Sometimes, the most challenging part of a renovation project is determining exactly what the completed project should look like. Modern or traditional? Light-filled or cozy? Beamed ceilings or coffered? Inviting or dramatic? For each of the winners of the 2015 Building Industry Association’s Remodelers Awards profiled here, though, that was hardly a problem. Each client came into the project with a clear vision of what they wanted, how they wanted it to function and why.
Challenges abounded — short time cycles, trees in exactly the wrong places, sloping land — but in every case, these contractors found a way around them, delighting their clients and creating memorable spaces.
Congratulations to the three Columbia Metropolitan feature winners whose rennovations are shown in the following photographs.
Category 8, Large Addition
Contractor: Jim Evatt, Palmetto Construction & Renovations
Clients: Joni and Drew Richardson
It took four years of living in their Lake Katherine home before Joni and Drew Richardson were ready to renovate, but they knew exactly what they wanted — they just needed someone to help them figure out how to do it. After interviewing seven contractors, the couple decided that Jim Evatt’s easygoing, can-do attitude would be a good match for their personalities. “My attitude is if someone’s going to spend money on a renovation, it should be fun,” says Jim.
Given the extent of the Richardson project, that thought had the potential to be a tall order: not only would Jim be moving doorways and walls, but he’d also be pushing out the back of the house as well, transforming nearly the entire home into a construction zone. He estimated it would take about seven months. “I didn’t think he could do it in less than nine, but I was wrong,” says Joni. “He really knows what he’s doing. When we had questions about where to spend money, he gave us honest advice that turned out to be great.”
Today, the home flows as if the new layout is original. The former living room, which is just off the front hall, has been transformed into a sunny dining room, while the old dining room is now a playroom off the kitchen. Across the back of the house, the den, breakfast room and kitchen were extended about 10 feet into the back yard and carport, creating an open area where the family can eat, play and relax together.
In the den, Jim raised the ceiling and added decorative beams, details the Richardson’s added once the project had begun. “It ended up not adding too much to the cost of the project, and I’m really glad we did it,” says Joni. “Jim was great about it.”
Newly-added French doors in the den open onto a new covered porch that’s equipped with a wood-burning fireplace and television. “We spend more time out here than anywhere in the house,” says Joni.
The couple also renovated a bathroom and added a new master bedroom suite off the back of the house. With its dramatic cathedral ceilings, “his and hers” closets and spacious bathrooms, it’s a luxurious retreat. “Now that the house is finished, we love it … and we love Jim,” says Joni. “That says a lot.”
Category 6C, Large Remodel/Commercial
Contractor: Cliff Cinamon, Design & Remodeling Solutions, LLC
Client: Sarah Shell, Fern Studio Floral & Event Design
Sarah Shell needed to move her floral design business, Fern Studio, in a hurry. The lease on her old shop was expiring, and she had a major project scheduled in less than two months. So she called Cliff Cinamon, with whom she’d worked on two home renovation projects. “I trusted him to understand my vision,” she says. “Besides my floral design company, I planned to lease nooks in the studio to three additional wedding industry businesses. With that in mind, I knew I wanted an open space that would encourage collaboration between the four of us, a concrete floor to hide the mess I make when working with flowers, but an airy but industrial vibe.”
Forty-five days and two dumpster loads of construction debris later, Cliff Cinamon and the team at Design Remodeling Solutions, LLC had transformed the dropped ceiling circa-1969 building into the thoroughly modern space that was exactly what Sarah had envisioned. “It’s important to communicate the aesthetic of our work through the space, so that people immediately get a sense of our style the moment they walk in the door,” says Sarah.
When Sarah first saw the inside of the building, it was, she says, “horrendous.” But after taking a peek above the tiles of the building’s dropped ceiling, she discovered a series of geometric steel trusses and knew she’d found her new space. “I felt if we could expose them, they’d be a wonderful architectural detail,” she says. Unfortunately, the trusses had only been installed in the front of the building. The back, which was separated from the front by a solid block wall, was actually an addition that had been built with regular wood joists. Since Sarah wanted an open space, the entire interior would need to be ripped out, with new structural steel trusses added to the back section.
Although the road to success was short, it was bumpy. After opening up the space, Cliff had to replace the entire AC system plus ductwork, insulation, electrical and supporting structures. New trusses were fabricated to match the originals, painted by hand and hung. The original concrete floor was filled where a major plumbing installation was, then it was laboriously cleaned, sanded and stained with a shiny sealer. “This was a very challenging job, with a lot to do in a very short time,” says Cliff. “Virtually gutting the place and making it look like we did nothing but expose the structure was kind of like taking the flesh off of a fish, exposing the skeleton and having it swim away alive and well, as if nothing happened to it!”
Sarah, though, couldn’t be happier. “It’s seamless,” she says. “It feels like it’s always been this way.”
Category 11, Outdoor Living/Exterior
Contractors: Dick Gallup, R.B. Gallup and Robert LaFitte, Gallup & LaFitte, Design-
Rebuild-Remodel
Clients: Jaime Bohnke and Bill Rudis
When Jaime Bohnke and Bill Rudis first got to thinking about creating an outdoor living space in the back yard of their lakefront Chapin home, they set their minds on building an outdoor kitchen. “We like to entertain outdoors, but the way the lot sloped toward the lake made that challenging,” explains Bill. “We decided that an outdoor kitchen would fix the problem, and give us a great space.” It didn’t take long, though, for the project to morph into a massive outdoor living space that combines the best parts of a pool house, outdoor kitchen and living room. “Once we got going, we realized we’d want to use it on a year-round basis,” says Bill. “My wife did a great job designing what we were looking for.”
“You can do pretty much anything with new construction, but in this case, the tight environment created a challenge,” explains Dick Gallup of Gallup & LaFitte. “We had to place it between the house, the pool and the terraced yard. But it turned out beautifully.”
Although the outside of the pool house was constructed from brick that matches the home’s exterior, the inside walls were lined with stacked stone to create the rustic look that Jaime and Bill desired. The room’s beamed cathedral ceiling, which was stained with a white-wash finish, gives the space a casual, almost cottage-like appeal. A wide porch runs the length of the structure —thanks to a bit of creative landscaping that changed the slope of the terraced lot, no railing was required so the view to the lake is completely unobstructed, even when friends and family are sitting down. In keeping with their “zero-obstruction” ethos, large sections of each side of the building were set with retractable sliding glass doors. “When they’re open, they disappear, and when they’re closed, they’re seamless,” says Bill. “That way, we have a great view no matter what it’s doing outside.”
Then there’s the kitchen. In addition to the usual suspects — a fridge and dishwasher — there’s a professional stove, a beverage center, an ice maker, a tap for beer kegs, a restaurant-quality indoor grill and a wood-burning pizza oven. An innovative chill plate fitted into the granite countertop keeps appetizers cool for hours. The most striking detail is the grill’s copper hood, which was designed by Jamie and features the home’s theme — a dancing pig holding a martini glass. “He’s the Copper Pig,” laughs Bill. “The first one was the weathervane on the cupola. Jaime then had a sign made that says, ‘Welcome to the Copper Pig’ and carried that theme throughout the building. It’s been a lot of fun.”
Judges Awards
Category 3, Bath Remodel
Contractor: Robert Lindsey, Wise Guys Home Improvement, LLC
Client: John Radford
A 1950s style three-quarter bathroom with pink tile and fixtures received a modern upgrade to match the rest of the home.
Category 3UD, Universal Design Bath Remodel
Contractor: Timothy Kehoe, Kehoe Constructors, LLC
Clients: Bertina and Charles Floyd
Kehoe Constructors made a master bath for all ages using Universal Design techniques and new products.
Category 4, Large Bath Remodel
Contractor: Robert Lindsey, Wise Guys Home Improvement, LLC
Client: Tiffany Clark
According to the owners, “The 1990s called and wanted it’s Florida tile back!” Wise Guys Home Improvement, LLC met the call and made a beautiful new space.
Category 5, Remodeled Area
Contractor: Cliff Cinamon, Design & Remodeling Solutions, LLC
Clients: Darlene and Jeff Henderson
An unfortunate water leak led to a much-needed kitchen and laundry room upgrade with fabulous results.
Category 6, Large Remodeled Area
Contractor: Cliff Cinamon, Design & Remodeling Solutions, LLC
Client: Nancy Cain
This project proves that a professional designer and remodeler can work wonders with a difficult situation.
Category 8C, Large Addition/Commercial
Contractor: Jim Evatt, Palmetto Constructions & Renovations
Client: Eddie Wales
If you haven’t been to Motor Supply Bistro Co. in the Vista in a while, perhaps you should check out their recent patio renovation — and craft cocktails.
Category 10, Whole House Renovation
Contractor: R.B. Gallup, Dick Gallup and Robert LaFitte, Gallup & Lafitte, Design-Build-Remodel
Clients: Carolyn and Fred Kennedy
This entry garnered more points with the clean lines, addition of windows and overall craftsmanship.
Honorary Mention
Category 3UD, Universal Design Bath Remodel
Contactor: Cliff Cinamon, Design & Remodeling Solutions, LLC
Client: Wade Gamble
Category 10, Whole House Renovation
Contractor: Cliff Cinamon, Design & Remodeling Solutions, LCC
Client: Jamie Lutes
Category 11, Outdoor Living/Exterior
Contractor: Cliff Cinamon, Design & Remodeling Solutions, LCC
Client: Paul Fidanza
Category 11, Outdoor Living/Exterior
Contractor: Jim Evatt, Palmetto Construction & Renovations
Client: Latan Cox
