Does your home really work for you? From a functional perspective and a design mindset, well-planned remodeling projects can completely change the way you live, relax, gather and enjoy time at home. Luckily, Canton is chock-full of industry experts with many years of experience transforming dull spaces into stylish, yet functional spaces that are long-lasting and on trend.
Reno ROI – SP Remodeling
For years, Josh Petite and Brandon Spring invested in homes and renovated them to sell throughout the greater Canton area. After their portfolio exceeded the triple digits, the business partners transferred skills they acquired flipping houses to reimagining spaces for existing homeowners.
“We just wanted to try to change the industry,” Josh says, relating that they struggled to find dependable contractors and ended up doing all the work themselves, with the help of a troupe of trusted vendors and craftspeople.
When selecting a contractor, “You want to feel good about having them in your home,” Josh says. “You want a professional to walk you through the process.”
This philosophy informs the home renovation journey clients experience with SP Remodeling. It’s a consultative approach with frequent check-ins to ensure the team is meeting expectations – a real differentiator in the marketplace, Brandon points out. Basically, they can provide peace of mind when customers wonder, “Will I get what I want at the end of the day?” The answer is yes.
“We have something we call the SP Guarantee, and after we get started, we have different inspection points at each phase in the process,” Josh says. “Homeowners can give us their feedback, and if there are any changes, we make it right before moving on to the next steps.”
Another important factor to consider when partnering with a contractor: Who will actually do the work? With SP Remodeling, clients meet with Josh and Brandon, and they’re on the scene from start to finish with trusted contractors they’ve worked with since opening the business.
SP Remodeling focuses heavily on bathroom and kitchen projects, which are in demand. Mostly, clients prefer a timeless look in the bathroom that’s equally luxurious – a spa feel. “You see trends change, but you don’t want to spend on a new bathroom that will be in style for a couple of years and then it’s out,” Josh says.
Large-format white tiles are classic and easy to clean with fewer grout lines. Zero-entry showers offer a seamless look that’s safe, too. White and gray neutrals still dominate. And smart technology like Bluetooth vent fans that can be controlled via smartphone are appealing. So is programmable, heated tile floors.
As for surfaces, quartz is convenient, classy and low maintenance for bathrooms and kitchens, another focal point for home renovations.
While Josh and Brandon are seeing a move toward earth tones in the kitchen and beyond, white cabinets still reign supreme. Though, some are opting for dual-colored cabinets, such as darker neutral gray lowers and lighter uppers.
Wonder how you can get the most return on investment out of your home reno spend? Josh and Brandon advise not going overboard, but definitely refreshing your interior’s look. Go for updates, not extravagance – that is, unless you simply want what you want, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
“A simple summary is ‘new’ is what will make your house worth more,” Brandon says, speaking from their experience on the resale side of the equation. “New flooring, new paint, new toilet, new light fixtures, new kitchen. It doesn’t have to be expensive, it just has to be new.”
Living Easy – Infinity Homes & Remodeling
After 20 years in the remodeling field, Brian St. Jean can attest to the cyclical nature of design and materials trends. Case in point: gold is back, but with a different aesthetic than yesteryear’s brass – a muted champagne look.
Warmer woods are also back on the scene, and color palettes incorporating greens and blues, says the owner of Infinity Homes & Remodeling. Whatever a client chooses, the sustaining “trend” is to suit a design to the household’s lifestyle.
“Home remodeling is one of the things you do in your life where you get to see the process unfold,” Brian says. “When you buy a new car, you don’t get to see it get manufactured in the factory. You only see the finished project on the lot.”
For this reason, going into the renovation process with clear expectations is important for a successful outcome. “You need to have a level of comfort with your contractor because it’s like a marriage,” Brian says. “You need to be up front about budget, what you like and don’t like, and communicate that. Both parties need to be transparent.”
When this is the case, amazing transformations are possible.
Often, the journey begins with inspo pictures from sites like Houzz or Pinterest. “We love when clients create boards to show their preferences and color choices because we can get a feel for their vision,” Brian says.
Vision ties in with budget, of course.
But just because a client has top-shelf taste and a practical spending number in mind doesn’t mean their ideas are “vision impossible.” It’s all about prioritization and smart swaps. For example, a client called in for a kitchen addition to enlarge the space. The numbers didn’t line up for the initial scope. “Instead, we knocked out a wall and reconfigured the area to give her what she wanted and needed,” Brian explains.
The beauty of the renovation process is its creativity and problem-solving nature.
And the ultimate reward is when clients share how their renovated space makes home sweeter. Brian shares, “A few years ago, I was sitting at Thanksgiving dinner with my family and I got a text from a customer with his family saying, ‘Thank you for making our vision a reality.’ We had created three different designs for them, and they chose the one that works best for them.”
Back to the design-for-lifestyle approach, Brian says “Good design can improve everyday life at home.”
Kitchen & Bath Appeal – Cabinets2Countertops
It’s plug and play at Cabinets2Countertops. Backsplash tile? Check. Surfaces from quartz to granite and high performance laminate? Done. Custom cabinets and stock cabinetry from reputable manufacturers? You got it, and the designer/installer produces cabinets on site within its 5,000 square-foot facility that includes an expansive showroom. There’s value in getting to see, touch and try out products.
Kurt Bonk founded the company’s predecessor in 2002, and he brings deep knowledge of hard surfaces to the market, with certification from the International Solid Surface Association in Henderson, Nevada.
Education is the core of making wise materials and cabinetry selections, and Kurt takes pride in guiding clients through the process. With the range of innovative products on the market, there are more options than ever before. For instance, the gold-flecked laminate we know from grandma’s house is long gone. “The new Formica laminates are stunning and look like natural stone, plus they can be undermounted to sinks, which is a great way to achieve a luxury look on a budget,” he says.
As for surfaces, quartz is the leader. “It has made great strides in looking realistic and natural,” Kurt says, pointing to the white with gray marbling pattern as a popular and timeless pick.
Custom cabinetry that offers roomy storage for pots and pans can include organizing features. “We’re typically seeing taller cabinets,” Kurt adds, pointing to stacked cabinets featuring top glass doors for displays.
Plus, Cabinets2Countertops creates custom wood hoods that add character to kitchen spaces, Kurt adds. “We are starting to see more of that because not everyone wants a microwave over the stove. The hood adds a custom feel.”
In the bathroom, Kurt sees a move toward building cabinets into the vanity space on top of counters. “You can use those for storage, and there are cool pull-outs available. One has an outlet in it so you can plug in your hair dryer and there’s a built-in holder for it.”
Mixing and matching hardware and pulls gives clients flexibility and adds visual appeal. “We see a lot of black hardware, especially on white or gray painted cabinets,” he says. “We also have people who choose knobs for upper cabinets and pulls for lowers. There’s a lot going on in the hardware market.”
"Good design can improve everyday life at home."
— Brian St. Jean, Infinity Homes & Remodeling