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Making the most of existing space has always been a goal in the Wood Wise design process. These homeowners had ample square footage in their home but it was chopped up into small rooms with poor traffic flow. The new design opens up the dining room at the front of the house to the kitchen in the back, making the most of their golf course views. The new traffic pattern from the family room to the garage goes through the kitchen but bypasses the busy kitchen workspace. Floor to ceiling pantry cabinets double the amount of storage from the old pantry and are more convenient. The large island provides seating for meals and homework as well as being the center for entertaining.

A popular kitchen cabinet configuration in the ’70s was to hang cabinets over a peninsula, interrupting the sight-line. This, along with other bothersome issues, was addressed during a much-needed Raleigh kitchen remodel.  WW designer Kathy Walker redesigned the layout to give a long sight-line from one side of the house to the other. The new design makes the kitchen feel and look larger. KraftMaid cabinets provide increased storage. Castors make the island “mobile.”

Homeowners planning to remodel their home value a friend’s or co-worker’s referral to a good company.  Knowing someone who has had a successful experience working with an experienced remodeler instills confidence that the next project will also be done well. Our past clients have been quick to recommend us to their friends, family, and co-workers along with writing great reviews. Wood Wise is pleased that many of our new clients come to us this way.

Don’t know any of our past clients? On our free first visit to your home, we provide a six page list of over 35 past clients’ contact information with descriptions of their projects. We encourage homeowners inquiring about us to call them and find out firsthand what it is like to work with Wood Wise. Here are some of our past clients’ most recent comments:

“From start to finish, the process was transparent and trustworthy.”

“Excellent company to work with.”

A fun mixture of materials sets this kitchen apart. White Shaker-style KraftMaid cabinets are a clean and simple backdrop for the white granite countertops and subway tile backsplash. The hood, made of reclaimed wood, combines with the metal pendants to add an industrial look. The result is smooth and sophisticated.

This new outdoor living space is the place to be. The homeowners, who love to entertain around their pool, now have a beautiful screened porch and inviting wide deck to enjoy and share with family and friends. The steps across the entire length of the deck make for easy access and provide additional informal seating for swimmers.

Creating a great outdoor living space can have a big impact on how you enjoy your home. How great it will be depends largely on thoughtful planning. Along with many other things, careful design considers privacy and accenting the best views. Sometimes it means minimizing or screening a less desirable view.

Here are some examples of screening for privacy or blocking views:

A beautiful new sunroom has replaced a rarely used deck in this North Raleigh home. This room for all seasons features a gas fireplace faced with stone and large windows to enjoy the view. The use of natural elements extends to the ceiling with stained wood beadboard and tile flooring. There’s plenty of light even on rainy days with both recessed lights and the fanlight. A mini-split heating and cooling system keep the room comfortable throughout the year.

Raleigh is experiencing growth as never before. It’s a seller’s market and listings move fast. House hunters are finding that the once passed over split-level is now a way to get into desirable neighborhoods. Mostly built in the 1970s, split-levels feature desirable square footage with a slightly lower price tag as compared to other styles. The downside: they often come with outdated looks and a choppy floor plan.

That’s where we come in. Homeowners are turning to Wood Wise to bring their split-levels up to 2021 esthetics and style of living. The most often request is to open up the kitchen to the living/dining/family rooms. Take a look at this split-level that has been transformed by taking out walls between the living and dining rooms. Although the kitchen is relatively small, it now lives large.

WW designer Kathy Walker has designed hundreds of kitchens in her 14 years at Wood Wise. She is the cabinet specialist and resident expert for our two cabinet lines: Waypoint and KraftMaid. For each kitchen design, she creates drawings showing the layout of cabinets, drawers, and islands/peninsulas. These drawings show the views from various angles so homeowners can see different perspectives. Wood Wise clients enjoy Kathy’s expertise and guidance through the all-important cabinet decisions of door styles, finishes, storage options, and optimal placement for convenience and looks. Here are the drawings for an actual Wood Wise kitchen:

“More light!” is a request we continue to hear from homeowners remodeling their kitchens. Hank and Kathy have several tools they use in their designs to provide better lighting:

• Recessed lights are the #1 tool used to increase the lighting and are spaced out to cover the whole area.
• Under-cabinet Xenon puck or strip lights are fully dimmable and give warm lighting to work areas.
• Island lighting can include pendants, chandeliers, or other kinds of decorative lights.
• Solar-tubes and skylights bring in natural light.
• Enlarging windows or adding transoms over existing windows can dramatically improve the lighting.
• Removing the wall from an adjoining room can flood the room with additional light.

Every kitchen poses different challenges to good lighting. Wood Wise brings the skill and experience to maximize the lighting potential of each space.