Our very own designer, Mary Sweet, was recently quoted in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s “When projects around the house need attention, should you do it yourself or hire professional help?”
“‘There’s nothing we haven’t seen before,’ said Sweet. She said Bartelt is well equipped to deal with unforeseen circumstances that can be intimidating for do-it-yourselfers.”
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We are excited to announce that we were recently awarded Best Of Houzz 2020 in the Design category by Houzz, the leading platform for home remodeling and design. Bartelt was chosen by the millions of homeowners that comprise the Houzz community from among more than 2.5 million active home building, remodeling and design industry professionals.
“We are honored to be named Best Of Houzz 2020 in the Design category” said Rick Bartelt, owner. “It is the result of our team’s and industry partners’ dedication to innovative design and superior craftsmanship.”
The Best Of Houzz is awarded annually in three categories: Design, Customer Service and Photography. Design awards honor professionals whose work was the most popular among the Houzz community.
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Bartelt was recently named the 2020 Region 3 Regional Contractor of the Year (CotY) by the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) for the Entire House $500,001 – $750,000 category.
“We are honored to be named the 2020 Regional Contractor of the Year in this category,” said Rick Bartelt, owner. “This accomplishment is the result of the expertise, creativity and superior craftsmanship of our entire team, industry partners and clients. We are truly fortunate to work with the best!”
Bartelt was selected as the winner of Region 3 North Central, an area that includes contractors from Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Contractors from seven regions around the country vie for CotY Awards on an annual basis, and all regional winners will now be eligible for the National CotY Awards. National winners will be honored at NARI’s Evening of Excellence reception on Friday, April 24, 2020, in St. Pete Beach, Florida.
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We were recently featured as the “Industry Leader of the Month” in MKE Lifestyle magazine’s May 2019 issue. The spotlight is a great overview of our team and the work we do throughout southeastern Wisconsin.
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Bartelt was recently named the 2019 National Contractor of the Year (CotY) by the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) for the Entire House $500,001 – $750,000 category.
“We are honored to be named the 2019 National Contractor of the Year in this category,” said Rick Bartelt, owner. “We are incredibly thankful for our team, industry partners and clients. We would not be where we are today without their support and expertise.”
Contractors from seven regions nationwide vied for the National CotY awards. An impartial panel of judges, who are experts within the industry and associated fields, selected winners based on problem solving, functionality, aesthetics, craftsmanship, innovation, degree of difficulty and entry presentation. Bartelt beat out over 350 entries in a competition that equates to over $97 million worth of remodeling projects.
The homeowners of the winning project contemplated moving to find a home better suited for their family of six, but after years of searching, they realized that they did not want to leave their neighborhood. They decided to remodel their home to accommodate daily living and showcase their vintage style. An addition was built to expand the home to include a large kitchen, family room, mudroom, master suite and additional bedrooms. The home features details that complement both the existing character of the home and the homeowners’ style – brass fixtures and hardware, cased openings, built-in bookshelves, v-groove walls and a neutral color scheme.
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We are excited to announce that we were recently named Best of Houzz 2019 in the Design category by Houzz, the leading platform for home remodeling and design. Bartelt was chosen by the more than 40 million monthly unique users that comprise the Houzz community.
“We are excited to be named Best of Houzz 2019, our sixth consecutive year we have received this honor,” said Rick Bartelt, owner. “We would not be where we are today without our team, industry partners and clients.”
Are you familiar with Houzz? Whether you’re dreaming about a remodel or actively planning a project, it’s a great resource to find inspiration and learn about products and materials. While you’re there, be sure to check out our profile!
When you think of wallpaper does your mind drift back to the patterns and materials of a bygone era? “Sometimes when I suggest wallpaper in a space, I brace myself, wondering if my clients are going to toss a pen at me,” says Heather Scott, Interior Designer at Bartelt. “They are still recovering from the removal of their 1990s wallpaper.” But in recent years, we are seeing this design element make a major comeback. With a wider selection and creative applications, wallpaper can be a fun detail, adding dimension and interest to a space that oftentimes paint cannot achieve.
Wallpaper isn’t tied to one particular style. With so many options – fabric, grass cloth, metallic, cork, subtle patterns, graphic or geometric designs – wallpaper can complement a contemporary space as well as traditional homes and everything in between.
Beyond its versatility, wallpaper is an easy way to add texture or drama to a space. Use it on an accent wall. Highlight an architectural detail. Put it in an unexpected spot such as on the ceiling or in a window nook. Wallpaper allows you to enhance a space’s style without adding more stuff to a room.
The first step in choosing wallpaper is evaluating its role in your space. What is your design goal? Are you adding depth and texture? Do you need a pop of color? Are you trying to soften a space? Do you want to create that “wow factor?” Answering this question will determine the type of wallpaper that will work in your home. If you’re trying to make a statement, a subtle pattern probably isn’t the best way to achieve that. If you’re looking for another layer of texture, perhaps a natural material will suit your space.
Another good practice is to start a collection of inspiration photos to determine what you’re naturally drawn to. This will help you see if certain patterns or themes emerge. It’s important to make sure the wallpaper matches your style rather than a fad, so you won’t grow tired of your choice. Houzz, Pinterest, home blogs and magazines are great design sources, and a professional interior designer can help you pull it all together.
Our last piece of selection advice is to pick up large samples to bring home and put on your wall. Then you can decide if the wallpaper complements the colors, patterns and furniture in the room. Leave the samples up for at least 24 hours, so you can see how it transforms throughout the day as the light changes.
There are really no rules when it comes to wallpaper placement, but we often see it in rooms where you don’t necessarily spend a majority of your time to avoid “wallpaper fatigue.” Bedrooms, guest rooms, formal dining rooms, libraries, hallways and powder rooms are all common spots to spice things up with wallpaper.
Not only did the July 2018 issue of MKE Lifestyle magazine feature our design team, but it also showcased one of our beautiful kitchen projects on pages 80-81. We love the balanced mix of rustic and feminine details in the space!
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The July 2018 issue of MKE Lifestyle magazine features the Bartelt design team in its “Faces of Metro MKE” special section. Our designers are hanging out in a recently completed farmhouse kitchen remodel! We love the warmth and natural light in this shot!
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Choosing products and materials can be an overwhelming process, sometimes extending the project’s timeline or overreaching the budget if not done properly. An interior designer works with homeowners to choose items based on quality, function, price and style, helping you bring your design goals to life.
At Bartelt, our in-house interior designers serve many roles – creator, project coordinator, a friendly ear – to guide you each step of the way and make the remodeling process enjoyable. Why is it important to look to a professional interior designer for direction? Let’s examine!
Your interior designer has a proven process to guide you through your project and selections, keeping you organized and using tools to help you visualize and understand how everything fits together. They’ll ask the right questions to hone in on your style, and they’ll help you make decisions at the proper time in the project’s progression. The designer is there to coordinate all the moving parts and make sure details don’t get missed. There are a lot of steps between preliminary design ideas and the final space.
Your interior designer can help keep your project on time and on budget (they may even end up saving you money). Homeowners don’t always realize the incredible amount of decisions that need to be made. That’s where your designer is a huge asset. They help you sort through all the options – lighting, paint colors, tile, flooring, countertops (this list goes on!) – and ensure that your selections are cohesive and within your allowance, leaving less room for errors and unnecessary spending.
They’ll also hold you accountable to make decisions in a timely manner, so your project’s timeline doesn’t get derailed.
A fresh eye is important! It can be hard to step back and look at your home from a different perspective. You often get accustomed to the layout, color scheme and other details. An interior designer has a trained eye and can see the potential in your space and offer creative solutions that you may have never considered.
Beyond offering ideas you may have not examined, they can also share options you may not have known even existed. Continuing education is an important aspect of the designer’s job, and they have a great pulse on new materials, tools and methods.
We all have big plans for our homes, and let’s face it – sometimes, we need a reality check. Your designer will help you set realistic goals and educate you on any design limitations. They can also help you practice restraint, or in other words, learn how to “edit.” What’s important to incorporate into the design? What isn’t necessary? Where can you take design risks? Where should you keep it simple? This will ensure your final space is practical while still showcasing your personality and unique style.
