USI is pleased to announce that we received 5 ARC Awards from the Dallas Builders Association.

2021 Award Winner Best Kitchen Remodel

2021 Award Winner Best Bathroom Remodel

2021 Award Winner Best Primary Suite Remodel

2021 Award Winner Best Whole House Renovation $300K-$500K

2021 Award Winner Best Whole House Renovation Over $500K

Dallas Builders Association Announces 2021 ARC Awards Winners

The Dallas Builders Association (Dallas BA) has announced winners in its 2021 ARC Awards, held Aug. 14 at Vouv Dallas and presented in partnership with Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery. The ARC Awards are held to recognize building excellence by associate members, remodelers and custom builder members of the Association.

Winners were named in 67 categories including Best New Home, Best Development, Best Landscape Architecture, Project Manager of the Year, Subcontractor of the Year and Remodeler of the Year.

Dallas BA Executive Officer Phil Crone praised ARC Awards finalists for their innovation and optimism during a year beset with obstacles: material price increases, supply chain challenges, an ongoing labor shortage and city permitting difficulties. “The response of Dallas BA members has been nothing short of extraordinary,” he said.

TV personality and spokesperson Amy Vanderoef served as the mistress of ceremonies.

The awards were judged by industry professionals outside the North Texas housing market: David Lesser, Windstar Homes, Tampa, FL; Paul Mahony, KGA Studio Architects, Denver, CO; Lisa Morris, BMG Advertising, Newport Beach, CA; and Renee Self Gibbons, Chameleon Design, Costa Mesa, CA.

USI is pleased to announce that we received the 2021 Star Award for Best Whole House Renovation ($500K-$650K) from Texas Association of Builders.

AB Star Awards Winners Announced

Eight Grand Awards & 162 elite trophies were handed out.

AUSTIN, Texas – The Texas Association of Builders (TAB) announced the 2021 Star Awards winners in conjunction with the 20th Sunbelt Builders Show at Hilton Anatole Dallas. There were a record setting 720 entries that resulted in eight Grand Awards and 162 elite trophies being handed out by co[1]emcees Jenny Anchondo, TV news journalist/Second Shot Podcast host and Media Personality Amy Vanderoef.

The Star Awards have been given annually to recognize excellence in all areas of the residential construction industry. These awards are highly coveted within the industry. Our great State should be proud of its builders, remodelers, architects, designers, developers, and sales, marketing, and construction professionals. Projects and nominations were submitted by 120 companies from 60 cities across Texas.

In 1992, TAB launched the Star Awards – the only statewide tribute to excellence in the homebuilding industry.

About the Texas Association of Builders: Founded in 1946, the Texas Association of Builders is an affiliate of the National Association of Home Builders and has 26 local home builders associations across Texas. With a membership of nearly 11,000 representing over 723,000 jobs and more than $67.5 billion annually in the Texas economy, TAB plays a crucial role in providing housing for Texans. For more information about the Texas Association of Builders, visit www.TexasBuilders.org.

Awarded Best Of Houzz 2020

The Annual People’s Choice Award from the Houzz Community Highlights Home Remodeling and Design Professionals with Most Popular Designs and Top Ratings

Southlake Tx. February 27, 2020 – USI Design & Remodeling of Southlake Tx has won a “Best Of Houzz” award for “Design & Customer Service,” on Houzz®, the leading platform for home renovation and design. “As remodelers their efforts at this highly regarded Architectural Design Build firm have been well spent”, as it was chosen by the millions of homeowners that comprise the Houzz community from among more than 2.5 million active home building, remodeling and design industry professionals.

The Best Of Houzz badge is awarded annually, in three categories: Design, Customer Service and Photography. Design awards honor professionals whose work was the most popular among the Houzz community. Customer Service honors are based on several factors, including a pro’s overall rating on Houzz and client reviews submitted in 2019. Architecture and interior design photographers whose images were most popular are recognized with the Photography award.

A “Best Of Houzz 2020” badge will appear on winners’ profiles as a sign of their commitment to excellence. These badges help homeowners identify popular and top-rated home professionals in every metro area on Houzz.

“The goal for our clients is making it worth all the effort, seeing the response from Houzzers is that gauge,”  said Chris Chumbley, vice president of USI Design & Remodeling.

“The Best Of Houzz awards go to an incredibly talented and service-oriented group of home remodeling and design professionals, and we’re proud to highlight the winners on the Houzz website and app,” said Liza Hausman, vice president of Industry Marketing for Houzz. “This award is particularly meaningful as it reflects the sentiment of the millions of homeowners in the Houzz community who are hiring home professionals for their projects across the U.S. and around the world.”

Follow USI Design & Remodeling on Houzz https://www.houzz.com/pro/designit/__public

About USI design & Remodeling

Our Mission: Re-Design homes with Timeless Looks Geared for Todays Lifestyles. Get the help you need. We will seamlessly assist you with in-house architectural review, design, and construction management putting you smoothly on pace for quicker, smoother and superior results.

About Houzz

Houzz is the leading platform for home remodeling and design, providing people with everything they need to improve their homes from start to finish – online or from a mobile device. From decorating a small room to building a custom home and everything in between, Houzz connects millions of homeowners, home design enthusiasts and home improvement professionals across the country and around the world. With the largest residential design database in the world and a vibrant community empowered by technology, Houzz is the easiest way for people to find inspiration, get advice, buy products and hire the professionals they need to help turn their ideas into reality. Headquartered in Palo Alto, Calif., Houzz also has international offices in London, Berlin, Sydney, Moscow, Tel Aviv and Tokyo. Houzz is a registered trademark of Houzz Inc. worldwide. For more information, visit houzz.com.

Read More about The Best General Contractors in Texas

Click Here to read the Texas Builders Press Releases for 2018 Star Awards Winners Announced

Is my renovation an area where you work?

 Some contractors are willing to work across a wide metro area, or they may restrict their work based on travel time, a city or even a few zip codes. Others may even travel further depending on the size of the project. If you are not in a area they serve, you may want to ask if they can recommend someone closer to you.

Is my project level the kind of work you do regularly?

Start with a general description of what you would like your project to include. If a contractor primarily remodels simple jobs, then a large addition may not be the project they will be prepared to consider or worse, they get involved and are overmatched. Many contractors work on cosmetics and preservation, fewer regularly take on advanced renovations like full kitchens and baths. Many contractors restrict the kind of work they do, either by focusing on residential or commercial projects, or on a particular size or type of project. By asking these questions and independently verifying beforehand you can make sure that your project is something they are going to be interested in working on.

What are the potential blank spots or risks associated with this remodel?

 While no one can predict every obstacle that will arise on a job site, both remodelers and homeowners should take precautions and be prepared for needs. One example would be your need for plans, design help and drawings, these specifics are qualifiers for firms that find this their norm. Compare how long you expect a project to take vs how long they say, you could be surprised by the depth of your project. Find out when they are available to begin new projects, timelines for plans alone are generally not accounted for by homeowners. 

What is the work schedule and projected timeline for this project?

 There are two key pieces with timing: how soon the contractor can start your project and how quickly plans, permitting and material selections can be completed. If this is your first call, it may be many months before the plans and permits are ready, since you haven’t even interviewed a design professional yet. If you have plans in hand for anything bigger than a bathroom, it is still likely to be a month or two before you’ve selected a contractor, the pricing is complete, a contract is signed and construction begins. Agree on a working schedule that fits with your lifestyle, but be willing to make modifications when necessary. Make sure the timeline includes project milestones as well as other important dates; such as when a utility will likely be disrupted or paint fumes could be bothersome.

Is my project budget range realistic?

 While discussing the budget can be uncomfortable, it is also extremely important. This is particularly important if you have a specific amount you do not want to exceed. If you are calling multiple contractors, you will have several opinions about whether your budget is sufficient and that will help you better understand the likely cost of the project and think about adjusting the scope of the work.

Pack Up

Go through rooms included in the remodel and pack up the essentials. Keep the things that you will want to use in an accessible location and pack up the rest to (if possible) move to a storage area. It’s important to place things to be stored in a place out of the main flow of traffic during the remodel. If you won’t be using the regular entryway, set up a temporary command center elsewhere where mail, keys, and other essentials can be placed. Remodelers experienced in major renovations should have partners such as movers and offsite conditioned storage you can utilize. If your wondering “the why” of conditioned storage the difference is humidity controlled spaces that are less dusty, and fewer insects such as spiders and dirt dobbers than you have going into your garage. Another item USI Design & Remodeling utilizes are mobile clothing racks. These come in handy when your doing a master bedroom, bathroom, and master closet renovation.

Consider Timing

Think about what time you usually get ready in the morning; will the workers be at your home during that time? If you like walking around the house in your nightwear and would not like to run into your contractor, consider placing screen dividers between work areas and private zones and have your cars moved in advance if needed to reduce inconvenience.

If the remodel is in the master bathroom and you will be using the guest bathroom during that time, bring toiletries to the guest bathroom before the remodel.

Maintain Children and Pets

Construction areas are very dangerous for children and animals. Tools used in the duration of the remodel may be left behind, electrical work may be exposed, or more. Place child safety gates at the entrys surrounding the work area and make sure everyone on the remodeling team knows to keep them closed. For additional safety keep a close eye on them to make sure they don’t get to close to construction zones.

Plan

• The key to maintaining budget and also schedule is to have all plans and selections in hand before breaking ground. On a custom renovation the project scope and materials are left up to the client, however the more ill-defined your project is, the more at risk you are to being nowhere near your completed construction costs.To quickly test your preparedness for construction, imagine bundling your project data and sending the details to your  builder; what questions outside of, “when do you want to start” might they need answering?Below 1-5, quickly allow you to concentate on working within a budget.

1. Leave walls and openings as they are.
2. Use existing plumbing locations, if possible.
3. Keep the same cabinets or as many as possible.
4. Keep the same windows and doors, if possible.
5. Countertops; spend a little. (Slab counters are an ideal way to modernize any room).

• Homeowners are targeting modern lifestyles when they replan their existing footprints or re-construct some architecture, but if you’re going to remodel within a budget, a key axiom to remember, “Time is money”. Straightforward remodeling without movements and saving existing product work to save you both.
• Have an idea of what you would settle for or have an idea that you may have to pay a lot more to get what you want.

Get a team ready

• Hire your first design team member: architect, designer, or design-build firm, the role they play will depend on your needs and priorities, so be sure to research the differences between them. If you already have a contractor in mind he or she will probably have a list of architects and interior designers to recommend.

Refine Your Vision to Match Your Budget

• Some dream rooms will take a heavy hit on your budget constraints,(Ex. Kitchens and baths).
• For key statistics see the 2016 Cost vs. Value Report which details the 35 most popular home improvements and their cost.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/HW_Assets/CVV_Assets/2016/Consumer/dallastx.pdf

1. Venting hoods. We all know ventilation plays a key role in just about every kitchen design, but so can the shape and color. A European style hood with a hammered antique pewter finish may turn out to be both the centerpiece of your cooking area and your entire kitchen.  Whether it’s made of stainless steel, painted wood or metal, a range hood can hold its own in a kitchen full of high-end finishes.

2.Furniture. Even though furniture involves more commitment than decor does, it’s still a relatively safe way to venture over to the many sides. While larger furniture pieces are by no means inexpensive, it certainly costs less to change out furniture than to change out countertops, backsplashes and cabinets. Less costly pieces include dining chairs and bar stools. If you’re more adventurous and understand as your kitchen design expands it directly relates to your kitchen budget expanding, try an all-black panel ready refrigerator and create your own armoire.

3.The island. Say what you want about black cabinetry, but there are few better ways to get a look that’s as smart and sophisticated. Painted black island cabinetry can fulfill so many different kitchen design desires. It can wow in contemporary kitchens that have a clean white palette or add a little bit of charm to farmhouse and French country designs. Let your island stand alone as an accent piece or paint another one of your cabinets to match it.

4. Countertops. If you think alternate cabinets and backsplashes are too bold, your counters are a good middle-of-the-road option. Black countertops can tie together a crisp black-and-white color scheme, and you can find them in a variety of materials, including granite, quartz and soapstone. In this Southlake Tx kitchen renovation the perimeter counters are Cambrian black satin granite.This classic kitchen maintains a light and airy design with a white marble island countertop.

Our clients have enjoyed mixing alternate finishes into their projects and moreover it pairs well with our philosophy of high design for kitchen renovations.