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This 1960s kitchen was tight, dark, and cut off from the rest of the house, a narrow galley with a wall separating it from the old dining room. Taking that wall down changed everything. The kitchen now opens straight into what had been a rarely used room, and the whole main level breathes differently because of it.

The new layout gave us room for a proper island, new Waypoint cabinetry, and quartz countertops that hold up to real cooking. New over-head lighting with the under-cabinet lighting over the food prep areas mean the cook is no longer working in their own shadow. What was once a cramped corner of the house is now where the family actually gathers.

Thinking about opening up your own kitchen? Give us a call at 919-783-9330 or email [email protected].

For more photos of this beautiful kitchen: Gainey Kitchen

When this family envisioned their dream outdoor living space, they didn’t just want a place to sit — they wanted a destination. The result? A stunning screened porch that seamlessly bridges indoor comfort and outdoor living.

The centerpiece is a soaring cathedral ceiling with dramatic white-painted timber framing. The expansive screened walls flood the space with natural light while keeping the elements at bay — perfect for entertaining year-round. Sleek black metal railing adds a modern contrast to the natural wood.

The porch connects effortlessly to the existing home and the pool, creating a layered outdoor living experience that feels both intentional and luxurious.

Whether it’s a quiet morning coffee or a poolside gathering, this family now has the ultimate backyard retreat.

With the addition of a dormer, this attic has become an integral part of this family’s everyday life. The extra headroom gained from the dormer allowed the new bedroom which has an extra-large closet to help compensate for the smaller closets on the first floor of this 1940’s era home. The finished space includes a full bathroom, dedicated laundry room, and even a cozy reading nook. A new placement and reworking of the original steep stairs makes ascending to the second floor easier.

We are delighted to introduce our newest Wood Wise team member, Cheryl. She brings talent and enthusiasm to each project as she assists our lead designer Kathy in developing design options for our homeowners. Through accurate measuring, she creates the “as-built” version of a client’s home. Cheryl then takes Kathy’s proposed design options from 2D floor plans to beautiful 3-D renderings. This makes it easier for our homeowners to see the architectural blueprint designs come to life in a realistic view of the finished product. Here are a few examples:

Remodeling a home is a journey that involves lots of decisions and planning. Choosing the right company to help you is crucial to getting trusted guidance and the desired results. Wood Wise brings an experienced team with high standards that gets it done, from design development to finished renovation.

Our latest project (above), completed in April, involved a whole house renovation. The homeowners wrote this review of the process and the results:

“We just completed a near whole-house remodel with Wood Wise. It couldn’t have gone better! The entire team is extremely professional, experienced, detail-oriented and kind. We stayed on budget and on time.

Kathy, Ben, Becky, Hank and the whole team spent time listening to our needs and going back and forth as many times as needed during the design phase. Kathy was very patient with us as we went through all the finishing options, and she expertly guided us based on our needs and design wants.

Ben and his team are experts in project management. There was never down time at our house during construction! The subs were fantastic and dedicated to their craft. The team kept the job site incredibly clean as well.

I was nervous to do this much work in a reno, but I couldn’t have been in better hands. If you are considering any work on your house, I wholeheartedly recommend Wood Wise.”

More photos to come soon!

A well-designed kitchen is like a musical composition. Just as a well-crafted song needs the elements of rhythm, melody, harmony, and form to be pleasing, a well-crafted kitchen needs important elements that determine the function and beauty of the finished space. Adequate spacing between island and perimeter cabinets, thoughtful placement of appliances for efficiency in cooking and traffic patterns, handy access to frequently used utensils, ample convenient storage, and more all contribute to a kitchen’s successful joy of use.

Here is an example of a thoughtfully designed Wood Wise kitchen that brings these elements together:

These homeowners had a nice porch with a popular vinyl enclosure system. The problem? It was too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter to be the place where they wanted to hang out.

Wood Wise transformed the porch into a beautiful, conditioned sunroom with insulation, large Pella windows, and a mini-split heating and cooling system. A better grilling deck was also added along with updated steps down to the backyard. Now the homeowners spend time enjoying the room and the clearer view to their backyard more, whether reading, entertaining, or watching TV.

Gatherings with family and friends during the holidays seem to always center around food. Having a kitchen that is efficient and conveniently arranged can make all the difference.

These homeowners wanted an improved space to accommodate more people comfortably than just the cook. By removing the wall to the dining room, the kitchen is now larger and more inviting. An improved traffic pattern and a large island help create an inviting place. Ample storage space is provided by Waypoint Cabinets and a large walk-in pantry.

When pollen time arrives, the yellow coating makes it a challenge to enjoy our outdoor spaces. The solution for these homeowners was to change their rarely used screened porch into a sunroom. They can now enjoy their backyard through large windows that keep out the pollen. Large format floor tile and a decorative vaulted ceiling contribute to the fresh look and feel of the room. A Mitsubishi mini-split keeps the temperature just right year round.

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Giving back to the community has always been important to Hank Wall, Wood Wise’s founder and president. Yesterday’s Career Day at Martin Middle School was the perfect way to invest in the next generation. Eighth grade students asked questions about design and construction careers, as well as learning about owning and running a business. With construction being one of the largest industries in our country, we hope some of these bright students will choose the exciting world of building.