The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) announced their annual National CotY™ (Contractor of the Year) winners on Friday April 24, 2020 during a virtual Evening of Excellence celebration via Facebook Live.
Each year, NARI presents CotY Awards to members who have demonstrated outstanding work through their remodeling projects. The CotY Awards are the highest form of recognition by industry leaders and peers and allow us to celebrate our members who are committed to design, best practices, integrity, high standards, and professionalism. NARI received nearly 500 entries from across the United States representing over $138M in remodeling projects.
We received two National 2020 CotY awards for a total of 3 in two years! Click here to see our 2019 award winning project.
“For forty years, the National Association of the Remodeling Industry has celebrated the best remodeling projects in the country through our Contractor of the Year Awards competition.” says David Pekel, CEO at NARI. “These award-winning projects exemplify the pinnacle of what the professional remodeling industry represents in both craftsmanship and innovation and NARI is proud to recognize this year’s best of the best.”
More About NARI
The National Association of the Remodeling Industry, or NARI, is the medium for business development, a platform for advocacy and the principal source for industry intelligence. NARI is an organization of high-quality remodeling professionals. Its members are committed to integrity, high standards, professional education, ethics and market recognition. NARI connects homeowners with its professional members.
ActionCOACH & The Cleary Company Make a Difference
There are those that believe success in business and leadership just takes hard work. But at The Cleary Company it is our opinion that hard work alone isn’t enough. You must make sure you are pointed in the right direction as you are working hard. It is ideal to have someone looking over your shoulder to guide you and your business along the way! That is exactly why our Team works closely with ActionCOACH Columbus. They are a partner that helps us navigate the uncertainty of the business landscape. What that means for our design-build remodeling Clients is that we consistently work hard and smart to improve our business practices and leadership skills to be the best choice for their remodeling needs.
Below is some of the advice our Team has received from ActionCOACH.
Staying
positive as a leader is essential in performing your job. To make sure you
stay positive we have five pillars of self-care that we as
coaches have our teams, managers and leaders all do.
Consistent Learning. Make sure that you’re always growing. Our brains are built to get rid of synapses that are not needed, as an energy-saving measure, causing our cognitive functions to slip after we graduate from college or cut back our workload near retirement. A consistent habit of learning has been proven to increase life expectancy, and certainly cognitive ability in that life.
Meditation. Regular meditation needs to be a part of your life. Get a meditation app or meditation audio of some kind to be able to shut your brain down just for a few minutes to recoup and recharge.
Exercise. Whether you walk, run, bike, swim, lift, or dance, exercise has a positive effect on not only your body, but your brain. The endorphins released when you exercise have been proven to increase positive outlook and decrease depression.
Affirmations. What you say to yourself when you’re by yourself can affect your outlook on every facet of your life. Saying out loud what you believe to be true about your present or future can reprogram your brain for positive thinking. Try things like “I am a successful leader.” or “I have great ideas that people want to hear.” It may feel uncomfortable at first to say these statements out loud but keep going.
Gratitude. Start your day being grateful for what you have and where you are. One of the easiest ways to do this is a gratitude snooze. Instead of falling back asleep after your alarm goes off, take that time to think of the things that are going well in your life. Try writing in a gratitude journal, capturing why you are grateful for the people, circumstances and experiences around you. Multiple scientific studies have concluded that cultivating the habit of gratitude influences not only your mental health, but your sleep health, physical health, and health of your relationships.
Creating a positive culture starts with the leaders. In all of these positive habits, show your team the way and lead by example.
As your remodeling experts our mission is to – “Thrive on improving the happiness of our clients and the functionality of their homes through our Remodel-Design-Build experience and have fun while doing it.” We focus on this mission daily and with ActionCOACH’s insightful guidance, we are fulfilling that mission through a positive culture and being leaders in our industry. What can you do to build your leadership skills?
Winner – Best Company Culture BizX Conference Nashville February 2020
In the spring of 1994 George Cleary established The Cleary Company at the urging of his wife, Cathy. He began by promoting himself and his new business to not only his family and friends but to the families of his friends. It wasn’t long before he secured his first clients, Luke & Gail, the parents of a classmate from Bishop Watterson High School. The project? Build an addition on the back of their home in Upper Arlington! A 15′ x 19′ screened porch with 2 skylights and a ceiling fan. Plus a 28′ paver patio, a concrete pad, cedar steps and landscaping for their new hot tub.
An Interview with Luke & Gail – George’s First Clients
Why did you first choose to hire George to build your remodel? And why did you continue to choose The Cleary Company for all your future renovations?
George and Rob were classmates of our daughter and her husband so we knew them and liked them. We had a problem and they were able to solve it. After the project was completed we could not have been more pleased. Everything came out just the way we wanted and more importantly just as he said it would. Later when we purchased another home we had George and his crew back to remodel that home as well. When we eventually sold that home the new owners were so impressed with the craftsmanship they hired The Cleary Company for several remodel projects.
Who is your favorite Team member and how did they exceed your expectations?
Rob has unique skills of craftsmanship. He fabricated a beautiful mantel for us and every time we had a fire in that fireplace we remarked at his artistry.
What advice would you offer to someone who is looking to remodel their home?
Hire George and his team. They can build dreams into reality!
If you could use one word to describe why you choose to do business with The Cleary Company, what would that be?
There isn’t one word! Dependable, caring, careful, creative, problem solvers. They are a great company to do business with.
Luke & Gail’s Westerville OH Home exterior project 2008:
George & Luke at our 2012 open house for our newly remodeled Kenny Rd location:
George with Gail & Luke at our 25th Anniversary party 10-10-19:
“It’s been a great ride George, Congratulations! We have always been proud that we were your very first client. We will always hold dear the wonderful memories of you and your crew working on our two beloved homes.” – Gail & Luke, Clients 25 years, Upper Arlington OH & Westerville OH
Removing the wall between the kitchen & dining room allowed for the footprint of the kitchen to expand and make room for a large island with storage and seating. The large windows in the dining room bring in the southern natural light and brightens up the once dark kitchen.The new kitchen layout created allowed for more cabinets giving the busy family of four better function and more storage. Larger more modern appliances add convenience to family meal prep.
The custom range hood and mosaic tile backsplash give personality and warmth to the new kitchen. Instead of removing part of the brick wall, designer Laura Watson, used the space to create a dedicated breakfast station for busy teens on the go.The ceilings in the family room were vaulted using existing space from attic. The rustic beams add warmth and charm to the narrow space.
April is not only the month George celebrates his birthday but it’s also the month back in 1994 when he established The Cleary Company. With his 10+ years of experience working in construction, George set up an office in the basement of his home in Upper Arlington. He purchased a computer, a truck and hired his first crew of buddies to complete jobs generated from his connections and respect in the community.
Fast forward to 2019 and the company has grown into a Remodel Design Build firm with 25 employees, over $5 million in revenue and is set to move into their newly remodeled 11,000sf office! So Happy Birthday & Congratulations to George and The Cleary Company Remodel Design Build Columbus OH.
When asked what’s changed the most with the business in the last 25 years, George doesn’t hesitate and says, bathrooms. “Bathrooms have evolved into home spas. Places where homeowners want to start and end their day in a relaxing luxury. Showers have gotten bigger and bathtubs are smaller.” According to the 3 designers on staff, the most requested luxury items for master bathroom remodels are heated floors and zero threshold showers with multiple shower heads and body sprays. They even get requests for steam showers!
George continues, “When I started my business back in 1994, we were mostly building decks, screened porches and privacy fences for friends and family members and now we’re building whole houses! I am so excited to begin our next 25 years and moving into our new location at 989 Old Henderson Rd. Our new space features a design studio with a larger space for our new sample library with products and finishes from our most trusted partners. Our new kitchen is fully functional. Perfect for showing off appliances and hosting cooking demonstrations along with our popular Wine & Design events.”
Read more about George and his family in our Meet the Team profiles!
8 Home Remodeling Projects Large & Small | Columbus, OH
Meet Jane, she and her husband Joe have been clients of The Cleary Company since 2002! Over the years they’ve hired our Team to complete a total of 8 home remodeling projects ranging from new windows and an exterior face lift to a kitchen remodel. Working with Jane and Joe over the years has been a pleasure and we appreciate their trust in us.
Jane on the red carpet at our 20th anniversary party! | September 25, 2014
What has been your favorite part of working with The Cleary Company?
My favorite part is the quality of work they do! I have high expectations and no matter the project big or small, they’ve completed what I expected.
Why did you originally choose The Cleary Company to complete your renovation/remodeling projects? And why did you continue to choose them for future projects?
We had seen their job signs in the area and George is our neighbor. We know him personally which is very important. He even stopped by one night to just check and see how the project was going and how we were doing.
One of the main reasons I went with them for our last two projects, all new windows and a kitchen remodel that included removing interior walls, was the fact that they have a design team. I had seen some of their completed projects on social media and in person. For us to take on a project of this size when you’re committed to staying in your home that is 50+ years old, we didn’t want it to look like we did a remodel. We wanted it to look like we updated a home and everything still flows. I knew that they would be able to accomplish my vision. Their Team and the quality of work is why we’ve had them do so many projects over the years.
What advice would you offer to someone who is thinking of remodeling their home?
Do your homework! If it’s a huge project then you should seriously consider if living through a remodel is what you really want to do. Weigh all of your options, location, cost to remodel, moving or building new. If you do decide to remodel, seriously consider moving out during the project. It’s hard to live in it day to day when people are interrupting your schedule. It can be done, but it’s hard.
Who is your favorite team member?
They’re all good! I just love Laura and learned to trust her from the very beginning that she was going to create a design plan that reflected my vision. I didn’t want to get rid of my original kitchen cabinets because they didn’t look like they needed to be replaced and she was able to pull everything together so it didn’t look like I had old and new mixed together. Her design insight is incredible.
Rob, my project manager, made sure that when something came up he addressed it. The open communication was perfect.
If you were asked to explain in one word why you choose to do business with The Cleary Company, what would it be? Integrity
Watch Jane’s video testimonial from our 2017 VIP Client dinner!
This basement remodel is not your father’s man cave. The new design plan executed by The Cleary Company Remodel-Design-Build balances design and utility. Transforming a dull and dated space into a sophisticated entertainment space for the whole family featuring a stone fireplace with custom built-in shelving, a kitchenette for hosting friends and family on game day as well as a full guest bathroom.
Before BasementAfter Basement Remodel | Upper Arlington OH
The boys wanted their own space to watch sports and the parents wanted a family space that didn’t look like a “man cave”. The sophisticated transitional design incorporates a cozy family room feel with 3 large screen TVs and a variety of seating options. The original plan was to remove the load-bearing wall to have one large single space however after the budget was taken into consideration, the final design proposed kept the wall however it was opened up creating a greater connection between the once divided spaces. The wall features a pass-thru style bar and allows for additional seating. To add architectural interest a black wrought iron track with barn-style doors was installed which allows the closing off of the bar and kitchenette. A cozy room for gathering as a family to watch a movie or sports with snacks and beverages conveniently located and perfect for entertaining.
After | Kitchen & Full BathAfter | Bar SeatingAfter | Fireplace & Built-ins
Opening up the stairway to the basement makes the space feel larger. The new door to the utility room features perforated metal for ventilation is a nice upgrade to the old louvered bi-folds. Pass thru window in structural wall increases viewing options for game day. Removing the drop ceiling and installing new LVP flooring also helps to visually expand the space.
Before BasementAfter Basement Remodel | Upper Arlington OH
Read more about our clients and this project which was featured in TriVillage magazine!
Kitchen remodeling is one of the most popular home remodeling projects call our Team receives. And it’s also one that we love to design and build for our clients! The kitchen is the heart of your home, a place for family and friends to gather and cook, eat, and hang out. But when you’re thinking about remodeling your kitchen, it can be tough to know where to start.
That’s where our Remodel-Design-Build Team at The Cleary Company, Columbus, OH comes in. We get to see the kitchen renovation process from start to finish. We are blessed and grateful to work with so many amazing clients since 1994 and to share their joy when they see their vision come to life.
Choose a colorful Appliance:
Houzz published some great inspiration for adding color to your kitchen design. Of course, we think #4 is the best example!
Tile can take a backsplash from boring to beautiful with some careful planning.
Choose a different finish on the tile to impact the result of the design. Glossy or matte finishes create visual cues, as well as changing the design aesthetic.
Let your personality shine by transforming the way a room looks and feels with tile. Using different lay-outs, textures, and color, all help make the space unique.
Contrast the grout color for even more flair or keep it neutral so that it doesn’t stand out—options abound.
Keep it simple for the look you want or go bold and unexpected for more flair.
Blue glass mosaic tile Upper Arlington OH Kitchen remodel
Make a Statement with Your Cabinets:
Light or dark, painted or stained? It is a big decision. Why not both?! Each type has their pros and cons. It really just depends on the type of cabinets being used, the design style, your preference, and the benefits or challenges for both. This mid century modern kitchen uses a combination of light and dark stained cabinets with simple flat panel drawers and doors to compliment the unique light fixtures and orange accents.
Don’t Forget the Hardware:
Go beyond polished or brushed chrome and nickel. Why not choose antique copper, bronze or matte black? Don’t be afraid to try different shapes and sizes too!
Need more inspiration? Check out our Kitchens Portfolio on our website.
Ready to Get Started on Your Kitchen Remodel?
Our Remodel-Design-Build Team is here to collaborate with you on your new kitchen. Contact our Client Relations Coordinator by calling 614-459-4000 or visiting the contact page on our website.
This Bathroom Addition in Tartan Fields Dublin OH was featured in Dublin Life magazine’s Oct/Nov 2018 issue!
Bathroom addition utilized unused attic space above garage which allowed for a larger full bathroom to be built between two existing bedrooms. Before photo shows empty space above an existing attached garage. Shower base features a built-in bench, modern trench drain and zero threshold entry. Custom cabinetry provides ample storage for towels and supplies.
Stationary and handheld showerheads installed for a custom bathing experience. A large niche shelf provides storage for bathing products.
