When it comes to houses, there are two types of people: old house people and new house people. New house people gravitate to brand spanking new builds. A home where everything is crisp and new. Where they will be the first to put their stamp on the home. But old house people are a different breed entirely. They’ll take charm and character over sparkle and shine. Old house people don’t see themselves as homeowners as much as stewards of the soul of home, a place patinaed by the hands of caretakers over the decades. New house people, though, might argue that older homes don’t always have the characteristics that today’s families are looking for: expansive kitchens, wide open rooms filled with natural light, and storage. But after you read about this recent renovation orchestrated by The English Contractor team, we might convert some die-hard new house people. It is possible to have it all: charm, character, sparkle and shine. Read on and you’ll see that all an old home needs is a homeowner with a vision and a builder who can make it happen.

Photo Credit: Ross Van Pelt

Architect: drawing dept

A major remodel is nothing new to this 100+ year old home in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Cincinnati. Fairly recently, renovation efforts by previous owners resulted in an addition to the house, which included a much used sunroom. But the current homeowners have a keen sense of style and knew that this home wasn’t quite living up to its potential. And just how do you get a home to live up to its potential? The process varies from house to house, but we can tell you that it almost always starts in the kitchen.

Photo Credit: Ross Van Pelt

As you can see in the above photograph, the kitchen is a real gathering place in this house, connecting the older, more formal parts with the newer additions. Renovations included a new glass front door to the outside, topped by a transom window. A more substantial change was the addition of a window to the right of the fireplace, flooding the entire room with light. This kitchen is going to work hard for this home. It’s a passage way, an entry space, and a gathering place. When someone once said that the kitchen is the heart of the home, we can assure you that this is exactly the type of kitchen they were talking about.

Photo Credit: Ross Van Pelt

You might call this style “time-honored modern.” This kitchen pays homages to the home’s history, while offering all the conveniences today’s families want. Open and airy to a family room, with easy access to the outside, this kitchen island is going to be a busy place as this family grows. The wood-toned lower cabinets ground the home to it’s past, while the white upper cabinetry keeps it bright, seemingly disappearing into the background.

Photo Credit: Ross Van Pelt

White subway tile wraps along the entire back wall of this kitchen. No ordinary subway tile, the homeowners sourced this classic look from a classic Cincinnati company: Rookwood tile. We love how the tile extends into this nook, which is made complete with the addition of two sets of floating shelves, flanking either side of a large window.

Photo Credit: Ross Van Pelt

What could have been an awkward space is a most functional nook. The large, undermount stainless steel sink is topped with a pull down faucet in oil rubbed bronze from Signature Hardware. With the dishwasher to the left of the sink and a Subzero Refrigerator to the right, plus two sets of the most useful shelves, we’d say this is a perfect work station.

Photo Credit: Ross Van Pelt

If the sink station in this kitchen makes you think you might not mind dish clean up duty, the cooking station will definitely make you want to channel your inner chef. This space is now ruled by the king of all ranges from Subzero Wolf. We think these elements officially put this space into the “dream kitchen” category. A bright and airy work space, with all the tools you need at the ready, and adjacent to a family-hang out space will make those necessary chores a true pleasure.

Maybe this comfy couch is inspiring you to curl up and take a quick cat nap. And maybe your nap will bring you sweet dreams of a new kitchen all your own—one that’s shiny and bright with all the bells and whistles, whether it’s in a newer house or an old house. Do you dream of restoring a historic home to its former glory? Does your newer home need a buff and a polish? No matter the scope and scale of your kitchen renovation, we’re just the people to call. We’re in the business of building dream kitchens. In fact, if you dream it, we know we can build it. Give us a call and let’s get started.

Some of Our Favorite Hardware Selections

We love working with our homeowners to select the finishes for their newly renovated space, down to the smallest detail. One specific detail, drawer pulls and knobs, provide such a great design element. We’re sharing some of our favorite selections here with you today from some recent kitchen renovations.

These blue custom cabinets got an extra shot of style with these copper drawer pulls from Signature Hardware. You can read more about this kitchen makeover and view more of the copper accents here. This homeowner carried through the copper elements with a copper sink, faucet and pot filler, as well.

It’s not just the color here, but the style of these drawer pulls from Blume. The finish is stainless steel and adds to the modern, linear feel for this new kitchen. We love how the style repeats with the handle on the dishwasher, the shape of the sink, and even the legs of the counter stools.

The English Contractor team built these custom cabinets for a laundry room. We love this trendy farmhouse style. The rustic floor pairs so beautifully with the grey cabinets, with the chrome handles making it instantly modern.

Everything old is new again. This custom-built hutch, designed by the team at Evolo and produced by Tom Ernst Cabinetry, has the look of a family heirloom, thanks to the wavy glass and distressed wood finish. The antiqued brass hardware takes that look to the next level and coordinates beautifully with the satin brass used in other places in this renovated kitchen.

In this home, The English Contractor worked with the clients to upgrade the kitchen area in a 100-plus year old house, looking to meld together modern and vintage styles. These homeowners have an incredible eye for detail, and even placed these vintage bronze handles on the kitchen’s new pantry doors. We love this elegant, special detail.

Photo Credit: Ross Van Pelt

Designer: Evolo Design

For this Terrace Park home, we teamed up with Evolo Design to breathe new life into this large kitchen. The old kitchen was tired and worn out. The space was an addition made to the home in the 1990s, expanding the footprint of this 1940s home. We hear so much about open concept homes these days, but this large space is tucked away in the corner of the home, opening up to a breakfast room, which leads to a large family room in the opposite corner of the home. A true hub of the home, the location of this kitchen really worked. The layout really worked. There was plenty that wasn’t working, though. But it was nothing that a keen eye for design, expert craftsmanship, and a builder and designer who were ready to collaborate and problem solve couldn’t manage.

Photo Credit: Paige Pederzani

In this photo of the old space, you can get a feel for the transformation. In order to extend the life of these cabinets, they’d been spray painted white a few times. Initially, one coat of spray paint and mercury glass drawer pulls gave the space a shabby chic feel. Accents of orange and turquoise and antler-shaped chandeliers gave it more of a boho, beachy feel. The far wall of cabinetry included open shelves with a painted chevron background, where the homeowners kept books and snacks at the ready. But the aging cabinetry needed another coat of paint, new hinges and new hardware. The butcher block countertop had been installed in 3 separate pieces and was starting to shift, making it difficult to raise the downdraft ventilation. The large picture window above the sink let in plenty of light, but the soffits kept the space feeling a little dark and enclosed.

Photo Credit: Paige Pederzani

Here’s another view of the kitchen. A window seat was another thing the homeowners really loved about this space, a perfect nook where the kids like to sit to ask questions about homeowner while dinner prep is happening. A large sink is across from the 4-burner stove top and a drawer microwave was also built into the island. A panel front dishwasher was located adjacent to the sink. The back of the house has plenty of windows, but the space still felt rather dark.

Photo Credit: Ross Van Pelt

The cabinets are still white and the layout is mostly the same. But what a transformation. Mercury glass drawer pulls were replaced with beautiful brass pulls and knobs from Top Knobs, both affordable and functional. The brass story continues with custom-made chandeliers. The four-burner range top was upgraded to a six-burner from Wolf-Subzero. It’s signature red handles really pop, and relocating them from the countertop to the side preserved room for the extra burners on the island. The new microwave from Sharp is slightly larger.

Photo Credit: Ross Van Pelt

Gone are the dated soffits and upper cabinetry. The homeowner had imagined a subway tile covering this newly opened backsplash, going from countertop to the skylight. The style gurus at Evolo took that vision one stop further with the Frame by Barbara Barry tile by Ann Sacks. A raised frame around the traditional subway tile makes such a difference, giving a subtle texture to this space. Upper cabinetry was replaced with open brass and glass shelving, both beautiful and functional.

Photo Credit: Ross Van Pelt

Function + Beauty is the theme of this space, which continues at the kitchen sink. Here we find a brass pull down faucet from Newport Brass, along side an insta-hot faucet. And the kitchen sink from Galley doubles as a workstation. This large sink can hold a cutting board, drying rack and colander.

Photo Credit: Ross Van Pelt

We call this image Still Life with Bocci. The bowl of fruit seems like the most eye-catching accessory here, but it’s the Bocci outlets steal the show, precisely because you don’t immediately see them! We love that these outlets can be integrated into the tile. These outlets can do their job without stealing the show from the tile backsplash.

The homeowner wanted storage for her collection of white plates and serving pieces. The Evolo team was inspired to create a real show stopper to greet people as they walked throughout the backdoor. This custom piece was built in partnership with Tom Ernst cabinetry. The distressed finish, wavy glass and brass hardware make the cabinetry look like an heirloom hutch that has been passed down for generations.

Photo Credit: Ross Van Pelt

This kitchen already had a Subzero refrigerator that was in great shape and the homeowner opted to save a little budget and reuse it. We were able to improve the layout of this section of the kitchen, centering the refrigerator on the wall and creating symmetrical pantry space with pull out drawers on each side. The previous kitchen just had a large closet on one side of the fridge.

Photo Credit: Ross Van Pelt

Our team also replaced older double ovens with brand spanking new ones from Wolf Subzero. Flush mounting the double ovens give this space a sleeker look and the red handles give another punch of color.

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Is your kitchen begging for a touch of brass? Are you ready for an appliance upgrade. Then we’re just the team to talk to. Let’s set up a time to chat.

This is the story of a hall bathroom shared by two teenage boys. The original space had been remodeled long before these boys lived in this home, which was built in the 1940s and then remodeled in the 1990s. And, on the surface, this white-tiled space was working just fine. But it was showing its age, for sure.

Photo: Paige Pederzani

A drawer front, warped from years of use, would no longer stay put. The vanities, although large enough in size, just didn’t seem to provide enough storage for these busy teenagers. Despite the recessed lighting, the space seemed dark, especially without a window. It was time for an upgrade.

Photo: Paige Pederzani

This bathroom renovation project was another example of “you never know what’s behind those walls,” an issue The English Contractor team usually accounts for in our estimates and timelines because, well, you just never know what you’ll find when you start to demo a space. We already felt like the exhaust fan was in the wrong place, but demolition revealed that it was never properly vented. We further found a small leak that had caused some damage over the years. Plus an improperly constructed subfloor had to be totally rebuilt. What good are new, fancy finishes if the construction underneath is subpar?

Photo: Ross Van Pelt

Designer: Evolo Design

The homeowners enlisted Evolo Design to pick out the fishes that would withstand its teenage residents while appealing to their mother’s desire for some style. The overall aesthetic goal was to create a usable space with classic style, providing a bit more light to the space. Although the layout of the space was a bit unusual, as this home as received new additions over the years creating a hodgepodge effect, the ultimate decision of the homeowners was to keep the layout as is, but make the most of it with the help of an interior designer.

Photo: Ross Van Pelt

Although this hall bathroom lacks a window, it’s no longer dark. We added additional recessed lights, this time in LED. The vanity alcoves were wrapped in mirrors on all three sides and sconce lighting from Visual Comfort were mounted directly onto the mirror. The result is a space that feels bright and clean.

Photo: Ross Van Pelt

The marble flooring in a chevron pattern is a real show stopper. Dirty clothes go immediately into the laundry because who would want to cover up this floor? The natural stone has some variation to it, which adds a ton of interest to the space. The color and design are both mom- and son-approved. We love how this space all come together with the grey vanity topped with a Vadara Sereno Bianco Quartz. The backsplash helps keep the mirrors free from toothbrushing and face washing splatter. The wall-mounted, cross handle faucet from Brizio is in a luxe steel finish, a beautiful compliment to both the floors and the brighter chrome from the lighting.

Photo: Ross Van Pelt

The quartz countertop sits a top a rectangular, undermount sink from Kohler. The layout provides enough counter space for bathroom supplies, minimizes mirror splash, with undeniable style.

The shower is tucked into a corner in between the two vanities. Although it’s still outfitted in white tile, the change is pretty dramatic. The old hardware was replaced with a shower system from Brizio, which includes a handheld component. The outdated soap dish was replaced with two shower niches, outlined in metal chrome. The shower walls may look like your standard subway tile, but they are anything but. We love the look of this elongated rectangular tile, measuring a full 16-inches in length, from Anatolia Ana Soho line from Hamilton Parker. Although not pictured here, the shower floor is a penny round marble from Ann Sacks, which adds a beautiful, soft contrast to the strong lines of the shower walls and bathroom floor. We love the use of Silver Bullet grey grout to continue the grey and white theme. The new shower door is frameless, held in place with luxe steel finished hardware.

The end result of our work is this beautiful space with designer style. Our work here, though, encompassed more than the eye can see. This space was gutted down to the studs, so we were able to course correct some issues with this bathroom’s electrical, exhaust and structure. After all, any room needs more than style to function well. Beautifully designed and solidly constructed, with attention to detail every step of the way—that’s what every project from The English Contractor delivers.

Are you ready to add some style to your hall bathroom?

The English Contractor team spends a lot of its time in the suburbs, renovating homes and building new ones all over Cincinnati. If you’ve been following along, you’ve seen some of the beautiful homes that we have created in partnership with our homeowners. But this week on The English Contractor, Craig Russell takes the team to new heights.

Be sure to watch this episode of The English Contractor this Saturday at 7am on Destination America to see the team tackle two projects, splitting their time between a kitchen renovation in the suburbs and the remodel of a penthouse in downtown Cincinnati.

This week on The English Contractor, Craig Russell and the team tackle the great outdoors for a couple living in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Cincinnati.

Tune in to catch this amazing transformation on Saturday, June 20th at 7am on Destination America. You can find Destination America on HULU, Amazon Fire, Roku and Apple TV, as well as Direct TV (286), Spectrum (156) and Dish (194).

There are so many choices to be made when planning your home’s outdoor space. Are you looking for a front porch where you can sit and watch the world go by or a backyard entertaining space? Do you want grass beneath your feet or a stone patio? Would you choose an outdoor fireplace or maybe a tranquil water feature?

We want to hear from you! Download (or take a screenshot) of this image. Design your own dream space by circling your choices. Then upload to your Instagram story to tell us all about your vision for a dream yard!

If you tuned into the first episode of The English Contractor, you’re probably as in love with the blue kitchen as we are. Here’s a glimpse, just in case you missed it.

This ranch style home got a major upgrade, by opening up the first floor and adding a useful—and gorgeous—kitchen. Gone are the dated oak cabinets and builder grade appliances, making way for a stylish and functional place for meal prep and entertaining.

For homeowners who love to entertain, this kitchen was no longer functional. While the entryway easily flowed into a large dining space and sunken living room, the kitchen, which we all know is such a gathering space at any party, was enclosed, with only a narrow doorway between it and the dining area.

The wall and small door way weren’t the only issues with this kitchen. The tray ceiling with ornate ceiling fan and light closed this space in further. The cabinets were in fairly good shape, but this kitchen was calling out for help with its awkward work triangle.The English Contractor team tasked with opening up this space and making it a bright and cheery focal point.

Photo by Ross Van Pelt

With the wall gone, the entire home is transformed. The once cave-like space is now open and bright. Gone are the oak cabinets! This kitchen is now the proud home to beautifully-crafted, custom cabinets. Bottom cabinetry embrace the Pantone Color of the Year with blue paint from Valspar from Mykonos Reflection. Upper cabinetry was key bright and neutral with Sherwin Williams Marshmallow. Old, dark countertops now shine in this space, thanks to Cambria Brittanicca. The new kitchen layout maximizes function with a small breakfast bar. The waterfall countertop is not only so stylish, but super functional as well. This solid, easy-to-clean surface helps minimize wear and tear from this family’s two large dogs. In addition to the wall, the antiquated ceiling fan light is also a thing of the past and replaced by recessed lighting and stylish Mitzi Anya Single pendant lights over the breakfast bar.

Photo by Ross Van Pelt

Now that the walls are down, this kitchen is so easily accessible. What’s inside this now open kitchen makes it a masterpiece. A new 48” dual fuel Wolf range puts the gourmet in this chef’s kitchen. Its accented with handmade cement tiles by Erzio in Tangier Blue. The pot filler by Signature Hardware is from their Augusta line in Antique Copper—just one of the many beautiful copper accents in this space.

Photo by Ross Van Pelt

Directly across from the Wolf Range, is a statement sink, also by Signature Hardware from their Kembla line and Steyn faucet, both in antique copper. The backsplash here is crisp and modern with a geometric texture and includes two different types of tile: Equipe Scale Triangolo and Magical 3 Triol, both in white glass. The open shelving over the sink give these homeowners a great place to store cookbooks and accessories. Those along with the glass door shelves on the opposite wall add to the open feeling of this kitchen.

Photo by Ross Van Pelt

These farmhouse pieces are beautifully accented by drawer pulls, also from Signature Hardware. Although blue is definitely the predominant color in the kitchen, the touches of copper mix in an earthy feel, breaking up the bank of blue. Here you have a glimpse of the flooring that continues throughout the house. Sustainable bamboo flooring in antique java is so very durable.

Photo by Ross Van Pelt

We were able to add in some additional storage and seating by taking out an old slider door at the end of this kitchen. We replaced it with a new Marvin window and a bank of drawers that also serve as a window seat, a great gathering area for entertaining, but also often a seat for these homeowner’s pets.

Our work didn’t end here, though, and included a new pet-friendly mudroom, master bath and some upgrades to the exterior of the home. Check back later for more details about this custom home renovation.

Are you looking to upgrade your home, both inside and out? Contact us today to get on our schedule.

Tune in this Saturday at 7am for episode four of The English Contractor. Craig Russell and The English Contractor crew dig holes and build castles. In this episode, their work includes building an 1800 square foot custom home addition, seamless with the rest of this beautiful Tudor-style home located in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Cincinnati.

Tune in Saturday, June 13th at 7am on Destination America to see the results of the team’s hard work in partnership with Signature Hardware. You can find Destination America on HULU, Amazon Fire, Roku and Apple TV, as well as Direct TV (286), Spectrum (156) and Dish (194).

If walls could talk, it certainly would make our job as home remodeling and renovation experts so much easier. As much as we plan and as much as we know, when our team starts taking down walls, sometimes we are met with surprises that pushes our team to its limits.

Tune in Saturday, June 6th at 7am on Destination America to see how this project turns out. SPOILER ALERT: The end result is stunning. (But you knew that already!) You can find Destination America on HULU, Amazon Fire, Roku and Apple TV, as well as Direct TV (286), Spectrum (156) and Dish (194).

When the work day is done, The English Contractor team can often by found at Macs on the Pike to kick back for a pint (or two) and to catch a rugby match. So it made sense that when Macs was ready for a back-of-the-house renovation, Craig Russell and his team were top of mind. Time was of the essence here and the team worked to get Macs ready to pour drafts and service up pies as quickly as possible.

Be sure to tune in to catch the latest episode this Saturday, May 30th at 7am, airing on Destination America.

You can watch Destination America on Hulu, Amazon Fire, Roku, and Apple TV. You can also find Destination America on:

Direct TV: Channel 286

Spectrum: Channel 156

Dish: Channel 194

Craig Russell, the founder and CEO of Cincinnati-based custom home building and contracting firm, The English Contractor and Remodeling Services, is the focus of a new home improvement show. The six-episode, unscripted show starts on Saturday, May 23rd at 7am and will air for six consecutive weeks on Destination America. Each episode features one of The English Contractor’s custom remodeling projects, in partnership with Signature Hardware.

Craig Russell made his television premiere during the production of HGTV’s Urban Oasis 2018. As the general contractor for the show’s renovation of a home in Cincinnat’s Oakley neighborhood, Russell found himself spending a fair amount of time in front of the camera, where his skill as a builder and natural teacher was captured for the small screen. Shortly thereafter, he joined forces with TGS Productions and Signature Hardware to start work on a show fully focused on Craig and his team as they manage different home renovation projects around the city.

For the past year, The English Contractor team and customers have grown accustomed to cameras in the office and on the job site. Viewers of the upcoming show will see highlights of residential building projects in Indian Hill, Hyde Park, Sycamore, Oakley, Terrace Park and downtown Cincinnati. “This show captures what we do every day,” explains Russell. “We take pride in our work and are perfectionists, but that doesn’t mean that we don’t have fun along the way,” he said.

Viewers can tune in starting Saturday, May 23rd at 7am to catch glimpses of some of their favorite CIncinnati neighborhoods, home renovation ideas, and DIY-instruction, all peppered with Russell’s building expertise and quick wit. Each episode follows some of his favorite projects over the past year. Programming highlights include:

• May 23: A palace fit for the Queen. Craig and the team transform a dark and dreary kitchen into a stunning masterpiece.

• May 30: Mac’s speedy pizza delivery. The clock is ticking as the  team helps transform their local waterhole in record time.

• June 6: If these walls could talk. Hidden home issues have the potential to throw this home renovation off track. Craig and his crew pull out all the stops to finish this project on time.

• June 13: Right at home. Moving isn’t the answer as a homeowner enlists Craig to expand their family home.

• June 20: Backyard bliss. Past customers call in The English Contractor team to transform their backyard into an outdoor oasis.

• June 27: Polishing a diamond in the sky. The team takes their eyes to the skies as they work on a home with a penthouse view.

There’s no place like home. We’d agree. But after spending the past few months, you might start to notice all of the opportunities for improvement in your dwelling. And while you might not be ready to have an entire team come into your home to start a major renovation project, like a kitchen remodel or bathroom renovation, that doesn’t mean that it’s not the time to start a new home improvement project. In fact, now is a great time to get started on a plan for your next home remodeling project. There’s so much that you can do to get started before you call in the professional builders and home contractors, like us.

Get Inspired.

As you’ve stayed home, you might have decided that you’re ready for a refresh. There’s a world full of ideas right at your fingertips. Get on Pinterest. Start a board and start saving pictures of spaces that you like. Seeing finished spaces will help you identify your style. Do you like stained wood or painted? Traditional tile or something that makes a statement? Neutral wall color or something cheerful and bright? Once it comes time to make selections, it can be overwhelming to look at all the options that are out there for everything from lighting fixtures to cabinetry hardware. Knowing what makes you tick is going to make this entire process a lot easier. Even if you use a design professional to help guide you through the process, you’ll likely be a lot happier with the end result when you can point to specific elements that you know that you like.

Not a Pinterest fan? There are tons of other websites just full of inspiration. We like Houzz and Decor Pad as well. There are so many home design and decor bloggers as well that will help fill your head with ideas. You can check out some of our favorites like Emily Henderson, McGee & Co and even a video blog like Quintessence, which highlights the homes of interior designers all over the world. There are plenty of magazines out there, of course, but if you’re like all of us, you probably have a lot of catalogs coming through the mail each day. Leaf through those Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware, Ballard Designs and Grandin Road. Sure you can use these resources to furnish your home, but they also provide plenty of design tips and inspiration through their photos of staged rooms. So look at those catalogs before you recycle them!

Understand Your Priorities.

While your brain might be telling you it is time for a whole home remodel, your wallet may be telling you to pump the brakes. The cost of a home improvement project can quickly add up, so it’s a good idea to understand your motivation before starting any type of remodel. For example, you might want to prioritize a kitchen that has a non-working appliance or two or a room that may have an issue like water damage over a bathroom with outdated fixtures. The time you intend to spend in your home may also be a factor. If a move within the next five years is in your future, do you really want to manage a major kitchen renovation, when a quick refresh by changing out hardware or maybe swapping out an appliance will do? By understanding your priorities, it will also help you understand where to focus your time, energy and bank account first.

Identify Your Budget.

Do you have champagne taste and a beer budget? Join the club. Even simple projects can cost more than the average homeowner might think and when budget planning, it is important to have some set aside to cover the unexpected costs. You’ve seen those home improvement shows on HGTV where a project quickly has to be reprioritized when a family of raccoons is found nesting in attic installation or a long undiscovered leak in a bathroom has done major damage to the home. Renovation projects can be filled with surprises, so it’s important to be prepared financially. However, a limited budget doesn’t mean that a home remodel is out of the question. There are ways to scale a project to fit almost every budget. It just means that you might not be able to have it all or may have to make some compromises with materials in order to get the look you want. It may be that you can plan a project that unfolds in phase over the years, like new appliances one year and new countertops and lighting fixtures the next. Understand how much money you are willing to invest in your home first, while will help you plan both the size and scope of your project.

Line Up The Professionals.

A lot of the planning that goes into a home remodel can be done with minimal in-person contact. Almost every project can benefit from a partnership with an architect, who can make suggestions for possible layout and structural changes to your home. Brainstorming and initial budget discussions can take place over the phone. The same goes with an interior design professional, who might be able to help you with the selection of finishes. A home builder and renovation contractor, like The English Contractor, can help you put together ballpark estimates for a project. If you already have architectural plans for your project, our team can even start our more detailed estimates to help nail down the size, scope and cost of your renovation. Our estimates are very detailed and can take a few weeks to put together. If you get us started now, we’ll be ready to go once everyone is back up and running.

Although in some ways the world seemed to stop for a bit as we all managed through the COVID health crises, almost everyone we’ve spoken with has seen an uptick in what’s going inside the four walls of their home base. We’ve seen the lines at Home Depot ourselves and know that so many of you are anxious to spruce up your home. If your home project expands beyond your own DIY capabilities or interests, we’re here to help. We’re happy to help get you started with a quick phone consultation. Give us a call today.

Every house has a story that it could probably tell. We see plenty of homes that speak their own language of squeaks and creaks, and things that go bump in the night. So while you might not exactly speak the same language as your home, there are clues that your house may be trying to tell you something. One area of your home that might be particularly vocal is your windows. If you live in an older home, a historic home or live in a home where it’s been 20 plus years since the windows have been updated, it’s time to check them out. There are lots of clues you can be looking for to see if it is time to repair or replace your homes windows. If they need replacing or repair, they are going to tell you. Here’s how

Clue #1: Your windows are hard to open and close.

This may be the first clue you notice that your windows need some attention. You should be able to open and close your windows without any force or too much effort. If they’ve been painted shut or they are warped, that is a major clue that something is not right. Keep in mind that a door that cannot be correctly probably cannot be locked correctly, compromising the security of your home. Additionally, if your windows fall shut once you have them opened, that’s a sign that it may be time for replacement.

Clue #2: The wood trim and window sill are damaged.

One particular area to check is your windows, both from the inside and the outside. From the outside, look at frames and window sills. Decay on the trim around your window are signs that it may be time for window replacement.

Clue #3: Your windows let in more than just light.

Then, take a temperature check. Do your windows feel drafty? Does a candle flame held near a window flicker? You could be losing energy through inefficient windows. If you live in an older home, too, you may have single pane windows. What do you hear? If you’re hearing a lot of outside noise, then it may be time for new windows. New, more energy-efficient windows will not only reduce your heating and air conditioning bills, but will make your home a bit quieter and that much more comfortable to live in.

Clue #4: It’s foggy—inside.

Do you notice condensation building up in between your window panes. That’s a sure sign that the seal has been compromised. These windows are no longer energy efficient. It’s time for an upgrade.

The English Contractor team is a authorized replacement contractor for Marvin Windows. While managing through the current health pandemic, we are prioritizing outdoor projects. Contact us today and we can conduct an outdoor inspection of your home to determine your need for new windows.

The English Contractor team goes the extra mile for additional product-specific trainings and certifications. It can save you time, money and extend your product warranties. Learn more about our special certifications and awards.

A New Kitchen from The English Contractor & Drawing Dept.

Sometimes, an architect is creating a new living space from the ground up. But sometimes, it’s the architect’s job to eek out a home’s true nature, upgrading each and every space to bring the home the function and the style that it truly deserves. 

Such is the case in this kitchen that The English Contractor renovated in partnership with Drawing Dept. We started with this traditional space, with raised paneled cabinet doors, and lots of dark green Uba Tuba granite, a stone that rose to popularity in the 1980s and 90s, tucked into a nook of this open concept home. While the footprint of this kitchen stayed the same, it looks and functions like a much larger space. That’s the magic of modern finishes combined with an architect’s expert eye. Now that you see the “before,” you can truly appreciate the “after.”

Where to even start? Oak cabinets with arched, raised panel detail have been replaced with custom built cabinetry to maximize the efficiency of this space. The high-gloss white upper cabinetry and hand-detailed, gray textured lower cabinetry from Bench Made are paired with aluminum and glass, creating a space that is filled with light and style, as it plays with contrasting elements of light and dark. The balance of black and white continues with the countertops, with a white solid surface against the wall contrasting with the Absolute Black granite with a honed finish from Sims-Lohman on the island. The cabinetry hardware, by Blum, provides a stainless, linear detail that’s repeated in the appliances and mimicked again on the elongated kitchen sink, from Cincinnati-based Create Good Sinks. The Grohe Essence adds an industrial touch, with a pull down faucet for added flexibility. The faucet really stands out thanks to the backsplash, a custom back-painted glass panel, illuminated by Haefele under-cabinet lighting. The lighting plan for this kitchen was an upgrade, too, with recessed lighting by Halo with Sorra LED bulbs and a pendant light over the island from Axis Lighting. Lighting controls are automated as well, thanks to M Alan Associates Inc.

The brightness isn’t only due to the upgraded lighting, but to the daylight let in through the new Marvin Window. The Marvin Awning window offers the clean lines that a space like this begs for. The top-hinged operation keeps this window, flanked by upper cabinetry, from being awkward. It was the ideal choice since it can easily be opened for a breath of fresh air. With hinges at the top, it even adds additional airflow during a light rain.

You’d expect that a kitchen this spectacular and well-thought-out would have appliances to match and this space does not disappoint. Tisdel Distributing sourced the appliances, including a new Subzero refrigerator. The induction range in the island and built-in microwave are from Wolf. An ice maker from Scotsman rounds out the appliance package. This new space includes appliances that are much larger than what it held before. How is that even possible? That’s the magic touch that an architect can bring to a project like this. It may have seemed like a simple upgrade and appliance swap, but this vision here delivered so much more. 

The icing on the cake might be the coffee nook, extending the kitchen by repeating the lower cabinetry and white solid surface countertop. It’s highlighted by a chartreuse upper cabinet for a striking splash of color, a jolt of caffeine for the eyes, energizing this entire space through pigment and performance.

In looking through these before and after images, you might be pinching yourself in disbelief of this incredible transformation. We’re sure the homeowner is, too. This kitchen renovation is so much more than a newly refinished space, but breathes new life into the entire home. If you dream it, The English Contractor team can build it. But a partnership with an architecture firm like Drawing Dept. promises each home--and each homeowner--the space it deserves in both function and style.

Is your kitchen ready for a transformation?

Some might argue that the laundry room is one of the most important room of the house. After all, a lot happens in this room that’s not just laundry. In fact, more often than not, we’re seeing multi-function laundry rooms that need to act as a mud room, kitchen overflow, pets and more. Given their importance keeping a home running well and the amount of time the average homeowner spends inside this often-forgotten room, we were not surprised to have received the SOS call from several of our clients to give this room a much-needed facelift. The English Contractor team has remodeled enough laundry rooms over the past few months that we thought we’d share some of the trends we’re seeing.

Trend #1: Continue the Kitchen

Often in The English Contractor whole home remodels, our homeowners are asking for laundry rooms right next to the kitchen. It makes sense, then, to have cabinetry and appliances that carry on the same design elements as the kitchen, including the same or complementary cabinetry color and style, cabinet pulls, and paint color as the kitchen. It gives this utility room more of a butler's pantry feel and makes it feel like a space that isn’t an afterthought, but purposeful and thought out.

This laundry room takes continuing the kitchen to a entirely new level. It mimics the white appliances that appear in the new, custom kitchen. But why get rid of perfectly good kitchen cabinetry just because your space is ready for an update? These clever homeowners repurposed their old kitchen cabinetry to make a brand new laundry room. We love it when we are able to reuse and recycle on our projects.

Trend #2: Pet Friendly Spaces

Laundry rooms are working harder than ever for our homeowners, and not just to clean clothes. These rooms are now being customized to accommodate our furry family members. In fact, a multi-tasking laundry room can also be a central hub for all things pet-related. This recent project included the addition of a new window for ventilation, plus built-in, custom cabinetry for dog crates, cat kennels, kitty litter and pet food storage. Upper cabinets keep supplies for humans and animals out of sight, but close at hand. Tiled flooring, complete with a floor drain, helps keep pets—and the floor—clean.

Trend 3: Smarter Storage

When most people talk about "smart" trends, it's all about technology. But when it comes to the laundry room, homeowners are just getting really smart about integrating storage to make this room the most useful one in the house, without making it look like a utility room. We're seeing cabinetry used to house laundry baskets, making it easy to sort, store and fold without piles of clothes all over the place. Ironing may be considered a real chore, but there's no reason to be staring at your ironing board all day long. 

Sometimes, the laundry room is a pass through room from the back door of the house, making it a perfect space for the kids to leave their muddy shoes or backpacks. These homeowners really thought ahead and included a refrigerator, stocked with drinks and snacks, so the kids can grab a cold, frosty juice box from while playing outside, without tracking chaos throughout the rest of the house.

Laundry rooms, mud rooms, butler’s pantries and utility rooms. They might not be the most public spaces in your home, but they still benefit from some special details to make your home function well. Are you ready to sort out your laundry room? We have lots of ideas! Give us a call. We can help!

The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) named The English Contractor in Cincinnati as a 2020 East Central Region Contractor of the Year  Winner in Residential Bath Under $25,000, Residential Exterior Under $50,000, Residential Exterior $100,001 to $200,000 and Residential Detached Structure categories in the group’s annual awards competition.

The English Contractor team is proud to be the only Cincinnati-area contractor to be recognized at the regional level, with awards given to four distinct projects in three diverse areas of the city.  Projects included a bathroom in a Milford area historic home, a new covered porch and exterior on a brick home in Mount Lookout, and an addition and exterior remodel as well as a detached garage complete with car lifts for a home in Hyde Park. “We won seven Contractor of the Year awards at our local chapter level and now an additional four for our region, which encompasses all of Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. It’s quite an honor,” said Craig Russell, CEO of The English Contractor who leads a crew of 36 tradespeople in the greater Cincinnati area.. “These projects are representative of the attention to detail and craftsmanship that go into each and every project we do, both large and small. In my mind, every project we complete is worthy of such an award,” he said.

Each year, NARI presents Contractor of the Year Awards to members who have demonstrated outstanding work through their remodeling projects. These awards are the highest form of recognition by industry leaders and peers. NARI received nearly 500 entries from across the United States representing over $138 million in remodeling projects. Stay tuned as these projects are in the running for national NARI recognition.

If you’re a regular follow of The English Contractor on our Facebook and Instagram pages, there are probably some projects that really stand to you. Our favorites? We could never say! We put so much into each custom build and bespoke renovation and remodel that would be like picking a favorite child. Not only does our work stand out on social media, but also when presented to one of our trade association, the Ohio Valley Chapter of the National Association of Remodeling Industry, a group that certifies professional remodeling contractors and its stands for the remodeling industry in our region and around the country, our work is recognized once again. The English Contractor team was awarded seven NARI awards this year and we couldn’t be prouder.

We were presented with NARI Contractor of the Year awards in the following categories:

Residential Bath Under $25,000 

This Milford area bathroom is a fan favorite. Is it the colorful wallpaper from Schumacher? The marble patterned flooring by Ann Sacks from the Benton Mosaic collection? Or the stunning clawfoot tub with cross handle, deck mounted faucet, both from Signature Hardware. We love this room because it’s so bright and cheerful, crisp and clean.

Residential Interior Under $100,000

This Hyde Park, Cincinnati remodel included three rooms, including a master and hall bathroom and a laundry room. The laundry room gives plenty of space for laundry and stashing away home supplies. Both bathrooms are just filled with details we love, including tile perfection.

Residential Addition $100,000 to $250,000

The English Contractor team is so much more than kitchens and bathrooms. We were awarded as well for our work on this large home addition, which added a light-filled family room and fireplace with stone surround. This new space also opened up the kitchen and added a new laundry room.

Residential Addition Over $250,000 | Residential Exterior $100,001 to $200,000 | Residential Detached Structure

This Hyde Park, Cincinnati addition majorly transformed this home, from the inside and out, winning a trifecta of awards along the way. It includes a beautiful new kitchen, laundry room, sunroom and more, plus new siding, windows, and this outdoor living space. Plus this project included a free standing garage, complete with car lifts.

Residential Exterior Under $50,000

We found ourselves in Mount Lookout, Cincinnati, where we added a covered porch to this stately brick home. To call this project a covered porch, though, isn’t doing it justice. Our work included rebuilding a brick walkway, extending it all the way to the driveway. The new porch includes a slate covered floor, a new door, and a stained headboard ceiling. These homeowners left no detail uncovered and it shows.

Of course, this is just a small recap of the many projects we tackled in 2019. We’re proud of all the work we’ve done, and continue to do in 2020. Each of our projects includes careful, thoughtful management coupled with detailed craftsmanship. We treat each home as if it were our own, partnering with our customers along the way. Are you interested in learning more about our process and seeing our stunning results? Give us a call.

‘Tis the season for reminiscing about past projects and predicting styles and trends for the new year. We’re gearing up for a busy 2020, with plans to build several new homes, manage many complete home remodels, and renovate a few kitchens, bathrooms, basements and outdoor spaces. We’ll be sharing these projects as we go. In the meantime, here are some fun trends that we’re starting to see, and expect to see more of in 2020.

1. Wide Open Spaces.

The check list of must have features for any home buyer on House Hunters often includes the wish for an open concept home. For The English Contractor new build team, that’s an easy wish to grant as we’re building a home from the ground up. However, open concept can be more complicated and/or more costly in a home renovation. Removing a wall can often mean rerouting electric, HVAC and plumbing. We love to brainstorm with our clients to find creative ways to give the feeling of open space, without totally gutting the interior space.

These work-in-progress shots of a recent home remodel show how we made an older home feel more modern by removing a portion of a wall that connected the older part of the home, built in the 1940s, with an addition that was built onto the home in the late 1990s. We replaced drywall with a railing that matched those already existing in the home. This simple project flooded the front of the house with light, gives a view from the front of the home to the back yard, and makes the finished basement feel more like an integrated living space. A true open concept home would have been cost-prohibitive for this remodel, but this small detail gives the best of both worlds.

2. Add some color.

White kitchen cabinets still reign supreme. We probably do more white kitchens than any other color, with some glazing, distressing and other details that adds some depth and personality. While we don’t expect the white cabinetry trend to ever go away, several of our homeowners are really making a statement with their kitchen cabinetry by using color.

We finished up a new kitchen that features the 2020 Pantone color of the year, classic blue. We have several new kitchens on our construction schedule in 2020. We’ll keep sharing our in-progress photos, as well as those of our finished projects to see what they inspire for you.

3. Homes are getting smarter.

We’re installing more and more smart technology in to our home renovations and new builds.

Our projects have included a smart shower system from Kohler, technology-enabled kitchen appliances from Samsung and app-connected ovens and ranges from Wolf Subzero Cove. We’re anticipating that our homes are going to get even smart as 2020 kicks off.

4. Back to basics.

No matter the project, we love the bells and whistles. But our homeowners also care about the basics and will continue to invest in important improvements in their homes. Our projects for 2020 include upgraded windows, new siding, and new roofing. Our new builds this year will include foundations from Nudura, windows from Marvin and siding from James Hardie.

5. Attention to detail.

Whether it’s new build, whole home remodel, or kitchen renovations, homeowners are paying more attention to the small details that really make a house a home. We’re loving the trend we’re seeing in specialty finishes like brass hardware and faucets from companies like Signature Hardware. Many of our bathroom remodels are including free standing bathtubs and large scale showers. Laundry rooms and butler’s pantries are making English Contractor homes the envy of the block.

Are you ready to see these trends in action? Be sure to follow The English Contractor on Instagram and Facebook to continue to see details about our projects. We’re excited about what the year 2020 has in store for us and our customers. If we inspire you to try out one of these trends in your home, let us know! We’d love to partner with you for your new building or remodeling project.

Do you see a trend that you want to learn about for your own home?

If subway tile could have a persona, it would be Audrey Hepburn: simple, classic and always in style. Quite possibly the little black dress of home improvement, subway tile goes with just about every type of style and décor. Dress it up. Dress it down. We’re sharing some of our latest and greatest subway tile projects to inspire you in your next remodel.

Clean and Crisp

All white subway tile with a matching white grout gives a beautifully clean look. Here it provides a backdrop with staying power, acing the test of time as your personal style evolves over the years. We love this wonderfully neutral background to let shower fixtures and accessories really pop. That’s the true beauty of this neutral tile. Your styles may change over the year and your subway tile will embrace it all.

Contrasting Grout

Here, white subway tile with a darker grout makes a real statement. We especially love the pattern and color pay here, pairing the white subway tile walls with the grey hexagon floor. Talk about a match made in heaven. Using a contrasting grout gives subway tile a more modern look, while still keeping it clean and crisp. Still very much neutral, the contrast makes a great statement.

Pattern Play

We love the utility of this tile. This herringbone pattern ups the elegance factor in this kitchen, making this Thermador range a real focal point and giving the kitchen a beautiful, custom look. Adding a pattern with subway tile does take a little more installation time, but the relatively inexpensive cost of subway tile makes special touches like these fairly budget friendly. We’ve also installed subway tile vertically instead of the traditional horizontal layout, giving a sleek and modern elongated look.

Add an Accent

A basic ceramic subway tile is relatively inexpensive. That’s one of the reasons why we love it so much. It’s also easy to elevate. For a more luxe or custom look, consider an adding an accent, like we did here with a blue glass tile in a mosaic pattern.

Variation on a Theme

There are so many variations of the standard subway tile. You can easily upgrade your selection with a subway shape with a handmade tile finish, a beveled edge, an enlarged subway tile, or, in this case, a with a subway tile in marble. We love the elegant combination of the marble hexagon floor with the marble subway tile in this master bathroom shower. Talk about a total classic.

Pick a Color, Any Color

Subway tile comes in more than white. A simple off-white adds depth to this space on this kitchen backsplash. It’s a great compliment to warmer, off-white cabinetry. White and off-white aren’t your only subway tile color options. Select tile in a bright color for a shower or backsplash for a real statement.

The Golden Touch

We’re seeing lots of brass fixtures right now, in the kitchen and in the bathroom. We’re loving this finish, which adds an element of style to any room. White subway tile, with a contrasting grout, paired with brass fixtures, provides a beautiful palette of color in this shower, yet is still wonderfully neutral, allowing for an array of paint colors or accessories over the years. Keep in mind that a shower fixture is easy enough to change when it’s time for an update. But the tiled shower wall has real staying power and will be ready to embrace the next trend.

A Neutral Backdrop

Neutral doesn’t mean boring. In this laundry room backsplash, subway tile provides a beautiful yet basic backdrop, ready to embrace any accent color, style or trend. From modern to traditional to shabby chic. Subway tile knows how to make it work.

Of course, there are so many options out there beyond subway tile when it comes to exploring options for your home. There’s just about any shape, any size or any color. But more and more of our customers are leaning towards subway tile, a timeless and practical staple in the tile world. Dress it up. Dress it down. Subway tile is your wardrobe staple. Your faithful friend. A tried and true workhorse. Do you need some subway tile in your life? Is it time to overhaul your kitchen or bathroom?

Do you spend your weekends watching Flip or Flop or Fixer-Upper marathons? Even though we’re in the home building and home remodeling business, we often find ourselves in the same television trance as we too are amazed at the dramatic transformations that happen on these shows. 

It’s almost like they happen by magic. 

As much as we love these home shows, they paint a really different picture of what we do on a daily basis. That’s because we are professional remodelers and renovation specialists. These shows detail the art of the flip. Believe it or not, those are two very different things.  We’ll explain how—the difference between Fact and Fliption.

We know a thing or two about a televised home remodel. The English Contractor and team led the complete remodel of this Oakley Dutch Colonial for the 2018 HGTV Urban Oasis.

Is it Fact or Fliption?

Fact: A remodel or renovation is focused on changing the house to make it more up-to-date or comfortable to live in.

Fliption: A flip is focused on making changes to the house so that it can be sold quickly and for as much profit as possible.

When you’re planning a remodel or renovation, you’re really taking a look at how you currently live in your home, versus how you want to live in your home. That may mean improving your kitchen work triangle,  increasing square footage of your living area, or adding on new outdoor space. Changes like this can not only add to your enjoyment of the home, but can also boost the home’s value over time. A flipper doesn’t have the same focus. You might find a kitchen filled with shiny, new appliances, but with poor workmanship beneath the surface. A kitchen remodel doesn’t just include upgrades to the appliances and the functionality of the work triangle. Workmanship matters in installation of the backsplash and countertops. Plus, there are a lot of hidden features, like the installation of the garbage disposal, dishwasher, drains and more. An odd placement of appliances, for example, may mean that the kitchen makeover was purely cosmetic, and electric and plumbing were not included in the makeover. Workmanship takes time, and quality in these hidden areas make a difference. However, this is time and skill that many (but not all) hobby flippers do not have.

Fact: A remodel can encompass changes and upgrades that are cosmetic, structural, value-add, personal preference or some combination of the four. 

Fliption: The focus on a flip is often cosmetic.

Any flipper worth his or her tool belt is going to make sure their house project is structurally sound. Wiring is important. No obvious leaks. A sound foundation. There are things that any buyer is going to expect with a new home purchase. But at the end of the day, a flip is a house with renovations that focus on most amount of value for the least amount of money. Once the house is structurally sound, the extent of the renovation is up to the homeowner and is typically tailored to make life in the house more comfortable and convenient to the owners at the time.

Fact: The devil is in the details.

Fliption: Depends.

As home builders and remodeling experts, we love the details that add special touches to a home. Items like crown molding, wainscoting, and ceiling detail. We love details like a beautiful front door, upgraded kitchen hardware, and cabinets that extend all the way to the ceiling.  Custom touches can make all the difference, yet you’re not always likely to find them in a home that has been flipped since these additions take time and money.

Fact: Budget is a primary factor in planning a remodel or renovation.

Fliption: Budget is a primary factor in planning a flip.

Money talks, whether it’s a home that is being remodeled for the homeowner to live or for a flipper, who wants to improve and unload a soon as possible. Budget can dictate the extent of the renovation and the cost and quality of the finishes. However, there is one important difference. A homeowner has the luxury of time. Improvements can be prioritized according to available funds and even staggered over time if necessary. Do you need to update a kitchen, bathrooms and put on a new roof? That can seem like an overwhelming amount of work, but prioritizing projects can help you put together a plan that spans a few years to get the work completed to your exact specifications. A flipper doesn’t have that luxury. Budget over a relatively short period of time is a primary focus here. Once the money is gone, the work has to stop. 

Home flipping is both a science and an art. We know many who do it so very well, mastering that delicate balance of time and money to give new life to an old un-kempt home. This is not to say that a flipped home isn’t full of quality work that focuses both on the structural and the cosmetic. A home remodeler, however, just looks at it a different way. Both a remodeler and a flipper may approach a structural issue the same way, although some homeowners may opt for a more expensive or specialty roof shingle. But a kitchen? Probably not. This is a place where the specialty details, that require additional time, money and expertise  just aren’t going to pay off for a flipper. The magic of TV does a lot to show the fun of a flip—without even mentioning the behind-the-scenes crew and experts that aren’t factored into the overall budget that the viewer sees. We love those shows as much as you do. They might inspire some great ideas for your own remodel, but the budgets and timelines might be a tad unrealistic for what a professional home remodeler will present to you.

Do you want to work with a builder who can separate Fact from Fliption?