Remodelers look at popular designs, tastes and trends

Local remodelers agree that kitchens and baths are still at the top of the list when people start thinking of sprucing up their homes.

Various trends in remodeling different areas are making themselves known, as well. In both kitchen and sunroom re-modeling, brick pavers have become popular, according to Hal Grissum, owner of KennCo Contractors Inc. dba KennCo Construction, 580 W. FR 178 (formerly known as Weaver Road).

Grissum chose brick flooring for the new sunroom he and his crew just finished at his own home. The focal point of the new room is a Jacuzzi hot tub, an item still very much in demand by people who add specialty rooms to their houses.

Jetted bathtubs are even more popular than the separate hot tub, according to Mark Sechler, owner of Sechler Remodeling, 4726 S. Biloxi.

Expanding bedrooms, baths

Sechler said that the work he has been doing has involved a lot of expansion of master bedrooms and baths. "People seem to want to duplicate the spacious feeling of a luxury hotel suite," he said. "We've installed heated cultured marble or tile floors in baths."

Homeowners also are using a lot of glass block walls or half walls in these areas, to add to the decor and let in light, Sechler said, adding that most renovations today include "lots of windows" in multiple shapes and sizes.

Grissum used a three-window skylight above the rectangular windows in his new sunroom to add dimension and light. He carried out the same pattern above the french doors to the den on the inside wall.

Preservation

Sechler said he has worked on homes from 8 years old to 80 years old. Of the newer homes, he said, "If the original quality isn't there to start with, it shows up after a while." On older homes, Sechler said people usually want to restore and preserve the original design. "We try to match finishes and to keep windows the same as they were originally," he said.

According to Erich Weber, owner of Renovation Professionals Inc., 3020 E. Battlefield, kitchens and bathrooms are the areas that most become dated or begin to show wear and tear. He said the diversity in materials available today makes it possible for homeowners to achieve almost any look they want.

People like the natural look, Weber said, but they also are opting for more color. Cultured marble, tile, brick and granite allow them to create a special look in virtually any color they can imagine.

The trend in baths, kitchens and sunrooms is to enhance floor covering with these hard-surface materials, Weber said.

Renovation Professionals Inc. has been remodeling the house at 3020 E. Battlefield. "We turned it into a little cottage," he said.

Hardwoods, laminates

In other areas of the house people are taking advantage of more choices in hardwoods, laminates and pergo (a dur-able simulated wood) covering.

Carpet is still widely used, the new frise weave being the most popular choice.

"I think a lot of these trends come directly from new home builders," Weber said, adding that people go out and look at new houses to get ideas when they are getting ready to upgrade.

According to Grissum, people generally are moving away from standard fixtures and going for the unique. Home-owners want to make a fashion statement with unusual ceiling fans, light fixtures and ornate plumbing fixtures, he said.

Tin ceilings

Of note is the resurgence of the pressed tin ceilings used in the late 19th century and early 20th century, which has given people an opportunity to even restore ceilings to life. They can leave the metal natural or paint it, Grissum said. He added that many people are choosing textured walls instead of or in combination with wallpaper.

Grissum noted that low interest rates have made it possible for some people to renovate who might have been putting it off.

About 80 percent of his remodeling jobs come from insurance claims where people have had fire or storm damage, he said. The homeowner often takes advantage of the opportunity to make changes and absorbs the additional cost to remodel rather than just repair or replace the damaged areas.

Internet suppliers

Weber said that the Internet has had a huge impact on the remodeling business by virtue of opening up a much broader range of materials than can be found locally.

"It will be amazing what the Internet will do in the future. It's a very powerful tool; we've yet to see the magnitude of it," he said.

Several of Weber's customers have ordered specialty materials from Internet suppliers and had them shipped.

Sechler said he also has seen some impact in his business from the Web, but to a lesser degree than Weber. He did say that many people research designs and products on the Web.

"When they've done the research, they know what they want."