Blog | The Wiese Company

Lighting Your Kitchen

June 20, 2018 by Ray Wiese Leave a Comment

A bright idea for your kitchen! We get a lot of requests for adding light to kitchen during the renovation process. This can mean both natural light and manmade.

In this post we will talk about electrical lighting and save our ideas for letting in natural light for an upcoming post. As part of the design process we take into account how much lighting is needed for any project and provide a good initial lighting design to every room we are working in.

Kitchen renovation chandelier lighting kitchen island

Task and Ambient Lighting in Kitchen Design

Kitchen lighting requires very specific aspects of light to make all the other elements even better! When you are using the kitchen to cook, task lighting above the counters and above appliances without the cook blocking the light are essential. Carefully placed recessed lights and additional light provided from the vent install can typically take care of this.

Another important element is the ambient lighting that can provide warmth to the room as well as personality. Ambient light sources are pendants, chandeliers, wall sconces and even lighting inside of glass cabinets or under cabinet lighting. Adding ambient light to task lighting evens out the light and reduces fatigue on the eyes and add the wow factor by introducing the kitchen’s focal point above the island. While under cabinet lighting started off a task lighting source, it has become the icing on the cake for what we believe is a fully layered lighting package in the kitchen. We like to refer to this as the mood lighting in the lighting plan. The cabinet layer of light helps present a comfortable amount of even counter light. When the task and ambient sources are reduced, the cabinet lighting makes the environment cozier for entertaining or during movie night in a connected family room.

Every kitchen renovation asks the client to make a statement about their style. This story can be told through the use of finish work including tile, countertops, cabinets, and flooring, but lighting choices are very important part of the finish and the way you will use the space.

Here is a look back at some of the pendant lighting that we think has made a kitchen come to life.

Wellesley Kitchen renovation chandelier lighting kitchen island

Wellesley kitchen renovation pendant lighting kitchen island

Wellesley kitchen renovation pendant lighting kitchen island midcentury modern

Sherborn kitchen renovation pendant lighting kitchen island

Dover kitchen renovation pendant lighting kitchen island

Home Additions for Outdoor Living

June 7, 2018 by Ray Wiese Leave a Comment

Outdoor living spaces with amenities such as an exterior kitchen for entertaining are a growing trend nationally. This trend is moving a bit slower here in the Northeast, perhaps due to a cooler climate and the emphasis on summering on the Cape or Islands. In our design-build circle it is more common to discuss outdoor spaces when there is a correlation to the other projects we are working on, like an addition or kitchen renovation or a creative combination. In the Newton-Wellesley area we are often asked to consider things like built-in grills and outdoor refrigeration; but rarely a full-fledged outdoor kitchen. Instead, decks, three season porches and patios with firepits are among the most common “must-haves.”

Building a Deck

I am a purist at heart and my preference is to use natural materials on my own deck, and we also use them on many of our projects. The mahogany decking, more widely available today, is a faster growth variety and does require regular maintenance. This material works best in shady areas where it is less susceptible to rapid moisture changes. Ipe (pronounced e-pay) is a great natural material. About three times the cost of mahogany but with a very long lifespan. With longevity in mind the most popular material are synthetics that require less maintenance. Today there are a lot of materials that look great and can make summers a carefree indulgence.

In Dover we installed this glass railing to give a seamless view to the Charles River beyond.

The addition of details such as railings and skirting can turn a standard deck into an architectural beauty. Besides how the deck sits with your home’s aesthetics, things to consider with decks are the size and transition from the home to the yard. I recommend a deck when there are more than 3 steps down to the yard. The closer to the ground, the more I would be inclined to recommend making the deck large enough to accommodate a table and grill on the deck with a patio for gathering a few steps below. If you are 5 steps or higher above the ground, it may make sense to have room for both dining and gathering on the deck.

Three-Season Porch Addition

That means not usually winter, but for this Dover porch we included electric radiant heat bars at the Owner’s request… and easy-change wood and glass panels for the cool months allowing the space to be open for entertaining year-round. As pollen season is on its way out, I appreciate the client who loved the ability to wait until the pollen stopped before changing the glass to open screens. While the practicality of a three-season porch is desirable some homeowners are happy with screens to just be able to be outside at dusk. In Sherborn, we are famous for screen porches because of our town bird-the mosquito. When you are designing a porch on the entertaining side of the house, think about its’ end use, how you will transition from inside to the backyard and if there are any sunlight restrictions you may impose on the interior.

The exit from this three-season porch has a more traditional mahogany rail with stained lattice below
the stair and a paneled skirt below the decking.

Designing Patios

We do not build patios; however, people will tell you that I often recommend patios over decks. The main reason I recommend a patio is that it will outlast any deck as long as it is constructed properly. Not to mention, with stone being the popular choice for patios it allows you to add a fire pit anywhere you want without burning a hole in your deck. If your backyard is more than five steps down… patios are not a great option without a transition. I have seen patios on homes that just never saw much use because of the distance and some that are the center of summer entertaining because we took the design challenge seriously. We do install patios with other contractors on projects and often have some input of the design… but these spaces often benefit more when the landscaping is taken into consideration with the patio build.

An al fresco dining experience on a Wellesley patio addition complete with dining and fire pit.

What is Wainscoting?

May 31, 2018 by Ray Wiese Leave a Comment

Architectural History
It is common for there to be some confusion between certain millwork features. People often want to incorporate a wainscot in different rooms for added architectural interest… but seldom know what to call it. A wainscot was a term used in the 14^th Century with a Germanic origin of fine oak… typically used for panels. The term was later made commonplace to mean “wood panels on walls”. In the US, especially in old New England colonial homes we can find traditional roots for this application that became a method to separate the animals from the living space… then to protect the soft plaster interiors; and evolved to became a way to add charm and beauty and protection from chairs and daily chores. There are many types of wainscot panels and the choice you make will likely be driven by aesthetics.

Paneled Wainscot is a series of wood panels, typically framed and installed about 1/3 in height of the wall. The picture below is an example of a transitional wainscot using flat internal panels bordered by a flat molding with a traditional chair rail and fitted with a traditional baseboard below. It’s not your mother’s wainscot, so it reads a bit more current in style while still adding a nice sense of upscale interior architecture to the space.

flat panel wainscot wellesley family room addition

Beadboard wainscoting is traditionally installed using wood planks that have a beaded edge. The earlier use of this material boomed in Victorian architecture as a result of steam mills. It was common enough that it can often be found in the service stair or even on housing built for factory workers so that the wainscot could be a durable protective buffer and require minimal maintenance. Most of what we install today is purchased in sheets, and with an upscale manufacturer we have many pattern options that look as robust as the original ¾” boards. Traditional mudrooms are a favorite for this application with all the abuse a mudroom takes with things we come and go with daily.

Applied Molding is a great way to add an extra detail to a space with a little less work and a nice result. Powder rooms and front foyers are popular places to add this look into already existing spaces so the existing baseboards and door and window trim are not impacted. The powder room shown already has a beautiful floor and furniture vanity, and the wainscot adds that extra detail that pulls it all together.

Remodel & Recycle a Kitchen

May 25, 2018 by Ray Wiese Leave a Comment

Recycling your kitchen for “good.” Do you ever wonder where all of the kitchen cabinets, countertops and appliances go when an unflattering, yet seemingly, perfectly useful kitchen is in need of a facelift? It’s a question we often get asked very close to the start of a project… so we can give you the inside scoop early.

Kitchen Remodeling 101
The concern of discarding the old to update with new needn’t impair your excitement about the opportunity to make your space work better for your family. At The Wiese Company we often offer the “kitchen” to organizations that reuse the parts and pieces and give them a second life. While it is not always possible to take this avenue, we strive to make this practice part of our remodeling mission.

Wellesley Kitchen Remodel
In a current home remodeling project in Wellesley a homeowner wanted a kitchen addition and to update the flow of the space and with that came a full kitchen remodel. Since the kitchen was in great shape we took advantage of the opportunity to give the kitchen a second life (kitchen pictured at left).

Home Furnishings Donation Organizations
Thanks to well-known organizations like Habitat for Humanity and Renovation angel® the used goods may find a second life.

Habitat for Humanity’s Habitat ReStores (which just opened a new location in Ashland, MA,) offers the chance to donate gently used appliances and building materials.
Renovation angel® whose niche is recycling luxury kitchens come in to carefully remove countertops to keep them intact, uninstall cabinets and fixtures and roll away appliances. It takes a little more time to go through this exercise than to demo it, but it is a better outcome for the environment and landfills. And there are upsides beyond that with full tax deduction and savings, professional insured removal, pack and transport and disposal cost savings.

Announcing Our Annual “Impact on our Community” recipient: Voices Against Violence, Framingham

May 1, 2018 by Ray Wiese Leave a Comment

The Wiese Company is excited to announce our 2018 “Impact in our Community” recipient, Voices Against Violence! For seven years running, The Wiese Company has taken advantage of its unique ability to pool its design-build resources to benefit local organizations in need. To be a true part of the community we believe it is essential to give back. Each year, The Wiese Company, along with our vendors, local businesses and residents, seeks to aid a local organization. Together, we can offer a local charitable organization repairs and design assistance along with much needed improvements to the environment that allows them to perform much needed work in our community.

This year, we are excited to partner with Voices Against Violence, a non-profit located in Framingham, whose mission is to end sexual and domestic violence and empower victims and survivors to help themselves and their children. For our project we will be redesigning and renovating one of their shelter’s kitchens that is in desperate need of updating for a better workflow to accommodate the up to six families who seek refuge in this home.

What is our ambitious and obtainable goal?

Provide a desperately needed updated kitchen.
Design a kitchen space that allows multiple families to prepare meals simultaneously.
Re-organize the flow of the space, breaking it into two individual cooking areas and offering a separate area for breakfast prep for better maneuverability.
Provide individual pantry areas for more independence and privacy for personal items.
Fresh paint, new appliances and a more welcoming eating and living area will help bring a more optimistic feel to the space.

: Existing Shelter Kitchen

: Kitchen Concept One

: Kitchen Concept Refinement

Please join us for our fundraiser!

Thursday, May 17 from 6-9pm to share savory bites and wine with food prepared by the very-talented and social-minded, Dora Tavel-Sanchez Luz, a chef and the proprietress of the farmhouse in Needham and Buttercup in Natick Center (opening mid-May). Every event ticket purchased automatically enters you to win one of our two raffle prizes each valued over $1,000 or buy additional raffle tickets for $25 each and increase your chances! 100% of your contribution goes to the purchase of appliances or project materials!

Purchase Tickets Now