We’ve been writing sooo much about PDCo Home but we are definitely overdue for some client project updates, too! Our Park Residence is almost wrapped up, but we have to wait a bit longer for the master bathroom and final punch list items to be complete. So it’s time for a progress post, but I’m not going to show it too complete. That would certainly ruin the fun!
This home is a special one! You can read the full story in our first post here, but I’ll give a quick summary. Basically, the clients and I found out we’re family and this was my great grandmother’s home at one time! This is also a very old home with lots of charm, so it absolutely needed an update with a classic touch.
removing walls for an open concept
One of the primary goals was to open the wall between the kitchen and dining room, while still drastically improving functional cabinet and counter space. The photos below show before and after the wall was removed and a large beam added.
Can we also appreciate the look of that new subfloor? So much better and cleaner than the original floors! They were definitely old and worn!
the details that matter
If you look closely at the photos above and the before photos, you will notice a few details that became pretty good features of the kitchen. The first detail is how the stairs going to the upper floor create a partial angled ceiling in the kitchen space. To clean this up, we built out the angle all the way to the wing wall so it made the ceiling less choppy. Keep it in mind when you look at the photos below!
The second detail is in the original kitchen plan, the kitchen was not only separated from the dining room, but also a breakfast nook. When we removed these walls, we of course needed a beam between the dining room and kitchen. We also needed one in the location where the wall was between the kitchen and breakfast nook. This was just fine with us though because the client really loved the idea of beams in the kitchen. So we engineered the ones that were required, and then added one faux beam to match and balance out the space.
The last detail is a small switch we did for the doorways. The door to the basement in the original kitchen took up essential wall space. So we switched it to be accessed from the dining room! We also removed the door from the dining room to the upper stairs and main floor bathroom. This allows a pretty view to the stair focal wall, but also creates a more welcome feel for guests to use the only bathroom on the main floor.
See if you can see spot these details! They make all the difference!
floors, ceilings, and walls, oh my!
I loved how many spaces we got to play with texture and pattern in this home! From a classic versailles tile install, to a gorgeous planked ceiling, and the vertical planked walls in the stairway, it’s all timeless but visually interesting.
The clients had recently updated their flooring in the living room and bedrooms to hardwood. We were able to get a perfect match to continue that flooring into the dining room and kitchen, as well as the stairs.
The other major concern the clients had was their narrow staircase. While we couldn’t create literal space, we could certainly create visual space! We added the vertical planking because it felt less farmhouse-y than horizontal shiplap. It also visually draws your eyes up the opening instead of noticing the skinny width. At the top of the stairs, we opened up a wall and will replace it with a handrail. That really did make the space more open at the top! And there’s nothing like a fresh set of stair treads to make your staircase feel less terrifying. This corner of the home now feels charming and welcoming versus a forgotten corner!
the laundry room
The original laundry room had a strange configuration with tight corners everywhere. We removed an unused chimney which allowed us to move the door. This not only helped the flow of the laundry room, but the kitchen as well! We also removed a closet and basically just opened the space up. My favorite detail is the sink refresh – that tub was original to the home! It got a facelift with a clean coat, new faucet, and new custom white oak base.
CABINET INSTALLATION
Cabinet layout and installation is always one of my favorite parts of the process. This home was the first time I also designed the cabinet package with a matching hood. It felt like the perfect fit for this kitchen to keep the space simple and clean.
The island was also custom designed with a gorgeous plank detail on three sides. I really felt the need to bring some warmth into the all white kitchen, so we went with white oak. This also matched the plans for the laundry room which called for some warm woods and less of a white utilitarian look. The two spaces are very open and connected to each other, so it was important that they play off each other beautifully.
FINAL DETAILS ON THEIR WAY
Counters are in and backsplash is installed! I am so in love with the cabinet hardware and light fixtures in this project, but I’m not showing them just yet! This is the last photo you’ll see before the final reveal!
The master bathroom still has a bit to go, but once it’s all done, we’ll be styling away and getting our final photos. I can’t wait to show you!
If you have a project you’d like to discuss, feel free to contact me or book an appointment! I’d love to chat and see how I can help!
