Written By Stefanie Barrett

This articles has been written by our Lead Designer, Stefanie Barrett.

Don’t shy away from the dark side! Black can be just as timeless as whites and grays, and the warmth it brings to a room might surprise you. Whether in small spaces or larger areas, this versatile color can make a stunning impact and create a mood that is both inviting and sophisticated.

Kitchens

Using black cabinetry creates a bold contrast and adds a sense of luxury and elegance to your kitchen. It pairs beautifully with white countertops and neutral tones, such as natural wood, creating a harmonious balance. Consider incorporating brass or gold hardware to further enhance the luxe feel. Additionally, open shelving painted in black can serve as a dramatic backdrop for your favorite dishware, making your kitchen not just functional but also a stylish statement.

Bathrooms

Incorporating black tiles in the bathroom can create a sleek and modern look, especially when paired with a crisp white ceiling. This combination not only adds visual interest but also creates a striking accent that draws the eye. Extending black tiles up the walls can open up the space, even with a darker color, while adding depth and dimension. For a truly spa-like atmosphere, consider adding plants or wooden accents for a touch of warmth and natural contrast.

Dining and Living Rooms

Contrary to common belief, darker colors can actually make a room feel larger. Black walls can create the illusion of depth, making your space feel more expansive and inviting. To soften the look, consider incorporating lighter furniture or vibrant artwork to create focal points against the dark backdrop. Textured fabrics, such as plush throws or velvet cushions, can also add a cozy touch, making your living area a perfect retreat.

Offices

Black walls offer an elegant and sophisticated backdrop for your home office, fostering an environment conducive to focus and creativity. Pairing black with rich wooden desks or metallic accents can elevate the overall design. Add a few plants or colorful art pieces to bring life to the space and break up the monochrome palette.

While you can certainly use black sparingly, I believe it has become the new white. It’s a timeless color that dramatically enhances any home. Whether you opt for bold statements or subtle touches, black brings warmth and elegance to every room.

Final Thoughts

Don’t be afraid to embrace this powerful hue. It invites exploration and creativity, encouraging you to take risks with your design choices. The key is to balance black with complementary colors and textures, allowing it to shine without overwhelming your space. You might be amazed at the impact it can make! So, have fun with it—experiment, and discover the beauty that black interior design can bring to your home. Tap the button below to get a free consultation with Strobel Design Build!

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When it comes to investing in your home, few improvements offer as much bang for your buck as remodeling. In Florida’s dynamic real estate market, the right renovations can significantly enhance property value, offering homeowners the dual benefits of increased resale value and improved living spaces. This blog post will explore how various remodeling projects affect home value in Florida, with a particular focus on kitchen and primary bathroom remodels—two areas where strategic upgrades can yield impressive returns.

Understanding Florida’s Real Estate Market

Florida’s real estate market is as diverse as its landscapes. From the bustling urban centers of Tampa and Downtown St. Pete to the serene coastal towns like St. Pete Beach and Tierra Verde, the state’s housing market reflects a variety of buyer preferences and regional trends. Despite these differences, there are common threads that link property values across Florida, including the demand for modern, updated homes.

The Value of Remodeling

Remodeling projects can be a powerful way to boost your home’s value, particularly in a competitive market like Florida’s. While the specifics can vary based on location and current market conditions, certain types of renovations consistently offer high returns on investment (ROI). Among these, kitchen and primary bathroom remodels stand out as particularly impactful.

Kitchen Remodels: A Culinary Investment

1. Cost vs. Value

In Florida, a well-executed kitchen remodel typically costs between 10% and 15% of the home’s total value. For example, if your home is worth $800,000, expect to spend between $80,000 and $120,000 on a kitchen renovation. This investment is generally matched or exceeded by the increase in your home’s value. The return on investment for kitchen remodels can range from 10% to 20%, making it one of the most rewarding upgrades.

2. What Buyers Want

Florida buyers are often drawn to homes with modern, stylish kitchens that offer functionality and space. Popular upgrades include stainless steel appliances, natural stone countertops, custom cabinetry, and energy-efficient fixtures. In coastal areas, light, airy designs with a focus on natural materials and colors can enhance appeal.

3. ROI Insights

The ROI for kitchen remodels in Florida is consistently high due to the importance buyers place on this central space. A kitchen that integrates modern conveniences with aesthetic appeal can set your home apart from others on the market, making it a wise investment.

Primary Bathroom Remodels: The Luxe Touch

1. Cost vs. Value

Similar to kitchen remodels, investing in a primary bathroom remodel typically costs around 10% of the home’s total value. For a home valued at $750,000, this translates to $75,000. The potential increase in home value from a high-quality bathroom renovation can also be in the range of 10%, depending on the extent of the remodel and the quality of finishes.

2. What Buyers Want

Florida homeowners and buyers often seek luxurious and relaxing bathroom retreats. High-end features like walk-in showers, freestanding tubs, double vanities, and premium fixtures are popular. Incorporating elements like natural stone, high-quality tile, and ample lighting can enhance the appeal of your primary bathroom.

3. ROI Insights

A well-designed bathroom remodel can transform a basic space into a spa-like sanctuary, significantly boosting your home’s market value. Given the emphasis on comfort and style in Florida’s real estate market, a primary bathroom renovation is likely to yield a strong return.

Other Remodeling Projects

While kitchen and primary bathroom remodels are among the most impactful, other home improvements can also contribute to increased value. Here’s a brief look at a few additional projects:

1. Exterior Improvements

Curb appeal is crucial in Florida’s competitive market. Enhancements such as fresh paint, new siding, upgraded landscaping, and improved outdoor living spaces (e.g., patios and decks) can make a significant difference. These projects typically offer a good ROI, often around 10% to 15%, depending on the quality and extent of the improvements.

2. Energy-Efficient Upgrades

With Florida’s sunny climate, energy-efficient upgrades like solar panels, energy-efficient windows, and advanced HVAC systems can be appealing to eco-conscious buyers. While these improvements may not always offer as high an ROI as kitchen or bathroom remodels, they can enhance your home’s value and appeal, particularly in markets where sustainability is a priority.

3. Additional Living Space

Building on additional living space can also add value. Florida buyers often appreciate extra bedrooms or versatile spaces that can serve as home offices, gyms, or entertainment areas. The ROI on these projects varies, but they can provide a substantial boost to your home’s marketability.

Tips for Maximizing ROI

1. Know Your Market

Understanding the preferences of buyers in your specific Florida region can help tailor your remodeling projects to meet demand. Research local trends and consider consulting with a real estate professional to gauge what features are most desirable.

2. Invest in Quality

While it might be tempting to cut costs with cheaper materials or DIY projects, high-quality finishes and professional craftsmanship often pay off in the long run. Buyers can be discerning, and well-executed remodels are more likely to yield a higher ROI.

3. Prioritize High-Impact Areas

Focus your remodeling efforts on areas that offer the highest return. Kitchen and bathroom remodels are generally safe bets, but don’t overlook the importance of curb appeal and other value-enhancing improvements.

In Florida’s competitive real estate market, strategic remodeling can significantly boost your home’s value. Kitchen and primary bathroom remodels, in particular, offer impressive returns on investment, often increasing home value by 10% to 20%. By investing wisely and focusing on high-impact areas, you can enhance your living space and achieve a substantial return when it’s time to sell. As always, staying informed about market trends and buyer preferences will help ensure that your remodeling efforts align with the demands of Florida’s vibrant real estate landscape.

Transform Your Home with Expert Renovations

At Strobel Design Build, we specialize in creating beautiful, functional spaces tailored to your needs and style. Whether you’re planning a kitchen remodel, a bathroom upgrade, or a full home renovation, our award-winning team is here to guide you through every step. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and discover how we can turn your vision into reality.

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Check Out Stefanie’s Design Trends for 2024

Forever since I can remember becoming a designer (back in 2003 shhhhh) it’s ALWAYS been white shaker cabinets. It’s timeless and fits into everyone’s home from traditional to modern. When all you need to add to it is to add hardware, lighting, countertops and it all makes it slightly different in each home. This will never get old or be an actual trend. It’s a safe bet in any home. If you’re remodeling to sell, stay or flip.

However, more and more people are being a bit more confident with color and adding color to their cabinetry, lighting, flooring and even appliances. It’s not just adding paint to walls to make a statement. It’s now adding great wallpaper to the ceiling, texture to the walls and enhancing every aspect to make that individual statement.

Don’t ever be afraid to use color to express yourself in your own home. It’s something that keeps your friends and family staying in your home because they feel that personality of you coming through. Here are a few exceptional examples to keep in mind when remodeling with color!

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Residential additions are the best way to add value and square footage to your home. By adding on to your home, residential additions allow you to transform your current living space into the home you have always dreamed of, without the limitation of only being able to use the current space. The team at Strobel Design Build specializes in second-story additions as well as master suites and mother-in-law additions. With Strobel Design Build on your team, your new addition will not only add value to your home but will give you more space to enjoy.

For this specific project, our client was interested in adding square footage to his home through a master suite addition, including a master bedroom, bathroom, and walk-in closet. Strobel Design Build constructed this addition by building out into existing garage space and added square footage by bumping out one of the sidewalls of the existing garage structure. The new space features several windows, a soffit ceiling, and a barn door that leads to the master bedroom and walk-in closet. 

The home was already designed in a contemporary beachfront aesthetic that the client loved, so the team at Strobel Design Build made design choices to complement the rest of the house’s aesthetic. 

After completing this project, our client was so happy with the results that he left a glowing review for the Strobel Design Build team, which included the following highlights:

The entire process was actually “enjoyable”! It began with Rob doing the estimates. He took the time to explain every line item and answer all of our questions. (and we had plenty)!

Meeting Stefanie and Mike at Pro Source for an afternoon, although very overwhelming for my wife, they were both very patient showing us various ideas and designs.

Jimmy explained each step before it happened, gave me options when we came up against any challenges, and always kept me informed.

“Handy Andy” taught me many tricks of the trade, a wonderful man!

Mike Z was always available to answer our questions as well and checked in on many occasions.

I felt it was very rewarding to meet all the subcontractors the first time they came to our home as well. There is nothing betting than meeting the team that will actually be doing the work. All were respectful of our property, worked efficiently, and left our home cleaner than they found it.

The entire Strobel Design Build team loved working with David Ball on this project, and according to Director of Production Mike Zgrabik, the job went great because of the homeowner! David Ball was open-minded and worked well with the Strobel Design Build team, constantly staying open to collaborations and listening to all advice offered. The bedroom design of this project was fluid and changed on several occasions due to discoveries made during construction, and Mike was instrumental in managing changes that were made to the scope of the work throughout the project. 

At Strobel Design Build, we believe that client involvement is essential for the home remodeling process. A Strobel Design Build remodel is an intimate collaboration between the client and our team. It is of the utmost importance to us that the project is a manifestation of our client’s vision, and that requires client involvement at every step of the way.

Check out more projects from Strobel Design Build on the Projects page of our website!

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The Project

Instead of touring nursing homes as they age, our clients will simply move next door to their current two-story home into the guest house built by Strobel Design Build. The guest house, which is a miniature version of their current home, is fully handicap accessible and was built with our Universal Design standards in place. 

The couple, who both have insight into nursing homes and assisted living facilities due to their career paths, decided together that that was not the route they wanted to take as they got older. Instead, they decided to purchase the small house next door to their current home, tear it down, and start from scratch.

Strobel Design Build President Mark Zdrojewski was able to help bring this couple’s vision to life and understand their need for Universal Design because of his educational background. Mark has a Master’s Degree in Aging and Neuroscience from the University of South Florida College of Medicine and previously worked in research labs at the USF Center of Excellence in Aging and Brain Repair, as well as the Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute. Mark has brought this knowledge to Strobel Design Build and applies it to the company’s building practices, especially in ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant homes.

The team at Strobel Design Build constructed a guest house that will allow the couple to remain in their neighborhood as they get older, with the idea that caregivers or family will move into the main house where they are currently living. One of the main benefits, according to the couple, is “knowing that you’re going to be taken care of and in a place you want to be and not have to be uprooted and put in an assisted living facility or nursing home.”

The Future of Nursing Homes

With the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused isolation from families and widespread death at nursing homes, the option to age in place is becoming more and more appealing. Our clients were ahead of the game, and this project was completed in 2019. The couple can now have the peace of mind that they will be able to age comfortably in their own home, and not have to navigate finding and moving into a nursing home in the years to come.

Contact Strobel Design Build

The team at Strobel Design Build is dedicated to providing the best quality of work for all of our clients, and making our clients’ dream homes a reality. If you are ready to get started on your home remodeling project, contact the team at Strobel Design Build today.

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An estimated 20% of Americans live with a disability, and that number is growing. Accessible spaces are in high demand. If you or a loved one have a disability, you can remodel your home for better access without sacrificing any of its beauty. Your bathrooms are a great place to start.

Tip: While every homeowner is different, you and your remodeler can use the ADA website as a guide for bathroom accommodations that will work for guests and family with a variety of disabilities and access needs.

Design Ideas for Accessible Bathrooms

Open Showers: Already popular in European and high-end American baths, consider a curbless shower stall. In these models, there is often a slope toward the drain that begins 6 inches or so outside the shower curtain.

Depending on your preference, you can either use a stand-alone shower chair or have a shower bench installed. While most recommend a curbless shower entrance, any curb that is installed should be low to the floor and made of rubber, so it’s easier for a wheelchair to roll over if need be.

Detachable Shower Heads: We suggest using a valve that is pressure-balanced and thermostatically controlled to prevent scalding. We can install both a traditional, fixed shower head and a detachable one to meet the unique needs of everyone in your family.

Grab Bars: Grab bars can be added to ensure the safe use of the toilet and shower. But you’re not just stuck with shiny, metal chrome. You can choose from a variety of colors that are just as durable, without looking clinical.

Sinks: Along with clearance beneath the sink to allow for a wheelchair to roll underneath, your faucets can be infrared/motion-detecting (to make it easier for someone with limited dexterity to turn the sink on and off without turning knobs). If you do decide on turn faucets, they can be fitted on the side of the sink for easier reach.

Mirror: Don’t forget to choose and position a mirror that is easy for a seated person to see themselves in. For best results, the top of the mirror should be tipped out.

Toilet: We recommend placing the toilet between 2 grab bars that are 36 inches apart, If a lever flush doesn’t work for you, you can use a push-button or automatic flush. A toilet-bidet combination may be a great solution for people with limited dexterity and/or upper mobility.

Whether you need a couple minor changes or an overhaul, we can help design and install beautiful bathroom features and fixtures that are more user-friendly. While home bathrooms aren’t required to be ADA-compliant, an accessible bathroom can be used by anyone living in or visiting your home. We’ll help you find a design that ensures safety, adds to your resale value and complements your existing decor.

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There is no transformation more dramatic than giving your home’s exterior a makeover. Our designers and project managers are available to walk you through the entire process, step-by-step. Whether you’re looking to add a firepit, remodel your porch, or simply add some shade, we’re here to help!

There are many benefits to having an outdoor area added to your home. One includes having more space for entertaining, especially for the upcoming spring and summer nights. Imagine having a BBQ with your neighbors, family and friends on the Fourth of July or Labor Day weekend in an area that you helped create and design. Now that’s a celebration!

The aesthetic appeal of a newly designed outdoor space may also increase your home’s value. An outdoor living area, especially in the sunshine state, is highly desired. No plans to move in the immediate future? That’s simply more time for you to enjoy the space for yourself!

Being outdoors is also proven to help boost overall health. Studies have shown that it can reduce stress, improve your mood, and aid in positive thinking. After being stuck inside all day at the office, how enjoyable would it be to come home to an outdoor oasis in your backyard?

Contact us today to get started on a design for your outdoor space!

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STEEL THE DEAL

That’s right! One trend that’s here to stay in 2018 is the popular industrial steel look that made its way into many kitchens last year. But like most comebacks, the look has changed for the new year. The typical gold and silver appliances that were found in kitchens across the country last year have been swapped for rose gold, metallic and brass accents. These metals can add warmth to your kitchen along with a chic, modern feel. Here at Strobel Design Build, our designers are always ready and willing to take on the kitchen of your dreams.

SIMPLY FLOORED

 We’ve seen statement walls, color-blocked living rooms and eccentric light fixtures, but we have yet to see standout floors… until now. Interior designers are forecasting floor patterns as the latest trend in house customization. Whether it’s a delicate paisley pattern or an abstract tone on tone design, Strobel Design Build can tailor your house to your needs.

SPA-LIKE BATHROOMS

 The bathroom is a place in a home where comfort should not be compromised for taste. One of our favorite trends for 2018 is the spa-like bathroom. The incorporation of light-colored stone, like marble and tile, adds a serenity to a bathroom that could only equate to the tranquility found within the walls of your favorite spa. At Strobel Design Build, we pride ourselves on our ability to construct the most unique bathrooms. We make sure that everyone on our design team, from our contractor to our master craftsman, puts in the work needed to ensure your bathroom is your much deserved hide-away.

LET PURPLE REIGN

Pantone, the lead authority of color creation and design application, recently announced ultra violet purple as the 2018 color of the year. This particular shade of purple is categorized as a color that fosters originality and thoughtfulness in a decorative world that is often ruled by earth-tones and neutral palettes. Although we still believe that the latter can add warmth to your space, we at Strobel Design Build challenge you to look outside of your comfort zone. Bright colors can create the final touch of transformation your room may need. Yellow, green and orange are a few hues that are sure to create buzz in the interior design realm.

FEELING GREEN

We may have a solution to incorporating more greens into your new year…houseplants! Pinterest tags with exotic plants and colorful leaf patterns have spiked as it relates to an unconventional in-house decoration. Houseplants can be a simple and affordable solution to adding more color into your home or breathing new life into areas of the house that need some love.

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     We’ve found the matte black trend has mostly been utilized in the kitchen area, since there is so much opportunity for it. Imagine redesigning your kitchen to include a matte finish on bigger kitchen appliances, such as sinks, refrigerators, and cabinets.  Compliment your white or marble countertops with these fresh products to give your kitchen the modern redesign you’ve always wanted. Matte has a way of removing all the other distractions of the product, such as its gloss or sheen, so an individual can focus solely on the product itself. It is an unique way to add contrast and depth to an all-white kitchen, or a traditional glossy and lustrous design.

     If you fall in love with this trend after incorporating bigger matte appliances, think about adding smaller appliances too, such matte coffee makers, pots, pans, toasters, microwaves, plates, and bowls. Kitchen Aid offers a wide variety of stainless steel appliances that will help you go bold with this new look.

     Although the kitchen area seems to dominate the matte scene, we’ve noticed that dining rooms and bathrooms have hopped on board, too. Cambria Matte offers the same high performance quality of its other finishes, but now has a non-porous matte look, meaning there is no surface soiling and it does not require sealing. Check out the difference between Cambria High Gloss and Cambria Matte on the dining room table above. The matte dining room table, in our opinion, has a much more avant garde feel to it. Change is in the air with summer quickly approaching, so why not change up your dining room too?

     The possibilities are endless when it comes to bathroom remodeling. Whether you first saw matte black incorporated into a hotel bathroom, or the bathroom of a restaurant, you were likely intrigued by how contemporary and luxurious it made the bathroom feel. We love the matte faucet look, and Kohler is now expanding its products to include matte sinks and bathroom fixtures as well. Why keep all the matte indoors? Consider adding a matte black front door to compliment your interior matte accents. If you’re up for a DIY project, you can even paint the door yourself.

Overall, the matte design trend is here to stay. If you are interested, don’t just stick to the kitchen, incorporate this new trend all over your home for an elegant feel! These appliances are just as durable–if not more durable–than your former glossy appliances.

Call us at 727-321-5588 to schedule an appointment or email designer@strobeldesignbuild.com for more information on how to incorporate this trend into your home! We look forward to meeting you.

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