6 minute read
Large Format Fun
Bringing visual interest to an outdoor space is easily accomplished with large format tiles. Skip the plain-Jane patio and opt for a stylish feature perfect for entertaining. Add a bit of character with multi-tiered planters and finish the look with a stone fire pit leaving guests wanting s’more!
FEATURED
BRAND Emser
STYLE Xtra Paver
COLOR Cemento Gray
MATERIAL Porcelain
Dan Thaler REMODELER MEMBER
PROSOURCE OF POMPANO (FL)
How has ProSource Wholesale helped your clients?
It affords my clients a one-stop shopping experience. I know they can find whatever they’re looking for in one place.
The one-stop shopping saves me a lot of time since I don’t have to take clients to a lot of different places to pick out what they want.
One of the first things I tell my clients is to go online and see what they can choose from. It helps them get ideas of what they want before we sit down together for the first time and makes the process much more efficient.
Seeing the look on a client’s face when they see the finished project, especially snowbirds who are returning to see it for the first time.
Finding and keeping reliable help is a huge challenge.
Luxury vinyl planks and ceramic tiles that look like wood are big here. They’re easier to install and more practical than wood flooring in handling water/spills and other things.
We remodeled a beachfront penthouse condo. It was the owner’s dream to make it a family getaway, so we took out a wall and some hanging cabinets to make the ocean visible from the kitchen. We also put tongue-and-groove knotty pine planks on the ceiling throughout to make the space seem bigger and give it more of the Key West look and feel they wanted.
Do your homework on styles and don’t secondguess yourself. Plus, check out the background of the contractor you’re hiring.
What’s your dream project?
I want to create a crazy, insane kitchen for my wife. She enjoys cooking, so I’d love to make it her oasis with things she really likes – big crown moldings, corbels and lots of funky hidden pullout storage.
Breakfast In Bed
Sip, sip, hooray for sleek modern finishes and wide plank hardwood flooring! This stylish bedroom will have anyone grabbing for some OJ and heading right back to bed. Big beautiful windows and weathered white walls are the perfect backdrop. Sorry boss, I’m going to be late… forever!
FEATURED
BRAND Home Pride
STYLE Wynlow Grove
COLOR Hume
SPECIES White Oak
Universal Design: A Remodeling Trend For Life
Universal design is the act of creating environments that are usable by all people without the need for adaptation or special design. Essentially, universal design means creating a space that is accessible to everyone - from the able-bodied to the elderly, to those with physical limitations due to special needs, etc.
A Younger Take
Typically, we think of universal design as a form of “aging in place.” However, as home buying trends change, universal design is taking on a fresher face and appealing to a younger demographic. Gone are the days of starter homes - millennials are waiting longer to purchase, meaning when they do, they’re typically further along in life than in generations previous. For example, many millennials have already started a family by the time they’re ready to buy. And, since homeowners are staying put on average for around 13 years before moving again, it’s likely that many are purchasing and designing homes with those future needs in mind.
What Does This Mean For Home Remodeling?
Universal design isn’t limited to a walk-in tub or shower, or easy to grasp handles and slip-resistant floors. While those features might be included in many instances, there are other remodeling trends that fit the mark as well. Kitchens with enough space to comfortably move around an island or dining rooms with seating for eight instead of four help families prepare for future children or the possibility of mom and dad moving in as they age. Waterproof flooring that is easier to maintain is available for any preference or need - luxury vinyl, hardwood, and even carpet. Converting a first floor half bath to a full bath in anticipation of future needs is also something that might be considered. Renovating a garage into a third or fourth bedroom means adding space for the future, or could allow for first floor laundry. Similarly, space could be repurposed in a walk-in closet or larger bathroom for laundry.
The demand for universal design in remodeling has greatly accelerated. While the specific needs will vary by individual, there are many ways to accomplish a home environment that is truly evergreen.
Andy Curtis BUILDER MEMBER
PROSOURCE OF ERIE (PA)
How has ProSource Wholesale helped your clients?
They’ve been an immense help. They offer a diversity of materials, plus my account manager walks my clients through the products in their budget range, explaining each product and how it works. This helps build my clients’ confidence.
They have a large selection of materials and they know my account history, so if I want to use the same product I used on a previous job, they can easily look it up and order it for me.
I enjoy making people’s dreams come true. It’s the whole process of meeting with clients and helping them turn their rough ideas into a finished project that makes them happy.
When things get busy, the biggest challenge is making sure we get back to clients with quotes in a timely manner. Fortunately, ProSource responds quickly in helping with that.
Open concepts and clean lines are big trends, especially in kitchens and baths. Clients want them to be light and open with accent walls and other special touches.
We recently did an old farmhouse remodel and the homeowner left most of the choices up to me. When it was completed, she said the results far exceeded anything she imagined and that she was looking forward to spending time at home now.
Do what you want to do. Don’t feel pressured into following some trend that you don’t want or worry about what other people might want. Pick the products and design that fit you and your lifestyle.
What’s your dream project?
Every project… I just love bringing clients’ dreams to life regardless of the project size.
