Historic Home Remodel in Sacramento

Blogster Joshua Lurie-Terrell was so impressed with the Hakatai glass mosaic tile that he chose for the kitchen remodel of his 1926 craftsmen bungalow in Sacramento, California, that he made an effort to find other materials that matched or complimented the tile, rather than the usual other way around.

Lurie-Turrell had searched for a modern surface finish that would accent the kitchen, but not overpower the historical elements of his 84 year old home. He was able to find the right product, in the perfect color, online at www.hakatai.com. Lurie-Turrell chose 35 square feet of ¾” x ¾” mesh-mounted tile in the color Jade from Hakatai’s top-selling Classic series for his DIY project. The result is a subtle, yet highly-refined glass mosaic backsplash that runs along the entire wall behind the stove and sink, above an elegant natural stone countertop.

“I used to live in Oregon and I still go back every year to visit,” said Lurie-Terrell. “I was up there a few years ago and in two different settings there was this beautiful glass tile, one in a house and the other in a restaurant. I asked both places where it came from and they told me it was Hakatai. Ever since then I have been a big fan. The Hakatai glass tiles were absolutely perfect. Everything was done just how it should be. I actually liked Hakatai’s color Jade so much that I had to go out and find a countertop that matched it, and not the other way around. And Hakatai products are not nearly as expensive as some of the other brands out there.”

Lurie-Turrell’s residence sits in a peaceful Sacramento neighborhood formally known as Boulevard Park, among rows and rows of historical craftsmen bungalows and mission-style homes built by the same developer in the late 1920s through the early ‘50s. As a dedicated and active fan of this era in American architecture, Lurie-Turrell visits plenty of mid-century homes on the beat for fresh ideas and new concepts for his blog, aptly titled Hewn & Hammered.

“To begin with, I was really impressed with Hakatai’s selection of colors,” said Lurie-Terrell. “They have a lot of earthy, natural tones that go great with historical homes from this era. Whenever I’m out visiting or touring other homes I always recommend Hakatai when it comes to specifying glass tiles. The products are exceptional and the customer service was excellent. Being here on the West Coast I’m used to it taking five or six weeks for materials to be delivered, but Hakatai was fast. I was amazed when a week after I placed my order it was sitting on my front step.”

Lurie-Terrell’s blog, Hewn & Hammered, is focused on architecture and design with a special emphasis on the craftsmen, mission and prairie revival movements in American architecture. Follow along at http://www.hewnandhammered.com/.