Blog

White is king in kitchens and throughout the house, but there is a trend towards lighter natural woods. Each with varying degrees of light stains for flooring, furniture and cabinetry. It is a movement that brings the outdoors in and creates a connection with nature. Being forced inside for months may be a contributor to this trend!

Dan Shaw; Construction Manager …. great guy. We like to think of our team and our clients as part of our extended family. When you go to work, and when you are getting work done, those are long term time commitments that require trust, understanding and teamwork.

A year ago I was having many conversations with vendors and sub-contractors about whether we would see a pent-up demand for remodeling. We missed more than a full quarter of new business intake during the spring of 2020 (typically our busiest season for incoming work).  Well, there is no more guessing about demand… 

In renovation you see design that came before and with each floor board you pull or wall you tear down you learn something new. In this case it was no surprise what we found, it is worth commenting on for the homeowners who ready themselves for material removal during a renovation.

You can think of it as a modern graphic novel…. or just a chance to be a foundation voyeur. We typically don’t have three different foundations happening at once, but right now we have three different projects with three different foundations each for a unique need.  

A common comment we hear when discussing the project cost and budget is, “well of course you don’t know what’s behind the walls." I think this must be a common phrase used by some contractors to hedge. For the most part, that should be untrue for any experienced builder.

There are options when renovating bathrooms that can be must have for some and “no thank you” for others. While some trends have had staying power, everyone has their preference no matter how strong the popular opinion is. Here is a list of items that can get a reaction- what’s your hot button?

Planning for now… and the future. If you have had a few challenges with your home life over the last 3/4 of 2020, you have either made some changes that need to be re-tweaked or have been trying to resolve something in an environment...

You know a well-designed and constructed kitchen by the details; counters that complement the overall decor, cabinets tailored to fit the space and create the interior architecture, all while creating an efficient use of space that takes advantage of the room’s set of unique parameters. 

Marie Kondo, is the home consultant who believes the art of “less is more”, getting organized, but above all determining if something sparks joy in your life or not.

“Pass the sound canceling headphones, please”…While we have addressed the noise level in homes for some time; it is probably something more “top of mind” for many of us who have less alone time at home right now.

We design for the whole house, not just one side or one angle becuase it is the sum of its parts that makes the house, your home.

Stairs can make many design statements in a home. Think of all the different movie scenes that have a bride slowly descending, or a parent looking to the front door from the upper landing; and all the different drama that a set of stairs can add to the environment. 

The saying, “they don’t make them like they used to,” is well applied to many lower cost window options. Unfortunately, many homeowners will replace the windows in their home if they are planning on a long-term stay.

We love a good screened porch because it offers shelter from the elements like the summer sun and an evening getaway from the mosquitos.

Customizing for each client is what makes the process of design so personal in each project we do...

One of the most used clichés of all time was quoined by the Greek philosopher, Plato. “Necessity is the mother of invention.”

WFH (Working From Home)- an acronym that took a while to figure out when it came on the scene almost a month ago.

Weathering the storm has as much to do with our passion for building as it does with how we run our business and take care of our people.

The world will change – and sometimes make a hard turn without notice, and as a business the one thing that we can do is be consistent with our care for others.

Sometimes remodeling is a puzzle of swapping spaces and moving one thing to make another thing fit- it is the challenge and the science of making rooms work.

Customer service is our business. I often ask new hires what kind of business we are in, and the answer is usually; “Remodeling, Renovation, Construction” …and my answer is always- “we are in the customer service business.”

I’ll never forget working on one of my earlier addition projects in the 90’s; back when I was the GM, designer, project lead, carpenter’s helper and chief trash picker upper.

Grout may not seem like something you should spend a lot of time on during a kitchen or bath renovation when there are so many other choices to make, but...

“Custom” has become a bit of a cliché. Everything from chopped motorcycles to outdoor bar-b-q’s have their own television show and a following for people...

Being handy is dandy…but let’s face it, many of us were not brought up on the farm where we helped fix the tractor when it broke.

With the advent of the internet we have adapted to a culture of information overload. Gone are the days of magazine clippings pinned up for inspiration.

With the start of every new year, many of us set our intentions and start planning how we will stay on track with our goals in the coming year.

It’s the time of year when holiday decorating around the home starts with Thanksgiving… and comes full circle to a New Year… with a mix of religious celebrations in between. This is when the fireplace mantle takes center stage. It is where the warmth from the fire glows below and above provides just the right amount of space for a holiday focal point without disturbing the rest of your everyday life.

What’s the cost for peace of mind?…Priceless. 

Halloween is over, but we can still share some Tricks or Treats…of the trade.

Home Stats: A traditional center-entry colonial that has been updated for casual family living in phase one when the Owners created a unified dining/living environment. 

Ready or not, here they come! As the sun starts setting earlier and we are enjoying the flavors of fall there are a few things to check in on before the celebrations of fall and winter begin. 

Wood flooring isn’t something that changes as often as other trends, probably because new drapes and wall paper are a lot easier logistically than packing up the house to refinish or install new flooring. 

In the early 90’s; family rooms were the new “it” thing. The idea of a place you could put your feet up and furnish casually spurred a lot of interest. Unfortunately, it didn’t give much thought to how this new space would co-relate with the rest of the home; leaving living rooms to become seldom used. 

Back to school, and the relaxed summer season coming to an end brings us back to all the things that happen in “normal life”. 

Twenty-seven years in business with the same owner, and long-term team members means standards remain constant. Since 2005, The Wiese Company has been proud to be recognized by Qualified Remodeler on list of the Top 500 Largest Remodelers.

During home renovations, the choices can seem…and sometimes are…endless. Most of the selection time in a project is around the cabinets, and that is because of so many options and utility in addition to paint color. 

The Home Stats – A traditional colonial built for comfortable family living had well-proportioned rooms except for the kitchen that was too small for larger family gatherings and today’s casual lifestyle. 

When you are going through the renovation process in your home, it’s worth thinking about the details and creative, custom design solutions that can be included to meet your needs. 

How solid are the kitchen cabinets we outfit your homes with? The short answer: certified solid. When you renovate your kitchen, baths or other rooms of your home you want to be certain that your replacements are better than what came before. Today, you can’t always be sure this is true as some things were made better 70 years ago when production was slower and many things were made by hand.

IN THE NEWS: Metropolitan AF-690- Benjamin Moore’s Color of the Year 2019 is announced and it is a surprise to us all. We aren’t sure what is more of a shock- the staying power of gray or the complete departure from last year’s pick, Caliente, a fiery warm red. 

Objectives:
Open floor plan for a modern family lifestyle, ample room for casual family dining with a view to the backyard and easy access to the adjacent screened porch. Consideration for the client’s desired appliances which included a pro-style range, large refrigeration and double ovens. And at the center of it all a large kitchen island for all things living, working and entertaining!