Innovative, creative and resourceful bathroom transformations are possible with Acclaim Renovations & Design
By Patricia Nugent
According to Property Management magazine, the home improvement industry is stronger than it has been in over 10 years. And kitchen and master bath renovations are leading homeowners’ most-wanted list.
Seventy-two percent of the people who renovated their master bathroom in 2020 report they did so because they wanted to do it all along and finally had the means or could no longer stand the old bathroom.
The recent renovation pictured here is a prime example of that. The Mentor family’s home already had a large master bathroom, it was just in sore need of an update.
Through friends, they had heard about Acclaim Renovations & Design and decided to pull the trigger.
Everything You Could Ask for—--and More
“This renovation is a classic case of everything that’s possible in a master bath transformation,” says Acclaim founder Bob Gallese. “The couple wanted to pull out the dated whirlpool tub, and, in its place, build a custom-tiled spa-like smart shower, with Kohler, Moen and Delta shower heads from above (rain shower), six body spray heads on the wet wall and a hand-held. With the digital unit, they can program everything customized to each person at the touch of a button, from temperature to valve settings.”
Another bells-and-whistles hallmark of the renovation was pulling out the fiberglass pre-fab shower and, in its place, installing a state-of-the-art two-person sauna.
“Our home was built in 2004,” says Christa D. “Our family had rarely used the tub, which took up a lot of space and we wanted to be rid of it. We knew a sauna would be something my husband and I would get a lot of use from.”
After gutting the existing space, Bob says they created the enormous shower—nearly seven feet long by 48 inches wide. They installed pebble tile on the shower floor, and different color tile in gray and off-white in 12-by-24-inch rectangles to coordinate with the variation in the floor. But before they went to work on the shower, they had to remove two double hung windows and create longer ones positioned near the ceiling to afford privacy and loads of natural light. For functionality, they built a large bench and shelf for products.
“Another upscale trend we installed, that we are starting to see more of, is a bidet toilet seat,” says Bob. “And we also created recessed, in-wall storage to match the cabinetry, which turned out really nice. We created the recessed shelving then finished it off by mounting a face frame with doors which matches the vanity color and door style.”
Walls went from purplish pink to a sleek off-white. The modern esthetic was finished off with a dazzling chandelier fashioned from crystal balls.
The Acclaim Difference
Over the past 40-plus years in the industry, Bob has made connections with field supervisors, master craftsmen and designers who share his pride of workmanship.
“Our guys are on the front line every day, putting our drawings and plans together with the materials to make people’s dreams become reality,” says Bob. “They are innovative, creative and resourceful. There’s nothing that can happen on a job that they haven’t already encountered. They really don’t get enough credit.”
He says honesty and trustworthiness is important to what sets them apart.
“They are the ones on the job site every day communicating with the client, and I trust the work they do,” he says. “Some contractors cut corners with their subs, who might hire other subs, which is simply not how we do business. Over the years, my workers have gotten to know how picky I can be—such a perfectionist. And we’ve come to think alike. I do not take their talent for granted.”
Acclaim Renovations & Design powered by One Man and a Hammer is located at 8550 East Avenue in Mentor. The company has been awarded Contractor of the Year by NARI (National Association of the Remodeling Industry). Call 440-974-8082 or visit AcclaimReno.com.