Making the Most of Interior Spaces (part 2)

by Paulette SodemannIn my last blog, I talked about other interior remodeling projects other than kitchens and baths with a focus on the mudroom/laundry room.  This week, I’ll point out a few other areas of home improvement.

Home offices are almost a necessity now, whether you work in-home or not.  We can help you turn a bedroom or den into organized space by using cabinetry built-ins for storage, shelves for books, and counters for office tools.  When things aren’t cluttered or haphazardly thrown together, it’s much easier to focus on the task at hand.Callen offers three different cabinetry lines that can be used anywhere your storage needs are.  Our stock cabinets are of good quality, but are limited in choices of door styles, finishes and wood species.  They are a good, budget friendly choice and they do offer options such as sliding shelves, lazy Susans, and functional features such as trash container pull-outs.Our mid-level line is semi-custom, so there are more door styles, finishes, and species.  Door styles range from traditional to contemporary, from ornate to arts and crafts style.  With semi-custom, you have the opportunity to change from standard sizing to exact sizing to gain as much storage as possible. The line also offers many internal accessories that make organization a breeze.Custom cabinetry is handcrafted and, like semi-custom, is built to exact sizing.  It’s an option if you want an exotic wood species or unique door style.The nice thing about the cabinetry lines we offer is that you don’t have to have the same “look” throughout.  For example, you could use cherry, maple, alder, or oak as one of your finishes and use a tinted varnish as a secondary finish.  That’s quite common in kitchens when the island may be finished differently than the wall hung cabinets.  We can also do specialty finishes like distressed, rustic, or cottage style.The family room also presents opportunities for improvement with cabinetry and fireplace upgrades.  Enhancements such as bookshelves, new mantles or hearths, or media storage can improve the form and function of the room.  Conversely, dated shelving can be removed, for a cleaner, fresher look.  A fireplace conversion from wood burning to gas is another option.  Instant, realistic-looking flames at the touch of a button!Media centers can really clutter a room with various components and electrical hookups.  An option to hide those unsightly cords is to open the wall and create a raceway behind the TV so they are not seen.  Cabinetry again is a spot for keeping those components and enclosing them when not in use.

For the wine collector, wine cellars can be created in the basement or lower level.  A floor drain for a chiller is required and the walls and ceilings are typically cedar or redwood to withstand the humid conditions.  If your wine collection is not extensive enough to require a cellar, a nice touch is having a separate area outside of the kitchen work triangle for a wine fridge or dry bar for entertainment purposes.