It’s
All In The Details
With the price of homes rising and the value
of them appreciating, many homeowners are now investing in remodeling
their existing home rather than buying a new one. A well-done remodeling
job can bring new life to an old home and needn’t entail tearing
down walls or ripping out kitchens. Small, yet significant, changes can
be made that make all the difference.
Ask Steven DeShields, vice president of Smith & DeShields, Inc., what
makes a particular home stand out from all the rest and he will tell you
that it’s all in the details. “For instance,” DeShields
explains, “Crown mouldings, base boards, chair rails, corbels and
other architectural accents are all important to creating ambiance in
a high-end home. Today, crown mouldings are being used to add warmth,
character and charm throughout the entire house, even in bathrooms and
laundry rooms. They’re no longer confined to the rooms set aside
for entertaining guests. Builders recognize that trimming out a house
with crown moulding transforms the ordinary to the extraordinary. Homeowners
might not know why one house looks fantastic, while another appears merely
average. Smith & DeShields’ tagline “Beauty is in the
details,” says it all.
Smith & DeShields was formed by Clyde E. DeShields and Aris J. Smith
in Boca Raton in 1957. Since then, the company has opened branches
in Jupiter and Naples, Florida. Under the direction of a DeShields family
member, each branch offers an exhaustive choice of mouldings, doors and
hardware.
“We encourage everyone to visit the Naples showroom, whether you
are building a new home or remodeling an existing residence.” DeShields
explains, “We understand that homeowners want a wide selection of
products to choose from and that their choices reflect their personal
tastes. Many builders deliberately limit the selection they offer buyers.
At Smith & DeShields, they can look at 10 to 20 choices, instead of
two or three. Our clients can truly personalize their home.”
The Naples showroom carries 300 different profiles of mouldings, nearly
100 varieties of doors and lines from 20 hardware manufacturers, and if
they don’t have it, they can get it. Smith & DeShields is local and
unique in that they carry such an unparalleled selection of up-scale brands,
many of which are in stock and available immediately.
Smith & DeShields is also the perfect choice for those remodeling
their residence. “Since homes have gained so much in appreciation,”
DeShields says, “many owners are opting to hold onto their properties
and upgrade their interiors with new products. When their homes were built
ten years ago or more, they didn’t have all of these options available.”
As designers and real estate agents will tell you, an updated kitchen
is the key to transforming an entire house. According to DeShields, “It’s
so easy to update a tired kitchen with hardware. A remodel doesn’t
necessarily mean ripping out an entire kitchen. Replacing a few key components,
such as counter tops, cabinets, hardware and adding moulding can really make
an outdated kitchen look dynamite.”
Another way to instantly bring a home up-to-date is by replacing the doors.
“There have been big changes in doors in the last decade,”
DeShields says. “There’s been a huge trend towards the protection
of houses. Due to the recent hurricanes, the State of Florida is very
aware of the need to meet strict building codes regarding impact ratings
and many manufacturers were quick to react by designing new, improved
and more sophisticated impact-resistant doors in order to meet the strict
codes.”
New technology means that interior doors also offer more design options.
As DeShields explains, “The designs available in interior doors
nowadays are infinite. They are being cut from low-density fiberboard
and they can replicate just about any design a person can draw due to
new computer technology and equipment. You’re really only limited
by your imagination.”
Smith & DeShields also offers large commercial and contractor divisions.
“While our customer base has always been diverse,” says DeShields,
“Our commercial end is very strong. There’s been a growth
of commercial work in Lee and Collier Counties, especially over the last
two years.”
Whether your needs are residential or commercial, if you’re looking
for storm-proof doors or new drawer pulls, the experienced sales staff
at Smith & DeShields will help you make the right selection. Each
has their own strengths and each work with architects, designers
and homeowners.
“Our sales associates are among the best in the industry,”
says DeShields. “They know their products and are eager to help
clients select those that fit their specifications perfectly. If
you’re not sure what
you’re looking for, we will help you explore the various
options available to help you make an informed decision.”
SMITH
& DESHIELDS, INC.
2360 Trade Center Way,
Naples, FL 34109
239 591-2224
www.smithanddeshields.com
Written by Kristine Hughes
