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Remodeling, especially kitchen remodeling, is a lot of work. That reality became real for me this spring. Setting up a temporary kitchen required moving the refrigerator and microwave along with setting up shelving, prep table and kitchen essentials away from dust and work areas. Plus, cleaning out every drawer and cabinet kept me up late and moving furniture was physically tiring.

My role at Wood Wise, helping all our clients with showroom selections, took away the uncertainty about how to do it, but the “big decision” mental drama in making so many key selections felt stressful. Now that my kitchen is functional again, I am happy with my decisions and truly like my kitchen’s new look and performance. Big effort and big payoff. Every meal, even putting groceries away, is more enjoyable than it has ever been.

My thinking as I was planning this project was to update several spaces while the house was a work zone and subcontractors were involved. I remodeled the master bathroom, gutting out the dated tile shower and tub. This was really disruptive. New windows, shingles, paint and carpet! New doors out to the deck and yard!!

My optimism for a quick project faded as various supply chain delays and busy tradesmen added days to the original schedule.

More than ever I appreciate that Ben, our project manager at Wood Wise, is such an expert at handling so many details. I have greater compassion for our disrupted clients than ever before.

Now that life is close to normal, I realize how the challenges and inconveniences were part of the cost of getting my own home to be a good fit for me. My new windows, doors, interior colors and beautiful front door cheer me up daily. My new shower is awesome. I love my kitchen.  It really was worth it to endure the months of undoing to get to enjoy my home like never before.

Remodeling contractors have it better now than new home builders since interior remodeling requires less of scarce, expensive lumber. However, shortages of essential materials and busy subcontractors have reduced our schedulling efficiency. For years, we had it easy and took it all for granted. Isn’t that how it is?

Despite the new challenges and cost increases, Triangle area property values are likely to continue increasing with FUJIFILM and APPLE bringing more high-paying jobs. Your house is worth more than it was two years ago. Remodeling your home is a great investment, likely to make your life better right away.

My top ten list for less materials-intensive home improvements that focus on “finishes”, lighting and landscaping:

1. Replace bathroom countertop, sinks/faucets, vanity lighting and toilets. Buy some nice towels.
2. Replace ceiling fans and light fixtures with new, more stylish ones.
3. Paint your house, interior and/or exterior. Tip: a good pressure washing might take care of the outside for a few years. Tip #2: paint colors look more intense than the sample chip when painted on the interior and look lighter than the sample chip when painted on the exterior.
4. Replace your kitchen countertops and backsplash tile.
5. Make coming home a pleasant experience with a new (or new color) front door. Bring home some colorful planters and flower boxes from Logan’s or Homewood nursery.
6. Buy some lamps, rugs, and artwork to revitalize your home interior – to like it more than you do now.
7. Rearrange furniture (you can slide it on thick towels) and move artwork to different walls.
8. Invest $5,000 – $6,000 (of your increased home value) in outdoor landscaping. Colorful plants and neat edges (mulch) dress up a boring front yard. Perennials come back year after year.
9. Resurface your old deck with new decking and get a cool, new railing installed. (Cables or horizontal pipes don’t need repainting in five years).
10. Replace tired carpet with luxury vinyl tile (LVT) which looks like wood planks.

Liking your home is a huge influence in how much you like your life. Happy homeowning.

Sometimes you just know it when you find your “forever” home. This family of five knew they had found theirs: a nice house that has the wonderful combination of a desirable location and a big child-friendly yard. The house was well-built but needed modifications to work better with their lifestyle. Wood Wise helped the homeowners with changes that improve all areas of their lives.

At the heart of this first floor renovation, the kitchen has been enlarged and given a new more convenient layout. New KraftMaid cabinets, tile backsplash, and granite countertops are beautiful and easy upkeep. The dining room bump-out creates more room for both family and guest gatherings to be comfortable. The large windows provide lots of natural light and a great view to the beautiful backyard.

Creating a unified kitchen and living area ranks high on most homeowners’ remodeling project lists. Widening existing doors or completely removing walls are popular for bringing in more light and allow for better traffic flow.

Prior to a full renovation, the existing kitchen of this home was isolated from the living area. Wood Wise removed two walls and created a new layout. KraftMaid cabinets, granite countertops, and improved lighting now improve not only the kitchen but the opened up dining and living areas.

With the beautiful spring like we have been enjoying this year, most of us want better ways to enjoy being outside at home. These homeowners had a beautiful backyard but had not made the most of it. So they contacted Wood Wise to design and build a combination of outdoor spaces. The multi-level deck is now accessible from different rooms in the house. Better steps that are more easily navigated lead to a small patio and on to a larger one. Gently curved stone walls define the patio and also provide plenty of seating for larger groups. The pond rounds out the experience with the soothing sound of water.

The old patio did not add enjoyment to this family. It was either too hot, too cold, or wet, and was a catchall for leaves and debris. With the design-build help of Wood Wise, the new screened porch creates a space that can now be enjoyed year round. With lots of natural and recessed lighting, the space is bright and inviting. The fireplace and floor are natural stone. The grilling patio is located conveniently off the porch and features the same stone floor. An arbor adds character and provides a visual connector to the garage.

New is not always better. But in this case, it definitely is. New shower, new floor, new lighting, new vanity, new plumbing fixtures – and the list goes on. Removing the rarely used tub makes way for a window seat with storage under the window. Space is gained for an enlarged shower that features a half wall and easy to clean frameless shower glass. This much used room is now an inspiring place for the beginning and end of each day.

Islands top the list of most-wanted improvements in a Wood Wise kitchen renovation. Careful planning is essential to make this centerpiece both look good and serve well. Will it include the sink or cooktop? Will there be cabinet doors or drawers for convenient storage and organization? How about the color: match the perimeter cabinet color or a contrasting stain or paint? Wood Wise designer Kathy Walker has carefully designed hundreds of islands to fit each homeowner’s specific need.

This large 2-tiered island features seating for seven. The lower level sink keeps the view tidy from the living room. The back side of the island is custom fitted with a raised dishwasher for easy-on-the-back loading and unloading.A mix of KraftMaid cabinet doors and drawers provide efficient access to most used utensils, with the microwave conveniently placed at the other end.

Opening up a room can have a great visual impact as well as improve functionality. This dining room was closed off to the living room which blocked the view of the golf course. Opening up with the partial wall expands the feel of the dining room while preserving its distinctive purpose.  The divider wall is topped with slate.  The decorative support column adds to the clean look.  Best of all, the beautiful views of the golf course can now be enjoyed while dining.

Relocating an opening or door can sometimes lead to the perfect kitchen arrangement. In this full kitchen remodel, the placement of the door and pass-through opening was changed to allow for a better traffic flow and more cabinets. KraftMaid shaker-style cabinets in cherry are a warm backdrop to the handcrafted porcelain tile backsplash and granite countertops. The farm-style sink is the perfect choice for this inviting kitchen.