One of the most incredible things about working in remodeling is being able to personalize a space for a homeowner. Often, when we think about this process, we think about decorating – putting up art, moving in furniture, bringing in a house plant or two. In this case, the house is a static canvas, but with a little bit of help from an experienced professional, making a space your own can be so much more. Recently, we finished a project for a wonderful client who called us in hopes of giving her home an updated look that matched her lovely personality. She had lots of great ideas, but only two very specific requests for us: she wanted new, black cabinets in her kitchen and bathrooms, and copper appliances. With these two things in mind, a fantastic new project took shape, and over the course of the next few months, we transformed her home into an exciting new space all her own!
For this remodel, we updated both the interior and the exterior, so while the bones are still the same, the house itself looks brand new, especially from the outside! We replaced the old, outdated blue siding and cream trim with new Tru-Guard lap siding in a nice shade of green called “pine cone” accented with “smoke stone” shakes and “spiceberry” trim. Then we topped it off with brand new GAF Grand Canyon lifetime specialty shingles in a subtle neutral brown. The discolored wood of the front deck was replaced with composite decking in a color to accent and compliment the rest of the home, and new powder coated railings were installed to tie everything together and to enable the use of the new deck without having to spend the entire summer sanding and staining rails. In the back of the house, we constructed an entirely new deck with an overhang that not only provides excellent shade for summer afternoons, but connects with the roof of the garage to make a weather protected path to the garage door for those snowy winter days and spring rains. Additionally, all the vinyl windows were replaced with Pella wood, metal clad four-pane windows with integral blinds and sun defense glass. We also added a bay window to the front of the house for a little extra pop.
The improvements on the exterior were dramatic, but the changes to the interior were perhaps even more so, the most drastic being in the kitchen. The old kitchen had some excellent features, but it just wasn’t exactly what the homeowner wanted, and we definitely had our work cut out for us. Taking into account the homeowner’s desire for black cabinets and copper appliances, our team focused on bringing these two things together into a cohesive, sleek design. All new Bluestar copper finished appliances were installed along with a high tech Miele hidden dishwasher with cabinet facing that matches the cabinetry and opens with a knock along with a beautiful undermount hammered copper kitchen sink. The tile floor, sparkling quartz countertop, and the tiled backsplash tied everything together into a fabulous new look illuminated by new Mercury glass overhead lights and LED under cabinet lighting.
The kitchen wasn’t the only place that got a new look, however – the bathrooms also got a makeover. In order to make the house feel aesthetically cohesive, the bathroom cabinetry and countertops in the main floor and master bathrooms were built to match the kitchen. New mirrors with perimeter lighting that can be turned on with just a gentle tap and wall mounted, lighted magnifier mirrors were installed in both as well, but these bathrooms are far from identical. In the main floor bathroom, the shower features floor to ceiling tile, but in the master bathroom on the second floor, we installed a luxurious claw-foot bathtub with copper fixtures for those stylish and relaxing bubble baths.
In the rest of the house, we kept it simple but classy. Adding a colorful accent wall can make even the most familiar rooms feel brand new and exciting, and new stained solid Alder doors were installed throughout the house along with stain grade base and casing. Additionally, all light switches and plugs were replaced with “legrand” Smart switches and plugs.
While we aspire to do work we’re proud of every day, our success on a project like this comes down to the satisfaction of the homeowner. We’ll never forget the excitement on her face when Jared walked her through her newly remodeled home for the first time! It’s that look that makes us love what we do.
Thank you, Sue! It was a pleasure working with you.