My kitchen is a disaster. When I have guests over, my solution is to use 25-watt light bulbs, greet them at the door with wine, then bypass the disaster to the deck and backyard. It’s been one of those projects that just kept getting put off. But I knew eventually I’d have to deal with the disaster, so I called up Stephan Sardone for advice.
With all my years in building sets, staging homes, and dabbling in design, I know just enough to be dangerous. I warned Stephan that I might not be an ideal client. I’ve mentally redesigned my kitchen a thousand times, imagining my cabinets in every color from white to black, and going from dramatic to classic. I can tell anyone else what they should do with their space but when it comes to my turf, I’m as indecisive as the worst nightmare client. Stephan was not phased. He set me up for an initial Zoom discovery meeting.
Now, mind you, I’ve never been through this process with a professional for my own home. Despite dealing with great contractors and remodelers for clients, it was a whole new world when it came to my house.
Sardone interviews every client because he wants to make sure he’s the right fit for you. “There are plenty of great contractors, but often it’s not a magic combination,” Sardone said. “You have to find the right team, and when it’s a great fit, that’s the magic combination.”
Sardone will also not hesitate to let you know if he feels it’s not a good fit, which is rare. “You have to set expectations immediately, set up an agenda for that first one-hour meeting, and figure out if it makes sense to talk about next steps.”
If it’s not a fit, he is happy to refer you to other professionals. If that initial meeting seems like a fit, Sardone then invites the client to his office.
“There are a lot of things to consider when you determine who is going to tear your house apart,” Sardone said. “The way I do that is to ask a lot of questions, and I don’t make any assumptions. I want to know the top goals, understand the why behind those goals, and the wish list regardless of the budget so I can provide options.”
Now, remember I said I know enough to be dangerous, but we’ve had a global pandemic, and the supply chain is crazy right now. Many of my go-to products are not available, and there is no way I can keep up with what’s in stock, what has to be ordered, and what has been discontinued. Being open is critical.
“Sometimes I meet with clients, and they are specific,” Sardone said. “That’s not a bad thing, but they don’t get to access any extra options if they know what they want.” And right now, what you want may not be available. So the key takeaway here is even if you think you know what you want, be open to suggestions.
“The key element in any remodel is the partnership,” Sardone said. “Of course, budget is very important, and with the right partner, you can find the appropriate amount to invest. Remember, this is your home, not your portfolio.”
I know I need more storage, more cabinets, and more organization. I want a huge kitchen party island where everyone can eat. I also want my kitchen to look furnished like other rooms because I grew up in Europe, where it’s not unusual to see actual furniture in European kitchens. Right now, my mother’s French dining table acts as my island, and velvet chairs surround it. Not the best solution, but it works for now. If I had an island, think of the storage I’d gain!
Right now, I have an absurd area at the end of the kitchen with my washer and dryer curtained off. (The bifold door fell off 15 years ago and this was my temporary solution.) I have no actual mud area, so things are stuffed under and beside an antique chest. I also want cabinets around the window with storage for the vacuum, files, and kitchen detritus. I want a lot. Even though I think I know where to begin, I probably don’t.
What I do know is this is my forever house. I need solutions, and Sardone Construction is a solution provider. He gets it.
“People what their homes to be as nice as possible,” Sardone said. ”They don’t want to be embarrassed to have family and friends over, and they want to enjoy their homes. I help them make smart choices and encourage them to see not the return on investment but the return on enjoyment!”
