Elemental Craftsmen LLC

01/21/2026

01/14/2026

There’s nothing like a fireplace in winter.
Warmth, character, and a place everyone naturally gathers—where stories are shared and the house truly feels like home.

A fireplace doesn’t just warm a room, it can define it. With the right design choices, it can elevate the entire aesthetic.

A recurring topic this winter has been how to update the look of a brick fireplace—either to modernize it or help it blend more seamlessly into the overall design of the home.

When working with brick, you have many options.

The most common approach is painting the brick. This alters the color and visually flattens the design, creating a clean, modern finish that makes a statement.

If you like the look of painted brick, but still want texture and depth, consider a lime wash, whitewash, or diluted colored paint. These semi-transparent finishes preserve the brick’s natural texture and shadows while maintaining a rustic feel.

For even more rustic charm, a German Schmear is an option. This technique involves applying and partially removing mortar to add texture and create an old-world, timeworn appearance.

If a sleek, modern look is the goal and paint still leaves too much texture exposed, Venetian plaster can be applied to create a smooth surface. It can be tinted and polished for a stone-like finish.

Stucco is another option—it hides mortar joints while still offering a beautiful, natural texture.

Finally, tile or stone veneer can be added to partially or completely conceal the brick, allowing for a full transformation of the fireplace’s look.

Many of these alterations can be DIY. Be sure to do your research and properly prep and clean your surfaces before starting any project. Use quality materials and take your time to achieve the best results.

We recommend when design details or finishes become more complex that an expert is consulted.

No matter your style, the right approach can transform your fireplace into a focal point that truly fits your home. Thoughtful design and quality craftsmanship make all the difference.

Here’s to a cozy and beautiful winter, filled with warmth and gatherings around the fire!

03/05/2025

Tile adds depth and character to your home, and when done with care increases the value of your home.

Tile is a popular choice for flooring and walls due to its durability, easy maintenance, and wide variety of styles and colors. It is also water-resistant, making it ideal for areas like kitchens, bathrooms, and entryways. Comprised of natural materials it is family safe.

Whether your style is Modern Geometric, Mid Century Modern, Spanish Tile, Herring Bone, Natural stone, or Eclectic Folk Art we can Install it with precision!

01/22/2025

We decided to get a New Sign up before the ground froze in 2024. We reached out to a few Local Business to get this completed.

We purchased sheet steel from Anderson Welding and Machine Shop and had printing done by Manchester Signs.

Manchester Signs has handled all of our signage and We couldn't ask for better!

We are so glad to have access to both of these Business within our Community. And We would Highly Recommend both for future projects.

01/13/2025

Handyman Hack:

Often times on projects you will not use all of your caulking, sealant, or adhesive.
You can save your tubes for future use by capping them with a gray wire nut. Gray wire nuts are the perfect diameter to create an effective seal, preserving the product for future use!

01/10/2025

You know what is said about "all work and no play", it's definitely not the case on this job site. There is not a dull moment when you pair with a team for a project especially, when it's a family project.

We have paired with Anton Adams and Amanda Smith of Cherry Architecture in Waterloo to tackle a remodel on an amazing 1870's home. It's located in the Historical Homes District in the heart of Downtown Cedar Falls. The home was built in 1870 and had an addition built in 1920 leaving the home with a disjointed upper level. Dueling stair cases and structural walls divided the space into small rooms only adequate for storage and an odd walk through double bedroom. Not anymore, the space has been opened and a stair case will be sealed to make a Primary Suite complete with a full bath and dressing room. Finished photos to come.

This project has been a great dive back into Historical Remodels. A beautiful location, a great house, and a great team. What more could you want? Thanks to Cherry Architecture for reaching out and bringing us in. And if there were a construction award for best looking demo team, fairly sure you two would take it. See you at work!

Cherry Architecture of Waterloo https://cherryarchitecture.com/

01/09/2025

As a Business we always have a focus on how to reuse materials. Save materials, save money, reduce waste. Every job site produces some amount of waste or it becomes more cost effective to start fresh and go new. The materials that the
homeowner sees fit to discard can still have potential.

In 2024 We were able to Up cycle some job site scraps and discarded cabinets to be donated to a Local Non-Profit, The Delaware County Historical Museum.

Scrap wood was turned into a Donation Box for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library of Delaware Co.
This is an amazing New Program in Our Community that brings Free Books to the homes of Children under 5 living within the County.

And a set of Cabinets and k***s that otherwise would have ended up in a landfill were taken to the Historical Society's Office and installed.

All labor and materials needed to finish these projects we donate.

These are not huge donations, but All non profits in the area need volunteers, donations, and participation from the local community more than ever in order to keep filling needs and providing culture within the Community. Every little bit helps.

If you would like to Support, Volunteer, or Donate to the Delaware County Historical Museum or their new project Dolly Parton's Imagination Library Please visit their website www.dchsia.org or Contact them on Facebook

01/09/2025

Recently We have had the Pleasure of Connecting with Rachel Bottelman, Architect, Interior Designer, and Owner of Spruced Design Studio.

Rachel has such a Beautiful Aesthetic and Philosophy that we immediately aligned with, as well, as a Commitment to Quality and Soulful Craft.

Spruced Design Studio is a Locally Owned Business offering a variety of services from Airbnb Staging, Interior Design to Architectural Design.

To Learn More go to https://www.spruceddesignstudio.com/ Or Follow Along on Facebook at Spruced Design Studio or Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/spruced_design_studio/

Hi, I'm Rachel! Owner & lead designer at Spruced Design Studio ✨️ I'm so happy you're here!

Our design philosophy is built on the principle of 'Meraki' - doing something with soul, creativity, or love. It's about embedding a piece of ourselves in our work, ensuring every space we design is deeply personal and reflective of our clients.

Follow along as I post transformative before & afters, design inspiration, past projects, and tips for creating your own unique haven! 🤎

12/10/2024

Sitting down to write out Christmas Cards today and pulled out the client list for the year. We have met so may great people this year. Thank you for inviting us into your homes & business and trusting us with your projects. Thank you for introducing us to your friends, family, and other local business owners. Thank you for sharing baked goods and stories, memories and laughs. We are feeling very fortunate.
Thank you to all of you who have posted Google reviews, shared our business page on Facebook, or recommend us to your friends and family. Thank you for helping us grow, your support is so appreciated.
Wishing everyone a warm and wonderful Holiday Season and a New Year full of Blessings.

09/14/2024

This Wood Stove is the heart of the Home. It is a hard working element, heating this farm house for decades. But, it has also been the center of Family gatherings for generations, Christmas, Birthdays, Football games, and Movie Nights.

It is a portion of a bigger job that included a full remodeling of the space, Tiling, Ceilings, Insulation, Windows, Doors, Lighting and Flooring, and leaving the original wood paneling in place.

When addressing the Wood Stove we had to consider the function, as well as, the aesthetic. Materials that surround the stove have to be durable and heat resistant to allow this element to function properly and maintain it appearance for the family long into the future. The visual finish had to be consistent with the clients vision. Two different tiles formats were chosen to surround the fire place. One darker, larger, and slightly thicker for the base, finished with a wooden transition to protect the edges from breakage. Extending out from the Stove to meet fire code and protect the new laminate flooring from logs that may be dropped in the future. The backing tile was chosen by the home owner to accentuate the feature and make it a focal point in the room. Hardie Backer was placed first before tiling began. We also considered it as a focal point when designing the lighting placement. Light flanks the stove highlighting it and giving the user better visibility when loading and starting the fire.

We are honored to be a part of this build and to get to add to the story of this home. We wish you many more warm evening and family gatherings around this wood stove.

08/20/2024

We also do hardscaping! This project was a restructuring of the original retaining wall which had begun to shift over time. The shape of the wall and how it functioned was addressed and the project was completed without any additional materials. We were able to reuse what was available and achieve the homeowners goals while saving them the extra expense. We are so happy with how it turned out!

08/20/2024

There is no job to small. The client wanted to upgrade the look of the stairs to their home from the garage. Adding wood flooring to match the interior flooring and grey stair nose trim to match the exterior cladding accomplished the finish they were looking for to complete that transitional space.