Designing a new elevation for your Dallas home remodel is a game changer and extremely satisfying. It’s an opportunity to re-define your homes age or era should it be dated, and create a home that will speak to the emotion of a memorable first impression. Here are four things to look out for when your elevation tweaks are in the planning phase:
1. Massing and fenestration – Make sure that your windows and doors relate well to the area of the home they are tied to. Too many times I have seen small windows lost in a large wall, or the opposite effect, windows that are far too large relative to the wall space they occupy. How many times have you seen shutters almost hanging off the edge of a wall?
2. Shutters – Visually imagine your shutters closing in to protect the window. Do the shutters fit the opening? Many that I have seen do not. A very common mistake is to put 12″ shutters on a 36″ wide window. They look too small to cover the window and immediately lose any semblance of authenticity.
3. Roof Pitch – The roof pitch must fit the style of home. When designing a home that reflects a period or style one of the most important elements is the roof pitch. Secondly, the selection and use of alternate roofing materials; whether it’s all or in accent areas and the introduction of split pitches, would introduce fresher styling and a higher level of development if appropriate.
4. Wall texture- Blending old and new is an art, don’t overlook using natural materials such as stone or cedar to drive your new theme. These materials are so flexible as to consider for inclusion in traditional, ranch, and old world architecture. Accents can also be easily overlooked such as gable vents, posts, beams and brackets.
Curb appeal is critical to emotion and valuation. When re-designing elevations verify that the detailing is correct and the massing is appropriately scaled.

USI Design and Remodeling is an award winning design-build contractor specializing in turn-key residential remodeling for the Dallas/Fort Worth and surrounding community.

Plano bathroom remodel

If your goal is to enhance the life of your family by making spaces comfortable, warm and inviting not bland, basic or cookie cutter, then indeed to reach your goal a design plan is essential.

Need more incentive on why a design relationship is needed? How about expecting cost estimates on a major renovation without providing ideas, plans or specifications.

The fact is, the checkout counter magazine with the beautiful bathroom or kitchen that caused your pulse to quicken was the result of a collaborative relationship, not a free estimate.

Welcome to 21st Century buying where instead of a brochure, shelf or a wall of selections, you now have an aisle, room, or gallery dedicated to meet your every possible need or requirement.

Take heart, there are problem solvers out there and they are looking for you, the best client; Someone who wants to make their new space well-designed.

Cover photo- Southlake remodel

Being the flavor of the month usually means you need to be a Kardashian.

In this case Lisa Parelli of Dallas Home Improvement magazine picked a recent kitchen remodel of a Southlake home to grace the cover of her upcoming issue.

Designed and remodeled by USI in 4weeks this project is a template for the Classic timeless traditional.

Features added include; Bently 7″ smoked Oak floors, Mocha Juparana granite, Crema marfil/ Onyx backsplash, and handmade beams that radiate from the kitchens 14′ vaulted ceiling.

"Old World" themed Master bath

Most spaces are the sum of their components, that being said it works both positively and negatively. On the negative side, there are things you’ll dislike and then the things that are worn-out. These will domino into casting other components in a much more negative light. On the positive side, components can be used to create a new transformational theme for an existing space.
That was the case in this Flower Mound, TX master bathroom renovation. The home’s exterior has an Old World accented front elevation of natural stone block and arched rough cedar brackets combined with a steeply gabled roof line. The interior however was a miss-match of generic home building components. Specifics in the original bathroom included print wallpaper, cultured marble and white basic cabinets none of which conveyed European or the Old World styling that the exterior had set to expect upon entering.
Having a theme for your new space is an important driver in not only getting an expected outcome but it assists in detailing the lengths to which you’ll need to go to attain proper results in your transformation.
Without this pre-planning strategy your post renovation outcome may resemble what it was, a tile and counter job with paint. That’s great if that’s realistically how far away you are from amazing. On the other hand great designs come from great designers who know how to get the best out of 360 degrees of the space. Unification with the other areas of the home and anchoring what may be years of gradual progress are other considerations to getting the right start and that will come with the right perspective.

Plano TX bathroom redesign

Many of the pre 1990’s Dallas/Fort Worth TX area homes lack bathroom storage capacity. Generally space wasn’t available for it or the money wasn’t allocated to build and place it upon construction. This is a hot button consideration for many homeowners when planning to remodel any space in their home.
Prior to its renovation this Plano TX master bathrooms storage consisted of a 6’ base cabinet.
Having a professional remodeling contractor that is willing to spend time with an owner is a must. This will be necessary in order to learn about problems you may have been having in the past with your home. By pre construction planning with a design build expert you will not only improve your results but this process may point to inadequate original building mechanics that can more easily be addressed when remodeling is underway.
In pre planning specific problems outlined for this home included a large thermal window inside the shower with a failed seal leaving it milky. The thermal seals across the adjoining bedroom windows had likewise failed. Past history revealed an ongoing problem with termites that could easily be traced back to the large low window inside the shower space.
In the end, the rear wall of the bedroom/bathroom quadrant had to be re framed due to extensive termite damage caused by an original improper design and install of the window in the shower.
New storage to the home includes overlapping floor to ceiling sliding bedroom book shelving, master bathroom with his and hers vanities; including wall storage towers and a linen cabinet over the master toilet. The master closets similarly have been re-designed for improved functionality and storage.
With proper guidance all of this was accomplished with a fixed price contract and without the need of a work change authorizations.
Part of working a plan is discovery, but there is a lot of excitement in these processes when expert planning provides guidance pin pointed by the needs and values of your family and the needs and opportunity your space affords to retire nagging cosmetic, mechanical or structural flaws.

Award winning Southlake TX kitchen remodel

The Davis families’ remodeled kitchen in Southlake TX has brought home the reality television show’s culinary expertise. Their very own kitchen is the stage where family members battle out who is the “Top Chef” between them.
The real “Chopped” is a cooking competition show on Food Network that’s all about skill, speed and ingenuity and where up-and-coming chefs compete before judges and take everyday items and turn them into an extraordinary three-course meal. Course by course, the chefs will be “chopped” from the competition until only one winner remains.
The challenge? They have seconds to plan and 30 minutes to cook an amazing course with the basket of mystery ingredients given moments prior to the contests start.
For those of us that have watched the show this is no minor task to overcome considering the diversity of the mystery ingredients which could include: Smoked oysters, Pork rinds, Loganberries and Chard as an example of the contestants’ basket of ingredients.
Currently Carole Davis reigns supreme as “Top Chef” and awaits the status holders Chef’s jacket. Next up is Morgan waiting to prove her metal and wow the judge who no doubt is under tremendous pressure considering their permanent proximity to the contestants.
All the cooking is done in the kitchen- Designed and remodeled by, USI Design and Remodeling. This kitchen received, Qualified remodelers national “Best of the Best” design award, NARI’s CotY award and Texas association of Builders Star award as a Best Kitchen remodel winner.
The new Kitchen highlights’ include: Viking appliances, custom Knotty Alder cabinetry, custom Maple island countertop, Slate floors with backsplash and a Granite farmhouse sink.

Bathroom remodeler honored with "Best Bathroom Remodel" award

Congratulations USI Design & Remodeling,

The following entry has been selected as a 2011 Star Award winner.

Remodeler – Best Bathroom Renovation $50,000 or less – Coplin

As a winner your company will be listed on the interactive Star Awards display throughout this year’s Sunbelt Builders Show™ at the Austin Convention Center – October 20 – 22, 2011.

Star Award Winners will receive their awards by mail beginning the first of November.

This year the Grand Award winners will be announced during the Texas Housing Hall of Honor and Excellence in Leadership Dinner, Saturday, October 22, 2011 at the Four Seasons Hotel.

Congratulations!
Texas Association of Builders
Star Awards Team
Canda Warner & Tamara Zengerle

Tuscan charm in Keller TX bath remodel

With romantic luxury in short supply an American interpretation of a Tuscan classic can be found in USI Design & Remodeling’s latest Keller TX project .
The rustic charm of the space is evidenced in the application of a worn faux wall finish above the new travertine wainscot and the Rojo Alacante polished marble of the countertops. Added Italian architectural elements include the barrel ceiling of the tub and arched doorway leading into the 700 cu ft Roman steam shower.
In the spirit of modern amenities you’ll find the functional master bath has an abundance of storage in its richly stained custom cabinets and the pre wiring of a flat screen TV provides entertainment or music during a deep soak in the oval jetted tub.
To complete the warm elegant feel a glassblock window over the tub was installed and provides an abundance of natural light.

2011 Greater Dallas ARC award winner

A house becomes a home with special details and finishing touches.
One of the hardest things for consumers to do is choose a good home builder or re-modeler. You would think that in this market, consumers would have their pick of the litter, so to speak, and for the most part, they do. Still, it’s always good to get a recommendation and this may well be the best: the winners of the 2011 HBA of Greater Dallas ARC Awards — that’s HBA as in Home Builder’s Association, and ARC as in associates, re-modelers and home builders. Last Saturday the HBA feted and honored this years’ winners with a gala event at The Westin Galleria. The ARC Awards honor excellence in the building industry as judged by their peers, kind of like an Academy Awards for the local industry.
USI Design & Remodeling was honored as a recipient for the Master bath remodel of the Coplin project.
A few oustanding features of the bathroom include; timeless European design, elegant intricately detailed furniture vanity and classic stone work.
USI is proud to play a part in the Greater Dallas HBA family and to support safe, affordable, quality construction in Texas.