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When Monty and Debbie Talbert purchased an ocean front condominium on Sanibel Island shortly after Hurricane Charley, they knew the project was going to involve major remodeling. Working with Leslie Gebert, Allied Member ASID, interior designer with Vogue Interiors, and Ft. Myers contractor Bruce Grumney, they tore out the interior right down to the studs. “We spent a great deal of time planning the new space,” Gebert recalls. “The rooms originally had low ceilings, so we created pop-ups where we could to create interest. The interior was changed throughout to reconfigure the space to meet the owners’ personal preferences and needs.” Remodeling is a solution that homeowners are choosing in record numbers to solve minor as well as major problems. Kathryn Guyitt, ASID, owner of Design Tech of Southwest Florida and chair of the Collier Building Industry Association (CBIA) Remodeler’s Council, says members are seeing an increase in the number of people choosing to remodel rather than move. “We’re finding the market transitioning to remodeling,” Guyitt said. “Many homeowners who had put their homes on the market have decided to stay put and remodel instead.” Approximately 60 percent of the homeowners questioned in Angie’s List, a national consumer organization, say they will update their homes this year, spending an average of $11,250 on improvement projects. Most say they will invest in kitchens and baths; others add landscaping and yard work, painting, flooring, doors and windows, decks and porches. According to the National Association of Home Builders, those are areas that are frequently the focus of remodeling projects. The reasons for remodeling are varied and include adding more space; upgrading cabinets, counters, appliances and fixtures; creating a customized floor plan; improving energy efficiency; and increasing the resale value of the home. On Sanibel, Gebert’s design utilized hardwood floors throughout the interior combined with tile that resembled the wood to continue space outdoors. Walls were eliminated to open up the living space. A vestibule was created outside the master suite and enhanced with wood medallion accents and sconces. In the family room a curved bar and media area provide a contemporary flair. Remodeling doesn’t have to involve a complete tear-down to have major impact. For Judith and Edward Anchel, remodeling meant working with Donna Overly, ASID, of Vogue Interiors to customize the Mediterra home they had purchased to meet their personal needs. “We did extensive work in the master bath,” Overly said. “We created a new layout for the shower, eliminated a toilet room and replaced the tub.” The project included replacing the old tile tub surround with a granite tub deck, changing the granite countertops and adding new faucets and fixtures In a powder room, the vanity was replaced and a champagne onyx countertop with an onyx sink added. “We illuminated the vanity from below,” Overly said. “The effect was stunning.” The remodel also involved tearing out the built-ins and rebuilding the study to accommodate Edward Anchel’s preferences. Corbels designed as stallion heads were used to reflect his personal interests. In the leisure room, rather than tearing out the existing entertainment center, a decorative architectural element was created - a lighted soffit with custom grill work. In an upstairs game room, a wet bar was removed and an activity center with a flat-screen TV added to provide more appropriately for the interests of the Anchel’s grandchildren. Outdoors, the area was resurfaced and a striking tile hood created for the outdoor kitchen. Throughout the home, a new color palette, custom finishes and ceiling details completed the design. “Since the home was originally built by Frey & Sons, we brought in Remodeling Solutions by Frey for the work,” Overly said. “It seemed a perfect marriage.” One service offered to Realtors, according to Dennis Bowers, with Remodeling Solutions by Frey, is providing sellers an estimate of how much a buyer would need to invest to update the home, thus giving the seller information to price their home accordingly. At the same time, the company would offer potential buyers information on remodeling costs in order to assess their offer on a property. The company’s projects include theater room additions, complete kitchen remodels and bathroom remodels and expansions, to name a few. It was with an eye on the current real estate market that Deborah Kreye’s clients began the remodeling project of their condominium in Estancia at Bonita Bay. The 10-year-old residence had little detailing and was finished in bright primary colors ranging from stop-sign yellow to Smurf blue and gecko green. “The couple knew that the home would have to be updated if they ever put it on the market, and they wanted to enjoy those updates themselves, so they decided to go ahead and remodel,” said Kreye, ASID, designer with Vogue Interiors. The residence was transformed to an elegant retreat with recovered furnishings and extensive interior detailing. The dining ceiling was raised to create a groin vault that was faux finished and gilded. New draperies were added. A luxurious master bedroom and bath were created with the addition of columns to define the bed space, a custom silk headboard, stone listellos in the bath, pearlized finish in an expanded spa. The kitchen received a new stone backsplash and updates; the family room, detailed molding and cork wall covering accents. Faux finished walls were utilized throughout. “It all made a very big difference,” Kreye said. Another segment of the remodeling market is composed of aging homeowners who want to remain in their home but need modifications to accommodate their changing physical abilities. Often housing may require modification, such as wider doors in hallways, accessible baths and kitchens, ramps or even elevators. The building industry has responded to that need with an Aging-in-Place Specialist certification for remodelers who have specialized training. Guyitt has received that certification. “Many of the homes here that were built 10 years ago or even 40 years ago are being updated significantly to utilize new technology,” Guyitt said. She noted that homeowners are looking for items such as more efficient water heaters, changing appliances for energy efficiency, looking at water recirculation and focusing on wiring that accommodates high speed Internet, large format and plasma TVs, high-definition digital TV and complex home theaters with sound systems. “The equipment dictates where it goes.” Remodeling creates the appropriate space to meet those needs. The availability of impact resistant and low-E glass provides yet another option for homeowners who will be replacing windows as part of a remodel, but that isn’t the only feature of the window that may be a target for replacement. “Made from the same material as solid-surface countertops - 100 percent acrylic with no polyester resins - the Siltech® products don’t yellow in sunlight. They don’t stain and they’re scratch resistant. In addition to the traditional square edge, seven other profiled edges are available for the windowsills, four of which are a 1-inch profiled edge. The surface is mold and mildew resistant as well, a big consideration in Florida’s humid climate.” It was a remodeling project done as mold remediation that stands out in Guyitt’s mind as one of her most challenging projects. “Mold remediation is very complex,” Guyitt said. “The process involves coordination with the company that identifies the type of mold and the company that removes the mold. Once the source was found and taken care of, we put the home back together. It was very difficult for the owners, and it was an education as well.” Whether the project is large or small, remodeling can be a chaotic experience, and living in the home while remodeling isn’t for everyone. With an understanding of the process, the outcome can be well worth the effort. TIPS FOR REMODELING Look at magazines and Websites to collect pictures of what you want; the better you can describe your vision, the easier it will be to accomplish it. Build a list of potential contractors to do the job. Check their credentials and talk to former clients before deciding who can best accomplish your goals. Remember: It’s important for the contractor and the homeowner to have good communications. Remodeling requires careful scheduling and a thorough understanding of the work to be done. When working with an existing structure, there may be unforeseeable conditions, such as rusty pipes behind a wall that alter the scope of the project and thus the timetable. There should be a clear understanding as to when and how workers will have access to the property, especially if the owner remains in residence through the construction period. For more information about how to approach your remodeling project, visit www.nahb.org.
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