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Well thought-out details make the difference on this recently finished Wood Wise porch. The homeowners collected ideas for years before turning to Wood Wise to bring it all together in a winning design. The paneled stained ceiling, stone wall, and new stationary and working French doors are just some of the elements that give this screened porch a feeling of royalty.

Storage is always near the top of the wish list for our homeowners. Having a nice closet with designated places for specific items makes organizing easy. This closet features drawers, cabinets, and shelves that keep clothing, shoes, and jewelry neat and orderly, which makes coordinating outfits for the day a breeze.

  When updating your kitchen, the question of what flooring to use comes up. Most people want hardwoods in the rest of the house but the kitchen poses a dilemma. Hardwood or tile? Here are some characteristics of both materials to consider: Tile: Hardwood: Pros: • Durable • Easy to clean • Light color options Cons: • Hard on legs/feet • Cold in winter • Subject to cracking Laminate:: • Not recommended despite the lower cost Pros: • Elegant and authentic • Warm in sock feet • Comfortable for standing • Polyurethane finish is water-resistant Cons: • Water leaks can…

We love working with our homeowners to improve their homes. Three beautiful kitchens and a spa-worthy bathroom are among our latest projects. Check them out in these photos taken by Stuart Jones Photography. (Click on photos to enlarge)

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.