscious of your local/state laws: Standards for Rehabilitation of Historic Buildings. Your plans to remodel or expand may not meet the pre-set parameters. • Avoid homes with any structural damage. The possibility of future problems can become overwhelming very quickly. Save yourself the trouble. When looking into buying an historic home, the greatest tip is to do your research. Don’t let the initial beauty and uniqueness blind you from unfortunate surprises that may show up later on. Paulson’s specializes in historic homes and can be your aid in transforming your treasure back to its original beauty. Call us today and get started! www.paulsonsconstruction.com 517-545-8651

Referrals

Here at Paulson’s we value every customer we have the privilege of serving. It’s our biggest hope that you feel satisfied when we leave your home and continue to look to us for future projects. A large portion of our customers are referrals- an opportunity that repeat customers make possible. Having the chance to change the lives and homes of your close family and friends is a privilege that we take seriously. How referrals work: • Sharing your positive experience with others becomes one of our greatest tools in connecting with those interested in home improvements. • By writing a referral you are offering potential clients a better idea of how our company does business. • Sharing your thoughts and reviews with us helps us become a stronger company. Paulson’s takes pride in providing home improvements that exceed your expectations and inspire others to connect with us. We look forward to hearing your feedback and speaking to those who you’ve pointed in our direction. 517-545-8651 www.paulsonsconstruction.com