WE ARE MOVING!!! (Final Post)

IT'S OFFICIAL! The Kurk Homes Design & Build Blog is Moving to the Kurk Homes Website:

KurkHomes.com/Blog

We hope you continue to check us out as we blog about trends, tips, and tactics in the custom home design and build sector. 

Spotlight on Cabinetry Design - Favorite Styles

Cabinetry Styles

The character of the kitchen is displayed through the cabinetry design. With a wide selection of panel styles plus combinations of colors and textures, the custom home owner has free rein to complement their home style! 

Below are our Kurk homeowners' favorite styles of cabinetry, including door panel design, overall color schemes, selection of wood, or the cabinetry layout itself:

Shaker Doors

Frequently seen in contemporary homes, the simple, clean aspect of shaker doors complement many home styles, including farmhouse and craftsman. The focal point of the kitchen becomes the backsplash or granite, instead of the cabinet doors themselves. Perhaps most often viewed as white cabinetry, shaker doors come in a variety of stain and paint colors. Typical wood species include poplar and maple. 

Ornate Doors and Cabinetry

The warm yet elegant feel of a French Country kitchen is accented by the cathedral arched panels and decorative crown and trim surrounding the cabinetry. The detailed scrollwork and corbels throughout the set of cabinetry details this particular home style - most often seen in soft hues of cream, beige, soft green and natural wood to mimic a provincial feel. For a cleaner look, homeowners typically select maple or poplar wood species, but oak and alder woods have given a more rustic charm to the doors as well.

Raised Panel - Traditional and Rustic

Slightly more decorative than the shaker style, the traditional raised panel door style shifts the focus of the kitchen on to other elements, such as the stone arch and backsplash as the first picture below. Two-tone cabinetry is a frequent occurrence, as well as a plethora of paint and stain selections. The raised panel doors for traditional styles are most often maple or poplar wood, while rustic styles showcase alder or oak for more texture. 

Traditional:

Rustic

Bead Board

For a farmhouse or cottage style of kitchen, bead board door panels add a lovely element of design and texture. Bead board is great as an accent piece as well; it can be used as an island end panel (or "kicker") as well as a backsplash piece. Commonly painted white in maple wood, beadboard can be painted or stained in any color.

Glass Cabinetry

Frequently used in kitchens to highlight specialty china or glassware, glass cabinet panels create a visually larger space. Butler pantry cabinets and top cabinets are commonly inlaid with glass panels. The interior of the cabinet can be bead board or a solid panel, painted or stained to match the exterior. Glass panels are typically bordered in maple, oak, or alder wood.

Cabinetry Toppers

The addition of cabinetry above the upper cabinets to normal cabinetry extends the eye all the way to the ceiling, enlarging the kitchen itself. Over a sink or a refrigerator, these are referred to as "bridge cabinets" - and can match the style of the cabinet, or consist of glass with or without lighting. Plus you get the added benefit of not needing to clean on top of your cabinetry! 

Choosing your own adventure, one selection at a time! What would you choose?


Contact us today to view our design showroom and lovely selection of cabinetry options.
* www.KurkHomes.com * 1-800-749-KURK *

© Melanie McGinley Sparks and Kurk Homes, 2017. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Kurk Homes and Melanie McGinley Sparks with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

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Custom Building Tips for Spring Cleaning & Organization

Although Texas has been warm for a while, spring is officially here and 'tis the season for refreshing, cleaning, re-organizing, and building anew! Here are some custom organizational ideas and the handy tips for the yearly check-up:

ORGANIZATIONAL BUILT-INS

For all ages, spring cleaning typically revolves around tidying a closet. The easiest place to hide and stash things that don't need to be seen every day, the closet becomes the result of the mass exodus from the clean laundry pile, accumulating en masse until the clean somehow needs to be washed again.

In an effort to help dissuade the chaos, organizational systems have been designed specifically for the clutter-minded, such as huge wall-to-wall built-ins, additional hanging racks, shoe racks, laundry chutes, drop zones etc. Even, as shown below, a hidden door could be built to match the other closet built ins! Depending on the level of finish, built-ins could match the cabinetry throughout the rest of the home, or sport paint-grade pine constructed by a trim carpenter. 

Custom Wall-to-Wall Cabinetry Built-In:

Built-In Shelving and Hidden Door: 

Additional Top Rack for Closet: 

Laundry Chute and Receiving Cabinet: 

Custom Drop Zone: 

MAINTENANCE:

Directly from our Energy Star Partner website: https://www.energystar.gov/

Follow this checklist to ensure your home is ready for the heat surges ahead!!

Maintenance Checklist:

• Check thermostat settings to ensure the cooling and heating system keeps you comfortable when you are home and saves energy while you are away.

• Tighten all electrical connections and measure voltage and current on motors. Faulty electrical connections can cause unsafe operation of your system and reduce the life of major components.

• Lubricate all moving parts. Parts that lack lubrication cause friction in motors and increases the amount of electricity you use.

• Check and inspect the condensate drain in your central air conditioner, furnace and/or heat pump (when in cooling mode). A plugged drain can cause water damage in the house and affect indoor humidity levels.

• Check controls of the system to ensure proper and safe operation. Check the starting cycle of the equipment to assure the system starts, operates, and shuts off properly.

Cooling Specific:

• Clean evaporator and condenser air conditioning coils. Dirty coils reduce the system's ability to cool your home and cause the system to run longer, increasing energy costs and reducing the life of the equipment.

• Check your central air conditioner's refrigerant level and adjust if necessary. Too much or too little refrigerant will make your system less efficient increasing energy costs and reducing the life of the equipment.

• Clean and adjust blower components to provide proper system airflow for greater comfort levels. Airflow problems can reduce your system's efficiency by up to 15 percent.

Heating Specific:

• Check all gas (or oil) connections, gas pressure, burner combustion and heat exchanger. Improperly operating gas (or oil) connections are a fire hazard and can contribute to health problems. A dirty burner or cracked heat exchanger causes improper burner operation. Either can cause the equipment to operate less safely and efficiently.

Actions To Do Yourself:

• Inspect, clean, or change air filters once a month in your central air conditioner, furnace, and/or heat pump. Your contractor can show you how to do this. A dirty filter can increase energy costs and damage your equipment, leading to early failure.

Maintain your equipment to prevent future problems and unwanted costs. Keep your cooling and heating system at peak performance by having a contractor do annual pre-season check-ups. Contractors get busy once summer and winter come, so it's best to check the cooling system in the spring and the heating system in the fall. To remember, you might plan the check-ups around the time changes in the spring and fall.

© Melanie McGinley Sparks and Kurk Homes, 2017. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Kurk Homes and Melanie McGinley Sparks with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

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From Quarries to Custom Homes - All About Countertops!

Kitchen and bathroom designs can largely rely on the selection of the countertop. Whether your design is contemporary, farmhouse, French country, or Texas rustic - the surface you select for your countertop can either add complexity or simplicity - easing the eye into fun backsplash designs or funky cabinetry. Or, it can all blend like a beautiful ethereal piece of art.

Here are a few options of countertops - split into the natural "rock" formations from quarries and engineered products from manufacturers.

Natural Products: 

Granite

Probably the most well-known countertop surface in homebuilding is granite. Known for its durability and plethora of color selections from white to black and every variation in between, granite is a favorite among customers and builders alike. Although granites are sturdy rocks of countertops, they do require maintenance by sealing the surface as needed. Lighter granites will need more frequent  sealing applications - closer to six months - while darker granites can last a year or longer without re-sealing.

Granite is a natural product, pulled from quarries around the world. Sandstone, that has been melted by the earth's heated core and then cooled, create this multi-dimensional rock; the difference in colors attributed to the minerals (such as iron creating a more red tint) that were trapped during the melting and cooling process. 

Colonial White Granite

Gorgeous slab of Green Labradorite Granite

Marble

One of the oldest known countertop surfaces is marble. Created from massive heat and pressure on limestone over thousands of years, marble has been used to create entire spectacular cities most notably in Greece, Italy, and surrounding countries.

The historic prestige of marble is a draw for many customers and builders, however, the softness of the stone is a drawback. Marble is more porous than granite or manufactured stone, therefore, it can stain and scratch without the utmost care. For that reason, marble countertops are not as popular in kitchens, but still have a frequent occurrence in guest or powder bathrooms. Re-sealing marble is recommended as needed for high traffic areas as much as every few months.

Carrara Marble Vanity Top

Butcher Block

Many people are drawn to the rustic wood look and feel of an authentic butcher block countertop. Whether as a dedicated portion of the island, or using the entire space as a giant cutting board, butcher blocks add texture and warmth to any kitchen. 

Maintenance needs of butcher blocks include sealing and coating with mineral oil, typically every few months. Scratches from knife blades are to be expected, and placing hot pots directly onto the surface should be avoided. It is wood after all!

Beautiful Butcher Block Island

Quartzite

Quartzite is very similar to granite in its creation - differing only in the abundance of quartz in the sandstone. Many people confuse engineered quartz countertops with quartzite, and the distinction should be made that quartzite is a naturally occurring product, while quartz countertops are man-made. See further on for the description of Silestone and Ceasarstone quartz countertops. 

As a natural product, quartzite - not unlike granite - can vary in its character. In the pictures below, the quartzite is the "Super White" selection. However, depending on when the product was harvested from the quarries, as well as the location of the quarries themselves, the color and veining patterns can vary immensely! Although harder than granite, quartzite still needs maintenance of re-sealing every one to two years. 

Lovely Island and Perimeter of Super White Quartzite

Super White Quartzite Island and Perimeter

Engineered Products: 

Quartz Countertops - Ceasarstone and Silestone

Made of a composite of mostly natural quartz with resins, Ceasarstone and Silestone are the least porous man-made countertops of this list with durability that exceeds marble, granite, and quartzite.  The difference between the brands is that Ceasarstone is comprised of over 93% quartz, while Silestone is at 90%. Silestone has more color selection while Ceasarstone has broader options for finishing on edges. 

Both products are consistently patterned throughout, there will not be color variation amidst a slab of manufactured quartz as there would be in granite, marble, or quartzite. For this reason, the selection process can be a simple one - the swatch will match the slab. Also convenient for the homeowner, quartz countertops do not need to be sealed.

Ceasarstone Display at our Kurk Homes Design Center

Blanco Orion Silestone

Silestone "White Platinum" 

Cultured Marble

Cultured marble countertops are made from marble particles mixed with liquid polyester resin. Any shape can be custom made, since the product is molded. Typically coated with clear finish in either high gloss or matte, cultured marble countertops are most popular in bathrooms with recessed sinks. The color selection is endless, as the manufacturer can also tint the product to suit the customers' needs.

With the resin, the cultured marble is a non-porous product that is harder than marble, yet softer than granite. Re-finishing is recommended to prevent resistance to stains and scratches, however, unlike the natural materials, cultured marble can have scratches or abrasions filled relatively easily with a gel compound. 

Platinum Cultured Marble Vanity Top

Solid Surface:

Similar to cultured marble, solid surface countertops are moldable - made of a polyester resin with bauxite filler and pigments. They are stain-resistant and durable in comparison to products that have a seam, thus, they are highly used in the medical field, but residential use is also common. 

The countertops are created to mimic other surfaces, such as wood, stone, quartz, granite, or marble - so the color and pattern selection is endless. Some homeowners prefer the variety of the selections and the cost effectiveness of the solid surface countertop compared to granite or marble.

Corian Linen Countertop

Which ones would you choose for your home? 

As always, if you would like to learn more about Kurk Homes and what we can offer our customers, please visit our website at www.KurkHomes.com or call us at 1-800-749-KURK. Thanks for stopping by! 

© Melanie McGinley Sparks and Kurk Homes, 2017. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Kurk Homes and Melanie McGinley Sparks with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

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Spotlight on Home Design: The 8 Most Requested Architectural Styles

We always love to get the question "Can you change this?" while we are under design. Yes, we can! We love to. Our designers' goals are to pull the visions from our customers and create a plan that we can build. Some customers have dreams of a quaint farmhouse overlooking a beautiful garden, while others want the full metropolitan lifestyle of a more contemporary home. Whatever the customers' vision, a design/build firm like Kurk Homes can capture it.

While categorizing homes into styles can lead to muddy waters (such as transitional that incorporates contemporary, traditional, and sometimes mediterranean or craftsman elements), we've most frequently incorporated the following eight design styles.

Here are our 8 most popular requested home design styles (in no particular order):

RANCH: 

Maybe it's about designing and building in Texas, but ranch styles are very prevalent on wide lots or acreage. The sprawling, typically one-story construction has many architectural features of interest - window overhangs, faux trusses, shutters, and gables. We've seen brick and stone, sometimes combined with Hardie plank, as well as metal and shingle roofs.

FARMHOUSE:

The farmhouse is usually smaller than a ranch and typically uses more Hardie plank than masonry. Farmhouses are known for their large-scale porches, and appeal for smaller properties with a second story view. Many times these homes are on piers, with steps leading up to the expansive front porch as this plan above.

CRAFTSMAN:

Also referred to as "Bungalows," the craftsman style home originated in the 19th century, and really became popular in the early 1900s as a kind of architectural revolt against the industrial era. The highlights of the home became the intricate handcrafted details, natural elements added to the style, and decorative trim in contrasting paint or stained wood. Many older neighborhoods still have these full-of-charm homes, and newer homes are designed to incorporate that same antique appeal.

ACADIAN:

Frequently seen in Louisiana and derived from the original French Country style, Acadian style homes focus primarily on the outdoor living aspect typical with a plantation home. As its parent origin, Acadian homes have brick, Hardie, or stucco exteriors, with tall and thin windows flanked by shutters, a steep roof with dormers (either rounded or square), and a large front porch area with columns.

MEDITERRANEAN:

Based off the architecture visible in Spain, Portugal, and Italy, Mediterranean homes feature an exterior combination of stucco and stone with the occasional tile roof, courtyards, and balconies. Homeowners may want to add large wooden or iron doors with ornate detail and most of the homes have a low pitch to a flat roof style.

CONTEMPORARY:

The modern feel of a contemporary plan with large open windows and various angles and slants of a roofline has its place both in rural and urban areas. Most commonly, the exterior is a combination of natural and manmade elements - metal roofs and cedar or Hardie trim, sometimes with thin ledge stone. Contemporary homes showcase simplistic elevations with natural lighting while maximizing the interior livability of open concept floor plans.

TRADITIONAL:

American Traditional homes host an exterior of mainly brick, typically a reddish tone, with a lighter colored Hardie plank on the rear elevation. Composite shingle roofs in darker colors in varying roof pitches are commonly seen, as well as a symmetrical front elevation with multiple gables.

TRANSITIONAL:

The fusing of multiple styles into one home is referred to as "transitional". Many homeowners desire to merge their two favorites into one - we've most commonly combined contemporary and traditional styles together. This design blends the sometimes cold lines of contemporary with the ornate traditional, creating a new exterior that hosts the benefits of both without entirely checking either box.

Which style, or combination, would you choose for your home? 

© Melanie McGinley Sparks and Kurk Homes, 2017. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Kurk Homes and Melanie McGinley Sparks with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Giving Thanks to Our Staff and Customers for a Great 2016!

The goal of this Kurk Homes Design & Build Blog was to bring forward ideas to our former, current, and new customers - whether it be by something we get a lot of requests for, or just something some of us find really interesting or useful.

Over the past six months, we've explored farmhouse kitchens, interior masonry, aging in place designs, roof structures, ceiling designs, window architecture and the nomenclature for all of the above. We've also honored our founder and my grandfather, Chester H. Kurk, on his birthday month. 

This month, as we wind down from the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, I'd like to give thanks to our amazing Kurk Homes team. Our staff consists of 20 amazing people in two main areas in Texas: Greater Houston and the Texas Hill Country. Our clientele range from young professionals to those who wish to age in place and anywhere in between for those who desire to design and build a quality custom home at an affordable price. We've been honored to serve you if we have, and if we haven't, we would be honored to design and build your dream home. 

2017 will mark our 28th year building across Texas, and we are excited about what the future holds in store. 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2017 from our Kurk Homes Family to Yours! 

Eyes Of the Home - Clarifying Window Types and Styles

In the living face, eyes are a window into the soul. Similarly, windows are the eyes of the home. There are myriad styles of windows - some architecturally structured while others are just details within the windows themselves. Below are some of our most common types and styles that we see homeowners designing with and around.

Clerestory

A portion of a roof that extends vertically above adjacent rooftops that has windows admitting daylight to the interior.

Clerestory: 

Dormer

A roofed structure containing one or more windows. There are a few different types of dormers: gabled is the most popular in farmhouse styles, as below. A shed dormer can have a few more windows, we add two or three 2' windows to most shed dormers. An eyebrow dormer can have a rounded or a triangular shape as well. 

Gabled Dormers: 

Shed Dormers:

Eyebrow Dormers: 

Cupola

A small enclosed structure with windows or openings that sits above the adjacent roofline. Used as a lookout, lantern tower, or adjoined to a balcony or widow's walk as seen below, a cupola adds vertical architectural interest and function to a home.

Cupola with Widow's Walk:

Bay, Bow, or Boxed Windows

A window, or set of windows, that is projected outward from an exterior wall is referred to as either a boxed, bay, or bow window. While the bay window is typically one window unit that has individual windows connected (or mulled) together, you can also separate the windows to save costs. The bowed window (not shown) is the same as a bay window, but rounded instead of angular.

Bay Window with Non-Mulled Windows: 

Boxed Window:

Window Styles: 

Below are frequent style designs for custom homes. Whether it is adjoining two or more windows together, adding light or interest with various shapes, the windows can be as reflective of taste and design as the homeowner chooses!

Mulled Windows (middle window): 

Butt-Joint Windows: 

Transom Windows: 

Custom Designed: 

Now the question is, what would you do??

© Melanie McGinley Sparks and Kurk Homes, 2016. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Melanie McGinley Sparks and Kurk Homes with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.