by Mina Fies, Synergy Design & Construction

You might think the remodeling industry is all about carpentry, cabinetry and chaos with not much room for fun. However, when we founded Synergy Design & Construction, we knew there was much more involved than just the sticks and bricks of the typical renovation experience.

That’s why we chose to add to go deeper with our clients to ensure we helped them create a home that was is in Alignment. Simply put, we help you better understand your connection to your home and how it influences your daily life, both at home and work.

One of the fun elements we encourage is a practice called “Intention Painting”. An intention painting is a way for you to energetically “stamp” your intentions for your new space onto the walls during the remodel.

Many of our clients participate (and make it a family affair) by writing meaningful sayings, quotes or just something playful about their family on the drywall before the space is painted. You won’t see it when the remodel is complete, but you’ll always know it’s there!

This month, rather than featuring one of our client transformations, we are sharing some holiday spirit with these real intention paintings from some our clients. So sit back, relax and feel inspired!

Download our FREE intention painting tip sheet and add some heart to your next remodel. If the warm and fuzzy stuff isn’t up your alley, you can also find out more about our approach to remodeling here, or stay in touch and sign up  to receive no-commitment design inspiration directly in your inbox!

Wishing you and your family a festive holiday season and Happy New Year 2019!

by Mina Fies, Synergy Design & Construction

Interior Design trends come and go — so how do you know which have staying power and which ones will make you say “That was so 2018” in a couple of years? Before you splurge on that remodel you’ve been thinking about, here’s my advice on how to get the look you want without going over-the-top on trends.

Kitchen Cabinets

All-white kitchen cabinets are a great example of a design trend with longevity. White cabinetry continues to be a firm favorite and is a great choice for a clean, modern look.

However, we started to see a move away from the all-white kitchen a few years ago. It started with homeowners willing to take a risk with a different colored island, or different colored/two toned cabinets. It’s a beautiful look.

More recently, we’ve seen a shift to different colored kitchens altogether. Those who want to play it safe have been choosing neutral sand colors, but some have gone all-out with blues, greens and even black accents!

You don’t have to go ultra-modern to get the look. The key to great design is respecting the aesthetic of the rest of your home so it feels cohesive.

Tile

Portuguese and Moroccan-inspired tile is everywhere right now!

A friend recently asked, “I love this look, but will I regret it in a few years?” There’s a way to do it right. If you aren’t a risk taker, then start small. Use the tile you love in a mudroom or laundry room, or use it as an accent piece behind your stove in the kitchen.

My prediction is this look is here to stay, so have fun with it!

Wallpaper

Once the staple of the family home, wallpaper got a bad reputation after the 80’s overuse with lots of busy patterns and borders. Not any more! The resurgence of wallpaper started a few years ago with statement accent walls and now it’s now back with a bang!

New wallpapers are geometric, textured and beautiful. Believe it or not, floral wallpaper is back too, but with a modern twist with large flowers that make really bold (yet tasteful) statements!

Flooring

Hardwood was the only way to go for many years. However, there’s new competition on the block and hardwood is no longer the must-have solution. Alternative flooring types bring a few benefits: some are more eco-friendly and/or are less expensive than hardwood.

Bamboo floors are a great option and look beautiful. They have similar water resistance and durability as hardwood but are more environmentally friendly because bamboo grows quickly (and therefore takes less time to replace).

Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) has also made a big comeback. This is not your Grandma’s kitchen floor. The new LVT is modern, hard wearing and can look beautiful in any space in your home. You’ve probably seen this in homes and not even realized it was LVT!

With lumber tariffs having an ever-increasing impact on remodeling costs, the trend for non-hardwood floors is growing with all signs pointing to the reign of hardwood being over.

Brass Fixtures

For the last decade (and counting), brass fixtures were everywhere. Everyone was ready to leave the heady days of 1980/90s brass everywhere in the past and there was a shift to satin nickel and chrome.

Well, what was old is new again, but with an updated look. Gold brass has been given an updated look with softer shades and finishes. What’s nice about the new-look brass is that is pairs so well with the trend of mixed metals.

That’s right, not every fixture has to match any more — brass and mixed metals have been all over the design shows and magazines this year.

Is it a trend that will stick? If you do it right! But no, that doesn’t mean you get to claim your faucets from 1985 are once again trendy!

This month’s remodel features a single family home remodel in North Reston. What we loved about these wonderful clients was their desire to think outside the box with regards to cabinetry. Anything is possible: we even matched the blue cabinetry to the homeowner’s favorite blue purse!

Find out more about our approach to remodeling. Not ready to remodel and just want to keep in touch? Sign up to receive design inspiration directly in your inbox!

by Mina Fies, Synergy Design & Construction

You finally decide you’re going to tackle that kitchen remodel and you want it done in time for Thanksgiving. The contractor you meet with looks thoughtful and says, “Your project is going to take 3 weeks and cost $20,000″… and then you wake up.

We’ve all seen the TV shows. Much as I love them, reality shows do a disservice to homeowners in terms of setting unrealistic expectations about what it takes to create your perfect space — both in terms of time and cost.

I had the chance to see the Property Brothers speak at an industry conference awhile back and found them not only engaging and insightful… but completely honest! One of the first things they said was “Our shows are not reality”. They went on to explain they don’t charge for their time, most of the materials are donated and a lot of the shows are shot in locations where the cost of living is vastly different from ours.

So where else does reality lie?

• Design comes first, then construction. Thoughtful design takes time and needs to be finalized before anyone starts pulling out your cabinets.
• We’re frequently asked, “Can’t you give me a ballpark cost?” We can certainly give you a range, but think of it as car. Want the heated seats, sunroof and rear view camera? That adds to the final cost. Until any remodeler knows if you want the high end appliances, the radiant heating or the custom cabinets, there is no way to give you an accurate cost until you’re further along in the design process.
• You’ve finalized the design you want, now it’s time to order materials. Quality cabinetry alone can have a 6-8 week lead time. This is where many remodeling projects start to fall off the rails. Your kitchen or bathroom has been torn out, and you are suddenly told the tile you want won’t be delivered for another 4 weeks.
• No-one should be swinging hammers in your home before they’ve finalized the design or ordered the materials. We have a saying at Synergy, “materials wait for construction, not the other way around.” The contractor you pick should be able to tell you exactly when the construction phase of your project will start and exactly when it will finish.

If any contractor comes through your front door now promising to complete your remodel by Thanksgiving, that’s great and depending on the size and scale of the project, perhaps it will. But do your homework and make sure it’s not just a tactic to get you to sign on the dotted line. The last thing you want is to be taking down your Christmas decorations and they still haven’t finished the job.

This month’s remodel features a single family home remodel in Reston. Our clients wanted to completely open up the space to create a better flow and a more cohesive space. They put their trust in us to deliver the final project on-time and on-budget and that’s exactly what we did!

Find out more about our approach to remodeling. Not ready to remodel and just want to keep in touch? Sign up to receive information directly in your inbox!

by Mina Fies, Synergy Design & Construction

School is back in session but many of us are still in recovery mode from all the first day prep work!

Multiple trips to different stores to buy everything from dinosaur pencils to glitter glue to never-ending supplies of hand sanitizers and wipes. Forbes reports the average family spends around $500 per child on back-to-school items.

Now it’s the inevitable collection of backpack contents and “no, you can’t throw it away! I made it for you!” items that start piling up on your kitchen counter. Don’t know where to put stuff? Constantly asked by your family, “Where did you put my… ?”. You are not alone! Consider this:

• Americans spend 9 million hours looking for things (organizedworld.com)
• On average, people spend 6 minutes a day looking for their keys, cell phones and wallets/purses
• According to napo.net, getting rid of clutter eliminates 40% of housework

Given the money spent and time wasted in a cluttered home, this month we’re highlighting how organization can be beautifully accomplished as part of your home remodel. Perhaps some of these features should move to your “must-have” list!

Joys of a well-designed Mud Room

High traffic areas like mud rooms can become nightmarish drop zones. Mud room design should make much more efficient use of space with lots of cubbies, thoughtful storage and built-in cabinetry with ample space for coats, bags and backpacks.

One of our clients even asked us to incorporate a wet-zone to help ease post-swim meet chaos! Having a well-thought out mud room means the whole family has dedicated storage as they enter/exit the house.

Double Duty Laundry

I’m sure it’ll come as no surprise that laundry rooms are no longer just about function either — nothing beats a beautiful, put-together laundry that makes you feel good!

One of our clients wanted a contemporary laundry that served double duty as a craft space. With a young family, having somewhere to put all their “stuff” was also high on the wishlist. We were able to provide this with TONS of storage hidden behind oversized sliding doors.

It’s hard to know exactly what you want if you can’t visualize the space. Whoever you pick as your remodeling partner, ask them if they provide 3D renderings to show how much bang for your remodeling buck you can get with more organization.

Renderings allow you to see conceptually what the space will look like and if the design will work for you and your family.

Purposeful use for every nook and cranny

Most of us have unused areas in our home that are, quite literally, a waste of space. Good design maximizes the use of every square inch of a home. The basement of a recent Leesburg whole home remodel shows two instances of smart use of space for added organization.

In the game room, a void space was used to create storage for a table tennis top and pool cues. The space is accessed by a hidden, flush door that blends into with the wall. The remodel also opened up the space under the basement stairs to create a mini-refuge in the new niche. With built-in drawers and a twin mattress along with a bookshelf, extendable sconce and a nearby outlet, the house is tidy and ready for the grandkids!

Incorporate Built-In storage

Oh, the joy built-in storage can bring! Beautifully designed storage doesn’t mean it loses its functionality. Open shelves are great if you are good with staging; the key is to keep it simple and only display one or two “objets” to provide visual interest and not make a room feel too cluttered.

If open shelving isn’t for you but adding doors to cabinets is going to break the budget, there are lots of great options to hide items in boxes and containers that provide an inexpensive alternative from The Container Store to Target.

Interested in more hints and tips to master your remodel? Read our blogs or sign up to receive information directly in your inbox!

Written by Mina Fies, Synergy Design & Construction

Have you ever wondered why renovations go wrong? Here are some of the most common complaints we hear from homeowners:

• The contractor said the work would be completed by the end of June. It’s August and there’s STILL no end in sight.
• The estimate they provided at the start of the project bears no resemblance to what it’s actually costing me.
• Why am I the one driving the project and making all the design decisions?
• There seems to be an endless stream of people in my home but I’m not sure who’s actually in charge!

Does any of this sound familiar?

Most complaints are the result of remodelers not having a clear pathway and strong synergy between the design and construction phases of a project. They’re all too eager to get started and give you a ballpark estimate with no reality around allowances for your design choices, the complexity of your remodel or they have no project plan in place to get you to your end game.

No one wants a “I wasn’t expecting that!” moment in the middle of a remodel which inevitably adds time and cost to your project.

That’s why we created the Renovation Roadmap™ as our way to help you navigate the remodeling process. Think of our proprietary system as your ticket to an exceptional remodeling experience. We take care of every step of the process from plans and designs to providing exact costs and a detailed timeline for quality construction.

Why is this important? It eliminates change orders, unexpected bills, delays, frustration and — most importantly — it allows you to have some fun along the way!

Our Reno of the Month features a kitchen remodel in Fairfax Station. Our clients had a poor experience with a previous remodeler and had been searching for another partner to work with for 4 years!

Friends and family said there was no way we could finish on time (having not had that experience with remodels themselves) and our client took great delight in walking everyone through the completed spaces ON TIME!

Why was our client so happy? Because they felt completely taken care of from start to finish.

Learn why our approach works and sign up to receive our free Renovation Roadmap™ brochure!

Written by Mina Fies, Synergy Design & Construction

Many homeowners make assumptions about the general contractor or remodeling firm they pick for their remodel. You get a great first impression from the initial sales meeting, but, odds are those aren’t the same people who’ll actually be in your home doing the work every day.

Carpenters and construction crews will be in your life, around your kids and overseeing your investment each day of the project, so don’t forget to ask questions during the selection of a remodeling partner about the people actually doing the work:

• Are your carpenters in-house employees or subcontractors?
• Do I have a dedicated lead for my project?
• What training or certifications do workers have?
• What standards will the staff follow while they’re in my home?
• Who will have access to keys while work is being completed?

So much of a home remodel depends on labor, so it’s important you’re comfortable with the field expertise of your team.

While all of our carpenters are in-house team members, and one will be assigned a specifically oversee your project’s quality, safety and security protocols, not every company operates that way.

It takes a lot of trust to invite people into your home and we don’t take that lightly. Although many of our clients live in the home while we’re remodeling, others schedule their remodel while they’re out-of-town, or even relocating from outside of the area!

Regardless of who you choose to remodel your home, the point is to go beyond the initial sales call and find out who will actually be doing the work and overseeing your project.

Our Reno of the Month features a client who was living in Massachusetts during both the design and construction phases of their project.

We took all the necessary measures to ensure we delivered a perfect renovation while respecting safety and cleanliness, leaving nothing behind but a gorgeous, transformed home. Their neighbor even commented, “Thanks again for the neighborly way the crew handled everything. It’s really like we never knew you were there!”

Want to learn more about our team? Find out Who We Are!

Written by Mina Fies, Synergy Design & Construction

It’s summertime and the last thing on your mind is hosting Thanksgiving dinner this year.

It seemed like a great idea at the time when you committed, but now you have 24 people coming, it’s already June and you need to get going on your remodel.

If you don’t have time to remember to defrost something for dinner, how are you supposed to find time to pick a contractor who suits your project, fits your family’s crazy schedule and — equally as important — your budget?

If you’re already feeling swamped and overwhelmed, understanding and then aligning your renovation needs to the type of service a particular contractor provides is a HUGE time-saver.

There are many ways to renovate, so knowing what you need is the first step. Which one of these scenarios best describes you?

• You like a good DIY project on the weekend, but you know this one is above your level of expertise. If it doesn’t involve major design or architectural changes, it could be an easy ‘add’ for you to manage the little details of working with a handyman and coordinate with other trades for your project
• You’ve done a lot of remodeling before and you feel pretty savvy about what it takes to project manage a remodel. You love making design and material selections and don’t mind ordering materials yourself. In this case, you may find it easiest to work with a general contractor who will focus mainly on install and execution of your vision
• Your plate is full and you just don’t know where to start. Although you love design (HGTV is your go-to channel), you’re not confident on how to pull everything together and are afraid of making a mistake. When it comes to construction, you don’t want to be coordinating anything! In your case, a full-service design-build firm will guide you through your project from design all the way through to construction, do all the heavy lifting as well as project manage it along the way

Our featured renovation was for a client who fell into the 3rd category. They needed a whole home remodel for an active family with 2 teenagers who wanted spacious, bright, stylish but functional design that matched their busy lifestyle.

Knowing they didn’t have the design vision or time to project manage such a large remodel themselves, they quickly came to realize a design-build approach was the way to go.

The entire remodel was done while the family lived in the home.

Their new Kitchen is now the “heart of the home” and includes a stunning 9-foot plus island with rich blue cabinets and a White Himalaya polished granite countertop.

The new Mudroom/Laundry space has built-in cubbies for storage and even includes a tech-charging station.

The Master Bathroom is now a spa-like sanctuary, with a beautiful tiled shower and relaxing soaking tub. Additionally, a hall bath, guest bath and powder room were transformed into bright, modern spaces.

You can see more before and after projects on our website and learn how we help homeowners throughout Northern Virginia Renovate Happy™!

Not sure which remodeling approach is right for you? download our free “Ways to Renovate” guide to help get you started!

Written by Mina Fies, Synergy Design & Construction

Testimonials can be quite like Facebook — everyone puts their best foot forward and selected quotes usually only highlight a company in the best possible light.

As a result, many people skip over them. However, testimonials DO matter. Before you spend your hard earned dollars on a remodel, take a few moments to review testimonials to ensure you’ve found the perfect fit for your renovation partner.

Here’s our quick guide to meaningful testimonials:

• It might sound simple, but do the testimonials sound like they came from a real person? If they focus on the experience, and not just the end product, it’s a safe bet the client felt cared for during the process.
• Are there photos or videos of actual people on the website? Homeowners who had a great experience are usually willing to share their experience.
• Are before & after photos available and are they consistent with testimonials? If not, time to move on!
• Watch video testimonials — they are a great way to hear personal stories and opinions from genuinely satisfied customers.

Our featured Reno of the Month is a recently completed Master Bath and was the second remodel we completed for this client, having remodeled their kitchen a few years ago. Our clients had long dreamed of a sleek, stylish retreat that would transport them out of the builder-grade, basic-white Master Bathroom they had for many years.

While the footprint of the new bathroom mimics the old layout, the streamlined fixtures and materials bring new energy to the space and now truly reflect our clients’ modern tastes. Luxurious touches include back-lit vanity mirrors, a heated towel rack and a custom, teak-wood shower floor mat.

We treasure the trust our clients put in our team and feel fortunate to work on multiple projects for their family as needs change. Let them tell you in their own words why us.

Synergy believes partnership is the only way to go to ensure the remodeling journey is as fun as the destination. Our testimonials reflect our commitment to customer service and why, for us, it is not just a practice, it’s the driving force behind everything we do.

Written by Mina Fies, Synergy Design & Construction

Most homeowners avoid remodeling projects because they’re afraid of the disruption (and the mess) it will create in their home.

While it’s impossible to completely avoid dust and debris during the process a great contractor will go the extra mile to keep the disruption to a minimum. A few signs to look for in a well-organized job site include:

• Temporary plastic walls and zippered doorways to separate construction areas from the rest of the home
• Floor protection is installed to protect walkways to and from the outside
• HEPA Air Scrubber or other high powered vacuum is in use
• The dumpster is frequently emptied to minimize dangerous (and unsightly) conditions
• Garage or staging area is organized with tools in place at the end of each day
• The spaces being renovated are broom swept daily and left in an orderly fashion

Our featured renovation this month is a Reston townhouse kitchen and first floor. The original floor plan didn’t allow the spaces to interact well. We opened it up from the entry to the kitchen and main living area.

The home is now flooded with light and the updated space is great for entertaining. “What was especially nice was that everything was clean when I came home every night. They took time to clean every day and didn’t have boards and tools lying around everywhere,” commented another happy Synergy client.

Watch the video of our team in action in the field. You can see more of our remodeling transformations and behind-the-scenes videos at RenovateHappy.com.

Written by Mina Fies, Synergy Design & Construction

The #1 complaint I hear from homeowners is that their previous project took much longer than expected.

Working in the design and construction industry for years, I believe one of the biggest mistakes renovation companies make is not providing a clear timeline and plan to homeowners before construction begins.

Here’s a few questions to ask potential remodeling companies to ensure they’ve got the ability (and capacity) to get your project completed on-time:

• What is a “typical” project size for your company?
• How often do you take on projects like mine?
• How many projects do you have going on at one time?
• Do you provide a timeline for completion of my project?
• How will you ensure my project will come in on time and on budget?

Our featured renovation this month is a clean-lined, modern Reston kitchen. Our clients had exacting standards and an eye for details and they chose us because we provided them a clear pathway to the finish line (which we call our Renovation Roadmap™).

We use it to help make all design selections and provide the exact costs and construction timeline and — the best bit — this eliminates unexpected costs, delays and frustration!

We love helping homeowners like you, even if you don’t pick us as your remodeling partner. Download your free Renovation Roadmap brochure and receive monthly tools and tips on everything design and renovation.

Written by Mina Fies, Synergy Design & Construction

Like many of us, Pam and Mike have a busy family life. After living in their Herndon home for twelve years, they loved their house but knew it was time for a makeover.  Family, friends and entertaining were all high priorities which made a new kitchen, laundry, guest bathroom and updated family room move to the top of their remodeling list.

Since most homeowners fear the disruption a remodel brings, especially when it comes to the kitchen, we do our best to ease their angst by making it as smooth as possible. We always set up a temporary kitchen with the essentials homeowners need — a cooktop burner, a microwave, pots and pans — we’ll even move the fridge to make life easier!

We find it’s the things that make the biggest impact to the remodeling experience. It certainly helped Pam, Mike and their family go about their day-to-day lives while living in the home during the construction phase of their project.

Interested in learning more? Let Pam and Mike tell you in their own words Why Us!

Want to see more inspiring Reston remodeling projects?  

Learn more about Synergy Design & Construction — Reston’s own award-winning home remodeling firm focused on multi-room and whole home renovations. We provide a personal approach to home remodeling that is evident throughout the Reston community. Whether you’ve seen our work on the Reston Home Tour, through RA’s Helping Homes projects or at Cornerstones, we are dedicated to helping Reston “Renovate Happy.”  

Written by Mina Fies, Synergy Design & Construction

When Sarah purchased her Lakeside townhome near Lake Thoreau, she knew it needed a complete overhaul. In addition to updating the usual suspects (kitchen cabinets, countertops, paint, flooring, etc.) she wanted a better flow throughout the main floor.

By removing the kitchen pantry, we were able to open up the view to the dining and living rooms and let the light flow throughout the entire space. We also gave the fireplace new life with a modern, brick-like ceramic tile in a herringbone pattern and repurposed a closet area into a built-in beverage and entertaining center.

As always, going beyond just replacing old finishes was important to us. We knew a better flow could easily be attained with a simple, yet thoughtful new floorplan and eye on the overall Interior Alignment® of the space.

The result? Another happy client in a clean and modern Reston home she’d been longing for.

Want to see more inspiring Reston remodeling projects?  

Learn more about Synergy Design & Construction — Reston’s own award-winning home remodeling firm focused on multi-room and whole home renovations. We provide a personal approach to home remodeling that is evident throughout the Reston community. Whether you’ve seen our work on the Reston Home Tour, through RA’s Helping Homes projects or at Cornerstones, we are dedicated to helping Reston “Live Better. Feel Better.”