“I cannot stand the style of my bathroom!”
Did you know that statement is what half of the people surveyed by Statista cited as the number one reason they moved ahead with a bathroom renovation?
At Hometown Restyling, our team regularly hears this comment from homeowners in Eastern Iowa who reach out to talk about why they want a bathroom remodel.
What else do our bathroom specialists hear about customers’ existing bathrooms? “Our design feels outdated.” “The layout is no longer working.”
Hometown Restyling customers Bill Vincent and Marie Kerbeshian, who live in Iowa City, were willing to share their story to give others an insight into what the process looked like for them to move from pondering a remodel to completion.
We met Bill and Marie at the Cedar Rapids Home Show. The couple, empty nesters now that their daughters are grown, stopped by our booth to share their vision of taking their bathroom from cool gray and white tones to a rich mix of brown wood, black countertops, and bold paint colors.
Their beautiful bathroom remodel is the focus of our latest Project Highlight. Read on for an inside peek into our bathroom renovation process and see the before and after photos for Bill and Marie’s project. If at any point, you want to know more from our team, just send us a note and we’ll be happy to talk with you.
Jumpstarting the Bathroom Remodel Process
Clients often tell us when we start a project that they are surprised by our well-rounded team of professionals. That’s because our team includes everything from the installation crew to a team of designers who can show you product options and create a plan with you. With our certified kitchen and bathroom designers on staff, our team can help every customer bring their vision to life whether they know exactly what they want or are looking for professional guidance to help them make decisions. Bill and Marie said they were drawn to our team because of the unique combination of our local installation crew and our design experts.
To get the project started, Bill and Marie worked with our in-house design expert Michelle to put together a plan for their new bathroom. One of the first things we want to know when working with new customers is what they like and don’t like. We also want to know what brings value and what doesn’t. From the start, Marie and Bill told us their shared priorities were to remove a bulky built-in tub that took up too much space, add more storage, and choose easy-to-clean products.
We also like to get to know a little about our customers.
Marie works at the University of Iowa where she runs the office that works with university inventors looking to obtain patent protection on their inventions and who want to partner with industry for the commercial development of new products and services. Bill is the founder and chairman of the board of a biotech company called Genezen that manufactures viral vectors for companies treating diseases using gene therapy.
As Marie said with a laugh, “So there’s a lot of talk about science around the dinner table.”
The reason that matters is because we know it helps us understand who they are and how that may dovetail with the custom design they are looking for. For example, Bill and Marie live in the Peninsula Neighborhood in Iowa City. The homes are intentionally designed to look historic on the outside but are very modern on the inside.
For their bathroom remodel, Bill and Marie had clear priorities for the project. Marie knew what she wanted and what she didn’t. One of her greatest fears was that she would find herself working with a team that might try to convince her to create a space that was trendy but didn’t fit what she or Bill wanted.
For Bill, it was important to use durable materials that would last. He also wanted a design that could use as much of the current placement of fixtures as possible to control costs. He hoped the remodel would not include moving structural pieces like pipes, drains, etc.
The couple knew that although they had inclinations, they needed a designer to come alongside them, explore other ideas, and be open to their input.
Brainstorming and Collaboration
Michelle listened attentively, took detailed notes, and created an initial proposal. The collaboration continued with several modifications, ensuring the design matched their vision. Michelle invited the couple to our showroom in Hiawatha, Iowa, where they could see and explore product samples firsthand. They looked at light fixtures and faucets with Michelle so they could see and explore options in person. What’s nice about our showroom is we have many products on display to help customers see their options firsthand.
After some collaboration, Bill, Marie, and Michelle created a beautiful design plan that would become their new and improved bathroom. Along the way, the couple said they really appreciated that when a suggestion didn’t work, “Michelle called us right away to brainstorm alternatives.”
When you look at Bill and Marie’s bathroom, you would never guess it’s the same bathroom we started with. During the process, our team created a reimagined layout that turned the unused real estate where the tub was into functional storage space while delivering the wow along the way.
Marie and Bill came to us having already selected Cambria Quartz colors for the shower walls and vanity top. With Michelle’s input, they also incorporated it into the bathroom design. An added perk: since it was installed as a slab, there are no grout joints on the shower walls to worry about cleaning.
Custom Tile Created by the Customer
The bathroom also features porcelain tile in a design that Bill created himself for the main bath and shower floors. Bill had fun working with Michelle and the tile team to select individual tile pieces that could be rearranged into an intricate pattern. He spent the weekend coming up with several options and our tile installers did a great job translating his sketches into the tile floor. The design added a whole new dimension to the bathroom.
For cabinetry, Bill and Marie decided on a Quarter Sawn Oak, because it filled the space beautifully, creating the look of a large piece of built-in furniture. They were also able to include their own storage solutions within the cabinetry such as his and hers pull-out laundry hampers.
From Start to Finish
The project took about 10 weeks from demo to project completion. That’s a little longer than average because of the extra details for the shower floor and the custom vanity. But Bill and Marie said it was worth the wait to get exactly what they wanted.
“Everyone did a beautiful job, both in terms of the results and explaining to us what they were doing.,” Marie said.”There were a couple of things that had to be modified once they opened up the bathroom floor and they could see the layout of the existing pipes, but they were really good about walking us through the modifications that were needed to move forward. Bill was especially thankful for how they cleaned up the work site at the end of every day.”
Our Team’s Favorite Features
When we asked our team what their favorite part of this project was, they pointed to radiant heated floors (which the homeowners say makes getting out of bed in the morning a little easier), the custom tile work, the Quarter Sawn Oak cabinetry, the Cambria Quartz shower walls and countertops, double pull-out hampers, and of course, the wonderful clients that were such a joy to work with.
Local. On-Time. Strong Communication.
Looking back, Bill and Marie said they wouldn’t hesitate to recommend their friends and family work with our team. “Throughout the entire process (from our first call through a couple of finishing punch-list items) everyone always kept us in the loop on everything,” the couple said. ‘What is next in the process?’ ‘ When will that happen?’ ‘Who will be doing it?’ ‘What time will they arrive? When will it be done?’ ‘And if scheduling changed (either sooner or later than planned), how would that affect everything else?’”
Understanding and communicating the process and timeline is critical to a successful bathroom remodel. That’s why one of our top priorities is to treat each customer as if we were working in the home of our closest friends and family. This means we’re mindful of budget. We respect your space. And, we want to keep communication open so our customers are never left questioning what the next steps are or why.
“We know many home remodeling companies like to say they’re the best, but we believe their “best” is where we start and our team goes above and beyond that,” said Hometown Restyling co-owner David Wilslef. “The 5-star reviews we’ve received over the years are a testament to our relentless dedication to quality and making our customers happy. We expect nothing but top-quality results from our team, and you’ll see it reflected in any of the 2,500+ of our customers’ reviews.”
Why Hometown Restyling is the Best Bathroom Remodeling Team
For nearly 40 years, our team of skilled contractors has been providing trusted, friendly service with a personal touch. No matter if we’re remodeling your bathroom or some other room in your home, we do our best to ensure it will be functional for years to come. Not to mention, we offer something most of our competitors won’t—a lifetime workmanship warranty on every project.
We also recognize remodeling projects are an investment, so we offer financing options to help make those big home dreams more attainable. With our financing assistance, many of our clients can start or complete projects, even if they don’t have the money upfront.
Our current financing options include:
- 60 months, no interest
- 18 months, no payments, and no interest
- 9.99% for 120 months
- 9.99% for 84 months
Get pre-approved from the comfort of your home with no paperwork required. To find out more or to get started, click here.
Ready To Start Your Bathroom Transformation?
We would love to talk with you. Our team is here to bring your vision to life with our exceptional team and personalized approach. Reach out today and mention this blog to get a free quote and discuss your options.
