DESIGN
HOME C ONT RA C T I NG
Designer Shows Why Not To Wait on that DREAM KITCHEN By Deloris Ludwig Designer
A
Before wall is removed
fter Hurricane Harvey brought floodwaters into Betty Wiley’s home, she knew it was time for a change. While the repaired kitchen was usable there was a plan in place down the road to upgrade to her dream home. “I wanted to create a welcoming kitchen that was easy to function in, easy to organize and looked great,” she says. Why not now she thought. No time like the present The original floor plan was a long galley kitchen that separated it from the living room. Betty as many people do, wanted an open concept that would not only expand the kitchen and connect the living room space, but transform the home by creating an inviting larger room where she could host friends and family in a much larger setting. To make it happen, she contacted our company, which has been in busi- Photo by Erica Hernandez ness since 1987. We are a design-tobuild renovation company for residen- ception to completion to be as stress-free tial and commercial customers. Home as possible for their clients. For every Contracting Inc. works side-by-side project, it is best to start with an on-site with homeowners to remodel kitchens, personal consultation followed by 3D bathrooms, install flooring and com- design ideas based on the client’s vision. plete many other custom services. We Then it’s showroom or internet surfing have worked with businesses such as to choose materials and finishes with Pluckers Wing Bar and Hilton Hotels. the designers input. Next make sure and Deloris Ludwig, who manages the com- schedule each piece of the project so that pany, has been doing design and renova- the amount of disruption for the client is as short as possible. tion work for nearly 25 years. “We never start demo until all the “I’m always aware of making sure the job is done correctly and catching materials are received and available to install,” states Ludwig. “And we have the things as we go along,” Deloris says. team to do the work.”
THE HOME CONTRACTING PROCESS Home Contracting employs a process to every remodel project from con24 | Intown | March + April 2020
REMOVING A LOAD-BEARING WALL To open up the kitchen, the separat-
ing wall needed to be removed, but it was a load-bearing wall as it many times is. Home Contracting’s experts had to plan not only the demolition but also to install a support beam running the length of the kitchen. This would make room for a sprawling island in Betty’s new open-concept kitchen. The process was involved, but the designer stays engaged throughout. “I was nervous about the support beam,” Betty says. “But the company and the engineers she got made me feel at ease.” During the process, they found a section of the ceiling attached to the wall that was dropped to hide gas, water and electrical lines. However, the team engineered a solution that solved the problem and created a butler’s nook that became a unique accent to the kitchen.
THE DESIGN SELECTIONS We chose a subway tile backsplash, Brazilian-granite countertops, white allwood cabinetry and engineered hardwood floors to match her living room. Betty also chose to install new recessed lighting, a light over the island and a custom-made stove vent. They replaced baseboards and even rebricked a portion of the outside of her home that had to be altered during the renovation.
A NEW SPACE FOR ENTERTAINING While Home Contracting shoots for a 10-day renovation on a room, Betty’s project took a bit longer because of the structural changes with the elimination of the support wall. Yet, within a few more weeks, Betty’s kitchen was just as she’d imagined—striking granite countertops, clean cabinetry and an open-concept layout with a timeless design.
