The Home Owners
Scott and Lauren
$145,000
Scott and Lauren purchased this home ten years, and three children ago. They had ideas for remodeling when they bought the house, but life happened, and the years flew by. Now, the house is even more dated than when they first moved in, and a floor plan that might have functioned just fine for a household of two no longer works for their family of five.
The traditional layout of this home included a formal living and dining room, which this family NEVER used. This was the biggest space in the entire house, and it was left untouched, while the family crammed into a tiny family room and ate in their poorly laid out kitchen. There was a lot of space here to work with, it just wasn’t being used in a way that suited their lifestyle. It was time to get in there and mix things up! Designing this space was a bit like playing musical chairs, but with entire rooms. We shifted everything around, removing the formality and reclaiming the functionality wherever possible.
Before, the outside of this house was dated and ordinary. It shared the same siding, fascia, outlookers, and garage door as every other house on the block. But Scott and Lauren aren’t dated or ordinary. They’re a vibrant, young family who love art, coffee, their community, and the beach. (Wait, I love art, coffee, community, and the beach, too! We are clearly a match made in design heaven!) I wanted the exterior of this home to be a little beachy, a little traditional, and a little modern, resulting in the overall “California Meets Cape Cod” aesthetic we embraced for this project.
Special Project | Cooler Bench: No, not as in, “My bench is cooler than your bench,” but as in a beverage cooler, hidden inside of the custom-built patio bench. Not only is this a super “cool” feature, but it also makes entertaining fun and easy, since you don’t have to walk all the way back into the kitchen in order to refresh your drinks.
This kitchen was always huge, but an exceptionally unfortunate support post, along with an ill-placed door to the outside made the layout awkward and closed-in. By removing the exterior door and the post, we were able to totally reconfigure the flow of this space, with multiple entry points into the room, and a double islands that kitchen dreams are made of.
Special Project | Custom Coffee Bar: Scott and Lauren have three children, and therefore, they love coffee. Micah of Girelli Woodworking fame constructed a custom coffee bar cabinet out of the most beautiful walnut wood. Backed with a metallic print wallpaper, and equipped with a professional espresso machine and pro-status knock box for coffee grounds, I’m hoping these coffee aficionados like this space a latte.
We reclaimed the dark, cavernous former formal living room for our new, cozy, California casual family room. Replacing the beige tile floors with warmer, softer wood flooring, repainting the walls, and refreshing the fireplace turned this into a welcoming space where the family can all spend time together. And don’t worry, we wired for a tv behind the art above the fireplace. Fun fact – I always wire for tv’s, but rarely hang them for the #newhouseday because let’s be honest, art is always prettier than a tv!
Special Project | Fireplace Refresh : Previously, the same beige tile that covered the entire first floor ran up the wall to create the fireplace surround, as well. The effect was underwhelming. I wanted the new fireplace to be the centerpiece of the room. The refresh included adding vertical planking above the mantle to call attention to the high ceilings and add another dimension to the room. The new fireplace hearth and surround were built using micro-concrete, which looks similar to a smooth stucco or waxed plaster, and manages to feel both modern and warm at the same time. A beautiful, natural wood mantle is the finishing touch, drawing the eye and centering the room.
Formerly the family room, the layout was awkward because the space also needed to function as a hallway between the kitchen and the entryway. Reclaiming this space for the dining room worked perfectly. It’s open to the kitchen, and fits a table for six like a glove, while still allowing plenty of space for a walkway. Bold, beachy wallpaper (custom printed by local photographer John Lucarelli) and a modern chandelier that brings bubbles to mind make this a fun, unique space for family gatherings.
Special Project | Gallery Wall with Hidden Desks: Scott and Lauren’s kids are great artists. We created a huge gallery wall on which to display all of their masterpieces, and within that display, hid three artist desks behind framed artwork. The wall-mount desks fold down to display art supply storage, a craft paper roll, and a work surface. Pull up a stool, and this will turn into a rotating gallery in no time!
Special Project | Staircase Refresh: The old, ornate iron railing didn’t fit into our “California Meets Cape Cod” design scheme. We replaced the old railing with new, white wooden banister posts, and horizontal steel wire railings, and added a carpet runner that matched the vibe of the exterior stair tiles.
Formerly the eat-in kitchen space, we transformed this sun-lit nook into the new family office. Perfect for paying bills or doing homework, this room is removed enough to offer some privacy, without leaving you feeling totally isolated.
Formerly the formal dining room, we transformed this previously unused space into a modern library, complete with floor to super-high ceiling bookshelves and a rolling library ladder. Cozy chairs invite conversation, or curling up with a good book. For a family who loves to read, this is a much more functional use of space than a redundant, dust-gathering, old dining table. Creating a larger opening that leads into the kitchen gives the space the open floor plan feel these homeowners were looking for.
This project could not have been made possible without our amazing vendors as well:
General Contractor: Keynote Custom Builders | L-Shaped Patio Bench (with Hidden Cooler): Old Tech Design | Library Wall and Ladder: B and D Cabinets | Carpet Runners: Annie Selke | Carpet Installation: Michael’s Carpets | Coffee Station: Girelli Woodworking | Kitchen Counters: Marble Yard | Vintage Pendant Light in Library: Normandy Metal Refinishers
