Creating a dream home requires vision, but bringing that vision to life requires meticulous organization. For a whole-house project, the secret to success was a dedicated “source book”, reliable contractors and a whole lot of managing expectations.
The Importance of Planning
Before the work began, a binder was prepared to act as the ultimate reference for the project:
- Hand-Drawn Layouts: Even without being a professional artist, drawing out exactly where everything should go helped communicate the floor plan.
- Inspiration Images: Photos were used to clearly show the desired look and style. Pinterest as well as Instagram can serve as a great source of inspiration.
- Color Swatches: Paint swatches were kept ready in the binder to ensure all finishes would coordinate.
Powerful Partners
North Alabama Cabinets: The cabinetry and vanities throughout the entire house—from the kitchen and laundry room to every bathroom—were handled by North Alabama Cabinets. Working closely with Cindy from their team was essential; she provided both professional guidance and 3D modeling to ensure the final product matched the initial vision.
Kenny Pipe & Supply: Heather worked with Mel here, who helped source all of their fixtures.
HVAC & Plumbing: SMS in Priceville handled the HVAC needs, with owner Shane frequently visiting the site to oversee different phases and assist with retrofitting. For plumbing, Ed Davidson went the extra mile, even assisting with outdoor sinks and gas range installations.
Landscaping: Pilo’s Lawn Care, a father-and-son team (Pilo and Tony), managed all landscaping work. They are highly responsive, often arriving within an hour of a call to discuss specific project details.
Source Inspiration:
Appliances:
The GE Café line won out for all of their appliances: dishwasher, refrigerator, ice machine, and stove. Customization of the hardware from the standard rose gold to a specific gold fits the aesthetic of the kitchen perfectly.
Kitchen Cabinet Colors:
Although specific paint colors were originally chosen, North Alabama Cabinets offered standard colors that perfectly matched the vision. The kitchen features “Polar White” cabinets, which provide a creamy yet white aesthetic.
Most of the Wall Colors: Sherwin Williams’ “Alabaster” was used for most of the interior walls.
Lighting: The majority of the home’s lighting was sourced through Inline Lighting and Muse. Preferred brands included Visual Comfort and Gabby Lighting. (We have sourced a lot of fixtures from Visual Comfort as well as lighting and furniture from Gabby- highly recommend!)
Furniture: To completely refurnish the home, two local stores were key: Cornerstone in Decatur and Austin’s Furniture in Madison. Both vendors were willing to store furniture purchased months in advance and coordinated delivery once the house was ready.
Granite and Tile: All of the tile work and the granite for the project were sourced from Town Granite.
LVP Flooring: The Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) flooring was purchased from James Carpets in Huntsville.
Lessons Learned: Budget and Expectations
Renovations often take longer and cost more than initially expected. It is important to view the process as a marathon rather than a sprint.
One specific budget surprise occurred with the electrical installation. Even though all fixtures and plugs were purchased independently, the installation cost was higher than anticipated because it was billed per fixture based on size and the difficulty of the installation location. (Note: We’ve experienced the sticker shock of electrical work as well. We highly recommend getting a price per project instead of a price per fixture or price per hour.)
Ultimately, having a dedicated team that is willing to go the extra mile makes the high-stress moments manageable and helps you reach the end goal: a space that truly feels like home.
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