How to do an eco-friendly kitchen remodel

Neal Fiske, Green Certified Professional and lead renovator for TriplePoint Design Build
Q: What are some ways to do a “green” kitchen remodel?

A: People do not realize that efficient design can equate to a green design. For instance, locating a refrigerator next to a heat source, such as a stove, cooktop or microwave (heat source), will cause the appliance to work harder. By designing
the kitchen layout to take advantage of efficient workflow, appliance location and universal design access, the kitchen will be more green friendly.

You want to be choosing appliances with an Energy Star rating. The higher the rating, the more efficient the appliance. The refrigerator is the largest appliance in the kitchen, as well as the biggest energy hog. This would be a strong candidate for any kitchen upgrade, as energy efficiency improvements over the last decade have significantly improved. An often overlooked appliance for a kitchen is the home water heater.

Other hidden technologies to incorporate into a successful green technology kitchen remodel include: low flow faucets, insulated water pipes, a recirculating system for hot water supply and incorporating a water filter.

Remodeling green does not always mean less money. In fact, most of the effort in selecting green technology has a more costly up-front cost than a less expensive, less efficient choice, but is cost effective in the long run.

— Neal Fiske,

Green Certified Professional and Lead renovator for TriplePoint Design Build,

(727) 302-9116.

We would like Neal and Lauren to know that we are extremely pleased with the design and quality of the remodeling work done by TriplePoint! Any issues we have had were addressed promptly and resolved to our full satisfaction. We love our whole house remodeled home!
-Billie & Suhas Parulekar

“The design was stuck in the 80s,” she says. “It had the mauve bathroom… and I mean mauve tile, mauve toilet, mauve sink and mauve tub,” she chuckles. “So that had to go. The kitchen had been remodeled earlier, but was still pretty old and needed to be redone.” The house at one time had a carport and a porch that had been turned into a bedroom and a family room respectively. But you had to drop down a level to the bedroom and back up to the family room, so you were going up and down levels which wasn’t optimum in Pat and Tom’s minds.

In preparation for their retirement years, they preferred to remain at ground level. In fact, the Blacks initially planned to remove the house and build new, but that would require increasing the elevation of the main floor level due to FEMA compliance requirements. The homeowners had visions of a Mediterranean oasis with large rooms, open spaces and fluid transition from space to space. The site was perfect, but the house was a small 1800 sq ft structure with limited water views and no cohesive flow to the floor plan.
“We also wanted to use a design build approach for the renovation,” Pat says. “We didn’t want it to be simply
a contractor driven job, nor did we want to be jumping through hoops with an architect. We just wanted a
one level home that was ultra-functional,” she says.

ENTER TRIPLEPOINT DESIGN BUILD
“We looked up a few of the design build people in the area and I happened to call Lauren Fiske at TriplePoint
and she was just so accommodating on the phone,” Pat comments. “Then, Neal Fiske, CR, GCP, came out and talked with us and we really liked his ideas. He’s just one of those people whose brain is moving so fast that you can almost see it working,” she comments. “He just churns out exceptional ideas.” During design meetings, Neal discovered that the Blacks envisioned a remodel which maximized their wonderful waterfront views. They wanted to live outside as much as possible. Simple lifestyle, informal, easy to entertain, clean lines, organic, practical and beautiful were some of the adjectives they used to describe their dream home. The site was deep and provided for additional space in the front yard. The existing dark and dreary front entry was lost in the front porch that also blended in with the rest of the front elevation. Curb appeal was limited to the large circular driveway that graced the front lawn. Ultimately, TriplePoint formulated a design which reconfigured and opened up existing space with a result that was perfect for the homeowners’ needs. Large windows, elevation changes and enlarged spaces transformed Pat and Tom’s dreams into a stunning reality.

FAVORITE FEATURES
According to Pat, Neal incorporated a number of unique features into the home. Starting when you enter through the front door, you can see straight through to a beautiful view of the water. “On the water side of the house, it’s all sliding glass doors and stationary windows,” she says “Neal created a vaulted ceiling and on top of the sliding glass doors he placed an archway of six windows that’s just stunning.” “Then, we moved the kitchen. It had been facing the water, but we moved it so we could have windows all across the back. There is a big island with a Carrera counter top. Behind it is a plethora of cabinets, a gas cook top, a double oven and a tall Thermador refrigerator. The cabinets are up higher, 6” higher than norm, so they go way up and it’s really striking when you walk in. Wood is very contemporary and it’s gray which is really set off by the stainless steel appliances.”
“Next came a new laundry room and this is where Neal was really amazing. We had a fireplace in the living room area and who uses a fireplace in Florida so we said let’s get rid of it. Neal felt that would capture enough space to put in a new laundry room. So, he created the extra space and a special laundry pantry with five sliding shelves that are a real cool fence-like material. I cannot express how much I love my laundry room, it’s ultra-cool,” Pat raves. “And our new deck is awesome. It’s made of a white composite material and moves out from the house in a series of three circles. It looks almost like it could go on forever out into the water.” The major key to this all-encompassing transformation was to develop a design that would allow for two completely independent construction cycles, keeping in compliance with what is called the 50% rule. In short, to honor the FEMA compliance guidelines, you cannot substantially improve more than half the value of the structure in a remodeling capacity. To comply with the 50 % FEMA rules, TriplePoint developed a construction strategy that essentially built the master plan shell of the new structure around the existing walls of the main house.
“We just love our remodel,” Pat stresses. “We love what Neal came up with and we’re very happy we followed his advice. The finished product has far exceeded our expectations.”

VISION, CRAFTSMANSHIP, PASSION
With the vision to take your ideas and turn them into a plan, the craftsmanship to deliver unmatched quality and the passion to bring that plan to life, TriplePoint Design Build has built its reputation on making its clients’ dreams come true. TriplePoint is a full service design/build remodeling firm that transforms outdated living spaces into your dream home. We tailor every project to each owner’s needs, wants and wishes. These projects combine functional floor plans with dramatic design elements and features that enhance your unique lifestyle.

The TriplePoint Difference
We recognize that in order for a remodeling project to be completely successful, the design must compliment the
existing architecture, incorporate solid construction practices and be affordable. Our firm strives to implement all of these components. One of the strengths of our professional team is the transformation of your dreams and ideas into an impressive and functional design.
We offer a full range of concierge remodeling services, including all phases of construction planning and management from conceptual development and budgeting through project completion and facility turnover. Services that can be provided depending on the specific needs of your project include the following:
• Definition / documentation of project requirements and design criteria
• Project feasibility with regard to zoning, FEMA compliance,
• Conceptual Project design – value engineering
• Full architectural drawings from as-builts to final elevations
• Building systems design coordination using a team of certified 3rd party trade partners experienced in each of the following disciplines: architectural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, structural and process engineering.

“It’s About People and Their Projects”
Think about it, the contractor you choose for your construction project will become an integral part of your life for a period of time. Why would you work with just anyone? We won’t, and neither should you.
“At TriplePoint Design Build, we don’t just look for clients, we look for people we want to do business with.”
A design/build project is a relationship and our relationship with you is one of the most important components of your project. You are really looking for more than just a contractor. You are looking for a company that can:
• Do what you ask for and do it exceptionally well.
• Complete the project on time and on budget.
• Work with respect, sensitivity and consideration These are the hallmarks of a firm with more than 25 years of
experience with proven results and the reasons TriplePoint Design Build has earned a reputation as Tampa Bay’s premier waterfront design-build remodeling firm.