Sometimes remodels are so completely different than where we started that even we can't believe the transformation! This project with Oakwood Builders was exactly that. This renovation took 2 years to complete and that seemed like a sprint because we completely gutted this entire home and gave it the personality and lifestyle our clients were hoping for.
From top to bottom, this entire home is a different place. And for good reason. When life significantly changes for the families and clients we design for, it's a great time to reevaluate how a house needs to function and what ways it is or isn't serving this new season of life. For this project, our clients are recent empty-nesters. Their children are in college and the house was lacking when it came to how they aspired to live. With the children out of the house, the renovation wouldn't be intruding on schoolwork or the social calendars of young people.
One of the main priorities for our clients was that they didn't want to do any of this half-way. They didn't want to revisit a handful of small renovations and refurnishing for years to come. This project would be all-encompassing of their full wishlist so that they could rest easy and settle in. What was on that wishlist? High-end finishes, fixtures and furnishings. Casual spaces and formal spaces. Color, pattern paired with a timeless, luxurious aesthetic. Functional spaces that still make a statement. Every nook and cranny was intentionally designed to be truly one-of-a-kind.
First Impressions
Stepping through the front door, guests are greeted with impeccable millwork, large scale art, unique furnishings and a stunning staircase. The room itself feels classic with all of the moldings and craftsmanship while the art and accessories give a lively, more contemporary flavor to the space.
Entertainment Zones
Our clients had a great vision for the way they wanted to use the main level of the home -- for entertaining! We got to work planning how to allocate plenty of spaces for entertaining of every type. From casual eating to formal dinners. From an elegant living room space to a clever bar lounge and a tucked away sitting room. So much room for company and kids home from school!
The Living Room
Suited at the center of the main living space, the living room is adjacent to the formal dining/bar area as well as the more casual dining room off of the kitchen. Because it is centered between these spaces, creating visual anchors to set it apart was important. Built-in bookshelves flank a marble surround fireplace. A large picture window show-off a lovely wooded view. An L-shaped sectional creates definition from the casual dining room behind it. Meghan mixed timeless custom millwork, traditional furniture lines, glam fixtures and more traditional patterns with more vibrant color-ways and modern accents.
The Formal Dining Space and Bar Lounge
Because every client and family is different, our designs are completely custom every time. With this dining space, our clients knew they wanted a formal dining space and wanted to find a way to add in a sitting space next to a bar. The details of the bar itself cannot be missed. The brass doors inset into dark grey cabinetry are just remarkable. Antiqued mirror backsplash tiles have a glamorous, timeless look. To bring in the colorful, preppy style with four upholstered chairs in modern styles and incredible prints arranged around an intricately carved marble round coffee table. The perfect place for a night cap after dinner.
The formal dining space uses the same green but in more traditional furnishings. We love the details on the chairs and the table. Details like nailheads, velvet skirting, curved chair backs, embroidered upholstery and carvings. Statement lighting, a gorgeous rug, custom window treatments and modern artwork give this room the elevated, sophisticated environment that they craved for dinner parties and events.
The Informal Dining Room
While this room isn't meant for fancy dinner parties, it's still quite dressed up and inspiring. Drapery tape, metallic elements, custom dining chairs in a fun preppy pattern and and captivating accents make a more casual space off of the kitchen still feel incredibly special.
Sitting Room
While the other rooms are interconnected and open to one another, a quiet room for solitude or conversation was a perfect addition to the entertaining areas on the main level. The greens, blues and pinks from the rest of the main level are prominent in the sitting room. The classic meets contemporary style is also on display. We love that a small, side room can still be very intentionally designed with the most beautiful pieces.
The Heart of the Home
We pulled out all the stops in the kitchen and the butler's pantry. For a family that loves to entertain and doesn't want to renovate again or skimp on any decisions, this was a very fun, challenging part of the design process. We wanted to give them everything and more when it came to the hardest working rooms of the house.
The Kitchen
It's hard to know where to start in describing the kitchen! A coffered ceiling with metallic wallpaper, a custom metal range hood, mercury glass pendants and brass sconces, nickel hardware, a dutch door to the back entry, high end barstools, dark espresso tone island, and the most detailed cabinetry design all make this a show-stopping kitchen. The overall look is absolutely luxurious while being as functional as a chef's kitchen.
The Butler's Pantry
Who says the prep kitchen has to be without style and class? We selected custom cabinetry with tons of storage for the things that don't fit or need to be in the main kitchen. Textured wallpaper looks so good with the beautiful tile floors and backsplash. While everything was given special treatment and consideration, the true wow-factor for the butler's pantry is definitely the upholstered velvet door with nailheads. Unexpected and truly beautiful!
Creating Flow & Function
From the moment our clients enter the house, they are met with the main level "drop zone." A set of rooms consisting of lockers, powder room, and dog room allows them to enter in with everything they need just steps away.
The Back Entry
Slate flooring, custom cabinetry, grasscloth wallpaper and fine finishes and decor make even a back entry feel elevated and spectacular. While this space is more about practicality and having a place to set everything than needing to be pretty -- but why not make it beautiful too? This space will stand up to dirt, busy mornings and kids home from college.
The Powder Room
Small space - BIG impact. We love that each individual element was chosen to be glamorous and special. The metallic wallpaper, interesting custom cabinetry, to-die-for sconces and detailed bath hardware/fixtures are all telling the story of the care we took in this home, even with the smallest of rooms.
The Dog Room
If you have dogs but don't have a dog room, you're seriously missing out! Through a lot of questions about their specific routine with their dogs, we designed a space that is easy to clean, able to store/prep food (out of reach of the pups!), have a safe place for the dogs to be and keep things like meds, leashes and treats at hand. We couldn't resist this this amazing dog print wallpaper that completely pulled the blues in from the rest of the utility area.
Bedroom Retreat
When taking the house down to the studs, we're able to expand rooms that used to be quaint into entire retreats. The bedroom retreat was a high priority for our clients. They wanted a large sitting room, a desk, beautiful bedding, and stunning dressing room inspired by our client's favorite store.
The Primary Bedroom
Beautiful neutral tones in the wallpaper, furniture, rug and bedding set a soothing tone in this primary bedroom. Sophisticated, high-end furniture pieces were selected to continue the luxurious quality we love to provide for our clients. Architectural details like the tray ceiling with lighting makes it hard to believe this home is a remodel, not a new construction with the customization. Across from the bed, an incredible marble fireplace by the Stone Shop creates the perfect area for a sitting area.
The Primary Sitting Room
The lounge area by the bed isn't all we had in mind for comfortable leisure in the primary retreat. We created this comfortable and elegant area for our clients to unwind at the end of the day. If their children are home visiting or if they have overnight guests, this is the place our clients can resort to at the end of the day and still have the space to unwind.
The Primary Dressing Room
When we first met with our clients, we asked to see their inspiration for the whole house. Without a doubt, they provided the most examples for the dressing room. This space was one they were most excited about and wanted to make sure they expressed all of the details they wanted included. Mirrored cabinets, built-in safes, stone counters and soft places to sit were all high priorities. We love how refined and practical this room is.
Laundry & Bathrooms
Small rooms have big shoes to fill. When the rest of the house is dressed to the nines, it's a shame to leave bathrooms and laundry rooms uninspired. Wallpaper on the walls, silver leaf on the ceiling, statement lighting and beautiful tile make your eyes go right to the details of these small spaces.
The Veranda
Back on the main floor, you'd think that all of the dining and living spaces were already described but we have one more hidden gem right off of the kitchen.
Al Fresco Living Room
The four seasons living area feels like a vacation retreat. Comfortable fabrics in bright colors and fun patterns set the tone for the space. A mix of wicker, wood, metal, stone and upholstered furniture give a collected and curated sensibility to the space. The view is so spectacular that even when it's too cold for the windows to open up, the space draws people to gather in it day and night.
Open Air Kitchen and Dining Room
This set up is the best of both worlds - patio living/outdoor cooking and indoor convenience. We envision lots of summer evenings spent on the veranda, cooking, eating and laughing. We chose slate floors, a slatted ceiling, stone backsplash and wood cabinets for the fixtures. For the furniture, a modern meets classic coastal vibe felt appropriate for the overall style of the home and the outdoor setting. Rope guest chairs and slipcovered captains chairs look sharp under a blue beaded chandelier.
This is a fully custom renovation. As far as an existing house can be made new, this one was. We are ecstatic at the way this home turned out. Our clients got everything (and more) from their wishlist and we were given the mandate to make every inch of the home as thoughtful, functional and stylish as possible so that this would be the only renovation they'd need to go through. After two years of waiting, our clients can now enjoy this sweet new season of life full of entertaining, leisure and enjoying the beautiful things in life.