Download our free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW The homeowner and his wife had lived in this beautiful townhome in Oak Brook overlooking a small lake for over 13 years. The home is open and airy with vaulted ceilings and full of mementos from world adventures through the years, including to Cambodia, home of their much-adored sponsored daughter. The home, full of love and memories was host to a growing extended family of children and grandchildren. This was THE place. When the homeowner’s wife passed away suddenly and unexpectedly, he became determined to create a space that would continue to welcome and host his family and the many wonderful family memories that lay ahead but with an eye towards functionality. We started out by evaluating how the space would be used. Cooking and watching sports were key factors. So, we shuffled the current dining table into a rarely used living room whereby enlarging the kitchen. The kitchen now houses two large islands – one for prep and the other for seating and buffet space. We removed the wall between kitchen and family room to encourage interaction during family gatherings and of course a clear view to the game on TV. We also removed a dropped ceiling in the kitchen, and wow, what a difference. Next, we added some drama with a large arch between kitchen and dining room creating a stunning architectural feature between those two spaces. This arch echoes the shape of the large arch at the front door of the townhome, providing drama and significance to the space. The kitchen itself is large but does not have much wall space, which is a common challenge when removing walls. We added a bit more by resizing the double French doors to a balcony at the side of the house which is now just a single door. This gave more breathing room to the range wall and large stone hood but still provides access and light. We chose a neutral pallet of black, white, and white oak, with punches of blue at the counter stools in the kitchen. The cabinetry features a white shaker door at the perimeter for a crisp outline. Countertops and custom hood are black Caesarstone, and the islands are a soft white oak adding contrast and warmth. Two large built ins between the kitchen and dining room function as pantry space as well as area to display flowers or seasonal decorations. We repeated the blue in the dining room where we added a fresh coat of paint to the existing built ins, along with painted wainscot paneling. Above the wainscot is a neutral grass cloth wallpaper which provides a lovely backdrop for a wall of important mementos and artifacts. The dining room table and chairs were refinished and re-upholstered, and a new rug and window treatments complete the space. The room now feels ready to host more formal gatherings or can function as a quiet spot to enjoy a cup of morning coffee.

"TaylorPro remodeled our kitchen, replacing cabinets, countertops and appliances. Keeping with the same footprint of our original kitchen and keeping our original travertine floors, Kerry Taylor helped us select a palette of rich, natural colors and materials--mocha-maple glazed cabinets, handsome granite and polished travertine backsplash tiles--to create a warm and beautiful new kitchen. He offered excellent design suggestions for placements of cabinetry and appliances. He recommended and implemented window trim enhancements as well as paint color and lighting design that brought the kitchen and attached family room together with a modern and very warm look. He created a rich, textured backsplash behind the stovetop that enhances the modern stainless steel vent hood. We couldn't be more pleased with the character and design of the kitchen and family room suite. To begin with, Kerry gave us a detailed estimate covering the likely costs of labor, cabinetry, granite, tile backsplash, construction materials and appliances. His estimate for labor, granite and tile turned out to be ""spot-on"" accurate. Much to our surprise, for example, the granite slabs we selected from Daltile turned out to be exactly the price Kerry had estimated when evaluating the level of materials we would likely install in our kitchen. Kerry kept to his original labor costs, to the penny. Each week, he provided us with an invoice that showed, in percentages, exactly how much labor had been performed that week and how much remained to be done in future weeks. The amounts he charged each week for his labor were exact percentages of the amount of labor his crew had performed to that point. Though these invoices invited us to do a little math to confirm the accuracy of these percentages, Kerry's figures were consistently accurate. The only categories in which Kerry's original estimate did not conform to the actual costs were in the areas of supplies from Home Depot (needed for the remodeling) and supplies from paint and hardware stores (needed for painting). These materials ended up costing somewhat more that Kerry had estimated. However, Kerry did provide us with receipts for all of these supplies. Kerry's cabinet man, Jerry, made a very workable design using pre-fabricated cabinets; he then customized the sizes of at least half of these cabinets to conform to the requirements of the center island, cooktop and pantry spaces. We are very happy with the quality of the cabinets. We found the installation expertise of Jerry's installer, Gil, to be top-rate. His installation achieved a custom look and all the cupboards and drawers worked flawlessly. Kerry's crew, Jake, Randall and Kevin, were great guys to have on site. They respected our property (and our dog) and possessed both skill and integrity. They arrived daily at the time they specified and worked tirelessly to achieve what they set out to do. We couldn't have been happier with their work. Kerry was on site frequently to supervise and coordinate their work and the work of subcontractors. The project went quickly and efficiently, and the final result was outstanding. We recommend TaylorPro very highly." ~ Judy & Ron C, Clients Photo By: Kerry W. Taylor

"TaylorPro remodeled our kitchen, replacing cabinets, countertops and appliances. Keeping with the same footprint of our original kitchen and keeping our original travertine floors, Kerry Taylor helped us select a palette of rich, natural colors and materials--mocha-maple glazed cabinets, handsome granite and polished travertine backsplash tiles--to create a warm and beautiful new kitchen. He offered excellent design suggestions for placements of cabinetry and appliances. He recommended and implemented window trim enhancements as well as paint color and lighting design that brought the kitchen and attached family room together with a modern and very warm look. He created a rich, textured backsplash behind the stovetop that enhances the modern stainless steel vent hood. We couldn't be more pleased with the character and design of the kitchen and family room suite. To begin with, Kerry gave us a detailed estimate covering the likely costs of labor, cabinetry, granite, tile backsplash, construction materials and appliances. His estimate for labor, granite and tile turned out to be ""spot-on"" accurate. Much to our surprise, for example, the granite slabs we selected from Daltile turned out to be exactly the price Kerry had estimated when evaluating the level of materials we would likely install in our kitchen. Kerry kept to his original labor costs, to the penny. Each week, he provided us with an invoice that showed, in percentages, exactly how much labor had been performed that week and how much remained to be done in future weeks. The amounts he charged each week for his labor were exact percentages of the amount of labor his crew had performed to that point. Though these invoices invited us to do a little math to confirm the accuracy of these percentages, Kerry's figures were consistently accurate. The only categories in which Kerry's original estimate did not conform to the actual costs were in the areas of supplies from Home Depot (needed for the remodeling) and supplies from paint and hardware stores (needed for painting). These materials ended up costing somewhat more that Kerry had estimated. However, Kerry did provide us with receipts for all of these supplies. Kerry's cabinet man, Jerry, made a very workable design using pre-fabricated cabinets; he then customized the sizes of at least half of these cabinets to conform to the requirements of the center island, cooktop and pantry spaces. We are very happy with the quality of the cabinets. We found the installation expertise of Jerry's installer, Gil, to be top-rate. His installation achieved a custom look and all the cupboards and drawers worked flawlessly. Kerry's crew, Jake, Randall and Kevin, were great guys to have on site. They respected our property (and our dog) and possessed both skill and integrity. They arrived daily at the time they specified and worked tirelessly to achieve what they set out to do. We couldn't have been happier with their work. Kerry was on site frequently to supervise and coordinate their work and the work of subcontractors. The project went quickly and efficiently, and the final result was outstanding. We recommend TaylorPro very highly." ~ Judy & Ron C, Clients Photo By: Kerry W. Taylor

Patio - small traditional backyard stamped concrete patio idea in Denver with no cover

Architect: Andre Tchelistcheff Architects New York. NY Builder: Xhema of Greenwich CT Installer: TRM Enterprises Bridgehampton NY Back story. Northern has worked with both Xhema and TRM many tiles. We have worked with Andre before he branched out on his own. Originally Xhema’s contact was to replace the roof and repair the garage, which as some point had been made into an indoor swimming pool without adequate ventilation. The budget was about $8m and there were 20 drawings. By the time the job was 6 months old the scope of work has expanded to over $30m and over 200 drawings had been produced. Northern was contacted to visit the site and evaluate the existing roof. Although the house had been added to over the years the same tile was used but due to the location of the house the color of the tile varied considerably from the front to the back. Northern identified a large number of custom details which would require us to: 1) Match the existing Field tile in size, thickness (it was actually thicker at the butt and reduced to ½” where the tile is overlapped) , surface texture and the color. 2) Make tiles that are curved in their length to suit the curved rafter on the gabled dormers. 3) Make the curved tiles to suit the low slope octagonal tower. 4) Make the curved tiles and Arris style hips to suit the hipped dormers with the curved rafters. 5) Make the segmented tiles to suit the round turret. 6) Make the custom arris style hip tiles for the octagonal tower. 7) Make the custom Arris style hip to suit the different roof pitches as well as the varying splays at the eaves. 8) Make the custom pieces to suit the swept valleys Simon broke down each section of the roof. He indented all items for each section and agreed the measure etc with the installers. This ‘Project Bible’ became an invaluable tool for the installer, our tile makers and us. We shipped some samples from the original roof to Sahtas who replicated tall the details. I was visiting factory and delayed my return to the Saturday so that the tiles coming out of the kiln late Friday night could be wrapped and packed into newly purchase suit cases. I arrived home late Saturday evening and Simon picked me up Sunday afternoon and drove us down to Greenwich for an 8 am meeting with the clients. When we unpacked the tiles they were still warm and Hilfiger signed off on the color, although his wife suggested we make them a bit darker a ‘as he has a dreadful sense of color!’ We took Vincent Liot, owner of TRM to the factory twice so that he could oversee the prototyping of all the myriad custom pieces. This was an invaluable move as he pre-approved all the pieces before they were shipped. The installation was completed and everyone was very pleased with the final outcome. The Hilfiger’s estate manager told me that a group of friends who were staying the weekend after all the work was completed were heard to ask Mr. Hilfiger ‘I thought you were having a new roof’…to which he responded ‘we did but you can’t tell, which as the plan” …perfect! In refection this is probably the most complicated roof Northern has ever had the pleasure to supply. We learned a lot of very valuable lessons but in future when we are asked how did we do it we will answer ‘that is for us to know and for you to pay for!’

Tucked away in the backwoods of Torch Lake, this home marries “rustic” with the sleek elegance of modern. The combination of wood, stone and metal textures embrace the charm of a classic farmhouse. Although this is not your average farmhouse. The home is outfitted with a high performing system that seamlessly works with the design and architecture. The tall ceilings and windows allow ample natural light into the main room. Spire Integrated Systems installed Lutron QS Wireless motorized shades paired with Hartmann & Forbes windowcovers to offer privacy and block harsh light. The custom 18′ windowcover’s woven natural fabric complements the organic esthetics of the room. The shades are artfully concealed in the millwork when not in use. Spire installed B&W in-ceiling speakers and Sonance invisible in-wall speakers to deliver ambient music that emanates throughout the space with no visual footprint. Spire also installed a Sonance Landscape Audio System so the homeowner can enjoy music outside. Each system is easily controlled using Savant. Spire personalized the settings to the homeowner’s preference making controlling the home efficient and convenient.

Architect: Andre Tchelistcheff Architects New York. NY Builder: Xhema of Greenwich CT Installer: TRM Enterprises Bridgehampton NY Back story. Northern has worked with both Xhema and TRM many tiles. We have worked with Andre before he branched out on his own. Originally Xhema’s contact was to replace the roof and repair the garage, which as some point had been made into an indoor swimming pool without adequate ventilation. The budget was about $8m and there were 20 drawings. By the time the job was 6 months old the scope of work has expanded to over $30m and over 200 drawings had been produced. Northern was contacted to visit the site and evaluate the existing roof. Although the house had been added to over the years the same tile was used but due to the location of the house the color of the tile varied considerably from the front to the back. Northern identified a large number of custom details which would require us to: 1) Match the existing Field tile in size, thickness (it was actually thicker at the butt and reduced to ½” where the tile is overlapped) , surface texture and the color. 2) Make tiles that are curved in their length to suit the curved rafter on the gabled dormers. 3) Make the curved tiles to suit the low slope octagonal tower. 4) Make the curved tiles and Arris style hips to suit the hipped dormers with the curved rafters. 5) Make the segmented tiles to suit the round turret. 6) Make the custom arris style hip tiles for the octagonal tower. 7) Make the custom Arris style hip to suit the different roof pitches as well as the varying splays at the eaves. 8) Make the custom pieces to suit the swept valleys Simon broke down each section of the roof. He indented all items for each section and agreed the measure etc with the installers. This ‘Project Bible’ became an invaluable tool for the installer, our tile makers and us. We shipped some samples from the original roof to Sahtas who replicated tall the details. I was visiting factory and delayed my return to the Saturday so that the tiles coming out of the kiln late Friday night could be wrapped and packed into newly purchase suit cases. I arrived home late Saturday evening and Simon picked me up Sunday afternoon and drove us down to Greenwich for an 8 am meeting with the clients. When we unpacked the tiles they were still warm and Hilfiger signed off on the color, although his wife suggested we make them a bit darker a ‘as he has a dreadful sense of color!’ We took Vincent Liot, owner of TRM to the factory twice so that he could oversee the prototyping of all the myriad custom pieces. This was an invaluable move as he pre-approved all the pieces before they were shipped. The installation was completed and everyone was very pleased with the final outcome. The Hilfiger’s estate manager told me that a group of friends who were staying the weekend after all the work was completed were heard to ask Mr. Hilfiger ‘I thought you were having a new roof’…to which he responded ‘we did but you can’t tell, which as the plan” …perfect! In refection this is probably the most complicated roof Northern has ever had the pleasure to supply. We learned a lot of very valuable lessons but in future when we are asked how did we do it we will answer ‘that is for us to know and for you to pay for!’

"TaylorPro remodeled our kitchen, replacing cabinets, countertops and appliances. Keeping with the same footprint of our original kitchen and keeping our original travertine floors, Kerry Taylor helped us select a palette of rich, natural colors and materials--mocha-maple glazed cabinets, handsome granite and polished travertine backsplash tiles--to create a warm and beautiful new kitchen. He offered excellent design suggestions for placements of cabinetry and appliances. He recommended and implemented window trim enhancements as well as paint color and lighting design that brought the kitchen and attached family room together with a modern and very warm look. He created a rich, textured backsplash behind the stovetop that enhances the modern stainless steel vent hood. We couldn't be more pleased with the character and design of the kitchen and family room suite. To begin with, Kerry gave us a detailed estimate covering the likely costs of labor, cabinetry, granite, tile backsplash, construction materials and appliances. His estimate for labor, granite and tile turned out to be ""spot-on"" accurate. Much to our surprise, for example, the granite slabs we selected from Daltile turned out to be exactly the price Kerry had estimated when evaluating the level of materials we would likely install in our kitchen. Kerry kept to his original labor costs, to the penny. Each week, he provided us with an invoice that showed, in percentages, exactly how much labor had been performed that week and how much remained to be done in future weeks. The amounts he charged each week for his labor were exact percentages of the amount of labor his crew had performed to that point. Though these invoices invited us to do a little math to confirm the accuracy of these percentages, Kerry's figures were consistently accurate. The only categories in which Kerry's original estimate did not conform to the actual costs were in the areas of supplies from Home Depot (needed for the remodeling) and supplies from paint and hardware stores (needed for painting). These materials ended up costing somewhat more that Kerry had estimated. However, Kerry did provide us with receipts for all of these supplies. Kerry's cabinet man, Jerry, made a very workable design using pre-fabricated cabinets; he then customized the sizes of at least half of these cabinets to conform to the requirements of the center island, cooktop and pantry spaces. We are very happy with the quality of the cabinets. We found the installation expertise of Jerry's installer, Gil, to be top-rate. His installation achieved a custom look and all the cupboards and drawers worked flawlessly. Kerry's crew, Jake, Randall and Kevin, were great guys to have on site. They respected our property (and our dog) and possessed both skill and integrity. They arrived daily at the time they specified and worked tirelessly to achieve what they set out to do. We couldn't have been happier with their work. Kerry was on site frequently to supervise and coordinate their work and the work of subcontractors. The project went quickly and efficiently, and the final result was outstanding. We recommend TaylorPro very highly." ~ Judy & Ron C, Clients Photo By: Kerry W. Taylor

Custom sliding barn doors are a signature project at Zoltan Design Co. The distinctive, upscale look is a stylish solution for cramped spaces while doubling as a beautiful piece of wall art. When a client considers space-saving options but also has a desire to create a chic atmosphere, custom sliding barn doors are a ZDC interior design staple for three reasons: 1. ELEGANCE AND TIMELESSNESS Nothing serves as a better focal point than a sliding barn door. Mixing the right door with the right colors throughout the space makes décor express itself in all the right places. Zoltan Design’s custom craftsmanship will give a barn door the character it needs to stand out, which explains why it’s one of the most popular accent pieces in interior design. 2. FUNCTIONALITY THAT IS OUTSIDE OF THE ORDINARY This style choice is an elegant way to save space due to its sliding function. For instance, this feature is creatively used to conceal laundry rooms or to hide electronics during entertaining. A custom sliding barn door is used in a multitude of ways to keep your home functional while embracing glamor and comfort. 3. WE HAVE A PASSION FOR AUTHENTICITY Zoltan Design’s custom sliding barn doors are authentic and American-made. One of our greatest passions is working with wood, which is why we created BARN, our line of custom furniture and barn doors. It is a privilege to carefully select recycled beams, barnwood and building materials from all over the country to craft beautiful pieces for our clients. ZOLTAN DESIGN’S CUSTOM SLIDING BARN DOORS Christopher Ritchie, Creative Director, is one of the area’s most sought-after talents, working with clients from concept to completion. As one of our most in-demand projects, each barn door is unique, refined, and exquisitely curated for your space. Our custom sliding barn doors adorn clients’ walls as pieces of art to elevate elegance in their home. From the historic wood, to the details of the carefully crafted nail heads, Zoltan crafts a piece that reflects refined tastes. As part of ZDC’s trademark style, the barn doors are American-made and homegrown. These storied pieces celebrate old world vintage with wood that originates from 19th-century barns across the country. Once the high-quality wood is salvaged, it is reclaimed into the lavish design that suspends in a home. THE PROCESS Once the space is evaluated, clients receive detailed drawings, and CAD (computer-aided design) drawings, which reveals realistic 3-D layouts of a barn door before the installation process begins. Although each project is highly individualized, a custom sliding barn door will enter its final phase in six to eight weeks As part of this delicate process, Zoltan Design Co.’s team works with our clients throughout design and manufacturing, all the way to installation. With the ability to choose from a variety of hardware and brackets, as well as the option to incorporate glass, we create a personalized piece to enhance your essence. If you’re interested in learning more about custom sliding barn doors or if you would like to request a consultation, please contact us today.

Architect: Andre Tchelistcheff Architects New York. NY Builder: Xhema of Greenwich CT Installer: TRM Enterprises Bridgehampton NY Back story. Northern has worked with both Xhema and TRM many tiles. We have worked with Andre before he branched out on his own. Originally Xhema’s contact was to replace the roof and repair the garage, which as some point had been made into an indoor swimming pool without adequate ventilation. The budget was about $8m and there were 20 drawings. By the time the job was 6 months old the scope of work has expanded to over $30m and over 200 drawings had been produced. Northern was contacted to visit the site and evaluate the existing roof. Although the house had been added to over the years the same tile was used but due to the location of the house the color of the tile varied considerably from the front to the back. Northern identified a large number of custom details which would require us to: 1) Match the existing Field tile in size, thickness (it was actually thicker at the butt and reduced to ½” where the tile is overlapped) , surface texture and the color. 2) Make tiles that are curved in their length to suit the curved rafter on the gabled dormers. 3) Make the curved tiles to suit the low slope octagonal tower. 4) Make the curved tiles and Arris style hips to suit the hipped dormers with the curved rafters. 5) Make the segmented tiles to suit the round turret. 6) Make the custom arris style hip tiles for the octagonal tower. 7) Make the custom Arris style hip to suit the different roof pitches as well as the varying splays at the eaves. 8) Make the custom pieces to suit the swept valleys Simon broke down each section of the roof. He indented all items for each section and agreed the measure etc with the installers. This ‘Project Bible’ became an invaluable tool for the installer, our tile makers and us. We shipped some samples from the original roof to Sahtas who replicated tall the details. I was visiting factory and delayed my return to the Saturday so that the tiles coming out of the kiln late Friday night could be wrapped and packed into newly purchase suit cases. I arrived home late Saturday evening and Simon picked me up Sunday afternoon and drove us down to Greenwich for an 8 am meeting with the clients. When we unpacked the tiles they were still warm and Hilfiger signed off on the color, although his wife suggested we make them a bit darker a ‘as he has a dreadful sense of color!’ We took Vincent Liot, owner of TRM to the factory twice so that he could oversee the prototyping of all the myriad custom pieces. This was an invaluable move as he pre-approved all the pieces before they were shipped. The installation was completed and everyone was very pleased with the final outcome. The Hilfiger’s estate manager told me that a group of friends who were staying the weekend after all the work was completed were heard to ask Mr. Hilfiger ‘I thought you were having a new roof’…to which he responded ‘we did but you can’t tell, which as the plan” …perfect! In refection this is probably the most complicated roof Northern has ever had the pleasure to supply. We learned a lot of very valuable lessons but in future when we are asked how did we do it we will answer ‘that is for us to know and for you to pay for!’

"TaylorPro remodeled our kitchen, replacing cabinets, countertops and appliances. Keeping with the same footprint of our original kitchen and keeping our original travertine floors, Kerry Taylor helped us select a palette of rich, natural colors and materials--mocha-maple glazed cabinets, handsome granite and polished travertine backsplash tiles--to create a warm and beautiful new kitchen. He offered excellent design suggestions for placements of cabinetry and appliances. He recommended and implemented window trim enhancements as well as paint color and lighting design that brought the kitchen and attached family room together with a modern and very warm look. He created a rich, textured backsplash behind the stovetop that enhances the modern stainless steel vent hood. We couldn't be more pleased with the character and design of the kitchen and family room suite. To begin with, Kerry gave us a detailed estimate covering the likely costs of labor, cabinetry, granite, tile backsplash, construction materials and appliances. His estimate for labor, granite and tile turned out to be ""spot-on"" accurate. Much to our surprise, for example, the granite slabs we selected from Daltile turned out to be exactly the price Kerry had estimated when evaluating the level of materials we would likely install in our kitchen. Kerry kept to his original labor costs, to the penny. Each week, he provided us with an invoice that showed, in percentages, exactly how much labor had been performed that week and how much remained to be done in future weeks. The amounts he charged each week for his labor were exact percentages of the amount of labor his crew had performed to that point. Though these invoices invited us to do a little math to confirm the accuracy of these percentages, Kerry's figures were consistently accurate. The only categories in which Kerry's original estimate did not conform to the actual costs were in the areas of supplies from Home Depot (needed for the remodeling) and supplies from paint and hardware stores (needed for painting). These materials ended up costing somewhat more that Kerry had estimated. However, Kerry did provide us with receipts for all of these supplies. Kerry's cabinet man, Jerry, made a very workable design using pre-fabricated cabinets; he then customized the sizes of at least half of these cabinets to conform to the requirements of the center island, cooktop and pantry spaces. We are very happy with the quality of the cabinets. We found the installation expertise of Jerry's installer, Gil, to be top-rate. His installation achieved a custom look and all the cupboards and drawers worked flawlessly. Kerry's crew, Jake, Randall and Kevin, were great guys to have on site. They respected our property (and our dog) and possessed both skill and integrity. They arrived daily at the time they specified and worked tirelessly to achieve what they set out to do. We couldn't have been happier with their work. Kerry was on site frequently to supervise and coordinate their work and the work of subcontractors. The project went quickly and efficiently, and the final result was outstanding. We recommend TaylorPro very highly." ~ Judy & Ron C, Clients Photo By: Kerry W. Taylor

"TaylorPro remodeled our kitchen, replacing cabinets, countertops and appliances. Keeping with the same footprint of our original kitchen and keeping our original travertine floors, Kerry Taylor helped us select a palette of rich, natural colors and materials--mocha-maple glazed cabinets, handsome granite and polished travertine backsplash tiles--to create a warm and beautiful new kitchen. He offered excellent design suggestions for placements of cabinetry and appliances. He recommended and implemented window trim enhancements as well as paint color and lighting design that brought the kitchen and attached family room together with a modern and very warm look. He created a rich, textured backsplash behind the stovetop that enhances the modern stainless steel vent hood. We couldn't be more pleased with the character and design of the kitchen and family room suite. To begin with, Kerry gave us a detailed estimate covering the likely costs of labor, cabinetry, granite, tile backsplash, construction materials and appliances. His estimate for labor, granite and tile turned out to be ""spot-on"" accurate. Much to our surprise, for example, the granite slabs we selected from Daltile turned out to be exactly the price Kerry had estimated when evaluating the level of materials we would likely install in our kitchen. Kerry kept to his original labor costs, to the penny. Each week, he provided us with an invoice that showed, in percentages, exactly how much labor had been performed that week and how much remained to be done in future weeks. The amounts he charged each week for his labor were exact percentages of the amount of labor his crew had performed to that point. Though these invoices invited us to do a little math to confirm the accuracy of these percentages, Kerry's figures were consistently accurate. The only categories in which Kerry's original estimate did not conform to the actual costs were in the areas of supplies from Home Depot (needed for the remodeling) and supplies from paint and hardware stores (needed for painting). These materials ended up costing somewhat more that Kerry had estimated. However, Kerry did provide us with receipts for all of these supplies. Kerry's cabinet man, Jerry, made a very workable design using pre-fabricated cabinets; he then customized the sizes of at least half of these cabinets to conform to the requirements of the center island, cooktop and pantry spaces. We are very happy with the quality of the cabinets. We found the installation expertise of Jerry's installer, Gil, to be top-rate. His installation achieved a custom look and all the cupboards and drawers worked flawlessly. Kerry's crew, Jake, Randall and Kevin, were great guys to have on site. They respected our property (and our dog) and possessed both skill and integrity. They arrived daily at the time they specified and worked tirelessly to achieve what they set out to do. We couldn't have been happier with their work. Kerry was on site frequently to supervise and coordinate their work and the work of subcontractors. The project went quickly and efficiently, and the final result was outstanding. We recommend TaylorPro very highly." ~ Judy & Ron C, Clients Photo By: Kerry W. Taylor

Architect: Andre Tchelistcheff Architects New York. NY Builder: Xhema of Greenwich CT Installer: TRM Enterprises Bridgehampton NY Back story. Northern has worked with both Xhema and TRM many tiles. We have worked with Andre before he branched out on his own. Originally Xhema’s contact was to replace the roof and repair the garage, which as some point had been made into an indoor swimming pool without adequate ventilation. The budget was about $8m and there were 20 drawings. By the time the job was 6 months old the scope of work has expanded to over $30m and over 200 drawings had been produced. Northern was contacted to visit the site and evaluate the existing roof. Although the house had been added to over the years the same tile was used but due to the location of the house the color of the tile varied considerably from the front to the back. Northern identified a large number of custom details which would require us to: 1) Match the existing Field tile in size, thickness (it was actually thicker at the butt and reduced to ½” where the tile is overlapped) , surface texture and the color. 2) Make tiles that are curved in their length to suit the curved rafter on the gabled dormers. 3) Make the curved tiles to suit the low slope octagonal tower. 4) Make the curved tiles and Arris style hips to suit the hipped dormers with the curved rafters. 5) Make the segmented tiles to suit the round turret. 6) Make the custom arris style hip tiles for the octagonal tower. 7) Make the custom Arris style hip to suit the different roof pitches as well as the varying splays at the eaves. 8) Make the custom pieces to suit the swept valleys Simon broke down each section of the roof. He indented all items for each section and agreed the measure etc with the installers. This ‘Project Bible’ became an invaluable tool for the installer, our tile makers and us. We shipped some samples from the original roof to Sahtas who replicated tall the details. I was visiting factory and delayed my return to the Saturday so that the tiles coming out of the kiln late Friday night could be wrapped and packed into newly purchase suit cases. I arrived home late Saturday evening and Simon picked me up Sunday afternoon and drove us down to Greenwich for an 8 am meeting with the clients. When we unpacked the tiles they were still warm and Hilfiger signed off on the color, although his wife suggested we make them a bit darker a ‘as he has a dreadful sense of color!’ We took Vincent Liot, owner of TRM to the factory twice so that he could oversee the prototyping of all the myriad custom pieces. This was an invaluable move as he pre-approved all the pieces before they were shipped. The installation was completed and everyone was very pleased with the final outcome. The Hilfiger’s estate manager told me that a group of friends who were staying the weekend after all the work was completed were heard to ask Mr. Hilfiger ‘I thought you were having a new roof’…to which he responded ‘we did but you can’t tell, which as the plan” …perfect! In refection this is probably the most complicated roof Northern has ever had the pleasure to supply. We learned a lot of very valuable lessons but in future when we are asked how did we do it we will answer ‘that is for us to know and for you to pay for!’

Light plays on the dark slate walls of the entry court through openings in the cedar roof. The roof raises up towards the far end of the house to expose the large projecting window which wraps the corner. The living spaces of the house are arrayed along the southern exposure for passive solar heating in the winter, while the roof overhang shades the summer sun. The well-insulated house uses a ground source heat pump for efficient heating and cooling. Photo copyright Brian Vanden Brink.

"TaylorPro remodeled our kitchen, replacing cabinets, countertops and appliances. Keeping with the same footprint of our original kitchen and keeping our original travertine floors, Kerry Taylor helped us select a palette of rich, natural colors and materials--mocha-maple glazed cabinets, handsome granite and polished travertine backsplash tiles--to create a warm and beautiful new kitchen. He offered excellent design suggestions for placements of cabinetry and appliances. He recommended and implemented window trim enhancements as well as paint color and lighting design that brought the kitchen and attached family room together with a modern and very warm look. He created a rich, textured backsplash behind the stovetop that enhances the modern stainless steel vent hood. We couldn't be more pleased with the character and design of the kitchen and family room suite. To begin with, Kerry gave us a detailed estimate covering the likely costs of labor, cabinetry, granite, tile backsplash, construction materials and appliances. His estimate for labor, granite and tile turned out to be ""spot-on"" accurate. Much to our surprise, for example, the granite slabs we selected from Daltile turned out to be exactly the price Kerry had estimated when evaluating the level of materials we would likely install in our kitchen. Kerry kept to his original labor costs, to the penny. Each week, he provided us with an invoice that showed, in percentages, exactly how much labor had been performed that week and how much remained to be done in future weeks. The amounts he charged each week for his labor were exact percentages of the amount of labor his crew had performed to that point. Though these invoices invited us to do a little math to confirm the accuracy of these percentages, Kerry's figures were consistently accurate. The only categories in which Kerry's original estimate did not conform to the actual costs were in the areas of supplies from Home Depot (needed for the remodeling) and supplies from paint and hardware stores (needed for painting). These materials ended up costing somewhat more that Kerry had estimated. However, Kerry did provide us with receipts for all of these supplies. Kerry's cabinet man, Jerry, made a very workable design using pre-fabricated cabinets; he then customized the sizes of at least half of these cabinets to conform to the requirements of the center island, cooktop and pantry spaces. We are very happy with the quality of the cabinets. We found the installation expertise of Jerry's installer, Gil, to be top-rate. His installation achieved a custom look and all the cupboards and drawers worked flawlessly. Kerry's crew, Jake, Randall and Kevin, were great guys to have on site. They respected our property (and our dog) and possessed both skill and integrity. They arrived daily at the time they specified and worked tirelessly to achieve what they set out to do. We couldn't have been happier with their work. Kerry was on site frequently to supervise and coordinate their work and the work of subcontractors. The project went quickly and efficiently, and the final result was outstanding. We recommend TaylorPro very highly." ~ Judy & Ron C, Clients Photo By: Kerry W. Taylor

"TaylorPro remodeled our kitchen, replacing cabinets, countertops and appliances. Keeping with the same footprint of our original kitchen and keeping our original travertine floors, Kerry Taylor helped us select a palette of rich, natural colors and materials--mocha-maple glazed cabinets, handsome granite and polished travertine backsplash tiles--to create a warm and beautiful new kitchen. He offered excellent design suggestions for placements of cabinetry and appliances. He recommended and implemented window trim enhancements as well as paint color and lighting design that brought the kitchen and attached family room together with a modern and very warm look. He created a rich, textured backsplash behind the stovetop that enhances the modern stainless steel vent hood. We couldn't be more pleased with the character and design of the kitchen and family room suite. To begin with, Kerry gave us a detailed estimate covering the likely costs of labor, cabinetry, granite, tile backsplash, construction materials and appliances. His estimate for labor, granite and tile turned out to be ""spot-on"" accurate. Much to our surprise, for example, the granite slabs we selected from Daltile turned out to be exactly the price Kerry had estimated when evaluating the level of materials we would likely install in our kitchen. Kerry kept to his original labor costs, to the penny. Each week, he provided us with an invoice that showed, in percentages, exactly how much labor had been performed that week and how much remained to be done in future weeks. The amounts he charged each week for his labor were exact percentages of the amount of labor his crew had performed to that point. Though these invoices invited us to do a little math to confirm the accuracy of these percentages, Kerry's figures were consistently accurate. The only categories in which Kerry's original estimate did not conform to the actual costs were in the areas of supplies from Home Depot (needed for the remodeling) and supplies from paint and hardware stores (needed for painting). These materials ended up costing somewhat more that Kerry had estimated. However, Kerry did provide us with receipts for all of these supplies. Kerry's cabinet man, Jerry, made a very workable design using pre-fabricated cabinets; he then customized the sizes of at least half of these cabinets to conform to the requirements of the center island, cooktop and pantry spaces. We are very happy with the quality of the cabinets. We found the installation expertise of Jerry's installer, Gil, to be top-rate. His installation achieved a custom look and all the cupboards and drawers worked flawlessly. Kerry's crew, Jake, Randall and Kevin, were great guys to have on site. They respected our property (and our dog) and possessed both skill and integrity. They arrived daily at the time they specified and worked tirelessly to achieve what they set out to do. We couldn't have been happier with their work. Kerry was on site frequently to supervise and coordinate their work and the work of subcontractors. The project went quickly and efficiently, and the final result was outstanding. We recommend TaylorPro very highly." ~ Judy & Ron C, Clients Photo By: Kerry W. Taylor

"TaylorPro remodeled our kitchen, replacing cabinets, countertops and appliances. Keeping with the same footprint of our original kitchen and keeping our original travertine floors, Kerry Taylor helped us select a palette of rich, natural colors and materials--mocha-maple glazed cabinets, handsome granite and polished travertine backsplash tiles--to create a warm and beautiful new kitchen. He offered excellent design suggestions for placements of cabinetry and appliances. He recommended and implemented window trim enhancements as well as paint color and lighting design that brought the kitchen and attached family room together with a modern and very warm look. He created a rich, textured backsplash behind the stovetop that enhances the modern stainless steel vent hood. We couldn't be more pleased with the character and design of the kitchen and family room suite. To begin with, Kerry gave us a detailed estimate covering the likely costs of labor, cabinetry, granite, tile backsplash, construction materials and appliances. His estimate for labor, granite and tile turned out to be ""spot-on"" accurate. Much to our surprise, for example, the granite slabs we selected from Daltile turned out to be exactly the price Kerry had estimated when evaluating the level of materials we would likely install in our kitchen. Kerry kept to his original labor costs, to the penny. Each week, he provided us with an invoice that showed, in percentages, exactly how much labor had been performed that week and how much remained to be done in future weeks. The amounts he charged each week for his labor were exact percentages of the amount of labor his crew had performed to that point. Though these invoices invited us to do a little math to confirm the accuracy of these percentages, Kerry's figures were consistently accurate. The only categories in which Kerry's original estimate did not conform to the actual costs were in the areas of supplies from Home Depot (needed for the remodeling) and supplies from paint and hardware stores (needed for painting). These materials ended up costing somewhat more that Kerry had estimated. However, Kerry did provide us with receipts for all of these supplies. Kerry's cabinet man, Jerry, made a very workable design using pre-fabricated cabinets; he then customized the sizes of at least half of these cabinets to conform to the requirements of the center island, cooktop and pantry spaces. We are very happy with the quality of the cabinets. We found the installation expertise of Jerry's installer, Gil, to be top-rate. His installation achieved a custom look and all the cupboards and drawers worked flawlessly. Kerry's crew, Jake, Randall and Kevin, were great guys to have on site. They respected our property (and our dog) and possessed both skill and integrity. They arrived daily at the time they specified and worked tirelessly to achieve what they set out to do. We couldn't have been happier with their work. Kerry was on site frequently to supervise and coordinate their work and the work of subcontractors. The project went quickly and efficiently, and the final result was outstanding. We recommend TaylorPro very highly." ~ Judy & Ron C, Clients Photo By: Kerry W. Taylor

"TaylorPro remodeled our kitchen, replacing cabinets, countertops and appliances. Keeping with the same footprint of our original kitchen and keeping our original travertine floors, Kerry Taylor helped us select a palette of rich, natural colors and materials--mocha-maple glazed cabinets, handsome granite and polished travertine backsplash tiles--to create a warm and beautiful new kitchen. He offered excellent design suggestions for placements of cabinetry and appliances. He recommended and implemented window trim enhancements as well as paint color and lighting design that brought the kitchen and attached family room together with a modern and very warm look. He created a rich, textured backsplash behind the stovetop that enhances the modern stainless steel vent hood. We couldn't be more pleased with the character and design of the kitchen and family room suite. To begin with, Kerry gave us a detailed estimate covering the likely costs of labor, cabinetry, granite, tile backsplash, construction materials and appliances. His estimate for labor, granite and tile turned out to be ""spot-on"" accurate. Much to our surprise, for example, the granite slabs we selected from Daltile turned out to be exactly the price Kerry had estimated when evaluating the level of materials we would likely install in our kitchen. Kerry kept to his original labor costs, to the penny. Each week, he provided us with an invoice that showed, in percentages, exactly how much labor had been performed that week and how much remained to be done in future weeks. The amounts he charged each week for his labor were exact percentages of the amount of labor his crew had performed to that point. Though these invoices invited us to do a little math to confirm the accuracy of these percentages, Kerry's figures were consistently accurate. The only categories in which Kerry's original estimate did not conform to the actual costs were in the areas of supplies from Home Depot (needed for the remodeling) and supplies from paint and hardware stores (needed for painting). These materials ended up costing somewhat more that Kerry had estimated. However, Kerry did provide us with receipts for all of these supplies. Kerry's cabinet man, Jerry, made a very workable design using pre-fabricated cabinets; he then customized the sizes of at least half of these cabinets to conform to the requirements of the center island, cooktop and pantry spaces. We are very happy with the quality of the cabinets. We found the installation expertise of Jerry's installer, Gil, to be top-rate. His installation achieved a custom look and all the cupboards and drawers worked flawlessly. Kerry's crew, Jake, Randall and Kevin, were great guys to have on site. They respected our property (and our dog) and possessed both skill and integrity. They arrived daily at the time they specified and worked tirelessly to achieve what they set out to do. We couldn't have been happier with their work. Kerry was on site frequently to supervise and coordinate their work and the work of subcontractors. The project went quickly and efficiently, and the final result was outstanding. We recommend TaylorPro very highly." ~ Judy & Ron C, Clients Photo By: Kerry W. Taylor

Winter is always tough on your home. This past winter was no picnic with the snow and cold. By the time spring (really) arrives, your chimney has put up with months of freezing temperatures, snow, ice, and the constant freeze-thaw cycle that quietly does damage you can't always see from the outside. That's why a spring chimney inspection isn't just a good idea, it’s essential to have your chimney checked before storm season begins. Here’s why: Water Is Your Chimney's Worst Enemy Here's something that most homeowners don’t know: chimney leaks cause more damage to masonry chimneys than fire does. Think about that a moment. While everyone worries about creosote and chimney fires — and rightfully so — water is silently doing just as much, if not more, damage. Unlike the rest of your home, which is sheltered by your roof and eaves, your chimney stands fully exposed above the roofline. It takes on rain, wind, snow, and every freeze-thaw cycle winter throws at it, all while absorbing moisture into its porous masonry materials. That water expands and contracts, causing cracks, structural stress, and integrity loss that accumulates over time. The worst part? Chimney leaks are often subtle and slow-moving. By the time you notice water damage inside your home, the problem has usually become more serious, and expensive. What a Spring Inspection Actually Catches A professional spring chimney inspection, such as Superior Chimney’s, goes well beyond a quick visual check. A CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep technician will evaluate your entire system — inside and out — looking for the most common sources of chimney leaks and damage, including cracked chimney crowns, deteriorated brick and mortar joints, damaged or missing chimney caps, faulty chimney flashing and roof leaks, chimney slab gaps, and flue gas condensation from improperly sized chimney liners. Any one of these issues left without a proper inspection, heads into spring storm season is an open invitation for water damage. And as Superior Chimney has discussed, masonry water damage is a progressive problem — the longer it goes unrepaired, the costlier the fix becomes. What You Can Do Right Now The good news is that most chimney water damage is preventable. The key steps are: • have a professional-grade chimney cap installed if you don't already have one • repair or replace a damaged chimney crown • address any deteriorated brick and mortar • fix leaky flashing and • consider having your chimney professionally waterproofed. Waterproofing alone can save you significantly on future repair costs. What’s Next? Superior Chimney always includes a free 14-Point Certified Written Inspection with photo documentation via email with every chimney sweep. This helps you to know exactly what condition your chimney is in and what, if anything, needs attention. Don't wait, have your chimney checked before storm season begins to reveal a problem that's been building all winter. Schedule your inspection today at 877-244-6349.