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A Fresh Life

By Linda Montet, Photography by John Johnson Published in Welcome Home Magazine 2008

 

When Bonnie Barnes decided to modernize her 1986 home in Urbandale, she knew she wanted to make serious changes to her golden oak woodwork, laminate countertops, tired carpet, and wooden wainscoting. It was time to bring the house into the 21st century.

She couldn’t replace everything in the house, but with the right combination of new and original, she knew she could do a great makeover. Barnes had scouted for months, even compiled a notebook of design and material components she wanted to include, and it was during a trip to The Tile Shop that it all started to come together. “When I saw all the wonderful samples of tile and stone, I knew I needed to bite the budget bullet,” she says.

That day, she found tile, marble, and porcelain in natural colors and textures to incorporate into her kitchen, bathrooms, and living room fireplace. She also found an exceptional remodeling partner, Rebel Snodgrass of Rebel’s Custom Design, Inc., willing to work the materials into her existing home.

“We were extremely busy, and at first we didn’t want to take on this project,” Rebel says. “Then we learned of the quality of the materials she wanted to use. From an artistic standpoint, it was unique—granite, marble, Italian porcelain.”

“I was so tired of the golden oak,” Barnes says. “It was everywhere throughout the house. I knew I couldn’t change out all of it, so I needed someone who could take some out, blend in some new materials, and make it look good.”

Assessing what would stay and what would go was critical to the project, Rebel recalls. The kitchen cupboards were in good condition, except for needing new end panels, but the ceramic backsplash, the laminate countertops, and even the old kitchen window had to go. In one bathroom everything was removed down to the studs. In the other an old built-in medicine cabinet and bulkheads were ripped out, as was a large mounted mirror.

A sliding glass door was taken out (to be replaced by a less drafty French door), and so were old crown moldings and an outmoded oak fireplace mantel in the living room.

When Barnes made the decision to remove carpet and floor coverings throughout the first floor and replace them entirely with beautiful Brazilian teak hardwood, the home’s two decors began to mesh. “The variations in the color of the teak blended in nicely with the natural stones and even with the built-in oak shelves,” she says.

The two-month project began in the kitchen. Rebel and his crew carefully mounted a beautiful new backsplash of travertine marble with decorative porcelain beading. They assembled and installed a matching travertine marble floor and countertops of 24-inch granite pieces trimmed and set in sanded grout.

Undercabinet lighting was added along with a stainless-steel sink and new brushed- nickel faucets in the kitchen. Once the countertops were removed, timing was perfect for replacing the garbage disposal, too.

“They were so careful to match everything,” Barnes says. “They put in long, long hours until everything was just perfect.”

She has purchased all new appliances—stove, refrigerator, dishwasher, and range hood—to give the entire kitchen a modern appearance.

In the hallway bathroom, Italian porcelain tile now lines the walls and trims the tub and shower unit. There are a new tile floor, stylish new plumbing fixtures, and a contemporary mirror.

The master bathroom shower features a mosaic floor comprised of smaller tile squares, glass doors, all new fixtures, and an Italian porcelain wall. A new stone-front gas fireplace matches the marble in the rest of the house, its colorful scrollwork coordinating with the living room furniture. Careful attention to built-in oak bookshelves adjacent to the fireplace gives the entire wall a synchronized look.

The final touch was a brand-new front door and new paint for the walls. Rebel, an expert remodeler who has always taken extra care, carefully removed the original door trim, installed a beveled stained-glass door, and then replaced the trim to fit perfectly. Then Barnes replaced the outdated all-white walls with fresh new colors.

As the project progressed, some design flaws were corrected from the construction of the original structure. Squeaky floors became solid and an inappropriately installed fireplace wall was reattached.

Both homeowner and remodeler are proud of the results. “The transformation has been amazing,” Rebel says. “As always, we made sure everything would come out just right. Bonnie is the most organized client I’ve ever worked with. She really did her homework.”

Of her refurbished home, Bonnie Barnes says: “It feels like a new house, but it’s still as cozy and comfortable as before. I just love it! It shows you don’t have to tear up a house and start all over to make it look good.”

 

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WELCOME Home Magazine ... A fresh Life 2008


A Whole New Home

by Carol McGarvey, Photography by John Johnson, Published in Welcome Home Magazine 2007

 

When Jodi and John Cornish of Norwalk decided to proceed with a big remodeling job, there was no question in their minds about who would do it




 

—the crew of Rebel Snodgrass of Rebel’s Custom Design of Indianola. Usually a mega remodeling job occurs when a home is old enough to need some major updating. For Jodi and John and their two children, however, the process took place on a home that’s only 10 years old.

Their 11⁄2-story walkout was built in 1996, and they purchased it when it was about five years old. “What sold me on this home was the huge amount of light that came in on the southern exposure,” Jodi says. “Big windows in the family room were really important to me.”

What they didn’t like, though, were all the walls and chopped-up feeling of small rooms, says John. “Many people coming in didn’t even know we had a dining room, because it was literally closed off. We primarily used the room for folding laundry!”

That all has changed now. Rebel’s crew has turned the Cornish home into an open floor plan that flows easily from one room to the next. The contractor had done a kitchen remodel for Jodi’s father, and everyone was thrilled with the outcome. “We just had to get Rebel to handle this project,” Jodi exclaims.

Rebel Snodgrass started his business in 1999 and is proud of having what he calls “customers for life.” He credits the loyalty to his work ethic of being on time, staying on schedule, and being educated on new products and techniques. He likes to work on high-end projects.

“Jodi and John had done their homework,” he explains. “They knew what they wanted to accomplish. We sat down and talked it all out, which is the key. Talking every day meant there were no surprises.”

Jodi was a bit hesitant, but John and Rebel were encouraging. “The rooms were dark and closed off,” John explains. He knew things could be better.

Rebel’s crew removed walls in the kitchen and dining room, removed a pantry, and took out a half bath. The resulting new space opened up the family room, kitchen, dining room, and living room into a large, open L-space area on the home’s first floor.

“Seriously, with the closed-off kitchen, you couldn’t walk through the door into the kitchen and open the refrigerator at the same time,” Rebel explains. “This remodeling has turned out to be so much nicer.”

The open look allowed for a large L-shape island full of storage to be added in the kitchen, which compensates for the removed pantry, and also counter-height chairs for casual family meals. Wyman Borts of Borts Custom Cabinets of Indianola fashioned the island. Rebel trained for two years in Wyman’s shop, and the two enjoy working together on premium jobs.


Original kitchen cabinetry remains, but mottled black and brown granite replaced laminate on the countertops. The new island, also with granite, has a furniture look with the beaded board base, a particular favorite of Jodi. In the grooves of the beaded board, there’s a dark glaze, which ties in with the dark oak cabinets. For a rich look, Jodi and Rebel chose dark slate tiles for a backsplash behind the granite counters. Kitchen appliances are dramatic black.

With a wall gone, Rebel put in a weight-bearing column. It’s decorative but also does what it’s supposed to do.

Removing the half bath wasn’t a concern. There are two more bathrooms on the second floor and another in the recreation room/office area on the lower level. The half bath had been placed prominently at the entrance of the family room, John says, and that just wasn’t a good spot for it.

After removing the half bath, Rebel had to continue dentil molding in the family room to its new-found space where the bathroom had been. And to tie all the rooms together, hardwood flooring replaced tile and carpeting that defined the various areas. Now all areas work easily together.

What the Cornishes have found is that their kids – a daughter, 11, and a son, 8 – really enjoy inviting people over. With the center island in the kitchen, a bunch of friends can gather easily at the home of this busy family. She works at Wells Fargo and John works at Employers Mutual Company.

Over the kitchen sink in a windowed corner and also in the dining room, Jodi and John have chosen distinctive shade-style chandeliers, which fit their eclectic style. Can lighting in the ceiling and undercounter lighting illuminate the newly open kitchen. “We really like our home to feel warm and comfortable,” Jodi says.

The project was completed in about five weeks with no hitches. “That’s all because the key is lots of interaction,” Rebel emphasizes. “My job is to listen and to take lots of notes.”

Rebel Snodgrass is a certified contractor for Pella® Windows & Doors and is a member of the National Association of Home Builders, Remodelers Council, Coldwell Banker/Mid-America Group Realtors Concierge program, and the Indianola Chamber of Commerce.

“We love the reaction of people who visit,” John says. “Our neighbor came in and said, ‘Just how did you envision opening this floor plan up like this?’ because I never could have imagined it.”

It looks as if it had been built this way the first time. Mission accomplished.

Copyright © 2007 HOME Productions. All rights reserved


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