Category: News & Projects

Barn doors have been around for years, but they have gained considerable popularity in the past decade. Learn about three different barn doors used in the same hotel room and how they provided new twists on this old classic.

When most people think barn doors, they still think of a rustic-looking door with exposed hardware. In recent years, we have seen a plethora of barn door styles and applications. Some applications work better than others since barn doors don’t block sound as well as a traditional swing door.

But one of the key benefits of a barn-style door is how it operates. Barn doors don’t intrude upon a space the same way a swing door does. This is especially important when you’re trying to allow accessibility in a small space – say, like a hotel bathroom. Big swing doors just get in the way. This is the case in many homes too.

I was treated to not one, not two, but THREE barn-style doors in my hotel bathroom! The first was my shower enclosure. This door operated just like a barn door, except it was all glass. The exposed track above was polished chrome and naturally matched all the shower fixtures in design and finish.

The next barn-style door separated the toilet and shower compartment from the vanity area. This door was flush with an elongated pull – much like that of the shower door. Very elegant.

The third door closed off the vanity area from the hallway into the room. This door was also clad in a full-length, full-sized mirror. This door would block the light that came from the awesome-lit mirror.

What was unique about these last two bathroom doors was their scale and hardware. These doors were floor-to-ceiling. As such, their tracks were in the ceiling. There is a single pin at the bottom in the floor that the doors slide on, creating a super clean and sophisticated look.

So are they barn doors, sliding doors, or pocket doors without a pocket? No matter what you classify them as, this type of door will continue to exist because of the space-saving functionality they provide; however, styles will undoubtedly continue to evolve. Today you can get them in an array of colors, styles, or materials such as glass or metal. I wonder what the future holds…

Adapted from Housing Design Matters Blog

In today’s unpredictable market, we all know that even the best-laid plans can go awry. When builder Richard Wallace and his wife Cindi decided to build their third home at Pleasure Island this past year, they knew it would be a different experience than the previous two builds. Both were keenly aware that there would be challenges; however, experiencing it firsthand brought things into perspective and provided an even greater level of empathy for RWB clients. Continue reading “Good Things Come To Those Who Wait”

It is hot. I’m not referring to the market, but to the temperature outside! It’s usually hot here in much of the south – but in places like Chicago and Boston, where they are seeing higher than normal temperatures, air conditioners struggle to keep up. Energy costs are expected to soar and, to cap it all off, many states are expecting higher-than-average occurrences of periodic blackouts to preserve the power grid. Buckle up – it’s going to be a long hot summer. Continue reading “Home Sweet Home – Part 18 – Beating The Heat To Sell Your Home”

Memorial Day has passed, and summer is here! What lies ahead for us this summer? Perhaps this will be the summer where many make that trip to fill-in-the-blank that was put off in 2020. Or maybe rising costs have sidelined that for another time and people will stay more local.

Perhaps some folks will even stay home and enjoy the homes they recently bought or renovated. If you are currently in the market to purchase or renovate, keep the following in mind as you move forward, particularly if you are a homebody… Continue reading “Home Sweet Home – Part 17 – What Makes a Home “Staycation” Worthy?”

Whether you are ready to retire or can work remotely, this beautiful home at 1313 Searay Lane, Carolina Beach will suit your needs!

This 2500+ square foot plan features four bedrooms plus a game room that could serve as a media room, an exercise room, and a craft room or office. Plus, it includes three full bathrooms—all fully tiled with designer selections including Kohler plumbing fixtures. Continue reading “Is It Time to Live at the Beach Full Time?”

THE BEVERAGE CENTER

The Beverage Center, when placed near the kitchen, provides much-needed additional storage in our kitchens. If located properly, the Beverage Center can also relieve congestion in our kitchens during food prep.

Continue reading “Home Sweet Home – Part 16 – The Beverage Center”

We are thrilled to announce we have been chosen as one of three construction firms for the new East & Mason Master Planned Community in the Masonboro Sound Area. The entire development will include 170 homes, comprised of townhomes, single-family homes, and luxury homes. Richard Wallace Builders will be focused on building luxury custom homes.

There is a large amount of interest from families wishing to live in this community. The benefits are wide-ranging, from a clubhouse to quality local education and easy access to shopping as well as nearby nature reserves.

You can read the full press release from East & Mason here.

From the welcoming front porch to the rear covered patio, this 3000+ square foot home on Charlotte Avenue in Carolina Beach epitomizes the West Indies ranch, making it the ideal floor plan for coastal living. High ceilings and a spacious, open concept gathering area, and abundant windows create a bright, sunny, welcoming home.

The owners’ suite is luxurious and features a dream bathroom that includes a free-standing soaking tub, his and her vanities, a striking tiled shower, and an expansive closet. This beautiful space is separated from the other guest bedrooms and provides the perfect retreat for the owners.

The generous kitchen area features a gas cooktop with a decorative Masonboro hood, and a large island for entertaining, and also includes a “messy kitchen”-a convenient serving area or place to conceal dirty dinner dishes while your guests are still present. The vast pantry and functional mudroom with a built-in drop zone bench round out this section of the home.

The triple car garage has more than enough storage for cars, a golf cart, and all those fun beach accessories.

The icing on the cake is the incredible pool that is now underway including a sun shelf for lounge chairs, making relaxing in the sun cool and refreshing.

If this sounds like your idea of living in paradise, please contact Richard Wallace Builder to discuss building a similar home designed to suit your beach lifestyle!

A Better Night’s Sleep

Have you noticed how the “Sleep” industry has exploded in size and offerings? It doesn’t seem that long ago when there were a couple of mattress options – firm or soft. Who can forget about water beds – did any of you have those at one point?

Then Sleep Number created a bed with adjustable firmness. Better yet – on their king beds each side could be different. Revolutionary! Next thing you know, our mattresses can raise or lower our feet and moderate our temperature. Throw in a seemingly endless array of sheets and pillows, and our obsession with a good night’s rest is only increasing.

There is good reason to be concerned about sleep: “Poor quality sleep has been linked to high blood pressure, diabetes, heart attack, heart failure, or stroke” according to WebMD. “Other potential problems include obesity, depression, reduced immune system function, and lower sex drive.”
Fabulous sheets, pillows, and mattresses won’t solve your sleep problems if you have a poorly designed bedroom.

Here are three things to think about when buying or building a home:
1. Eliminating unwanted noises from outside the bedroom
2. Eliminating unwanted noises within the bedroom
3. Controlling the light

Item 1. Thanks in large part to the baby monitor, the primary bedroom is split away from the kids’ rooms. Once the kids reach a certain age, parents don’t need (or want) to hear them – they just want to get sleep. Typically, the primary bath, closet, or both becomes the acoustical buffer. Locating the secondary bedrooms on the opposite end of the house or on a different floor is even better so long as they are not directly above the primary bedroom.

When the unwanted noise comes from outside the home, a different approach needs to be considered. Double or triple-pane windows can be a big help – but consider adding an ambient sound such as a water feature.

Item 2. The most common unwanted noise inside the room (other than the alarm clock) is a snoring partner. Unfortunately, this becomes more common as we age. Things that contribute to snoring are aging, weight gain, and alcohol. Many individuals wear earplugs at night or use a white noise machine. An increasingly common solution is to have separate sleeping areas.

Item 3. Perhaps you have heard about blue light and how it messes with our sleep as it inhibits our production of melatonin – or the sleep hormone. Blue light sources include televisions, smartphones and tablets, LED light bulbs, and computer monitors.

There are a lot of people who look at these devices right before bed (guilty), making it harder to fall asleep. An old fashion incandescent bedside lamp and a book are better pre-sleep alternatives.

Controlling the light inside your bedroom once you turn off your bedside lamp is also critical, according to Dave Asprey, author of Super Human. He advocates for a pitch-dark room for sleeping. Then wake up gently with circadian light – a light source that comes on dimly and is warm in color – like the sun rising in the sky. I’m not sure how practical a pitch-dark room is for folks 55 and older whose bladders won’t let them sleep through the night without a trip or two to the bathroom.

The science and business of sleep has become one of the most important industries to our health and well-being. Do what you can to make your bedroom more conducive to a good night’s sleep!

Adapted from Housing Design Matters Blog

GuildQuality’s 2022 Guildmaster Award Honors Richard Wallace Builder, Inc.

Carolina Beach, NC, April 12, 2022 – Richard Wallace Builder, Inc. of Carolina Beach, NC received a 2022 Guildmaster with Highest Distinction Award from GuildQuality for demonstrating exceptional customer service within the residential construction industry.

Since 2005, GuildQuality, an Atlanta-based third-party customer satisfaction surveying company, has powered the Guildmaster Award to recognize and celebrate home building, remodeling, and contracting professionals demonstrating the highest level of customer service within the U.S. and Canada.

Out of nearly 2,000 eligible applicants, Richard Wallace Builder, Inc. is one of 400+ businesses within the residential construction industry recognized by GuildQuality for consistently delivering superior customer care.

Continue reading “RICHARD WALLACE BUILDER, INC. RECOGNIZED AMONG THE TOP CUSTOMER SERVICE LEADERS IN THE RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY”