What we need from you

We are reusing the same 12-15 images across the site. Ideally 20-30 more finished cellar photos - wide establishing shots, racking detail, glass walls, bottle close-ups, lighting. Portrait or landscape both work.

The "family owned, John is on every site" story is central to the brand but there are no photos of him working. Even 2-3 candid job-site shots would dramatically strengthen the About page.

We currently have 5 sauna images total. 10-15 more would let the Saunas page stand on its own. Cedar benches, stone heaters, glass doors, exterior shots especially useful.

Only 2 cabinet images available. The Della Marta page needs 4-6 more to feel complete - multiple finishes, door open showing interior, installation in a home context.

A single before/after (raw basement or unfinished space vs finished cellar) on the About or Process page would be one of the most persuasive elements on the site. Competitors do not have this.

For each portfolio image: a project type, rough location (city or region), and bottle count if known. E.g. "Custom wine cellar, 1,200 bottles - Chicago North Shore." Makes the gallery feel authoritative.

SVG or high-res PNG logos for Heritage Vine, Liquid Systems, Wine Guardian, WhisperKool, Helo, Della Marta. For a partner strip on the homepage and wine cellars page. Displays credentials without a word of copy.

A professional or high-quality candid of John for the About page team section. Current placeholder uses a job-site group photo that is not ideal for a solo founder profile.

We want to build a before/after drag slider on the Process page showing the design drawing on one side and the finished installation on the other. One pairing is enough - rough sketch vs. finished cellar qualifies. No competitor has this.

15-30 seconds of ambient footage - a cellar walkthrough, steam rising in a sauna, wood being finished, a door swinging open. Muted, looping, no audio needed. Phone footage is fine if lighting is good. This is the single upgrade that would most separate the site from every competitor.

Every competitor uses photography showing people enjoying the spaces - tasting wine, sitting in a sauna, entertaining. The current site is all empty rooms. Even 2-3 lifestyle shots would shift the tone from "construction project" to "experience." Can be client-provided or stock.

Brief, specific quotes from past clients - ideally naming the project type and location. Example format: "John turned an unused basement corner into the most talked-about room in our home. - Homeowner, Winnetka IL." Competitors have entire testimonial pages; even 3 quotes would set Dwell apart.

One completed project with a client willing to be named: project type, location, bottle count or size, one quote, one or two photos. Used as the homepage "Featured Project" section. Currently using a placeholder story.

Houzz profile, local press mentions, magazine features, contractor awards, or certifications. Even a strong Houzz rating can be displayed as a credential strip. We currently show nothing. Also: do you have any "Best of Houzz" years we can badge?

Do you have a Google Business listing with reviews? If yes, a link or the listing name so we can reference the review count on the site. A "4.9 stars on Google" badge tied to a live profile is more verifiable than a stat we wrote ourselves.

We are using "30+ years" and "500+ projects completed" as stats on the About page. Please confirm both are accurate and approved for public use.

We show MN, WI, IL, and "beyond." Are there states or regions you actively serve that are missing? Do you want to list specific cities (Twin Cities, Milwaukee, Chicago North Shore) or keep it regional?

We wrote "$15,000-25,000" for a basic conversion and "$80,000-150,000+" for premium builds. Confirm these ranges are current and you are comfortable having them public. This is a strong trust signal - competitors hide pricing entirely.

Footer and Contact page show "Knapp, WI 54749" and "Chicago, IL 60607." Please confirm which addresses are appropriate to display publicly.

Contact page shows "[email protected]." Please confirm this is live and monitored, or provide the correct address.

Contact page shows Mon-Fri 8am-5pm CT, Saturday by appointment. Please confirm or correct.

We want to change every "Get a Quote" CTA to "Free Consultation" - but only if consultations are genuinely free with no obligation. Several competitors charge for design consultations. If yours are free, saying so explicitly is a real advantage.

The Process FAQ shows ranges for wine cellars. We want to add the same for saunas - a basic indoor conversion vs. a full outdoor cedar build. Rough ranges are fine: "starts around X, premium builds reach Y." Nobody in the market publishes this and it will drive qualified leads.

We want to add "We respond to every inquiry within one business day" to the contact page. This is a simple, specific trust signal no competitor makes. Confirm whether this is realistic before we add it - a promise that gets broken costs more than not making it.

If you build barrel rooms or tasting room environments, these warrant their own section or page. This is a high-value niche that competitors rarely call out explicitly and it would broaden the site's reach.

The Saunas page describes indoor and outdoor but only shows indoor photos. If you build outdoor barrel saunas or cabin saunas, calling that out as a distinct offering (with photos) would capture a growing search segment.

The portal homepage references "luxury built-ins" as a service but the website does not. If this is an active offering, it deserves a page - even a brief one. It opens the site to a wider residential audience beyond wine.

The about page mentions commercial properties. If Dwell does restaurant cellars, hotel wine rooms, or retail installs, a separate commercial section would reach a different buyer and command higher project values.

A short guide covering why cellars need humidity and temperature control, types of racking, how to size a cellar. This is SEO-valuable content competitors do not do well. One page, 600-800 words. Positions Dwell as the expert, not just the builder.

Who controls dwellcontemporary.com DNS? We will need access (or a DNS record added) to point it at the new site when ready to launch.

The quote request form on the Contact page needs a backend to send submissions. Options: email forwarding service (Formspree, Basin), or we wire it directly to your email. Let us know preference and confirm the receiving address.

Do you want site traffic tracking? We can add GA4 in a few minutes. If yes, provide the measurement ID or Google account email to create the property under.

We suggest changing "Get a Quote" to "Free Consultation" throughout the site. Competitors charge for design consultations; making "free" explicit is a competitive edge. Confirm or keep current wording.