I know what you’re wondering….what is wrong with this kitchen?! Absolutely nothing. It works okay, but both the function and aesthetics are about to get a dramatic and gorgeous face lift!
Stay tuned for more. #MontreauxKitchen #BeforePhotos
Jamie Hsu is President of Lakeville Homes, a quality custom home builder and remodeler in the Seattle area since 1985. For additional information specific to your home construction or remodel project, please contact us at http://www.lakevillehomes.com.
While the house is currently all masked off for interior painting, here are some photos of the interiors. The finish millwork is complete and the kitchen slabs (a honed black) went in so that the balance of the cabinets could be installed.
Underneath that floor paper is a gorgeous wide plank, white oak floor. The tile work in the bathrooms has been completed and generally things are really pulling together.
We’re on schedule to have this home ready to live in before the Christmas holidays.
As the weather turns here in Seattle, our custom home in Kirkland is getting buttoned up. The windows are in and building paper is going on. When I was at the house yesterday, there were no less than 12 people on site making things happen. Gas line for the generator. Metal roof installation. Electrician. Low-voltage. Waterproof deck preparation. Siding. And some guys from Lakeville.
Action and progress, that’s what we all like to see. Me. The project supervisor. The client.
If you’ll recall, this home has some pretty spectacular views of Lake Washington. In order to make the most of it and add some character to the highly exposed elevation of the home, the architect (Gelotte Hommas Architects) designed the two-story deck system. I can already see this being the most highly utilized part of the house. The home owners and neighbors will be equally as thrilled.
Tom and Joyce did a very substantial remodel with us back in 2007. Their home was one of our REX (Remodeling Excellence) Award winners. I think it is a real testament to their belief in Lakeville’s work that after this much time has passed, they are willing to do a testimonial for them. Then again, with clients that are this terrific, it’s a pleasure to keep in touch and to keep them happy. Doesn’t hurt that their home is truly stunning and it’s a treat to visit with both the home and its residents.
I just received the professional photos from our staged and completed project in West Seattle. A synopsis of the backstory: The previous owner was a “flipper” who lost this project to the bank half way through. The bank has been a client of ours for a number of projects, and asked us to help them complete the home so they could sell it. The basic equation was that the bank felt it more financially advantageous to spend more on the house to complete it, rather than sell it “as-is”. Spend more to lose less or in this case, turn a profit.
If you are interested in finding out more about this project, viewing additional photos or seeing it yourself, the MLS number 267849.
Here’s a reminder of where we started. Along with a garage full of cabinet boxes and doors. Inside was roughed in and sheetrocked, but with some very dysfunctional rooms.
And here are the professional photos.
Cindy was referred to us by her architect, Gelotte Hommas. We not only were able to help her with getting her new home ready for her busy family, but earned her trust enough to assist in getting her previous home ready for sale. Yesterday, after helping her address some items on the transaction inspection list, she sent me some nice words, and I thought I’d share them.
I appreciate the extra time Brad has devoted to the house (being sold). Thank you so much for having Felicia write the letter that says that Lakeville Homes guarantees their work for one year. I think it put the buyers at ease. Brad’s willingness to try and solve the problem and writing the guarantee letter are why I like working with you all so much. I am very grateful for all you have done for both houses. I definitely have been referring your work and will continue to do so.
In response to Cindy’s kind note, I assured her that Lakeville warranties all of our work. Although the official time line is one year on most items, we try very hard to maintain a relationship with our clients and would like to be a part of the solution of any home related problem that may arise.
I’d love for you to know how great the Lakeville team is first hand too. Call us so we can meet.
We like to have fun too!
And as hard as our team has worked over the past year, we’re happy that we got to celebrate a little. With a golf tournament for non-serious golfers, on the Rusty Putter putt-putt course at Newcastle Golf Course on a beautiful summer evening, our team, some of our partners and our families were able to unwind together.
Putt putt brought a lot of laughs and probably a bit of frustration too, but more than anything it was a chance to relax. We followed the golf up with dinner (the highlight being the ice cream sundae bar) and taking in one of the most spectacular views in town. Thank you team, which includes everyone listed above, for all you do to make us great.
Our client, on the recently completed West Seattle house as well as the Vuecrest completion, recently wrote me a recommendation on LinkedIn. I’m pretty sure that I am not deserving of all his compliments, but clearly I’m not so put aside by them that I’m not willing to share them here.
“On two occasions my firm has retained Jamie’s company, Lakeville Homes, as a general contractor. In the first instance Jamie oversaw the construction of a luxury 5,000 s.f. home in the Vuecrest neighborhood of Bellevue, Washington. Jamie and her colleagues set the standard for exemplary service, superlative finish and strict adherence to budget. Jamie’s endless creativity resolved planning and design challenges in a manner that ultimately made for a better home than we had originally hoped for!
My firm also hired Jamie to finish a high-end, foreclosed view home in West Seattle. The home had been gutted and expanded, but the work done by the prior owner resulted in an impractical floor plan and horribly mismatched architectural styles. Jamie overcame every obstacle and created an exceptional finished product that suits both the neighborhood and the tastes of our target buyers.
Every one on Jamie’s team has routinely demonstrated the utmost professionalism and near obsessive attention to detail, as if the homes were their own. Our firm won’t even consider another contractor in the Seattle area for our future projects.
Craig Sayers, President
The Alera Group and Excelsior Mortgage Equity Fund II, LLC”
Service Category: General Contractor
Year first hired: 2010 (hired more than once)
Top Qualities: Great Results, Expert, Creative
Thank you, Craig, for being a terrific client. It’s been a privilege to work with you on the completion of these projects.
I am a woman of many opinions. (Just ask my husband.) But I am generally selective about who I share those opinions with. The smaller the audience, the better the dialogue.
Last week I was at Mercer Island City Hall, as I often am. I don’t know it all. I have questions. And they have the people who can give me answers.
On this last visit, I was thanking the development staff for their assistance and made a comment about how I appreciate their professionalism and accessibility. Linda, the permit coordinator, asked if I had seen the Letter to the Editor. There, in the most recent edition of the MI Reporter, was a scathing letter about the “toxic” attitude of the City development staff. Kind of the opposite of what I had just experienced (and have experienced many times over my 13 year career).
While I am not one to go looking for a fight, I also have a problem letting someone get smeared for what I have experienced as untruths. Since the city staff wasn’t able to respond or defend themselves, I thought it was time for my first letter to the editor.
I hope the points I made and the advice provided were concise and objective. I hope that residents of Mercer Island feel they have a city hall that does in fact care about them, their projects and the funds allocated to them. And lastly, I hope that the city staff knows that there are people who do appreciate the work they do.
A permit applicant’s inexperience and/or poorly assembled team is not necessarily a reflection on a jurisdiction with rules in place. Because you didn’t get the answers you wanted, does not make them wrong nor the messenger “bad.” I’ll openly admit that Lakeville has a tendency towards compliance, but that is a decision I usually categorize as “good business.”
Please read my response/letter here. And of course, if you have comments, I’d love to hear them (either here or on the comments section of the link) and continue the dialogue. And of course, if you want assistance navigating the sometimes confusing world of entitlements, let me know. I’m happy to provide guidance.
I was doing a little late summer cleaning and came across this (yes, my piling system leaves something to be desired). It’s our recognition for prolonged membership in the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce (issued May 2010–eek, serious piling system). When I attended the luncheon to receive it, the gentleman that I was seated next to laughed that I was 8 years old when Lakeville joined. Not quite, but yes, our involvement predates my time here at Lakeville.
And with the date of the certificate, I guess it’s 16 years and counting now.
Lakeville Homes: A Weblog 