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    Month: August 2014

    Aspiring Design Apprentice

    Posted on by normandy

    Leslie Molloy CKDAt Normandy Remodeling, we’re always eager to find young design talent, but a recent visit from an apprentice designer proved how early the passion for design can be ignited.

    Normandy Designer Leslie Molloy, CKD has frequently shared her expertise and experience with new designers to the team, and has proven to be a great teacher and mentor for newer designers in the company.  Leslie embodies the passion that is so important in a designer, and her design work frequently spills over into her home life.  Whether it is working on a solution for a client or applying her skills to her own new home, Leslie’s daughter Emily had been quietly watching, observing, and learning to love interior design as well.

    Leslie MolloyAfter witnessing some at-home interior design work from Leslie, a curious Emily was eager to find out what happens in the day in the life of a Normandy Remodeling Designer.  Once Leslie saw how interested Emily was in her work, they agreed an apprenticeship would be the next step.

    Designers are well known to be fashion-forward and on the cutting edge of all elements of design, and Emily proved that she’s already on the right track.

    “Emily wanted to be prepared for her day at Normandy, and selected an outfit that would be fitting for any interior designer,” said Leslie. “She was dressed very professionally and topped off her look with a necklace and her very own business cards.”

    Leslie Molloy Emily started her day with a tour of the building and meeting the rest of the Normandy Remodeling team.  “She was asking lots of questions during her tour of the showroom and felt very comfortable in her design element,” commented Leslie.  Later that day Emily and Leslie ventured to a job site to review an in-progress renovation for a kitchen remodel, as well as a visit to another customer for a formal measure of an upcoming renovation.  Once returning back to the office, Emily was more than ready to get started on creating design solutions of her own.  She was setting out layouts and drawing floor plans, letting Leslie know what she felt would be a good solution and why.

    Leslie MolloyLeslie Molloy

    “She was very engaged throughout the day, in fact, I had a difficult time convincing her to head home in the evening,” added Leslie.  “I am flattered that Emily’s taken such an interest in my work, and hope that she continues to follow her passion and embrace her creative spirit throughout her life.”

    Brick Match Basics

    Posted on by normandy

    Addition on front of houseAdding on to your home can pose a myriad of otherwise forgotten challenges in creating a cohesive look between the old and new spaces.  Depending on how these challenges are handled, the result can either diminish the look of your new room addition or, if done properly, can make the new addition look like it’s been there from the beginning.  One of the more commonly overlooked details that homeowners may not consider is the matter of matching the existing brick or stone to the rest of the house.

    “If your home is more than a few years old, there’s a chance that the brick that was originally used may not be readily available for your home addition,” says Normandy Design Manager Troy Pavelka.

    Fortunately, there are a few industry secrets that can help you navigate this fairly common challenge, none of which involve creating a dramatically different look for the home addition. The first and most obvious option is to thoroughly search for an existing brick match among readily available stock materials.  This may involve some research at local brick and stone yards, but it will be the most economical and simplest solution.

    Brick additionIf you can’t find an exact match, start by identifying something similar.  “If the color is close, but not perfect, there is also the option of staining either the existing brick or new brick, in order to create a more successful match.”  This can be time-consuming and may be costly, but for some scenarios may be the best solution for the overall look of the house.

    If you are able to salvage a substantial amount of existing brick at the point where the new room breaks through the existing walls, it is best to incorporate it randomly into the new materials so that it blends well and looks cohesive.  “By off-setting the design, it is much easier for the brick to look as if it is a match because it is not located on the same plane,” advises Troy. “Interior corners create shadow lines and work with the light to help the brick appear more similar, even though it is not identical.” Additions to a brick home can be accomplished very successfully if you are prepared for some of the challenges of finding an appropriate brick match.

    Yellow brick addition“The overall goal is to make the addition appear to be absolutely seamless with the rest of the home,” notes Troy.  “We know that we’ve been successful when the average person will not be able to identify where the existing home ends, and the new room addition begins.”

    If you are considering upgrading your home with an addition or have a renovation project in mind, you can set up a time with Troy to talk about the possibilities. You can also learn more about additions, kitchens, or other remodeling projects at an upcoming workshop. Check out the photo gallery or follow Normandy Remodeling on Facebook and Instagram for even more home tips and inspiration.

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