The second step of our 4 step design/build process (the first being our free first home visit) is the measure. Our team comes to your home to accurately measure the areas we will be improving. The tools are a trusted traditional tape measure, a Bosch professional laser measure, graph paper, and pencil. Pretty simple but they work great.
Once a sketch of the existing layout is done, the measuring begins. Hank and Kathy carefully measure every inch, noting where every window, door, and opening occurs. Photos are taken from every angle to better enable us to recall every detail. Once this is completed, it’s back to the office to enter all the information into the computer. The existing plan is created and the fun begins! Design options are then developed to present to our homeowners.
We do lots of homework during the design phase to ensure a successful project for each of our clients. Careful measuring is the foundation for it all.
Removing a wall and opening up the interior always results in a dramatic change for a home. This North Hills 1960-era split-level, once suffering from a closed-off kitchen, dining room, and living room, received a 2020 full kitchen renovation which included opening up to the living room and expanding into the dining room. The “before” and “after” photos were taken from the same angle. What a difference! Hard to believe it is the same house! (It is.) The expanded kitchen now includes a large island and a banquette which comfortably seats this family of six and is ready for entertaining – once it becomes safe to do so.
Give us a call today and get started on making your home better.
As part of a larger Wood Wise renovation, these homeowners asked Wood Wise designer Kathy Walker to update their laundry room. Kathy’s design solutions include new Waypoint cabinets with the lower ones being raised so the granite countertop continues over the washer-dryer, creating the perfect place to fold laundry. Brushed gold hardware and faucet dress up the room and contrast nicely with the “Painted Linen” finish of the cabinets and the white subway backsplash tile. The crowning touch is the colorful floral wallpaper that creates a whimsical feel to this inviting new space.
Community involvement is important to Wood Wise which is why we financially support several worthy local non-profits. These hard-working organizations help improve the lives of both individuals and families. We’re all for that.
Ever wonder what difference removing that old spa tub in your master bathroom can make? Check this one out! In this recent Wood Wise remodel, the extra space freed up from removing the tub was used to enlarge and upgrade the shower with frameless clear glass panels, dual shower heads, and a bench with a niche. Beautiful tile now accents the vaulted ceiling. The art glass window provides security, privacy, and interest. Now, this master bathroom elevates the homeowner’s enjoyment every day.
This home was “open” but felt awkward. The homeowner asked Wood Wise to design a more pleasing and inviting layout. The winning design widens the opening to the living room, providing space for the long island with seating for six. Glass front Shaker-style KraftMaid upper cabinets light up collections of pottery and glass. Ceramic subway tile extends the full backsplash wall to highlight the classic hood.
This Raleigh inside-the-beltline home was comfortable inside but lacked good outdoor living options. The homeowners asked Wood Wise to design and build a porch for family living and entertaining. The new space features a vaulted ceiling with a large skylight to keep the interior of the home bright. The stone fireplace not only adds to the ambiance, it makes this space inviting in winter by providing warmth. A small deck was added for grilling convenience. With the large area for dining, this porch meets and exceeds all expectations for an ideal outdoor living area.
The 2020 Remodelers Home Tour has officially started! The area’s best remodelers have opened their remodeled homes for you to visit – virtually! Try out the neat technology that allows you to “walk” through the rooms to see the best and latest ideas in home improvement.
So have fun touring, get inspired, and give us a call to get started on improving your home!
The 2020 Remodelers Virtual Home Tour launches this Saturday, September 26! The amazing Matterport technology transports you to the tour homes, allowing you to go room to room directed by your mouse. You can linger in areas or return over and over to see tags identifying selections, view the overall layout, and even measure areas of interest.
Check out all the homes – and especially the Wood Wise entry. Our home features a full kitchen renovation, removal of walls to open up to the living areas, an amazing long island, an addition featuring a new laundry area and drop-off/organizational cubbies.
Who could have predicted everyone being required to Stay Home? A pandemic forced us to commute via Zoom, reduce driving and cancel travel plans. To make the best of our life at home, here are some home-life thoughts:
Personal:
Taking Steps: Without the gym and with snacks at home I was getting the Covid 19lbs last spring. Using an iPhone app, like Health, gives you the positive feedback of your step-count and your miles-walked, plus weekly reports and more. Most apps are free to download. Walking more, I have met some nice neighbors.
Fruitful Changes: To eat less I began eating an apple late morning and drinking extra water to be less hungry for lunch. More apples, less bread. Blueberries with plain yogurt and some maple syrup taste like dessert at snack time. Blueberries are super nutritious and apples aid digestion. Maple syrup…makes everything better.
Core Strength: Before the gym closed I asked a trainer what he would recommend for reducing and toning my soft middle and his advice was to mix leg lifts with an overall core strengthener, the elbow plank. He pointed out that doing a pushup (raised) type plank builds arm strength but keeping both elbows on the mat while holding yourself up in a straight plank builds core muscle strength.
Less Distraction: For quiet amid conversations or TV: Noise-cancelling headphones give you the ability to screen out “noise.” Two people working at home can be distracting, or if one of your “roommates” watches ESPN or depressing news while you are working or reading, good headphones let you listen to blogs, music, or enjoy silence.
I splurged on the Sony WH-1000XM3 model, with Bluetooth so I can listen to Pandora music or enjoy solitude without a cord. Comparably priced Bose headphones are rated a bit higher; cheaper models sacrifice some comfort, ease of use and battery time. I love having the ability to tune out conversations, radio, TV, and even traffic sounds when I sit outside.
Sleep: Check out the free app Sleep Cycle which gives you a daily graph of your sleep cycle plus the morning excitement of your sleep “score”. The book, “Why We Sleep” by Matthew Walker is a good read on the subject.
Home:
Pressure washing the exterior: Before you hire a painter you should hire a professional pressure washing company since a good exterior wash may be all you need. I recommend having them clean all the exterior windows while they are at your house since the basic washing leaves the glass streaky. Costs: $150 – $300 for pressure washing, $3 – $5 per window to clean outside only, but ask for a package deal.
Digital thermostat: Switching from an older model to a programmable thermostat makes home life more enjoyable, with the fan running continuously at night or whatever settings provide your ideal comfort. Your HVAC service company will be glad to install one for you when they come for regular servicing. The intermittent fan setting is particularly beneficial to circulate air in spring and fall when mild temperatures don’t trigger your HVAC unit to come on.
The magic of pumice: If your water comes from a well, you may have top-of-water stains in your toilet where mineral deposits build up as water evaporates. For $5 you buy a nifty pumice on a stick tool that erases mineral stains without damaging the porcelain finish. Be sure to flush after scouring so your partner doesn’t worry about your digestion.
Lighting: Compact fluorescent bulbs in kitchens are not pleasant lighting, in my observation. Substituting LED bulbs that dim is my recommendation. I bought a sampler of LED bulbs to try out the light quality and the dimming. Some bulbs turn orangish when dimmed, while others just get dim. Sylvania LED Ultra SE (sunset effects) may be more color/ambiance than you want but I like the dimmed sunset effect in the evening.
Home office: When family moved from Washington, DC into our house at the outset of the pandemic, I created a Quickie Desk made from a flat, hollow-core, wood door slab (Lowe’s) and an old file cabinet. I planned to stain it but haven’t yet and it looks fine.
I used my cordless drill to screw a 28” long 1×4 to the wall to support the end of the desk at the exact height of the file cabinet. Affordable and easy to set up or take down. Desks are typically 28” – 30” above the floor. Brushing the door with paint primer and some white paint may be a better look for your home desk. The Quickie Desk is lightweight, affordable and easy to set up or take down.
