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Home improvement projects can be overwhelming, but you don’t have to go it alone. Whether contemplating a bathroom project, a

simple countertop or backsplash change, or full renovation of a lakefront home, DeGraaf interiors can transform your dreams into reality.

Discover the DeGraaf Difference

By j. stapleton-BurcH

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By Lisa M. JensenPhotography by Michael Buck

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offering an unparalleled home-improve-ment experience, DeGraaf interiors provides immense value to their customers, thanks in no small part to their practically unheard of lifetime warranty on residential installations.

“We love what we do, and take it very personally,” explained Deb DeGraaf, who together with her brother Dean owns DeGraaf interiors, Floors and more. “my brother and i started working with Dad (Daryll DeGraaf) long before he retired,” she continued. “since then, Dean and i have been able to contribute our own unique aspects and independent styles to growing the business successfully.”

part of that growth includes the 2003 purchase of the long-established Kemp Floor covering, which they relocated to a new building near its original plainfield avenue location. their flagship Hudsonville location is managed by Deb’s husband mark lewis, and the addition of their third location at 1144 east paris in front of Bonefish Grill has

brought an appreciative clientele through their doors. “people often have the miscon-ception that we are expensive because of the variety of products and the level of service we offer, or the scope of the projects we have completed,” Deb observed. “i would like to invite them to stop in and see just how com-petitive our pricing can be; it may surprise them. i often say, ‘give us an opportunity to earn your business’.”

according to mark lewis, it’s not only competitive pricing but also the staff that makes DeGraaf interiors special. “We don’t just have employees. We have people that are passionate about what they do,” he observed. “We are successful because they are good at their jobs and enjoy making a difference in people’s lives. We are a family within a busi-ness and we truly care about every customer and job that we do.”

plainfield manager mark smith agreed. “We have a long-standing reputation for fair prices, excellent service, an exceptional staff

that’s highly knowledgeable about our prod-ucts, with professional installation crews who do the job right,” he said.

“our installers are an integral part of our team,” Deb agreed. “We know every customer is putting their trust in us to have the right team in their home to deliver the finished product. they are an important part of the whole DeGraaf experience.”

providing value and an exceptional expe-rience from start to finish is important to the staff at DeGraaf interiors. Deb noted, “We hope that when customers come in, excited about a project, they will see and experience our passion for what we do from the front desk and our sales people right down to the owners and installers.”

DeGraaf interiors also has a large com-mercial presence in the Grand rapids area. Dean DeGraaf is an essential part of the commercial flooring division and has dem-onstrated the depth of their abilities through the complexity of transforming old school

Grand Rapids Team. Just West of Northland Drive on Plainfield Avenue. Cascade Team. Right on East Paris in front of the Bone Fish Grill.

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Gr Home showcase: DeGraaf Interiors, Floors & More

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DeGraaf InterIors, floors anD More Brother-Sister Team, Deb and Dean DeGraaf, Owners Three locations to serve you in Grand Rapids, Cascade and Hudsonville: 1144 East Paris Ave. SE, Suite 1A in the East Paris Crossings Center Phone: (616) 264-2434 5282 Plainfield Ave. NE Phone: (616) 363-3513 6450 28th Ave. Suite J, Hudsonville Phone: (616) 662-0140 Email: Debs@degraafinteriors.com Web: degraafinteriors.com

Credentials: A second-generation West Michigan family-owned busi-ness with a proud history of serving the community, the friendly, profes-sional staff at DeGraaf Interiors can take you from concept through design, product selection, in-home measurement, installation and beyond – whatever the budget or size of your project. They are an authorized Karastan dealer and can provide cus-tomer advantages through the highest level of partnerships with three other leading brands: They are the only independent floorcovering retailer in the Midwest recognized as a Shaw Design Center®, StainMaster Flooring Center® and Mohawk ColorCenter Elite Showroom. On the commercial side, they offer such products as Crossville Tile and Shaw Contract.

Inspirations: “Making our custom-ers happy is a constant inspiration,” said co-owner Deb DeGraaf. “We continually grow our expertise through formal education programs on the latest trends and the most fashionable flooring and hard-surface options available.”

Career high point: Recently, Mohawk selected them as the recipi-ent of the ColorCenter® “Dealer of the Year” from a field of 252 regional competitors – an award that recognizes overall business practices, steady growth, involvement in local communities and a staff well educat-ed in every aspect of flooring. They recently added three new designers to their staff to handle additional growth in new construction and resi-dential remodel demands.

hardwood and terrazzo bathroom floors into beautiful residential floorcoverings. other ven-ues on their list of successful accomplishments include railside Golf club, thousand oaks, the suites at acadia Bluffs, the Fitzgerald, 38 commerce, Gallery on Fulton, cityFlats Hotel and 100 commerce. their work can also be seen in the condos and common areas of downtown’s union square and the Boardwalk, as well as area churches, netech corporation and the Harold Ziegler, Honda and chrysler car dealerships.

“We have developed great relationships with custom home builders and larger contractors, who tell us we’ve brought to them a fresh perspec-tive, backed by a strong attention to value,” Dean noted. With an extremely high level of commit-ment and understanding of the commercial side of the business, Dean spends a great deal of time monitoring projects and ensuring things are done right.

although they are serious about what they do at work, another important aspect of the DeGraaf experience is having fun – a philosophy that is reflected by the cheerful, tail-wagging greet-ing customers are likely to get from chewy, a maltese-mix rescue dog that travels from store to store with Deb. “i like to think we’re smiling as a company,” Deb noted. “i am considerably blessed to be able to work with our team. certainly there are days that are more fun than others, but in the end we enjoy what we do and when you enjoy what you do, it is noticed by those you are there to serve.”

DeGraaf interiors understands the impor-tance of value, selection, quality and service. isn’t it time for you to discover the DeGraaf Difference?

Hudsonville Team. Stop by the Family Fare Plaza at the corner of Port Sheldon and 28th Avenue.