Home remodeling that is making an impact
By Patricia Nugent
A recently formed strategic partnership between Acclaim Renovations & Design of Mentor and Guru Granite of Euclid expands the operations of both these successful family-owned firms while opening up a world of possibilities for home renovation.
“From a remodeling perspective, the integration of our expertise makes great sense,” says Bob Potocar, of Guru Granite. “As a natural stone fabricator that stocks a huge array of slabs onsite, we pass savings along to the customer and ensure fast turnaround time and quality control. Our source of strength is that Bob Gallese and I share a vision of providing the highest caliber of workmanship on every job.”
Blending a Richer Talent Pool
Over the decades, these companies have experienced tremendous growth on their own, adding seasoned tradesman to their ranks while welcoming younger crews, too.
Bringing Bob Potocar on as operations manager at Acclaim Renovations is the next step. With his knowledge of granite, quartz and the industry, it’s a perfect partnership.
“We have a beneficial synergy and energy that’s exciting,” says Bob Gallese. “Our talents and disciplines overlap on many levels. Together we can close the gap between when a job begins and the countertops are delivered, which can often be a ‘pain point’ during renovations. Homeowners will see the finish line faster on our jobs than they would with other companies. They can also expect less downtime, as we don’t start a job until all the pieces and parts, from cabinetry to counters, have come in. Our combined new operation will be nimble.”
Bob Potocar founded Guru Granite more thana decade ago. As of today, his fabrication shop has a robust selection of more than 100 stunning stone slabs from Brazil, Italy and the U.S.
“People like to come to our Euclid showroom to shop from the actual slabs we will use in their home,” says Bob Potocar. “Since we buy our own inventory of slabs, unlike other places that work as consignment partners, we can offer much lower price points.”
It’s a huge win for Acclaim customers, because now they not only enjoy the benefit of years of trusted craftsmanship, they also get the added bonus of exceptional granite pricing.
What’s Trending in Countertops?
The real estate market is very strong in Northeast Ohio, and that confidence lends itself to people investing in their homes.
“Homeowners are looking for durability and gorgeous looks with natural stone,” says Bob Potocar. “Quartz has edged out granite a bit in popularity. Made from ground quartz, thanks to technological advancements, we are seeing more patterns and colors coming out all the time to appeal to a wider audience. People like that they don’t have to seal it and also don’t have to worry about stains or scratches.”
He says they don’t really have a number one seller, per se, because there are so many individual choices.
“Countertop selection is very personal,” he says. “Overall, in terms of kitchen colors, whites are still the most popular. People are also taking their islands darker with cabinetry and countertops and leaving the perimeter cabinetry white. We are seeing lots of complementary colors in grays and blues.”
Investing Form and Function
With the streamlined partnership between Acclaim and Guru Granite, if you’re thinking about pulling the trigger now on a kitchen or bath renovation, you can have your dream home finished by late spring or early summer.
According to Bob Gallese, 2021 was one of their busiest years on record. And, after more than 40 years in business, he should know.
“People have taken stock of their home more than ever and are willing to invest in it through remodeling,” he says. “I would say functionality is key. People are simply expecting more from every room. Spaces are being repurposed to fit the owner’s unique lifestyle. We’re refashioning workspaces in unexpected areas of homes, since people are going into the office less frequently.”
Creating Major Island Drama
If the kitchen is the heart of the home, then the island is certainly the heart of the kitchen.
It checks off all the boxes for everything a dream kitchen should and could be, adding loads of counter space and storage for cooking and social time, whether entertaining crowds or creating cozy family time.
Built in 1958, this gracious Mentor home’s kitchen was in dire need of an update. The client wanted to open up the room and build an island to take up major real estate. At 9 feet long, it comfortably seats four, with room for many more people around it, and provides lots of workspace.
“To make room, we extended the cabinetry and new island into the former eat-in area,” says Bob Gallese, of Acclaim Renovations & Design. “Clean lines and a modern esthetic were design inspirations for this homeowner, so we chose white-on-white cabinetry and sleek quartz countertops in Carrara Morro by MSI. For a luxurious and dramatic effect, we took the stonework down the sides to the floor in a waterfall edge.”
Dramatic Transformation
The kitchen in this 1,700 square-foot Mentor home was also in need of a style metamorphosis, as well as an ingenious plan for adding space and functionality.
“During the design phase, we knew our plan would have to include knocking down the main wall between the kitchen and dining room, as well as some partial walls leading into the living room,” says Bob. “This created an open floor plan, while allowing us to swap storage space we lost in wall cabinets into a larger island. To accommodate five barstools, yet keep enough walk-around space, we designed a wider end and skinny end to the 9-foot rectangular island.”
Angling the sink into a corner freed up more counter space.
“The dark-gray sink turned out beautiful,” he adds. “It’s made from pulverized granite, so it has a little sparkle to it and is indestructible.”
The 45-degree angle of the corner sink mirrors the angle in the open shelving above it, creating a one-two punch of focal points.
“We created some delicate interest in the backsplash by designing an accent stripe of rectangular tiles in between the square ones,” he says. “Their wavy finish adds a sculptural, textured appeal to the final look. To give it definition and pizzazz, we framed it on the top and bottom with strips of brushed nickel.”
This client is a family that Acclaim has done three major renovations for over the past several years. Bob says he’s pleased and proud that they put their trust in his company and keep coming back.
Acclaim Renovations & Design is located at 8550 East Avenue in Mentor. The design-build firm has won numerous industry awards. Call 440-974-8082 or visit AcclaimReno.com.