We’re excited to share yet another recently completed kitchenCRATE, part of an extensive renovation to this 1999 home in Escalon, CA.
In addition to the kitchen, the CRATE team also renovated the laundry room, two bathrooms (using bathCRATE) and installed new slate tile throughout the majority of the home.
Needless to say, the kitchen renovation in Escalon is dramatic and this homeowner certainly enjoyed the process.
Scroll down to see the client’s extensive testimonial and enjoy an assortment of before and after images!
The Homeowner’s Experience
What was your favorite part of the kitchenCRATE process?
In the past, we’d had some standard refurbishing work done on our home (painting, tile installation), but nothing of this magnitude. Having purchased a new home with great potential but in need of updating, we weren’t initially sure where to start or how much we’d need to budget for the work. We decided to call kitchenCRATE after seeing project information on Facebook and their website and spoke with a coworker who had a completed bathCRATE project. From the initial meeting to the final scope of work, we were impressed with all the planning and detail that we were looking for. We’d heard plenty of horror stories from others regarding home improvement and flaky contractors, so we felt very comfortable and confident from the start of our projects. In addition, the project steps and timeline were well-defined so we always knew the status and plans for each day and week.
We were really happy with the subcontractors who worked in partnership with the kitchenCRATE team. The standard of work was excellent, and reflected well on our project. Someone suggested we could hire out subcontractors independently to do our remodeling work, but frankly, we didn’t have the time or capacity to begin to do that on our own. The kitchenCRATE team coordinated that for us, which in and of itself was so valuable.
Finally, the real favorite part? The outcome. The kitchen with stunning granite countertops, farmhouse sink and green cabinets we envisioned. Practically new baths with the simplicity of beautiful tile, stone, and quartz. A stylish laundry room…..and natural slate flooring, tying everything together. Perfect!
What was your favorite part about the kitchenCRATE team?
The kitchenCRATE team was professional, friendly and very easy to work with. They gave the right level of time and attention throughout and were flexible and responsive regarding our requests and inquiries. It was incredibly helpful to have the assistance of Lindsay, the interior decorator who worked with us on all design decisions. She helped make that whole process stress-free and the results are beautiful, just what we imagined.
Was there anything about the process or project that surprised you? If so, what was it?
Yes, definitely. We presented a bit of challenge from the start, since we had a tight timeline to work with and needed our home to have everything completed prior to moving in. Since we were having the kitchen, flooring, laundry room and two bathrooms done, I had some concerns that this would be difficult. I visited the project site after the first day though, and was amazed at what was accomplished in just one day! It was only the beginning, but I took that as a good omen for the remainder of the project. Our projects were completed on time and ready for our move-in date.
Before and After Pictures
(Click each image to enjoy a larger view.)
Day by Day Kitchen Renovation Progress
(Note: We added a few extra days to our normal 7-day process to accommodate the owner-request add-ons, like these…)
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. To support the cantilever countertop, we reinforced the plywood sub-tops with steel straps. Toward the end of the day we created the template for the new granite countertops, which take a few days to fabricate off-site.
Day 2 – The electrical team began the wiring for the new can lighting. Six 6″ can lights were placed strategically around the kitchen to optimize the lighting over work spaces. Lastly, we roughed-in the wiring and switches for the LED undercabinet lighting.
Day 3 – The kitchenCRATE team modified the cabinets to accept the new Kohler Whitehaven apron-front sink in biscuit and the new gas range.
Day 4 – We used metal-stud framing to sheetrock the old lightbox and then hung and taped the sheetrock to gain an extra day of dry time.
Day 5 – 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 cabinets were caulked, sanded and primed. This is the first (and perhaps most critical) step of creating a durable paint finish.
Days 6 & 7 – The painters then applied two coats of Kelly-Moore Dura-poxy paint in Lodgepole Pines 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 8 – The countertop installation team arrived to install the beautiful Kohler Whitehaven short apron-front sink in biscuit and the Arizona Tile Monte Cristo granite countertops with a mitered edge.
Day 9 – The tile backsplash artisans began installing the Daltile Semi-Gloss 6″ X 8″ Almond tiles with an accent strip of Bedrosians Manhattan Cashmere random interlocking glass tiles on the backsplash. This was grouted with Laticrete Marble Beige grout.
Day 10 – The transformation then hit the home stretch with the installation of the freshly-painted cabinet doors and drawers and the installation of the plumbing fixtures, a new Kohler Simplice faucet and Kohler Transitional soap dispenser each with a Vibrant Stainless finish.
Days 11-14 – The tile artisans were back on site to install the Bedrosians Autumn Gold Slate flooring in a Versailles pattern in the kitchen, laundry room, hallways, and both bathrooms.
Day 15 – Lastly, the kitchenCRATE team installed the homeowner’s previous appliances. The final day of the project included an array of “touch-up” items: all outlets and switches were replaced and the entire project was cleaned, top-to-bottom.
Technical Project Details
Kitchen
- Countertop: Arizona Tile Monte Cristo granite
- Backsplash: Daltile Semi-Gloss 6″ X 8″ Almond tiles
- Backsplash Accent:Bedrosians Manhattan Cashmere random interlocking glass tiles
- Grout: Laticrete Marble Beige
- Cabinet Finish: Kelly-Moore Lodgepole Pines in semi-gloss finish using a top-of-the line Kelly-Moore Dura-Poxy paint and primer.
- Cabinet Hardware: Liberty Sophia knobs and Liberty 2 – 1/2 cup pulls in Satin Nickel with matching cabinet hinges.
- Sink: Kohler Whitehaven short apron-front sink in Biscuit
- Faucet: Kohler Simplice with Vibrant Stainless finish
- Soap Dispenser: Kohler Transitional with Vibrant Stainless finish
- Garbage Disposal: InSink Erator 1/2 HP Badger 5
- Lighting: 6″ LED Can Lights and LED Undercabinet LED String Lights
- Wall Paint: Kelly-Moore Steamboat Gyser in an eggshell finish using a top-of the line Kelly-Moore paint.
Laundry Room
- Countertop: Arizona Tile Monte Cristo granite
- Cabinet Finish: Kelly-Moore Lodgepole Pines in semi-gloss finish using a top-of-the line Kelly-Moore Dura-Poxy paint and primer.
- Sink: Kohler Park Falls in Biscuit
- Faucet: Pfister Selia in Satin Nickel
Ready for a Kitchen Renovation in Escalon?
Do you have a dated kitchen, bathroom or laundry room? Let us help you today! Just click here to schedule your phone consultation using our online scheduling system. Or feel free to call us direct during business hours at 888-995-7996 to get started on the kitchen renovation of your dreams!=!
