We were delighted to be able to take on another whole home remodeling project.
It was a big undertaking, but the finished product was unique and stunning. The clients’ goal was to update their dated home to fit their lifestyle better and needs today and in the future.
This custom home, built in 2002, needed cosmetic, technical, and functional upgrades to make it more enjoyable and easier to live in. In addition, our clients desired an interior that was still traditional but infused some modern colors and elements and was designed for aging in place. With these goals in mind, we transformed a traditional home with a dated design and features into a modern space that our clients could continue living in for years.
One of the most noticeable changes we made in the home occurred in the kitchen. From a functional standpoint, no changes to the kitchen were needed. However, the look and feel of the kitchen required improvement. We replaced all the cabinet doors and drawer fronts with shaker-style panels to introduce a more modern aesthetic. We also painted all the cabinets in a bold cobalt blue, the client’s favorite color, to make their space feel more like them.
We also removed the existing and broken microwave and replaced it with a new range hood to improve ventilation in the kitchen. We also set out to improve the lighting in the space. For this, we installed new under-cabinet lighting throughout the room and two new pendant lights over the sink and peninsula for additional lighting. The pendants are a similar blue to the cabinets to create a cohesive design.
In addition, we replaced the light over the island with a similarly shaped light fixture to the pendants that were also a cobalt blue to further enhance the design. One point of pain in the kitchen was the struggle to use their sink. To address this, we modified the sink cabinet to accommodate a new apron front workstation sink so the sink basin was closer to the edge of the cabinet, which makes it much easier to reach the faucet and overall easier to use. Lastly, we replaced the existing countertops with a simple white quartz countertop with light gray veining.
(Check out our blog post all about countertops!)
Another area that received a dramatic transformation was the primary bathroom. In its existing state, the bathroom featured a large tub that was no longer being used. The bathroom also had a small cultured marble shower, oversized box light, dated fixtures, and very little storage space. We removed the bathtub entirely and used that area as a bench with storage space for one client to use her foot spa.
We expanded the shower and made it curbless for aging in place. We also installed a new bench tiled with the same tiles as the shower walls and a grab bar for improved safety and accessibility. In addition, we installed a tiled niche for soap and bottle storage, adding a nice design element to the space. Other changes in the bathroom included new sinks and a countertop, new vanity light fixtures, new mirrors, and new towel bars and hooks throughout.
We made many other small changes throughout the house. For example, we replaced the vanity countertop in the guest bathroom and put in a new sink, light fixture, mirror, and faucet. The half bathroom received many of the same changes. On the back porch, we replaced the broken ceiling fan and screened in the porch so the space would be more enjoyable for clients.
Other changes to the house included new lighting in the laundry room and new lighting in all closets. We installed extra outlets in one of the bedrooms so our client could use his ham radio better. We removed the speaker system, replaced rusty vent covers, replaced exterior door knobs, and replaced all the carpeting in the house with warm, wood-look vinyl plank flooring.
Lastly, we repainted the entire house, including all walls, doors, cabinets, and trim. The house’s exterior also got a fresh coat of paint on all the existing painted surfaces. We did not want to paint the brick, as the brick on the house is a lovely gray brick that fits in with the home’s interior style.
After making all these changes, the house looked and felt transformed but still familiar and homey. Our clients were delighted with how the project turned out. We enjoyed taking this dated and traditional home and turning it into a more modern and functional home that our clients can live in for many years.
