Aptitude Design & Build took on a never-renovated 1985 house in St. Charles, Miss. The project’s priorities were functionality, low maintenance and long-term livability. The project scope included two phases of renovations. The first in the kitchen, half bath and throughout the lower level. Matt Mierek grew Aptitude Design & Build from a side construction jobs with constant demand for his expertise. He began to take the business as his full time venture with the ethos of, “What would I do if this were my house?” The company quickly scaled…
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Renovating Homes and Lives
I recently presented a talk about my journey into this industry, and why I founded Hope Renovations, my nonprofit that prepares women and gender-expansive folks for jobs in construction and helps older adults age in place. In my talk I shared that, although the number of women in construction is now at a 20-year high, at this rate it will take about 200 years for us to achieve gender equity. When I started Hope in 2020, my intent was to help underemployed women access meaningful, living wage-paying work in an…
Read MoreRemodel of the Week: Vujovich Design Build
Vujovich Design Build remodeled a cramped and outdated kitchen inside a 1937 Minneapolis Home, preserving the historic charm while improving function and flow for everyday living. The interior design won first place in the Historic Renovation/Restoration (50 years or older) category for this project in the 2025 Midwest Design Awards and took thoughtful, creative measures to bring this kitchen into the present while still honoring its past. Walls were opened to improve flow and select windows were closed to reclaim wall space for cabinetry. A walk-in pantry was added, concealed…
Read MoreRemodel of the week: One Coast Design
The design team from One Coast Design remodeled the Coburn Hutchinson House in Summerville, S.C. The home is a rare surviving example of Charleston Single-style architecture, with one particular space standing out among the rest: The Blue Bathroom. Tucked into one of the home’s original guest suites and accessed through a set of original French doors off the piazza, the bathroom was transformed from a utilitarian clockroom into a vintage and period-accurate spa room. Michelle Sauter, lead designer at One Coast Design and owner of the Coburn Hutchinson House, described…
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