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A Weekend Penthouse Retreat

Panther fans Rodney and Amber Harris bought their downtown Charlotte penthouse to be their weekend retreat. Living in Kannapolis, during the week, the couple looked for a place to relax during football season that gave them all the comforts of home. Although the location was right, "the finishes weren't what we wanted," relates Rodney.

"The kitchen was plain, lacking real detail. We wanted the place to have warmth, so it could make us feel at home," he explains. Reluctant to spend the money on new cabinets, the couple decided to find a company who could give them the look of custom cabinets without the price tag.

After interviewing other options, they found Carolina Cabinet Refacing. "Quality was more important to us than the bottom line," Rodney says. "I've had many houses built, so I know the difference between a sales pitch and someone who really listens to our needs."

Owner John Marino agrees his Charlotte-based company is different. "Many times franchises can lack the personal touch a family company provides," he says. "We walk our clients through the options and custom design a solution. Using high quality wood, orders are handmade by Amish furniture makers and installed by skilled craftsman in less than three days."

For Rodney, the timeline of the job was critical. "The project needed to be completed before the season started," he says. Not only was the entire kitchen cabinetry upgraded, "Carolina Cabinet Refacing coordinated the granite installation for the kitchen and wet bar." Continuing the look in the great room, custom bookshelves were installed to flank the fireplace.

In addition to the other upgrades, the company was able to come up with a solution for an awkward space near the kitchen. "They were able to take an unused closet in the hallway and create a wine cellar," Rodney explains. "We thought all the work would cost an arm and a leg, but we saved money. It all looks custom built."

With many homeowners in the Charlotte area staying in their homes longer than expected, remodeling is on the rise. But having the look you want doesn't mean sacrificing your budget. "The average kitchen remodel in this area costs between $40-45,000," John says. "We give a better look for less, but also save the customer the time and hassle of having to hire a contractor."

For the out-of-town homeowners, trust and convenience were vital to getting the job done. "It was turn-key for us," Rodney says. "The result was beyond our expectations. Always trust your instincts."