Like most trending buzzwords in the design industry, “custom” has been overused and abused.  Does picking the stain and panel on your cabinets qualify as custom? Does choosing between 2 drawer inserts for your kitchen pantry pass as custom? The word literally means “made to personal order.” To me, the word “custom” denotes choice…loads of choices…loads of MY choices.  I define “custom” as one-of-a-kind, tailor-made for me.

QCCI can make custom, furniture-style cabinets that fit your house or redefine it. What appears to be a bench made cabinet may hold your milk.

“Custom” always walks hand in hand with “quality.” Choices are the nemeses of mass production. By offering a homeowner such creative power and infinite design choices, QCCI is committing to master craftsmanship and attention to detail–the root words of quality.

QCCI offers all wood species interiors so that the inside of the drawers are as sumptuous as the exteriors. They use environmentally sustainable products that contain no chemicals or VOC.

There are some things you just have to touch and try out for yourself.   QCCI’s ultra smooth hand finished, hand sanded, oil-rubbed finish on walnut cabinets is one. Or the retracting glide of a soft close drawer made possible by QCCI’s superior hidden hardware, routed down inside the face frame.

QCCI makes cabinets just the way you want it.  Get accustomed to it. 

Check out Teakwood’s QCCI Idea Board on Pinterest.

The post QCCI Cabinetry: Custom by Definition appeared first on Teakwood Builders.

There’s nothing like a crisp Spring day with a perfectly blue sky for a drive down Lake Avenue, and a left turn into Schuyler Pond. You arrive and instanly feel OM…at peace in the country, surround by exceptional country landscaping as you walk up the path towards the restored and well-loved barn brimming with gifts and accessories and antiques. It’s a plethora of visual pleasure, all selected by proprietor Amanda Crames, who has an eye for color, for festivity. You can feel her feminity and her lust for life just by entering the space she has created.

Spring evokes an energy in many of us that cannot be denied, that can not be boxed and sold…it’s that bounce in our step and that smile in our eyes, we have arrived at this coveted point in time where we feel refreshed and alive again. Winter has passed (finally) and the time is NOW. To clean, to exchange our boots for wedges, to bring life back to our homes. One of the easiest and least expensive ways to do this is with colorful accessories.

Go for neutral main pieces in your home, and you can switch out accessories as often as you like to refresh and rejuvinate your space. See below for my favorites from Schuyler Pond…easy, affordable ways to add a pop to any room.

This beautiful lavender wreath would be welcoming on your front door, or on a wall in your home. A soft spot of natural color helps bring the outdoors in.

What a fabulous and fun lamp! Bold and beautiful. Love it!

This sweet table reminds me of the farm my family summered at in New Hampshire. It would be a great addition to your home as a coffee table, a child’s table, or perfect for that whimsical Saratoga porch. Please pass the julep!

These candles are a wonderful way to add color, as well as shape. The pears are great for an eat in kitchen or casual dining room table. Don’t forget the throw pillows! Comfy and bright, a great way to add “Spring” to your living space or a screened porch.

Stop in Schuyler Pond for a feast for your senses. It’s the perfect place for baby gifts, Mother’s Day gifts, Franch soaps for your guest bath, pillows, glassware, and antiques.

http://www.schuylerpond.com/

Schuyler Pond Home & Garden
727 Route 29 East
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
Phone – 518.581.8422

The post Color Me Schuyler… appeared first on Teakwood Builders.

Well…there is the wee problem of no windows facing the view from the kitchen, the last owner dry-walling over the 19^th century woodwork, your favorite neighbor’s living room looking directly into your shower, and the fact that none of the gracious bedrooms have en-suite bathrooms or closets. Ironically, the key to your home’s staying power is change.

Remodel. Revive. Refashion. Repurpose. Reinvent. Reconfigure. Restore. Re-invest. The good news is we don’t have to live forever with one absolute. Houses are the primary evidence of life’s evolving journey. There are new rooms for new discoveries and new celebrations.

Knowing there is always opportunity for a “re-do” may be a relief but, like anything else, we don’t have the financial or emotional resources to embark on remodeling expeditions every time we are struck with cabin fever. Impeccable planning, design, and project management yield timeless results and smooth traveling.

Teakwood president and owner Jim Sasko is a steadfast believer in thorough planning. The Teakwood journey begins with a financial analysis. By studying the housing market in your area you get an idea of the potential return on your investment.  This helps you determine how far to go in a whole house renovation and where to concentrate your resources. If you decide to invest more than what resale might suggest, Teakwood wants to ensure you truly feel this added value in the end.

Most clients want to immediately share their Houzz ideabooks and leap into design discussions, but Sasko insists that function be the focus of the initial program meeting. Teakwood walks through your house and your life with you room by room and helps identify strengths and challenges of each space. “If you are expecting a 3^rd child and don’t have a 3^rd bedroom, this is the time to let us know,” smiles Sasko. The existing footprint will set some inevitable limitations, and the challenge is not to let those perimeters or old familiar habits hamper creativity. Teakwood brings a fresh pair of expert eyes and helps you re-see the familiar. “‘We would never have thought that was possible,’ is the reaction I always get,” comments Sasko.

As a design-build company, Teakwood excels in aesthetics. As designers they marry your two-dimensional dreams with proportion, space, geometry, and light. As builders they sculpt, engineer, and seamlessly fit together raw materials so that they will permanently defy gravity.

Teakwood clients have sophisticated tastes, and they most always know quality products and finishes when they see them, but not everyone can picture the end result. Will the media built-in overpower the room? How will the kitchen layout out feel in the space and will the lighting be enough?  How does the height of the mantle shelf relate to my 9ft ceilings? “I am a visual person myself, not to mention meticulous” offers Sasko, “I show up to a site walkthrough with an oversized permanent marker and my i-pad and expect to draw on the walls, mock things up, and go the extra mile so that a client can better visualize their new dwelling space.”

With a defined scope and finishes selected, budget reality sets in. Reality is exactly what you need from your contracting company. “When our competitors underestimate or hide costs they endanger the end product and misguide client expectations,” suggests Sasko. Did you know that your new double-paned windows come with gooey stickers that are hard to remove and that sawdust can be blown out of your new air registers? That level of reality is on Teakwood’s radar screen and while you may opt out, they never forget real details such as whole house cleaning after project completion.

Teakwood delivers you to your destination with all-inclusive, personal service. “It’s a rather difficult concept to market or communicate about your own company, but a whole house remodel can and should be fun and hassle free,” volunteers Sasko. Teakwood hires lead carpenters with great personal skills and promotes a collegial company culture. Subcontractor relationships are long-term and equally loyal ensuring consistent quality.  As a result we gain lifelong client relationships and maintain a day-to-day tone that is celebratory and upbeat.  Frequent and open communication between design team, lead carpenter, tradespeople, and you ensures smooth mid-project problem solving and an efficient pace.  While you spend your day indulging in glass wall tile, considering the wine cellar, and browsing Pinterest, Teakwood will locate your reclaimed barn beams, stake out your new sitting porch dimensions, track down a missing part for your antique faucet, and find an exact match for a historic color.

You have heard you need an expert guide when remodeling your whole house. Teakwood’s toolbox goes beyond the hammer and measuring tape. They juggle compass, clock, calculator, binoculars, itinerary, and maps. They listen with their eyes, know all the back roads, and speak ‘home’ fluently, so you can journey without a hitch.

Reserve your ticket. Travel home with Teakwood.

The post Travel Home with Teakwood: Whole House Luxury Remodel appeared first on Teakwood Builders.

It is no wonder that just the mere mention of kitchen design makes us salivate over new professional-grade appliances, premium cabinetry, and natural stone countertops. However, Teakwood President Jim Sasko, points out, “it’s what we don’t see that perhaps adds the most value to a kitchen and poses the greatest challenge for homeowners in the design phase.”

Planning a kitchen with Teakwood is very much like getting measured for a designer gown or custom tailored suit. When you build a fireplace mantel or a timber-framed room, you are more or less following a formula.  “When we design a kitchen, we start new with every client and document their entire existing kitchen cabinet by cabinet and ask questions to find out how they move around and how they utilize space,” says Sasko. “Too often clients come in with a magazine clipping of someone else’s kitchen and try to force it into their home.” Teakwood’s bespoke kitchens celebrate you.

Getting around a well-designed kitchen should feel like a smooth dance: you lead, the kitchen responds. The cooking triangle concept no longer makes sense in the modern kitchen: “we focus on creating ample workspace around dedicated task zones like a prep sink, food storage, a clean up area, a computer space, or a range top,” comments Eva Andersen, Teakwood’s award-winning kitchen designer. “No awkward bending or reaching allowed,” says Eva, “we consider our client’s height and handedness when designing a kitchen.” Teakwood retrofits your cabinet corners with the latest by Hafele: Magic Corner, or LeMans Corner gliding pull-outs maximize accessible storage space.  A time saving appliance will not save you time if it is not conveniently located.

Homeowners will often spend hours of time considering six shades of white paint and give little attention to less visible design details like sink depth, organizational systems, LED task lighting, steps to the walk in pantry, breathability, and flow from kitchen to other rooms.  “If you get it right, you will never think about it again, but overlook these details, and you will step on your own feet while you kick yourself daily,” Sasko offers with a smile. Teakwood clients get the whole package: a stunning kitchen with all the right dance moves.

Longevity should also drive kitchen design according to Sasko.  Will you want a built-in espresso maker and juicing station in ten years or will there be another lifestyle appliance that catches your eye? A kitchen that is over-designed around a fad or even the specific needs of young children or teenagers can reduce the lifespan and perhaps the resale value of your kitchen.  How will you age in your kitchen? Can your kitchen work for a grandparent who joins the family in a few years? Though we specialize in tailoring kitchens to individuals, a kitchen can become too specific.  We allow room for you and your family to evolve gracefully.

Admittedly, the idea of a kitchen “trend” is somewhat of an oxymoron—we don’t change our kitchens with the season or even annually like we do decorative pillows. Still, whether your style is Cottage, Rustic, Contemporary, Arts and Crafts or Industrial Chic, you don’t want to miss out on the latest kitchen stunner, custom drawer insert, or time saver.

Andersen highlights the family command center as an example. “Mobile devices and wireless laptops have made the stationary kitchen desk a thing of the past. Families want a fully integrated area for filing, a drop zone for keys and mail, and a universal charging station.”  Sensomatic hands free waste and recycle pull-outs work with the nudge of your hip and many plumbing lines offer touch-less faucets for sanitary food preparation. “Our clients have sophisticated tastes,” notes Andersen.   Teakwood’s premium cabinet line, QCCI offers discerning home owners luxury options such as all walnut interiors for cabinets and drawers or high end, hand rubbed oil finish.

The kitchen is one of the most expensive rooms in your house to remodel, and for good reason. At the end of your project, the soapstone counter tops, the kitchen island, the wine refrigerator, the Miele and Wolf appliances, the Calcutta marble countertops, the lantern pendants, the fireclay sink, the Hansgrohe fixtures, the open shelving, the Signature Custom Cabinets, the polished nickel hardware, and the tile backsplash have work to do.  They have a job like a fine leather shoe: gotta’ wow, gotta’ work.  A successful kitchen project boasts aesthetically pleasing design, smooth function, and long lasting durability.

Go ahead, set up the bar in the kitchen, it’s time to celebrate.

The post Teakwood Bespoke Kitchens: Timeless and Tailor-Made for You appeared first on Teakwood Builders.

One client elaborates, “our homes are like our second skin, or perhaps our virtual pacemakers: by celebrating the home, you celebrate yourself.”

Teakwood president Jim Sasko explains, “most of our clients come to us with a vision and momentum that has been gathering for some time: they have been driving down an uncertain road, and just pulled in the drive. Whether they have recently purchased a new home, started a family, sent their kids off to college, or have new time to dive into a passionate restoration of a beloved heritage estate, our clients have in common their desire to celebrate a life change or accomplishment by investing in their homes.

We all know that investing in the home is one of the largest and most precious investments most people make in their lifetimes.  Why, then, pour in additional resources to enhance it with the luxury amenities found on the pages of Architectural Digest?

When you decide to remodel or build your new home, you are deciding to hit the pause button, breathe life in, and celebrate. In this moment, your house ceases being four walls and a roof and starts becoming your home, your retreat, your dream come true. Suddenly, your kitchen transcends food preparation and becomes an open concept, family gathering place, a point-of-pride, a seamless blend of sophisticated, subtle design and modern high-end appliances. Your morning bathroom routine now is a sun-flooded experience of light, soaking tub, walk in shower, and sleek vanity countertop.  The moment you decide to remodel or design your luxury home is the moment you finally sit around the newly realized outdoor fireplace or wraparound porch with your family members and think, “yes, we have arrived.”

It is with this mindset that people choose Teakwood.  “Clients don’t just want to solve a single design problem, they want their dwelling spaces to soar” says Sasko. While adding a dining banquette, streamlining with mudroom lockers, or designing a master suite with his and hers closets may be the practical project seed, Teakwood clients seek more. Our clients choose the custom built-ins, the bespoke mantel piece, wide plank flooring, hand-glazed subway tile, custom fabricated metal light fixtures, self-closing, clean-lined cabinetry, period millwork, the salvaged barn door, and the hand-forged stair railing, and they rely on Teakwood to create the harmony.

A harmonious home building project is one that is well designed, well made, and well managed. Teakwood excels at producing exquisite handcrafted detail and durable finish work. But before hammer hits the nail, our design team helps clients marry beauty and function—two quintessential benchmarks of a successful living space. Most importantly Teakwood delivers smooth, reliable, and precise project management with an emphasis on full service. “We know this is their big event,” says Sasko, “so we go above and beyond to help them celebrate.”

The wait is over. You have arrived.  It’s time to celebrate.

The post Celebrate with Teakwood Builders appeared first on Teakwood Builders.

Most of us stumble into our bathrooms half asleep and half dressed in the morning, and when we leave it, we are awake, refreshed, clean, and ready. Behind the closed bathroom door we give ourselves pep talks, groom ourselves glamorous, practice our winning look, and unwind at the day’s end.  While it may be true that families who brush together stay together, it is the alone time in our bathroom that we truly cherish.  Our bathroom is our sanctuary, our personal retreat.

When done right, a new bathroom, particularly a master bathroom, can transform the way we experience our whole house. As one client put it, “forget staying at a hotel for the weekend, remodeling our master bathroom made us feel as though we had a completely new house.”  Bathrooms are the new benchmarks for a luxury lifestyle.

“Often a client will come to us with 3 or 4 problematic bathrooms at a time,” says Jim Sasko, president and owner of Teakwood Builders.  “We can reallocate adjacent space to increase the square footage or create a focal point by adding an architectural detail, but our work in bathrooms is mostly cosmetic,” Sasko explains. “We strip a bathroom right down to the studs, redesign it with custom storage, and then guide clients through the extensive material and fixture selections to dress it back up again.”

The master bathroom is where most Teakwood clients decide to splurge.  The master can be a mini spa room filled with therapeutic amenities dedicated to relaxation and well-being.  Or, it can be a mini design showcase that stands apart from the rest of the house.

Separate water closets, his and her vanities, warming floors, a walk-in steam shower with frameless glass door, a soaking tub with a stone tub deck—these are just some of the elements that discerning clients ask for in their new master bathroom. Teakwood clients may begin the process knowing they want an Ann Sacks ceramic tile mosaic on their shower wall and a new Waterworks cast iron bathtub, Toto eco toilet, or Kohler pedestal sink.  In no time they end up learning about thermostatics, Axor Starck speaker modules, Rohl rainbars and body sprays, back lit onyx glass panels, and Bain Ultra chromotherapy. Sasko says, “the sky is the limit in the master bath.”

And how far does one go when creating a luxury master bathroom?  Teakwood coaches clients through design and cost decisions in order to create a luxury bathroom that will add to the resale value of a home yet meet budget expectations.  Sasko finds that the master bathroom tub often sits at the heart of these design dialogues.

It seems that every magazine article we look at highlights the master bathtub as central focal point, but is this concept practical? Do people actually have the time in their days and weekend to stop and take a bath? Perhaps the extra space can be used for storage and the extra dollars pumped into a steam sauna or a multi-head shower system. On the other hand, the master bathtub capped by an elegant chandelier and fenestrated backdrop spells out sanctuary and elevates the room.  Perhaps the bathtub survives as the visual reminder of your end goal, a hope for a quieter, more relaxed day.  Either way, it’s an intimate decision.

Close the door.  Keep your clothes on.  Undress your bathroom.  It’s time to celebrate!

The post Teakwood Bathrooms: Benchmarks of Luxury Lifestyle appeared first on Teakwood Builders.

I will be highlighting some of my favorite stores, designers, and some of Teakwood’s clients. The beauty of what we all call home is in the details, whether it be a custom built-in by Teakwood or a fabulous new gourmet kitchen; or the antique book collection of a client or their favorite family photo now hanging over a renovated fireplace mantel.

To kick off this series, I took a trip to one of the newest home design stores in Saratoga Springs, Homeessence. Kristen Ringler has an extensive background in interior design and shared with us what makes Homessence so unique: “I try to focus on recycled products…there is so much creativity when an artist tries to reimagine. That’s what makes things different.” Step into her store and you are welcomed by the unique—from oyster shell notepads to license plate desk accessories, you can see that the little things add up to big impact.

It was hard not to photograph the entire store….but here are a few of my favorites. Be sure to check out her sale table and her section in the back for baby items. Kristen’s selection is perfect for a hostess gift, birthday gifts, or just the right accessory for you to make your home as unique as you!

This Puzzle Stool may just be #1 on my personal wishlist—link three together for a fun coffee table, or keep it simple with two, easy to move around when entertaining and use as extra overflow seating in your family room. Beautiful contrast between the natural wood and antiqued silverleaf finish.

Jonathan Adler never fails to impress–this Giraffe Lamp is simple and fun, just right for a nursery, just whimsical enough for an adult’s study or office.

Purple plus Shagreen? Sign me up! I would love this luxurious hand-painted little tray in my foyer, the perfect place to drop my keys, coins, and maybe my earrings after a date?

New York state of mind…..or maybe this girl would bring back her Southern charm *wink, wink* with a side table of the Peach State…. yankee or dixie, east coast or west, we have a winner with this simple table that tells a story of where you’ve been, or perhaps where you want to go.

I’m loving the Buddha Bowl below–Pantone’s color of the year is emerald green, and this spring-like green feels pretty rejuvinating in March. Tea, soup, coffee, anything warm and Zen to give you a boost! I’ll take four!

Thanks for reading and happy shopping!

Eva Andersen, Interior Design Consultant
Teakwood Builders

Homessence is located at 439 Broadway in Saratoga Springs, NY Call (518) 306-6445 for store hours 

The post Putting the “I” in Detail: Homessence appeared first on Teakwood Builders.

When the owner of Bowen & Parker Brothers Funeral Home  came to us, he spoke of this lack of curb appeal. “When people drive by, it just looks like an old building,” he shared. The age of the structure was covering up its deep, historic beauty and distinctive details. Along with enhancing the aesthetics of the place, the owner expressed the need to update the facade, which lacked a weatherproof entryway, safe drop-off zone and easy accessibility.

So soon after, the Teakwood team got to work. The team immediately noticed the building easily supported a front porch and while they were giving the place a face-lift, they took a look at the landscape out front, and knew to make this place catch the eye of a passerby—they needed to restore… beyond the door.

A few weeks later, Teakwood teamed with Tim Gallagher of Architex, a Latham based design firm, to produce the architectural drawings.  Tim’s knowledge of commercial spaces and design expertise in site planning added landscape improvements including site lighting, radiant heat ice melt, and curved stone walls with circular drop off zones constructed from cobble stone pavers. The before and after shots below showcase the enhancements to the landscape.

Before

After

Then, the “crown jewel” of the project was uncovered. When the building was documented for reproduction in auto cad (our software for 2D and 3D design and drafting), we noticed that the peak of the main hip roof had a flat area rather than a point. This indicated that there once was a widow’s walk!

A widow’s walk, or widow’s watch, is a railed rooftop platform that was very popular in the design of North American coastal houses in the 19^th-century. The myth was that the platform was used to observe vessels at sea, so the wives of mariners would stand on the platform, watching for their spouses’ return. The myth shares that all to often, the ocean would take their lives, and these women on the watch would become widows.

Whether or not this was the use of these rooftop platforms, Widow’s walks were a very popular decorative element to the exterior of the home at this time. So in our effort to expose the historic, distinctive details of the funeral home and to further enhance its curbside appeal, we reproduced the design of the widow’s walk railing system. In the before and after shots below, you’ll notice the widow’s walk is now significantly more apparent to the eye of passerby than it was previously.

Before

After

In today’s neighborhoods filled with beautiful homes, catching the eye of a passerby takes a lot of thoughtful design and unique detail. We asked Jim Sasko, the owner of Teakwood to share his thoughts around one exterior improvement that people should consider when looking to enhance their home’s curb appeal.

“A front porch is one of the nicest features you can add to a home. It adds a “wow” feature, bringing the attention to the main entry of the home. If the front entry is bland, your eyes can wander. If you bring an element of a front porch, it’s more welcoming. It creates an interest and a focal point of the house. It has to be done right, though. Height, depth and distance from the windows—these factors can really make or break that “wow”,” said Jim.

It is our hope that when people drive by Bowen & Parker Brothers Funeral Home today, they’ll no longer see it as an old building, but a beautiful, historical and peaceful place.

To see other home exteriors and entries Teakwood has enhanced, check out the Exterior and Entry section of our portfolio. Interested in joining in the conversation around design and detail? “Like” us on Facebook! 

The post Catching the Eye of a Passerby: Teakwood Wins Curb Appeal Award appeared first on Teakwood Builders.

It is only at the first encounter that a face makes its full impression on us. -Arthur Schopenhauer

So…what first impression does the face of your home make on you, on visitors, on passers-by? If you are less than inspired by your front entry or exterior, there are myriad ways to add value, curb appeal, and style, and create a positive first impression that will last!

Teakwood Builders recently completed two very different projects for homeowners in Delmar and Greenfield, New York, where the intent was to improve and upgrade structure while beautifying each home’s front entry. Like many other entry renovations completed by Teakwood, the success of these projects focused on making five meaningful changes:

1. Invest in a quality entry door–Your front door is a reflection of your personal style and your home’s character. It can make a bold statement with its color, materials, special window design, and hardware. It can welcome people in, with warmth and light and cheer…or it can turn a cold shoulder on visitors if dark, dated, or in disrepair! With or without windows or sidelights, whether of steel, fiberglass, or wood, a new entry door can be a significant investment. So take the time to design and select a door that will be distinctive and enduring, and purposefully enhance your home’s facade. Consider manufacturers such as Pella, Rogue Valley Door, and Simpson Door, which have online “design-a-door” tools and photo galleries for ideas and inspiration. Recommended reading to bone up on entry door basics:

Houzz Planning: How to Choose a Front Door–Wood, Fiberglass or Steel? Find the Right Material for Your Entry Door

This Old House: Here’s How to Pick a Front Door

Entry Door Buying Guide

2. Step into the light–Exterior lighting is important not only for aesthetics, but also for safety and security. Choose lighting designs and finishes that will add style and interest, and complement your home’s character by day, while enhancing its beauty by night. Work with a lighting professional to select fixtures of proper size, scale, and wattage for your entry space. Use a combination of sconces and pendants like “jewelry” to dress up your exterior. A few of our favorite manufacturers include: Hinkley Lighting, Hubbardton Forge, Hudson Valley Lighting, Kichler, Murray Feiss, and Sea Gull Lighting.

3. Add moulding and millwork for architectural interest–Columns, pilasters, and casework can be added or freshened up to frame your entry, provide symmetry, and enhance or better define your home’s style.

 You guys did a great job here on the porch…it looks like it’s always been there! -Joe W., Delmar NY

 

4. Focus on finishes–Rubbed bronze door hardware, forged iron lighting, natural wood entry door, multi-color slate tile, beadboard porch ceiling…These are just a few examples of how the eye–and the visitor–can be drawn in by the textures, colors, and materials you choose for your entry, all of which can combine to create a distinctive richness of details.

5. Upgrade and improve surfaces, structure, and function–Even the most appealing entry can lose its luster quickly if its foundations and structural components are stressed or showing signs of wear and weather. While both of the pictured projects resulted in significantly improved aesthetics, the driving force behind each was the need to address structural and functional concerns.

In the case of the Greenfield entry (pictured at top), the unusual roof lines had resulted in ice backup and interior damage last winter, while water runoff was compromising the concrete doorstep foundation.

For the owners of the Delmar home, the pictured rear porch was positioned on the street-side “front”, but was rotted and unattractive, and relegated to being the family’s catch-all for garbage cans, recycling bins, and outdoor equipment. The homeowners wanted to improve this space for safety, and transform it into an attractive entry to the new kitchen and viewpoint for enjoying the home’s extensive gardens.

For both projects, Teakwood aimed to design beautiful and richly detailed entries that would address the respective homeowners’ structural and functional concerns. Ensuring that concrete is sound, that water is draining away from the entry properly, and that handrails are solid and secure might not seem “sexy” when it comes to creating curb appeal. But these considerations are key to enjoying your home’s enhanced entry for years to come!

Want more ideas and design inspiration? View other entries and exteriors by Teakwood Builders.

The post 5 ways to enhance your home’s entry appeared first on Teakwood Builders.

“My mentors in the business advised me against naming my business after my last name. When I tried to come up with a business name, I recalled the street near where I grew up and it dawned on me. The name came to embody my vision for the company.”

Since 1996, Teakwood Builders has earned much acclaim for its custom building, remodeling, and historic renovation of homes and businesses throughout the greater Capital Region and Lower Adirondacks. One of Teakwood’s more recently completed projects is particularly close to Jim’s heart: The new construction of his own home in 2011, on nine acres of pristine Malta farmland just outside the Saratoga Springs city limits.

The home’s location at 5060 Nelson Avenue Extension is ideal for Jim, his wife Lisa, and his two young daughters. The home is just minutes to downtown Saratoga Springs, is within the city school district, and enjoys easy access to The Northway. At the same time, the home is a world away from in-town activity, nestled in its own bucolic corner of the county. Horse farms are within walking distance. A family-owned nursery is across the street. Open space surrounds the home, beckoning Jim and his family to enjoy the area’s outdoor charms.

“This is the ideal family home for us. Location was a factor. We wanted to be in Saratoga Springs school district and we like the vicinity. Plus, we plan to have horses in the future, which is why we built the home 700 feet back from the road.”

On the outside, the home’s vernacular farmhouse style reflects Jim’s love of barns and traditional rural homes. Classic black clad windows contrast with the white clapboard and board-and-batten siding. An expansive wraparound porch invites guests to sit a spell in a rocking chair and enjoy the open views with a glass of lemonade. Custom wood doors create a warm entry. Period hand-forged lighting emits a welcoming glow as the sun begins to set.

Inside, the home enjoys an open floor plan, bountiful natural light, modern appliances, state-of-the-art mechanicals, and traditional furnishings and lighting with a contemporary flare. Jim credits his wife Lisa for the vision behind the home’s interior design. She selected most of the colors, fabrics, fixtures, and finishes, including the unique decorative tile that adorns the kitchen backsplash. For furniture, the couple turned to The Furniture House on Saratoga Lake.

Since virtually all of the first floor spaces are open to each other, the goal was to tie the spaces together visually while also making each area distinct. Striking custom crown and base moulding, dark-stained, wide-plank rustic red oak flooring, and walls of grayed blues, greens, and browns unite the first floor areas aesthetically. Columns, ceiling details, and unique sliding barn doors evoke farmhouse charm, and help to define each of the common areas. Custom, traditional-style millwork—such as the distinctive crown moulding, tall baseboards, and built-in cabinetry flanking the living room fireplace—is a Teakwood hallmark, and imparts the otherwise modern home with period detail and a sense of history.

From their “cook’s kitchen”—which boasts soapstone countertops, an expansive island, professional appliances, and a distinctive fireclay farm sink—Jim and Lisa can keep their daughters in sight, easily converse with guests in the adjacent dining room, and enjoy the glow from the granite-veneered wood-burning fireplace in the living room…all just steps from the screened porch out back, and with a sweeping view of the surrounding yard.

The home’s second floor enjoys three bedrooms, three full baths, ample closet and storage space, laundry room, and a loft “hangout” where the family spends much of its time watching movies and playing games together. The master bathroom features “his-and-hers” sinks, a custom linen closet, marble floors and counters, a soaking tub, and roomy walk-in shower.

Spanning three floors, a classic custom-built staircase allows the family to travel to the lower level, which features a guest suite with bedroom, full bath, and entertainment area.

“We worked with some really talented architects on fine-tuning the design, including Charlie Hoffman (of Hoffman Architects) and Brett Balzer (of Balzer + Tuck Architecture). Every square foot has a purpose. There are no cavernous hallways or unused areas here,” said Sasko. “We wanted this home to be built for the way we live now, but also to be flexible, to anticipate and accommodate our family’s needs and lifestyle as we grow and change.”

This house is also notable for its energy efficiency, and its investment in materials and mechanicals to render this a top-rated ENERGY STAR home. Throughout construction, inspections were conducted by an independent agency, which considered insulation, plumbing, heating, appliances, and other factors for their environmental impact. Even though investment in these areas is often passed over by homeowners because they are not as visible or as easily appreciated as, say, custom kitchen cabinetry or that one-of-a-kind vessel sink, making this home environmentally responsible and cost-effective to maintain was key to Jim and his family.

When asked if he plans to reside there for years to come, the answer came quickly to Jim. “Yes,” he said definitively, “this is it.”

Written by Emily Fowler and Tara Chhabra. Reprinted with permission from Saratoga Publishing. Originally appeared in Saratoga TODAY Newspaper™, April 6, 2012.

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Read more about other Teakwood awards.

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View examples of our work in the Lake George region:

• Home renovation and addition in Diamond Point
• Whole-home renovation/reconstruction in Hague

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Kitchen renovation ranks among the top home improvement projects, and investment in upgrading the kitchen has historically provided homeowners with a solid financial return where resale is concerned, according to the Remodeling 2010-11 Cost vs. Value Report (www.costvsvalue.com). The owner of a Burnt Hills home reached out to Teakwood Builders with this in mind, seeking to renew, improve, and “lighten up” her kitchen. Custom cabinets with concealed task lighting help to brighten the space, while furniture-style legs at the new island and natural stone at the countertops and backsplash convey vintage farmhouse character. Read the full article on this project.

Bathroom additions and remodels also remain popular, as homeowners increasingly want to transform this functional space into more of a personal retreat with spa-like amenities and styling. Plum & Crimson Fine Interior Design and Teakwood Builders worked closely with the homeowners to modernize and open up an outmoded master bath in Saratoga Springs. Sleek finishes, colors, and fixtures were incorporated into the newly designed bath layout to create a classic yet contemporary space, whose ample attractive storage makes for a tranquil clutter-free zone that is high on style and low on maintenance. Read the full article on this project.

Copies of the Capital Region Building articles are provided with permission from RCS Publications Ltd.

Looking for ideas and inspiration for your own home? Browse our Portfolio, and learn about our process if you are interested in working with Teakwood Builders to create your custom space!

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In this basement wine cellar, a unique barrel-vaulted ceiling is illuminated by low-voltage accent lighting, concealed by custom moulding. Imported wine casks were cleverly repurposed as part of a decorative wall display.

It’s been a long winter here in Upstate New York, and many of us are anxiously awaiting the arrival of spring, and the fresh start the season promises! Spending time indoors over the past few months has probably caused some of us to rethink how we use various rooms in our homes, and how we can refresh, invigorate, or repurpose certain living areas for better function. And spring cleaning gives us the opportunity to declutter our spaces and reveal parts of our home that are under-used and ripe for renovation…such as the often overlooked but ever-versatile basement.

According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), basement remodeling is one of the top ways to add value to your home. Remodeling Magazine lists basement renovations as one of the top-returning homeowner investments when it comes to resale. And since mechanicals, foundation, and outside walls are already in place, and little to no landscaping is typically required, finished basements give homeowners a cost-effective way to create a whole floor’s worth of private space (usually 20-30% less than creating or remodeling the same amount of space at or above ground level). Added benefit? Since finished basements make it easier to heat the rest of the home in the winter and cool it in the summer, they can even provide energy savings!

This basement space was transformed into a contemporary media room. An entertainment center was custom-built to house a large-screen TV and surround-sound components. The existing steel column was wrapped with maple to incorporate it as a more decorative element in the room. Special ceiling tiles ensure maximum enjoyment of this room's acoustics.

With basement remodeling, the possibilities are limited only by your imagination. Over the years, Teakwood Builders has worked with homeowners and their “blank slate” spaces to create everything from recreation rooms and gyms, to entertainment centers and game rooms…even a Tuscan-styled wine cellar!

A unique project currently underway has Teakwood Builders working to transform a basement into a personal gallery space for a creative homeowner who wishes to showcase his works of art. The project began to take shape when Teakwood president/owner/”designer-in-chief” Jim Sasko interviewed the homeowner to understand more fully his wants, needs, and desired outcome for the remodel. Using what he’d learned from the owner, and from what he’d seen of the existing basement, Jim created an initial conceptual design, shown here. With additional discussion on preferred dimensions, finishes, and lighting, the design was fine-tuned and formalized, and the project got underway.

Teakwood's Jim Sasko developed this initial design concept for the client, based on the existing basement space and the client's "wish list" for layout. Only minor fine-tuning was needed to this design, and construction is now underway.

The basement makeover will include a new full bathroom, plenty of wall space and directional lighting for the art work, and a custom-designed display shelf and built-in media cabinet. Two new window well units will bring additional natural light into the space while providing a means of safe egress. Added insulation will help to buffer sound and keep the space at an ideal temperature year-round. Eco-friendly bamboo will cover the gallery floors, while special energy-efficient LED lighting will illuminate the space. In and of itself, the gallery promises to be a work of art!

We invite you to view the photo diary of this project as it unfolds, and to learn about the work done to remake this space. Check back for project updates, and look for the official “unveiling” of this gallery later this spring!

Please also share your thoughts and ideas…How do you use, or how would you like to use, your basement space?

Click an image below for a larger view, and to read more about the building process. Click again to return to the gallery.

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Do you have icicles hanging from your eaves, like the ones pictured here? You could have an ice dam issue. As homeowners are frantically reacting to and coping with the water that is seeping back into their homes because of ice buildup on their roofs, they are turning to Teakwood Builders for help, and for guidance on preventing ice dams from recurring in the future.

To address this issue, it first helps to understand the anatomy of an ice dam, and how your home functions as a dynamic, interconnected system. Once you have awareness of the damage that those beautiful but not-so-benign icicles can cause, the next step is to ensure that you and your home are prepared for the elements. Key to preventing the heat loss from your home that contributes to the melt-freeze cycle is adequate and effective insulation. Teakwood Builders has long advocated for homeowners to consider upgrading their insulation when planning home improvement projects. For the technically inclined among us, this comparison of insulation types from the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association will give you an idea of the options available. But for the best guidance and assistance in ensuring a proper insulation installation, turn to Teakwood.

Teakwood president Jim Sasko provided this explanation and resolution to a client recently: “Where there is ice at the eaves, there is heat loss.  The best way to avoid heat loss is to properly seal/insulate your (second floor) ceilings. I’ve been in your attic and recognized the spotty insulation. We have and continue to suggest having all fiberglass insulation removed, build rigid insulation boxes around every ceiling penetration, spray foam approximately 2″ of open cell (or closed) to the back side of the drywall ceiling, and then add 15″ of cellulose insulation above that…I did the same application in my last home (no ice) and will be doing it in the home I’m currently building.”

A case study in this effective insulation plan at work is in the Saratoga Springs home pictured here. This 1979 ranch was completely remodeled on the inside last winter by Teakwood Builders. (The project also included new windows, a new roof, and an upgrade/enhancement to the front entry porch.) While the homeowners were primarily concerned with improving the look, interior layout, and curb appeal of their home, Jim and Teakwood’s project planner Thad Smith encouraged them to upgrade the home’s attic insulation as part of the project. But convincing these (and many other) homeowners to put remodeling dollars toward home parts that are not as “flashy” or visible as, say, new kitchen cabinets, was–and continues to be–challenging (dare we say that we often get “frozen out” when mention of this arises?).

Mechanical upgrades and attention to thermal and moisture protection are just as vital to a home’s beauty and value, but investing in these components is often passed over by homeowners, because they cannot be as easily seen or appreciated as the aesthetic enhancements to a home.

But in the end, investing in the attic insulation plan recommended by Teakwood has truly benefitted the owners of this residence, both in real cost savings from improved energy efficiency and reduced heat loss, and by giving them peace of mind during this snowy, icy winter. As pictured, the homeowner continues to be proactive about removing snow from the roof’s perimeter edge, to ensure that the gutters remain open. But even without this preventive step, this home has enjoyed a mostly icicle-free winter, at a time when its neighbors have been plagued by issues like the one pictured at the start of this post.

Contact Teakwood today to learn more about how we can help you to solve or prevent your own ice dam issues with an effective insulation and/or damage repair plan.

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