All posts by knight

2019 Fall Remodelers Showcase Rendering Knight Construction and Remodeling

2019 Parade of Homes Fall Remodelers Showcase: Sept 27 – 29

0 Comments
Share

With the hazy days of summer drawing to a close, we’re officially heading into fall. While we’re not ready to let go of days spent at the lake, there are many reasons to be excited about fall. Our favorite? The 2019 Fall Remodelers Showcase is right around the corner and we can’t wait to share our latest home remodeling project with you!

2019 Fall Parade of Homes Remodelers Showcase
Entry #22
2398 Cherrywood Road, Hopkins, MN 55305
September 27-29, 2019 from 12:00 to 6:00 PM

This remodeling project started with a dark, inefficient kitchen. The homeowners wanted to breathe new life into their space with a timeless and classic design. To make the kitchen brighter and more functional for this busy family of five, we add brand-new white custom cabinetry topped with Ceaserstone countertops, as well as paneled appliances and a 48″ BlueStar range. We also removed the soffits and extended the cabinets to the ceiling. In addition to creating more storage space, this also draws the eye upward while making the kitchen appear larger.  New hardwood floors were installed throughout the main level of the home. Topping it all off is a newly remodeled three-season porch featuring new tile floors and in-floor heat perfect for Minnesota winters.

The Fall Parade of Homes Remodelers Showcase only last three days, so don’t miss your chance to see this beautiful kitchen transformation in person. The Knight Construction team will be on-site to answer questions about the home or chat about ant upcoming projects you may have. See you there!

Before

After

Read More

Remodeling for the Test of Time

0 Comments
Share

Remodeling your home requires a pretty big investment and it’s safe to say you want your new space to look great for years to come. While it can be a pricey process, it’s important to consider the long-term benefits of remodeling your home. Aside from breathing new life into an outdated design, remodeling can help you fall in love with your home all over again.

Other benefits include:

  • Making your home more comfortable to live in
  • Redesigning your space to be more functional
  • Increasing the value of your home
  • Potentially making it easier to sell down the road
  • Creating more living space or storage as needed
  • Saving money by improving your home’s energy efficiency
  • Improving your home’s curb appeal with a few exterior updates

Using the following tips will help guarantee your remodeled home stands the test of time.

Hire an Experienced Remodeling Contractor

Not every remodeling contractor is created equal. Whether they lack the skills or don’t understand your overall vision, picking the wrong contractor can lead to disaster. While interviewing potential contractors, ask to see examples of past projects. This will help you get a feel for their work and if their style is a good fit for your project. You can also ask for references from past clients or check out the Better Business Bureau website for any negative feedback.

Another thing to keep in mind is you get what you pay for. While it’s important to find a contractor that fits your budget, be cautious of those who are cheap and available right away.

Don’t Get Too Trendy

While we’re big fans of incorporating trends into home design, we recommend proceeding with caution. Trying to do too much at once can make your space look busy and unfocused. A good rule of thumb is to select one or two trends you love rather than a vast array.

Another downside to trends is accidentally picking one that doesn’t have staying power. If that happens, your space will quickly look outdated and you’re forced to either live with it or invest more money to update it. With that in mind, it’s a good idea to stick with timeless classics for more permanent materials like floor coverings and tile. Doing so not only ensures your remodeled space will stand the test of time, but can also help trendier selections pop.

Invest in High-Quality Products

Ensuring your investment doesn’t go to waste is vital. One way to protect it is to opt for high-quality products. This doesn’t always mean purchasing the most expensive products, though. When selecting products and materials, do your homework. Find out what you can about the brand, read reviews, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Picking products with warranties is also a beneficial way to protect your investment. The peace of mind a good warranty offers will make it easier to justify the price of more costly products and materials.

Thinking about remodeling your home? We’d love to help! Get in touch with our award-winning team to learn more about our remodeling process.

Read More

An Interior Designer Answers 3 Frequently Asked Questions about Home Design

0 Comments
Share

Whether building a new home or remodeling an existing home, Knight Construction Design, Inc is focused on helping clients create spaces they love. We know the process of designing a home can be overwhelming for many homeowners. That’s where our interior designer, Kristen Peck, comes in! Kristen works closely with each client throughout every phase of the design process. From the initial meeting to drawing plans to finishing touches, Kristen is an expert in how design and construction impact the quality of a home.

When working on your home’s design, it’s only natural to have questions. However, Kristen has found some questions are more common than others. Today, she’s sharing her answers to three popular questions about interior design. Check them out below!

 

“Do you think this matches?”

As an interior designer, I’m not a big fan of the word “match” when it comes to design. Focusing on whether pieces match perfectly can leave a lot to be desired in the completed design. Instead, I’m a big believer that things need to coordinate without being too matchy-matchy. I think finding the right balance between matchy-matchy and complimentary adds a personal touch to any space.

My grandma had a great eye for design and she would always say, “if you love it, it will work.” I think this makes a lot of sense because all the things you love or are drawn to should work together in harmony. With that in mind, focus on mixing different materials and textures to add visual interest and depth to the room’s design. My favorite way to do this is by mixing metals with a variety of textures.

“Will white cabinets go out of style?”

I think white cabinets are a very classic look. With that in mind, I don’t think they will ever really go out of style. Many older homes feature cabinets in a classic white inset shaker style, which is still popular today. If you were to look at the design of an older home, like this 1920s kitchen, you’d see what I mean. In fact, many of the styles popular back then are coming back into style again, like the classic plumbing fixtures shown in the photo.

“How do you decide which trends to use in a design?”

At Knight Construction Design, Inc, we don’t design a home based around trends. Instead, we look at the architecture and style of the home and incorporate design elements that complement it. While trends are great, it can be hard to say which ones will stick around.

When designing a home I like to stick to classic materials and colors for more permanent fixtures like floor coverings, tile, and countertops. Using tried and true favorites for the base of a design ensures it won’t go out of style in just a few years. Before deciding which trends to incorporate into your design, it’s always a good idea to ask yourself how much it will cost to remodel if the trend goes out of style.

Ready to start designing the home of your dreams? Knight Construction Design, Inc has got you covered! Contact our team for more information.

Read More

Should You Remodel or Move?

0 Comments
Share

Your home isn’t just a big investment; it’s where you spend your time making memories. With that in mind, loving your home is important. If you’ve been experiencing bouts of house envy lately, it might be time to make some changes. The question is, do you remodel or move? There are a lot of factors to consider but weighing the pros and cons can help you decide which choice is right for your family.

 

The Pros of Moving

 

Moving Offers the Chance for a Fresh Start

Have you been craving a new adventure in a different city? Are you tired of the same old? If so, moving may just be the fresh start you’ve been looking for.

A New Home in a New Location

From unwelcome changes in the neighborhood to long commutes, there are many reasons you may be unhappy with your current location. Regardless, cosmetic changes won’t make you love your neighborhood. If that’s the case, moving is more than likely the best option.

Building Your Dream Home

Unfortunately, there are times when no amount of remodeling will make you want to stay in your current home. Purchasing a home built to spec lets you customize it to suit your unique style and needs.

 

The Cons of Moving

 

Selling Your Home Can Be Costly

Realtor fees and moving costs are generally expected when selling your home, but there are many other costs to consider. For example, you may need to purchase appliances, furniture or decor to fit your new home’s design.

Moving is Stressful and Time-Consuming

Moving means unpredictable showings, endless packing, and a lot of cleaning. In addition, moving can require you to take time off of work, especially if there are tight closing deadlines.

You May Not Sell Your Home for Asking Price

If you live in an older home, be prepared to make some updates in order to sell your home for the desired price. At the very least, you may need to make concessions on things like flooring or appliances to the seller so they can make their own updates.

You May Have to Make Sacrifices

Finding a home in your price range that checks every box on your list may be easier said than done. Knowing what you want is great, but be prepared to make some sacrifices.

 

The Pros of Remodeling Your Home

 

Staying in Your Neighborhood

Perhaps on the biggest benefits of remodeling is getting to stay in the neighborhood you adore. If you love your home’s location and have come to rely on your neighbors, remodeling might make more sense than moving. Replicating the comfort that comes from knowing your neighborhood and the people in it can be difficult.

Redesigning Your Space to Fit Your Needs

After living in your home for a while, chances are you know exactly what you need to change in order to make you happy. Whether that’s a few tweaks here and there or a complete overhaul, redesigning your space could be exactly what you need to fall back in love with your existing home.

No Moving Expenses or Tight Timelines

Moving can be a very expensive ordeal. From securing a moving truck to realtor fees, even the smallest of costs start to add up. When you add in the stress of trying to find a new home while selling your current one, you might just begin to wonder if it was worth the hassle. Though remodeling can be expensive too, there’s often a lot less to juggle.

 

The Cons of Remodeling Your Home

 

Living in a Construction Zone

Remodeling your home often means living in the middle of a construction zone. While the project is underway, you can expect to deal with dust, noise, and a little chaos until it’s complete.

Unexpected Expenses

Remodeling your home can stir up some costly surprises, especially if you plan to tear down walls or relocate existing plumbing. However, leaving a cushion in your remodeling budget to cover hidden expenses is an easy way to prepare for any issues that may arise.

 

While there are pros and cons to both sides, deciding whether to remodel or move is a choice only you and your family can make. If you think remodeling is the right choice for you, get in touch with our team. We’d love to chat! 

Read More

2019 Awards: Best of Houzz & NARI Regional CotY

1 Comments
Share

At Knight Construction Design Inc, we pride ourselves on providing our clients with the best possible craftsmanship, design, and service. This dedication has helped our team win several awards from many different organizations over the years. We couldn’t be more proud to add three new awards to our collection. We’d like to extend our gratitude to both Houzz and the National Association of Remodeling Industry, as well as our amazing clients for helping us achieve these honors.

 

Best of Houzz 2019 Design

 

Houzz, the leading platform for home renovation and design has awarded us, “Best of Design.” Our team was chosen by the more than 40 million unique monthly users that make up the Houzz community and was selected from among more than 2.1 million active home building, remodeling, and design industry professionals.

best of house 2019 - design badge

Each year, the Best of Houzz badge is awarded in three different categories: Design, Customer Service, and Photography. Winners of the Design category are chosen based on whose work is the most popular among the Houzz community. As winners of the Design category, our Houzz profile will feature a “Best of Houzz 2019” badge. This badge will act as a symbol of our commitment to excellence and help homeowners identify us as a popular and top-rated design build company in the Twin Cities region.

“Best of Houzz is a true badge of honor as it is awarded by our community of homeowners, those who are hiring design, remodeling and other home improvement professionals for their projects,” said Liza Hausman, vice president of Industry Marketing for Houzz. “We are excited to celebrate the 2019 winners chosen by our community as their favorites for home design and customer experience, and to highlight those winners on the Houzz website and app.”

In previous years, Knight Construction Design Inc has received an additional 14 “Best of Houzz” badges.

Best of Design, 2012-2019
Best of Customer Services, 2012-2018

Find us on Houzz here.

 

NARI 2019 Regional Contractor of the Year Awards

 

We’re excited to share we have won two awards from the National Association of Remodeling Industry (NARI), a source for homeowners seeking to hire a professional remodeling contractor.

Each year, NARI presents CotY awards to members who have demonstrated outstanding work through their remodeling projects. This is the highest form of recognition by industry leaders and peers. There were over 350 entries for this year’s competition, totaling more than $97 million worth of remodeling projects.

Contractors from seven regions around the country vie for CotY Awards each year. Judging is based on problem-solving, functionality, aesthetics, craftsmanship, innovation, and degree of difficulty by an impartial panel of industry experts. NARI named 154 Regional CotY™ Winners from the 2019 competition plus 24 team members. Regional CotY Winners will now advance as finalists at the National level.

NARI 2019 Awards_Res Interior $75k-150k_Regional Winner_Color

Knight Construction Designs, Inc. has been named 2019 CotY Regional Winner for Region 3 North Central for Residential Interior $75,000 to $150,000.

 

NARI 2019 Awards_Res Kitchen $60k-100k_Regional Winner_ColorKnight Construction Designs, Inc. has been named 2019 CotY Regional Winner for Region 3 North Central for Residential Kitchen $60,001 to $100,000.

Since 2009, our team has been awarded several CotY honors. To see the full lists, visit our awards page.

Interested in working with our award winning team? Get in touch with our team to learn more about how we can help you design the home of your dreams!

Read More