Home Renovation Sources - Naples, FL
Happy holiday weekend. I'm sure most of you are out and about and I will be soon, too. It has been great to learn, through emails, that many of you live in or visit the Naples area!
I wanted to share my home renovation resources with you. These companies have provided me with excellent customer service, and I would definitely do business with them, again.
Pool Company
:
- By far, the most honest pool company in this area. For the record, they were the fourth company to come out and see my job....company 1, never sent the quote...company 2, thought they were building a new pool (or at least we could have on that quote)...company 3, tried to sell me equipment I did not need.
Kitchen Cabinets:
- Ask for Jack or Jason, and tell them I sent you. They are fed up with me :). All joking aside, their prices are excellent and their service is fantastic. They never rush you and keep designing...until. If you happen to be there through lunch time, they will treat you to one of those green passion smoothies from Panera. Dollar averaging, that's an expensive drink ;).
Quartzite/Marble/Granite Slabs:
-
- Ask for Marco. Searching for
was like binge watching House of Cards......I just couldn't stop until it was over. Marco and I drove to several
undercover
non-retail stone yards. Interacting with the cast of characters at each yard reminded me of New Jersey.
Tile - I purchased tile from multiple sources. I could write a book about the process of how tile is imported into Florida and channels through the customs department in Miami. This process can take up to ten weeks. Start the tile search, early.
- Ask for Melony. Excellent source for floor tile.
- Ask for Olga. A great place to source tile you found online. Olga is a machine at locating your tile and dealing with the Miami brokers.
- Ask for Stuart. He definitely hates me, and I did buy tile from him. Apparently, you are not supposed to request a shipment quote directly from the Italian salesmen, that are representing the line you are interested in, while they are making a sales call to the store. Who knew?
- Huge selection and excellent prices. Be prepared to spend quite a bit of time walking up and down each isle. There is a lot to see.
I hope you find these sources helpful. I'll update this list, as I go...or when I remember.
See you at Starbucks in
.
Updates?
House Update
House Update
My
looks like a bomb hit it. Construction is moving along, and important decisions are being made somewhat on the fly. Let me walk you through it.
When you first walked in the door, you were looking at a wall that was the kitchen (behind it) on the left, and living room on the right.
One structural engineer consultation, and the wall was removed. So much better.
Scaffolding to reroute a/c and electrical.
This is were the important decisions need to made. My architect recommended that we reframe the ceiling so that there will be symmetry in the new living room (on the left). That would require the ceiling near the front door (skylight) to be lowered to an eight foot height, and made flat. I love the feeling of vaulted ceilings when I enter the front door.
The temporary sink is approximately the center of my new kitchen. As you can see, the highest point in the existing ceiling won't be centered.....do I care? Will it bother me? Do I really want to lower it?
Like most design decisions, I turned to the internet for inspiration. All I needed were a few great images with off-centered ceilings to confirm keeping it this way. You cannot believe how difficult it was to find rooms....of any kind.....as in.....impossible. And then, I realized I was spelling asymmetrical wrong. Two 'M's' in symmetrical? Since when?
Feldman Architects
I think I'm going to keep the taller ceiling and live with the asymmetry. What would you do?
My Next Project....Our Home
Hello, and happy 2015! I love the start of a new year, and it helps when the weather is 80 degrees. When we last parted, I told you that we purchased a home....and here it is.
There are windows behind those overgrown hedges, on the right. These are the images that came with the home. I have plenty more to
bore
entertain you with, as this project unfolds.
There are tall ceilings in most of the rooms. Of course the carpeting will not be staying. There is also a shutter theme throughout the house.
I'm not sure what will become of the dining room?...more shutters.
The current family room opens to the kitchen and breakfast area. You can't tell from this picture, but there is a pretty yard area beyond that solid wall?!
The home was built in the 80's, and I don't think it was updated since that time.
I am in the process of confirming a contract with an architect, and we both agree that the kitchen needs to move....or at least be reconfigured. Do you like the tile? That layer was applied on top of the original tile. No extra charge for the second layer :).
More carpeting....bye, bye.
I would love to have the ceilings in the kids rooms raised.
High ceilings and plenty of room in the master bedroom. Shutters, shutters, shutters???
No words....sledge hammer, stat.
Even the pool needs some TLC. I do love the shape of it.
Are you familiar with a pool cage? It's the screen system that encloses the pool. There are pros and cons to the enclosure.....I'm not sure how this area will unfold.
There are plans that need to be drawn, permits to be filed, and lots of work to be done. I'm excited and a little bit nervous about this huge undertaking. Naples, is in a hurricane zone, and this home has no protection. Yikes! I'll be sharing the entire process with you. I hope you stick around for the next chapter in my life.
I would love to hear your thoughts on what you would do with this home.
Dean Farris | Letter Writing | Housewives
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