2020 Sweepstakes Winner
Apr 11, 2022See Our Home Makeover Sweepstakes 2020 Winners’ New Shower!
The Richards used their $10,000 Home Makeover Sweepstakes grand prize to design a beautiful walk-in shower
Jim and Khristeene Richards say their master bathroom is now the first room in their home that they feel is completely finished – and it’s thanks in large part to Improveit’s Home Makeover Sweepstakes 2020!
The Richards entered the sweepstakes during their visit to the 2020 Miami Valley Home & Garden Show. “We try to go every year to get ideas and see the companies that are out there,” Khristeene says. The couple had a few projects in mind for their home on that visit – but never expected to win $10,000 toward a bathroom remodel!
Restoring Traditional Charm
The Richards’ home was originally built in 1930, changed ownership several times, and fell into disrepair over the decades. In 2014, new owners purchased the home at auction, and sold it to the Richards’ in 2016.
“The house was in terrible shape when it went to auction, and the people we bought it from gutted it down to the studs and re-did everything,” Khristeene says. “When we came to the open house, it looked awesome, and we knew we wanted to buy it. But after moving in we noticed that there really were some things we wanted to change.”
Jim, who enjoys home improvement and woodworking in his garage workshop, says that while the renovations were done well, the home’s Dutch Colonial style wasn’t reflected inside. The couple intended to make some additional improvements, and make the home their own.
Home Makeover Sweepstakes 2020 Surprise
Jim and Khristeene met the Improveit team while exploring the 2020 Miami Valley Home Improvement Show. “We were both serial renters,” Khristeene says, noting Jim’s military career and her relocation from North Carolina to Ohio. “This is the first home either one of us has ever owned, so we didn’t have any experience hiring a contractor or remodeling in the past.”
The couple entered Improveit’s Home Makeover Sweepstakes 2020 during their show visit, and Jim says he went back and learned more about Improveit and it’s great reputation after receiving the exciting call about their win. Accepting their $10,000 sweepstakes grand prize, the Richards selected an Improveit bathroom remodel, since the home’s windows were replaced by the previous owner. The couple’s prize selection meeting with the Improveit team members reaffirmed that they were going to have a 5-Star Remodeling Experience.
“They walked us through how the [materials] are made, what it’s made of, why it’s a better product than what’s currently out there – and then we got to choose the features that we wanted, the colors, and the types of fixtures.”
Classic Tub-to-Shower Conversion
During the design process, Jim & Khristeene determined that tub-to-shower conversion in their master bathroom was the best option for their needs. Because their home has a second bathtub, and a shower worked better for their day-to-day needs, the couple knew this choice would help them create the master bathroom they always wanted.
For their new walk-in shower, Jim and Khristeene chose smooth travertine walls and a white shower base with a matching white niche. They complemented these selections with oil-rubbed bronze finishes for the sliding glass shower door, showerhead, and grab bar. A bench seat in the same travertine color as the walls finished the look.
“Most of our house already has bronze fixtures, and we’ve used Moen products as well, so these selections worked well with what we were looking for,” Jim says. “We don’t miss the tub at all, and we love the bench seat and the functionality of the grab bar. And the niche is something we’ve always wanted!”
As someone who’s comfortable with DIY, Jim says he knows there are a lot of videos online that could have walked him through how to remodel his own bathroom, but he’s glad the project was in Improveit’s capable hands. “I’m not a plumber,” he says, “and there was electricity involved with the addition of a light in the shower. I don’t think that’s actually in my wheelhouse, so I’m glad that Improveit came out and did it for us.”
Pandemic Delays with a Beautiful Finish
The 2020 Miami Valley Home & Garden Show was one of the last events Improveit participated in before the Covid-19 pandemic halted large gatherings and began affecting labor, production, and manufacturing for the residential construction industries. Once the Richards’ custom-built materials were ready, the installation team took just two-and-a-half days to renovate the shower space. The old bathtub, shower, and drywall were removed on day 1, followed by waterproofing and new materials going in on day two, and finishing touches on day three.
“We’re not interested in selling, but I’m sure this has raised the value of our home,” Jim says. “For us just to be able to look in here and see the shower – we see this room as the first room that is completely done and updated in our home.”
He adds that, while pandemic-related delays impacted the project coming to fruition, the results were worth the wait. “There are supply chain issues going on, and that’s just a matter of life right now,” he says. “It’s not Improveit’s fault – they can only do what they can do. But when they do have the parts and materials they need to get the job done, they’re going to do a great job for you.”
