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As highlighted in a few of our recent blog posts, Smart-Homes are becoming increasingly prolific in the remodeling and home-building industry. One of our current projects in the Minnetonka Bay area is utilizing these technologies throughout the entire home. So what products and offerings are we incorporating into this transformation and how can you get started on some “smart” changes of your own? Here are five technologies we are using for this home that are worth considering for all homeowners interested in making some “smart” upgrades of their own:

1. To start, this home is using Lutron Finire 4″ trimless and 3″ trimless cans throughout. They carry a lot of great long-term cost efficiency benefits including dimming down to 1% and 10yr warranties. Lighting in this home is controlled by Lutron’s RadioRa2 system with keypads throughout the house controlling lighting scenes in each room. This gives homeowners the ability to personalize lighting in each room to give the ambiance they desire while being environmentally
2. Moving on to the kitchen, this home features Sonance’s Architectural series 4″ speakers laser-lined with cans to provide a clean look with amazing sound quality. Speakers and cans are exactly the same size and look for a seamless appearance. This is an easy way to upgrade your sound quality while maintaining desired aesthetics.
3. Another great way to start upgrading your home’s technology capabilities is with your HVAC system. This home’s HVAC is controlled by Savants Pro centralized multi-zone thermostat processing. This is integrated directly into the home’s control system. It will also include Savant’s energy management control monitoring system which will automatically make adjustments to as many controlled devices as needed.
4. We are also including Lutron recessed shades in the Great Room and master bedrooms which read directly to the home’s control system so that they are automated with day, time, and weather. Again, this is a “smart” way to approach energy and lighting efficiency; it is hassle-free for homeowners and great for an on-the-go lifestyle.
5. Finally, multiple cameras are being installed throughout the home along with control over the home’s hurricane shutters (also integrated to the central control system) so that they can be raised and lowered from anywhere in the world. Imagine being able to travel the world while also being able to make necessary home adjustments!

While this is only a small list of the vast technologies we are seeing revolutionize the industry today, we are excited to share the merits of this trend with you and the limitless possibilities it presents. Want to learn more about “smart home” technologies and get started on some updates of your own? Contact us!

It is hard to believe that we are already half way through 2017! Time has flown by for us and we could not be more excited about all of the work we are doing for our beloved homeowners. While we find ourselves busy as bees this summer, it is important that we take a step back and reflect on everything we have seen, done, and witnessed along the way. That is why we want to provide you with some of our thoughts and insights from the year to anticipate what is ahead for the industry. Here are a few topics and trends to pay special attention to in 2018:

• Digital & Real-Time: With more and more millennials entering the housing market as first time homebuyers and demanding more tech-savvy appliances, updates, and resources, it is no surprise that remodeling efforts have begun to echo this trend. Think Smart-Kitchens, Smart-Entertainment Centers, Smart-Homes! Nothing is off the table with this seemingly limitless market. Stay ahead of the curve and research some of the products out in the marketplace today to get a feel for where this space is headed.

• Simplify & Streamline: Gone are the days of patterned wallpaper, clutter, and fabric heavy room décor; cutting-edge interior home designs are increasingly minimalistic, sleek, and simple. Consider neutrals with small pops of colors and pair down on unnecessary items. If you are really looking to embody this trend in your everyday life, you may even consider watching the Netflix documentary “Minimalism” to see a dramatic take on this popular ideology.

• Make it YOU: This may seem like common sense, but you would be surprised how many homeowners are tossing out the rule book and truly creating a space that is really their own. Enjoy craft beer? Dedicate a spare room to accommodate your micro-brewing needs. Avid Biker? Look up Pinterest ideas on how to build custom, specialty bike racks or organize your garage around your pedaling-fast-lifestyle. Fitness Guru? Transform your basement into your own personal gym space. The possibilities are endless! Make your home the most comfortable representation of yourself. We live in a world where traditional rooms and spaces are no longer considered must-haves. So have some fun: install a small movie theater, add a meditation room, give your dog a custom-made play space—whatever it is, do more of what makes you happy and allow your home to help along the way!

Need some help getting started? Is 2018 the year you get started on your renovation to-do list? Let us help you get the ball rolling! Contact us with your thoughts, ideas, or just to chat some more about topics of intrigue.

Happy Holidays from your friends at Showcase Renovation Inc.! We are excited to ring in the upcoming New Year with a recap of our recent Winchester Project. This project was all about refreshing the interior of a house, owned by a truly delightful couple. So what exactly did we do to get such a stunning end-result? Here’s a glimpse of some of our favorite project highlights:

• We replaced the dated wood floors with clear Maple for a more modern and stylish look.
• We removed the existing stairway and exchanged it with a gorgeous open stairway with Maple treads (featured in image).
• To capitalize on all of the wonderful natural light this home receives, we put in skylight in the entryway with new smooth and sleek ceilings to really add a fresh look.
• For improved curb appeal, we added a new front door with clear vertical grain Douglas Fir wood. We also put in a front custom gutter to update the home functionality.
• Finally we built in a brand new deck with ironwood decking and cable railings. This is the perfect way to enjoy your yard throughout all of the beautiful Minnesota seasons. The homeowners are really looking forward to utilizing this deck for years to come.

We are thrilled to add another success story to our portfolio and to give another family access to the home of their dreams. We think this is the perfect way to kick off the holiday season by celebrating all of the hard work we are privileged to do for such incredible people everyday. Seasons greetings to you all!

The holiday season is here—this is a great time to transform your home into a place that your loved ones can enjoy for years to come. Whether it is simply prepping for the frigid temperatures or updating your kitchen in time for baking some delicious Christmas cookies, we’ve got you covered. We love hearing your ideas, brainstorming all of the possibilities, and making your renovation dreams come true. Our years of experience coupled with your unique thoughts make the perfect recipe for a new holiday-look!

Need some help getting started? We’ve come up with a few renovation ideas that are perfect for this season:

• Cozy up by a new/updated fireplace—we love coming home from a busy day of work and being able to turn on a warm and welcoming fireplace as we wind down for the evening during the winter. Sound like something you could definitely get used to? We’re here to get the fire started.
• A fresh coat of paint for your holiday space—a warm new color in your living area is the perfect way to compliment your Christmas tree and create a true holiday ambiance in your home. Choose a color that will pair well with your home but can still catch the eye of all of your guests.
• Lights, wreaths, action!—sometimes a total-overhaul of the home isn’t the best option for everyone. So put us on your “wish-list” and focus on inexpensive ways to spruce up the outside of your home in the meantime. A nice wreath, some festive holiday lights, and maybe even a homemade snowman in your yard can still make your house standout on the block. Want to be environmentally-friendly this year? Consider using LED lights to cut down on energy-use.

No matter what your plans for the Holidays are, we hope you are able to take a step back, enjoy precious time with your loved ones, and witness the magic of this time of year!

We recently discussed our beautiful lake-home remodel in a previous post—we now have EVEN MORE exciting information to share about this project. For starters, check out these amazing pictures that truly capture the final product. We are proud to say we met all of the goals set in place for this home and are thrilled with the outcome. To recap, we wanted to:

• Bring this 70’s style ranch home into the modern times by upgrading to efficient heating and mechanical systems, increasing the functionality of livings spaces, and overall giving the home a brand-new look and feel.
• Hear from the the Lady of the Lake (the delightful homeowner) herself—she told us, “we wanted an inviting entry, an improved lake view, updated kitchen and bath, and maintenance-free materials. We shared our wishes with an architect and a contractor (that’s us!) who were able to turn our wishes into a reality.”

We love hearing such positive feedback from the homeowners we work with—it truly makes the entire journey well worth the time and effort. Speaking of time and effort, this project definitely posed some challenges that we are happy to announce were overcome with some attention-to-detail and strategy. Some of these challenges included:

• Replacing an outdated electrical base board heater with a modern high efficiency forced air system (anyone in the business knows this takes some serious dedication)
• Removing attic insulation and mechanical ducting
  
• Removing an AC unit from a messy and cramped space in an older home

This project was a challenging, yet incredibly enjoyable experience for our team. Updating an older home to live up to its true potential left us all with smiling faces and a final project to be proud of. Want to learn more about this project or talk to us about starting one of your own? Contact us and we will gladly get some conversation started!

With the tremendous popularity of real-time and streamlined Smartphone apps like Uber and Amazon Prime Now, it is no wonder that the American Kitchen seems to be following suit with perpetual advancements in appliance-technology. Imagine a grocery shopping experience where with the swipe of a button, you can see the physical inside of your fridge, allowing you to see which products you are out of and which items you are stocked up on. Well this seemingly futuristic experience is now actually possible. Earlier this year, Samsung released a top-of-the-line refrigerator with numerous special features including the one outlined above. And, it is not just refrigerators that are experiencing a serious technological face-lift; touch-screen microwaves, dishwashers, and even toasters are now also available on the market!

So what are the implications of all of these advanced, technology-savvy appliances? It seems that the days of touch-screens, mobile apps, and voice-activated features have only just begun. We are anticipating the “New American Kitchen” to be filled with these products. As a renovation company, we strive to steer you in the right direction with your kitchen remodeling needs. Want to learn more about which of these luxury appliances will best suit you and your needs? Contact us with your questions and we will be happy to help out!

We know that the new fast-paced, technology-dependent world can be daunting for some people. Let us help make your transition into a modern and up-to-date kitchen as seamless as possible by providing you with all the help you need.

In our last blog, we discussed some of the most popular trends we have been seeing throughout the past year. Summer is the perfect time to highlight one of these trends in more detail: outdoor meal preparation appliances and seating space. Gone are the days of small concrete slabs and portable clearance-priced grills—today we are seeing people transform their backyards into a space dedicated to high-end meals and entertaining. Among millennials, the “create your own” meal idea compliments this trend nicely allowing for easy-to-make vegan and gluten-free options such as grilled home-grown vegetables that can be prepared all in your very own yard. Grills have become more advanced than ever with add-ons and custom design options creating a personalized customer experience.

Another product that is experiencing an increase in demand: outdoor wood-fire ovens. These luxury ovens appeal to the 21^st century “foodie” because they can add a delicious woody flavor to your food while simultaneously creating a unique dining experience for your guests. Pinterest is exploding with different flatbread and pizza recipes for these ovens from classic margherita to specialty macaroni & cheese pizza. “Healthy” is an option too with lean, wood-fired chicken breast or turkey making a popular meal entrée as well.

So, what is the best part about this backyard trend? We can help you customize the look and feel for your entire space! Sample different brick, stone, wood, and tile to create a space for you and your family to enjoy for years to come. Minnesota summers are precious and should be spent outdoors while the weather allows. Create meals and memories by transforming your yard into a place that can accommodate the new “family dinner table.”

Have a few ideas you would like to get started on? Contact us and we will get the ball rolling!

As we are now well under our way into the heat of summer, we would like to reflect with you on some of the hottest trends that we have seen this year & provide insight for getting your own remodeling dreams started! From tech savvy kitchen appliances, to low maintenance countertop options, 2016 has opened up new doors in the world of remodeling. Let’s take a look:

• Low maintenance and simplicity proves key—with the switch to paperless, digital, and real-time in the business & banking world, it is no wonder that the same theme of “ease of use” reigns true for home improvement. The rising age of millennials is also a contributing factor to this trend. According to Consumer Reports, when surveying 18 to 35 year olds, “low maintenance” ranked high on the list of most desirable home features. We are slowly seeing a decline in the desire for fancy granite and marble countertops that require tedious upkeep, and instead a new draw toward options such as quartz countertops, which are stunning, yet easy to maintain.

• The emergence of sleek and intelligent appliances—rapid movement in technology has allowed even more advanced appliances than ever to hit the market. A new niche for “luxury appliances” has expedited the success in this market space. From touch screen refrigerators, to wifi enabled “kitchen concierge” devices, your kitchen space can now be dramatically transformed.

• Outdoor meal prep, no problem—from grills, to smokers, to pizza ovens, people are interested in enjoying the beauty of the backyard while preparing and eating meals. This is the perfect way to capitalize on the beautiful Minnesota summer and enjoy the sunshine or stars.

• Going green in 2016—although green energy is not necessarily a new concept, energy-efficient and sustainable home updates are seeing a continued increase in demand. Almost all new appliances now come with special energy-saving features. Water-saving dishwashers, for instance, are red hot this year with more options and brands to choose from than ever.

We love capturing these trends in our remodeling projects; we strive to provide the most up-to-date remodeling advice and ideas when working with you on your home. For more information on these trends or to get started on your own remodeling projects, we encourage you to contact us!

We’ve been working diligently on a project that we’re excited to talk about—a beautiful lake home now has several new features that really bring a unique character to the property. What are some of the updates we made? Let’s take a look:

• New rooms, new look—main/entry level rooms are high impact and high traffic areas. That is why we made some meaningful and strategic changes to this home’s kitchen, living area, and dining room. Now both the residents and their guests can enjoy a remarkable new look in a truly transformed home.

• Brand new attic, furnace, AC, and ducting—this involved many steps including: vacuuming and removing insulation from the attic; removing an old AC unit and replacing it with a new one; and replacing the existing baseboard heat with a forced air system.

• The lake-view never looked better—we added three new patio doors (two six ft. wide and one twelve ft. wide) to this home to give a fabulous view of the lake. This made all of the difference in the world for a lakefront property.

• Maple millwork and pre-finished cabinets adds the perfect touch—we put in new engineered, pre-finished rift and quartered white oak 5” wide planks for beautiful flooring and stunning matching cabinets.

• Exceptional Zuri decking over a new deck— we made this important update to manage water and keep space under the deck dry. We also added stainless steel cable railings to compliment the structure.

• Front yard fun—for curb appeal, we worked on a completely new stoop and garage driveway. And that’s not all; we also utilized maintenance-free Hardi pre-finished siding, soffit, and fascia along with new shingles to enhance the home from both the curb and the lake. Now, the amazing inside matches a new and refreshing outside to create an all-around property metamorphosis.

We had a great time working on this home and continue to love helping families achieve their renovation dreams. If you would like to learn more about this project or maybe start an entirely new one of your own, contact us and we’ll get started!

Summer is right around the corner and we want to ensure that you’re all set to tackle your home improvement to-dos! Looking for a few ideas to spruce up your home while being cost efficient? We’ve provided a few fun ideas to get your wheels turning!

• Exterior quick fix—something as simple as painting your front door can add huge curb appeal to your home at a very small cost. Looking for a sleek and trending color? Shoot us an email and we will be happy to provide some of the latest and greatest colors we are seeing within the housing market that will fit your motif.
• Garage sale scavenging—slightly used is sometimes the way to go! Find a table for under $50 and make it your summer art project. Sand down the rough edges, add some paint/stain, and you’re all set with a brand new look in your kitchen.
• Renovations, of course—for some of the bigger projects that require expertise, we are happy to help! We just finished up some awesome projects with some spectacular families that are showcased in our portfolio. Take a look and shoot us over your ideas.

The point is, home improvement does not need to be stressful. It can actually be fun! Whether it is a DIY project or you need an extra set of hands from us, we want to make your renovation dreams come true. It is the spark in a home owner’s eyes when they see the final product that truly makes us LOVE what we do. We hope you have a fulfilling and checklist crossing summer!