3 Minutes on a Park Bench with Denise Borkowski of Dreammaker Bath & Kitchen

Patch partner Denise Borkowski of Dream Maker Bath & Kitchen told us about some of the latest design and product trends.

Patch: How did you first get involved in kitchen and bath design?

Denise Borkowski: Glen and I were both teaching in the suburbs when we met. After marrying, Glen decided that he would like to change career paths and utilize his natural abilities to design and build interior spaces. Glen began to educate himself through professional magazines, joining local and national associations and completing certifications in graduate remodeling and aging-in-place. In 1990, Glen created Kraftwerks Remodeling, Inc., which became a local resource for remodeling services in the south suburbs. In 2007, Glen and I made the decision to become a DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen franchise and take advantage of the expert resources through other franchisees and the buying advantages of a larger company.

Patch: What are some of the latest design and product trends?

Denise Borkowski: If you watch HGTV, you can see that right now 'open concept,' under cabinet lighting, double bowl vanities in bathrooms, stone countertops and spa-like showers continue to be big trends. The Baby Boomers are starting to make some changes in their homes with an eye for creating a safe environment as the natural progression of aging occurs. Most of us would like to stay in our current home for as long as possible.

Patch: What should people expect when they're remodeling?

Denise Borkowski: Remodeling can be quite stressful. Strangers coming into your home can be intimidating and the process can be dusty and noisy. A good remodeling contractor will go over the specific conditions of your project and prepare you. They will communicate with you both prior to and during your project so you always know what to expect. This is why it's crucial to "do your homework" when picking a remodeling contractor. Remodeling is a service, not a commodity.

Patch: What are the three levels of kitchen and bath remodeling?

Denise Borkowski: The three levels of kitchen and bath remodeling are: 1) Facelift, which could include one or more of the following: painting, new countertops, change of lighting, new appliances, new flooring, new pulls and knobs, adding pull-outs or Lazy Susan to a cabinet. 2) Pull and replace -- take out everything and replace. No change of footprint. Everything goes back in the same spot. 3) Custom -- reconfiguration of the space, perhaps moving or removing a wall, creating a whole new look.

Patch: What's your definition of success?

Denise Borkowski: Our company's tagline is "Enhancing lives/improving homes." In terms of our business, we strive to make each customer a customer for life. More than 60% of our projects are for people we have completed other remodels for. That's success.

Patch: How important is budgeting when setting up a remodel?

Denise Borkowski: Budgeting is crucial. Picking out all of the goodies is the fun part of remodeling. It is first essential to know why you want to remodel, what do you hope to accomplish, and then establish a comfortable budget and work with your contractor to stay within it. We like to compare it to buying a car. When we shop for a car, we have an idea of what we can afford to spend. A compact car budget will be far different than paying for a luxury vehicle.

Patch: How can people contact you to learn more about Dream Maker Bath & Kitchen?

Denise Borkowski: DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen has a design center located at 15645 71st Court, Orland Park, IL. Give us a call to make an appointment: 708-429-6670. You can also reach us from the contact page on our website, dreambkop.com. We offer seminars at the design center once a month or so to help the public learn more about the process. You can ask to be added to our email list if you would like to receive an invitation to one of these seminars.