Kitchen /Bathroom renovation of Winnipeg, St Vital Couple.  From the start these clients were looking for something completely futuristic and European which they could not find for at least $60K (cabinets being imported from Germany).  That cost not being an option we tried to source locally but unfortunately nothing met their requirements thus the decision was made that i would build their cabinets.  They didn't want the standard look or design, but rather something completely custom.   I had met with them for approx 5 months developing a relationship and getting to know what their needs were, their lifestyle, uses, entertainment habits etc.  From there my preliminary drawings and conceptions were discussed and upon agreement i set out to build custom cabinets that were made of 3/4" plywood (uncommon but very strong and long lasting), faced in a custom ordered veneer (Electric Grey Streak).  al the drawers on the bottom cabinets are full extension soft return high quality Blum hardware.  The top cabinets are non standard 12 1/2" depth with soft return Blum Aventos HK-S hinges.  Task lighting from the uppers is a high quality dimmable LED lighting system that is expensive but the brightest i have ever seen.  Overhead room lighting is all dimmable pot lighting to set mood.  The cabinets include unique spaces for storage (in at least doubled their storage capacity, for recycling -refuse recycling drawer seen below the sink, tip out drawer, spice drawer in pantry, above fridge tray storage and unique stand up bar/nook for eating.  The construction and installation took a further 6 months but the clients were happy with my cabinets and design recommendations which included a counter depth fridge bottom mount freezer, ice maker and fresh filtered water dispenser and new magnetic induction oven.   While in the midst of construction the clients asked for their main floor powder room to be gutted and remodeled so that too became part of the equation.  I installed a floating vanity with drawers.   Metal and glass doors and veneer courtesy of Marco Products, wood floors were put in courtesy of Dan Garroni flooring ( a friend of mine and i highly recommend him), counters were quartz courtesy of River City Stone on Keewatin, lighting recommendations were from Laurie at Total Lighting in Winnipeg (super lighting designer).   The customer was elated.  Final cost was $9K for materials and $8K for my design, contracting, construction and install labour.  Appliances were $15K and counters were $4.5K.   Approximately $1K for electrical, $1K for plumbing and $1K for flooring labour.  The backsplash in the kitchen as yet has not been selected or installed.  Overall better lighting, space and storage, organization and aesthetic considerations were all improved upon from a dated early 80's kitchen.  I was very happy to have been there to make their dream a reality.  

               

"A person that works with their hands is a tradesman.  A person that works with their hands & minds is a craftsman.  A person that works with their hands, mind and heart is an artist."  Antonio Almonte Jr., President of River City Stone.

St. Vital Current Custom Kitchen Build -two views of the current custom designed and built cabinets in progress.  3/4" birch plywood bases with 1/2" plywood drawers that all slide out with Blum Tandem under mount soft return sliders.  The cabinets/drawers are faced with a gray horizontal laminate.  All upper cabinets will be horizontal cabinets that have lift up Blum soft return Aventos HK-S lift hinges.  The custom island breakfast table is installed and awaiting Quartzform counters from River City Stone.  he island base seen incomplete will be drywalled with a circular stainless steel ring mounted as a decorative feature that will match the stainless appliances the client has purchased.    

I'm told from various people that i'm the ONLY custom Euro kitchen builder in Winnipeg.  That is building from scratch to fit the needs and the specific environment of peoples homes in the horizontal like cabinet style.  This is very interesting considering the size of the market and how many kitchen cabinetry business' there are.  The CEO & owner of a local (10 years plus in business) successful and growing stone business loves my work and said "they don't build cabinets like you do any longer" and uniquely designed and custom built.   He also told me that local cabinet builders and suppliers don't use and install the best of cabinets that people are paying huge dollars for.    

Kitchen Cabinets

Two views of a kitchen reno i did in River Heights, a complete gut of a

1950's bungalow and built the cabinets out of 3/4" Maple.  I first strapped out the walls to 2 x 6" to give the client greater insulation R value, new window, bulkhead, new wiring and plumbing (with undermount sink) along with a raised dishwasher so that a person doesn't have to bend over quite so far and access or put dishes away.   The counters are silestone (non staining, durable, heat resistant and non-pourous).   

All the drawers are pull out so items can easily be stored and removed.  Hinges are all Blum.
I incorporated the design with the existing glass blocks that were in place which was a lovely feature.

Handles are stainless from Lee Valley and i incorporated a dishwasher that the client loved as she never had one before.

So who doesn't need a storage shed?   I find the smaller ones you buy from Home Depot aren't custom and not too practical.  I poured a concrete pad, threw up the walls and 2" X 6" beams for the roof and bam had a great storage shed for the backyard.  The previous owner built a ratty not too practical shed that was elevated off the ground (rodents and mice got in under the structure) and barn roof was terrible for storage and even trying to move about in so down it went.  The new structure is tall for storage above and has high walls to hang all sorts of garden articles, tools, furniture and bicycles.  The double doors that i built also hold easy to access garden tools.    Everyone needs one of these.

Garden Boxes

I built these reasonably priced spruce elevated garden boxes for a corner of my backyard and filled them with organic composted soil that i manufactured on site (from green and brown sources- grass clippings and leaves and compost from the kitchen).  The elevated boxes serve to keep rabbits out (they don't seem to jump up into things?) and serve to make things easier to weed and garden (don't have to bend over!) so far they have worked spectacularly.  You can build them any size but not too wide or long!  I absolutely love them and am building more...