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APEX Earns Angie’s List Super Service Award for Sixth Consecutive Year

February 6, 2019 By Tom Sweeney Leave a Comment

Angie’s List has awarded APEX Construction Management its Super Service Award for the sixth consecutive year. The 2018 award once again honors contractors who have maintained exceptional service ratings and reviews on Angie’s List throughout the year.

“Service pros who receive our Angie’s List Super Service Award represent the best in our network,” said Angie’s List Founder Angie Hicks. “They consistently make great customer service their mission. These pros have provided exceptional service to our members and absolutely deserve recognition for the exemplary service they exhibited in the past year.”

To be considered for the award, APEX was required to maintain an “A” rating in overall grade, recent grade and review period grade. Winners also must be in good standing with Angie’s List and pass additional screening.

APEX President John “JB” Biancini said the Super Service Award recognition is part of a pattern based on his team’s core values.

“When we start each APEX remodeling project, we tell the clients that we will give them a scorecard to grade our performance at the end of the job. Then every team member does his or her part to earn an A+ grade. We also use Guild Quality to independently survey our clients after each job to gather feedback and maintain quality control. Receiving the Angie’s List Super Service again illustrates that APEX takes its core values seriously,” Biancini said.

Service company ratings are updated continually on Angie’s List as new, verified consumer reviews are submitted. Companies are graded on an A through F scale in multiple fields ranging from price to professionalism to punctuality. Customers have been rating APEX Construction Management on Angie’s List since 2005. APEX has 42 reviews on Angie’s List. It is “A” rated and Angie’s Certified. To be certified, a company must be an Angie’s member in good standing, pass a biennial criminal background report, receive an A or B reviews grade, have current reviews, attest that its license is up to date and have a verified profile.

Biancini thanked APEX clients post taking the time to post online reviews and participate in customer surveys to share their remodeling experience with other homeowners and help APEX maintain high standards.

“APEX clients post reviews on Google, Angie’s List, Houzz, the Better Business Bureau and on our own website. Their positive comments help us grow and succeed. We are very grateful for their support,” Biancini said.

2019 Remodeling Cost Benchmarks

January 18, 2019 By John Biancini Leave a Comment

“What will my remodeling cost?” is one of the first questions many homeowners ask APEX when considering a project. That’s fair. It’s not like they can go on Amazon and compare prices and features for a new kitchen or room addition. And how could they possibly know remodeling labor, materials and project management expenses.

Fortunately, Hanley Wood LLC, the nation’s biggest construction industry publisher, issues a report each year that estimates costs and resale payback (value) for dozens of common remodeling and replacement projects. The Remodeling 2019 Cost Vs Value Report draws on a leading construction estimating tool to price the jobs. Then it asks experienced Realtors from different regions to score how each project would impact the home’s resale value so it can calculate payback.

Kitchen and Bath Remodeling Costs

Here are a couple of examples. The report prices a mid-level quality major kitchen remodeling for our West North Central region at about $64,400 (62.1 percent payback) and an upscale kitchen at about $128,700 (59.7 percent payback). It pegs a mid-level bathroom remodel at about $19,600 (67.2 percent payback) and an upscale bath at $62,500 (60.2 percent payback).

I think this independent cost/value benchmarking provides APEX Construction Management clients with a valuable frame of reference. We share the link to the annual study because well-informed homeowners are our best clients.

Basis for Remodeling Costs

Like the study’s publishers, APEX doesn’t pull a big number out of the air based on what a similar project cost last year. Rather, we tally all of the tasks and materials that must be completed and add overhead and a reasonable profit. We build each estimate from the ground up, just like our award-winning additions.

As expected, the latest report shows that both project costs and values increased last year. Steel tariffs, skilled labor shortages and strong demand will do that. For instance, the authors noted that the cost of replacing a steel door increased 24 percent from the previous year. That’s also why our design estimates come with expiration dates.

You Come First

The value or payback part of the annual remodeling study reflects its source: Realtors. Once again, exterior facelift projects such as garage doors and stone veneer accents retain the most value because their costs are relatively low and they help to make a good first impression among prospective homebuyers. Realtors say this enhanced curb appeal raises price expectations.

Payback should be considered if you are improving your home to sell. In that case a minor kitchen remodel at $21,900 may be worthwhile. Realtors in our region say it should retain 80.5 percent of its value. But, in reality, most APEX clients tell us they plan to stay in their homes and are remodeling for themselves to improve their quality of life. As the study suggests, the composite deck will cost more than wood, but what is it worth to avoid sanding and re-staining every couple of years?

Download Complete Report

To learn more, download the complete Remodeling 2019 Cost Vs Value Report free here. Be sure to review the scope for each project so you understand how it compares to what you plan. If you have any questions, please contact me.

Practical Meets Pretty in Woodbury Bath Remodel

September 11, 2018 By Tom Sweeney Leave a Comment

APEX handshower photo Linda didn’t need a bigger master bath remodel, but she wanted it to look special, function better and be easier to clean. Like many APEX clients she opted for a large, accessible tile shower in place of the old tub shower. She chose a wall mounted, horizontal woodgrain vanity for a modern twist and was inspired by a bathroom she saw in California to add undermount LED lighting for safer after dark navigation.

Linda admitted she is not a fan of cleaning grout, so she requested extra large tile for the shower. She also opted for rain glass rather than clear glass for the shower door to avoid meticulous daily squeegeeing to prevent water marks.

She credited Designer Lisa Stoll for her deft design advice and Matt Grudzielanek for his professional project management performance.

Arden Hills Kitchen Collaboration

July 26, 2018 By Tom Sweeney Leave a Comment

After 32 years in an Arden Hills home that the previous owner had built to learn construction, Chris and Mark were ready for a new kitchen and bath and squeak-free floors. First they joined more than 400 fellow dreamers to tour the award-winning kitchen and bath project that APEX Construction Management displayed in the Parade of Homes Remodelers Showcase last spring. Then they hired APEX for their own project.

Chris says the APEX team members of John “JB” Biancini, Lisa Stoll and Matt Grudzielanek were consummate collaborators. They absorbed ideas she and Mark had been noodling for years and melded solutions and product suggestions of their own. Ultimately, they agreed on cherry cabinets and display shelves, deep drawers and pullouts on full extension slides, soft close door hinges, granite tops, undermount stainless steel sink, spray-in-spout faucet, luxury vinyl plank flooring, muted subway tile backsplash and LED lighting.

“They nailed it,” Chris remarked, adding that she would not change a single thing.

Quality of Life Upgrade

“JB stated from the first meeting that his intent was to improve our quality of life at home. It was evident throughout the project that it truly was his goal, and he did it!” Chris said. “APEX is a very different company from others we contacted. Some didn’t even call us back. JB and Matt were always easy to reach with questions and concerns. They provided reassurance and guidance throughout the project.”

While many of the elements are familiar, some are unusual by design. For instance, the couple specified dark laminate base cabinet because they are impervious to their pawing cat, Jack. The feline also got his own protected pet dish nook.

Other benefits are less obvious, starting with the luxury vinyl plank floor used in the kitchen, hall, dining area and family room. “Matt was instrumental in screwing down the subfloor so we don’t have squeaks anymore,” Chris explained. She also noted that visitors routinely mistake the flooring for real wood. “It fools everyone.” And she credits Lisa for the idea to paint the end wall cabinet to match the wall so it makes the space feel larger. “It blends into the wall,” she said.

As I emerged from the home after touring the new kitchen and bath, I was greeted by a flock of large wild turkeys parading through Chris’s yard. Clearly no one warned them about her new double oven and range hood.

APEX Past Clients Value Small Projects Services

July 25, 2018 By Tom Sweeney Leave a Comment

Many reputable contractors, APEX included, are too busy managing big remodeling projects to take on smaller ones. The exception might be for past clients who had used APEX for larger projects.

Gary from Plymouth is a great example. The Honeywell accountant hired APEX to remodel a main level bathroom on his Gleason Lake home several years ago and was impressed by John Biancini’s emphasis on meeting schedule while maintaining high construction quality standards. This year, he needed French doors installed in a seldom-used lower level bedroom before guests arrived. APEX got it done in time, despite discovering hidden plumbing in the wall during demolition.

“Sharon had a big push. We had a couple of guests coming in. She said I want this done and I want it done by this date. I immediately called John and he was able to get the job done,” Gary said. “When I contacted John I didn’t know. I said up front it might be too small a job. He said he would be in the area and would stop by and give me an estimate and got us on his schedule.”

Gary and Sharon initially contemplated pocket doors, but they opted for French doors to avoid the cost of removing the entire wall. They also stuck with the more traditional look vs. trendy barn doors. “The cost probably would have been the same, but we were concerned that barn doors might be a fad,” he explained.

Gary said adding the French doors has made the interior room much more pleasant with its new view of the Plymouth lake. “Before, it was like a big cubbyhole in there. There was no light. No atmosphere,’ he said. “We had two guests who stayed there for three nights each after the remodeling and they were very pleased. The French doors have opened up both rooms,” he said.

APEX Enhances Quality of Life at Home

Gary says having a good relationship with a trusted contractor is a real benefit as one approaches retirement. We suspect Sharon and their guests would agree.

“I wouldn’t have had time to get it done myself. It would have taken me five times as long,” Gary added. “I could have gotten it done eventually, but Sharon said, ‘ Save yourself the trouble. You can’t take it with you.’ She’s right.” When I spoke with him he had just returned from playing tennis.

Meet Designer Lisa Stoll

May 23, 2018 By Tom Sweeney Leave a Comment

APEX design partner Lisa Stoll isn’t your typical interior designer. She had a successful career as a mechanical engineer designing plants and warehouses for 3M before getting her degree in interior design and shifting to home design. Lisa makes the design phase of the APEX design-build process efficient and fun.

Hear how she got her start.

Focus on Living, not Aging

May 14, 2018 By John Biancini Leave a Comment

JB talks accessibility with NARI speaker Louie Delaware. (Photo courtesy NARI MN.)

Although I earned my CAPS (Certified Aging In Place Specialist) credentials many years ago, I was eager to hear Louie Delaware from the Living In Place Institute in Colorado speak at the NARI MN meeting last week. I wanted to learn what’s new to help people live comfortably and safely in their homes for as long as they like.

While the information was very familiar, marketing of the design principals certainly has evolved. If Louie is right, it’s more about what you don’t say to get homeowners to adopt and invest in accessibility upgrades to their homes.

Making Accessible Design Appealing

He expained that the movemement toward barrier-free living started in the 1950s. The American Standards Association published the first acessibility standards in 1961. By 1973 some 49 states had adopted their own rules. Federal guidelines came in 1984.

The initial Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements applied to public spaces and businesses, not private homes. And many of the products designed to achieve accessibility looked decidedly institutional. The first focus was on people with physical disabilities. Later, the concept of Universal Design broadened the scope to benefit people of any age or ability. The idea was that accessible design could look attractive and make life easier, safer and more comfortable for everyone. That was followed by the “Aging In Place” buzzword, which spoke to the enormous Baby Boomer generation that wants to continue living independently in their private homes.

According to Louie, the trouble is that most people don’t want to focus on aging; they prefer to think about living. Which is why he founded the “Living In Place Institute” to teach and certify contractors and designers.

The principles are the same whether you call it Universal Design, Aging In Place or Living in Place. Good design is about more than good looks. It also should improve your quality of life at home, however and whenever that life changes.

Here’s just one example from Louie’s talk. Install a GFCI-protected electrical outlet behind your master bathroom toilet when remodeling the space. Use it for a nightlight now. But it will be available to support a bidet toilet seat down the road. Louie claimed inability to take care of personal toileting is what causes many people to enter a nursing home.

Bottom line, you can count on APEX to keep an eye on the horizon even if you a focused on the here and now.

Complete Shower Design Guide

April 6, 2018 By Tom Sweeney Leave a Comment

If recent trends are any indication, bathrooms should be renamed shower-rooms. Busy families not only prefer showers to tubs for their daily bathing. They also are investing careful thought and money to design and equip them for exceptional beauty, functionality and safety.

Shower Design Checklist

Designing a shower involves much more than choosing tile. To specify the ideal shower, you also need to consider:

Size and shape
Pan/curb vs. curbless/drain
Enclosure/door style
Surfaces
Showerheads choice and position
Hand showers choice and position
Shower controls and placement
Grab bar design and placement
Lighting
Ventilation
Steam
Sound

I interviewed leading plumbing supply showrooms and Twin Cities bathroom designers for their best shower advice. Here’s what they shared.

Size Considerations

Marble tile shower photo Small bathrooms can only accommodate small showers. Shower size also may be pre-determined when replacing a tub/shower. However, small showers often can be enlarged during remodeling. This especially applies if you are willing to reposition fixtures or move a wall. Many homeowners gain shower space by jettisoning a jetted tub. Out with the noisy Jacuzzi that seldom gets used.

Generally, larger showers are more accessible and comfortable than smaller ones as long as they are shielded from cold drafts. Larger showers also are great if you occasionally share the space with a partner and have more than one showerhead. Designer Lisa Stoll from Sparrow & Stoll considers 3X4 feet the minimum for a shower that gets regular use by tall people. “While those larger showers are very nice, sometimes we just don’t have enough room for them,” notes JB from APEX. He considers 3×3 feet an absolute minimum.

Large shower with glass enclosure.

Pan, Curb and Drain Choices

Curbless showers eliminate the barrier between the bathroom floor and the shower pan for unobstructed wheelchair access. It requires the shower floor to slope away from the shower door or entry, usually with the drain along the far wall. The catch is that the main bathroom floor needs to be a bit higher to stay dry. That can create a transition issue between the bathroom and the adjacent hall or room.

Preformed shower bases speed installation and reduce costs, but they limit shape and drain placement. With the waterproof membrane approach such as Schluter Systems, custom tile showers can accommodate any footprint and drain configuration.

Tip: When choosing a drain, try to mimic the shape of the fixtures. For instance, a square drain would coordinate better with a big square rain showerhead than a round one. Square or rectangular drains also are much easier to tile around.

Shower Door and Enclosure Decisions

With fancy custom tile designs so popular today, it’s no surprise that frameless, clear glass enclosures are a top choice among remodeling clients. Although clear glass is higher maintenance and provides no privacy, it makes any bath look larger and showcases one’s tile investment. To avoid water spots and soap buildup, Pappas suggests treating the glass with Rain-X, rinsing the surfaces with a hand shower and drying surfaces with a squeegee. Alternatively, Stoll specifies seeded glass to obscure water spots.

Frameless glass shower enclosure photo

Selecting surfaces

Tile is the preferred shower surface because of its design and installation flexibility. Horizontal patterns are more tradition, vertical more contemporary.

Stoll notes that horizontal patterns also are more relaxing, adding to the spa feeling that that so many people want to achieve.

Pappas notes that a mid-wall, horizontal accent strip not only breaks up a tile surround but also helps bathers maintain balance by orienting them after they open their eyes or turn. “Think of it like a horizon line,” she explained.

Many designers prefer the updated look of larger tiles, but subway tile remains a classic for period decors.

Designer DeAnne Koppendrayer of Designs by D favors 12×24 tile on the shower walls, installed in a subway tile pattern or straight stack depending on the look of the room.

“I like to use a pattern or shape on the shower floor, like penny, hexagon or shaved rock stones. I also like to incorporate accents like repeating the shower floor tile in the shampoo niche or doing a waterfall of a coordinating tile or the same tile but in a different pattern.”

Koppendrayer also encourages clients to integrate tile accents with countertops. “Whatever I choose for the vanity top I use it to cap the shower knee wall, the curb, the bench and the corner shelf. It helps to tie the whole room together and makes it easy for the tilesetter to pitch the surfaces for drainage,” she said.

Meyer, too, prefers large format tile. “The bigger the better for fewer grout joints,” she said. “Horizontal pattern is considered transitional because it can be tradition or contemporary. Vertical pattern is contemporary.” If large tile is used for the base, she often carries it up the wall. Meyer specifies porcelain tile rather than natural stone because it is easier to maintain.

Showerheads Can be Tricky

At one time, showerheads would reliably emerge from an interior sidewall, perpendicular to the door. Now they also may extend down from the ceiling or even be installed flush with the tile ceiling.

This placement freedom owes at least part of its success to flexible plastic PEX tubing that allows plumbers to effortlessly snake supply lines practically anywhere. However, it still is preferable to avoid installing plumbing within exterior walls where freezing can be a problem. If you must install fixtures on an outside wall, build out the framing to maintain effective insulation behind the supply and waste lines.

Showerheads offer a variety of water patterns that change the force, footprint and feel of the spray. Showrooms such as Ferguson’s and Aspire have shower walls with functioning showerheads so you can see difference and at least feel it on your hand. They are only plumbed with cold water and offer no privacy so don’t count on a full shower experience.

To conserve water while maintaining a decent shower experience, look for the WaterSense badge. These fixtures use 20 percent less water than standard showerheads without compromising performance.

Hand Showers Have Many Uses

Hand showers have become ubiquitous in today’s showers and for good reason.

Facilitates cleaning the shower itself
Great for pet washing
Enhanced body rinsing
Hydro massage
Flexible positioning and improved accessibility

Hand showers are most effective when mounted on a vertical bar so both the height and the angle of the spray are adjustable. A lower position is ideal for small children, pet washing, and elderly or disabled users who may need to sit when bathing. If the shower has a bench, the hand shower wand should reach a bracket within reach of the seated user.

“Many of my clients primarily want a hand shower for cleaning the shower, said Meyer. “Hand showers on a vertical slider also are popular among women who don’t wash their hair every day. They adjust it so it hits their bodies and not their heads.”

Zsavonne Perryman from Ferguson is a huge hand shower fan. “Hand-held showerheads offer complete flexibility. They work great for all ages. Also, cleaning become a breeze.”

If you plan to use a vertical hand shower bar as a grab bar, be sure that it is rated for such support. Many aren’t.

Some hand showers operate off diverter valves that shift the water supply from the main showerhead to the auxiliary head. Hand showers with separate controls are better because they allow you to use both heads at once. When installed opposite or at a right angle to the main showerhead, it can eliminate cold-side showering and increase comfort when sharing.

Make Room for a Bench

Fold up teak bench

All of the designers recommend benches in showers for accessibility, safety and convenience if space allows. Integral tile benches should be sloped slightly for drainage. When space is limited, consider a stylish fold-down teak seat. Most designers are not keen on freestanding seats because they are less stable than fixed ones.

Even the smallest shower can incorporate a toe rest (think low shampoo niche) for use when shaving legs. Simply position a small niche a foot above the shower pan. Include a vertical grab bar for stability.

Mission Control

Shower controls often align vertically with showerheads to create a balanced look and simplify plumbing. However, it’s important to be able to reach the controls to turn on the water without getting wet. For a large shower, consider positioning the controls within reach of the door.

Photo of open shower with low niche and forward controls

Accessible controls and low footrest niche.

Shower controls have temperature and pressure balance features that can be set to prevent scalding when someone flushes a toilet or goes full hot. Make sure the plumber checks the high temperature limit during installation. The most sophisticated shower controls feature digital displays that enable individual users to set (and see) their preferred temperature for an ideal shower experience.

Perryman says parents with young children like the Delta Temp2O fixtures because they display the temperature digitally and have an easy to understand color indicator (blue for cold, purple for warm and red for hot). Stoll notes that the color displays also are good for people with poor vision.

But Pappas says many of her clients “are not into gizmos.” Most people know where to position the lever for their preferred showing temperature,” she said.

Grab Bar Placement

A grab bar should be positioned vertically where you can hold on comfortably when entering and leaving the shower. Stoll says a second horizontal bar is helpful along the long wall perpendicular to the showerhead. Avoid configurations where the bar and hand shower hose would conflict. You should be able to grasp the bar without having the hose in the way.

Most remodelers install solid blocking behind shower surfaces to anchor future grab bars, but designers suggest you don’t wait to incorporate this proven safety feature in your new shower. Just be sure to coordinate the bar design and finish with the other fixtures so it looks like it belongs.

Moisture, Steam & Ventilation

Hot showers produce enormous amounts of moisture in a small confined space. Many designers turn this into a plus by installing steam generators for a spa experience. Whether you have a steam shower or a regular shower, a properly sized exhaust fan is essential to remove excess moisture and avoid mold. For maximum effectiveness, the fan should be installed just outside the shower.

Many bathroom fans have become so quiet that manufacturers suggest they be controlled by timer switches. This enables you to set the fan to run after you finish a shower and never forget it on. Stoll notes that the larger the bathroom the longer the fan should run. “I tell clients 20 minutes minimum,” she said.

When choosing a steam shower, install the steam generator where it will be quiet but accessible for servicing.

Modular Enclosures and Curtains

Many of the designers agree that there still is a place for prefabricated shower enclosures and shower curtains for basement or secondary showers.

Shower curtains provide privacy and can add a splash of color to a bathroom with plain surfaces. And panelized shower enclosures are affordable and easy to clean.

If your budget is tight, it might make more sense to splurge on the new kitchen and skip the fancy tile and glass in the bathroom,” one designer observed.

Tour Award-Winning Laurel Ave. Addition in Remodelers Showcase This Weekend

March 15, 2018 By Tom Sweeney Leave a Comment

The charming Laurel Avenue addition that APEX Construction Management will feature in the Parade of Homes Spring Remodelers Showcase this weekend (March 23-25) is unique among the 63 projects on display during the tour.

Spring 2018 Remodelers Showcase We hope you will visit the home, not so much because you want something just like it, but because you don’t. At a time when many trendy makeovers look so familiar and cool, the 1660 Laurel Ave. addition is a decidedly different and heartwarming reminder of an era when life was simpler. The point is, APEX loves different.

The owners, Richard and Shirley Erstad, view homes as “durable goods.” Most importantly, they believe remodeling should build on the past, not erase it. APEX’s John “JB” Biancini truly listened (no small feat for someone who is profoundly deaf). He worked with designer Carmin Meyer, Project Manager Matt Grudzielanek and the homeowners themselves to deliver the period perfect environment while hiding modern conveniences in plain view.

Indoors or outside you will be hard pressed to identify where the old house ends and the new addition begins. But the homeowners certainly appreciate the difference a larger kitchen, new main level bath, improved entry and basement laundry make in daily life.

The remodeled space incorporates a new bank of Marvin windows that overlook the picturesque backyard, custom cabinetry from Modern Design, a custom commercial tile floor, and salvaged art glass, entry door, balustrades, and plumbing fixtures. There even is a functional antique wall phone! The kitchen features a fully restored, eight-burner, three-oven circa 1920s Reliable gas stove and 1930s GE Monitor refrigerator.

Remodelers Showcase Adds to Project’s Acclaim

The acclaimed APEX remodeling of the 1912 home already has generated plenty of attention leading up to the home tour. Last November, the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) named APEX Minnesota Contractor of the Year (CotY) for additions up to $250,000. Then the industry group chose APEX last month for the best addition in its nine-state North Central Region. The project is a finalist for the national title next month. Finally, the Builders Association of the Twin Cities (BATC) is featuring the project in an editorial spread (page 22-23) in the Parade of Homes Remodelers Showcase guidebook publication.

Remodelers Showcase guidebook article

“These clients knew how they wanted the space to look and feel. It was up to APEX to figure out how to make it work,” JB remarked. “Now the family has an unforgettable addition that embraces their storybook backyard.”

Meet APEX Construction Management

The project is R60 in the Remodelers Showcase guidebook. The home will be open to visitors from noon to 6PM Friday through Sunday. For more information contact APEX at 651.653.6300 or jb@apexdesignbuild.com.

CotY Judges Say ‘Vive La (APEX) Différence!’

February 2, 2018 By Tom Sweeney Leave a Comment

Feb. 1, 2018 – APEX Construction Management was named 2018 Regional Contractor of the Year (CotY) today for residential additions $100,000 to $250,000 for a unique Laurel Ave., St. Paul, project it completed last fall.

Regional judges from the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) chose the APEX entry in the three-tier competition. APEX first won at the state level last November. As winner of the North Central Region title this week, it is a finalist for the 2018 National Contractor of the Year title. That winner will be announced at the association’s Evening of Excellence event in Charlotte, NC, on April 20. This is APEX’s Construction Management’s third Contractor of the Year recognition.

NARI MN President Jennifer McAlpin congratulates JB on his 2018 Regional CotY win.

The project appears in the current issue of the Pioneer Press’s glossy SPACES magazine and is featured on Houzz. You also can see the remodeling and speak with APEX owner John Biancini and project designer Carmin Meyer during the Spring Remodelers Showcase Tour, March 23-25, in conjunction with the Parade of Homes. Carmin worked with Modern Design for the custom cabinetry.

APEX designed and built the rear addition at the 1912 home of Richard and Shirley Erstad. APEX annexed a small corner porch to square off the new kitchen and bumped out the foudation and main level for a new entry area, three-quarter bath, porch and basement laundry. Outside, APEX used narrow lap siding with mitered corners, salvaged turned porch railings and mirrored roof lines for a seamless transition between new and existing spaces. But the real drama unfolded inside.

Homeowners had clear vision and APEX delivered

The Erstads view homes as “durable goods” that should be enhanced over time without erasing their past. While they wanted all the conveniences of a modern kitchen, it had to look and feel like something out of the 1920s. A fully restored eight burner, three-oven 1920s Reliable gas stove and a vintage Monitor refrigerator anchor the design. Complementing them are freezer drawers and a microwave oven hidden in the custom cabinetry.

The new kitchen features green, white and natural cabinets and both marble and granite countertops to suggest that storage was added over time. A center island would have looked out of place. So Modern Design built a large table with drawers, which Richard finished himself.

“We certainly didn’t expect all of the awards, but we knew our project was unique,” Richard said. “What’s most interesting is that it is a very convenient and comfortable,” he continued. “We spend a lot of time in the kitchen. It turned out just the way we hoped. And, after nearly six months, there isn’t much of anything we would change.”

“This was a challenging project and very much a team effort,” John recalled. He credits Project Manager Matt Grudzielanek for overseeing trade partners and Carmin for ensuring that the nostalgic elements would come together visually and provide needed functionality. He also acknowledged the homeowners themselves for their research and skillful DIY contributions.

“Some contractors steer clear of remodeling hundred-year-old homes in St. Paul because of the challenges they pose, but we love it,” John said. “I guarantee you won’t see another project like this on the Spring Remodelers Showcase tour. And you won’t soon forget it.”

CotY Judges Evaluated More Than 400 projects

The CotY Award judges apparently agreed. The 26 NARI judges evaluated more than 400 projects from eight regions with a value that exceeded $123 million. NARI officials said CotY Award winners “demonstrated remodeling excellence.” Judges considered functionality, problem-solving, aesthetics, craftsmanship, innovation, degree of difficulty, and entry presentation.