Our first kitchenCRATE featuring Quartz countertops is complete and, oh my, it looks great! (Scroll down a bit to see for yourself…)
Our favorite part of kitchenCRATE is turning old, dated kitchens into contemporary masterpieces. And kitchenCRATE Claret Drive is a perfect example of just that: in just a few days we went from the 1970s to today!
No more yellow tile, no more dated cabinets, no more bronze hardware, no more light box, and no more sheet vinyl flooring.
But, as always, don’t just take our word for it. Check out the homeowner testimonial below, and then keep scrolling for some dramatic before & after images. We think you’ll agree: this kitchen is unrecognizable!
The Homeowner’s Kitchen Remodel Experience
What was your favorite part of the kitchenCRATE process?
We were fortunate enough to have discovered kitchenCRATE through Facebook and meet the wonderful group of workers employed by Scott. The most memorable part of the renovation process was seeing the drastic transformation from a tacky 1970’s-designed kitchen into a modern updated showroom quality kitchen. Meeting with Scott and his designer to create our vision was special for us as it allowed us to see movement forward during the process.
What was your favorite part about the kitchenCRATE team?
The team assigned to renovate our kitchen was a diverse group of people, from a former chef turned tradesman to the dedicated individual craftsman of their respective trades such as perfect appliance installation to incredible painting skills. The crew was trustworthy, caring and beyond considerate in terms of being respectful to our home and busy schedule.
Was there anything about the process or project that surprised you? If so, what was it?
The biggest surprise to us during the renovation was seeing how quickly the entire process unfolded from day one to the end of the project. We were overjoyed with seeing our idea of an ideal kitchen come to fruition without any major complications. We would say the most dramatic change was the quartz countertops………WOW. Taking suggestions from Scott and the color coordination skills of his designer created our vision of the perfect kitchen.
Day by Day Progress
Note: Add-ons increased the project duration from our standard 7-day process
Here’s how we did it:
Day 1 – Demo Day! On this first day, we set up plastic walls to protect the home from dust, protected the path from the entry door to the kitchen with building paper, and then went to town removing the appliances, countertop, backsplash, plumbing fixtures, cabinet doors, and drawers. We also removed the inset fluorescent fixtures and lightbox to make room for LED can-lighting. Toward the end of the day, we created the template for the new Quartz countertops, which take a few days to fabricate off-site.
Day 2 – The electrical team began the wiring for the new LED can lighting, described in more detail below. We also continued with cabinet modification and off-hauling of debris.
Day 3 – We brought a new gas line to the kitchen island from an adjacent water heater closet. This allowed the homeowner to convert their cooktop from electric to gas!
Day 4 – Since all the walls and the ceilings had been protected, our painters began preparing and priming the cabinets. Using a high-grade oil-based primer, every inch of the kitchen cabinet exteriors and interiors were caulked, sanded and primed. This is the first (and perhaps most critical) step of creating a durable paint finish.
Day 5 – The painters then applied two coats of Kelly-Moore Dura-poxy paint in Wagon Wheel to the thoroughly sanded and primed cabinets. This same priming and painting process was used on the doors and drawers, which are painted off-site in a climate-controlled paint booth for the highest possible quality.
Day 6 – Next, the electricians got to work installing the pattern-specific LED can lighting. 5″ LED can lights were placed strategically around the kitchen. These lights are installed to maximize light levels for the most common countertop uses. The old fluorescent lighting box was patched with sheet-rock, textured and painted.
Day 7 – The capable team at AAI Granite and Tile arrived to install the beautiful Kohler Clarity undermounted sink in sand bar and the MSI Rushmore Quartz countertops with a mitered edge.
Day 8 – AAI was back on-site, this time to install the Bedrosian’s Mediterranean Beige 3″ x 6″ travertine tiles with a 3″ accent strip of Bedrosian’s Eclipse Espresso Glass Mosaic for the backsplash.
Day 9 – AAI returned one more time to add Laticrete mushroom grout to the backsplash.
Day 10 – Lastly, the kitchenCRATE team installed the homeowner’s new appliances. The transformation then hit the home stretch with the installation of the freshly-painted cabinet doors and drawers. The final day of the project included an array of “touch-up” items: all outlets and switches were replaced, the Kohler Simplice faucet was installed and the entire project was cleaned, top-to-bottom.
Kitchen Remodel Before and After Photos
(Click image to enjoy a larger view)
Technical Kitchen Remodel in Atwater Details
Countertop: MSI Rushmore quartz
Cabinet Finish: Kelly-Moore Wagon Wheel finish using a top-of-the-line Kelly-Moore Dura-poxy paint and primer.
Backsplash: Bedrosian’s Mediterranean Beige 3″ x 6″ travertine tiles with an accent of Bedrosian’s Eclipse Espresso Glass Mosaic in 3″ strips.
Grout: Laticrete Mushroom
Sink: Kohler Clarity under-mount sink in Sandbar.
Faucet: Kohler Simplice with Vibrant Stainless finish.
Wall Paint: Kelly-Moore Soft Doe Skin
Is Your Kitchen in Need of a Remodel? Contact Us Today!
Do the before photos of the Claret Circle kitchen remind you of your kitchen? Do you have good cabinets and a solid layout but are ready for a completely new look and feel? Contact us today to make this happen in just a few days and for an amazingly low price.
Just click here to schedule your phone consultation using our online scheduling system. Feel free to send us an email or call us direct during business hours at 888-995-7996!
