[Podcast] Behind the Scenes of an ADU Kitchen Remodel with Gilmans

Transcription

Bella Bennett: Hi everyone, and welcome. I’m so glad you’re here today. We are bringing you a behind-the-scenes look at a beautiful home renovation project by Gilmans Kitchens and Baths, one of the Bay Area’s leading design and remodeling firms known for their quality, craftsmanship, and thoughtful design. I’m really excited to introduce Manon, one of Gilmans’ incredibly talented and successful designers. She has worked on so many beautiful spaces, and today we’ll be talking about one of her recent kitchen projects. It’s stylish, functional, and full of smart design details, so stick around as we explore how it all came together. Manon, welcome! Thank you so much for joining me today. How are you doing?

Manon Demers: I’m great! Thank you for having me online. I’m looking forward to explaining a little bit about what we did with this project. It was an exciting project.

Bella Bennett: Amazing, amazing. I am also very excited. So, could you please share with us what kind of cabinets and countertops you used in this project? Was there a particular look or style the client was going for?

Manon Demers: I’ll start with this project being also in this area, especially in the San Rafael, Marin area, and in the Bay in general. Clients there have really kind, extensive, and bigger backyards. There’s been a new wave of creating what we call an ADU, which is accessory dwelling units. And this was one of them.

The client that I was working with owned the house in the front. She is planning on retiring, and as she wanted to retire, she wanted the space in the backyard, so she decided to build herself an ADU so that she can move in there and rent the front of the house. So, it’s a little bit particular to that kind of concept because we might do something very different if it was in the main house with a bigger kitchen. This is a unit that was a thousand square feet, so for an ADU it’s pretty big, but it’s also a small home in a certain way, and we wanted to make sure that we kept the investment she had to what she wanted.

So, at Gilmans Kitchens and Baths, we have many offerings, and we have offerings for many different types of projects, from really a little bit more, I would say, simple, to very intricate projects. So, this line was called Belmont, and we used one of their more simple lines of cabinetry, and it worked really well for an ADU. We did many different things with it, but that was the line that we used to make sure that it would serve her well, but at the same time, would be part of the investment that she wanted to make.

Bella Bennett: Perfect. Thank you so much. That was a great start. My next question is, what would you say was the biggest transformation in this space — like that one change that really made it feel different?

Gilmans Kitchens and Baths: Well, like I said, that was a new build, so everything was new. I worked with a project manager on the whole home to kind of figure out what would be the best use of the space. And as with many homes, even the bigger homes are done that way. Definitely, for an ADU, we did an open space concept kitchen with an island, which you can see a little bit in the back — with an island so that the bigger room, which included the living room space, felt a lot bigger, and it was not secluded to one room or the other. That was very important, as we wanted to maximize every inch of the house. So that was a way to do it — to have a kind of L-shaped kitchen with an island in the middle that can also serve as a kitchen table when it’s a casual dinner with the grandkids or with her family.

So, an open-concept kitchen in general these days in this area is the most popular kitchen concept that we do.

Bella Bennett: Perfect. It’s also helpful for people to hear about the timeline upfront. So, how long did it take to complete the whole project from start to finish?

Manon Demers: Well, there are different ways to look at it.

If you’re just talking about starting from the ground up, where the whole house was built, that was probably about a year. But for the kitchen cabinetry — especially these cabinets — like I said, here at Gilmans, we work with different lines of cabinetry. They’re all cabinetry that comes from the United States; they’re all built here. They are really well made. They are not built in advance — they’re made for the clients as we design the project. So, it’s important to look at it that way because the quality of each of these cabinet lines is very good. Some of them will be simpler, and some of them will be more intricate.

So, for this cabinet line, when it came time to install the cabinetry, from the time we did the design, I always tell my clients the main part of this is the design part of the process. Because if we do everything right in the beginning, before we order the cabinetry, then the likelihood of mistakes and the likelihood of disappointment is a lot less. I’m not saying sometimes things don’t happen, but in general, it really creates a project where the clients can have a vision, and it can be accomplished because they know everything has been discussed in advance and approved.

So, that timeframe, depending on how many changes the clients will make, can take anywhere between, I would say, two to four weeks. That’s where we meet together, where we really look at what they want, how they want it, and then I can create a design online that will reflect what they’re talking to me about.

And then, after that, we are looking at when I place the order — each cabinet line that we offer has a different kind of delivery time. Some of them are faster than others. This one, being a more simple line, was only a two- to four-week delivery time from the moment we placed the order. Some other cabinet lines might be a little bit longer, four to eight weeks. Again, it depends on what the clients want, but we always know in advance, and we always let the client know so that they can plan with the contractor. We can help them plan when the cabinets will arrive at their home so that it’s ready for them, and also so there’s no delay.

I hope that answered your question.

Bella Bennett: Yes, definitely. That was very detailed, and that was great insight. Thank you so much. And, about the project — what were some of the challenges you encountered during this project, if any, and how did you overcome them?

Manon Demers: The main thing — because, again, it was a new home, nothing was built — we had to work with plans, and sometimes for clients, it’s very difficult to figure out what that means, how big the kitchen will be, especially when there’s nothing to compare it to. If we do a remodel, it’s a little bit different because they already have a kitchen, they’re ready to do a change, and we can go to what they have and give the client a better understanding. Like, okay, we’re going to take down this wall, this is how big we’re going to make it — so they can look at it and have a better sense.

When you do a new project, there’s nothing to really go against. So, that was a challenge for the client because she had a hard time visualizing what it would be. We laid it out in a certain way so she could understand, and also to make sure that the kitchen was big enough for her space, but also was not taking over a small space. Because like I said, it was an ADU, so the kitchen and living room were not a huge space. We had to make sure it was well-balanced and proportioned for the living room and the kitchen, and make sure they complemented each other.

Bella Bennett: Thank you. And I’m curious about this — how close did the final result end up being to the client’s original vision? Was it a straight line from the first meeting to the finish, or did things evolve along the way?

Manon Demers: In general, and definitely in this one, things evolved as we kept going. You know, we started one way, and we kept looking at different possibilities, and we finally came to this conclusion that she picked. It was hard for her to see at first, but we did the island in black, and the rest of the cabinets were light gray. That’s something that took a little while to get to because it was helped by also picking the countertop to make sure all of that would come together. But when that was decided, the client was very excited. We got a great review, and I’ve been to visit her afterward a couple of times, and it has definitely exceeded expectations. So, we were very excited about that. And she lives there now, and she loves it.

Bella Bennett: Oh, that’s beautiful. Yeah, that’s so…

Manon Demers: Beautiful, yeah.

Bella Bennett: Exactly, yes. And when it comes to the budget — I know it depends on so many factors — but in general, what is a realistic investment range for a kitchen remodel like this in the Bay Area?

Manon Demers: I will always say first, this is a $2 million question, and it’s a question that is very difficult to answer in many different ways. But I’ll tell you what I know. Again, for us at Gilmans, what we do is offer different lines of cabinetry, creating the possibility of doing many different projects with many different investment levels that a client can use to create a budget, if you want to call it that. So, it allows us to show clients that we could do your kitchen, or your bathroom, or whichever project within this cabinet line, and this is what we can offer. Or, we can go a little bit more intricate, create a different look, and that will create different pricing.

When you’re talking about a kitchen remodel, of course, it’s not only the cabinetry. There’s a lot that gets involved within the process — from plumbing to electrical, to, if it’s a remodel, are we taking down walls or structural walls, are they not structural, the permit process within each city — that also requires a different cost. So, we talk about all of that from the beginning, so that before our clients move forward with us — and this is another thing — they have different possibilities. They can just decide to purchase cabinetry from us and have their own contractor install it. And of course, we design the kitchen at that point. Or they can let us install the cabinetry, or we can do the whole project like we were just talking about.

So, all of that is something that we discuss from the get-go, and from that, we look at what the budget will be. Saying all that, this is not me creating the cost, but there have been different studies done, and within the Bay Area, I will say when you’re thinking of doing a full kitchen remodel — and again, it varies a lot because if you just take everything out and keep the walls intact, it’s going to be a lot less than if you move walls down — but usually, with everything included, only the cabinetry, you probably will start around $100,000, and it will go up from there depending on how intricate the project and the home will be.

Bella Bennett: You explained it perfectly. It was very clear — good! And my next question is, when it comes to layouts, what do most clients tend to ask for? Are there certain styles or configurations that are especially popular right now?

Manon Demers: Well, it’s changing with time, as we know. And at this time, in the trend, you will see — before, for many years, it was the black and the white and the gray. A lot of gray, a lot of white. And now we’re moving toward the warm tones, so a little bit more of that. There’s a wood that is very popular, the quarter-sawn oak and the rift white oak, because it gives a very kind of modern, warm feel without being very dark. So, that’s one thing that’s very popular.

And what’s really popular now is, like I said, the open concept. People really want their kitchen to be part of their home so that when they have guests over, when the children are working at the desk somewhere or in the living room, they’re connected together, and then the kitchen doesn’t feel like it’s isolated. So, we find different ways to create that. In certain homes, it’s a little bit easier than in others. And of course, it depends — I always say a house is alive, and a house sometimes will tell you what you can do and not do. So, we have to look at that and also see, with the investment that our clients will make, if you move a structural wall — again, it’s a lot — the investment is much more serious than if you don’t. So, sometimes it’s not necessary to do that, and we can create a concept that would be open enough and satisfy the client without having to go into a very complicated project.

And design style — I would say people are going into not only modern design, where it’s very flat doors, but there’s a little bit of combination of that and having some design on the cabinetry to give it a little bit more of a warmer feel.

Bella Bennett: Yes, totally agree. And the last question is, what advice would you give to someone who wants to do a kitchen remodel like this? Maybe something you always tell your clients before they start.

Manon Demers: Well, I would say the best advice I can give them is — like I always say — you know, I can never cut my own hair. I can never figure out my style, and I need someone to help me. If you’re going to do a kitchen remodel, it’s a lot more of an investment than a haircut, and it’s very important that you use people who are experienced in what they do and will be able to help you. So, you want to find the right people that you feel you can trust.

And not only a contractor — I always say contractors are wonderful to do the labor and the work, but most of the time I would suggest you hire a kitchen designer or work with people who do kitchen design because there are so many new things that happen, and sometimes you might not be aware of them. It’s for us to explain to you, as we discuss with you what you want within your home, to give you all of those features you would want — and also to not overdo it. Because you don’t want to create a project where the client will be discouraged because their investment is not what they were thinking of.

So, it’s really about working with someone who will ask you the questions that are pertinent for your project, for what you want to do, for your lifestyle, for your family, for your investment. All of that will make it the project that would be, like I said, exceeding your expectations. And I cannot tell you more than — I believe it’s really worth it to work with a designer, and a kitchen designer, who will help you look at what you have and how you can make it happen. Because for us, not only do we look at the big concept and the idea of what it might look like, but we always want to make sure that we can build it with a manufacturer, that it’s going to be feasible, and it’s going to work well. So, I would say that’s the best advice I could give to a client.

Bella Bennett: That was fantastic. Thank you so much, Manon. This was such an enlightening conversation. I really enjoyed hearing about your process and the details behind the project. And to everyone watching, thank you for joining us. We hope you found this helpful and inspiring for your own remodeling journey. Manon, is there anything that you’d like to add before we finish?

Manon Demers: No, I would just say thank you for having me on this platform, and I hope that when clients are thinking of doing a kitchen, they can think about us in the Bay Area because we’ve been around for a long time, and I’ve been around doing a lot of projects. So, I’d love to work with anyone who lives in this area.

Bella Bennett: Thank you so much.

Manon Demers: Thank you.

Bella Bennett: For more about Gilmans Kitchens and Baths, you can find the details in the episode description. Take care, and we’ll talk again soon.