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Pro Spotlight: 3 Key Concepts for Your Kitchen Renovation
A Los Angeles-area construction expert shares his advice when it comes to tackling a complex kitchen remodel
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Who: John Godin of JMG Construction
Where: Long Beach, California
In his own words: “Myself and everyone on my team will treat your home as if it’s our own.”
Kitchens aren’t just the heart of the home, they’re also the design foundation the rest of your home will follow. “A kitchen renovation is a transformation,” says John Godin, the owner of Long Beach’s JMG Construction. “It’s a huge part of your home’s interior, and any change to the look and feel will change the focal point of the house.” If you’re considering a kitchen update, read on for Godin’s tips on tackling such a significant space.
Where: Long Beach, California
In his own words: “Myself and everyone on my team will treat your home as if it’s our own.”
Kitchens aren’t just the heart of the home, they’re also the design foundation the rest of your home will follow. “A kitchen renovation is a transformation,” says John Godin, the owner of Long Beach’s JMG Construction. “It’s a huge part of your home’s interior, and any change to the look and feel will change the focal point of the house.” If you’re considering a kitchen update, read on for Godin’s tips on tackling such a significant space.
Creative assets. As a small child, Godin was always building something in his father’s garage. “Whether my own balsa wood models or helping my sister with her school projects, I was definitely the craftsperson in the family,” he says. Godin went on to earn a degree in illustration and design. “It’s been an asset to bring those visual language skills to the construction industry,” he says. Godin founded JMG Construction in 2006 with the goal of contracting the most talented designers, architects and tradesmen to transform his clients’ visions into reality.
Client communication. Godin’s favorite projects are large-scale endeavors. “It’s so fulfilling to see a large project through,” he says. “There’s nothing more satisfying than touching base every day with my clients, making sure they understand the process, listening to their input and having some fun as we see it all come together.”
Ready to renovate your kitchen? Godin shares his tips below.
Ready to renovate your kitchen? Godin shares his tips below.
1. Let Your Home’s Style Take the Lead
Kitchen trends can pose a conundrum. Do you choose the sink style you saw in the latest magazine? Or search for something with longer-lasting appeal? “Countertop and cabinet trends change every couple of years,” Godin says. “I usually advise my clients to keep the style of their house in mind. You bought your home for a reason, after all.” Plus, walking into a home with mismatched styles can be quite jarring.
For this home in the historic Holmby Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles, the owners wanted to stay within its early-20th-century style. Godin and his team emphasized a high-contrast look with medium oak cabinetry set against dark wood flooring and black countertops against a white tile backsplash. The more modern conveniences, like the brand-new range, hood and wine fridges, add up-to-date functionality without disrupting the style.
Kitchen trends can pose a conundrum. Do you choose the sink style you saw in the latest magazine? Or search for something with longer-lasting appeal? “Countertop and cabinet trends change every couple of years,” Godin says. “I usually advise my clients to keep the style of their house in mind. You bought your home for a reason, after all.” Plus, walking into a home with mismatched styles can be quite jarring.
For this home in the historic Holmby Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles, the owners wanted to stay within its early-20th-century style. Godin and his team emphasized a high-contrast look with medium oak cabinetry set against dark wood flooring and black countertops against a white tile backsplash. The more modern conveniences, like the brand-new range, hood and wine fridges, add up-to-date functionality without disrupting the style.
2. Address Your Pain Points
According to Godin, practicality should almost always trump preference. “Sometimes homeowners think that they want a certain feature, but it doesn’t at all fit with their lifestyle or the space they actually have,” he says. “Start by communicating your dream vision, but keep in mind how you live in your home now.”
These Los Angeles homeowners loved their Spanish bungalow built in 1935 but not its lack of functionality. Godin gave them the extensive kitchen counter space they wanted as well as the ample storage they needed. The JMG team specifically addressed the homeowners’ lifestyle needs with a coffee hutch counter and a cozy breakfast nook. “Now they have a sunlit casual seating space and view of their arched entry, front garden and street,” Godin says.
According to Godin, practicality should almost always trump preference. “Sometimes homeowners think that they want a certain feature, but it doesn’t at all fit with their lifestyle or the space they actually have,” he says. “Start by communicating your dream vision, but keep in mind how you live in your home now.”
These Los Angeles homeowners loved their Spanish bungalow built in 1935 but not its lack of functionality. Godin gave them the extensive kitchen counter space they wanted as well as the ample storage they needed. The JMG team specifically addressed the homeowners’ lifestyle needs with a coffee hutch counter and a cozy breakfast nook. “Now they have a sunlit casual seating space and view of their arched entry, front garden and street,” Godin says.
3. Build Out Your Budget
We all know that cheaper usually isn’t better when it comes to home renovation. “So much of what I do is fixing mistakes,” Godin says. “Lowball offers typically lead to improper installations and code-compliance issues.” To make your spending count, look for a contractor who puts in time and effort. “Your contractor should be on your project every day, closely working with their subcontractors and communicating consistently with you as the homeowner,” Godin says.
The owners of this 1930s ranch house in Rolling Hills Estates knew they wanted to totally transform the look and feel of their kitchen, but they were worried about the cost of taking it down to the studs. “It’s important to really listen to what homeowners are saying so you can build out the most relevant estimate,” Godin says. “For this home we decided to add almost 3 feet of height to the kitchen for a more spacious feel but keep the original tile and cabinets.” A fresh coat of paint on the cabinetry added color and depth without dramatically adding to the project’s cost.
More: For more information on John Godin and examples of his work, visit JMG Construction’s Houzz profile.
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
We all know that cheaper usually isn’t better when it comes to home renovation. “So much of what I do is fixing mistakes,” Godin says. “Lowball offers typically lead to improper installations and code-compliance issues.” To make your spending count, look for a contractor who puts in time and effort. “Your contractor should be on your project every day, closely working with their subcontractors and communicating consistently with you as the homeowner,” Godin says.
The owners of this 1930s ranch house in Rolling Hills Estates knew they wanted to totally transform the look and feel of their kitchen, but they were worried about the cost of taking it down to the studs. “It’s important to really listen to what homeowners are saying so you can build out the most relevant estimate,” Godin says. “For this home we decided to add almost 3 feet of height to the kitchen for a more spacious feel but keep the original tile and cabinets.” A fresh coat of paint on the cabinetry added color and depth without dramatically adding to the project’s cost.
More: For more information on John Godin and examples of his work, visit JMG Construction’s Houzz profile.
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
JMG Construction was started in 2006 with the goal of contracting the most talented designers, architects and... Read More
Review by Josh Newman:
John was great to work with for our new kitchen! You can tell he takes pride in his work and was meticulous about checking the quality of each step of the process. He came back several months later to...More