#nari.org

[equestrianvaulting]

Traditional Kitchen Portland Mid-sized elegant u-shaped medium tone wood floor enclosed kitchen photo with an undermount sink, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances, white countertops, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, quartzite countertops, subway tile backsplash and a peninsula

[unsernameinuse]

Medium in Columbus Medium-sized modern wine cellar with a slate floor

[flancrossing]

Boston Traditional Living Room

Mid-sized elegant open concept medium tone wood floor living room library photo with a standard fireplace, a wood fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv #nari.org, #nari, #$100000 to $250000, #national association of the remodeling industry, #coty

[rsambf]

Industrial Exterior - Siding Inspiration for a mid-sized industrial beige two-story mixed siding and board and batten exterior home remodel with a metal roof and a black roof

[svarte-troner]

Modern Kitchen Mid-sized minimalist kitchen design example with a dark wood floor and an enclosed u-shape, an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, marble backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island, and white countertops.

[jovaniclark]

Kitchen Enclosed Columbus Large traditional l-shaped medium tone wood floor enclosed kitchen design idea with a farmhouse sink, white or ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances, raised-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, granite countertops, two islands, and countertops in a variety of colors.

[pisabookintown]

Driveway - Driveway

[klllerwithin]

Modern Kitchen - Kitchen

[davisenterprise]

http://www.davisenterprise.com/features/top-10-steps-to-prepare-for-a-remodel/

Top 10 steps to prepare for a remodel

What can a homeowner do to prepare for a remodel? The National Association of the Remodeling Industry provides a top 10 list of steps homeowners should take before breaking ground on their next remodel. 1. Research your project. Taking time to research projects at NARI.org and elsewhere on the ...

[mcnaughtonmedia]

http://www.davisenterprise.com/features/top-10-steps-to-prepare-for-a-remodel/

Top 10 steps to prepare for a remodel

What can a homeowner do to prepare for a remodel? The National Association of the Remodeling Industry provides a top 10 list of steps homeowners should take before breaking ground on their next remodel. 1. Research your project. Taking time to research projects at NARI.org and elsewhere on the ...

[narinational]

By Katelyn Wujciga, Marketing Manager, National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) 

We had a great turnout at this year’s Fall Leadership Summit in Boston, MA, at the Boston Sheraton Hotel. On Wednesday, September 6, 2017, attendees were transported to Westwood, MA, for an engaging joint tour sponsored by Marble & Granite, Inc. and Metropolitan Cabinets & Countertops to learn about the history of the stone industry, and fabrication of stone and cabinetry.

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The first stop on the tour was Marble & Granite, Inc. Upon arrival, the group enjoyed lunch, and took part in a History of Stone class before touring the facility.

“I found the History of Stone class informative and will be better prepared to service our clients needs. It was also impressive to tour the fabrication facility to see how many technological advances have been made in the manufacturing process,” said NARI member Leo Lantz of Leo Lantz Construction, Inc.

“The staff at Marble and Granite, Inc. did a great job of explaining the different types of natural stones available and how they are formed.  We buy stone, but I found it very enlightening to learn how it comes about. Then, we had a tour of their inside warehouse and the different stones available for their customers to choose from. I found it fascinating to learn about how manufacturers add color to Onyx or some other natural stone,” said NARI member David Caputo of G&L and Sons Renovations, LLC.

Next, the group headed to Metropolitan Cabinets and Countertops, where they toured the showroom and fabrication facility to view stone fabrication and cabinet manufacturing.

“Metropolitan has a beautiful showroom with some really cool new products.  I really enjoyed the fabrication part of this tour and seeing up close the different pieces as they went through the fabrication process.  The eye for detail that is required to make some of the closer tolerance cuts for their countertops was impressive,” said NARI member Jessie Cannizzaro of Milestone Plumbing, Inc.

“The tour of the Cabinet factory was wonderful. The owner and his daughter really showed their passion for what they do. Seeing a live, in-action operating factory making cabinets was great, as well as the new technology to make the product better was super. I will always try to attend anything demonstrating the science or engineering of our industry,” said NARI member Laurence Carolan of House of Laurence.

The joint tour was a great way to kick off our 2017 Fall Leadership Summit!

“I thought both tours were very well done. I never knew there was so much to know about the different types of natural stone. They did an excellent job of presenting the information in the conference room, and the tour was very well done. The lunch was also very good.  We also appreciated the opportunity to tour Metropolitan’s shop. The cabinet shops in our area rarely allow us to see their shops because of restrictions their insurance providers lay down, so it was very nice to see a working facility. It was very impressive!” said NARI member Gary Fassbender of Distinctive Renovations.

Please like our Facebook page to see more pictures from the Summit.

About Marble & Granite, Inc.

For over 25 years, Marble & Granite has been importing first-class stone from around the world. With team members in South America and Europe—and ownership travelling around the globe to source and hand-select material—they are always on the leading edge of design, and strive to satisfy the most discriminating tastes. 

About Metropolitan Cabinets & Countertops

Since 1984, this family run business has been providing high quality products to the trade. As the largest manufacturer of cabinetry & countertops in the Northeast, Metropolitan designs stylish & functional spaces for residential homes & apartment buildings. Cabinets are milled and countertops are fabricated in their newly expanded 145,000/sf Norwood, MA factory.

Both tour sponsors are members of the Marble Institute of America (MIA) and Building Stone Institute (BIA). Together, MIA and BSI, known as MIA+BSI: The Natural Stone Institute, serve more than 1900 members in 55 countries who represent every aspect of the natural stone industry, offering them a wide array of technical and training resources, professional development, regulatory advocacy, and networking events. MIA+BSI is a 501C-6 not for profit organization, dedicated to the natural stone industry. To reach MIA+BSI: The Natural Stone Institute directly, please send them an e-mail.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Katelyn Wujciga is the Marketing Manager for the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI). She has been a marketing professional for over 10 years and came to NARI with both Association and construction experience. If you would like to reach Katelyn, please e-mail her at kwujciga@nari.org. 

2017 Fall Leadership Summit: Joint Tour Recap By Katelyn Wujciga, Marketing Manager, National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI)  We had a great turnout at this year's Fall Leadership Summit in Boston, MA, at the Boston Sheraton Hotel.

[deanjonesauthenticdesigns-blog]

Your Home Remodeling Checklist

When your entire home, or just a room or two, doesn’t meet your needs anymore, you really have two options: move or remodel/renovate. The former is obviously a very extreme choice filled with challenges. While the latter sounds simpler — and certainly is—that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do your homework before embarking on any sort of home remodeling project.

Real Simple recently offered a handy checklist for home remodels that we find invaluable:

Plan

Make a wish list. In one column, put your wants; in another, your needs. That way, when faced with tough choices down the line, you’ll have a clearer picture of your priorities — what has to happen now and what can wait.

Determine your budget. Before you meet with a contractor or architect, you’ll need a ballpark estimate — then both of you will be able to talk honestly about what’s possible. (It’s a good idea to build some padding — at least 10 percent is recommended — for the unexpected uh-ohs and might-as-wells that will crop up.)

Consult the calendar. What’s your timeline for the renovation? If you want the living room done for, say, a graduation party, don’t wait until spring to start talking about it. Likewise, you might not want to install a new roof during the rainy season — or schedule major demolition a month before you host a family reunion.

Research

Begin looking for a contractor. This isn’t the time to consult the Yellow Pages. Ask everyone you know about their experiences, good and bad. You should also consult the websites for the National Association of Remodelers (nari.org) or the National Association of Home Builders (nahb.org); the professionals that belong to these organizations are bound by strict codes of ethics and business practices.

Interview contractors. In addition to asking for references — and contacting them — prepare a list of questions for prospective contractors. Make sure you’re comfortable with the answers and have a good feeling about working with the company you select.

Remodel

Examine the fine print of the contract. Don’t just sign a contract without reading it. Be sure you’re comfortable with all the clauses it contains. If your peace of mind would be aided by having an attorney review it, then do so. (If the contractor balks at that, it may be a red flag.)

Finalize household arrangements. Once you know when the work will begin, make any additional plans, such as reserving storage space for furnishings or booking a hotel room for the day when the water will be turned off.

If possible, carve out an oasis for yourself. Select a room that will remain relatively untouched by the chaos and equip it with whatever you might need to keep yourself sane for the duration: a DVD player, electric teakettle, yoga mat, earplugs, etc.

The idea of remodeling your home to make it more livable for you is a great one, and the process to get there can be pain-free when you use this checklist. Contact us at Authentic Designs & Remodeling to discuss your wish list. We’re here to help.