Ye Olde Village Workshop, LLC

10/22/2012

Do your walnut cabinets have scratches from years of use?

Walnut Cabinetry... is be a sight to behold. Dark Walnut can be one of the most beautiful wood choices and a source of pride for homeowners. That said, walnut has a tendency to show scratches more easily than some other woods. Primarily due to the selection of a dark stain, glaze or other finish. Luckily, touching up scratches in walnut cabinets can be done fairly easily. Here's how...

If your walnut cabinets have only light scratches, you should be able to easily touch up the scratches yourself. If, however, the scratches are deeper, you will need to decide if you can fill the scratches yourself or should pay a professional to do it. Lightly scratched cabinets can be touched up by purchasing a touch up pen or marker. These are typically fairly inexpensive, around $3 to $10 per marker, and available at most hardware stores.

More deeply scratched cabinets (the scratch can be felt when rubbing your hand across the surface), you will need to purchase a scratch filler. These are typically pricier than the touch up markers.

When fixing scratches, be sure to follow the instructions on your touch up or scratch filler kit. They are usually pretty straight forward. If the cabinets are only lightly scratched, it should take less than 30-minutes from start to finish to touch them up. If you need to fill the scratches, expect to take out a few hours of time to complete the project. A tip that will make a major difference when touching up your walnut cabinets: always follow the grain of the wood when working on the cabinets. All sanding, stain application and wiping should be done following the wood grain. Keep any remaining wood filler or touch up marker, in case you need to use it to touch up your walnut cabinets later on.

If your cabinets were made by Ye Olde Village Workshop, chances are we have an exact stain and filler mix to match. Feel free to contact us with any questions or needs.

10/01/2012

HELP WANTED: CARPENTER/ SKILLED TRADESMAN

For 36 yr family owned remodeling company. F/T, independent problem solver. Email: [email protected] Please, no phone calls about employment.

03/19/2012

The CCF Humidrawer™ is made with the cigar aficionado in mind. This attractive drawer is lined with Spanish Cedar and can be manufactured in your choice of one of our many fine wood selections. Featuring a laser engraved customized wooden lid and optional separate compartments to store cutters, lighters and/or ashtrays. Contact us today to incorporate the Humidrawer™ into your next project.

03/05/2012

A view of our work found in the Real Kitchens 2012 Premiere Issue. Pick up a copy full of 100s of ideas, including amazing budget re-dos.

03/05/2012

featured in the Real Kitchens 2012 Premiere Issue! Our construction, cabinetry and tilework are featured as part of a Deborah Sinatra, Custom Home Fashion, cozy fit bath design that goes "beyond the basics for an inviting, in-home sanctuary."

02/13/2012

Cost vs Value: Three years of dropping remodeling costs have not been enough to counter the steeper drop in house prices. That said, Housing 360 research shows that cost vs. value data confirm replacement projects perform better in resale value than other types of remodeling projects. Three of the 10 top-ranked projects are siding, window, or door replacement projects and their cost-value ratio is an above average 71.6%. Most replacement projects immediately improve curb appeal, and the use of durable low maintenance replacement materials appeal to home buyers who are increasingly look to reduce both the operation and maintenance costs of their homes.

12/28/2011

With only a few days until 2012 homeowners are studying the housing market. The question, "will 2012 will be the turning point" seems to be on everyone's mind. According to information provided by The Standard and Poors Housing Index the Pocono's may be on the right track.

This would make NOW a great time to look into the top 2012 Home Improvement trends. Why is now such a great time to do so? Home buyers are now looking for a place to settle and the data of the past 5 years of the housing market is in focus. Home buyers for the 2012 season are no longer looking simply for investment properties. The idea of buying a home just to “flip it” does not have the same financial return of 10 years ago.

Homeowners looking to sell recognize that with so many new homes on the market, making home improvements allows older homes to become competitive. New home builders recognize that with such a buyers market, the demand for luxury and quality associated with home improvement is steadily on the rise.
Whether you fall into the category of making home improvements for maintenance purposes, to improve the aesthetics and environment of your home or to increase the overall value of your home, there are many factors to consider before deciding on a course of action.

Two factors we believe are the most important to keep in mind when deciding what 2012 improvements to make on your home are:
1. Your neighborhood's median value - whether you choose to stay in the home or sell in the future, upgrading your home past the neighborhood median value will make it far more difficult to sell your home.
2. Return on investment - determine what 2012 home improvements have the best return on your investment.

Here are a few inexpensive and economical solutions according to Realtor Mag 2010-2011 cost vs. value analysis:
1. Entry Door Replacement, recouped value: 102.1%
2. Garage Door Replacement, recouped value: 83.9%
3. Siding Replacement, recouped value: 80.0%

As important as what to do is who is doing the work for you. Find out about the who you are hiring by obtaining references from homeowners who have had work completed by the tradesman. In Pennsylvania, make sure they are a Commonwealth of PA registered renovation contractor. Finally, is it a brick and mortar location that stands behind their work or a freelance contractor working from a roving van from whom you may never hear or see again?

Wishing everyone a happy and prosperous 2012, The Fisher family & staff of Ye Olde Village Workshop.

12/19/2011

12/05/2011

Add Character With Molding:

From crown molding to wainscoting, custom molding completely transforms the look of any room. Moldings are the architectural details trimming floors, ceilings, windows, and doorways. They soften the harsh corners and embellish the angles and areas where we live.

Why settle for the same profiles as your neighbors or friends down the street? Home improvement store or lumber yard acquired moldings don't add the same handcrafted and quality touch to your home. Custom moldings created in a woodshop can provide a style and design unique to your home. Depending on the detail and molding, competitive pricing exists and can provide a handcrafted look at similar costs, without breaking your budget. Here are some molding basics:

Floor trims — Base moldings along the edges of rooms, applied where floor meets wall. They are both decorative and protective, preventing vacuums and other cleaning tools from marring the wall. They can be used singly or applied in combination for a more elaborate look.

Ceiling trims — These moldings are applied where wall and ceiling meet, adding interest and masking irregularities in the room's lines. Molding is a painter's or wallpaperer's best friend, covering any ceiling level mishaps.

Crown or cornice moldings can be simple or quite elaborate. They can be plain or richly carved and can be used alone or in conjunction with other moldings to provide a deep header along the top of the room.

Among the classic profiles are: dentil, alternating recessed and protruding rectangles; egg and dart, ovals divided by a wedge; cove, undulating curves of varying widths, and pearl, molding accented with a row of beading.

If you want an economical solution to take a room or your home from builder grade to estate quality, consider using custom moldings.

10/26/2011

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09/26/2011

Adding a Kitchen Island:

One of the most popular ways to improve your kitchen’s functionality is to add an island. An increase in counter space and the add of cabinets can make a kitchen workable for two cooks. An island can create a dedicated area for tasks like baking or simply free up space on crowded countertops. Plus, the countertop can function as an overflow surface for serving buffet-style, eating meals, or as a point to entertain from.

The design of a kitchen's island should reflect the intended use. If cooking is your focus, a chopping block and a sink could be added. If space is the primary concern, a simple countertop with cabinets and storage space below make a good choice. Regardless of your intended use, it is a good idea to define the purpose of the new kitchen island before building it.

Custom Cabinetry ~ Home Renovations: Ye Olde Village Workshop, LLC is a full service custom cabinet & millwork shop and Pennsylvania licensed home improvement contractor who has served the Poconos since 1976.

09/26/2011