About Smythwickcastle

Why We Start With the Heat

Smythwickcastle remodels kitchens in Riverside, California, and we got into the habit of starting every job in an unusual place. Before we talk about cabinet colors or countertop edges, we want to know what the room feels like at four in the afternoon in August.

In a lot of Inland Empire homes the answer is hot. A west facing window or a sliding door throws direct sun across the counters just as people start cooking. The range adds more heat. The hood, if there is one, often recirculates the air back into the room. The result is a kitchen that looks fine in the listing photos and gets avoided for half the year.

A remodel is the right moment to fix that, because it is the only time the ceiling is open for a duct, the wall is open for a new window header, and the surfaces are all being chosen at once. So we plan those three things first and design the rest of the kitchen around them.

How We Work

We visit in the late afternoon whenever we can, so we can see where the light actually lands. We look at the existing hood and trace where a duct could run to the outside. We read the label on your windows, check the frame and the header, and note what shade the house already gets from eaves, trees or a patio cover.

From there you get a written scope that separates what will make a real difference from what is simply nice to have. Sometimes the honest recommendation is small: a properly ducted hood and a better pane of glass. Sometimes it is a full remodel. And sometimes it is an awning or a shade tree outside, which costs less than anything we could build inside.

The Houses We Work In

Riverside has a bit of everything, from craftsman bungalows near downtown and Mount Rubidoux to post war ranch homes in La Sierra and newer tract homes in Orangecrest. Older houses bring galvanized or cast iron plumbing, small electrical panels and, in historic districts, design review for exterior changes. We plan for those before demolition, not after.

Get in Touch

Call (951) 530-3325 or write to us at 7520 Adams St, Riverside, CA 92505 to set up a late afternoon visit.