Regis McQuaide remembers ledger paper, adding machines and drawing construction plans by hand.
His business has evolved over the past 35 years but one thing remains, he said.
“Nothing is mass-produced,” said McQuaide, who owns Master Remodelers, Inc. in Castle Shannon. “Every day is different. Everything we do is customized.”
One of those most recent customized projects was the transformation of a 2,700-square-foot basement at a home on Country Club Drive in Robinson. The space was given a total facelift from the paint on the walls to the furniture, countertop, bathroom and billiard room.
The luxury basement renovation involved the transformation of an empty basement into an elegant, multifunctional living and entertaining area.
The work was honored with two awards.
“It was complex in nature,” McQuaide said. “When doing a project, it is important to think it all through and to analyze it. We have a good system in place. It also helps that we have a lot of employees who have been with the company for decades.”
McQuaide said like with everything, technology has also changed his business. Computer-generated images and designs can be shown through a 3-D modeling system.
“It is amazing what you can do with technology,” McQuaide said.
The clients desired an open, airy space that could accommodate entertaining. Their vision included a wet bar, bar seating, multiple televisions, a billiard room, a wine cellar with a tasting area, gym, full bathroom, and plenty of storage.
The primary challenge was working around unmovable loadbearing walls, poles, and beams, McQuaide said.
The billiard room, for example, had to be able to accommodate the size of the table and the length of the pool cues so that there would be enough space around the table without the cue sticks hitting the wall.
The project was done in 2020 during the pandemic while the homeowners were working from home, so one of the amenities was to incorporate sound-deadening material, such as vinyl skin, on the ceiling.
They created a spacious wine cellar with the ability to regulate temperature and custom-built walnut cabinetry. A smartphone can control lighting, televisions and heat and air conditioning.
As a way to conceal the poles and bearing walls, pillars were incorporated. The basement’s ceiling height allowed for a coffered ceiling, a design that creates a three-dimensional effect with sunken panels.
There is an octagonal tray ceiling, which is a series of three-dimensional rectangular, square, or octagonal grids over the billiard room’s sitting area — these elements conceal ductwork.
Arches were incorporated throughout the space.
The homeowners built the house in 2014. The basement was unfinished and after living there seven years, they decided to remodel it. This was their first and only remodel of the home and the first time working with Master Remodelers.
The chief architectural designer was Junko Higashibeppu. For the bathroom cabinetry and wet bar, Master Remodelers collaborated with Arti Reitmeyer of Bell Acres, a cabinetry manufacturer who owns Reitmeyer Furniture Design, LLC.
“Every project like this one is a new adventure,” said Reitmeyer, who did most of his work off-site. “We examine the space and come up with the best possible idea for that space. When you see it all finished it just blows you away.”
Reitmeyer said many of the trade partners have worked together before and combining their expertise creates a “fabulous finished product.”
“We help people who have a vision put the pieces of the puzzle together,” McQuaide said. “We take people through the process. My life’s mission is to help people. This space feels more comfortable. We look at everything we can. It’s about doing our homework.”
This project was recognized with the 2023 Qualified Remodeler’s Master Design silver award in the basement category, which is described as “recognizing remodelers, architects, builders, kitchen and bath specialists, and other professionals who demonstrate creativity in design, meticulous craftsmanship, and a commitment to high-quality results.” It considers nominees from all over the U.S. and is evaluated by a panel of industry experts who consider aesthetic appeal, construction techniques, problem-solving, attention to detail, space functionality, and overall project impression among 22 different categories.
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A second honor for the project was awarded by the Builders Association of Metropolitan Pittsburgh’s Housing Excellence Award; a local award inaugurated in 1996 that aims to spotlight exceptional skills and innovation demonstrated by building and remodeling professionals exclusively in the Pittsburgh region.
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region’s diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people and a weekly column about things to do in Pittsburgh. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of “A Daughter’s Promise.” She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.