Kitchen Concepts NW, LLC

Our 2011 Ugly Kitchen Contest Winner!

Kitchen Concepts, DeWhitt Appliance and the Flooring Depot & Surfaces provided the materials to create a wonderfully updated kitchen again in 2011 for another lucky recipient!

“It All Started at a Portland Home & Garden Show.”

Alan and Rochelle Markham were down on their luck when they decided to attend the Portland Home and Garden Show last spring. Alan, an army reservist and Iraq veteran, had lost his job the year before while they were renovating their old farmhouse. Rochelle was working crazy part time hours for Target, but after a short period of time the renovation came to a halt as they faced a string of bad luck and ran out of money. They went to the Portland Home and Garden Show in hopes of finding some low cost ideas to improve their kitchen. At the Kitchen Concepts NW booth, Alan was handed an Ugly Kitchen Contest entry and encouraged to enter. Alan and Rochelle decided to give it a shot, laughing because their kitchen was certainly a good contender.

The winner would receive a new kitchen valued at over $15,000. Dave Warren, owner of Kitchen Concepts NW, was sponsoring the contest for the second year in a row and would provide quality cabinets, countertops and sink. DeWhitt Appliance would furnish the winner with a fancy new refrigerator, dishwasher, stove and microwave, and Flooring Depot was giving the winner $500 to use toward new flooring….

Select here to see all the before and after pictures and read the rest of the story!

What kind of countertop is right for you?

One important feature of a kitchen is the countertop.  Is it functional, easy to maintain, does it look nice and will it last? Before you buy new countertops for your kitchen consider these important points about Granite, Quartz, Corian and Laminate countertops.

Granite Countertops

*Granite is Natural Stone and nothing matches the beauty of natural stone.
*Granite is very hard and does not scratch easily.
*Granite countertops should be sealed once a year, unless you get the sealer that is guaranteed for a lifetime.  If it stains after this treatment the sealing company will remove the stains for free.
*The seam on a granite countertop is not invisible.
*Granite has pockets and fissures in it.  If you put food directly on it, the stone can absorb some of the food particles and become unsanitary.
*Even sealed Granite is not 100% stain proof.  Spills should be cleaned up right away or they could soak into the granite and stain it.
*Fissures in the granite should not be exposed to hot pans as they can cause cracks in the countertop.
*Granite countertops have become more affordable.  A small kitchen top can be as little as $2,000 with an undermount sink.
*Undermount sinks with a Granite countertop makes for a much cleaner look.  (Undermount sinks are installed so the rim of the sink is below the countertop)

Quartz countertops

·     Quartz counter tops are made with approximate 90% to 93% quartz crystals. The quartz crystals are held together with a resin that is hard as stone.
·     Quartz is very hard and does not scratch easily.
·     Quartz counter tops have the appearance of granite without any of granites issues. Some of the new quartz countertop colors are hard to tell apart from granite.
·     Quartz  countertops, like granite countertops, can be installed with an under mount sink so that the rim of the sink is below the countertop. This makes for a much cleaner look.
·     Quartz countertops never need sealing because there are no pockets or fissures in them.
*   Quartz countertops are smooth as glass, you can put your food directly on it   and not worry about any of it absorbing into the top.
·     Quartz countertops, like granite countertops, are not designed for hot pans to be placed on them, They are not warrantied against damage by heat.
·     The quartz countertop seam is not invisible
·     Some quartz countertops actually have a bacteria inhibitor built right into them.
·     Quartz countertops cost a little more than some of the granite countertops but are still affordable.

Corian countertops

·     “Corian” is actually a brand.  The type of countertop that Corian is, is a ½” thick solid surface “Acrylic” countertop.
·     Corian countertops are 100% acrylic.
·     Acrylic countertops are 100% stain proof.
·     Acrylic countertops have invisible seams.
·     Acrylic countertops can have a “coved” backsplash which means that the backsplash is attached to the top so there is no seam.
·     Corian countertops, like granite countertops, can be installed with an under mount sink so that the rim of the sink is below the countertop. This makes for a much cleaner look.
·     You can install a Corian sink which is bonded to the countertop so that it is all one piece. The Corian sink is also ½” thick acrylic so the surface of the sink can always be restored.
·     Acrylic countertops are ½” thick countertops with the color all of the way through. If the counter top ever gets scratched the surface can be buffed out restoring you top to the original finish. If you were somehow to break off a corner it can be repaired so you can’t even see the break.
·     Acrylic countertops can get scratched but buying the lighter colors with patterns can make the scratches not appear as bad. Acrylic countertops are not as hard as stone, so they can get scratches. A dark color will show the scratches more than a lighter color.
·       I have had Corian countertops in my house for 15 years and they look as good as the day they were installed. We have the lighter colors with patterns.
·     Corian countertops are one of the more affordable solid surface tops.

Laminate Countertops

·     Laminate countertops come in many different colors. Some of them even have the “Granite” look
·     Laminate countertops are the least expensive.
·     Laminate countertops are made of laminated paper with a plastic top covering, hence the name laminated plastics.
·     Unlike solid surface, laminate countertops can not be repaired if scratched or damaged.
·     Laminate countertops will show the seams.
·     Laminate is a good choice of countertops because it is affordable, hard to scratch or stain and bacteria resistant.
·     Laminate countertops are not heat resistant.

To summarize: I don’t think one kind of top is better than  another one. The kind of countertop someone chooses for their kitchen depends on their lifestyle and how much they can afford to spend. Do you want the natural beauty of Granite, realizing it requires some maintenance?

Do you want the natural beauty of Quartz (almost as pretty as granite), without any of the maintenance issues? Do you want a Corian countertop which will be softer and warmer than granite and have invisible seams? (Even though some people do not like that Corian is Acrylic.)

If you come into either of our showrooms we would love to give you a personal tour and let you pick out the countertop that best fits your lifestyle and budget.

Thanks for taking the time to decide which countertop is best for you.

Dave Warren
Member, Kitchen Concepts Northwest, LLC

Why use a Family run Company?

KITCHEN CONCEPTS NW CELEBRATING 20 YEARS: A FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESS HELPS YOU REALIZE YOUR REMODELING DREAMS

Remodeling your kitchen can be one of the most daunting and intimidating home-improvement decisions you’ll make, and in this economy, the pressure is even greater. How do you find your way through the sea of seemingly unlimited cabinets and countertops options? Where should you spend your money to reap the best return on your investment? How do you get the best value for your money without sacrificing quality and workmanship? What if you were planning on selling your home but now find yourself staying put while you wait for the market to rebound? Which improvements will give you the most bang for your remodel buck and add the most value to your home? I sat down with Dave Warren, owner of Kitchen Concepts NW, to talk about what sets him and his company apart from the competition, and what advice he would offer budget-minded customers in the current economic situation.

CUSTOMER SATISFACTION TAKES TOP PRIORITY

How do you provide such excellent customer service? We make it all about the customer. Customer satisfaction is our top priority. When a customer enters our showroom, our goal is to form a personal relationship in order to create a design to meet the customer’s highest expectations. We want to ensure the customer has no questions or confusion about the project. We work hard to make certain the customer knows exactly what will be built. Paying special attention to each customer’s needs is essential. I review every order to make sure all the “kinks” are worked out before the first cabinet or countertop is ever ordered! The advantage of our family-owned company is we are personally involved with every customer. They are not just a number, but precious to us! We have stayed in business for twenty years because we take care of our customers. My first job at Pay and Pack taught me the importance of great customer service and systems. If you have good systems in place, mistakes should not be repeated. My belief is the customers are the innocents and our job is to inform, educate, and instill confidence. Our results must meet their expectations! If the customer does not know exactly what to expect or something goes wrong with job, it is never the customer’s fault. It is our fault. We are the experts, and we will do what ever it takes to repair the problem. I don’t sell anything I wouldn’t buy and I stand behind everything I sell. You won’t get that kind of dedication at any of the “big box” retailers and we see to it that our prices are competitive. I see my customers everywhere around town and I want to be able to face them! Just last week, we replaced some painted cabinets that were out of warranty because we wanted to take care of our customer. I lose sleep if I don’t have happy customers!

YOU CAN LIVE IN YOUR DREAM HOME NOW WHILE YOU WAIT FOR THE MARKET TO REBOUND

How has the downturn in the economy affected your business? Well, we continue to work hard and take care of our customers like always, but it’s been a rough two years. I’m lucky I’ve got such good people around me. The key to helping customers is to take away their fear. We don’t sell, we educate. Still, people have more fear right now because of the economy and they’re not buying—they’re hunkering down to ride out the storm. They’ve put a hold on all their remodeling projects. So what advice would you give those people who are worried about the economy and have decided to stay in their homes instead of selling? What improvements could they make to get the best return on their investment? Kitchen remodels do cost a lot of money, but we try and tell folks, invest money in the kitchen and you get the best payback and increase the value of your home. You can also do a “minor remodel” where you don’t mess with the kitchen layout or exterior walls, but you change cupboards, countertops and floors. Right now, lots of people are just doing countertops and cabinets. They can really update the look of a kitchen without the full kitchen remodel price tag. We also do cabinet refacing which is another good way to save some money and refresh the look of your kitchen without changing the basic layout. You don’t get the benefit of new cabinets, but it’s another cost-minded way to update the look. The real key is there’s a huge price range for cabinets. There are so many options; we can find a good fit for any budget. With the less expensive cabinets, you’ll have fewer choices, but you can still get a great look. The mid-priced lines have lots of custom choices and the top-priced lines have all the bells and whistles, whether you want them or not. My advice to the cost-conscious consumer is to pick a less expensive, stock cabinet. You get the benefit and overall impact of new cabinets without spending a fortune. There really are so many options out there, and if you have a good guide like us to help you make those decisions, you can live in your dream home now, instead of just waiting for the market to recover. The greatest advantage Kitchen Concepts can give our customers is the high quality craftsmanship that you won’t find in “mass produced” cabinetry and the innovative and unique professional designs created by our skilled and experienced design team.

NEED TO SELL? SHOW OFF YOUR HOME TO ITS BEST ADVANTAGE

What staging advice would you offer homeowners who have no choice but to sell their homes right now? You really have to put your best foot forward. Kitchens and bathrooms make the biggest impressions. The family tends to center around the kitchen so people really pay close attention to that room. Keep it clean and bright. You can do small things like sprucing up the lighting or updating knobs and drawer pulls, but you’ll get the most out of the bigger improvements like countertops and cabinets. A new countertop in the bathroom is a great selling feature and doesn’t cost much. Keep the counters uncluttered and non-personal so the potential buyers can really imagine themselves there. Show off your kitchen and bathroom to their best advantage. LEAVE IT TO THE PROS These days being careful with your money is more important than ever, but if you’re making the wise decision to add value to your home and remodel your kitchen or bath, why would you leave it to the impersonal big businesses? Dave is into details, offers personalized service, will see your project through start to finish, and most importantly will take responsibility for his work and stand behind his product. You don’t see that kind of loyalty and dedication much these days. That’s what I call real value. As for my kitchen, I’ll leave it to Dave Warren and Kitchen Concepts, NW. Kitchen Concepts NW is located at 400 NE Division Street in Gresham, and is open Monday through Friday 10-6, Saturday 10-4, and closed on Sunday. They have a second showroom at 12518 NE Airport Way in Portland, open Monday through Saturday 9-6, and Sunday 12-5.

Re-facing or new cabinets?

When remodeling your kitchen one of the most common questions asked is should I re-face my cabinets or replace my cabinets?

This is a very good question. I always tell my customers it depends on what needs to be done.

First of all lets give a definition of Refacing your cabinets. Refacing means replacing all of the doors and drawer fronts with new doors and drawer fronts. Covering up all of the exteriors of the cabinets with wood veneer or laminate that matches the doors. Re-facing is approximately 70% of the cost of new cabinets, as you are replacing the most expensive part, the doors and drawer fronts. You do not normally rebuild the drawers or change the layout of the cabinets as it increases the cost almost to the price of all new cabinets.

If they have very good cabinets and the drawers work good and they don’t need a counter top then they might be a re-facing candidate.

If the cabinets are in poor repair, the drawers are broken or they need a new counter top then they are almost better off getting new cabinets.

You can come in to either of our Cabinet Showrooms in Portland Or Gresham. And we can help you with a new design. We can actually do a computer design so you can see your kitchen before you buy it. This way you can remodel your kitchen to the way you want it, rather than leave it the way it is.

Dave Warren
Owner

Ugly Kitchen Contest Winner!

Yamhill Carlton Middle School Custodian Wins
Ugly Kitchen Contest, Earning a Free $10,000 Remodel
From Three Portland Businesses

…

Kitchen Concepts, DeWhitt Appliance and the Flooring Depot & Surfaces provide the materials to create a wonderfully updated kitchen.

…

When Patricia Howard, a school custodian at Yamhill Carlton middle school heard about a recent Ugly Kitchen Contest at Portland’s Home & Garden Expo Center co-sponsored by three Portland area businesses, she knew she had to enter.

Working hard and taking care of others for many years resulted in a kitchen that just was in desperate need of an update . She had also lost her husband five years ago so it was hard for her to do repairs on her own. Her oven hadn’t worked for the past three years and she had been cooking on a hot plate, in the toaster oven or in the microwave. Her bathroom had just been remodeled with the kind help from neighbor and friend Bob Nufer, a local business owner of Misty Mountain Mushrooms. He recently had hired local contractor Bill LaRue for her to fix the sinking bathroom floor. He also took her under his wing and set up a meeting at a bank to review the possibility of a home loan for her to help complete the updates. The application hit road blocks because of the lack of credit in her name and continues to be explored.

Read the whole story and see the photos here!

Ugly Kitchen Contest is Announced

Let Your Ugly Kitchen Help You Win Big!

Win a New Kitchen Valued At Over $10,000

Do you think your kitchen has what it takes to be crowned the ugliest kitchen in town? Are your avocado-green appliances, dark, heavy cabinetry and peeling linoleum floors ready for a major makeover? This is your chance to let that eyesore win you the kitchen of your dreams! Kitchen Concepts, Flooring Depot and DeWhitt present The Ugly Kitchen Contest.

The winner will receive a gorgeous new kitchen with Fashion Forward flooring and backsplash furnished by Flooring Depot and a new refrigerator from DeWhitt Appliances, beautiful Oregon-made Edgewater cabinets with all the extras, Corian® countertops and gourmet Corian® sink from Kitchen Concepts. All of the actual prize items will be on display at the Home and Garden Show at the Expo Center and afterward at the Kitchen Concepts Portland Showroom at 12518 NE Airport way.

To Enter Your Current “Gem” In The Ugly Kitchen Contest:

Submit one good photo of your ugly contender at the Home and Garden Show at the Expo
Center – Feb. 24-28th at booth #331 or #1631.

Emailed submissions WILL NOT be considered; the photos must be dropped off in person. Photos should be at least 4 x 6 and at most 8 x 10. The kitchen photos will be judged by a panel of professionals on April 3rd and the winner will be contacted the following week. All judges’ decisions are final and the award will have no cash value. Install not included. To see the complete contest rules go to KitchenConceptsinOregon.com

• Portland’s Home and Garden Expo at the Convention Center February 24-28th
(Booth #331 or #1631)
• Kitchen Concepts Portland at 12518 NE Airport Way or in Gresham at 400 NE Division or at the Flooring Depot at 12304 NE Whitaker Way until March 31st at 5 pm.

Before and after photos of the kitchen winner and the finalists will be shown in the showrooms and at KitchenConceptsinOregon.com in April.

Come in and visit the Kitchen Concepts and DeWhitt teams and Flooring Depot to see the displays of inspired contestants. One lucky contestant will win big this spring with a little help from their ugly kitchen!

Our new site is live!

Welcome to Kitchen Concept NW LLC’s new web site. Be sure to use the share/save button to the left in the sidebar area to share our new site with your friends on Facebook! Each back link we receive from this helps us rank higher in search engines! We will also be posting information here as the site evolves… So please check back!