Castle’s owner, Loren Schirber, was recently recognized as one of four finalists for the Fred Case Remodeling Entrepreneur of the Year Award.  The committee that gives the award recognized Castle’s guaranteed completion dates and transparent pricing for exemplifying innovation and elevating the professionalism of the remodeling industry.

Launched in 2012, the company’s completion date guarantee has offered peace of mind to its clients. Today, 97% of Castle projects meet their completion date, and for the small amount that doesn’t, the client receives $40 per business day until the job is done.

The awarding committee also highlighted Castle’s transparent pricing practices. Castle offers detailed pricing for 49 typical remodeling jobs, including kitchens, baths, attics, and more! These line item pricing sheets are available on the website and updated annually. Custom quotes in a similar style are available with consultation.

About the Award

Fred Case founded Case Design/Remodeling in 1961 on a shoestring and a dream of building a business, not a practice. For Fred, the status quo was never enough. He grew Case over the years by bringing innovative solutions to his clients’ needs. His success came not only from staying on top of the latest technology or current trends, but from his ability to listen to how his clients’ wanted to work and to develop processes and systems to match their preferences. It also came from his ability to listen to his team members and implement their ideas. And it came from the importance he placed on the goal of elevating the professionalism of the remodeling industry, and the many years he spent working toward that goal.

Fred believed that innovation could be found throughout the remodeling industry, and he wanted to honor and celebrate it through the Fred Case Remodeling Entrepreneur of the Year Award. The award seeks to recognize each year those who exemplify innovation in their business, innovations that may manifest in different ways: new business processes, unique building processes or use of materials, streamlined systems, relevant training programs, and creative use of technology.

Imagine a kitchen that seamlessly blends the warmth of Craftsman style with the sleek lines of contemporary design. This vision became a reality for our clients, whose stunning kitchen remodel was recently featured in Midwest Home Magazine! We are excited to share the story behind this exceptional project, designed by Ashley Yanisch, a leading member of Castle’s design team.

Castle Designer Ashley Yanisch

Our clients wanted to transform their uniquely shaped kitchen, moving away from a previous homeowner’s custom design to create a space that better reflected their modern lifestyle. They entrusted Castle to reimagine the layout, making it more open and functional.

The redesigned layout features a dramatically widened opening to the dining room, fostering seamless flow and connection. The new orientation of the peninsula creates a more social space for cooking and gathering. Additionally, a stunning, expansive built-in buffet anchors the kitchen, complete with a beverage fridge and open shelving that beautifully displays plants, curated accessories, and art, adding a personal touch.

By eliminating the underutilized built-in bench and desk, we created valuable space that better suited our clients’ needs, transforming their kitchen into a hub for both cooking and entertaining. Ashley Yanisch, with her keen eye for detail and innovative design solutions, masterfully brought the clients’ vision to life.

See the full project.

Schedule a Call to Discuss your Project

The home remodeling industry seems to be either too busy or not busy enough, but never just right.  It’s either the best of times or the worst of times in some senses.  Right now Castle has a lot of interest and more bids out on potential projects than ever before.  With the high cost of buying a new house there is a lot of interest in remodeling.  There aren’t enough homes.  The hard part is remodeling costs have gone up too.  There aren’t enough people going into the trades to replace those that are retiring.  On top of the that, interest rates are up from the historical lows of recent past so refinancing seems very expensive.  So, where does that leave us?  Dr. Seuss said it best in his poem “The Waiting Place” Everyone is just waiting. The full poem is below.

So, why not wait?

Don’t worry the point is coming.  Here are some reasons waiting isn’t the best plan:

• ROE – Return on Enjoyment.  On their deathbed no one ever says: “I wish I would have lived with that crappy ____ room for five more years”.
• When it’s a great time to remodel everyone does it.  That results in slower service and more issues in production.  Right now the industry is calm and you will get the attention you deserve, prices are steady, and lead times for labor and materials are short.
• Prices only go up.  Next year things will cost more than this year.
• It takes a while to plan a project.  Typically 2-4 months of planning and pricing then there are 6-12 lead times to start the project.  Plan ahead.  It’s a great time to start planning your 2025 remodel.
• Creating the plans for a project is the first step, but it doesn’t mean you have to do the project at this time.  Even designing the concept and having a floor plan helps lock down pricing so you can compare all your options.  Plans last.
• Spring is coming and that is busiest time of the remodeling season.  The early bird gets the worm.

Take that first step and you’ll be off to great places, your off on your way!

Loren Schriber – Owner

THE WAITING PLACE 

by Dr. Seuss

Waiting for a train to go or a bus to come,
or a plane to go or the mail to come,
or the rain to go or the phone to ring,
or the snow to snow or waiting around for a Yes or No
or waiting for their hair to grow.

Everyone is just waiting.

Waiting for the fish to bite
or waiting for wind to fly a kite
or waiting around for Friday night

or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake
or a pot to boil, or a Better Break
or a string of pearls, or a pair of pants
or a wig with curls, or Another Chance.

Everyone is just waiting.