From Builder’s Basic to Beautiful: A Personalized Home Transformation.

Every home tells a story, and some just need a little help to find their voice. This recent project began as a standard builder-grade home. It was functional, but had some frustrating elements. One of the most notable was that the refrigerator was so tight to the wall that the doors could not be fully opened. It was impossible to fully open the crisper drawers. We addressed both the layout and function of the home as well as adding warmth and personality that makes a house truly feel like a home.

The homeowners liked their house, but wanted it to reflect their style, needs and daily routines. Through thoughtful remodeling, we transformed their home into a space that feels uniquely theirs.

A Kitchen Reimagined

The heart of the home deserved special attention. The original kitchen layout was limiting and just wasn’t working, so we reconfigured it to enhance both form and function. The previous homeowner had done a DIY project and extended the cabinets to the ceiling. While it is was a good concept, less than perfect construction made the kitchen feel poorly done. The small uneven doors with exposed hinges didn’t really serve any purpose.

The new kitchen design included all new cabinetry, quartz countertops, tile backsplash, lighting, hardware, kitchen faucet and upgraded appliances to add a touch of luxury.

The most striking change? Enlarging and repositioning a window to flood the kitchen with natural light, making the space feel brighter and more inviting. Moving the window allowed us to move the awkwardly positioned corner sink. We centered the kitchen sink under the new window.

Kitchen Before

Kitchen During Renovation

Kitchen After

Character & Charm with Architectural Details

Builder-grade homes often lack architectural interest, so we introduced texture and dimension with board and batten detailing. This classic design element added depth to the walls, instantly elevating the home’s aesthetic. Adding board and batten also solved a practical challenge for us. The only way to improve the kitchen layout was to borrow space from the back hallway coat closet in order to relocate the refrigerator. By adding hooks in the back hallway the family still has a place for coats, backpacks and dog leaches when they come in the back door.

Next to the refrigerator there was an empty wall. When working with an existing space there are times when there are limitations to how things can be moved around. We embraced this space and added a picture light to highlight a piece of art. Sometimes it’s the challenges that force creativity and beautiful things come out of it.

New Flooring, Paint & Lighting

Flooring plays a significant role in defining a home’s atmosphere. We replaced the original flooring (a combination of engineered wood, ceramic tile, and wall to wall carpet), with real hardwoods and upgraded the carpet on the stairs. The new floors not only elevated the overall design but also provided continuity from room to room.

A carefully selected paint palette further enhanced the transformation.To brighten the home we painted the trim Sherwin Williams “Pure White”,and the walls “Accessible Beige”. We repeated “Evergreen Fog” by Sherwin Williams as an accent color through out the project. This created a sense of warmth and cohesion throughout the space.

Lighting is my favorite design element. It sets the style and adds the perfect finishing touch. We introduced layered lighting-statement fixtures, recessed lighting, under cabinet and in cabinet illumination to enhance both functionality and ambiance. The right lighting choices made every detail of the renovation shine.

Before

After

A House that Feels like Home

This remodel was about more than just aesthetics, it was about creating a home that truly feels right for its owners. All new furniture, rugs, art and decor finished the space. By customizing the layout, enhancing architectural details and choosing finishes that reflect the homeowner’s taste, we turned a standard house into a one-of-a-kind living space.