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For over 15 years, DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen has hosted free educational seminars to folks in Springfield, IL, and surrounding communities. We love sharing our passion for the home renovation industry and most of all, we love empowering homeowners to take their next steps towards accomplishing a stunning new kitchen or new bathroom!

More than 100 clients have told us that this was very informative and a fantastic first step in researching remodeling options.

Allow us to guide you through important basics of successful remodeling projects – design considerations, realistic budgets and production timelines, how to choose your remodeling team, and more.

Seminar FAQ:

Is Registration Required?

Yes, we do require that you register for the event since seating is limited. The week before each event, all who are registered will be emailed additional details and reminders. Registration form HERE.

What time will the presentation start?

Thursday afternoon presentations begin at 1:00pm and Saturday morning seminars begin at 9:00am. Arriving 10-15 minutes early will allow you time to find a seat, grab refreshments, and browse the Design Center if it is your first time visiting.

Which DreamMaker Team Members will be there?

Usually, the seminar material is presented by Curt Trampe, Owner (and the guy with the most white hair). Curt has worked in the remodeling industry for more than 30 years, owning his own business since 1998. He has earned certifications through both the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB):  Certified Master Kitchen & Bath Designer (CMKBD), Certified Graduate Remodeler (CGR) and Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS).

Also, other members from the Design Team will be present and available to dive deeper into your specific project questions. Snap pics on your phone and bring those along to explain your current space.

Will there be time to ask questions?

Absolutely!  We enjoy a casual environment where questions are welcomed during the presentation. Often, attendee questions prompt the best and most informative discussions. Making this relevant to you is our number one goal.

Can I see pictures of actual DreamMaker projects?

You read our minds. Yes, our presentation starts with great educational material and the second half of the presentation focuses on before and after pictures of work that we have completed right here in Sangamon County and nearby counties. This helps us illustrate previous points discussed.

What happens after the seminar?

We promise that this is a no-pressure, no obligation event. We would obviously love to talk more about your remodeling needs if you feel that DreamMaker would be a good fit for your project, your family, and your home. It is easy to set a next appointment for a Designer to visit your home, gather measurements, and conduct further discovery.

Additional questions? We also have a video of Curt explaining What to Expect at a Seminar, or just give us a call at the DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen Design Center, (217)529-9300, or stop Monday – Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm. We are located at 3730 W. Wabash Ave., Springfield, IL 62711.

In the remodeling world, we often see an interesting situation: Once people who have lived with the same outdated kitchen or bathroom for years decide they want to remodel, they can’t seem to do it fast enough! Now that they’ve seen their room in a different light, they realize they want new cabinets, new countertops, new fixtures, new floors, new lighting… the list seems to never end. Then, all of a sudden, the project they were so excited to start becomes overwhelming and grinds to a halt.

To avoid “project paralysis” when planning to remodel your kitchen, bathroom, or basement, we recommend following these steps:

1. Make a list of everything you want

Throw in literally everything you can think of, including the kitchen sink! You’ll whittle the list down later, but this is the time to list out all the elements you think you’ll need, from new granite countertops to fresh outlet covers.

 

2. Prioritize your list

What are the things you must change, and what are nice-to-haves? For example, if you’ve never liked your closed-in kitchen, you might feel it’s essential to break down a wall and install a bar along the outer counter. But maybe in taking another look at your floors, you realize they’re not so bad after all, and in fact they might look fine once the other items in the room get updated.

3. Start your research to determine a budget 

It will not come as a surprise that granite or quartz countertops cost more than laminate countertops, but there may be plenty of other material choices that you are less familiar with that have comparable quality and lower cost. The internet is full of information and TV is full of flippers and renovation projects, but be warned, those budgets are not always real. Establishing a realistic budget for your project will take research and talking with a reputable professional. Your remodel project can consist of an investment of your time and your actual dollars – it’s good to think about how much of each of these you are willing to invest.

4. Visit a showroom for inspiration

Now that you have a basic idea of what you want and need for your remodeling project, it’s time to make it tangible. Browsing online is a great start, but nothing replaces visiting a showroom and seeing the layouts, materials, and features for yourself. Bring your list and see how the “real thing” compares to your expectations. Upon seeing an undermount sink with a fancy faucet, you might realize this is now a must-have, and perhaps instead you can keep your current oven to make up the cost difference.

5. Speak with a professional

By the time you get to this step, you’ll have a pretty good sense of what you like and dislike. Talking with a professional is a great way to turn that thinking into an actual remodeling project. At DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen of Springfield, guiding you through the self-discovery process is one of the best parts of the process! We ask you questions about your preferences and offer information and recommendations suited to your tastes. We never try to sell you something you don’t need—we are happiest when we’ve helped you discover the perfect style to fit your needs.

We know how tough it can be to make these decisions. Remodeling your kitchen, bathroom, or basement is a big project and is something many people do only once in a lifetime. That means you won’t necessarily be familiar with the latest trends or all the terminology. At DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen of Springfield, our team of experienced designers is available to guide you through the process and take you from “decision overload” to “project kickoff.”

Give us a call today or stop by our Design Center to see how we can make your dreams a reality – all while keeping your tastes and budget in mind.

If you are planning to attack a bathroom remodel, a kitchen remodel or any other significant remodeling project in your home, chances are you will have some decisions to make regarding updating the lighting in the space. More than likely, you will be looking at some LED lighting options as this has just stormed the residential world in the last 5 years or so.

So what are the positive characteristics of LED lighting?

  1. They are so much more efficient than the incandescent bulbs of our younger years. In fact, they use 75-80% less energy to produce the same light! That means savings for us, the consumers.
  2. Because they do not have a filament, they aren’t as fragile which adds to the life of the light source.
  3. LED’s may cost more on the front end, but they will last many, many, years. Getting just a little geeky – expected life can be anywhere between 25,000-100,000 hours. If you had a light turned on 10 hours a day, you are probably looking at anywhere between 7 years and 28 years.
  4. They emit very little heat making them a practical choice for more applications.
  5. Lastly, they are so, so small in size as compared to our now historic options. This alone makes them even more flexible to meet more lighting needs in small spaces.

Here at DreamMaker, we work hard to keep up with all the technology and new products heading our way and LED lighting is just one piece of this home remodeling puzzle. We are using LED’s in almost all lighting in the home projects that we work on – can lighting, under-cabinet lighting (just a ton of options here), fixtures with bulbs, interior cabinet lighting and more. Many new lighting choices and technology can be seen right here in the DreamMaker Design Center. Plan a visit and let us show you around!

DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen
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3730 Wabash Avenue
Springfield, IL 62711

217.529.9300
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3730 Wabash Avenue
Springfield, IL 62711

217.529.9300
Instagram Facebook-f Linkedin-in Youtube Pinterest