Author: w00dWisE12

This historic house needed a total make over. The Wood Wise challenge was to make it comfortable for a modern family of four. A rickety interior stairwell was sealed up to a crawlspace which improved the smell in the house and provided valuable living space. All but two of the windows and all exterior doors were replaced. New doors seal properly but maintain the old house charm. Two bathrooms and the funky kitchen were gutted and renovated; a master suite was created on the first floor by combining a porch, the space from the old basement stairs, and a hall area with a small bedroom. A new laundry found a home in the location of an ill-placed screen porch next to the kitchen. All the floors were refinished, all ceilings made smooth and the whole house was painted. See the results:

        

      

Over our 22+ years of remodeling homes, Wood Wise Design & Remodeling has listened to our clients. Combining design and construction in one place is a result of this listening and has made a winning combination for homeowners. The advantages of this new design-build concept are explained in an article by Hank Wall, president of Wood Wise, in our latest e-newsletter. You can read it here:

 

Renovation Design: New vs. Old
by Hank Wall, President of Wood Wise Design & Remodeling
The new model for getting renovations designed is called design-build, when one company has both construction and design under one roof with a streamlined process overseeing all the steps. The project-long relationships grow from first meeting through each stage of design and renovation. Everyone is working together to create a successful project instead of the disconnect between the separate builder and the architect.

Residential design-build companies frequently employ a mix of home designers, kitchen and bath designers, project managers, selections experts, and carpenters. Homeowners prefer this approach. With the planning of selections (tile, faucets, lighting, etc.) integrated into the overall design they enjoy reduced stress and fewer scheduling fiascos.

“The stress of decision overload is reduced since your design team leads you step-by-step. “

Successful design-build has a built-in decision process. Homeowners are guided through the complex process. The stress of decision overload is reduced since your design team leads you step-by-step. Their goal is a successful project.

With design-build the renovation cost discussions are woven into the design and planning all along. Knowing costs early helps inform the design process. The old model postponed clarity regarding costs until the design was completed and homeowners received bids from construction companies that had no role in design.

“The goal is a successful project.”

A successful remodeling project needs good communication day to day. At Wood Wise we have increased our success rate to nearly straight A’s since we adopted the design-build model.

 

 

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With a tired outdated look, this master bath was in need of a makeover. Wood Wise worked with the clients to come up with a pleasing design that provides a fresh new look. Custom cabinets, special order ceramic tile, a frame-less shower, and Kohler fixtures all add to the beautiful finished room.  Check out the “before” and “after”:

 

To make the most of their golf course setting, these homeowners wanted railings on their decks and porch that would not obstruct the view. Going horizontal was the answer. Set at 6 inches apart, the pipe railings almost disappear when looking through them and also give a clean look to the back of the home. With a high deck off the master bedroom along with lower decking and the screen porch, Wood Wise helped these homeowners have plenty of options to enjoy their beautiful view.

         

         

 

These Wood Wise clients are ready to entertain with their handsome deck and screened porch that features a hot tub. The side ramp makes for easy access. Extending the enjoyable space is a large patio. Because of the homeowners’ love of plants, a plant room is included that features a skylight and potting workbench. The end result is a wonderful place to enjoy the beautiful seasons. See more Wood Wise ideas for great outdoor living spaces at: https://woodwisedesign.com/what-we-do/raleigh-outdoor-living/ 

 

Wood Wise Design & Remodeling is pleased to announce recognition as a 2013 Guildmaster with Highest Distinction. Guild Quality, an independent customer satisfaction surveying company, selected Wood Wise for their superior delivery of customer care based on survey responses submitted by Wood Wise customers. Congratulations to the Wood Wise team and trade partners for their hard work! Wood Wise is thankful to work with such wonderful clients and will work hard to continue to provide beautiful remodeling projects along with providing a great remodeling experience. For more comments from our clients, go to: http://www.guildquality.com/cr/Wood-Wise-Design-Remodeling-Inc/FYX37622423U3G/

With cherry cabinets and beautiful granite countertops, this Wood Wise-designed kitchen with tons of storage is not only practical but pleasing to the eye. The white oak flooring provides comfort underneath the feet and the big island calls friends and family to gather.

 

 

Providing our clients with the best building products is a top priority for Wood Wise Design & Remodeling. We stay on top of new materials, colors, and designs by working closely with our suppliers and trade partners. One of the latest trends for bathroom remodeling is the elegant freestanding tub. Whether a contemporary soaking tub or vintage slipper claw foot, these tubs always add a touch of luxury to any bathroom. Here are two examples from Wood Wise projects:

                                           

 

Lots of visitors, a beautiful remodeling project, and wonderful comments helped make this year’s Remodelers Home Tour one of our best. Many features of the kitchen caught the attention of our visitors such as the custom American Cherry checkerboard pattern breakfast bar, the under-mount porcelain coated cast-iron double sink, Verde Butterfly granite, KraftMaid beadboard Cabinets, and more. A real favorite was the screen porch added across the back of the house. The Velux skylight lights up the kitchen window. Rope lighting around the ceiling perimeter creates a great mood and gives soft light without glare. And with spacious dimensions of 12 x 24, the porch provides plenty of room for entertaining as well as being a daily oasis for the family.

 

                                            

“Five Points Charmer” is our feature home in this year’s Remodelers Home Tour. With the goal of updating their 90 year old home with a new kitchen, the homeowners asked Wood Wise to help them with the thoughtful design and construction. They achieved their goal of warmth and efficiency without adding on. This is the homeowners’ comment when the project was completed : “We were thrilled with the work done on our home. Our little bungalow has been transformed, and we didn’t have to enlarge the footprint of the house.” 

Please come by this weekend to see the beautiful results for yourself. We would love to see you!

     Saturday, April 27^th: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

     Sunday, April 28^th:    1 p.m. – 5 p.m.

     Free admission

     For more information go to: http://wakeremodelers.com/remodelershometour