See what our client say about working with us: I started my search for a contractor about a year before I hired Paul to do a kitchen and bathroom renovation. This was my first time at the bat, and I really had no idea what to expect. I had many contractor proposals that swung wildly in price but for some reason I never felt inclined to hire any of the guys I met with. I happened to be looking at Houzz one day and came across Paul’s company and he had very good reviews. I gave him a call and he came to my apartment quickly. I liked him immediately when we met. I thought it was strange that he asked me for my budget and how much I wanted to spend but in hindsight, providing that information allowed Paul to come back to me with a very detailed proposal based on my budget. I soon realized that the lower proposals I had did not include many of the budget items that would be necessary to complete the job. Paul laid out the pricing and provided a very reasonable “allowance” based on your measurements for tile, toilet, sinks, etc. It is up to you to stay within that allowance. Another reason I hired Paul was because of his design skills. Paul met me in the at tile stores several times and helped guide me in choosing tile and a style for the bathroom that really looks beautiful. I fought him a little but in the end, was glad I went with his recommendations. He also uses a kitchen cabinet maker so all the cabinets are custom to what you want. Paul also has a great customer website that allows you to see all the expenses, make choices, and easily communicate with him. If you are planning to do a renovation, I think it helps to plan for the worst and hope for the best. I live in a co-op and we had a couple of little glitches and Paul was always quick to resolve issues as they arose. He was extremely responsive and really cared about the work and doing a good job. I would definitely hire Paul again if I needed a contractor.

Bathroom - transitional bathroom idea in Salt Lake City

We began by digging the footings for the deck and sunroom; however, we immediately ran into a problem. The back of the lot was built on fill dirt, which meant the structure would need extra support. Fortunately for the customer, with over 20 years of experience in the industry and having dealt with this type of problem before, we were able to contact our structural engineer who devised a plan to take care of the issue. Therefore, what would have been a large problem turned into a simple time delay with some additional cost requirements. To fix the situation, we would up having to dig 12-foot-deep footings with an excavator before adding some additional helical piers for the deck posts and sunroom foundation (FYI – typical footing depth is two feet). Since the customer understood that this was an unexpected situation, we created a change order to cover the extra cost. Still, it’s important to note that the very nature of construction means that hidden situations may occur, so it’s always wise for customers to have contingency plans in place before work on the home begins. In the end, we finished on time and within the homeowners budget, and they were thrilled with the quality of our work.

Lothbrok is tucked into the woods, in a quiet neighborhood and minutes away from Windham Mountain. The owners kept some of the charm of the 70's and brought the house into this century by making it look brand new again. “Wake Up Windham recently took wonderful photos of my Airbnb that has gotten me more bookings, and I could not be happier! He was so easy to work with and had some great suggestions. I sent him a list of the shots I wanted and his photos exceeded my expectations. His turn around time was quick and his photos paid for themselves immediately. I'm having him take photos of my other two Airbnb as well. Great photos make a big difference. No longer do I hear from guests, "your place looks better in person." Now I hear, "your place looks just as beautiful as your photos."“ - Mary

Our clients wanted to make the most of space so we gutted the home and rebuilt the inside to create a functional and kid-friendly home with timeless style. Our clients’ vision was clear: They wanted a warm and timeless design that was easy to clean and maintain with two-active boys. “It’s not unusual for our friends and family to drop past unannounced any day of the week. And we love it!” They told us during our initial Design Therapy Sesh. We knew immediately what she meant - we have an open-door policy with our families, too! Which was why we consciously created living spaces that were open, inviting and welcoming. Now, the only problem our clients would have would be convincing their guests to leave! Our clients also enjoy coffee and tea so we created a separate coffee nook to help them kick start their day. Photography: Helynn Ospina

After recently retiring and spending more time at home, Mercer Island resident, our client was ready to say goodbye to her home’s country kitchen and outdated rooms of 15 years. She was ready to enjoy a reinvigorated kitchen update! We replaced the island with a custom-built island to match the perimeter cabinets’ style and we added a new beverage center near the kitchen’s entryway. The new, stunning, maple countertop on the island immediately grabs your attention and the new, quartz countertop and a subway tile backsplash of the surrounding cabinets provides the perfect complement. In addition, there is now herringbone accent tiling located over the range and new plumbing with stainless steel sinks and matching faucets nearby. After some reconfiguration, the existing cabinets received a fresh coat of paint and new hardware to complete the kitchen upgrade.

We began by digging the footings for the deck and sunroom; however, we immediately ran into a problem. The back of the lot was built on fill dirt, which meant the structure would need extra support. Fortunately for the customer, with over 20 years of experience in the industry and having dealt with this type of problem before, we were able to contact our structural engineer who devised a plan to take care of the issue. Therefore, what would have been a large problem turned into a simple time delay with some additional cost requirements. To fix the situation, we would up having to dig 12-foot-deep footings with an excavator before adding some additional helical piers for the deck posts and sunroom foundation (FYI – typical footing depth is two feet). Since the customer understood that this was an unexpected situation, we created a change order to cover the extra cost. Still, it’s important to note that the very nature of construction means that hidden situations may occur, so it’s always wise for customers to have contingency plans in place before work on the home begins. In the end, we finished on time and within the homeowners budget, and they were thrilled with the quality of our work.

Living Room in Old Paint Drive | Room Type: Entry / Game Room | Project Name: Old Paint Trail | Key Feature: A redesigned front entry game room that serves as a welcoming focal point immediately visible when entering the home. Challenge: The home featured beautiful desert views but felt dark and underutilized. The front space also needed a clear purpose while making a strong first impression since it is the first area seen upon entering the home. Solution: The space was lightened up and transformed into a functional game room that feels both visually inviting and practical for the family. The redesign created a beautiful focal area that enhances the home’s entry experience. Timeline: Completed in 2018

Living Room in Old Paint Drive | Room Type: Entry / Game Room | Project Name: Old Paint Trail | Key Feature: A redesigned front entry game room that serves as a welcoming focal point immediately visible when entering the home. Challenge: The home featured beautiful desert views but felt dark and underutilized. The front space also needed a clear purpose while making a strong first impression since it is the first area seen upon entering the home. Solution: The space was lightened up and transformed into a functional game room that feels both visually inviting and practical for the family. The redesign created a beautiful focal area that enhances the home’s entry experience. Timeline: Completed in 2018

Our clients wanted to make the most of space so we gutted the home and rebuilt the inside to create a functional and kid-friendly home with timeless style. Our clients’ vision was clear: They wanted a warm and timeless design that was easy to clean and maintain with two-active boys. “It’s not unusual for our friends and family to drop past unannounced any day of the week. And we love it!” They told us during our initial Design Therapy Sesh. We knew immediately what she meant - we have an open-door policy with our families, too! Which was why we consciously created living spaces that were open, inviting and welcoming. Now, the only problem our clients would have would be convincing their guests to leave! Our clients also enjoy coffee and tea so we created a separate coffee nook to help them kick start their day. Photography: Helynn Ospina

Every Iron & Wood Gate from First Impression Ironworks is designed to provide security and beauty to your home, and is always custom built to your home’s specifications. Each gate is made in Arizona from the highest quality materials sourced here in the U.S.A., using only 100% American steel. Each Iron Gate is crafted from the most robust steel and gate posts available, as well as a standard 10” steel latch and lock guard, name brand Kwikset or Schlage hardware is always included, and customization is available for whatever needs fit your home best. Our product line includes a customizable array of steel plate gates, iron and wood gates, wrought iron and glass, or timeless iron and redwood gates. You can choose your Iron Gate from a variety of styles such as Contemporary, Traditional and Tuscan, and with additional options such as arches or digital locks. Our design consultants are here to help – let us know how we can create a one-of-a-kind Iron Gate for your home today!

Photo credit: Scott McDonald @ Hedrich Blessing 7RR-Ecohome: The design objective was to build a house for a couple recently married who both had kids from previous marriages. How to bridge two families together? The design looks forward in terms of how people live today. The home is an experiment in transparency and solid form; removing borders and edges from outside to inside the house, and to really depict “flowing and endless space”. The house floor plan is derived by pushing and pulling the house’s form to maximize the backyard and minimize the public front yard while welcoming the sun in key rooms by rotating the house 45-degrees to true north. The angular form of the house is a result of the family’s program, the zoning rules, the lot’s attributes, and the sun’s path. We wanted to construct a house that is smart and efficient in terms of construction and energy, both in terms of the building and the user. We could tell a story of how the house is built in terms of the constructability, structure and enclosure, with a nod to Japanese wood construction in the method in which the siding is installed and the exposed interior beams are placed in the double height space. We engineered the house to be smart which not only looks modern but acts modern; every aspect of user control is simplified to a digital touch button, whether lights, shades, blinds, HVAC, communication, audio, video, or security. We developed a planning module based on a 6-foot square room size and a 6-foot wide connector called an interstitial space for hallways, bathrooms, stairs and mechanical, which keeps the rooms pure and uncluttered. The house is 6,200 SF of livable space, plus garage and basement gallery for a total of 9,200 SF. A large formal foyer celebrates the entry and opens up to the living, dining, kitchen and family rooms all focused on the rear garden. The east side of the second floor is the Master wing and a center bridge connects it to the kid’s wing on the west. Second floor terraces and sunscreens provide views and shade in this suburban setting. The playful mathematical grid of the house in the x, y and z axis also extends into the layout of the trees and hard-scapes, all centered on a suburban one-acre lot. Many green attributes were designed into the home; Ipe wood sunscreens and window shades block out unwanted solar gain in summer, but allow winter sun in. Patio door and operable windows provide ample opportunity for natural ventilation throughout the open floor plan. Minimal windows on east and west sides to reduce heat loss in winter and unwanted gains in summer. Open floor plan and large window expanse reduces lighting demands and maximizes available daylight. Skylights provide natural light to the basement rooms. Durable, low-maintenance exterior materials include stone, ipe wood siding and decking, and concrete roof pavers. Design is based on a 2' planning grid to minimize construction waste. Basement foundation walls and slab are highly insulated. FSC-certified walnut wood flooring was used. Light colored concrete roof pavers to reduce cooling loads by as much as 15%. 2x6 framing allows for more insulation and energy savings. Super efficient windows have low-E argon gas filled units, and thermally insulated aluminum frames. Permeable brick and stone pavers reduce the site’s storm-water runoff. Countertops use recycled composite materials. Energy-Star rated furnaces and smart thermostats are located throughout the house to minimize duct runs and avoid energy loss. Energy-Star rated boiler that heats up both radiant floors and domestic hot water. Low-flow toilets and plumbing fixtures are used to conserve water usage. No VOC finish options and direct venting fireplaces maintain a high interior air quality. Smart home system controls lighting, HVAC, and shades to better manage energy use. Plumbing runs through interior walls reducing possibilities of heat loss and freezing problems. A large food pantry was placed next to kitchen to reduce trips to the grocery store. Home office reduces need for automobile transit and associated CO2 footprint. Plan allows for aging in place, with guest suite than can become the master suite, with no need to move as family members mature.

My House Design/Build Team | www.myhousedesignbuild.com | 604-694-6873 | Duy Nguyen Photography -------------------------------------------------------Right from the beginning it was evident that this Coquitlam Renovation was unique. It’s first impression was memorable as immediately after entering the front door, just past the dining table, there was a tree growing in the middle of home! Upon further inspection of the space it became apparent that this home had undergone several alterations during its lifetime... A home that was once pieced together now flows seamlessly from one space to the next. This home is a direct reflection of the homeowner’s vivid personality. There are so many details that can be the topic of conversation and we are so happy we had the opportunity to work with these clients.

After recently retiring and spending more time at home, Mercer Island resident, our client was ready to say goodbye to her home’s country kitchen and outdated rooms of 15 years. She was ready to enjoy a reinvigorated kitchen update! We replaced the island with a custom-built island to match the perimeter cabinets’ style and we added a new beverage center near the kitchen’s entryway. The new, stunning, maple countertop on the island immediately grabs your attention and the new, quartz countertop and a subway tile backsplash of the surrounding cabinets provides the perfect complement. In addition, there is now herringbone accent tiling located over the range and new plumbing with stainless steel sinks and matching faucets nearby. After some reconfiguration, the existing cabinets received a fresh coat of paint and new hardware to complete the kitchen upgrade.

After recently retiring and spending more time at home, Mercer Island resident, our client was ready to say goodbye to her home’s country kitchen and outdated rooms of 15 years. She was ready to enjoy a reinvigorated kitchen update! We replaced the island with a custom-built island to match the perimeter cabinets’ style and we added a new beverage center near the kitchen’s entryway. The new, stunning, maple countertop on the island immediately grabs your attention and the new, quartz countertop and a subway tile backsplash of the surrounding cabinets provides the perfect complement. In addition, there is now herringbone accent tiling located over the range and new plumbing with stainless steel sinks and matching faucets nearby. After some reconfiguration, the existing cabinets received a fresh coat of paint and new hardware to complete the kitchen upgrade.

After recently retiring and spending more time at home, Mercer Island resident, our client was ready to say goodbye to her home’s country kitchen and outdated rooms of 15 years. She was ready to enjoy a reinvigorated kitchen update! We replaced the island with a custom-built island to match the perimeter cabinets’ style and we added a new beverage center near the kitchen’s entryway. The new, stunning, maple countertop on the island immediately grabs your attention and the new, quartz countertop and a subway tile backsplash of the surrounding cabinets provides the perfect complement. In addition, there is now herringbone accent tiling located over the range and new plumbing with stainless steel sinks and matching faucets nearby. After some reconfiguration, the existing cabinets received a fresh coat of paint and new hardware to complete the kitchen upgrade.

Removing the long, narrow center island immediately opened up the kitchen, creating a greater sense of space. Closing off an unnecessary doorway provided additional wall area, allowing the cooktop to be repositioned and improving the kitchen’s layout and flow. The bold choice of a rich green for the cabinets gave the kitchen a striking, modern look, while still feeling balanced. The green acts as a neutral tone, complemented by calming pale oak flooring, neutral quartz countertops, and a textured backsplash in a similar hue for subtle visual interest. The redesign also introduced functional zones: a dedicated baking area designed with their daughter in mind and a bar area perfect for entertaining family and friends.

Vancouver’s sun-drenched summer is more than patio season—it’s the ideal window for home upgrades, thanks to longer daylight and drier weather that let crews finish faster and materials cure perfectly. Kitchen projects sit at the top of Canadian reno wish-lists, with 37 % of homeowners planning to refresh counters, cabinetry, or layout this year. That’s where Alpine Countertops shines. The Richmond-based fabricator holds an A+ BBB rating and ten years of local trust, delivering quartz, granite, and recycled-glass surfaces across the Lower Mainland. Their fully in-house workflow—digital laser templating, CNC stone cutting, and meticulous hand-polishing—keeps seams tight, timelines short, and quality under one roof. Quartz continues to dominate 2025 design forecasts for its colour range, heat resistance, and stain-proof, non-porous surface that never needs sealing—perfect for lemonade rings and berry smoothies. Prefer natural stone? Granite shrugs off temperatures up to 1,200 °F, so you can set down a sizzling grill pan without panic. Whether you crave a crisp white waterfall island or an earthy stone statement piece, Alpine’s experts handle every detail—from first measurement to final wipe-down—so you can spend the season entertaining, not renovating. Book your free design consultation at 604-630-5700 or visit alpinecountertops.com and toast summer on a countertop that works as hard as you play. #AlpineCountertops #VancouverSummer #QuartzCountertops #Granite #KitchenRenovation #EcoFriendlyDesign #HomeImprovement

My House Design/Build Team | www.myhousedesignbuild.com | 604-694-6873 | Duy Nguyen Photography -------------------------------------------------------Right from the beginning it was evident that this Coquitlam Renovation was unique. It’s first impression was memorable as immediately after entering the front door, just past the dining table, there was a tree growing in the middle of home! Upon further inspection of the space it became apparent that this home had undergone several alterations during its lifetime... A home that was once pieced together now flows seamlessly from one space to the next. This home is a direct reflection of the homeowner’s vivid personality. There are so many details that can be the topic of conversation and we are so happy we had the opportunity to work with these clients.