Acclaim Renovations & Design is taking the laundry room out of the basement and into the home
By Patricia Nugent
Much like death and taxes, one thing in life you can always count on is dirty laundry.
But what used to be a dark, dingy, often overlooked space—the laundry room—has turned into a designer darling, providing a punch of personality and innovative storage solutions for busy families.
Bob Potocar, COO of Acclaim Renovations & Design, reports that creating new laundry rooms has become a specialty niche of theirs.
“It’s surprising that even in more modern homes, people have to deal with laundry facilities in the basement,” says Bob. “Kids track muddy shoes and clothes through the entryway and dirty the house. Plus, who wants to go up and down stairs several times a day to do laundry? It’s inconvenient, time-consuming and exhausting. Laundry facilities on the first or second floor are much preferred.”
The Art of Stealing Space
Working with local interior designer Deb Metcalf, Bob and his crew created a new room seen here in a Concord home by “stealing space” from the entryway and existing oversized garage.
“It saves time and money to work within the confines of what’s already there, carving a room out of an existing space rather than adding a home addition,” says Bob. “We strive to make the finished room feel like it’s always been there, with cohesive design and materials. It should have a natural flow into the rest of the home.”
Deb and the homeowner selected a palette of light and cheery pale grays and white. The distinctive textured and matte Hamilton Parker floor tiles, laid in a herringbone pattern with varying shades of gray, sets the tone for this casually elegant space. Beachy shades of shell gray and white also make a statement in the quartz counters and backsplash.
“The client asked for hidden storage for things like hats and gloves, a vertical space for stacked washer and dryer, as well as a locker system for everyone in the family,” says Bob. “Another cool feature we suggested was designating a large drawer for each child and equipping it with its own charging station, so everyone’s laptops and electronics are well organized and stowed away at night while charging.”
Meet the New President
Acclaim Renovations is in expansion mode. This month the company welcomes new president Mike Pirc.
According to Bob, Mike’s intense and broad-based industry knowledge and customer service philosophy are an ideal fit with the company culture.
“I’m thrilled to join the Acclaim team,” Mike says. “I’ve known Bob for a long time and look forward to leading our team.”
Bringing 31 years of experience in the local remodeling industry to the firm, Mike lives up to an ideal of always treating the client’s home like it is his own, and everyone who works for him follows the same thinking.
“I’m all about fostering relationships and making connections,” he says. “My favorite part of the job is meeting people, finding out about their story, and turning a space in to something beautiful.”
Two words that describe him best are loyal and trustworthy.
This devoted husband, father of two and grandfather of two grew up in Euclid and now resides in Concord.
When not at work, you’ll find Mike cheering on Cleveland sports teams. This die-hard Browns fan has held season tickets for the past 34 years and faithfully attends games (even in the regrettable seasons).
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.