Kitchens Archives - Gravelle Woodworking

Spring forward into a new & improved cottage kitchen

Posted on March 9, 2021 by Ben

When it comes to cottage kitchens, an update, renovation, or remodel is the top investment you can make in a cottage or home.

The Cottage Kitchen is the central hub for planning your activities,
playing games, bonding over a great meal, cooking the fresh caught fish, and spending time with family and friends.
The beauty of some of our best Canadian cottages is that they have held on to their history and their rustic nature in one way or another. 
Gravelle tries not to lose touch with the original building but leaves touches of creativity, personality, and beauty. From unified colour 
schemes to bold and bright kitchens defined by colour and design.

Our designers will transform your cottage kitchen from mundane to magnificent. 
You will find cottage kitchen inspiration for any style of home, from waterfront to country and Contemporary to Traditional.

A cottage bathroom needs to be both functional and serene, practical and a bit luxurious. 
The cottage bathroom is an intimate space whether it is a powder room, kid’s bath, or luxurious master
bathroom. Our creative designs, custom cabinetry and selection of fixtures will allow us to create 
amazing solutions for your cottage bathroom.

Bunk beds are not only a place to sleep but can be a child’s retreat. Our custom bunkbeds can be built to facilitate a growing 
family or for numerous guests arriving at the cottage. Gravelle not only looks at the lifestyle of the family, we create a standard 
of living for the entire family. We will design your cottage renovations with your cottage lifestyle in mind. We will build your kitchen, 
bathroom, fireplace mantel, or bunkbeds with our team of craftsmen and install everything with the upmost care.

At Gravelle we believe that home is where your heart is but, in the summer, it is at the cottage.

How To Remodel Your Kitchen (And Survive The Process!)

Posted on February 26, 2020August 10, 2020 by Ben

When it comes to remodeling your kitchen, there is so much to take into consideration. The kitchen is the heart of the home. It’s where you make food for family and friends. It’s where you entertain guests. It’s where traditions are passed down. It’s an important space — the hub of your home.

A kitchen needs to be both practical, to meet your daily needs, and welcoming. You spend a lot of time in the kitchen, so you should enjoy being in that space.

In this blog, we explore two major components of the kitchen remodelling process: The design and how to survive the construction.

Designing your perfect kitchen

Design Research

This is the fun part. Browse Instagram and Pinterest and other go-to blogs for all your kitchen renovation inspiration! Sharing these inspirational photos with your kitchen designer gives insight into your personal style. This will help your designer point out trends that appeal to you.

You should also plan a visit to the appliance store and compile a wish list. But make sure not to purchase any new appliances until your designer has confirmed those appliances will fit into your space.

Did you know?

The new standard sizes for common kitchen appliances are 36” Ranges or choose a 36” cooktop with a wall oven, counter depth fridges measuring at 36” wide are the new normal. These aren’t required but a lot of clients are making these selections.

Ask questions

It’s important to understand that there are varying qualities of cabinetry, countertops, and service.

Visit a few showrooms to get a feel for what is offered. And we encourage you to ask questions:

What is the cabinet box construction made of?
- And what is the thickness of the material?
What are the drawers made of?
How are the drawers constructed?
What is the drawer and slide hardware that’s used? Do they have an integrated soft close and are they warrantied for life?
What are the finish and colour options?
- Hand finishes (custom)
- Line sprayed (mass production)
- Thermofoil (vinyl, plastic on MDF — the least durable)
What accessories are offered? (e.g. pullout triple recycle, charging drawer, pull out spice and oil, etc.)
What is their average cost of cabinetry and countertops per linear foot?

The company you choose for your kitchen renovation should be able to answer these questions fairly quickly and easily. Reputable cabinet makers want to be transparent and their customers to be knowledgeable so that they are aware of the value they are getting.

Set a budget

It is difficult to set a budget if you‘ve never renovated before. We highly recommend doing your research so you understand what is realistic.

Part of setting a realistic budget is to ensure that you plan for unexpected costs. We also encourage you to talk with people who’ve done business with the company you choose to work with. This includes contractors. Find out if the project came in on time and on budget.

With respect to the budget, “A good rule of thumb is to add another 10 to 20 per cent for unplanned expenses,” writes the home inspiration blog, The Spruce.

Needs vs Wants

This is when you (and any other decision makers) have to be honest — especially if your research led to some extravagant designs with big price tags.

Perhaps you realize that custom woodworking is a more value added feature than having an integrated fridge. This is the time to set those parameters.

Survive the construction

What to expect

A typical kitchen renovation lasts from five to eight weeks depending on the scope of the renovation.

The tear out, plumbing, electrical, drywalling, painting, and floor install typically take up the first two weeks.

Then, for four or five days, the custom kitchen installation will occur. Countertop installation, from templating to install, typically takes around two weeks.

The final portion of most kitchen renovations would be adding the backsplash, installing appliances, hooking up the plumbing, and adding any finishing touches.

Set up a temporary kitchen

Locate a space in your home (away from the renovation area) where you have access to water: either a laundry room or a wet bar will suffice. Set up a microwave or a small cooktop to try and maintain your mealtime routines. Make sure your BBQ is easily accessible from the house to use as your cooking centre.

Make meals ahead of time

Depending on how long your project is slated to take, it might help to make large batches of food prior to the renovation. This is especially true for homes with a single kitchen or homes with children.

Cordon off living spaces that aren’t being renovated

New cabinets in your kitchen shouldn’t result in sawdust in your bedroom. While the experts at Gravelle go above and beyond to ensure that your home will remain as clean as possible, it’s still advisable to use plastic sheets to curtain off rooms of your home that are not being renovated.

Have a backup plan (or go on vacation!)

Do you have family nearby that can offer you a bedroom or two? Do you have a cottage you can live at for a while? Maybe there’s a vacation destination you’ve been itching to go to with your family?!

If you have the ability to leave your home while your kitchen is being remodelled, do it! Not only is this an opportunity to get away for a bit, but not living in the middle of a renovation will make your life easier.

Even if you can leave for the first 2 weeks of the project it would be helpful as the dustiest part of the job is tear out and drywalling.

If there’s a final piece of advice we have for you, it’s to relax. When you hire professionals like Gravelle, you can rest assured knowing that you’re working with a company with 35+ years of experience and a 5.0 rating on Houzz, a 4.9 rating on Google, and a 4.7 rating on Facebook.

We know our stuff, and we’re committed to getting you the kitchen woodworking that you want and deserve. To find out more, get in touch.

Kitchen Cabinetry Trends for 2020

Posted on December 19, 2019August 10, 2020 by Ben

Kitchen cabinets are one of, if not the most important feature of every kitchen. They play a huge role in the functionality and design of your space. Anything that you can dream up, can become a reality when you work with experienced and knowledgeable craftspeople. Every year trends cycle and change, but attention to detail and exquisite quality never goes out of style.

Here are our most anticipated kitchen cabinetry trends for 2020:

Coloured Cabinets

Stark white cabinets have been dominating kitchens for the last few years and, although we don’t see this trend disappearing completely, the introduction of colour will be a refreshing change. Everything from mixed-colour upper and lower cabinets in complementary shades of blue and grey, to dark stains, and even black, will be showing up in 2020.

Minimal or No Hardware

Modern kitchens featuring cabinets with minimal or no hardware are going to be the “it” thing. Touch latch cabinets have a mechanism on the inside that simply requires a little touch to open or close the cabinet. This sleek design will impress even the most discerning and help to elevate minimalistic kitchen design.

Hidden Appliances

Custom designs that include integrated and hidden appliance cabinetry are a necessity for 2020 and beyond. Built-in wine and beer refrigerators, hidden dishwashers, and microwaves that are tucked away behind beautiful cabinetry are the luxury design elements that will be coveted for decades. This touch of luxury is on every kitchen reno. list of must-haves in the coming year!

Open Shelving & Glass Cabinets

Glass cabinetry helps to create a clean and open design feel that gives you the opportunity to show off your perfectly curated collection of dishware.

Both open shelving and glass cabinet doors are great options that offer style and function. Having accessible storage space will give you the freedom to add some flair and personality to your kitchen. Use this style of shelving to display pretty glassware, bottles of wine, or plants.

Floor-to-Ceiling Cabinets

Floor-to-ceiling cabinets and pantries are sleek, stunning, and help to maximize kitchen space. In 2020, this design will become a kitchen staple for every renovation. Deep drawers, pull-out shelving, and lazy susans that maximize every inch of cupboard space will be the icing on the cake. These types of custom installations will create ease of access in a luxury kitchen.

Did you find something that you liked in these kitchen cabinetry trends of 2020?

The expert design team and craftsmen at Gravelle Woodworking will work with you to create everything on your kitchen renovation wish list. Book your free design consultation with us today to get started on the kitchen of your dreams.