Building With Hope and Faith
The Childhood Home Becomes the Forever Home
We were recently requested to work our magic, turning a client’s childhood home into a multi-generational forever home. We’re honored when we get to participate in our client’s long-term goal!
The Goal
When the owner bought the house she grew up in from her mom, she wanted a full renovation – but – and she couldn’t stress this enough – she also wanted to avoid a cookie-cutter “McMansion”. Above, you see the front of the home before renovations.
Because the client’s mother would still be living there, they didn’t change the master suite on the main level. Instead, they looked to other areas of the house to create their transformation.
The aim was to make the house not only comfortable for herself, her husband, and her mother, but also for their adult children and grand-kids who would visit from out-of-state and stay over for the holidays. Sometimes they have up to 20 people to entertain, so they were eager to make space for everyone.
Below, the front of the home after renovation completed.
A Dream Kitchen and Dining Room
“I don’t know how Mom used to cook holiday meals in this kitchen”
the client exclaimed.
We designed a flowing open floor plan and enlarged the kitchen—by a lot. Where it used to be tiny and closed off from the rest of the house, it is now open, showcasing a large island with seating and a huge dining table perfect for the holidays. There’s also a big walk-in pantry and a new laundry space off the kitchen that can be closed off with pocket doors.
Sun Room and Extended Bedrooms
Also on the main floor, an old screened-in porch was turned into a large sun room, with lots of windows, that can be used year round. It features two sets of interior large glass pocket doors that can close off the room if someone is watching television, or can remain open to feel connected with the rest of the house.
Outside, the old narrow front porch—so narrow chairs couldn’t fit—was partially removed so that the two bedrooms on the main floor could each be extended by a few feet. We kept a portion of the porch by the front door to offer a covered entrance way.
Exterior - Deck & Patio
Our design added a new deck on the first floor level so that the owners could really enjoy their big, private, wooded backyard. (see above) Designing the deck around a tree to save it—the finished product feels almost like being in a tree house.
The encircled tree can be seen both from the first floor and from the lower level bedroom suite. In addition, we added a new patio for the lower level of the house. (see below) With stairs to the deck above, there is now plenty of access to the backyard.
A New Master Suite
The basement level is the location of the new master suite for the client and her husband. It started out as a “sort of finished” basement with a concerning musty smell. Initially feeling small and cramped, the space was transformed into something luxurious. An HVAC contractor was able to remove the humidity, and with our new design, the master suite now has much to boast about, including massive walk-in closets, a full master bath, lots of natural light, and sliding glass doors for direct access to the patio. The lower level also gained an office and family room, with an updated fireplace.
Clever touches, such as a frosted glass window placed above eye level in the fully interior master bathroom, allowed natural light from the family room to enter the space making it feel fresh. This master bath is enhanced with unique tiling (see below), enclosed glass shower, heated towel bar, and a medicine cabinet with integrated LED lights.
Interior Design to the Rescue
Working with an interior designer, who was also a family member, the finishing touch was the merging of the two households into one home, collaborating on decisions such as light fixtures, furniture placement, artwork and area rugs.
Take a look at this reupholstered antique sofa.
No Place Like Home
We’re always asked, “how long will this take?” and the truth is that there are many factors that contribute to the length of a project. Construction schedules, zoning laws, and lots more variables come into play. We went into this one with realistic expectations, but luck was on our side and the project was finished within a year. The house was now ready to welcome—and easily accommodate—the whole extended family during the holidays.
Breathing new life into a home is our goal and our specialty!
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