It’s always fun to peek inside the world of our favorite celebrities, especially those famous chefs that have created gorgeous, functional kitchens with all the bells and whistles. Here are a few ideas on luxury home designs to inspire your kitchen renovation.

Source: Tiefenthaler Construction

1. Guy Fieri’s 900 square foot kitchen is built for entertaining, with a pair of stainless steel refrigerators for extra food and beverage storage. There’s also an enormous burner capable of boiling large pots of chili, stew, or jumbalaya when hosting a crowd.
2. Instead of renovating the kitchen in her home, Ina Garten decided to construct a separate building to house her cooking center. The enormous space includes a farm house sink and state of the art stove, fridge and Viking range.
3. Streamlined elegance is the focus at Martha Stewart’s Manhattan kitchen. She prefers clean lines and a modern feel, so insisted upon floor to ceiling cabinetry in the design. Instead of pull out drawers on the lower cabinets, she opted for sliding doors to maximize space.
4. One of America’s first celebrity chefs, Julia Child, was six foot, two inches tall. As such, she custom tailored her kitchen to include 38 inch counter tops instead of the standard 36 inches. Ms. Child also installed both gas and electrical cook tops for more flexibility in creating her dishes.
5. Paula Deen envisioned a combination between professionalism and traditional style when designing  her kitchen. The appliances are premium quality, including a convection oven and in-counter deep fryer. The wooden ceiling beams and exposed brick provide a more classic style.
At Tiefenthaler, our construction and interior design professionals have been bringing luxury home designs and kitchen renovations to Norwalk, CT area residents for over 25 years. Please contact our office for ideas and help creating your dream kitchen.

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The attraction of historic homes is understandable, considering their elegant charm and classic beauty. If you’re the owner of an older home or are thinking about purchasing one, there are a few issues you should be aware of before going forward with historic home renovations. The specialists at Tiefenthaler can point out a few common problems that can occur when homeowners begin these types of projects.

Source: Tiefenthaler Construction

1. Due to older construction materials, practices and sealing practices, moisture can be an issue in older home renovation. Many times, leaking water can lead to mildew and mold, which can affect the structural integrity of wood and cause health problems for the home’s occupants.
2. Even if it was built with top materials available at the time, an older home’s foundation can crack simply due to age. When this happens, a homeowner will need to hire contractors to replace or repair the foundation.
3. Lead, which  can cause multiple health issues, is the source of a couple of problems in older homes. First, plumbing installed before might have traces of lead if the home was constructed before the 1940s. Also, lead paint was a popular choice among homeowners of historic homes.
4. The original windows installed in older homes were constructed before technological advances that make newer models more energy efficient. When renovating an older home, replacement of the windows with dual-pane variety is recommended.
5. The electrical systems in older homes built before modern building codes might need replacement. Grounded outlets, which typically include three pronged plates, are now required. To be sure, check with a certified electrician to determine whether the electrical system is current.
Tiefenthaler is a Fairfield County builder with extensive experience with historic home renovations, so please contact our office for help with your older home improvement projects.

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Do you love the classic look of built-in cabinetry in the living rooms of older homes, but always thought it was impossible to install in your space? The construction experts and interior designers at Tiefenthaler will change your mind and show you how elegant built in cabinets can give your home that old world charm. The company has been handling custom construction and Fairfield home renovations for over 25 years, so its professionals have some ideas on how to incorporate built-ins in your home.

Source: David Sharff Architect, P.C. via Houzz.com

For homes with a fire place or other fire feature, open built-in cabinetry flanking on each side makes a stunning visual impact in your living space. You can display books, memorable photos, or other collections on the shelves to add warmth and personality. If your living room is a central spot where the family gets together to watch TV, built-ins are perfect for storing audio and video equipment, as well as CDs, DVDs and video games. You might consider adding cabinet doors in addition to open shelves in order to hide these items away when not in use.
When you need more seating in your living room, consider adding built in cabinetry that’s constructed at seat level. By topping the surface with some comfortable cushions and a few throw pillows, you can add a conversation area that can be used when other chair space is occupied. Placing this type of built-ins under a window can also create the impression of a stylish bay window. In addition, you’ll benefit from the additional storage area. It’s perfect for stowing blankets, pillows and games.
If you have questions about our built-in cabinetry projects or other Fairfield home renovations, please give us a call at Tiefenthaler. Our construction professionals also handle historic home preservation, new construction and exterior home improvements.

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Spring is on the way, which means it’s time to plan your entertaining around your pool. If you have plans for any exterior home renovation, it’s smart to consider a new pool house for this outdoor space.

Source: Red Beacon

In addition to increasing the fair market value of your home, there are several advantages to building these types of structures. The construction experts at Tiefenthaler have some suggestions on the benefits of adding a pool house to your home’s exterior.
Of course, a pool house is a beautiful addition to your outdoor area when designed to integrate seamlessly with the existing style of the space. However, it also adds function by providing additional storage for pool cleaning equipment and supplies. A pool house is also perfect for storing beach balls, floating chairs and other water toys. Plus, the space offers a way for you to store furniture, garden supplies and other warm weather equipment in the winter or when not in use.
When making plans to build a pool house, make sure to include a bathroom. Even if you opt for a half bath instead of a full suite, at least you’ll have a space for guests to use instead of tracking water into your home. Another advantage to installing bath quarters is that you can use the pool house for overnight guests. If you plan accordingly, a pool house can also double as a space for entertaining guests, a media room or a man cave.
Please contact a specialist at Tiefenthaler for more information on adding a pool house and our other exterior home renovation work. We also specialize in historic preservations, new home construction and custom millwork. Our contractors have been partnering with Fairfield County architects and designers to bring high quality construction to clients for over 25 years.

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