Tuesday, April 26, 2011

9 Years for IHP!

Integrity Home Projects was founded in April of 2002 with a vision of creating a remodeling services company that would stand out in the industry with notable ethics and professionalism. We started this company to help people realize their dreams for their home. Integrity Home Projects has enjoyed steady and continuous growth since the start of the company keeping us busy and happy to be working with our customers. With over half of our business based on direct referrals and repeat business, satisfied customers are the key to our success. We thank all of our customers for their business and referrals. We wouldn’t be here without them.


At IHP, we will continue to provide outstanding service for our customers through our professional approach and detailed process-based business philosophy. Thanks for a great nine years!

-Dan & Brian






Friday, April 15, 2011

Home Exteriors

Spring is here. It’s time to refresh and give your home a new look and lots of curb appeal. Changing the look of a home's exterior with a facelift can bring a new modern look to your home or just give you the style you want. Something as basic as using new paint colors can update a home. A plain exterior can be made more distinctive by adding a package of coordinated trim. Or you can go for the truly dramatic by adding porches, columns or dormers to totally change the character of your house. Some ideas for giving your home a new look are:


  • New paint color(s)

  • New trim packages, colors or accents

  • Adding stone to exteriors

  • Including columns and archways

  • A new patio or front porch Switching siding to hail-proof Hardie Cement board siding http://www.jameshardie.com/

Before Exterior Remodel



After Exterior Remodel & Design











For more ideas that bring a new look to your home, call Integrity Home Projects.

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Selecting Wood Species and Finishes

The selection of the cabinet wood species and finish will have a significant impact on the overall design and look of your kitchen. There are several things to consider when choosing the wood species for your home.

Maple is excellent as a durable wood that you may need to meet your lifestyle. European Country design with traditional styling may be appealing with a painted cabinet, possibly incorporating more than one finish color. The key to a successful kitchen-remodeling project is keeping all elements of the overall home and room design in mind throughout the design process. This needs to be balanced with your lifestyle and use of the space.

An Overview of Woods Species
  • Maple: Light – Hard Wood - Traditional to Contemporary
  • Cherry: Medium/Red - Med/Hard Wood - Traditional to Contemporary
  • Oak: Medium/Golden/Red – Hard Wood - Traditional to Transitional
  • Clear Alder: Medium/Red/Brown – Soft Wood - Traditional
  • Knotty Alder: Medium/Red/Brown – Soft Wood - Rustic/Countr
  • Hickory: Medium/Red/Brown – Hard Wood - Rustic/Countr
  • Rustic Hickory: Medium/Red/Brown – Hard Wood - Rustic/Country
  • Walnut: Dark/Brown/Purplish Black – Medium Wood - Traditional
  • Painted: Hard Wood - Traditional to Country
Woods and the Kitchen Environment
Kitchens tend to be affected by humidity and temperature and your cabinets need to adjust to changes in temperature. Solid wood often expands and contracts when exposed to humidity, leading to warping. Hardwood veneer and laminate alternatives can be incorporated to minimize shrinking and expansion through the drastic changes in Minnesota’s climate.



Cherry cabinets, clear finish, shaker style work well with existing oak millwork. The oak floor was refinished to compliment the tone of the cherry cabinets.

Monday, March 7, 2011

Shaker Style for Kitchens

According to the National Kitchen & Bath Association, Shaker style kitchens rose in popularity during 2009 and gained momentum in 2010 to become the second most popular style used by NKBA member designers. Traditional style remains number one but Shaker style is in demand.

The Shaker style is based on the Shakers, a religious and agricultural community established in the USA in 1774. The philosophy of shaker style can be summed up in two phrases: "whatever is fashioned let it be plain and simple and for the good" and "beauty rests on utility". The craftsman made furniture to highest levels of workmanship, using pure and simple lines without any ornamentation for durability and usefulness. The Shaker style is known for simple functionality and rooms that are arranged to feel clean and spacious.

An open, organized design with neutral wall colors reflects the Shaker ideal of simple living. Plenty of storage space is important and pegs are featured to keep order in mudrooms and entryways. Cabinets are made from hardwoods, with recessed panels and straight, simple lines. Authentic Shaker ladderback chairs and stools add simple elegance. Light fixtures with a chrome finish and natural wood flooring with a matte gloss give a kitchen the ambiance of an original Shaker home.
Call IHP for a Shaker Style kitchen in your home.

Friday, February 18, 2011

Choosing Granite as a Countertop

Kitchen countertop styles are available in a wide variety of materials but Granite has been extremely popular in recent years both in remodeling and in new homes. According to the NPD Group, a market research company, the biggest seller in countertops is still Granite. Granite countertops account for 56% of kitchen sales. It is an excellent solution for homeowners for beautiful, durable and easy to maintain countertops. It is a great choice for natural countertops.


Durability: Granite is the hardest and most durable of materials for countertops. It is quarried from the earth’s crust and is considered the oldest building material Granite countertops are easy to clean with just soap and water. They are also easy to maintain and are the most stain resistant, lasting a lifetime.


Beauty: The natural beauty of granite adds elegance to your home. The spectrum of colors is expansive from light to dark colors with a variety of markings; you’ll find the style you’ll love in your kitchen.
At IHP, we are here to help you make the right selection for your home.

Monday, January 31, 2011

Kitchen Remodeling Project: The Kitchen Layout

To start remodeling your kitchen, there are several aspects to consider for planning your project. The first step to consider is the existing layout of your kitchen to determine if a change is required. It is much more cost effective to remodel a kitchen if the appliances and sink remain in their current locations. If you are planning to expand the kitchen by redesigning or adding a peninsula/island, removing a wall or adding space your home, a revised layout is probably in order.

Even a minor layout change can give your kitchen new working spaces as well as opportunities for areas to be designed to meet your personal needs. New spaces or areas can create new ideas such as homework centers, snack/breakfast bars or even an informal dining table integrated into the kitchen workspace. Personalizing your kitchen to be remodeled to your specific needs is the first step in planning your project.




A wall is removed for a new island area.

A cooking prep area flows into informal dining.
A homework station is added.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Be a Resource for Your Customers

Just recently we were in communication with a past customer. He was looking a resource and some information for installing new kitchen flooring. The project was going to be a homeowner improvement project until they realized a project like this involves a lot more than just installing the new flooring. That’s really where our expertise steps in and provides the knowledge and experience to complete a remodeling or upgrade project for our customers. We help avoid issues by taking a good look at the overall project before things get underway to get the job done right and as hassle-free as possible.

At IHP, we love that our customers ask us for help. And we’re happy to provide our assistance.