January 5, 2021 Announcements by Chelsea Allard

New Year, New Name!

Introducing Revision Design/Remodeling

As of January 7, 2021, Case Design/Remodeling of Charlotte is now ReVision Design/Remodeling.

After 16 years of serving Charlotte area homeowners, we felt the time was right for a change. When we set out to come up with a new name, we tossed around many creative ideas. Our goal all along was to find a name that is not just memorable but would accurately reflect what we do.

When we begin our journey with a client, it usually starts with many discussions of possible changes to a living space. We emphasize making sure the meetings collaborate with each client, no matter where they are in their vision of how their remodeled space will ultimately look. A new vision, a ‘ReVision,’ emerges that combines your ideas and needs with our creative expertise and guidance throughout the process.

While the name may be different, our dedication to providing Charlotte remodeling clients award-winning design and stress-free remodeling experience endures. Stress-free remodeling? Yes, you might read that as an oxymoron, but here’s how we make it happen:

Designs to fit your tastes and needs, not ours. We prioritize delivering on what works the best for each client’s needs. Every remodeling project is customized just for you. You can see more of our work here.

A convenient place to explore the possibilities. We built our Design Studio, so you have a comfortable place to view interactive 3D designs of your new space, tour over two dozen vignettes, and eliminate the hassle of driving all over town to look at material samples. Learn more about our ReVision Design/Remodeling Design Studio here.

Candid discussions about how much it will cost. Nobody likes surprises, especially when it comes to money. Yes, remodeling will inherently have some things that are impossible to predict when it comes to cost, but we try to prepare you for those as much as possible.

Dedicated construction professionals that keep you informed. We put together a comprehensive schedule and communicated progress along the way. You’ll always know what to expect and who to call when you have questions.

Respect for your time and your home. An active construction project inside your home can be disruptive, but we’ll make sure you know in advance what to expect and when.

A team of experienced professionals. You’ll have a dedicated Project Developer, Designer, and Project Manager working together to make your ReVision a reality. Learn more about our team here.

Thank you for helping to make Case a name synonymous with remodeling professionalism in Charlotte since 2005. We promise to work hard to make ReVision Design/Remodeling continue that tradition of excellence!

December 16, 2020 Additions & ExteriorsWhole Homes by Chelsea Allard

Should I Remodel or Move?

The time has come for big decisions about your Charlotte home – should you remodel or move? Perhaps your kitchen is older than most college kids and is adorned with shades of brown and tan. Or maybe your bathroom is so old that the shower is growing things no amount of toxic chemicals can kill. You just found out that an in-law is coming to live with you AND you’re having ANOTHER baby! Ok, maybe not all of those things are happening to you all at once, but nonetheless, you are faced with the question that so many of our clients ask themselves (and us): should we remodel or move? It’s not an easy answer, but here are some great questions to discuss with your family while figuring out what’s right for you.

Remodel or Move: Do You Like Where You Live?

One of the biggest considerations when weighing remodeling versus moving is whether you like your neighborhood, the school system, the amenities, and the size of your yard. If you answer no to most of those, then start house hunting! If you answered yes, then focus on making the spaces in your home fit for how you and your family live and aim for a remodel plan. You can remodel your home, but you can’t choose your neighbors (sorry).

Remodel or Move: How much will it cost you to move versus remodeling?

Both remodeling and moving require an investment in time and resources. Remember that there will be mover fees, real estate commissions, temporary housing, storage fees, and other moving expenses that could be put back into your current Charlotte house if you decide to remodel instead of move.

There’s also the cost of fixing up your house just to put it on the market. It will be hard to sell your home for top dollar if it needs expensive things like a new HVAC system, roof, or a new paint job. How does the yard look? What about that funny smell in the basement? How about that ceiling stain that’s been ignored for years because it didn’t bother you or you never found the time? All of these things will turn off a prospective buyer and will require an investment to remedy them before listing.

With extremely low housing stock at the time of this writing, it’s also unlikely you’ll find a home that’s in your desired neighborhood, school district, and price point that’s exactly what you want. It’s not uncommon for families to move to meet one need and then to remodel their new home to make up for what it’s lacking. Sometimes that’s the best choice, and other times it’s more effective to stay put and remodel your current home instead.

Remodel or Move: Can I Remodel My Home to Fit My Needs?

This is where a little homework will go a long way. Before you begin meeting with Charlotte remodeling companies to decide if your home is worth remodeling, make a list of all the things you want to improve. It may include a combination of minor fixes and improvements or larger ambitions like adding an owners’ suite addition. Now prioritize those needs and think about which ones are immediate and which ones you could stand to postpone if you had to.

A Charlotte remodeling professional can then help you understand all the other factors to consider that will need to be done to meet your goals. For example, to get a larger kitchen with the additional appliances you want, your electrical service may need to be replaced or significantly upgraded.

Or to expand your living room as part of an addition, you may need to redesign your outdoor living areas. Either way, you’ll either be pleasantly surprised that your project is not as complicated as you feared, or it is going to take more than you had thought. The important thing here is to find someone that you can trust to look at ALL of the factors to consider and not just the individual projects around the home. A comprehensive remodeling plan is important for making the right decision and for ensuring a smooth project with fewer surprises or headaches.

Remodel or Move: Think Long Term

Deciding whether to move or remodel is a big decision that will have long-term impacts on you and your family’s comfort and health. Trust in a Charlotte design and remodeling company that can help you navigate all of the possibilities that your home has to offer before deciding that you need to search for another place to live.

If you’d like professional advice on whether to remodel your current home or start house hunting, we’d be happy to discuss your specific options in more detail. Reach out today with this home remodeling form and we’ll be in touch shortly!

September 30, 2020 Kitchens by Chelsea Allard

What’s the Best Kitchen Design for a Growing Family?

A great kitchen design isn’t just about the traditional work triangle. Particularly for a growing family, kitchen design should also be inclusive of the myriad ways your kitchen will be used –for which activities, when and by whom. The traffic flow in, out and through a family-friendly kitchen should be a critical factor in space planning, not just during meal times, but throughout the entire day. This young family tasked us with the challenge of opening up the previously remodeled kitchen of their 1950’s Myers Park home, after hearing from other contractors that what they wanted to accomplish couldn’t be done.

Kitchen Design Goals

While not the original kitchen to the home, the remodel by the previous owners had addressed aesthetic concerns, but not the space planning. With two young children at home, our clients’ most important goal for the remodel was an open kitchen design for increased visibility and traffic flow. Their secondary goals included maintaining a formal dining room and foyer to stay in keeping with the age and style of the home; transitional style with modern amenities such as professional-grade appliances; more functional storage and additional pantry space; a large island with seating for four and to repair the faulty hardwood floors from the previous renovation.

Cream kitchen with brass pendants over the island and a large window over the sink

The angled walls with bar height pass through helped the kitchen to feel somewhat connected to the den, but it was still impossible for our clients to keep an eye on their kids while preparing meals. The tiny vestibule at the back door was tight and included two-floor transitions since the tile and den floor was higher than the kitchen and foyer, creating a tripping hazard. The light from the kitchen window couldn’t filter into the hallway or living space, creating a dark atmosphere. The plan was to remove the walls between the den and kitchen to open the space, but the challenge was ensuring enough wall space for cabinetry and appliances without sacrificing valuable storage.

A Family-Friendly Kitchen Design that Works

Ultimately, after reviewing three different kitchen designs, our clients elected to close the doorway between the formal dining room and the kitchen. This allowed the kitchen to take on a functional L-shape and kept all the major appliances out of the island, increasing usable counter space. Because the formal dining room was right next to the kitchen, losing the extra doorway didn’t impede traffic. Opening the backdoor to the kitchen made it easier to haul toddlers and groceries to and from the car.

The new kitchen design features an open plan from the den and kitchen, making it easier to drift between the two spaces seamlessly. Reframing a portion of the existing floor system to bring the whole area down to the same level eliminated tripping hazards and made floor clean-up a breeze. We left the original window in the same location, but with the removal of the walls, light pours deeper into space, making it feel more spacious. Ultimately, there was extra space to fit an even larger island than what was in the original kitchen design, providing ample seating for the whole family.

BEFORE – The awkward, angled counter with dropped soffit kept the kitchen and den separate, preventing an easy flow for daily childcare or entertaining. The barstools blocked traffic to and from the back door—the main point of entry for this family.

AFTER – Working extra storage into this kitchen design was simple thanks to the large island. Hidden base cabinets under the seating area provide adjustable shelving for less frequently used items.

Maximizing Space

Simplifying the bar design made it visually recede and increased functionality. Removing the bar sink in favor of a dry bar allowed versatile counter space to act as an everyday drop zone or a serving space for entertaining. To delineate the bar from the kitchen while keeping some visual continuity, we repeated the same cream cabinets and used the quartzite slab material as a solid backsplash. Now guests (and kids) can easily mingle between the formal living room, the den, the bar, and the kitchen during gatherings.

The cased opening and original glass transom that were formerly separating the kitchen and foyer hallway were relocated approximately 6′ to incorporate some of the former halls into the new family-friendly kitchen design. As requested, a proper foyer was maintained in keeping with the formal architecture of the home.

An HVAC return and a tiny coat closet were relocated to create space for a custom pantry cabinet under the stairs. Increasing dry goods storage was an important goal for this growing family. Tall pantry cabinets with easily adjustable roll-out shelves are a great solution for maximizing the space available within a small footprint.

BEFORE – The stepped design of the bar cabinetry made it feel heavy and intrusive and the sink and ice-maker were never used.

AFTER – A built-in beverage center provides space for wine, beer, and mixers outside of the main refrigerator.

DETAILS – The built-in maple spice rack keeps herbs and spices organized and accessible. The fully integrated refrigerator with custom panel blends into the surrounding inset cabinetry for a traditional look.

Finishing Touches

A critical part of making the kitchen design feasible was incorporating two large steel beams —welded on-site—to support the second story floor above. Our engineering team created a structural design to ensure the integrity of the proposed kitchen design, resulting in the family-friendly entertaining space they desired.

In the den (now visible from the foyer) the colonial fireplace surround was replaced with a transitional cast stone design. Using the same material for the hearth, surround and mantel created a soothing contrast in textures as opposed to color, allowing the artwork to be the true focal point.

Custom cabinets, hidden storage accessories, matching appliance panels, and one-of-a-kind quartzite counters elevate this family-friendly kitchen design while maintaining a classic, transitional style.

BEFORE – The hood overpowered the range top and the soffit and pass-through to the den dated space. Angled walls are an inefficient use of space.

AFTER – Open site lines and clear traffic patterns are all part of this redesigned kitchen. Shades of cream, taupe, and sage green offer a soothing, timeless look.

DETAILS – Wide island drawers with built-in drawer organizers keep knives and flatware neatly sorted, right where they’re needed most.

If your current kitchen design has you frustrated and disorganized, we’d be happy to talk through the possibilities with you. Schedule a call and our team will reach out shortly.

September 8, 2020 Announcements by Chelsea Allard

Welcome To Our South End Home Design Studio

With the completion of our South End home design studio, we’re now able to provide our clients with a more hands-on approach so you can experience the features of your home well before installation day. Whether a simple powder room facelift or a whole home redesign, remodeling your home is an investment in both your time and resources. While curating and presenting material samples with your functional, budgetary, and aesthetic needs in mind has always been part of our design process, we wanted to elevate our client experience.

Home Design Studio – Experience Before Deciding

After the initial consultation, your project developer will present a proposal outlining your remodeling project with appropriate budget ranges for each area at the home design studio. This first visit will allow you to see examples of the level of finish we’re assuming in our budget ranges, so you don’t have to worry about the quality of what you’ll be getting. You may even see something you’d love to incorporate into your redesign!

Save Time During the Design Phase

Your time is valuable. Our easily accessible and conveniently located home design studio means no more running all over town to various showrooms with your designer. From space planning to material selections, all of our design meetings will take place in one location. When you arrive, we’ll have curated materials selections pulled just for you, saving you time and the headache of decision overwhelm. You’ll be able to see dozens of examples of various cabinetry, tile, and installation features without ever having to leave the building. While we will still make occasional field trips to choose natural stone slabs for your countertops or kitchen appliances, overall, the design process will be more efficient, so you can come home to your new space that much sooner.

Miniature kitchen cabinet display with various door styles and finishes in our home design studio.

Our wall of “mini’s” packs a lot of options in a small space. With seven stations, we were able to show many different door styles, finishes, moldings, tile backsplashes, cabinet hardware, and countertops.

Contemporary bathroom with quarter sawn white oak floating vanity, rose gold pendants and smokey green wallpaper

We opted for visual texture and distinctive finishes for our contemporary bathroom: Quartersawn white oak for the vanity paired with the smokey green wallpaper accent give it some drama, while the rose gold faucet and pendants provide an unexpected feminine touch.

Imagine the Possibilities for Your Home

With eight kitchen vignettes, five bathroom vignettes, dozens of material combinations, and an extensive and ever-evolving materials library, we designed our 2,700 square foot studio for versatility. While it’s impossible to show every option available, we combined some of the most popular and on-trend elements across traditional, transitional and contemporary displays, so there’s something for everyone. We are never limited to what’s shown on the floor, so if there’s something specific you want to include in your project, let your designer know, and they’ll order samples.

Traditional, transitional and contemporary kitchen vignettes provide options

Traditional, transitional, and contemporary kitchen vignettes combine various finishes, patterns, and storage features so you can get an idea of what’s possible for your kitchen remodel.

A porcelain slab shower enclosure on the left and a contemporary alcove shower on the right.

Our shower displays include some of the most popular features our clients consistently expect. On the left, we used porcelain slabs on the walls and included a mitred bench, recessed niche, and separate handheld shower. We went for a more modern look on the right with textured wall tiles, a curbless shower pan with a linear drain, and a chrome shower column.

Open By Appointment

Because we aren’t a traditional remodeling showroom, we are not open to the public, but we invite you to take a virtual tour here! If you’re interested in discussing your remodeling project with one of our project developers and touring the space in person, contact us at 704-759-3920 or schedule a call online, and we’ll be in touch shortly. As soon as it’s safe to host in-person events, we’ll be resuming our Kitchen and Bath Remodeling Seminars and will host them at the design studio.

August 19, 2020 Kitchens by Chelsea Allard

The Home Bar: Revealing Wet and Dry Bar Ideas and 5 Reasons Why These Bars are on Charlotte Wish Lists

In evaluating the ebb and flow of ongoing trends the other day, we were discussing the evolution of today’s home bar. Home bars have remained popular for years, but they have undergone an evolution. From simple, compact dry bars to complete entertaining spaces in their own right, home bars still feature prominently on our clients’ wish lists. Here are some wet bar and dry bar ideas to consider:

Say Goodbye: Tiny Wet Home Bar

Well, first—let’s chat about what differentiates a wet bar from a dry bar. A wet bar includes running water, often in the form of a sink, while a dry bar doesn’t. Home bars of the late ’90s and early 2000s were often “wet bars” and featured a tiny, impractical sink smack in the middle of the countertop, rendering the remaining counters unusable. Designers and homeowners often hid home bars in an alcove near the kitchen or off the living room in an awkward hallway. The bowl-sized sinks were deal-breakers for most of our clients; they wanted them gone in favor of more flexible counter space. Today, we’re working with more functional wet bar ideas. All of the below dry bar ideas could also double as wet bar ideas.

BEFORE: This bar was added during a previous remodel, but the tiny sink only served as a dust collector.

AFTER: Electing for a home dry bar with a beverage center gave this couple more flexibility, extra counter space, and improved cabinet storage with a wide drawer for home bar accessories.

Multi-Functional Dry Dining Room Bar Ideas

Fast forward to today, and families still request home bars in at least half of the kitchen remodels we design. Nowadays, we take a multi-functional approach to the design to best utilize the space available. Most home bars err on the simpler side, and most do not feature sinks unless they have a significant amount of extra space.

Dry bar with kegerator and beverage center

This multi-functional space in the hallway between the kitchen and formal dining room acts as a home dry bar and drop zone for the kids’ activity schedules. The left side features a built-in kegerator, a beverage center, and extra wine and stemware storage. The right side features open shelving for books and family photos, a pinboard for schedules and Panthers tickets, and wide drawers for the kids’ craft supplies.

Some bars include an appliance for wine, beer, or other beverages and act as a landing zone for entertaining. Whether you have friends over for a casual dinner or you celebrate your child’s birthday, a dry bar gives you space separate from the kitchen to stage beverages, appetizers, or dessert.

Where to Place Your Home Bar

As for some more dry and wet bar ideas, location is key. Ideally your home bar would be located in close proximity to the kitchen, between it and another space like a formal dining room or living room. Finding the bar in the transition space between two rooms creates a natural flow for traffic and conversation, and allows guests to help themselves without entering the kitchen while you’re cooking.

Dry bar in hallway between kitchen and dining room

This home dry bar serves as a morning station for coffee most days. located in a nook off the hallway between the kitchen and the formal dining room, this bar quickly converts to the beverage station for holiday gatherings.

Home Bars Aren’t Just for Cocktails

While most home bars do feature stemware and bottle storage of some sort, they aren’t limited to alcohol. Many of the families we work with prefer beverage centers—small built-in refrigerators with multiple zones that can adequately store a few bottles of wine and a case or two of La Croix or Kombucha. (These are the types of bar ideas that we can totally get behind because they benefit the whole family.)

Beverages tend to take over the main refrigerator if left unchecked, so having a smaller space just for your daily drink of choice leaves room for more fresh produce and leftovers.

Having a flexible space to store the special occasion china that acts as a snack station for the kids is still a worthy feature of any modern kitchen design. Thoughts on any other wet or dry bar ideas? We are all ears.

Home bar with open shelves, wine storage and white cabinets

This dry bar features a beverage center and drawer for snacks. The towers on the left and right are perfect for housing small appliances, vases, and stemware.

Take Your Home Bar Up a Notch

When it comes to wet and dry bar ideas, this one is going to knock your socks off. Let us explain. If regular movie nights and football parties are your jam, you may want to consider a more elaborate casual entertaining space. With enough room and the right design, a dry bar can quickly become a full-fledged kitchenette, preventing repeated trips to the actual kitchen.

In this case, a beverage center and a small (but usable) sink are must-haves. Ice makers and refrigerator drawers for mixers and snacks are also excellent additions. An 18” dishwasher wouldn’t be a bad idea either, especially if your hang-out zone is in the basement or a detached garage.

Located right inside the back door and conveniently separating the kitchen and the living room, this wet bar features a wine chiller, an ice maker, and a prep sink. It’s right off the back door, making it easy to run inside and grab a cold beverage before heading back to the lake.

Make A Statement

One of the hottest trends in home bar design is incorporating a statement backsplash. Imagine a stunning mix of materials like glass tiles, reclaimed wood, or even a bold patterned wallpaper as your backsplash. It’s sure to add a touch of personality and elegance to your home bar.

Another trend that’s taking the interior design world by storm is open shelving. Not only does it provide easy access to all your bar essentials, but it also adds a trendy touch to the space. Think floating shelves or rustic metal and reclaimed wood shelving for an industrial chic look. With a little creativity and attention to detail, you can create a home bar that not only serves its purpose but also becomes a showstopper in your home.

Whether you’d like to incorporate a multi-functional dry bar as part of your kitchen remodel, are looking for more wet bar ideas, or you’re interested in creating an entirely separate entertaining space, we’d be happy to help you design the space that’s perfect for your needs. We are ready for any dry bar ideas or wet bar ideas if you feel so inclined. Schedule a consultation with us today!

July 16, 2020 Bathrooms by Chelsea Allard

The 6 Most Popular Shower Upgrades

If we polled everyone in Charlotte and asked them to describe their ideal shower set-up, there would be more similarities than differences. We’ve pulled together a list of the six most common requests we get for shower upgrades anytime we remodel a bathroom—whether it’s for the owners or the kids. Many of these upgrades are just expected in modern shower designs, so while not technically necessary (hence the term upgrade), we consider them standard features.

The Oxford Dictionary defines a shower as, “an enclosure in which a person stands under a spray of water to wash.” You’ve probably been in a shower that’s as basic as that at some point or another, and while it’ll get you clean, it may not be an enjoyable experience. No one wants to start their day showering in a phone booth.

For years our clients were nervous about eliminating their seldom-used tubs in favor of larger showers with better features. They were afraid it would ruin their resale value. But given the choice of a phone booth shower and a large tub they never used or a decent-sized shower with no tub, most people are going to choose the latter. If there’s room for a great shower and a tub, that’s a bonus.

Shower Upgrades: Recessed Shower Niches

Gone are the days of suction-cup accessories from Bed, Bath & Beyond. Recessed shower niches are one of those upgrades that have become standard features, even in secondary bathrooms. While there are standard-sized inserts available, we prefer to frame most of ours on-site so we can control the exact size and placement for an integrated, custom look. As a general rule we line them up with the surrounding grout joints, but it really depends on the intention of the final design. The height placement will vary based on the chosen field tile and the height of the homeowner. Recessed niches in tub/shower combos in a kid’s bathroom should start about 30-36” from the floor (you want to be able to reach them while on your knees bathing a little one), while 42-48” may be more appropriate for the owners’ shower.

His and hers shower niches reduce product clutter and marital arguments. Win-win.

Shower Upgrades: Shower Benches

Built-in shower benches are another upgrade that’s become relatively standard. Whether it’s a corner bench or a long bench that stretches across the whole shower, homeowners of all ages enjoy the peace of mind they get knowing they could easily use their shower in the event of an injury or health condition requiring them to stay seated.

For easy maintenance, a cleaner look, and a more comfortable seat, we prefer using solid surfaces to top off our shower benches. Usually, we’ll use the same quartz or stone from the countertops to coordinate the shower with the vanity.

Not sure you really want an entire bench seat? Lower corner shelves made out of the countertop material make excellent foot props for shaving. Assuming your shower is large enough, an aftermarket shower seat would be a temporary option in the event of an injury.

Shower Upgrades: Multiple Shower Heads

We could write a whole post on shower plumbing alone, but the brief version is—Charlotte homeowners expect multiple shower heads in the owners’ bath. A fixed head and a handheld on a bracket or an adjustable slide bar are most common. A handheld shower is a necessity, if for no other reason than because it makes the miserable task of cleaning the shower easier and quicker.

While it’s tricky to see through the glare, this shower features two fixed heads and a separate handheld.

While it may not be worth the investment to have two heads in the kids’ bath or the guest bath, there are now a variety of showerheads and shower columns that function as both a fixed head and a handheld all in one system, eliminating the need for an additional valve. These are also great for the owner’s bath if you’ve got a tight budget. We show two different installation methods for how to tackle these at our South End design studio.

Shower Upgrades: Decorative Grab Bars

Many of our clients intend to age in place as part of their active and healthy lifestyle. Decorative grab bars that coordinate with the rest of the plumbing suite provide safety in the shower without sacrificing style. Falls can happen at any age, so it’s a comfort knowing there’s something to grab if you slip. They’re also the perfect place for wet washcloths or bathing suits to drip dry.

Shower Upgrades: Curbless Showers

Whether aging in place or just after a cleaner look, curbless showers are also gaining in popularity. The first four shower upgrades are minor in terms of the financial investment required to include them in your shower design, but a curbless shower requires a very strategic design and a decent budget. To drain properly, the shower drain must be parallel to the shower opening and the floor must slope to allow water to flow properly. Depending on the layout of the bathroom, this may not be feasible in an attractive way. Half walls are a great way to hide the build-up of the floor to allow for a one-directional slope.

Upgraded curbless sheer shower upgrades with clawfoot tub and picture frame molding

This project demonstrates how clean it looks to have a curbless shower. The linear drain sits across the back wall under the decorative grab bar.

When done properly a curbless walk-in shower allows for wheelchair access, and at the very least it eliminates a possible tripping hazard.

Shower Upgrades: Steam Showers

If you’re looking for the ultimate luxury shower upgrade, a steam shower is about as close to a spa experience as it gets. Steam showers have been proven to help our bodies detoxify and relax among other health benefits. Whether you steam first thing in the morning to wake up, after a hard workout to relax your muscles, or before a long soak in the tub, you’ll feel refreshed and rejuvenated.

Steam shower with freestanding tub and dark stained vanity

Our clients loved taking a relaxing steam after hitting the gym in the morning. You can see the dropped header and full-height glass that contains the steam.

Steam showers come with a larger price tag due to the extra material and labor involved to fully enclose the space—plus the cost of the actual generator. Typically, we’ll drop the shower ceiling or build a dropped header with a pivoting glass transom over the shower door. In either scenario, it will require more glass and tile than a standard shower. Don’t forget you’ll want a built-in bench to sit on while steaming and a really powerful exhaust fan to get the steam out effectively once you’re finished.

Shower Upgrades: Other Options to Consider

Regardless of how fancy you want your finished shower, there are a few other things to consider:

We highly recommend glass coatings for keeping your shower glass looking new for years, especially if you have hard water.
Integrated towel bars in the shower glass are also a nice option when there isn’t enough wall space for a conveniently placed towel bar.
Decorative framed enclosures are gaining in popularity as homeowners and designers search for new ways to make bathrooms interesting. While not appropriate for every space, they can really add a wow factor to your shower design.

Whether you’d like to incorporate one or two of these upgrades in your redesigned shower, or all of them, we’d be happy to speak with you about your options. Schedule a call with us today to get started!

June 10, 2020 Bathrooms by Chelsea Allard

Consider Wood Look Porcelain Tile for Your Bathroom

Background on tile and wood look porcelain or wood tile bathrooms

Tile became a mainstay in American bathrooms about a century ago due to its rugged, sanitary nature. While tile trends have certainly evolved and will continue to do so, one of the more recent innovations we’ve utilized over the last several years is porcelain tile that looks like wood.

Natural wood gives a beautiful, organic, and unique look to home design which is why it’s still the number one flooring choice of Charlotte area homes. The natural imperfections and variations of hardwood add interest and visual appeal, bringing subtle texture to your spaces and unifying more open floor plans.

Natural wood isn’t always the best choice for bathrooms or other wet areas like laundry or mudrooms. Because wood is porous and apt to cup when exposed to water or significant humidity, the general guidance is to avoid putting it on floors or walls in bathrooms. Some people do it anyway and are diligent about water spots and ventilation, but most people avoid it to be safe.

Grey_toned_wood_look-porcelain_tile_flooring_in_a_master_bath_wood_tile_shower

The variation of these gray-toned wood look porcelain floor tiles marry the rest of the bathroom’s white and gray materials and provide some visual texture and warmth.

We were excited when the first faux wood tiles appeared on the market around 2013, but the selection was limited. With new advancements in technology and manufacturing, the industry has boomed since then, and you can now get the natural wood look without the hassle of natural wood maintenance.

High quality and excellent selection mean the sky’s the limit in applying wood look porcelain tile! Porcelain tile that looks like wood is resilient, water-resistant, and so similar in appearance to the real thing, it is tempting to reach out and touch it to make sure it’s tile.

Grout lines and tile rigidity are what give it away on close inspection. Still, for durability and resistance to moisture, it’s a fantastic option for bathroom floors, shower or accent walls behind tubs, and messy spaces like laundry rooms and mudrooms.

Apply Wood Grain Porcelain Tile as Flooring in Your Bathroom

Before selecting tile flooring for the bathroom, consider how you typically use the space. Large-format tiles with a smooth, shiny finish get slippery when wet. Do you get water on the floor when you step out of the shower or tub? Is the bathroom used by children who may be less aware of their splashes and drips? If the answer is “yes,” then a tile rated for wet areas is ideal, but the additional texture is even better. Because adding texture to the tile makes it look more realistic, most wood look porcelain tiles are especially slip-resistant.

Minimize the Grout

If you want the spacing of your porcelain tiles to resemble actual wood, it’ll be essential to select a style that has a rectified edge, meaning it’s perfectly straight and square. Usually, you find rectified edges on higher-end, premium-quality tiles.

Unfortunately, due to the long, plank-like nature of wood look tiles, most have a natural tendency to warp ever so slightly, making tiny grout joints impossible if you do not rectify the edge. Designers typically use ¼” spacers, but they vary based on each manufacturer’s recommendation.

If tiny grout joints are vital to you, make sure to bring this to your bathroom design lead’s attention so they can pull selections that would be more appropriate for that type of installation. Selecting a complementary grout color similar to the tile will also help them to be less noticeable.

wood_look_porcelain_tile_wood_tile_bathroom_floor_grout

A coordinating grout color helps minimize the grout lines on this primary bathroom floor. Variations in each tile make them look more realistic.

Get the Look You Like with Less Maintenance

Natural wood is beautiful, but it has a life cycle. It will need to be refinished, repaired, or replaced eventually. Refinishing is an involved process that’s best done every 10-15 years as part of a larger home remodeling project. But for those high-traffic or wet areas that get heavy use, digital technology makes it possible to duplicate the look of any wood so you can use tile instead.

Installing porcelain wood look tiles makes for less maintenance over the floor’s lifetime. No resurfacing, refinishing, waxing, or shining is required. We always recommend using a high-quality grout with a built-in sealer, so you don’t have to worry about periodic resealing either.

The increasing popularity of wood look porcelain tiles is driving demand for higher-end options. Some more expensive product lines come with a greater variety of grain patterns, making them look more like natural wood. Whether you want something that mimics bamboo for a contemporary look or a rustic reclaimed style for your modern farmhouse, there are options for both and everywhere in between.

Shower Wall Application

Wood-look tile accent walls are a great way to add texture to any space, but the contrast between that and sleek plumbing fixtures makes it especially effective in a bathroom remodel. Because it’s tile, there’s no need to worry about the expansion of the pieces due to high humidity like you would if you installed natural wood on the wall.

wood_look_porcelain_tile_wood_look_tile_showerwood_tile_bathroom_floor

In this contemporary bathroom example, the small space looks larger because they used the wood look porcelain tile as an accent wall in the shower and repeated it on the bathroom floor, which draws in the eye.

Project by Jeff King & Company via Houzz

Porcelain wood look tile opens up a whole new world of design options for bathrooms and wet areas in our clients’ homes. The sizeable linear format lends itself well to several different tile patterns, and fewer grout lines mean it’s easy to keep clean compared to a subway tile or mosaic.

Open Your Mind and Bathroom to Wood Porcelain Tiles

We remodel beautiful bathrooms to create spaces our clients are proud to call home. Take a look! When you’re ready to remodel your Charlotte-area bathroom, schedule a consultation.

May 13, 2020 Additions & Exteriors by Chelsea Allard

Screened In Porch vs. Three-or-Four Season Rooms: How to Choose

There are three ways to turn your deck or patio into additional living space in your home: a screened in porch or a three season room or four season sunroom.

April 20, 2020 Other Spaces by Chelsea Allard

A Home Office Design that Works For You

How important is your home office design? At the time of publishing, we, as a nation, will have been in self-quarantine for over a month. There is not a person or business that has gone untouched by this pandemic in some way. Now more than ever, the importance of a well-designed home has become increasingly clear as we are working, schooling, eating, playing, and digitally socializing from home.

As families temporarily adjust to the new demands on – and divisions of – their spaces, we suspect there will be a permanent reevaluation of the perceived value of open floor plans just as there will be permanent shifts to the ways we work. Whether or not you enjoy working from home or have been doing so already in some capacity pre-pandemic, as companies realize their employees can be productive off-site, it’ll be interesting to see what happens in commercial real estate.

Regardless of how our society pivots in response over the coming months or even years, we can all agree that designating specific areas of our homes for certain tasks makes life run smoother, quarantine or not.

Open Floor Plans – Gone for Good?

For over a decade, open floor plans have seen a steady rise in popularity as our lifestyles and homes have become more casual. They are great for socializing, entertaining, and keeping an eye on the kiddos while you’re preparing meals. But when it comes to productivity, open floor plans leave much to be desired. After weeks of constant togetherness and noise, a few more walls may sound like absolute heaven, especially if you plan to continue working from home or homeschooling.

5 Ways to Imagine Your Work-From-Home Office Design

Creating a workspace for you and your family doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are five ways our clients remodeled their homes to suit their work needs, regardless of their budget.

1. Create a Flexible Workspace Near the Kitchen

Before laptops, smartphones, and tablets changed our routines, it was common to find a small desk or workspace in the kitchen where families would plan meals, sort the mail, organize the calendar, etc. Once these tasks were converted to digital platforms those desk spaces became smaller and smaller in favor of more cabinetry storage and fewer walls. Since all of that could be done on a laptop or tablet from anywhere, there was less of a need for a centralized space.

Fast forward a few years, and now that nearly every member of an average household has one to three digital devices, the clutter of them is all coming back to the kitchen desk. Families are once again starting to prefer centralized workspaces for homework, charging stations, and organizing family paperwork.

2. Convert the Formal Living Room or Dining Room to a Study

Formal living and dining rooms are still common in Charlotte area homes, but they don’t see regular use. For homes with large breakfast areas and an eat-in kitchen, a formal dining room may serve you better as a study. Converting large cased openings to doorways with a pair of elegant French doors or pocket doors is a minimal investment as far as remodeling goes. Add some soft textures in the form of an area rug and floor-length drapes to absorb sound and you’ve got yourself a proper home office that still looks attractive from the foyer.

3. Close in Your Two-Story Foyer

Two-story foyers were all the rage in the late ’90s and early 2000s, but as priorities have shifted toward energy efficiency and functionally designed spaces, two-story foyers have lost much of their appeal. Depending on the configuration of the stairs and the roofline, it’s relatively simple to add a floor structure above a two-story foyer. These spaces are perfect for designing a home office or bonus room where the kids can do homework and crafts. Best of all, adding square footage to your home within the existing footprint increases resale value, without the expense and disruption of an addition. Say goodbye to that impossible-to-clean plant shelf over the front door and hello to your new home office.

4. Design a Home Office in a Spare Bedroom, Closet, or Other Small Space

Do you have a small sunroom or guest bedroom that’s seldom used? Have your kids left the nest? Converting a bedroom to a home office is another inexpensive way to maximize your space. Rearranging the furniture, repainting, and perhaps updating the flooring and window treatments may be all that’s required, saving time and money. Hiding a desk and built-in shelving in a guest room closet is another way to create a workspace while still maintaining a guest room. When guests spend the night, you can close the closet doors to hide your desk. We’ve also had clients convert nooks under the stairs to work or study spaces. This idea is especially useful if you’re short on space elsewhere.

Contemporary home office design near Lake Norman

We designed a home office as part of a larger kitchen remodel in this Lake Norman home. The space was once a laundry room off the garage that acted mainly as a mudroom and catch-all for clutter. By repurposing the space within the existing footprint, this couple gained valuable workspace while maintaining ample pantry storage.

5. Build an Addition

Sometimes, no matter how hard you try to rethink your existing home, the space to design your dream home office or bonus room just isn’t available. In those cases, a home addition as part of a larger remodeling project may be the best option. Whether you are adding square footage to act as a home office specifically, or perhaps building out a master suite so you can convert your existing bedroom to a study, a home addition is a great way to get the space you need, where you need it.

Other Considerations to Optimize your Work-From-Home Space

We believe video conferences are sticking around even after the Stay-at-Home Orders are lifted. To make sure you still appear professional, keep clutter, and personal photographs out of the background. If you can, avoid having a bed behind you – that’s just awkward. Use rugs and drapery to muffle the noise and reduce echoes. Install shutters, shades, or blinds to direct light and prevent glare on your computer screen. Use color and décor that inspire you, so you actually enjoy being in your workspace. And lastly, as tempting as it is to position your desk so you’re facing a window or the wall because you can’t see who’s behind you, this position can actually increase stress in your body without you even realizing it. Position your desk so you can see the door (while looking out the window) and you’ll never be caught off guard. Your body and your productivity will thank you.

If you’re interested in creating a better workspace in your home, schedule a virtual call to discuss your home office design ideas with us today!

March 25, 2020 Announcements by Chelsea Allard

Unsure If A Virtual Home Remodeling Consultation Is Right For You?

Let’s be clear, no one wishes for a pandemic. But as we all find ourselves in the middle of a once-in-a-lifetime experience, it’s forcing collective adaptation. While virtual home remodeling consultations have been feasible for years, and we, at ReVision Design/Remodeling, have used them for specific situations, we’ve never made them standard practice. It was always just one more piece of technology to learn, one more account to keep track of; the excuses sounded legitimate even though they weren’t. I’m sure you can relate. We all have that list of things we ought to do but put off because we need to do something.

As humans, we adapt when we are willing to push ourselves toward growth. Welcome COVID-19. As businesses started closing their doors to walk-in customers left, and right, it was instantly clear that virtual consultations were the way of the future.

To do our part to flatten the curve, we’ve implemented virtual home remodeling consultations for all of our existing clients (when feasible) and all new client consultations. Once we’re on the other side of this pandemic, we’ll continue to offer virtual consultations because it just makes sense. So far, we’ve enjoyed a great response from our client and our team members. It’s the right thing to do.

a virtual rendering of your soon-to-be remodeled home

Our 3D architectural software already makes virtual renderings of your remodeling project to help you see how the result will look. A video chat to go with it is par for the course.

Virtual Home Remodeling Consultations Are Great For:

Those who are considering a remodeling project and are ready to speak with professionals to get estimates: Most of the time, we can pull up photos of the interior of your house from the real estate listing, even if you bought the house years ago. These photos will give us a pretty good idea of the layout, condition, and potential issues we should know when budgeting. After 15 years in business, we’ve probably done work in your neighborhood – maybe even your exact floor plan – so we have a pretty good idea of what to expect.
Existing clients who travel for work or can’t make an in-person meeting as easily: With enough prep time and the ability to screen share, most design appointments can easily occur online. We can order specific samples and have them shipped to your house.
Those times when you don’t have a lot of time: It’s not uncommon to have a free hour for a meeting, but by the time you factor in the logistics of traffic getting to the meeting point, it can eat up too much of the day. In those cases, a virtual meeting is ideal. Progress doesn’t have to stop on your remodeling project because traffic on I-77 backed up for miles.
Contract signings: Thanks to document signing technology, there’s no reason we can’t review and sign contracts electronically. We’ve been using this feature for years to save our clients time. Have questions about your contract? We’ll schedule a call or video conference to review everything together ahead of time.

Virtual Home Remodeling Consultations Are Not Ideal For:

Trade Walk-Throughs. When it’s time to get specific about relocating plumbing, electrical, and mechanical systems, or whenever there is structural engineering involved, those evaluations need to be done on-site. We generally try to stagger our trade partners during those meetings to keep things as orderly as possible. Now, more than ever, that will remain important as we practice social distancing and avoid groups for your safety and ours.
Pre-Construction Walk-Throughs. For the same reasons above, it’s still best for your project manager to familiarize himself with your property before demo day. These walk-throughs are when we discuss the logistics of the construction phase, so being on-site is critical to a smooth start on day one.

Not sure if a virtual home remodeling consultation is best for you? Give us a call at 704-759-3920 or schedule a call online so we can help you determine the best scenario for your needs and comfort.

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