Suppliers tell what's hot and what's not in remodeling

The bywords in remodeling today are "light" and "space" and people seek to make their residences reflect their own personalities.

"People are wanting their homes to be uniquely them," said Michele Day of American Glass, 3737 E. Evergreen. "We're doing a neat project right now in a custom home where the decor is a lodge look. We are cutting a mountain scene into the top profile of the glass and sandblasting to give a look of snow-topped mountains. It's an artsy piece being done freehand in our shop."

Hot spots

Kitchens and bathrooms are the hot remodeling spots these days, according to Russell Caldwell, president of Caldwell Construction Inc. in Ozark.

This continues the trend Caldwell cited a year ago to the Business Journal. This year, he said, his customers also increasingly want room additions for family space.

With kitchens, "We're seeing some large-scale remodeling," Caldwell said. "Some older homes have formal dining rooms and we're seeing the division wall between the kitchen and dining room taken out to expand that into one space.

Caldwell said that the trend is for the kitchen to be the gathering place for family. "We are making that room more livable for the family, doing such things as adding computer workspaces."

He added that people tend to want kitchens to be well lit, have high ceilings, stainless steel appliances, and solid surfacings, such as with granite-type products.

Cabinets

At Kitchenland U.S.A. Inc. in Nixa, President Brad Schrock's opinion about trends in cabinetry is that the traditional oak is becoming less used in favor of maple and maple-look woods. "We're doing the new glaze finishes, which are really hot right now," he said. "A glaze finish is a unique finish that often makes the cabinets look older you really have to see it."

According to Schrock, the French Country and Shaker Country looks both are going to be big.

He is also seeing taller and fancier moldings on cabinet tops; the use of different-look, up-scale handles; varied-height cabinets with a stairstep look; fluted columns; and beaded back panels and doors.

"People are wanting to change," Shrock said. "They've had this kitchen for 15 years or so and they want something different, but not too different."

Baths

Caldwell notes certain trends in bathroom remodeling. "People desire very basic things all around the home open spaces with lots of light," he said. "Certainly in the bathroom, they want it to be user-friendly and cleaning-friendly with skylights, marble shower stalls, glass block windows and ceramic tile floors."

Kevin Scheer, president of Taylor Marble Co., 1660 W. Skyline Ave. in Ozark, at the junction of highways 65 and CC in Ozark, agrees with Caldwell about customers wanting to open up space and brighten bathrooms.

"The houses that are 30 or 40 years old with tile showers kind of look like dungeons," he said. "People are trying to tear out walls, and put in bigger doors or more glass."

Going along with the trend to light and airy, Scheer said that the hot colors in marble items are now white and biscuit.

"People remodeling are tearing out old porcelain steel tubs and putting in marble whirlpool bathtub-shower combinations as well as just showers," he said.

Taylor Marble can custom-manufacture shower pans up to 5 feet by 6 feet in dimension.

Vanities

Replacing old formica vanity tops with cultured marble ones is still what Scheer calls a "staple" in bathroom remodeling. Putting seats and oversize soap dishes into whirlpool baths and showers is an added luxury customers are now requesting from his company.

According to Day, heavy glass shower doors are the rage today. These doors are 3/8- up to 1/2-inch thick and frameless. "It's a sleek look, not cluttered by a lot of framing, and they are just beautiful," she said.

Silver and gold hardware finishes have been upstaged by a desire for variety, Day said. American Glass has 14 different finishes available in shower door hardware. She added that in order to get away from the traditional silver and gold, people are opting for such finishes as oil-rubbed bronze, brushed nickel and satin stainless steel.

Remodeling strong

All four say the economy hasn't adversely affected their businesses, that the remodeling market is as strong this year as last and they don't expect any change except perhaps for it to get even better.

"Price really doesn't seem to be an object," Scheer said. "People want what they can have in convenience. We are seeing customers select additional items that aren't a necessity, but more of a luxury."

Caldwell said, "I've heard from clients about their uncertainty in the stock market and the changing economy, yet I've seen them go forth with projects anyway. I haven't yet had anyone report they'd like to do a project but won't because of the economy."

Caldwell rates the market as "outstanding" at the moment.

Schrock is equally optimistic. "It's coming out about the way I figured it would," he said. "The first two months of the year were slow, but business picked up. We expect to finish up as good, if not better than last year." He added, "Springfield has always got a fairly strong economy."

The future

Day expects continued growth for her company, which recently moved into a new building, tripling their space. "The winter had an effect on construction as a whole, but now it's absolutely booming," she said. "In April, we had one of our best months ever."

Advice

Caldwell has advice for homeowners wanting to remodel. "One thing we always wish people would do is to spend time researching the remodelers they are considering," he said.

"We believe there are a lot of people out there who want to remodel, but don't because they feel like they can't find a reliable, professional remodeler. Do your homework. I've seen people spend more time picking out a faucet than on selecting who they are going to spend thousands of dollars with," he added.

Caldwell suggests that people wanting to remodel:

Do a reference check on prospective remodelers;

Look at the prospective remodeler's previous work;

Determine if they have insurance;

Have a clear contract stating what's to be done and not done; and

Select a remodeler with whom they are comfortable good communication is especially important.