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We all love makeovers. There’s something hopeful and encouraging about seeing a home not living up to its potential finally arrive. The Wood Wise team is privileged to see this happen with every remodeling project. We see the lackluster “before” become the beautiful “after.” Some renovations are more extreme than others but all improve the lives of the homeowners.

This kitchen remodel falls in the “extreme makeover” group. The existing space was very cramped, inconvenient, and unattractive. WW designer Kathy Walker borrowed space from an adjoining room to expand the kitchen and give it a fresh layout. Now the kitchen is light-filled, well-organized, and a pleasure to work in. Daily life in the heart of the home has vastly improved and entertaining is a delight.

We love helping homes live up to their potential.

There’s no better time than the holidays to prove the adage true that the kitchen is the heart of the home. Guests and family flock to the kitchen for food and fellowship with the hosts. Multiple chefs join in the food preparations for special dinners and parties. Smooth traffic patterns, convenient storage, and plenty of space for food prep can help make entertaining enjoyable.

Are you pleased with how your kitchen and home are working for you this holiday season?  If not, make 2018 the year you improve your home. Wood Wise is here, ready to help you maximize the potential your home has to offer. With our excellent design and top-notch construction, your kitchen can become the heart of the home that best reflects your heart.

Pantries are a great addition to any kitchen. Wood Wise designer Kathy Walker carefully customizes the pantry design for every kitchen remodel. She often replaces the typical existing home pantry that looks like a small coat closet with a cabinet style pantry that provides more and better storage space. If the space is available, a walk-in pantry can be the answer. Custom-shelving is arranged for convenience, often with specific items to be stored in mind. From docking stations to 2^nd refrigerators, pantries offer a wide range of storage options for items that are best hidden from view.

Here are some examples of hard-working pantries from recent Wood Wise kitchen renovations:

When homeowners come to Wood Wise for a complete kitchen remodel, they usually have a wish list of desired items. We listen to our clients, look at the space, and give several options on a better layout to achieve those goals, along with additional improvements.

In this kitchen remodel, the homeowners wanted a larger kitchen and a better layout for a smoother traffic flow. Incorporating space from surrounding rooms was not a possibility so an addition of 8 feet across the back of the kitchen was built to provide the needed room. A new large island that doubles as a place for food prep and dining has the look of a farm table. Plenty of room behind the island allows multiple cooks to move freely. The wish list has become a reality.

The homeowners have this to say about their Wood Wise remodeling experience:

“(Wood Wise designer) Kathy’s knowledge and guidance were very helpful. She thought of things we didn’t consider or had little experience with. She also brought ideas from other projects but was open to incorporating our needs and style.”

Remodeling a new kitchen requires lots of decisions, with cabinets being one of the biggest. Wood Wise is a dealer for KraftMaid and Waypoint cabinets, both semi-custom solid wood lines that offer many styles and finishes. Wood Wise designer Kathy Walker starts the selections process with our clients in our own beautiful cabinet showroom. There are many door styles and finish samples to touch and see, as well as many ways to arrange them.

Here are three examples of how one option, open shelving, can add character to a new kitchen:

During this season of counting our blessings, we are grateful for all our clients, friends, and trade partners who contribute to our success.  Levi Walker, son of WW designer Kathy Walker and star of the 2017 Wood Wise Thanksgiving card, is helping us wish you a Happy Thanksgiving.

The backsplash in a kitchen can be a beautiful focal point. Making a statement in the backsplash tile over the cooktop can add pizzazz. Wood Wise designer Kathy Walker understands the importance of making this decision and has years of experience to know what works and what doesn’t. She accompanies and advises all our clients in the selection process for their kitchen remodels, including tile. Here are several Wood Wise kitchens with backsplashes that add the perfect style statement. All tile is from Byrd Tile and is installed by our master tiler, Raul Banegas.

When redesigning a master bathroom, we are most often asked to remove the tub. In this North Raleigh home, we were asked to replace the old tub with a new soaking tub along with enlarging the shower. Wood Wise designer Kathy Walker presented the homeowners with several options to accomplish their goals. The final plan gives them everything they asked for and more: a beautiful, updated luxurious spa-like space with abundant storage.

Barn doors are all the rage now and for a good reason. If made with reclaimed wood, they have an instant feel of nostalgia. They bring the past into the here and now with great style. The hardware to hold the doors adds an industrial look which is also popular. Barn doors appeal both aesthetically and to our sense of history and return to simpler times.

Wood Wise has installed barn doors using reclaimed wood in several remodeling projects . Here are a couple that really transformed their spaces: