Why Work with Upscale
Three Decades of Experience
5-Year Warranty
Dedicated to Design Build
We Are Rooted & Local
The Upscale Design Studio
Quality Without Compromise
The Client-First Process
We Genuinely Care
Zero Sales Pressure
Transparent and Direct
TOP REMODELING TALENT
The Upscale crew is what makes us exceptional.
We prioritize attracting and retaining top-notch design and building professionals, fostering their continuous growth and development through ongoing education and training.
We decided to use Upscale for our kitchen remodel because we had such a great customer service experience with Val in their design center from the first day we entered their store. She was extremely helpful and experienced and she guided us through our project from start to finish. I highly recommend this company for your home remodeling needs.
Betty Dean
We decided to use Upscale for our kitchen remodel because we had such a great customer service experience with Val in their design center from the first day we entered their store. She was extremely helpful and experienced and she guided us through our project from start to finish. I highly recommend this company for your home remodeling needs.
We absolutely couldn’t be happier. . . . If you are looking for a truly honest contractor we highly recommend Upscale Remodeling. . . . We will definitely recommend Upscale Remodeling to anyone who asks us. We plan to use Upscale for other remodeling projects.
Victoria Wishart
Northeast Ithaca
Upscale Remodeling has done it again! This is our fourth project with Upscale and each one has been exactly as we envisioned. We love our newly remodeled kitchen. We absolutely couldn’t be happier. The quality of the materials is stellar and the craftsmanship can’t be beat. The new showroom is terrific. Seeing actual displays made our decision-making process simple. Lydia and the rest of the crew were always there to help and answer any questions that came up. Rich made sure that there was as little interruption as possible and always left everything clean and orderly at the end of the day.
Recently they replaced our very outdated cement front entrance with a beautiful Brazilian walnut porch. We have had strangers stop to admire it. It’s so nice I don’t even like to walk on it.
If you are looking for a truly honest contractor we highly recommend Upscale Remodeling. Steve makes every effort to stay on budget and will offer suggestions when necessary to make this happen. We will definitely recommend Upscale Remodeling to anyone who asks us. We plan to use Upscale for other remodeling projects.
We were amazed at the quality of the workmanship and refusal to cut corners. If you want a quality job at a fair price, we can't think of a single reason not to hire Upscale Remodeling. We highly recommend Upscale to everyone - with no hesitation.
Alan Wood
Southwest Ithaca
Upscale Remodeling did two jobs for us. The first involved an innovative design solution to a 20 year old stairway problem in our house. The second was a major addition that included a master suite, laundry room, breakfast room, deck and workshop. Each project started with patient listening, suggestions and more listening so that Steve knew what we wanted and we thoroughly understood all the options to achieve our goals. My wife and I are familiar with wood working and construction. As each project proceeded, we were amazed at the quality of the workmanship and refusal to cut corners. The crew were friendly, professional and went out of their way to make the project as least intrusive as possible. Both projects ended with high value products meeting all of our expectations at a reasonable final cost. We were left with the feeling that satisfied customers and quality work are more important to Steve Nash than making money. If you want a quality job at a fair price, we can’t think of a single reason not to hire Upscale Remodeling. We highly recommend Upscale to everyone – with no hesitation.
Upscale is the most professional and thorough general contractor I have ever worked with. I have used Upscale for hundreds of thousands of dollars of work on several properties. All of their work is top notch and their responsiveness and professionalism is unmatched. Can not recommend their team highly enough!!
Julie Johnson
Upscale is the most professional and thorough general contractor I have ever worked with. I have used Upscale for hundreds of thousands of dollars of work on several properties. All of their work is top notch and their responsiveness and professionalism is unmatched. Can not recommend their team highly enough!!
The quality of work by Upscale exceeded all expectations. From the design stage through demo and installation, the work was professional, timely and meticulous. This was a substantial renovation project with a very small window for completion. Truly an exceptional experience.
Anne Anderson
The quality of work by Upscale exceeded all expectations. From the design stage through demo and installation, the work was professional, timely and meticulous. This was a substantial renovation project with a very small window for completion. Truly an exceptional experience.
We just completed our third set of projects with Upscale. Their leadership and design staff are thorough and thoughtful in the planning and design phase. Each team was patient and accommodating while being very knowledgeable and completing quality work on our home!
Stacey Murphy
East Ithaca
We just completed our third set of projects with Upscale. Their leadership and design staff are thorough and thoughtful in the planning and design phase. The carpenter and worker teams that do the installation work are also professional and skilled, with an eye to quality, flexibility, and good communication throughout. We had different teams for each set of work (one crew leader in the first two phases, another in this most recent) and each team was patient and accommodating while being very knowledgeable and completing quality work on our home!
The results are truly transformative, and the new integrates exceptionally well with the old. We hope to be able to use them again for all our future building and remodeling projects.
Sharon Tennyson
Trumansburg
The work done by the Upscale team on our living room, staircase, and deck remodeling was great! The project involved tricky design issues around the stairs and the fireplace, and difficult construction issues on the deck, and was further complicated by the fact that there were certain elements that we did not want to change. Upscale worked with us to develop a vision and a specific plan – from the major elements down to the trim – and implemented it beautifully. The results are truly transformative and the new integrates exceptionally well with the old. The fireplace area, stairs, and decks are completely different but you would never guess that these were not part of the original home design. Upscale owner Steve Nash and designer Christie Dixon were wonderful to work with and we especially appreciated the care and attention to detail provided by Rich White and his crew. This is the third and most complex project Upscale has done for us (previous projects were a basement office renovation and kitchen update) and we hope to be able to use them again for all our future building and remodeling projects.
Recent Remodels
How much will my design build remodeling project cost?
Frequently Asked Questions
Every great remodel starts with understanding your home and your goals. During our initial site visit, we take the time to learn how you live, evaluate your space, and identify what’s most important to you. By combining thoughtful architectural assessment with your vision, we define the project scope and create a design built around your needs. This personalized approach ensures every detail is crafted with quality, purpose, and lasting value.
Absolutely. Many of our additions add exactly these. Additions designed for long-term livability are planned with input from our certified aging-in-place designer.
In most cases, yes. Because additions are built onto the existing structure before connecting to it, we can often keep the home livable through most of the project and sequence the tie-in to minimize disruption.
Yes. Matching rooflines, siding, trim, and window proportions so the addition reads as original is a core part of our design work, and it matters on Ithaca’s older and architecturally distinct homes.
The duration of a remodeling project will vary widely depending on the type of project, the scope and complexity of the work, not to mention the overall size of the project. Once we’ve designed your project and understand these factors, we will provide you with a realistic timeline before work begins. While it stands to reason we cannot predict exactly how long your project will take before we understand all these factors, below are some general estimates for different types of remodeling projects based on our experience:
Small Projects (e.g., bathroom or kitchen updates): These projects can typically take anywhere from a few weeks to a couple of months.
Medium-Sized Projects (e.g., room additions or significant interior renovations): These projects may take several months, typically ranging from three to six months.
Large-Scale Projects (e.g., whole-house renovations or extensive exterior work): These projects can take six months to a year or more.
Join Our Team
We are always on the lookout for talented professionals passionate about remodeling. If you're dedicated to quality work and seek continuous growth, we'd love to hear from you.
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