Tag: Best of Omaha

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A Cozy Home

Serving since 2010

Winter weather in the Midwest is all about preparation. If you’ve lived in the Midwest for any amount of time you’ll find some basic items can go far: snow shovel, salt, a heavy winter coat, gloves, hat, snow boots, a well stocked frig and pantry, board games, movies…you get the idea.

As an adult, I’ve learned that the off season is when we prep for the upcoming season. This year we had doors replaced to better insulate our home.  Many of our clients in 2024 also thought this way as we installed heated tile floors and updated working fireplaces. This morning, a gorgeous fresh snowfall is my view while sipping away at my morning coffee. I pray you are warm and safe and cozy in your space.

 

Is it time to bring the next level of “Midwest Prep?” If you’re ready, we offer free estimates to get you the cozy space you desire!

Each installation is custom!

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The art of Tile that lasts forever!

2024 was the year we restored tile in historical buildings! If you’re the type that admires antiques, these tile floors should be studied. A well installed tile floor should last for decades. Here at Phillips Tile & Stone, that is our goal. Our craftsmanship stands the test of time. When we go to install, we look at the project as art and treat it as such. A client recently called Trevor an artist, they noticed that a true craftsman takes value in their work. That means proper demo, prep and installation to ensure a long lasting finished product.

Our goal, walking into 2025 is to create spaces you can use for decades to come. We look forward to being your go-to tile installation company for years to come. Happy New Year!

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Merry Christmas, thankful for you!

Serving since 2010

It’s been a tradition of mine to include parts of our family’s year on the business Christmas blog. It’s important to me for clients to know we are a family business. Once we’ve done work for you, you’re now apart of the Phillips Tile & Stone family. This Christmas, I decided to have a Top 5 for the business, and a Top 5 for our family. This year was full of hard, but when I go back and remember, it was full of good as well. We are still praying for the healing of family members and friends. In the middle of hardships (death and health issues for family and friends), we saw God’s provision and blessings. I’m incredibly thankful for the HOPE Christ brings during trials. Without further ado, here are our business and personal Top 5 for 2024!

 

Phillips Tile & Stone Top 5 for 2024

  1. We took Phillips Tile & Stone back to the basics this year. The last few years we have been working with builders, but this year our projects came directly from residential homeowners again. It was an answer to prayer to see how God provided each project.
  2. Any business owner will tell you hiring is difficult. Our crew is skilled, talented and dependable. We are so thankful for our guys and their loyalty to Phillips Tile & Stone!
  3. The past 5 years have been a dream come true, as with YOUR votes, Phillips Tile & Stone has been voted Best Tile Installer in Omaha! To see our name mentioned with some of Omaha’s biggest names is humbling and unreal. Granted, I think tile isn’t a niche most are looking at entering, so I’m sure that makes our odds of winning much better. 😉 Most of our days are spent installing quality craftsmanship and not ‘building a business’. Earning this award definitely lifts our spirits.
  4. Our favorite project this year might be a heated tile floor, a large project that our oldest was able to help with.  Under Trevor’s keen guidance, our son gained an appreciation for what Trevor and his crew do everyday!
  5. One of my favorite things about owning a construction company, is having the ability to bless others with this business God has given us.

 

 

Phillips Family Top 5 2024

  1. Because of our amazing crew, this year Trevor felt comfortable taking a week long vacation as a family of 8. Our kids fulfilled dreams of flying, sailing and seeing the ocean. The Oasis of the Seas was perfect for us. We made so many amazing memories. Our 2 and 4 year old’s now play airport/pilot regularly. The littlest boys have asked if our next cruise would be “…in 10 minutes?”
  2. Our oldest three boys played Baseball from December-August. They traveled for tournaments and learned so much. Baseball season is full, but so good. Elsie’s been in gymnastics for a full year and the younger two are loving attending all their siblings basketball, baseball, flag football and gymnastics events.  Soon, those littlest two will be playing all the sports and our life will get even more full!
  3. Our oldest turned 13 and his dream was to watch Elly De La Cruz from Cincinnati Reds play. So we drove to Chicago to do just that. We saw some sites and ate great food, too.
  4. This might seem like an odd one, but our kids learned the value of hard work. Their pet sitting business allowed them to earn money for Summer Church Camp, baseball lessons and the 13 year old is saving for his first car. It can get wild having up to three dogs at our home, but it’s also an adventure that everyone enjoys.
  5. We have continued to homeschool and each year looks a bit different. This year, Michelle taught at MKS Studio and the kids took music and acting classes. This is in addition to Band. Altogether this year, our kids are playing: trumpet, saxophone, guitar, piano/keyboard, cello and singing in choir. I’m so thankful our children have the opportunity to learn from skilled teachers. Michelle also was able to attend the NMEA Music Conference in Lincoln because of MKS Studio, which was a full circle moment being able to watch All-State perform.

Thank you for allowing us the honor to serve with construction services. Thank you, Lord, for providing. Thanks for reading, and MERRY CHRISTMAS!

From,

The Phillips Family

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Best of Omaha voting starts today!

Thank you for voting for Phillips Tile & Stone and we are asking for your votes again!!

A well-known, local, voting ballot started July 1, Best of Omaha!

Phillips Tile & Stone is once again asking for your votes for Best Tile Installer in Omaha. In 2010, Trevor started Phillips Tile & Stone after realizing the need for tile installers in Omaha. Since 2010, many tile installers have tried owning their own business only to realize how difficult the industry really is. For the past 14 years, Trevor has been learning and growing in business owning and installation. He’s trained men to become craftsmen. He’s accomplished the hard so Omaha and the surrounding cities/towns can have quality installed work.

We would appreciate you vote for Tile Installer. Here is the link. For your vote to count, you get to vote for 5 other local businesses. Please keep in mind, this fun contest really does aid these hardworking businesses as it gets the business name out in the public eye. No one will ever know the amount of work it takes to own a small business until they see the behind the scenes (the very unglamorous life) of a small business owner.

Your support (recommending Phillips Tile & Stone to friends and family, writing uplifting Google reviews, sharing our content on social media, commenting on our content on social media, it all helps!!

We are honored to be able to create jobs, we are honored to install in clients’ homes and businesses, we are honored each time we get a new contact form. Our small but mighty team is honored we have the privilege of serving Omaha for the past 14 years!

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SUMMER FUN GIVEAWAY!

*Ultimate Omaha Summer Fun Giveaway*

Help us celebrate 14 years of business with a fun Omaha summer giveaway! One person could win $100 give card to Topgolf, 4 general admission tickets to our famous Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, and gift certificates for ice cream at the delicious Ted & Wally’s!

Head here to enter on IG or here to enter on FB!

We have been so blessed to work with so many wonderful clients, homeowners, builders, designers, and business owners over the past 14 years. Thank you for still choosing Phillips Tile & Stone.

 

Interested in a free estimate, head here to fill out on contact form.

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Apprenticeships and Summer Jobs

It’s Spring and today is Palm Sunday! So much to look forward to, be thankful for and celebrate!

We’ve been getting many inquiries for summer jobs/apprenticeships and internship opportunities. It’s fantastic that so many young men are interested in learning the trades as a career. Phillips Tile & Stone has supported our family since 2010. We’ve employed so many wonderful craftsmen and in turn have helped them provide for their families. That being said, there is a very limited number of teens we can take on for this amazing opportunity! I hope the desire to learn the trades increases. We have enjoyed serving our clients and helping them achieve functional yet beautiful spaces. Many times, we’ve come in AFTER another contractor has been hired and we correct their work. The need for skilled craftsmen is HUGE! The need for skilled craftsmen filled with integrity is massive. I pray our company leaves an imprint on Omaha as we strive to serve our clients to the best of our ability.

Keep telling your friends and family about our work. The more projects we have, the more we can hire and train. It’s an honor we get to help train the next generation! We love ya, Omaha!

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Merry Christmas and (soon to be) Happy NEW YEAR 2024!!

12 Days of Christmas (Phillips family and business version)

My true love gave to me…

Twelve big dreams to aim for

Eleven Google reviews

Ten missing tools (estimated)

Nine family members (counting the dog)

Eight years with church family

Seven Tourney’s played in

Six amazing children <3

Five Employees!!! (we love them!)

Four fun mini vaca’s (business life means extended weekend trips)

Three working vehicles (Hank the Tank, Gwinevere and Clifford the Red work truck)

Two commercial projects

And a home that is warm and cozy

After talking to another business owning friend, I’ve adopted this verse as one I try to pray over our work and projects.

Psalm 90:17 May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us— yes, establish the work of our hands.

Thanks for being here, we appreciate you.

Trevor & Michelle Phillips

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Happy Thanksgiving! Plus *FREE* Family holiday fun ideas!

Happy Thanksgiving to you! Whether you are having a quiet day relaxing or a day full of plans. We hope you are thankful for all the simple goodness life can bring.

This year has been full of watching our six kids grow. We enjoy watching them participate in many different activities. Our older kids are also busy with their pet sitting business and lawn care business. We have a 12-year-old who is very excited to be saving up for his first car, and we welcome his entrepreneurial spirit. Earlier in the year we added a puppy to the Phillips family. Her name is Evee. We are still home-schooling the kids, so they see firsthand all that go into running a business. We compare homeschooling to business owner life. We all learn to work hard. Life is full!

As for Phillips Tile & Stone, we’ve stayed busy as well, thanks to your recommendations! At the beginning of the year, we installed for two new local coffee shops. In addition to commercial spaces, our crew continues to install all materials for residential and new construction spaces. Our challenges for the year continue to be hiring. We had so many projects coming through and not enough skilled employees. It started to wear on Trevor, so we had to scale back on taking on all the projects coming through. What a testament to your recommendations, all those projects were through word of mouth, and we are so grateful for your support!

We are thankful for the votes this year that allowed Phillips Tile & Stone to earn Best of Omaha. This company truly is still in business because there are so many people who refer friends and family to us. THANK YOU for supporting this small family business. Please KEEP sharing about our excellent craftsmanship! Our desire is to help clients by installing spaces that will last them decades to come.

As we get ready to celebrate Christmas we would like to share some fun holiday ideas we enjoy as a family that are FREE!

  1. Holiday Light Drive. Omaha is beautiful. One of our favorite activates is to jump in the car, PJ’s on. This year we plan on bringing the dog along, too. Homemade hot chocolate in one hand and popcorn in another. Since our oldest got braces this year, I’m thinking we will need to change up our snacks instead of having popcorn. The point is, make it cozy in the car as you drive around admiring the Christmas lights.
  2. I save our Halloween candy and use it to decorate gingerbread houses together. We’ve started simply buying graham crackers and store-bought frosting to let the kids design their own houses. It’s fun to see their creativity come into action. Playing Christmas music is a must during this family activity.
  3. Our family enjoys trying new recipes and cooking together. We enjoy eating, so it all pairs well together. The cold winter months are meant for warm, cozy nights in with new and old holiday recipes. We enjoy checking out Christmas movies from the library to watch, also. Dinner and a movie at home. It doesn’t get any better.

 Are there any holiday ideas you’d like to share? We would love to hear in the comments section. We hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day. Thank you for supporting Phillips Tile & Stone. We love ya, Omaha.

The Phillips Family plus Evee the dog.

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Delicious, Homemade Hot Chocolate

We are ready to embark on cold weather and all the festive holidays. Being a Midwesterner, I’ve learned to embrace the cold. If you dress appropriately, this season can be enjoyable. Some new items I added to my wardrobe this year are thermal lined skinny jeans. I know, I know. Skinny jeans are apparently, not ‘in fashion’. My goal this fall/winter is to be warm and still try to look presentable. So thermal, lined skinny jeans will do just that.

Beyond warm clothing, I’m bringing back all the soups and hot drinks. Our six kids really enjoy soup, I should share their favorites another day. Today I wanted to share a great recipe for homemade hot chocolate that we adore. There are no packets involved yet it’s incredibly easy to make. The creamy texture is just what is needed after a day out in the chilly air.

Ingredients:

4 cups of milk (preferably whole or 2%)

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1/2 semisweet chocolate chips or chopped chocolate bar

1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Optional whipped cream for a topping!

Instructions: Place milk, cocoa powder and sugar in a small saucepan. Heat over medium/medium low heat, stirring frequently, until warm. Add chocolate chips and whisk constantly until the chocolate chips melt and distribute evenly into the milk. Whisk in vanilla extract and serve immediately.

As always, thanks for supporting this family business!

-Michelle Phillips

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Basement = A Midwest Necessity

As a Midwesterner, you quickly realize we enjoy all four seasons. Each season brings it’s own set of amazingness and challenges. In the summer, we enjoy the outdoors with swimming, boating, camping, gardening and grilling! We also realize the hottest part of the day is sometimes needing to enjoy a few hours indoors cooling off. In the winter, we sled and snowboard and snowplow, ice fish, take winter walks or hikes. We also need a warm place to congregate when the wind is brutal. In the spring we have tornado warnings and in the fall we have Husker football parties!

What do all those activities have in common? They all call for a functional space in your home to serve a variety of needs. Guess what? A great basement fits the bill on ALL those needs. So your next question might be, what does a great basement have in it?

A good basement has these qualities.

  1. Excellent storage
  2. A half bathroom…even better, a 3/4 shower
  3. An inviting gathering place, such as a bar area that includes a sink, seating and a frig.
  4. Proper lighting
  5. Proper Drainage
  6. A focus on functionality
  7. Proper air circulation
  8. A good layout
  9. Proper “exits”
  10. Enough ceiling height

Is there a basement quality that you would add? If we missed something, let us know. It might be worth adding to this inexhaustible list. For if we’ve learned anything. It’s that us Midwesterners, really need a solid basement!

Phillips Tile & Stone has worked on a few basements in since we opened our business doors in 2010. Sometimes, we don’t get a photo. Sometimes, homeowners send us photos. We then turn around and share what amazing clients we have but showing off their new spaces!

Below is a photo of LVP installed by Phillips Tile & Stone. Here is the reel you can see the entire basement transformation!