The Fretz Kitchen

The Fretz Kitchen showroom is located in North East Philadelphia. It has a wonderful display of Wolf and SubZero cooking appliances. These are the crème de la crème of the gourmet cooking world with the ultimate engineering and features for specialized food preparation and food preservation.

Last week Bob and I took clients who are considering these appliances to the Fretz Cooking demonstration. It is a very impressive night. As you enter the showroom to a variety of kitchen displays featuring these appliances, you are offered wine/soft drinks and appetizers. It is a nice opportunity to see a variety of cabinetry styles, countertop surfaces and other decorative details, as well as the appliances in an actual kitchen setting.

After gathering everyone together we were ushered upstairs to the kitchen demonstration area which is where the local TV stations film cooking shows. It is a full working chefs’ kitchen surrounded by counter seating and additional tables to comfortably watch the cooking demonstration and to learn about the unique features of their product lines.

The food was incredible and substantial! Our first course was crab and corn chowder, followed by pasta with shrimp and scallops along with a roll which was baked in the oven the same time as the seafood to show how the bread did not pick up a seafood taste. Next we had a portabella mushroom topped with a salsa and cheese, sirloin steak tips in a light gruyere sauce and asparagus. By this time we were feeling like we had plenty to eat, but the main course was still to come! Turkey, very moist, with incredible Chilean Sea Bass and green beans garnished with cranberry sauce were our final dinner tastings. Afterwards coffee and tea were served with fresh baked chocolate chip cookies.

If you are considering replacing your appliances or remodeling your kitchen and are interested in these products, we could arrange for you to attend a demonstration. Also, if you have purchased Wolf/SubZero appliances and would like a refresher course on cleaning, usage, and maintenance, there is also a demonstration available for you. Please contact the office and we can schedule a time for you to attend one of the demonstrations.

Fretz Kitchen Recipe

Chilean Sea Bass with Dijon Mustard Sauce
5 oz. Chilean Sea Bass
Melted butter
Garlic salt
Freshly ground pepper
Old Bay seasoning
Paprika
Fresh Parsley

Mix all dry ingredients together and set aside Add melted butter to Sea bass and then sprinkle spices on both sides. Top with seasoned bread crumbs. Bake at 350 for 40 minutes or until internal temperature reads a minimum of 150 degrees. Sea Bass will flake when done. (No measurements were given for the spices)


Dijon Mustard Sauce
1 pint heavy cream
2 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
2 oz butter
1 Tbsp. chicken base

Mix all ingredients together over a medium low heat and whisk until it thickens. Pour over cooked Sea Bass.

Modern or Traditional?

What’s your inspiration?

One of the reasons I enjoy helping clients with selections is that it is always a unique experience. Yesterday we met with two different families who are beginning the design process for their kitchens. The first wants a very contemporary look, while the second wants a very traditional style. Their homes reflect their desired style and they will both have some interesting design choices, in fact, so many design choices! It is always an interesting journey to see where the design will lead.

Both of these clients were prepared with inspiration pieces which are so helpful to me in guiding them through this process. The “traditional” client had a portfolio of pictures, while the “modern” client had a very unique artisan vase, which reflected the color and style she is hoping to capture in her cabinetry design.

Check back and view my blog as I update the selection process.

Ice Dams

Snow has arrived in quantity and it looks like an old fashioned winter around here! That gets us thinking about a problem that many of our clients have had troubles with over the years - roof ice damming quickly followed by leaking roofs.

When ice damming occurs even an expertly installed newer roof will leak, let us explain why.

When snow accumulates on a roof it acts as an insulated thermal blanket. The attic can get very warm due to the natural warming effect caused by normal heat loss through the ceiling of the home. Snow can cover roof vents and the attic space warms further causing the snow closest to the roof to melt. The water runs down the roof, hits the overhangs (which are much colder since they are not warmed up like the attic is) and re-freezes. Eventually the ice that is created gets high enough to form a water dam - hence the term "ice damming". As the snow blanket continues to insulate the snow underneath and the heat from your home continues to melt it, the dams get higher and the water pools up deeper. The water pool backs up underneath the shingles and before you know it, you have a leak in your house.

Contrary to a popular belief, sloped roofs are not waterproof! They are built to shed water. If water stands on a sloped roof it absolutely will leak, as water will backup underneath the shingles. Swimming pools are built to hold water; sloped roofs are built to shed water. Every home in the area will at one time or another have issues with ice damming. It is just an inevitable part of owning a home in our climate.

The best defense against ice damming is to keep the lower part of your roof free of snow. The roof does not need to be 100% clear of snow. Our advice is to remove the snow 5 - 6 feet up the roof from the eave lines. It is acceptable to leave an inch or two of snow on the roof in this area. We want to remind everybody that a roof is a dangerous place to be walking on. You may want to consider hiring a professional to remove the snow. If you do need us to do this for you, do not hesitate to call us, we have already assisted several of our customers this snow season with their roof snow removal.

Be proactive, once you allow large ice dams to form on your roof it becomes a great deal harder to deal with the situation - not only will you be experiencing a leaking roof but you will also have thick hard ice that will need to be chopped up in order to allow the water to escape. We have often seen water standing a foot deep or more on roofs after ice has build up, at that point the battle is lost, you will have a leaking roof and quite often the result is a damaged home interior.

If you do need assistance with removing snow, ice dams or have encountered leaking and possible damages to your home, we would be happy to send someone out to take care of removal and/or repairs that may be needed.

Go here for a special offer for Storm Damage Repair from Creative Contracting or call us today at 215-661-8581.

Everyone at Creative Contracting wishes you all a happy, safe and dry winter season.

How do you define art?

Let us help you create something beautiful.

Creative Contracting helps make you dreams come true.

Linda and Jon had been waiting many years to create the kitchen of their dreams. Their small dark kitchen was dated and not very functional with little counter space or storage. They worked with the team at Creative Contracting to design a kitchen that met all of their needs working within the existing space.

John and Linda’s kitchen now has a feeling of brightness, warmth and spaciousness. Their selection of soft creamy white painted cabinetry with caramel colored accents, beautiful granite, and Sonoma hand-glazed tiles are timeless in their charm and beauty.
They are thrilled with their new kitchen.

Solving water issues in the basement

One of the big issues I deal with here at Creative Contracting is water in basements. I am always asked why it is so wet or where does it come from. There are multiple reasons our basements are damp or wet.

I will share what happened at my own home – we have had water issues from the time we moved in, we tried everything, sealing the walls, cleaning out the perimeter trench, caulking, patching the list goes on and on. I always knew what I told my clients “get the water away from the house” but I kept ignoring my best advice to clients. Well last year we finely had to replace our 25 year old roof (it should have been replaced 5 years earlier – the shoemaker kids). I wanted to add some character so I extended the roof on 2 of the gables to create some overhang like the older homes. This resulted in new capping, trims, soffits and gutters. We decided that the gutters aesthetically could be a little bigger (K-5 is the residential standard we went with K-6), with the added benefit of being able to handle more water. Well we put new gutters on and got the downspouts away from the house and low and behold – our basements has dried up. Save yourself time and frustration:

1. Most of the homes we work on in this area of the country have gutters. Gutters are a critical element in the overall roof "health," performance, and durability. We recommend troubleshooting the gutters, downspouts, and splash blocks at least at the start of the summer (when most of the spring junk has fallen of the trees) and again in the early winter (when most of the leaves are of the trees).

2. The critical chore is clearing the gutters of debris. From leaves and twigs to rocks and sludge, debris not only clogs the system but can also cause damage or loosen gutter supports. At the same time, identify and repair any gaps in the gutters or downspouts and make sure their supports hold these components tight to the structure.

3. Clearing debris and repairing gaps will ensure that water and light debris are carried to the downspouts and completely flushed out. To make sure that's happening, hose down and flush the inside of the gutters once they're clean, gap-free, and properly supported. Clearing the gutters can be hazardous to the owner and the roof. Consider hiring a professional. Whenever possible, use a ladder (safely!) to clean out the gutters instead of walking on the roof, which can damage that surface.

4. Lastly, make sure water exits the downspouts away from the foundation to avoid water pressure on the home's structure. Extend the downspouts, if necessary, and consider installing splash blocks at the end of each downspout to divert and dissipate water instead of allowing it to pool.

If you are concerned about your gutters give us a call today we will come out and inspect the gutters (at no charge). If they need service we will with your approval; clean the gutters and downspouts, insure the hangers and connections are all holding properly, insure that the outlets are extended away from the foundation. If you continue to have water issues in the basement let us know and we can discuss the next steps to drying out your basement but we do find that this stops 75% of the water issues we see. Call or write with any questions or concerns you may have: Bob@creativecontracting.biz /215-661-8581

A new look in Porcelain Tile

I recently stopped by the Dal-Tile showroom and was pleasantly surprised by the new lines of tile they are featuring. Striated tones in soft colors and a large rectangular style create an Asian-inspired organic feel that has been gaining popularity. The Veranda series has launched a new line in this textured tile to coordinate with the solid suede-finished colors in the series. http://www.daltileproducts.com/series.cfm?series=130

“Feel” by the Italian Tile Maker “Caesar” is available through our distributor, but is not available to view through the Dal-Tile website.

P’ZAZZ is another porcelain color-body line by Dal-tile which has the soft feel of a natural fiber, rather than a stone-tile look.

Please feel free to contact me (215-661-8581) regarding your interior design needs.

Top Five Avoidable Hazards in Your Kitchen

Kitchen Hazard Number One:
Careless cooks leaving pot handles past the side or front of the stove/ range. When you or your family members cook, always remember to have the handles of the pots and pans turned to the side.


Kitchen Hazard Number Two:
Lack of safe storage for sharp kitchen knives. Throwing knives loosely into a drawer not only cuts up your hands, but it also dulls the knives you probably spent a lot of money on.


Kitchen Hazard Number Three:
Improperly using kitchen chairs, bar stools, and other types of furniture to reach high places such as above the cabinets. Always keep an approved ladder or step stool handy in order to reach those high places.


Kitchen Hazard Number Four:
A simple little mistake of leaving the cabinet doors and drawers open. You could lift up your head and hit the open cabinet door. Open drawers can cause injuries also, especially to children.


Kitchen Hazard Number Five:
Rugs on the kitchen's hardwood or tile floor with slippery backs. Make sure you buy and use the rubber backing that can be inserted behind rugs on slippery surfaces.