Classic Tile & Renovations Awarded Angies List Super Service Award

Classic Tile & Renovations has been awarded Angie's List Super Service Award again for 2014. This award goes to companies who provide excellent service and quality and receive good reviews on Angies List.  Learn more here.

Marble and Mosaic Tile Bathroom Renovation

Here is another great example of a client selecting two simple tile arrangements to create a great looking bathroom renovation.  The marble tiles have great movement and are accented by mosaic tiles.  We were able to create a nice step up to the tub and continued the design in the shower installation.   This was a great looking renovation that Classic Tile and Renovations was proud to be part of!

-Tony DiMaggio

The Mosaic tiles give this bathroom a nice accent to the Marble tiles that enclose the bath tub. 

We continued the marble and mosaic pattern into the shower to finish off this custom bathroom installation

Adding Complexity with Simple Pieces in Your Custom Bathroom Renovation

In a bathroom renovation, it is easy to get that overwhelming feeling when it comes to deciding on what style you like.   My advice to you, is to keep it simple.  In this bathroom, the homeowner choose  a tile family, some accent mosaics and the finish look of their fixtures.  From there we took those simple pieces and began creating layers with the basic building blocks.  The finished look is stunning and the homeowners love the new look for their Master Bath.  Don't let the process overwhelm you.  Pick a few simple pieces and my team can help you design the rest.  This is just a reminder to keep it simple!
-Tony DiMaggio

The mosaic tiles create a beautiful custom step up to the garden tub.  We also used those mosaics in the carpet inlay design.

A full view of the carpet inlay.  Notice how a shift in the tile layout changes the  look and feel for this entrance piece.

A view of the custom shower installation. 

We used smaller versions of the main tile for the shower flooring.

And continued the design in the ceiling of the shower. 

Bathtub Renovations

Sometimes a simple bathtub renovation can make your entire bathroom look fresh again!  Take a look at this Tuscan style bathtub enclosure that we created with stone tiles.  These stone tiles have, what we say in the business, lots of movement and texture.  This type of stone helps create an inviting and warm space.  We added accent tiles to the face, top and in the enclosed shelf to further add dimension to this finished product!  The homeowner now has an inviting space to unwind from the day. 

A side view of the stone bathtub renovation. 

Notice the movement and variety of the stone in the completed bathtub renovation. 

Charlotte Bathroom Renovation

Here is another Bathroom Renovation where we utilized different sizes of the same tile to add interest and style.  We took a very basic small tile and created a diagonal pattern on the front of the tub surround.  This design flows into the shower where we continued the diagonal pattern on the floor and wall.  These simple changes create an interesting custom look that will make you happy for years to come!  My team has been working on a lot of great projects this summer, and we'll be posting more finished products soon. 

A view of the new garden tub, faucet and tile work.  Notice how different sizes of the same tile help add depth to the tub

We continued the different sized tiles in the shower and added a shower seat plus built in shelves.

Here is a view of the completed shower and vanity installation. 

Charlotte Bathroom Remodeling

Spring is picking up and I've had the pleasure of working on several renovations in Charlotte that I'll be sharing in the next couple of weeks!  Check out this Bath Remodel that my crew is finishing up.  We completely redecorated the shower by adding glass doors, custom tile, and a brand new shower head.  We added new vanities and created a new casing around the existing garden tub.   Check out the pictures and let me know how we can help you create your dream renovation!

Here is the bathroom during the renovation.  My crew doesn't build onto your existing bath, but strips back everything to the studs to make sure your shower installation is done correctly. 

An inside view of the completed shower with granite seat, new tile, and new shower fixtures.

An outside view of the new shower installation and vanity. 

Instead of replacing the garden tub, my team built a new tile enclosure and added a new faucet to match the vanity and shower fixtures.  

The Problem With DIY

It's easy to get excited about home improvement projects with networks like HGTV and The DIY (Do It Yourself) Network.  In a little under 60 minutes you can see a homeowner's old bathroom get a complete makeover.  From the initial idea, to demo and then the final "reveal," these shows are designed to get you excited about your home improvement project. 

Unfortunately, what these shows don't show is the reality of a Do It Yourself project gone bad.  Many months or years down the road, a problem can arise with your handy work that can cause tons of frustration and hundreds if not thousands of dollars in repairs.  Many times the work that home owners do is not "to code" and could potentially put you and your loved ones at risk. 

Recently I began working on a shower renovation.  As my team chipped away the old tile, we realized that there was a lot of standing water underneath the shower basin.  Further inspection lead us to a plumbing issue that a previous homeowner had fixed or someone attempted to fix (see photo below).  The water pipe appeared to have been punctured years ago and a coupler was installed to fixed the water leak. The photo below showing the shower pan full of water is from a faulty installation technique that caused the water to stay in the shower pan indefinitely. 

My team is currently remodeling this bathroom, so we'll post pictures in the coming weeks of the after shots and the steps we go through to ensure you have a quality installation that will add value to your home and protect your family for years to come.  Unless you are extremely handy and understand all the building codes, then you should leave the repair and remodeling work to those who know how to do it properly. 

Here is the shower before the renovation.

Here is a "coupler" that was used to fix a leak that might have been caused by an upgrade a previous owner was installing on the other side of the shower wall.  Note  the drywall that was used to cover up the "repair." 

As my team removed the tile they uncovered a lot of standing water underneath the tile base.  This water was a direct result of poor installation techniques.  As we all know, standing water allows for the growth of spores and mold but with the proper installation techniques, this problem can be avoided.  In the coming weeks, I'll post pictures of the full renovation!   

Creating Space in Your New Kitchen Renovation

Creating additional space to an area is easily made possible by removing existing walls and doors.  In this recent renovation, my crew removed a pocket door that separated the kitchen from the living room and opened up a wall that helped turn the space into a functional serving nook.  The removal of the wall required we build a structural support and reroute electrical outlets.  As you can see, we removed all the drywall in order to make sure that everything is to code and will work with the new space. In the end, the homeowners are now able to enjoy their kitchen and living space with the added functionality their new serving nook gives them.

Original Kitchen ready for the renovation.

The removal of the sheet rock was crucial for laying out how the finished product would look.  Note the pocket door are still in tact and the wall has not been removed.

The Pocket door and wall have been removed.  The structural support is in place and we're ready to put it all back together!  You can already see a big difference in the flow from the Kitchen to the Living Room. 

The finished kitchen renovation with brand new appliances, cabinets, fresh paint and granite counter tops.

The new under mount sink and back splash

The kitchen with the new open serving nook to the right.  A big difference from the previous layout! 

The Details of Your Home Renovation and Remodeling

The attention is always in the details.  Whenever I work on a project, I make sure my teams are always focused on delivering the best quality workmanship in not only the things that you can see but also the things you'll never see like plumbing and wiring.  The idea is that the work we do now will pay for itself many times over with value to your investment and years of enjoyment.  We recently completed a full kitchen remodel and Eugene crafted a beautiful back splash.  Notice how the tile wraps around in one seamless piece.  It's one of the many details that we won't overlook when crafting your next home renovation! 

Tile Flooring

The possibilities that you can have with tile are endless!  You could have a simple floor plan installed or use different tile sizes to create something more dramatic like this rug inlay pictured below.  I recently finished up a rug inlay that was simple to create and provides the homeowner with a focal point as they enter the house.

Bath Renovations

Another good way to add value to your house is by upgrading your bathroom.  Whether it is a fresh coat of paint, new tile, or a complete renovation, bathrooms can be a big selling point if and when you decide to put your home on the market.  It is also money well spent as you typically spend a great deal of time in your bathroom daily.  I recently finished up a complete renovation on a couple's master bathroom.  As you can see we redid everything.  New vanities, lighting, paint, shower, tub, tile, granite counter tops and more.  This is an example of a bathroom renovations where we completely replaced and upgraded everything.  As you can see, the possibilities are endless!  Give me a call if you'd like to have us build the bathroom of YOUR dreams! 

 

Granite Countertops And Back Splashes

Many customers looking into a kitchen renovation can give their current space a face lift with the addition of a new granite countertop, back splash or both.  The benefits can transform your current space and at the same time not blow your budget.  I recently completed this kitchen with granite and added a modern texture with a simple back splash.  This simple update adds dimension and value to the home.   The installation typically takes less than a week from start to finish which means your kitchen won't be offline for several weeks like a full kitchen renovation.

 

  

 

 

Leave No Trace

Surprisingly, this topic is one of the finer details of my craft that often gets overlooked by many in my trade.   Let's face it, you're sinking thousands of dollars into your dream renovation and there is nothing worse than having to do additional unnecessary clean up long after I'm gone.  Your belongings are valuable and worth protecting during any installation so make sure that whomever you choose is serious about protecting your assets.  Make sure your contractor/installer keeps your belongings protected by covering them with drop cloths or tarps.  It may seem like such a trivial thing, but my work revolves around cutting, sawing, painting, sanding and plumbing which puts a lot of dust into the workspace.  By covering your belongings at the beginning of the project, you'll be happy with the finished product the moment I leave your house. 

Kitchen Renovations

By far, the renovation that most clients request is for their kitchen.  Whether it's for entertaining, cooking or a central area in your home, upgrading the kitchen will give you more functionality and improve the value of your home.  Recently I completed an entire kitchen upgrade.  It was an 8 week job from start to finish, so if you are thinking about renovating your home, please understand that you could be without your kitchen for some time.  In the end, the upgrade included granite countertops, new cabinets, appliances, and tile flooring.
  

 

 

 

 

 

Welcome to my blog!

I've got lots of cool projects that I've been working on and will be sharing here in the coming weeks! Stay tuned!