Nenonen Project Time: Geometric Accent Wall

We have always allowed our boys creative-control of their own bedrooms, and our youngest has been busy this week. 

Give a teenage boy quarantine orders, creative freedom, and three weeks to kill before he leaves for college and what do you get? 

A fun bedroom makeover! I love the funky freestyle geometric wall design that Reed created. He was going for visually-interesting without being too loud.  I think he nailed it and managed powerful visual impact without the commitment of wallpaper or bold colors.  Now on to final touch-ups, new baseboards, area rug, and furnishings✨

Base Color:  "Simply White" (OC- 117) by Benjamin Moore
Top Color:    "On The Rocks" (SW-7671) by Sherwin Williams

While the bulk of our ongoing home projects can be found on my Instagram (in stories and highlights), see a few of our other Casa de Nenonen projects HERE.

10 Easy Steps to a Dry Basement and Water-Tight House

Rain, rain go away!  

Rain is coming and a lot of it, St. Louis... tis the season of the WET BASEMENT, friends!

As far as area properties go, our current local forecast has the ability to turn even the most dry basement into a wet one as there is nowhere for all of this water to go?! Trickles, drips, streams, and in the worst scenario INCHES= extreme stress and costly repair for Homeowners.

Over 18+ years of building inspections as a St. Louis Realtor, one thing I know to be true: a large percentage of water damage is preventable. Deferred maintenance, red flags ignored, defects like cracks in the foundation brushed off, or water allowed to pool at a foundation or penetrate, one way or another, will eventually cause water damage.

I can assure you from personal experience that water is a property's worst enemy.  In a very short period of time, water can cause massive and permanent structural damage in the form of mold/ rot/ foundation cracks, not to mention unnecessary Homeowner stress and damage to personal property.

Do you fear water penetrating your house this week?  Is that an issue that you tend to have?  Don't just sit back and stress. Protect your investment!  Pop on a raincoat and proactively make your way through this basic checklist to help troubleshoot and reduce the damage.  

1)  Clear Gutters of All Obstructions

Is water spilling over the edges of your gutter?  Is water spraying with force at the gutter seams? Is water not coming out of the downspout?  Are your gutters pulling away from the house due to weight?  Is your siding or fascia peeling or showing wear up near the gutter?  Most likely, you have a clog and need to clear it ASAP!

Plain and simple, if your gutters are not working correctly, your basement will likely LEAK. Clearing all Spring debris or squirrels nests allows water to flow freely, ensuring the excess water gets where it should be instead of sitting at your foundation where it can potentially pool below ground.

2) Place Splash Blocks Beneath The Downspouts

Splash blocks direct rain water away from the foundation of the home and prevent soil erosion, ensuring the critical soil at the base of your foundation remain compact and as dry as possible.  At just $10-$15 a piece, splash blocks are one of the most cost effective and simple water solutions a Homeowner has access to.  Make sure that you install it correctly, not backwards, or it will flow right back towards your foundation defeating the purpose.  This is more common than you think!

3)  Ensure Downspouts Direct Away From The Foundation. 

Are your gutters clear and you have a splash block, yet water continues to pool near the foundation? Quick fix ...

... a $10 downspout extender from a hardware store.  It slips right on the end of the gutter and will immediately give you enough length to get the water AWAY from the foundation.   These inexpensive contraptions allow water to be dispersed far from your home foundation, so it will absorb into the top soil evenly.

Temporarily, place them per above... it will do the trick!  They can also be buried for a more aesthetically pleasing solution.  If you have this system in place and you are still getting water, you likely have a breach- major clog or a break in the pipe.  Temporarily disconnect the gutter from the buried pipe and redirect the water until you have sunny skies to excavate and repair!

4) Clear All Exterior Drains

If I had a dollar for every clogged driveway drain that I have witnessed cause active garage flooding or basement stairwell drain covered in leaves allowing water to flow right into the basement... I would be one wealthy Realtor.

Common sense: drains are there for a reason!  Get in the habit of keeping all exterior and landscape drains clear of debris.  If you don't, you are compromising your structure by inviting water right in.

5) Ensure That Your Sump Pump Hasn't Failed.

A sump pump is typically installed in a property with a high ground water table to avoid likely water penetration. They are also commonplace in most Midwest new construction properties.  When the water table rises, the system is activated and quickly pumps water away via a drain pump trench dug around the structure foundation. Unfortunately, sometimes they fail which can cause a flooding catastrophe!

Power failure is the most common culprit, as sump pumps are hardwired and run on electricity.  In that case, a backup generator is a quick and easy purchase at a hardware store, easily justified by the threat of a severely flooded basement.  If the electricity is on and you STILL have pump failure, this article will help you troubleshoot!  If your basement takes on a lot of water and often, a sump pump is a worthwhile solution as long as you commit to regular maintenance and testing.  However, installation of a sump system is futile unless done in conjunction with the other steps in this blog post.  A pump can only do so much.

Personal opinion:  Do not invest in a sump pump unless you are willing to invest in a backup generator, as well.  It is necessary.  In addition,  I have learned over the years that sump pumps are typically an automatic exclusion on most insurance policies, and require additional policy to provide failure coverage. If you have a sump pump, inquire with your insurance agent about adding a sump pump policy ASAP.  If you don't and your pump fails causing property damage... it will result in out-of-pocket expense.

6) Ensure Basement Window Wells Are Not Taking On Water

Basement window wells serve a purpose, but if taking on water... they are a red carpet welcome for water into the basement.  The 1st five items on this checklist could EASILY be causing the problem so start there.  If your basement window wells are clean and still leaking after checking 1-5, it likely comes down to 1 of 4 things:

A) You need to caulk and seal the windows.
B) You have a grading issue that needs addressing ASAP(see #10)
C) You need a well cover, ala THIS, to help redirect rainfall if the window isn't located safely under the protection of the eaves.
D) You have cracks in the foundation near the windows that need to be addressed by a professional foundation company.

7)  Ensure the Service Pipes And Wires Leading Into the House Are Tight And Sealed.

Electric, cable, gas, telephone, and plumbing services are all fed to your property via service wires and pipes coming through the structure.  Ensure the boxes and meters aren't loose.  Ensure the openings are properly caulked and sealed around the service entry to ensure that water doesn't penetrate.  The most common and SCARY one that I see at inspection regularly?  Electric panels with interior rust, as water droplets directly enter the box via beading on the entry wire.

Water + electricity= disaster.

In general, caulk and weather stripping in a Homeowner's best friend in ANY area of their house where they feel draft or see light.

8) Ensure your Roof Shingles and Flashings Are Secure And In Good Condition

Simply, a well-maintained roof is a property's most important defense against water.  Deferred maintenance is a huge no-no.  A teeny leak can result in severe structural damage in the matter of minutes.   Check your roof regularly.  Upon the VERY first sign of water penetration, contact a professional ASAP.

DO NOT PUT THIS ONE OFF.

9) Check Your Chimney

To ensure that a chimney doesn't leak, it should be properly maintained.  If it isn't properly maintained, it is the most common water entry point on the roof.  If the cap is missing or damaged, replace/tighten it.  If the crown is cracked, caulk it or have it replaced by a professional.  If moisture is seeping in, the bricks may need tuck-pointing.  Per flashing, see #8.

10) Ensure That The Soil Is Properly Graded AWAY From The Foundation.

Obviously, this is not something that can be address MID-STORM, but often times water issues in the Midwest come down to grading.  If you have any low areas where water is able to pool at the foundation, you have trouble! Ideally, your yard grade should be sloped away from the house, as water flowing towards the home almost always causes issue.

I discuss grading with my clients regularly, pertaining to water drainage issues. Sloping the soil away from the foundation will remedy a wet basement most of the time.  The Family Handyman recommends firmly packing clay soil around the foundation, with at least a 4-in. slope over the first 4 ft. Place 6-mil black plastic over the soil and cover it with landscape rock...

Whatever method you choose to regrade your foundation beds, should you see any pooling it isn't working and it is time for a redo!

The key to successful home maintenance is proactivity.  Deferred maintenance always comes back to bite a Homeowner during wicked weather systems like this.  Hopefully these tips will get you through this particular storm system.  Once sunny skies return, however, proactively troubleshoot the areas that were compromised during the storm to prevent future water penetration.

Fall Lawn Care "Do's and Don'ts" for the Midwest

Now that Fall is officially here, it's time to pay special attention outside to get your yard prepped for Winter. One of the most difficult aspects of being a novice home gardener is learning the rules of the what and when, as one little mistake can result in the loss of plants.  We have learned a lot from trial and error over 23 years of home ownership, which I have shared here on the blog from time to time.

As things get a tad more spooky around here, and we shift our own focus outside this week at Casa de Nenonen, I figured it is a great time to share my do's and don'ts for Fall. Let's face it, this is a busy time of year and daylight time is limited with the shorter days.  Focus your energy on what you can and should do now, and leave the Fall "don'ts" for when the warm weather returns to the Midwest.
.
Do's

Do aerate, fertilize, and seed your lawn.
As temperatures drop, grasses put their energy into developing roots. If you only aerate, fertilize, and seed your lawn ONCE during the year, Autumn is the time to do it in the

Midwest! It is your best shot at a lush yard throughout the rest of the year.

Steve and I actually hire a lawn service for our Fall care and it is WELL worth the money spent, approximately $175 for their Fall package. If you have bare patches in your lawn from dog play, as WE do, this is also a terrific time to request they overseed.
Tip: Learn from our mistake- it is easy to burn your lawn with fertilizer so apply with caution.

Do divide perennials.
It'a time to divide your perennials, particularly if they've become so crowded that they bloom less. This is also a fantastic time to split a large clump into smaller clumps to plant elsewhere. Generally, in Fall you can divide perennials that bloom in Spring or early Summer.

Do mow like crazy
Leaving leaves on the grass over winter can actually hinder Spring growth. Keep the lawn as clean as possible before the 1st snow. That is what teenagers are fabulous for, at least in our house where they appreciate a little more spending money. 

Do corrective pruning.
After the leaves fall from trees and bushes, branches that are broken or scrape against the house are easier to spot and get to. Make the cut where they meet a larger branch or the trunk. Reminder not to leave a stub, as it won't heal and leaves the plant vulnerable to disease.

Do plant.
Fall is the only time to plant spring-flowering bulbs! Sink the tulips, daffodils, and crocus NOW. You can plant bulbs until the ground is too frozen to dig. Fall is also a solid time to plant trees, shrubs, perennials, and ornamental grasses. Although you can plant them until the ground is frozen, their chances for survival improve if you plant in early fall, giving them more time to develop roots. Remember to water generously if we don't have a rainy Fall.

Do control weeds.
Perennial lawn weeds such as dandelions and violets get their second wind once the weather cools and ironically are most susceptible to attack during this time. In our current house, we have been successful in keeping weeds at bay but fought a continuous violet infestation at our last house. Wage war NOW! If you pay special attention to your weeds in the Fall, they will be less of a burden in the Spring.

Do protect from deer
Got deer? Particularly if you live West of I-270 in St. Louis, I guarantee that you have had a tree trunk annihilated by the Fall scraping of the antlers. Bucks do this seasonally every year- we know this. Buy corrugated tubes and protect your young tree trunks. Just do it.

Don'ts

Don't shear spring flowering shrubs.
Shaping or lopping off length of Spring-flowering shrubs during the Fall removes the buds

that produce next year's flowers. YOU WILL REGRET THIS MISTAKE COME SPRING, I ASSURE YOU FROM EXPERIENCE. If you must control their size, cut off the longest branches at their base - you'll make them more compact and still enjoy flowers next spring.

Don't fertilize trees and shrubs.
Fertilizing stimulates tender new growth that won't have time to toughen up before winter. If your woody plants need fertilizer, wait until the Spring.

Don't cut back ornamental grasses and attractive perennials.
Wait until Spring growth starts before cutting back ornamental grasses and perennials that look decent in winter. Not only do they give you a little something to look at during the cold months, but their stems trap leaves and snow around the base of the plant, which protects the roots from freezing.

Envision your space, Homeowners!

Small changes with a HUGE impact...

Paint, flooring, light fixture, removing the top cabinets in lieu of open shelving, and refacing the original bottom cabinets. Results? Amazing... I had to share! 

Spring has Sprung: A May Checklist For Homeowners

Due to cooler temperatures and an incredible amount of rain, St. Louis has been slow to switch focus to our outdoor living spaces.  It has been a busy week here in Casa de Nenonen as we too play catch-up and continue to slowly prepare our yard for warmer weather between bouts of rain.  Parallel to that, we have had a rotating door of contractors visiting this week to do everything from power wash the exterior to aerate and fertilize the lawn.  

While I take a lot of pleasure in the planting and garden aspect of the process (my herb starters-hurray!)...

The money and time-management of the other projects?  Yeah, not-so-fun.  That being said, I have learned over 20+ years of home ownership that being proactive in the Spring almost always reduces an enormous amount of headache in the Summer and Fall.  I will also note that my weekend showings served as a terrific reminder (aka a serious kick-in-the-pants) to get started as 5 of the 11 properties that I showed in the rain this weekend had wet basements.  ALL FIVE OF THEM HAD GUTTERS OVERFLOWING WITH LEAVES.  Not a coincidence, friends. Read more about preventing water in your home HERE.

As we get periodic breaks in the rain, place your focus here Homeowners:

Clean Home Exterior:               

_ Clear all gutters, downspouts, and exterior drains of debris

_ Clean siding (TIP: if you have this professionally done like we do every other year, generously spray your plants with the hose right before the power washers arrive to protect your landscape from absorbing the chemicals.)

_ Decks and Porches: Clean, make repairs,stain

_ Patios: Clean and repair as needed

_ Windows and Screens: Clean and make repairs

Landscape:

_ Rake Leaves

_ Aerate, fertilize, and seed lawn

_ Prune shrubs (tip for pruning grasses HERE)

_ Remove weeds

_ Mulch garden beds 

Miscellaneous:

_ Check Sprinkler system

_ Schedule termite and pest inspection

_ Service your mower, have blades sharpened 

_ Check fences and gates

_ Seal driveway

_ Test outdoor lighting 

_ Inspect concrete for patching needs

_ Inspect brick for tuck pointing needs

_ Check roof for damage

_ Repair peeling paint 

_ Stain or reseal exterior wood 

Life Hack: Design Genius for pets and children

Talk about a practical Homeowner solution that is perfectly camouflaged... 

Hello, genius... I had to share!  Why not incorporate a built-in pet/ baby gate for function with a streamline look? No more wobble, no more tearing up the door frame paint, customize the height and width to your needs.  Brilliant!

I wish that I would’ve seen this before we gutted the kitchen in Casa de Nenonen last Fall?! If you need it, it’s there. If you don’t, it’s hidden.

Staging matters- Laundry edition.

The same laundry room, a weekend of Seller sprucing distinguishes the two...

Which one would give a Buyer concern that there is not enough storage space and which one would result in Buyer love-at-first-sight?

Exactly.

Staging and preparation is everything, Sellers. A little bit of work can mean a lot more money at the closing table!

Home Tip: What does snow melting on my roof really mean?

One of the biggest perks of being a Realtor is the privilege to attend dozens of building inspections per year!  It is a continued source of learning and knowledge for me. The beauty of my blog? The ability to share the little nuggets of home wisdom that I pick up along the way!

Needless to say, it has been a wild and wicked winter here in St. Louis!  Snow days have been aplenty and almost ALL of my inspections thus far in 2019 have been in the snow, including yesterday's.   As we approached the property yesterday, before even entering, the inspector blurted out "Alert Carrie- we need insulation!".

How did he know that, you may ask, before even entering the property?  On the north-facing entry of the home, despite frigid temperatures, the snow was melting off the bulk of the roof EXCEPT above the unheated garage.  Hence, heated air is escaping in to the attic and warming the roof.

Insulation has already been a topic that I have blogged about this year, as we recently did some MAJOR addressing of deficiency in our own home.  While as a real estate professional I should advise it is prudent and due-diligence to climb a ladder and regularly check your insulation levels, realistically, most people only venture in to their attic if necessary.  Hence why this tip is INVALUABLE to Homeowners as it is easy and fool-proof!

Plain and simple, a snow-covered roof means that your attic is doing its job. Patches of uneven melt are a sign of heat loss. If your neighbor's roof has a thick blanket and yours doesn't, it is a sign of heat loss.  Steam coming off the roof on melt days- a sign of heat loss.  Icicles forming on the gutter line are also often a sign of heat loss.  If your roof is warm enough to melt the snow but it's cold enough outside for snow to refreeze, your roof is losing heat.  Period.

HOMEOWNER TIP: 
In the days that follow a snowfall, examine the roof on your home- preferably the North-facing side. If the outside temperature stays below 32 degrees, there should still be a healthy sheet of snow on your roof. If you notice patches where the snow is melting (or any of the signs mentioned above), your attic is likely lacking proper insulation OR the insulation has been shifted during home repairs and is no longer evenly blanketing the attic floor. These areas of leakage will not only melt the snow, but it will cause your heating bills to rise and affect your home comfort.

Address the problem now so your pocketbook and furnace don't have to work so hard! You will be cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.

LOCALS:
Curious about the cost of adding additional insulation in St. Louis?  In our personal project, we blew in insulation to a maximum R60 level (from 21ish) using premium 85% Recycled Green Fiber, which also creates a sound barrier and is fire retardant with zero fiberglass.  For just under 2000sqft, it was approximately $2,500.  In just 2 months, we have already seen our heating bill drop tremendously, despite frigid temperatures.

Pantry Before and After

If you follow me on Instagram, you are aware that it has been a busy winter of renovation here in Casa de Nenonen.  The tail end of our massive kitchen gut, was a redesign of our pantry.  As of this morning, the project is officially complete with the installation of the final trim and new motion sensor lighting...

All lit up like a Christmas tree, just in time for holiday baking. 🎄⭐️ 

Our favorite feature?

The sliding shelf mechanism, which helped us to maximize the storage!  

A warm thank you to Teresa Voyles and the team at NewSpace for transforming an awkward closet over the stairs in to something incredibly functional for our family.  NewSpace was not only terrific to work with, but our gorgeous new closet has a lifetime warranty.

If you have a space in your home that isn't working for you, do NOT be afraid to rethink it, friends.  My only regret?  Not doing it sooner.

NITTY GRITTY:

1960 Innerbelt Business Center Dr.
St. Louis, MO 63114

Phone: (314) 423-3200

Showroom Hours:
Monday – Friday 8:30 – 5:30
Saturday 10:00 – 4:00

Just for Fun: Artistic view at everyday life

Do you have a favorite search hashtag on Instagram? Mine is, hands down, #nenonenyardfollies as it is a collection of the simple pleasures I have adored most living in our home over the years. Nothing beats the seasonal ebb and flow of Mama Nature in our neighborhood and yard. 🌱🌸🍂❄️

I celebrate my love for this in my latest home project for our cozy family room with a little help from Walgreens...  

... a wood print collage grid of my favorites, creating a micro-journey through the seasons in Casa de Nenonen. I firmly believe you that should surround yourself by things that make you feel good in your home! This wall makes me smile every time I look at it and serves as a daily reminder to stop and smell the roses!💞

TIP: Walgreens is hyperlinked above.  I used the 12x12 square print and an amazing coupon code that took off 50%.

Follow me on Instagram HERE.

Getting Close!

They say that the devil is in the details. If loving this natural marble mosaic leaf shaped backsplash is wrong... 

...then I don’t want to be right, friends! It has been a while since my last kitchen update and we have finally hit the fun part of this remodel. This week we incorporate the special touches that will set the space apart and make it distinctly ours. 😍✨

Silestone “Lagoon” on the new Quartz countertop, for the win.

Kitchen Renovation progress...

Same exact angle of our ongoing kitchen project, 4 weeks apart...

Soffits removed and the sliding glass door was replaced with a smaller one to allow the dishwasher to be moved and the cabinets to round the corner. Progress!

#RethinkYourSpace

Got chills, St. Louis? Check Your Insulation!

Got the chills, St. Louis?  Slippers, warm coffee, and a steamy shower this morning!  Just 3 days ago, The Nenonens hiked (and waded) our way 5 miles through Castlewood.  In fact, we managed to hike 20+ miles over the past week thanks to lovely 80-90 degree temperatures!

Yesterday, however, in true Midwest fashion...

...Mama Nature surprised us all by taking a tumble in to brisk autumnal temperatures, abruptly ending the unseasonable Fall warm streak we have enjoyed thus far.

I have always said that my blog mimics my life, and this post is no different.  My goal here on CDN and the City is to yes, share my adventures but also educate the public on matters of the home.  Often times, that means learning from my mistakes.

I pose a question to you, friends: When was the last time that you peeked in to your attic and checked the level of the insulation?  Answer honestly, judgement-free zone here. 

Apparently in Casa de Nenonen, it has been too long! Way too long, if ever, since closing on our house.  Let's face it: Life is busy.  Homeowners tend to deal with what is directly in front of them: the garage door that needs adjusting, the lawn that needs mowing, the laundry and dishes and messy kitchen floor.  The mundane daily Homeowner tasks, sprinkled with the occasional crisis or voluntary weekend project, keeps us busy!  Am I right?

If you follow me on Instagram, you know that we are currently under kitchen renovation...

In fact, a full gut! When our contractor descended from our attic this week after installing our new recessed lighting, he urged us to add more attic insulation ASAP.  Truthfully, Steve and I rarely even open the attic hatch in this house, as we have plentiful basement storage and it simply is not easily accessible.  

When I popped my head up there this week, however, I was horrified. I have been through enough career building inspections to know the importance of insulation.  I understand R-value.  Yet, I popped my head up in my own attic this week to find this...

Yep.  I am trying not to turn this in to an ashamed Homeowner confession post, but I have no excuse.  To the average person, this photo may mean little to nothing.  To put things in to perspective for you, however, this is the reality thanks to Energy Star...

Insulation's resistance to conductive heat flow is measured in terms of its thermal resistance or "R-value".  Kindergarten terms: the higher the R-value, the greater the insulating effectiveness. The R-value depends on the type of insulation, its thickness, and its density.  Over time, insulation shifts or compacts and becomes less effective.   In fact, when insulation compacts, it acts more as a conductor than an insulator.

Our attic, MAYBE, is R-21 right now.  Again, no excuses people. Most local insulation companies recommend an R-49. The US Department of Energy recommends between R-38 and R-60 for the St. Louis area.

St. Louis County requires a minimum of R-30 on new construction and industry-wide, but that is considered RIDICULOUSLY and INSANELY low for our extreme Midwest temperatures.

So these are the facts: Beefing up insulation and caulking/sealing air leaks is one of the best ways to improve energy efficiency in your home. It is a simple home project that a Homeowner can do on their own and it can reduce your heating and cooling costs by up to a whopping 30%!

In addition, per Remodeling Magazine, it has one of the best ROIs (return on investment) of all home improvement projects.

In other words, THIS HOME IMPROVEMENT PAYS FOR ITSELF while keeping your family warmer on chilly days like today!  Win/win.

Our contractor has graciously agreed to bring Casa de Nenonen to an R-60 once our project is complete...

While I am thankful that he alerted us to his discovery, we should have done our due-diligence and checked it prior to this renovation.  We should have done our due-diligence and checked it years ago.

Learn from my mistake, friends.  The cost of the project is nominal compared to the money saved.  Before temps plummet any further, walk around your home and pay special attention to these areas...

Your pocketbook will thank you!  

Before And After: Visualize your Space

Be prepared to be inspired, Homeowners...

Personally, my mind is BLOWN. Talk about recognizing the potential in a space and elevating it?! A few architectural elements added, a new color palette, and strategic asteful decor.  Perfection! 

Amazing stuff from @onepiece_at_a_time_design on Instagram.

St. Louis Hidden Gem: Custom Stone Interiors

Some posts are better late than never, particularly when you have adored the end-result of a project as much as we have this one.  Last year, Steve and I embarked upon a long-overdue makeover of our already-finished basement. After a decade in this house with 2 sons and 2 dogs, the finishes had taken quite a hit.

The plan for the main party room, aka "teenager heaven":  durable new Pergo flooring throughout, new stair treads after removing carpet, new 4" baseboards, barn doors to replace the 1968 swing-in doors, fresh paint, a new work space, and a makeover of the existing dated wet bar to improve the look and function.  Some of it was DIY, some of it was contracted. Mission accomplished...

Note: this is a real-life quick cell phone panoramic photo, not Realtor-staged, complete with my son watching a movie and freshly mopped floors after his friends spent the night and had an epic spill. My reality, friends.  Ha! 

After living with the "makeover" for several months now, our favorite change has been to the wet bar, by far.  We updated the cabinets, added a sizable mobile island, replaced the worn laminate counter top with granite, and finished off the project with a marble subway tile (Steve's gorgeous handiwork)...

Again, real life photo taken this morning -not staged.  We still need to get around to adding the cabinet hardware and yes, "this kitchen is for dancing". 😉  

As we have no plans in the near future to move, our focus was not as much on return-on-investment as it was look and function.  On any given weekend, we can have 5-20 teenagers down there until the wee-hours if not all night.  Durability is key.  That being said, we had massive sticker shock when bids for a natural stone 90" wet bar counter came in WELL above $1400 installed at big box stores for the creamy stones we preferred. A fellow Realtor mentioned that we may have luck at a remnant yard due to size, and suggested visiting Custom Stone Interiors near SLU and IKEA...

Note: since taking these photos, Custom Stone has moved to a new location in Overland.  Updated address will be at the bottom of the post.

Regardless, we had a terrific experience and I feel compelled to share.  The staff was incredibly helpful and they have everything you could ever want or wish for as far as stone goes for a kitchen, laundry, bath, or furniture project...

Where we had the most luck, however?

At their in-house remnant yard!  In this area, they offer stone remnants left over from other projects at a deep discount, including mis-cuts and leftover pieces of granite, marble, limestone, onyx, travertine, and quartz. It is a terrific solution for a small countertop for a bathroom, laundry room, vanity top, or wet bar. It allows you to examine the actual slab IN PERSON (stone varies a LOT ) and the staff will point you to remnants that will work.

Low and behold, we got lucky and found the perfect one...

Within days, they came out to our house to accurately measure the space for cuts, we provided them with our preferences (eased edge), a previously-purchased undermount sink from IKEA, and everything was fabricated and polished in house...

The price installed was HUNDREDS less than all of the other bids we received...

... and the result?  Perfection.  We love it...

Thank you for helping us to transform our space affordably, Custom Stone!  If planning a new project, consider giving them a call for a bid or dropping by to check out their inventory. 

NITTY GRITTY:

Custom Stone Interiors
1950 Walton Road
Overland, MO 63114

Office: 314-533-1282
Fax: 314-427-2001

Monday - Friday
Saturdays
7AM - 5PM 

WEB: http://www.customstonestl.com
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/customstonestl

See my other St. Louis Hidden Gems HERE.