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Wood Wise uses Byrd Tile http://byrdtile.com/. Here is what they say about improvements in today’s grout: “Grout is basically made up of portland cement with color pigments added. Due to the porous nature of cement, grout was, until recently, very prone to staining. Recent enhancements in the production of grout and its raw materials have made grout a much denser product. The addition of latex additives in the mixing of the product will also increase the density of the grout. There are also a large variety of penetrating sealers that can be applied to the grout as soon as 72…

Some people are house people. They notice all aspects of their home. The better their house looks, the better they feel. House people admire, critique and appreciate home design. House people travel through life noticing the good, the bad and the asymmetrical. They feel sad for the design-deficient people in their lives and secretly envy everyone with a really big home enhancement budget. House people go on home tours. They buy “Best Kitchens” magazines on impulse at the grocery checkout.  Home shows draw them in like free Ben & Jerry’s. House people rearrange their stuff in pursuit of a fresh look.…

When you enter the world of remodeling, you find it is filled with decisions. You must decide on the budget, extent of work to be done, and much more. The most important decision is which remodeling firm to entrust with your renovation. That one decision can determine how easy or how hard the rest of the many decisions will be. When it comes time to make selections (cabinets, countertops, tile, hardware, paint colors, etc.), many remodelers hand you a long list of decisions to make with a firm date to finalize. No guidance. No help. Just a list, a deadline,…

This 1970’s Raleigh home has benefited from taking down walls to open up the kitchen to the living and dining rooms. It now lives larger, the kitchen is more accessible, and the cook is no longer separated from the family or guests. The tiered island becomes a great solution for keeping food prep out of sight while providing additional seating. Sporting a painted finish in contrast to the stained wood perimeter cabinets, the island looks beautiful and has tons of great storage.

This mid-century inside-the-beltline home was designed by a professor in the NCSU College of Design. The current homeowners love the modern layout of the home but needed an updated kitchen and family room. Because the house is built on a slab, the plumbing was in place and dictated a similar before and after kitchen layout. Wood Wise designer Kathy Walker created a larger island with additional seating and storage. KraftMaid “Putnam” style cabinets in Honey Spice finish are a great contrast to the existing terrazzo floor. The perimeter cabinets feature an area of open shelving to display a beautiful collection…

A favorite mountain resort was the inspiration for this master bathroom remodel. The homeowners wanted to create the spa-like feel including the barn door to the large shower. Wood Wise designer Kathy Walker guided them through the design and selection process and achieved exactly what they were wanting. Now these homeowners can enjoy the pampered feel of a mountain spa without leaving their comfortable home.

A favorite remodeling request from homeowners is to take out walls and open up. Older kitchens are often isolated, making the cook miss out on family and guest activities. These homeowners came to Wood Wise with that exact issue: they were faced with a small kitchen that was closed off from the dining and living rooms. The solution was to remove two walls which makes the kitchen larger and unites the three areas. The tiered island features seating for four as well as space to lay out a buffet. The results is an inviting home ready for family and community.…

Details make all the difference in a room. In this recently remodeled kitchen by Wood Wise, the homeowners chose KraftMaid cherry Shaker-style cabinets in Honey Spice. The large island boasts beautiful matching wood corbels also by KraftMaid that support the granite countertop above and help hide electrical outlets below. With plenty of storage and seating for 4, this island blends the best of beauty and convenience.

A friend of Wood Wise shared the following comments that were made on her Nextdoor neighborhood app. A reader asked for recommendations for a remodeler. Some of her neighbors, past Wood Wise clients, had the most wonderful things to say. We appreciate our homeowners and are thankful to have the privilege of serving them.  

Convenience, beauty, storage, and lighting often top the list of reasons why a homeowner wants a kitchen remodel. These homeowners loved their home and location but needed the kitchen to be aesthetically and functionally better. Wood Wise designer Kathy Walker found a solution to better storage in the KraftMaid cabinets. She removed the inefficient pantry closet and created a wall of cabinets that more than doubles their storage. The desk area was replaced with a docking station cabinet for easy access to phones and tablets yet keeps them nicely hidden from view. Same wall but new look and more storage.…