The end of another year has quickly approached! Our Elite team completed just over 20 projects this year. Here’s a look at our end of year superlatives as we look at our year in review:
Best Overall Transformation:
We’d be remiss to not award this category to a Wyomissing home that transformed their 1950’s kitchen and dining room into a new space. The project included new windows, a door at a new location, and a completely re-imagined open floor plan. Once complete, our client Penny described her home as a “completely different house,” exclaiming her love for it and how it is what she “always wanted” since the day they moved in.
Josh, the Superintendent on the job said his favorite part of this project was “developing a new open floor plan while still keeping true to the 1950s architecture by keeping the curved opening of the doorway. Penny and her daughter’s favorite part of their new kitchen was making the switch from an electric stove to gas because it has made cooking easier. (Bonus: There is even an air fryer in the oven!) They also love the peninsula in the new space.
Here’s some before and after photos:
Best House To Host A Party:
This project involved a first and second floor addition that was roughly 1,400 SF, a complete kitchen remodel, master bath remodel, re-imagined mudroom, and a stunning new outdoor entertaining area featuring a built-in kitchen to top it all off. Our clients put A LOT of thought into making this the ideal space in terms of flow and usability. Although we originally started discussing this project with our client in 2019, a pregnancy and COVID-19 led us to start construction in April of this year.
Our Elite team unanimously agreed that the spacious, open concept of this first floor, combined with the perfect outdoor entertainment area, make this property an easy win for “Best House To Host A Party,” but we’ll let you be the judge:
Best Bathroom Transformation:
Our Elite team took an ordinary bathroom in Mohnton and transformed it into nothing short of an in-home spa fit for a king and queen – right down to the matching “His” and “Hers” robes. We’ll let the before and after photos do the speaking:
– Before –
– After –
Best Curb Appeal:
This exterior transformation will make you stop and stare! A past customer reached out to make their home Elite once more. This time, we added a new roof and completed some exterior renovations to completely revamp the outside of their home. Our Superintendent Josh loves how “the vibrant blue hardie board siding really pops with the white trim, especially since the exterior of most other houses on their street is either brick or vinyl.” What do you think?
– Before –
– After –
Most Impactful:
Perhaps the most rewarding project for our Elite team this year was a home addition that was completed for the clients’ 11-year old son, Ryan, who has Spina Bifida. Although he uses a wheelchair and crutches in his everyday life, Ryan enjoys an active lifestyle filled with sporting events, playing instruments, and more. D&B Elite Custom was able to assist in helping him achieve an even more independent lifestyle. “We wanted to add an addition that allows him to move freely whether he is on crutches or using a wheelchair. It is important to us to help Ryan grow as independent as possible,” explain Ryan’s parents. Prior to this home addition, Ryan was limited to a small bedroom with a hall bathroom that would not properly accommodate him as he continues to grow.
John Watkins of Watkins Architect reached out directly to D&B Elite Custom with the plan. “Watkins was a huge component of planning this process because once D&B Elite Custom got involved everything was ready to go,” explains Melissa. Larry Adam, Vice President of Residential Construction for D&B Elite Custom, met with David and Melissa for their consultation. “Larry was very confident that Watkin’s plans could be done. It allowed us to be very confident. It was important for us to develop a relationship where we felt confident that they were going to have everything that we needed.” Since Watkins Architect and D&B Elite Custom work together on a regular basis, this partnership made all the difference.
This 440 SF addition was designed to have a functional bedroom, bathroom and closet that extends off of the living room. The process took seven different revisions to find the design that flowed best with Ryan’s needs. Ryan was a part of the design process and told us he worked with Beth, D&B Elite’s Project Coordinator, to find features and designs that he liked best – such as vinyl flooring and slip-free flooring for the shower.
Although this project was not fully ADA compliant, it encompasses a multitude of ADA features that were designed with Ryan’s needs in mind. “ADA requires three different hand rails around the toilet, but ultimately Ryan did not need that, so we only installed one hand rail,” explains Ryan’s father, David. In addition, Ryan does not have any doors in his room because it is his own private living space. According to Ryan’s mother, Melissa, swinging doors can sometimes be a problem with his wheelchair. “This addition has the space to allow Ryan to move freely and spin around in a wheelchair, the doors are larger, and the bathroom was constructed in a way that allows him to do everything independently. D&B Elite Custom did a really good job of not just doing things by the book but instead making it functional for us and for Ryan’s needs. The ADA compliant wasn’t exactly what Ryan needed.”
“The goal for Ryan was to be able to be more independent as he continues to grow. The addition did just that, allowing him to become independent for all of his daily needs without his parents,” explain David and Melissa as they reflect on the positive impact that this project had on Ryan. When you ask Ryan, he’ll tell you that he most enjoys the fact that he can control his fan and the temperature of his bedroom and bathroom via a remote control. In fact, Ryan loves his new space so much that he let his parents know that he plans to never leave, joking that his future wife will one day move in with them.
Best Space To Watch The Game:
From the bar to the dual televisions, you’ll want to watch all your favorite sports in this spacious basement we remodeled in Exeter Township! (Bonus Points if you are a Philadelphia Sports fan, as the walls of this freshly renovated space are decked out in all things Philly!) After your favorite team wins, burn off your energy in the renovated gym – complete with gorgeous barn doors.
Place You’re Most Likely To Find Us Curled Up With A Good Book:
Catch us here all Winter with the fireplace blazing!
Best Dressed:
When we visited our client after they were all moved in to their re-imagined space, we initially thought we got lost and ended up in the Studio McGee and Hearth & Hand with Magnolia section of Target. You’re going to love the timeless, minimal look of this home with its earthy hues and natural tones! We couldn’t get over how well our client, Kim, staged and decorated her space. See for yourself:
The Elite team recently completed a kitchen and dining room remodel for a Wyomissing client. The end result? We gave a kitchen built in 1953 an entire upgraded look, including new windows, a new door at a new location, and a re-imagined open floor plan. “It’s a completely different house! I love it. It’s what I always wanted since the day we moved in,” exclaimed our client, Penny, when we stopped by to visit after they were settled in with their new furniture.
Josh, the Superintendent on the job said his favorite part of this project was “developing a new open floor plan while still keeping true to the 1950s architecture by keeping the curved opening of the doorway. Penny and her daughter’s favorite part of their new kitchen was making the switch from an electric stove to gas because it has made cooking easier. (Bonus: There is even an air fryer in the oven!) They also love the peninsula in the new space.
A Look At The Transformation:
Here’s some before and after photos of the space:
Our team opened up the dining room, living room, and kitchen area to create a more open space.
The Construction Process:
Penny and her family enjoyed watching the construction process and said that our team and Trade Partners were “nice and respectful, especially when it came to having to walk through the kitchen throughout construction.” The on-site construction team would always move the plastic barriers whenever the family wanted or needed to walk through. “They were so courteous that they avoided cutting any wood, etc. and waited until we were done making our food,” Penny’s daughter reflects.
Our clients relied on microwave cooking and cooking on the grill throughout the course of construction. In fact, having to walk all the way around the house to get to the grill is what inspired the family to start dreaming up their next home renovation – an outdoor living project that they hope to begin with our team in Spring of 2023.
As the homeowner, Penny also appreciated how our team would always “go to bat for her to get her what they needed.” That’s the D&B Elite difference.
Now Get The Look:
Here’s a look at some of our trusted Trade Partners who helped bring this vision to life: Flooring and tile backsplash from About All Floors, Granite Countertops from AAA Hellenic Marble, cabinetry was completed by Swartz Kitchens & Baths, and plumbing fixtures from Weinstein Reading.
D&B Elite Custom has humble beginnings that date over 10 years ago. In 2010, Dan Gring (CEO) and Brennan Reichenbach (COO) began flipping houses together in their spare time. From here, they transitioned into residential general contracting before they began building entire custom homes from the ground up. They officially starting their business in February of 2011, and D&B just celebrated its 10-year anniversary.
Today, D&B Elite Custom is a full-service residential construction firm offering services for custom homes and remodeling projects. Our remodeling projects span from powder room remodels to entire master suite renovations or home additions. We have completed many unique projects for clients, including custom outdoor living spaces and even an NBA-sized basketball court.
The D&B Elite team is comprised of dedicated individuals who anchor themselves to one of the hallmarks of the company’s business model – People come first at D&B. This mentality, coupled with their quality work, has led to D&B being the recipient of many awards in the last decade, including Builder of the Year, Remodeler of the Year, Remodeling Magazine’s Top 550, Qualified Remodeler 500, Lehigh Valley’s 45 Fastest Growing Businesses, Best Places to Work in PA, INC 5000’s Fastest Private Growing Companies, and Greater Reading Chamber Alliance’s Top 50 Businesses.
At D&B, “we care” is more than just a tagline. Our pre-construction and selection processes are one of a kind and allow for transparent communication between the D&B Elite team and clients so every project is completed on time, within budget, and to our customers’ visions. It is one thing to be able to take an image a client saved on Pinterest of their dream kitchen and make it a reality, but it is another thing altogether when the completed job is life changing to a client. This is a responsibility that the D&B Elite team does not take lightly.
A Transformation Like No Other
The feeling of seeing a client view their new home or completed renovations for the first time is always rewarding in itself, but watching the Kline family step foot into their new home for the first time meant so much more to the D&B Elite Custom team after all this couple has endured over the last two years. On December 14, 2019 Dave and Kathy Kline had a fire at their home. Unfortunately, the only thing left from the old house was part of the foundation, so their hand was forced to build a new home.
Friend and President/CEO of Olsen Design Group Architects, Lee Olsen, told the couple “There’s only one choice. You’ve got to go with D&B. I’ve worked with them. They’ll do a great job, pull together some amazing subcontractors, and the process will all flow very smoothly.” Following the recommendation of Lee, the Klines met with D&B Elite Custom’s Director of Residential Construction, Larry Adam, shortly after the fire in January of 2020. Larry remembers walking through the house with the couple to “look over existing amenities and go over their insurance claim proposal so they could start budgeting for the rebuild based on sketches from their architect.” Although the pandemic put the design process to a halt for a bit, they restarted the design phase in May of 2020 and demo of the existing structure took place in October of 2020.
“When we started the demo, Dave and Kathy were on site. This was a moment of closure for them as the house they raised their children in was torn down to make way for the new and improved version of their home,” recalls Larry. He loved watching the couple’s reactions as their new home progressed. “I could see their excitement as their design and selections came together and they could physically walk through what they had created on paper,” he says with a smile.
The Klines decided to make lemonade out of lemons, turning the loss of their old home into an opportunity to build a home guided by form and function. The end result was a home “more suitable for senior citizens” with everything they need all on one floor as they enter the next season of their life. Every detail of the home, from the breathtaking timber beams right down to the paint color in each room, was carefully selected with a purpose. The Klines wanted a style that was both rustic and comforting while paying homage to their travels in the mountains and Dave’s 35 years of guiding ski and sightseeing groups in the Alps. Influence came from a blueprint Dave obtained in Zermatt, Switzerland and from the architecture of northern Italy, southern Austria, and Bavaria, Germany. “It’s sort of our vacation home that we live in full-time now,” Dave said with a smile as he sat at the bottom of their new staircase, which has carpet so comfortable he admits to taking his first nap in their new home here.
Describing their home as a “labor of love,” D&B Elite Custom’s Project Coordinator, Beth Varone-Barrer, says: “What they love to do and what they have experienced in life is incorporated into their new living space. Their home tells a story. Kathy told me she never thought they would be building a home at this stage in their life. When I toured her completed home and she gave me a hug I could have cried. It made me feel so good to see her happy with her home.”
The Superintendent in charge of this project, Paul Gent, says his favorite part of his career is the relationship he builds with the homeowners he completes work for. Paul has built more than 10 houses from the ground up since he started in this industry over 20 years ago, but nothing compared to seeing how excited and appreciative Dave and Kathy were. “This wasn’t your everyday, normal home,” reflects Paul. “It was completely customized to the couple’s liking and included memorabilia from their old house that we were able to save and incorporate into their new home, such as a custom decorative glass piece that everyone sees as soon as they walk through the front door. My reward was seeing how happy they were.”
