News

Nov

Big News: Two 2018 CotY Award Wins!

It’s been a big week for our team at J. Carsten Remodeling. We attended NARI Minnesota’s annual CotY Award ceremony, and we won two awards! Jason and our team are so proud of this great honor, especially when it comes from our local remodeling community.

The two awards we took home were…

Residential Interior Element under $30K Silver Award

Residential Bath over $75,000 Silver Award

Jason and his lovely wife Gina had a fantastic evening mingling with industry friends and celebrating the recognition of a year’s worth of hard work! Jason would also like to thank all of the subcontractors and industry partners who support our team and helped make these projects a reality. Scroll below for a few more fun highlights from the evening!

Oct

Project Feature: Luxurious Golden Valley Bathroom Retreat

After buying their Golden Valley home in 2017, this couple knew their dark and dated master bathroom was in need of remodeling help. Jason loved taking on the challenge of completely transforming this space without altering the overall footprint.

From top to bottom, this project was all about precision and creating a luxurious, elegant retreat. Some of our favorite upgraded design details include:

Brighter, dimmable lighting to increase safety and overall atmosphere
A water closet pocket door for extra privacy and functionality
An oversized shower with a rain showerhead and an additional hand-held head
The spacious stepped double vanity to keep his and her areas separate
An easy to clean countertop with undermounted Kohler sinks
A distinctive herringbone glass shower tile pattern

When it comes to sophisticated style, this room has it in spades! The gorgeous soaking tub is the centerpiece with its glowing chandelier above to draw your eye even more and add a touch of glamour.

Next to the tub is the equally beautiful, but slightly more practical, glass and tile spa shower. The shower’s large size and rain head feel indulgent. However, the subtle herringbone tile, calm neutral tones, and glass sides all blend well with the rest of the room, It’s luxurious but tasteful, bold without being overpowering.

Overall, we couldn’t be happier with this breathtaking master bathroom. In fact, we wouldn’t mind calling this lovely space our own! (We’re pretty sure these clients don’t plan on parting with it anytime soon, though!) Scroll below to see more photos from this stunning project, and get in touch if you’re ready to begin your next bathroom transformation.

Oct

Twin Cities Parade of Homes Remodelers Showcase Recap

The Twin Cities Parade of Homes Remodelers Showcase may be over, but we’re still reflecting on a weekend filled with design, friends, and fun. We couldn’t resist getting our owner Jason’s take on the event and asking about his favorite questions and conversations. Read below for his answers and observations – and a sincere thanks to everyone who stopped by to visit!

What were your favorite visitor comments?
Many visitors commented that the home was one of the better ones they visited; they said it had high-quality design, a great layout, and beautiful decorating. (All wonderful things to hear!)

What’s the most common question you received?
People asked a lot about the backyard shed, what kind of shed is that – is that a she-shed or a man cave? Someone said it doesn’t look like just a storage shed, and one person referred to the shed as a “deluxe shed.”

Did anything surprise you about people’s comments/reactions?
A few folks were very taken back that the ceiling wood (wall planks) are only glued in place.

What elements of the home did visitors like the best?
The ceiling with LED lights that change color and the backyard shed were both mentioned a lot.

Favorite beer from the tasting?
Mango Chinook PA

Did anyone you know stop in to say hello?
Our partner Stephanie from Front Step Marketing came by, and a potential customer stopped in for a third consecutive tour event in a row!

What was your favorite part of the event?
Sunday’s weather was much nicer, numerous couples explored the backyard and shed before coming into the house. I liked providing a little nature walk for people to enjoy.

Anything else you want to add?
Thanks again to everyone who came to visit – it was great meeting you all!

Want to know more about Jason or the J. Carsten Remodeling? Please, reach out anytime with a call or email! Jason would love to talk design or walk you through the process.

Sep

Fall Parade of Homes Remodelers Showcase Q&A

The Fall Parade of Homes Remodelers Showcase begins in less than a week, and we can’t wait to share this lovely home. To tide us over until next weekend, we quizzed our fearless leader, Jason, on his favorite features of this home and his typical home tour day. Read his answers below!

What do you enjoy most about home tour weekends?
I love meeting people who have never thought of remodeling or doing what we did for that project (for example, removing the wall in this kitchen).

Do tour days have a typical flow?
Tour Fridays are usually a little slow, which is why it’s a good time to come for our HomeBrew tastings! Less traffic = more beer to enjoy!

What kind of homebrew’s can people look forward to?
We are thinking of offering a Mango Chinook IPA, Ginger La Petite Orange (Belgian Dubbel), Oatmeal Stout, and a Cream Ale. However, the beer list will vary based on what’s available.

Any favorite features from your showcase home?
My favorite things are the backyard shed and the wood living room ceiling with LED uplighting that changes color.

What was the most challenging aspect of this remodel?
Determining the layout of the kitchen was the biggest challenge. When we decided to remove the wall, there was a load bearing post that needed to stay. So, we had to design around keeping that structure. It was also tricky to decide what to do under the kitchen windows. We ended up creating a beautiful custom bench with storage; it utilizes what could have been an awkward space perfectly!

What inspired the fun ceiling accent lighting?
The original living room lighting was halogen lights that were not efficient or effective. When we decided to change the ceiling, we wanted to do something fun. I saw an idea in a Cambria Magazine (see photo below) for a home in Kohler, WI. We aimed for a similar look but adding uplighting using a color changing LED strip for an even more bold effect. The lights actually make a great night light too!

What style is this home?
I’d call it a four-level split with modern looks 😉

Anything else you want to say about this home?
The main goal was to remove the Honey Oak color from the home. So far, we’ve remodeled most of the home and just have a few more rooms to go!

Sep

Fall Parade of Homes Remodelers Showcase

Fall Parade of Homes Remodelers Showcase
September 28-30, noon to 6 pm
2150 – 67th Street E, Inver Grove Heights, MN 55077

September has arrived, people are settling back into their fall routines, and it’s almost time for the Fall Parade of Homes Remodelers Showcase! Whether you’re planning an upcoming remodel or just enjoy design-gazing, there’s plenty of inspiration to be found in this Inver Grove Heights home.

Originally finished with builder grade honey oak wood throughout, this multi-level split home was due for an update. Jason and our team got to work removing a wall separating the kitchen and dining room, which allowed more space for the stunning custom painted cabinets and window bench.

The ceilings on the main floor also received a dramatic makeover! A barn wood-covered dropped soffit was added, along with a fun recessed lighting trim accent. We also replaced all of the main level millwork with painted moulding and modern dark stained doors.

Upstairs, the master and guest baths were both completely remodeled. Each bathroom now has a tiled, glass door shower and design personality to spare! It’s hard to decide which details we like more, but it’s probably tied between the guest bath’s bold vanity or that master bath’s rustic wood floor.

Moving outside, the backyard is party-ready with its spacious patio and bonfire pit. But the highlight of the yard might have to be the charming garden shed; it’s perfectly pretty and practical. Other notable home features include the new siding and roof, Marvin Integrity Windows, and a custom home brewery area!

Want to see more of this unique family home? Don’t forget to visit us September 28-30th, and stop by between 4-6 pm each afternoon for a free HomeBrew beer tasting! To hold you over until then, explore the images below.

Aug

Project Feature: Mahtomedi MN Kitchen Remodel

Jason and our team partnered with these homeowners to open up and update the kitchen in their 117-year-old Mahtomedi, MN home. Over five weeks, our team worked to transform this cramped kitchen into a modern, functional, and beautiful space. One of the biggest changes we made was taking down a wall separating the kitchen and dining room. See before and after photos for reference below:

Tearing down the wall and adding sufficient support was our greatest challenge during this renovation. What was unique about this project was blending the old with the new. For example, the fresh kitchen flooring needed to transition seamlessly into the existing wood dining room floor. We also preserved part of the original cabinetry, which meant finding a cabinet maker to create and install new matching doors.

Jason mentioned that his favorite finishes from this project were the stunning sink and countertops. He also loved getting to know these wonderful (and funny – see the surprise they left for him and the crew one morning further below!) homeowners and their two friendly dogs! Check out a few more photos of this classic modern farmhouse-inspired space below.

Lastly, here’s the clients’ gag for Jason and our crew… They knew how to make things fun 🙂

Aug

Q&A: How Long Does the Typical Remodel Take?

When it comes to remodeling, one of the first questions many of our clients have is, “how long will this process take?” We get it; your routine will be in flux, and strangers will be in your house. It’s only natural to wonder how long it will last.

If our general remodeling process is what you’re after, we’ve devoted an entire page of our website to it. Don’t want to follow a page link trail? We’ve also included an infographic that summarizes our process from start to finish below:

Outside of our construction methods, maybe you just want an estimate of typical project length? No problem – we’ve got you covered there too! In general, you can expect:

Bathroom remodels typically take between 3-5 weeks, depending mostly on your layout and finishes
Kitchen remodels are usually between 5-8 weeks in length, timelines fluctuate based on how much work is needed (i.e., tearing down walls, relocating plumbing, or drastically altering your layout)

Essentially, the details of your home, lifestyle, and remodeling choices will dictate our timeline. However, our organized systems and hard-working team are all about getting you back to normal ASAP!

Have more questions or simply want to pick Jason’s brain? Give him a call or send him an email whenever – he’d love to help you get things rolling!

Jul

Client Design Trends: Modern Farmhouse Style

Design trends come and go. Each era has its signature style and a few fads that fall by the wayside (we’re looking at you shag carpet and sponge-painted walls). So, what trend is on the rise currently?

You may have guessed it from the title, but farmhouse style has been a design force to be reckoned with for a while now. Equal parts timeless and trendy, modern farmhouse style is so attractive to people because it feels fresh but familiar.

Some of the hallmarks of this trend are bright white paint, subway tile, large farmhouse sinks, vintage or vintage-inspired light fixtures, open spaces, exposed shelving, and classic metallic hardware.

While the elements of farmhouse style are typically simple and relaxed, they lend themselves easily to mixing and matching with other trends. Whether it’s industrial, traditional, minimal, or transitional, farmhouse style plays well with others.

Want to see some of our client’s stunning farmhouse style inspired remodels? Scroll below to take a look or explore our kitchen gallery to browse even more of our past projects!