Sixteen years in remodeling gives you plenty to look back on: the homes you’ve helped transform; the people you’ve worked alongside; the challenges that made you better at what you do; and the homeowners who trusted you to walk into their lives, ask pointed lifestyle questions, and help them see how their homes could become something undreamed of.
This November at Nip Tuck Remodeling, we commemorate our 16th anniversary. As I look back on the year, I’m especially grateful for the people who have helped us reach this milestone. From a meaningful project award to the publication of my first book, 2026 has given us a great deal to celebrate. And the unifying element is our drive to help people create homes that work for the way they live.
A Remodel That Preserved What Mattered
In May, our Medina Cottage on the Course project was awarded second place in the Major Remodel – 2,001+ sq ft category at the 2026 Remodeling Excellence Awards, hosted by the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties.
This project captures so much of what we love about remodeling. Our clients loved the cottage character of their 1960s ranch-style home, but the layout wasn’t supporting their family’s daily life. The kitchen faced away from the golf course, walls divided the living spaces, and a sunken living room interrupted the flow. They didn’t need a different house. They needed their house to work differently.
Together, we reimagined the floor plan while preserving the character that made their home special. Raising the living room floor, opening up the main living areas, and turning the kitchen toward the fairway made a remarkable difference. A small addition created room for practical necessities, including a laundry room and walk-in pantry.
The REX Award recognition was a wonderful moment for our team. Just as meaningful was knowing that the finished home still felt like the house our clients loved, only better suited to their lifestyle.
Sharing with the World What Goes into a Successful Remodel
In July, I published Happiness Guaranteed: A Successful Remodel Doesn’t Happen by Accident. It debuted at number one in kitchen and bath renovations, as well as home remodeling –– unquestionably a rewarding milestone. The conversations that followed have been just as fulfilling. The book has made it possible for me to talk with more homeowners about how to remodel without regret: what to consider, what to ask, and why the work that happens before construction matters so much.
After 16 years, there is a great deal I want homeowners to understand before they begin. Beautiful spaces are the visible result, but a successful remodeling experience also depends on the decisions, planning, communication, and collaboration behind them. Sharing that perspective beyond our own projects has been one of the most momentous parts of this year. Equally meaningful is that homeowners anywhere can benefit from this book, not just those on Seattle’s Eastside.
Our Own Allison Scott Takes First Place at the 2026 NKBA Design Awards Gala
Another highlight of our anniversary year was celebrating Allison Scott, Nip Tuck Remodeling’s Director of Design, who earned first place in the Primary Bathroom category at the 2026 NKBA Design Awards Gala. This recognition reflects Allison’s exceptional creativity, attention to detail, and ability to transform homeowners’ visions into beautiful, functional spaces. Her achievement is a wonderful example of the design excellence and craftsmanship that have defined Nip Tuck Remodeling throughout our 15-year journey.
Recognition From Our Industry and Our Community
September was a month for tributes from our peers and our neighbors.
Nip Tuck Remodeling was listed among Qualified Remodeler’s 2026 Top 500, earning national recognition alongside remodeling companies from across the country. For our team, this was an opportunity to reflect on the work and relationships that have helped us grow.
This same month, we received the Gold award for Best Interior Design Firm in the 2026 Best in the PNW awards, presented by The Seattle Times. This recognition carries a particularly personal meaning because it comes from our community: our clients, local residents, and the people who know our work.
I’m proud of both honors, and even prouder of the people behind them. Our designers, project team, and trade partners each bring something essential to a remodel. These moments give us a chance to pause and recognize the care and effort that can be easy to overlook when we’re so often focused on what’s ahead.
Opening the Doors and Sharing the Possibilities
In October, we welcomed nearly 100 guests to our Remodeling Showcase in Woodinville. It was a pleasure to connect in person, walk through the home together, and talk about what it really takes to make a home work for the people living in it.
The showcase home offered a particularly good setting for those conversations. After 35 years of thoughtful ownership, the house was ready for its next chapter. The transformation brought design, construction, and interiors together, with updates that ranged from a reimagined kitchen to an accessible main-floor junior suite and the furnishings that made the spaces feel complete.
Seeing a finished remodel in person encourages a different kind of conversation. You can talk about how rooms connect, why a particular decision was made, and what someone might want to consider in their own home.
If you missed the event, you can still take a virtual tour of the showcase home.
16 Years, With So Much to Be Grateful For
The awards, the book, and the showcase have made this an extraordinary anniversary year. But when I think about what we’re really celebrating, I come back to the people.
To our clients: Thank you for trusting us with your homes and for sharing your visions with us. Those conversations surrounding what you want your homes to look and feel like are where the work truly begins.
To our team and trade partners: Thank you for bringing your talents, care, and problem-solving abilities to the worksite every day.
And to everyone who has recommended Nip Tuck, voted for us, attended an event, or simply followed along: Thank you for being part of our story.
As we begin our next year of kitchen, bathroom, and whole-home remodeling on Seattle’s Eastside, I’m grateful for how far we’ve come and excited about the work ahead. Sixteen years is worth celebrating. Getting to do this work with people we value makes it even better.
