Before and After
Complete Finished Album
Built in 2003, the home was a former model for the subdivision. Structurally sound it had ample space and a great floorplan. Although many of the finishes were were interesting and very well crafted they were beginning to show their age. The key improvements to this house included new flooring and paint throughout, an updated kitchen, new master bathroom, updated kids bath and basement finishes.
Beginning in the main living area we knew we had to unify the flooring. There were two different hardwoods, one inset into the living room and both showing some wear. We opted for a charcoal grey finish on the new flooring and extended it from the kitchen/living to the entry and formal dining room. New 6” baseboards followed as well as a glaze to the hardwood on the stairs to match the tone of the built in bookcases. We filled in the recessed opening above the fireplace and replaced the dated rainbow slate with a neutral ceramic and tiled the surround to the same hight as the bookcases and finished it with new crown moulding for a sleek clean look.
In the kitchen, the cabinets and countertops were in good condition and the style suited the home so we kept them but the backsplash was too dark for the space. We had it torn out and replaced it with a herringbone patterned white marble tile with beige veining to tie it into the warmer tone of the cabinetry. Under-cabinet lighting, a new counter depth refrigerator and matching micro-hood, replacement transitional/contemporary light fixtures and the new hardwood floors blended together with the soft grey wall color formed a beautiful space conducive to many different styles of decorating.
The master bath was the biggest undertaking of the whole project. It began with a collection of contradictory styles and fun elements (like the curved hardwood/tile transition) but in the end, we decided that starting over with a clean, spa inspired palate would suit the room and highlight it’s best qualities. The new floor began with an in-floor heating system followed by a large format stone print tile. We replaced the slate tile surround on the fireplace and inset in the shower with a glass and marble mosaic tile to compliment the floor. Uniform wall color, crisp white base-moulding and wainscoting, a new modern double vanity with under-mount sinks and a white marble top, a beaded crystal light fixture and fresh carpet in the master bedroom and walk-in closet rounded out the renovation.
The second level featured two bedrooms and a full bath with a den/loft area. In the upstair bath, we replaced the molded plastic shower surround and worn countertop with warm grey tile and a complimentary glazed penny mosaic accent band. Elongated white ceramic sinks, new faucets and a fresh coat of paint for the walls and trim brightened and modernized this room. The bedrooms and loft also got a paint refresh and new carpeting throughout.
It’s always a little more challenging to choose finishes and updates without knowing exactly how the space will be used. Since basements are generally thought of as flex space, I decided to take some liberties and add elements that I thought were fun and hoped that a buyer would agree with me. I painted the cabinetry a french grey tone to compliment the new wall color and added under-cabinet lighting. We trimmed the support posts and some of the soffits in a wood veneer and stained them to match the stairs, put in new carpet to match the upper levels and updated the lighting with contemporary fixtures. My favorite project was converting a small storage closet adjacent to the bar area into a wine storage room. There was ample storage in the house so I didn’t think anyone would miss it and the visual impact made the room feel more deliberate. I replaced the solid door with a full light option and swapped the surface mount fixture with an adjustable head LED fixture. Using the same hardwood material from upstairs that had a glue down option, I finished the floor and installed the base trim. There are dozens of wine storage racks available online but I chose one that had a gap in the middle for wine glass storage. If it weren’t for my pin-nailer, the wine rack would have taken as long to assemble as the bathroom remodel but I think it was worth the effort!