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Remodel Tips

With so many different types of materials available for your surfaces, how do you choose? With everything from marble, quartz, or granite to more unique materials such as concrete and butcherblock, there is something for every style and budget on the market.

Today we want to talk about a high-end material that is making a big splash in the design world… Precious Stone Slabs. These slabs are custom designed with precious stones such as quartz, amethyst, and agate. These materials that used to appear mostly in jewelry can now be used on counters, backsplashes, showers, accent walls and more!

 

There is a lot that goes into the making of a precious stone slab. The stones have to be individually cut, hand assembled and glued together with a special kind of resin. This ensures that each slab is not only unique but is a one-of-a-kind work of art. Oh, did we mention that many varieties of precious stone slabs can be backlit? That’s right, backlit! So not only do you have a beautiful work of art on your counter or backsplash, but it is also perfectly lit to display every facet of each beautiful stone in the slab.

Here’s the best part… it’s super durable and easy to clean! Unlike many surface materials, it doesn’t require any sealants or waxes to maintain. These surfaces are truly artistic in nature, low maintenance and long-lasting. But here’s the catch, they aren’t cheap. They are a high-end surface with a high-end price tag. But with their unique beauty, original design, and practical use, it is well worth putting a bit more of your budget towards!

 

We are currently working on a project with one of the beautiful slabs and we are so excited to share it with you when it is all finished. But for now, here is a photo of the slab itself! Isn’t it beautiful?

Ready to start on your remodeling or addition project?

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We always do our best throughout the remodeling process to keep the mess and noise to a minimum, but we aren’t going to tell you that remodels are not messy, noisy work. We will create dust and it will migrate to areas it shouldn’t. We do our best to control it but it seems to go where it wants. Even after our team finishes their deep cleaning, it may be found hiding here and there.

We like to compare the remodeling process to the process of having a baby. From start to finish, there are different “trimesters” if you will before your beautiful home is reborn.

When you choose us and your remodeling plan is finalized, you experience excitement and expectation similar to finding out you have a new baby on the way!

Then comes the morning sickness. This is the mess and noise that come with the reality of all the changes happening in your home. We liken this to the first trimester of pregnancy because many uncomfortable changes happen in this time and we know that no two women experience this process in the same way. This is true for remodeling as well. The experience is unique in each home and for each family.

Once demo is done, the dust begins to settle and rooms start to open up as walls are replaced with beams and you start to see your remodel coming together. This is what we refer to as your “second trimester”. The discomfort of the first trimester fades and a new wave of excitement starts as you experience the signs of life beginning to show!

Then comes the 3rd trimester, You have now reached the final stretch of the process and are probably very excited and anxious for the completion of your home remodel, just as you would be anxious for the birth of your baby. The waiting at this point might become more difficult as you are so close to seeing your dreams become reality. But it’s important to allow the process to come to full term even when you are anxious for us to put on the finishing touches and get out of your home.

Then, it happens as if a baby is being born. The months of waiting for this day is finally here! Your remodel is done and you’re living in it without any interruption. It’s beautiful and it’s all yours! And just like the process of having a baby, the wait and discomfort were completely worth it!

We know that home is a special place. That is why we feel so honored when our homeowners invite us into theirs. Our goal is to always value that trust by providing unparalleled service and integrity.

 

CLICK TO START YOUR HOME REMODEL

 

It’s not the house that makes a home. It is the people who live in the house that make a home. It’s the little details that make the house unique from any other. Those little details tell the story of the family within. Reflecting the values and passions of those who call it home. We are so honored to be invited to work with homeowners every day to help them turn their house into a home that reflects who they are. A home they can be proud of.

When Paul and his wife Becky reached out to us about remodeling their home we were thrilled with the vision they had to create a space that was classic, homey and one of a kind. They had purchased their home in 2001 and decided that after 17 years, it was time for an update to the home’s interior. 

Paul works in the home construction industry and has a passion for quality work. He had heard about Renewal through George’s nephew Greg, a talented architect whom he had worked with on a recent project. He was thrilled to find that George’s passion for quality and service matched his own.

Paul and Becky chose a bright white color pallet but wanted to create a comfortable warm space within that. They did this by pulling in earth-toned and organic elements throughout the house. They decided that wooden beams would bring interest and the warm quality they were looking for.

This sent them on a journey to find the perfect beams. For Paul, this meant an opportunity to find unique and storied pieces that only reclaimed wood can provide. Although He knew that new wood can be processed and weathered to create a reclaimed look, he felt drawn to the opportunity to keep quality wood out of the landfill and to breath new life into some one-of-a-kind beams.

Paul and Becky chose a cool color palette, but pulled warm tones into their home using these beautiful reclaimed beams.

Paul worked with Rhine Reclaimed Wood to find beams that were full of character. The beams he chose were from a warehouse in Seattle that had been torn down. He looked for things that added character like the way the grain had weathered over time, any paint that was left, staples and nails. He also looked for colors in the wood that would bring out other elements in the home. He and Becky wanted to see a story when they looked at these beams and have a built-in conversation starter.

The beams run throughout the house.

The process is not a simple one, but it is well worth it if you are on the hunt for the unique and reclaimed. Paul spent 3 hours picking beams out of the stacks of reclaimed wood that Rhine provides. Then the beams were power washed and sent to the home. Paul and Becky had originally planned to stain the beams, but once they got them into their home, they fell in love with the color and the raw, organic quality of the wood and decided to leave them unstained to preserve the weathered and storied feel.

From there we stepped in to plan and execute the arrangement and installation of the beams into the home. We are so happy with the way the beams flow through the home to create a consistently homey and welcoming feeling throughout. It was a special project throughout, and we have to say that we wholeheartedly agree with Paul and Becky, the beams bring warmth into the home and provide interest and story all while keeping some beautiful wood out of the landfill.

Ready to update your home? Let’s get started today!

 

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]We are seeing SO MUCH white subway tile these days! It seems like every kitchen or bathroom has it. There’s this very popular couple that lives in Waco, Texas, and remodel homes all day every day. You may have heard about them… They use subway tile in, oh, maybe 90% of their projects!?  Looking at the white subway tile trend, we can certainly attribute a large part of the obsession to their show on HGTV.

We love subway tile. The other Renewal designers and I use it all the time in projects because it can be applied without a rift in anybody’s aesthetic vision.  But we want to talk about NEW applications and ways to view subway tile that might inspire you to mix things up a bit. Sure, some of these ideas are a little gutsy. But they are totally attainable with just a quick turn of the wrist!

Let’s take a look…

This gorgeous shower has some of the most simply applied, classic white subway tiles. An upgrade from the standard horizontal laid tile, this is just as affordable. The vertical layout emphasizes the height of the wall, and provides a modern update.  Bye-bye farmhouse.  Hello modernist.

(Mim Design | Est Living)

Now we’re cooking with gas…  Check this out! Such a simple layout. It could NOT get any more straightforward. What makes it interesting? The three colors, the modern basket weave pattern—it’s almost like the tile wall is doing a mic drop, then throwing its hands up like “BOOM!” You know what I’m saying.

(Sunset Idea House | CocoKelly)

This beveled, antique mirror subway tile is a local find, and the most glamorous we’ve seen in a long while. This particular application is used for a built-in bar. There are two details here that really make the tile shine: first, the antique mirror itself. It’s luxe and has an air of refinement and history. Second, the bevel of the tiles—the angles of the glass grabs the light from all sides and creates added depth; is three-dimensional and adds a complex and visual interest.

(Charleston Mirror | Oregon Tile & Marble)

Here’s another look we love! This tile was laid in a classic two-by-two basket weave pattern. With the white-on-white bathroom (yes, brass is back!), the tile adds just the right amount of texture.  It’s another silly-simple application that will impress your friends.  So standard, yet so custom.  That’s a concept we can get behind!

(Caitlin Wilson | @CaitlinWisonDesign)

Are you seeing this?  I mean, LOOK AT THAT.  Yes, what you’re seeing is right!  Turquoise grout.  White tile. This is a trend we’re really excited about!  The options really are endless. With colored grout, the emphasis is transformed and shifts your eye around the space.  No longer is the tile the star; it’s the background that makes this look different and unexpected.

(Colored Grout | The Design Sheppard)

So what is your favorite new take on subway tile? Let us know your favorite in the comments below…we’re excited to see what our readers are drawn to![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Our last post featured the  top 3 things people can’t wait to replace in their bathrooms. Now, we want to share what the most requested items are!

1. Greys & natural tones

The most common color palette for bathroom remodels is greys and natural tones. People are looking for a calm and serene space and these tones really help accomplish that.

2. Pedestal Tubs & Curbless Showers

Rather than the traditional shower and tub duo people are opting for pedestal tubs and the curbless shower.

3. Tile & Heated Floors

In the cold winters of the Pacific Northwest heated bathroom floors are highly desirable. Tile flooring comes in a variety of sizes and colors and can be highly customized as a design element in a remodel.

4. Sconce Lighting

Bathroom lighting has been upgraded! Rather than the standard can lighting vanities are getting decorated with sconce lighting.

Working with people to create their ideal bathroom we often hear a great deal of excitement from home owners about replacing features of their current bathrooms. Here are the top three things people can’t wait to replace…

1. Vinyl Flooring

While it’s inexpensive and fairly easy to clean most people are ready to upgrade to tile flooring in their bathroom.

2. Corner Tubs

The corner or platform tub is a standard architectural feature in homes, but the most current design trend is for a free standing or pedestal tub.

3. Carpeting

I think we all can understand why people would prefer a surface in their bathrooms that they could clean (and sanitize)!

Next our team will be sharing what the most requested items and bathroom trends are. Stay tuned!