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Welcome, Kelsey Talis

Wilmington, North Carolina – PBC Design + Build welcomes Kelsey Talis, Allied ASID to Interior Design Team.

Multi-talented, eminently creative, and nationally published, Talis is an allied member of the American Society of Interior Designers with over eight years of experience in the New York, Philadelphia, South Florida, and North Carolina areas.  She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Interior Architecture + Design from the dually accredited program at Drexel University.

Motivated by her love of design and her ability to coordinate, oversee, and complete high-caliber projects, Talis is a valuable addition to PBC Design + Build.  Talis will work closely with custom home clients as well as all members of the PBC team. The design + build firm, as a whole, looks forward to watching her vast knowledge and creative touch come to life in all of their custom homes.

PBC Design + Build is an award winning full service firm specializing in custom homes throughout the Wilmington regional area.  Celebrating 22 years in business, PBC is a group of highly qualified individuals with wide-ranging talents, relevant expertise and a steadfast commitment to customer satisfaction.  For more information, visit our website at www.pbcdesignbuild.com or email:  [email protected]

PBC Design + Build of Wilmington Awarded Best Of Houzz 2020

Heron Model Home, Autumn Hall

The Annual People’s Choice Award from the Houzz Community Highlights Home Remodeling and Design Professionals with Most Popular Designs and Top Ratings

WILMINGTON, North Carolina, February 5, 2020PBC Design + Build of Wilmington has won a “Best Of Houzz” award for Design Photography on Houzz®, the leading platform for home renovation and design. The award-winning firm, specializing in custom homes throughout the Wilmington region for the past 22 years, was chosen by the millions of homeowners that comprise the Houzz community from among more than 2.5 million active home building, remodeling and design industry professionals.

The Best Of Houzz badge is awarded annually, in three categories: Design, Customer Service and Photography. Design awards honor professionals whose work was the most popular among the Houzz community. Customer Service honors are based on several factors, including a pro’s overall rating on Houzz and client reviews submitted in 2019. Architecture and interior design photographers whose images were most popular are recognized with the Photography award.

A “Best Of Houzz 2020” badge will appear on winners’ profiles as a sign of their commitment to excellence. These badges help homeowners identify popular and top-rated home professionals in every metro area on Houzz.

“I can tell my team that they are doing a great job, but when an organization we hold with such high regard provides that validation for their hard work through the Best of Houzz awards, my whole company swells with satisfaction. Their heads are higher, their smiles are brighter and they get the opportunity to shine.” – Dave Spetrino, founder of PBC Design + Build

“This year’s Best Of Houzz awards go to an incredibly talented and service-oriented group of home remodeling and design professionals, and we’re proud to highlight the winners on the Houzz website and app,” said Liza Hausman, vice president of Industry Marketing for Houzz. “This award is particularly meaningful as it reflects the sentiment of the millions of homeowners in the Houzz community who are hiring home professionals for their projects across the U.S. and around the world.”

Follow PBC on Houzz.

About PBC Design + Build

PBC Design + Build is an award winning full service firm specializing in custom homes throughout the Wilmington regional area. Celebrating 22 years in business, PBC is a group of highly qualified individuals with wide-ranging talents, relevant expertise and a steadfast commitment to customer satisfaction. For more information, visit our website at www.pbcdesignbuild.com or email: [email protected]

About Houzz

Houzz is the leading platform for home remodeling and design, providing people with everything they need to improve their homes from start to finish – online or from a mobile device. From decorating a small room to building a custom home and everything in between, Houzz connects millions of homeowners, home design enthusiasts and home improvement professionals across the country and around the world. With the largest residential design database in the world and a vibrant community empowered by technology, Houzz is the easiest way for people to find inspiration, get advice, buy products and hire the professionals they need to help turn their ideas into reality. Headquartered in Palo Alto, Calif., Houzz also has international offices in London, Berlin, Sydney, Moscow, Tel Aviv and Tokyo. Houzz is a registered trademark of Houzz Inc. worldwide. For more information, visit houzz.com.

LEED Professional or PBC Green Building Superman?

ICYMI and are as conscientious about saving the environment as we are, you’ll be glad to know that PBC Design + Build’s own Dan Spann AKA Director of Construction, is not only the master of a good LOL, but he is also a LEED AP. Yep, PBC has a professional on staff with a very specific area of expertise, who is certified by the U.S. Green Building Council. Have you figured out what the acronym that follows Dan’s signature stands for yet?  Take your time, we’ll BRB…

While you’re thinking about it, let’s get back to that environmentally-conscious trait that we all possess inside of us somewhere.  Do you ever find yourself thinking about this great big, precious world and how you can preserve the future of it?  Are you building your own custom home, or hoping to one day, and wondering how you can do-so while not contributing as much to the planet’s daily waste, pollution, or overuse of energy?  We share your concern and know that it can seem completely overwhelming.   You don’t know where to begin, or how to find the time to research, or you are wondering how in the world you could budget for huge expensive solar equipment?  Not to worry, help is on the way!  Remodeling, redecorating, AND building new construction can ALL be eco-friendlier processes just by making a few simple changes… from re-purposing an old piece of furniture to installing a tankless water heater, you can do it!

  • REPURPOSE, REPURPOSE, REPURPOSE!  Do you still have that dresser from 1983 that your spouse insists must go in your kiddo’s room because that thing was in their own room as a child and “if it was good enough for me well then, it’s good enough”?  No?  Us either ;).  But if we DID, we would use some cool Chalk Paint (try Annie Sloan– several non-toxic qualities) that everyone is talking about.  The kind that apparently covers any surface with no prep and leaves a nice, flat, seemingly even “aged” look?  Pick a color, grab some new hardware, and GO!  Chances are, that 30-something-year-old dresser has lasted this long because it is actually made out of real wood and that it is not only going to save you money but also possibly a baby tree’s life.  Win-win.Annie Sloan Re-purposed Dresser
  • Speaking of wood, re-claim that stuff!   Jump on the pallet craze.  Use a chunk of the tree trunk from the latest backyard weekend project as a night stand.  Or better yet, go visit our friends at Old Growth Riverwood in Castle Hayne, NC.  They use recovered wood that is harvested locally from the Cape Fear River as well as reclaimed wood from old barns and buildings. You can use the wood to create a unique space in your new home or get those cool people to build you a beautiful piece of furniture.  Whatever you choose to do with your reclaimed wood, there will definitely be a story to tell.   How awesome is that?!Whitebridge Re-claimed wood wall, Old Growth Riverwood
  • Take your concerns to your interior designer. Choosing your selections are one of the biggest hurdles during the design and build process.  You love something one day and doubt it the next.  There is one small way to make this process a little bit easier though, choose eco-friendly!  Can’t decide on countertops?  Skip the traditional and trendy options and go right for the ones that’ll make your insides warm and happy. Countertops can be made from all sorts of recycled materials including glass, paper, aluminum, copper, and acrylic.  Or go with trendy, because the manufacturing of quartz is actually eco-friendly.  We are sure our favorite people at Sellers Tile can help you out.  Flooring is another area where you can choose selections that are kinder to our Earth.  From Bamboo and Cork to recycled-plastic carpet, you can find options that suit your wants and fit your budget.  Cork is actually the outer bark of a Cork Oak Tree, it can be harvested from the tree which allows new bark to grow all while NOT DAMAGING OR KILLING SAID TREE!  And, you will be shocked to find out all of the amazing products you can find that are made from cork.  Our go-to flooring experts at Rug Runner can help you choose something that suits your taste.  The options are endless and bragging rights promised- go ahead, fill your home with a renewable resource!!
  • Don’t forget appliances! From more energy-efficient ovens to installing a tankless water heater, the knowledgeable team of construction professionals that you have hired (ahem) and their all-knowing friends at Ferguson, can tell you all about your options.  Just ask.
  • If you take the time to talk to your favorite design and build team member, I am sure they’d come up with a few easy outdoor selections that would be friendly to the environment.  ICF Construction, Cedar siding, a smaller footprint (go up), and leaving as many trees on the property as possible are all great ways to help avoid some of the everyday stressors on our Earth.

I bet you’re wondering how any of this is related to that curious signature at the end of every email from Daniel Spann, LEED AP?  You should know that Dan is neither a member of the Associated Press nor our Accounts Payable professional.  Instead that fancy label after his name means that Dan is super knowledgeable about GREEN BUILDING.  After studying sustainable construction and development at App State and starting his career in such, he took some extra classes, studied hard, and passed the exam given by the U.S. Green Building Council.   LEED AP stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional.  Mr. Spann isn’t only our Director of Construction here at PBC but also your go-to for all things eco-building-friendly!  And quite frankly if we ever find a spare five minutes, he’ll be getting that custom-made green cape that we all know he deserves.

Trending Now: Top 5 Popular Designs PBC Clients Are Asking For

Once focused on Craftsman style, granite countertops, and textured walls, today we are seeing our custom home clients move more towards a cleaner and simpler aesthetic.

We all remember it.  Ten years ago seems to have come and gone in the blink of an eye and it feels like it’s been “one sleep” since 2001, but the reality of it is that time moves forward and “popular” is just as it has always been. Once loved and relevant by most is now replaced by newer, cooler, and more aesthetically pleasing.  The overdone McMansions have been replaced by functional, simpler, dare-we-say more “modern” homes.  Instead of seeing the constant of dark wood, bold wall colors, and Tuscan kitchens we are moving more towards interior metals, larger exterior spaces, and lighter colors overall.

1.  MORE METAL

In the late 2010s, we are celebrating the metals.  All of them!  We are mixing them, we are designing staircases around them, we are replacing wood with them, the list goes on.  We LOVE metal and it turns out, our clients do too.  Metals are a great way to modernize the home and make it look cleaner, sleeker, and more current.  We are seeing more clients ask for it in place of wooden pickets inside their homes (and out), we are seeing it replace wider and more traditional wood around the glazing on French Doors, and due to the popularity of the modern farmhouse we are seeing A LOT of steel windows.

2.  CLADDING

/kladiNG/

noun;    a covering or coating on a structure or material.

You’re welcome.  It’s just a big word for wallpaper and faux paint or texture, as seen on this white washed brick fireplace.  Be it paint, paper, or plaster, it is intended to make a wall (or surface) look like it is made of a different material than it actually is.  Although some styles are a trend of the past, they have made their way back and are making their presence known.  Clients are loving the ability to put their own individual stamp on their new custom home and we just happen to know of the best in town.  Texture away!

3.  POOLS

Pools upon pools upon pools!  Although (possibly) an exaggeration, it seems like EVERY client we built for in the last year had a pool on their plans.  A couple of the most in-demand are “plunge pools” and “cocktail pools”.

A plunge pool is more shallow and compact than a traditional backyard pool but it also has a few different goals in mind, like aquatic exercise, physical therapy, and relaxation.

A cocktail pool is very similar to the plunge pool.  The biggest difference between the two is that a cocktail pool tends to be a bit more shallow than the plunge, and typically the cocktail pool has a bench seat around the perimeter with the idea that guests will sit and enjoy a cocktail while relaxing and cooling off with friends.  Either way, we like happy clients.  If it’s a pool that they want, a pool they will get!

4.  SCULLERIES OR LARGE PANTRIES

FINALLY, we have all realized that an overabundance of cabinet space in the kitchen maybe isn’t a necessity.  There are lots of things we all possess that we don’t use every day.  They need a home, and we don’t necessarily have to have a place in our everyday kitchens to store them.  We want amazing pantries, full of shelving and storage, as seen in our Thom’s Creek River House.  Specifically, a scullery or an “overflow kitchen” with secondary cabinetry and plumbing (beverage refrigerator, another sink, an extra dishwasher).  Three cheers to bringing back a scullery!

5.  WIDE PORCHES

We know, we know, this is probably a southern thing.  That said, large porches like this one (seen on our recently built home at Wrightsville Beach) began years ago before the present-day comfort of central air conditioning.  Big, sometimes screened in, the porch was a go-to for southerners. They did not stay inside and suffer miserably in the 100-degree humidity but instead enjoyed wide open porches and southern breezes as a way to cool off.  Fast forward, those large porches are coming back!  Yes, we have the luxury of HVAC, most of which we can adjust from an app on our phone, but we still love a great evening outside on the porch. Although most clients and designers believe that 10 foot porches are comfortable and deep, both agree that 11 and 12 foot porches add more livability, more room to sit within and enjoy the view, and that they add an element of ease and comfort while entertaining.

No matter what is trending in custom homes or how high on the popularity chart your countertop selection is, just make sure that YOU do YOU.  Probably check with Chrissy first.  And consult Jessica at FergusonMaybe ask Jarvis or Dave.  Bottom line, trends change and so do you so most importantly, love where you live!

Dave and Kyle, business partners. Photo: Kelly Starbuck Potography

PBC Design + Build (+ Balance)

We all know that new construction isn’t exactly experiencing a lull. And if you live in Southeastern North Carolina, you’ve seen first-hand how “hot” the market continues to be (insert simultaneous knocks-on-wood). Real Estate teams are growing, General Contractors are creating back-logs, and you can’t seem to drive more than a few miles without seeing commercial development.

PBC Design + Build has seen both sides of this economy over the last 21 + years and business partners Dave Spetrino and Kyle Henry have weathered the storm.  They have proven in the meantime, that a great partnership shouldn’t solely be based on intelligence, trust, and a shared vision.  Suffice it to say, through the trials and tribulations of running a business they always seem to be able to laugh (eventually) and to be friends (mostly) all while building beautiful custom homes for wonderful, fun clients.  Keep reading, secret divulging to commence…

Clearly there are a lot of factors that go into a great partnership.  All the obvious qualities like vision, motivation, and common work ethic are important but it is no secret that a great sense of humor and good taste in music can go a long way.  Let’s not forget about differences though, because those can be a huge strength in that solid foundation (no pun intended…get it? Foundation?  Moving on…)  We could go on and on about the generic qualities that successful business partners have in common (or don’t) but instead we give to you a small window into the minds of one of our favorite twosomes…

DAVE VS. KYLE: A quick-answer quiz to the MOST important questions

Birth order?

DS: First

KH: Middle

Middle name?

DS: Arthur

KH: Jeremy

Favorite year of high school?

DS: Either Junior or Senior I suppose.

KH: Senior year.  I finally figured out the system.  Little work and a lot of play…

Toddlers or teenagers?

DS: I hate them all.

KH: Toddlers.  They can’t talk yet.

First job?

DS: Washington Post paperboy.  Age 11.

KH: Giovanni’s (Italian Restaurant in Hickory, NC) bus boy. Age 14.

Sal, Murr, Q, or Joe?

DS:  I don’t know these people.  I know a guy named Sal, he’s a cool guy.

KH: Murr

Go-to drink at a bar?

DS: Diet Coke with ice or a Moscow Mule (but only if it’s in that fancy copper mug)

KH: Pellegrino

Favorite song. EVER.

DS: “Night and Day” Al B. Sure!

KH: “Love is a Rose” Neil Young

I’d absolutely ruin my diet for…

DS: Peppermint milkshake with hot fudge at the bottom of the cup from Baskin

Robbins.

KH: SUGAR

Last time you cried?

DS: Either when they froze Han Solo in “The Empire Strikes Back” or when I thought

E.T. was going to die.

KH: Friday

Cinema, theatre, or live music?

DS: Cinema

KH: Live Music

Charleston or Savannah?

DS: Savannah

KH: Charleston

Favorite EVER custom home detail?

DS: I’m a sucker for great light fixtures and I love seeing brick work on interior walls.

KH: I love modern architecture.  We have several recent modern homes. I appreciate the designs of all of them.

Best quality about Kyle?

DS: Crazy smart.

Best quality about Dave?

KH: He is “in it” for all the right reasons.  He never quits.

It looks like Paula Abdul said it best in ’88,  clearly opposites do attract.  As a senior in high school, Dave was entering his seventh year in the workforce and Kyle was signing up for his seventh semester of shop class.  From two different locations, completely different family dynamics, and opposite academic paths these two have managed to create a lasting and functional business partnership, some pretty nice custom homes, and a dang cool place to work.

In conclusion, a common work ethic and (mostly) questionable sense of humor can really take you places!  Cheers to PBC’s “perfect match.”

PBC, Mentesana Family Recognized by Historic Wilmington Foundation

PBC Design + Build along with two of our favorite repeat clients, Sal and Beth Mentesana, were invited by Historic Wilmington Foundation last month to be recognized at their annual Preservation Awards Ceremony.  At a reception in St. James Parish Hall, The Mentesana’s downtown Fifth Avenue home was identified by this year’s awards committee members as being one that “beautifully fit” with the surrounding area in the category of Appropriate New Construction.

When Sal and Beth first moved to the area from Pennsylvania, they started out in Brunswick Forest. They chose the community for the golf course and atmosphere, and they chose their builder (ahem) for several other reasons (including Dave’s “part-visionary and part-sanity checker” qualities).  Although they liked their neighborhood, The Mentesanas found themselves living their lives in downtown Wilmington and enjoying Wrightsville Beach.  Beth spends time volunteering at the Bellamy Mansion and loves introducing art to fifth graders at the Cameron Art Museum, so downtown is where they knew they wanted to be, as Beth says “it is diverse, eclectic, and alive!”

Lot purchase, consult, design, and construction were completed by the end of October, 2018 and The Mentesanas moved into their downtown dream home.  Fitting everything they wanted onto a narrow downtown lot was challenging but doable, and fitting in with the area was definitely a priority.  Among the elements that they love most about their new home are it’s setting; their lot sits next to Bicentennial Park and is nestled beneath beautiful old trees.  They absolutely love the Italianate style of their home, the many windows, and it’s “shotgun” design- 22 feet wide by 100 feet deep.  Sal and Beth continue to receive compliments on the beauty of their home and friends can’t believe that PBC was able to build in such a narrow space AND include a driveway with a two-car detached garage!

As The Mentesanas continue to enjoy their new custom home, they say that the ultimate compliment is receiving this award.  As their design + build team, we must say that we agree!

 

Who’s Up For a Parade?

Just as the weather warms up, the flowers are in full bloom, and the beaches begin to crowd, #teamPBC finds themselves in the annual Parade of Homes deadline crunch.  Put on by the Cape Fear Home Builders Association, in conjunction with a bunch of great local sponsors, is our own Wilmington new-home beauty pageant.  This year, PBC Design + Build is proud to have entered FIVE of our current projects as part of the over SEVENTY beautiful new construction properties that are competing in the 2019 Parade of Homes.

The Wilmington Parade of Homes takes place April 27 + 28 and May 4 + 5, from 12 to 5 o’clock PM.  This year, our properties are located from Wrightsville Beach to Brunswick County.  They will each have an awesome, knowledgeable, and helpful PBC team member on site to show the property, answer any questions and even provide paint color information!

Join us…

Start your tour off in the beautiful land of Brunswick County at our Sauthier II model home, 3042 Catesville Circle.  Coming in at a little over 2700 square feet with three bedrooms and three bathrooms, The Sauthier II is located in the Cape Fear National neighborhood of Brunswick Forest with gorgeous views of the golf course.


Next, hop over to RiverLights, a great community located right along the Cape Fear River.  Take a walk through one of our units in RiverView Townes at 17 Hobie Run and experience the best of luxury townhome living!  Did we mention the balconies?!


Make sure to check out our Thoms’s Creek River House while in the neighborhood at 106 Trawlers Way.  Located in the newest “boutique” section of RiverLights, Hamp’s Landing, this waterfront home boasts 3,748 square feet and is among only 18 other homesites!


Next on the list is located in the Tidal Walk community at 7717 Dunewalk Court. The third building in our Dunewalk Townes project (a former GOLD winner in the 2018 Wilmington-Cape Fear Home Builders Association Parade of Homes), this townhome comes in at 2300 square feet with three bedrooms, two and a half baths, and views of the Intracoastal Waterway.


The last stop on the PBC 2019 Parade of Homes tour is a custom home located on South Harbor Island in Wrightsville Beach.  At 7 Myrtle Court, you can find over 3500 square feet with six bedrooms, five bathrooms, and a beautiful saltwater pool…all in the most desirable neighborhood on the island!


Amongst our competition are some other beautiful homes on the tour, find the full list at wilmingtonparadeofhomes.com.  We hope you’ll spend the next couple of weekends experiencing the wonderful end-products of a team full of passion, work ethic, and loyalty.  

Relax, take it all in, and enjoy every detail!

(especially ours!)

It’s Tri-Time at Riverlights!

What do we like more than a cold beer at the end of a busy week here at PBC and RiverView Townes?  A cold beer at the end of a race, of course!  And if that race is a triathlon, in none other than RiverLights, we’ll take three!  Swim, bike, run…yes?!  Get ready for the Cape Fear 16!

 

PBC Design + Build is partnering with RiverLights Marina Village, in conjunction with SetUp Events to provide a fun and fairly unique race in a beautiful community.  Sunday, April 14th is the day to compete in our Cape Fear 16 Triathlon in RiverLights.  Catering to everyone from the avid triathlete to the amateur runner, we like to think this race accommodates anyone that wants to burn a few calories, check out a gorgeous neighborhood and socialize with some great people, all while enjoying the beautiful views along the Cape Fear River.

 

This specific triathlon will consist of a 1K swim, 20K bike, and 5K run.  There will be three different race options, all centered around the traditional triathlon events.  Participants can choose between racing in all three events (relay teams included), two of their choice, or decide to do just one.  Unlike a traditional triathlon, there will be no “transitions” as each event will have a thirty to forty-five-minute rest between segments…perfect for catching your breath, perusing the neighborhood, or maybe grabbing a quick nap!  For a complete breakdown of competition and award details, check out the official race page.

 

If you’ve been wondering how to get motivated and back in shape before summer, we’ve got YOU! Sign up for the race NOW, pick up your packet THE DAY BEFORE at RiverView Townes (free pre-race high fives from Casey), and join us for a sunny SUNDAY in April.  See you there!