before and after Archives - Pacific Design Co.

February 11, 2023February 2, 2023

Helena Residence Part 2: Before

If the Helena Residence sounds familiar, that’s because this isn’t the first time you’re hearing about it! With the scale of this remodel, our clients phased it out into two phases. In Phase one we took care of the full lower level. You can take a look at the Before, Progress, and Final posts of the basement of this gorgeous midcentury home. With the second phase we’re tackling the full upper level, and demo has recently begun!

Sunken lounging is back in!

The upper level wasn’t as big of a blast from the past as the lower level but still has lots of unlocked potential. This beautiful midcentury home had many fun features, my favorite probably being the sunken lounge located in the family room. I was very excited to hear that my clients were just as fond of it, so a face lift is all that we’ll be doing here.

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The bar and fireplace in the living room were also things we loved and wanted to keep but definitely needed some help to bring them back to life. The cedar throughout the home is incredible, so some adjustments to the remaining fixtures & finishes play a huge roll in the end result! You’ll get to see just how much a dated space can be turned into your most loved space after we change up just those, without touching the floor plan too much!

The first look inside

When you first walk into the Helena Residence you’re greeted with a spacious entry way. You have the skylights right above you, and an open staircase to the left. The only piece of the entry way we weren’t sold on is the pony wall separating the entry from the dining table. This space called for more of a statement rather than a half wall blocking the flow. Taking that wall down will open up a beautiful view into the home. We also are going to update the finishes of the stairway. As tasteful as the aesthetic may have been in the past, our clients are wanting a little update while still nodding to the original architectural style.

My favorite transformation!

From the dining room, you head into the kitchen. With everything we have planned this will be my favorite transformation done to the entire home! Here we’ll keep the general layout of the kitchen in place but everything will be new. New cabinets, counters, appliances, and flooring. This kitchen is quite beautiful as it is, but the style doesn’t fit the home at all. I’m so excited for the midcentury style we will be embracing!

Major Refresh to the Bathrooms

On the main floor we’re working on three different bathrooms. The powder room, where we’ll be updating all the finishes. The primary suite currently has TWO bathrooms. We will update one, and the second will get swapped to create a second suite for guests. I love all of the finishes we’ve selected for these bathrooms, and excited to show off what we chose to make these spaces truly stand out!

The Helena Residence is truly a beautiful midcentury home, just in need of a lot of fixture and finish updates! The layout of the home is really quite functional, and only took a few tweaks to get the results we were wanting. This project has been on our radar for a long time, and we’re excited to finally see it start transforming!

February 2, 2023June 15, 2023

Hillside Residence: Progress

I usually recommend that everyone starts with the “before” project post, but with the Hillside Residence, it’s a must! Seeing the transformation from the start is like one of those tv remodel show moments where at the end of the episode they’ll show you a side-by-side comparison and it blows you away!

PHASE ONE

Because our clients were still living in the residence while the entirety of the construction was happening, we tackled this project in stages. Stage one consisted of the Primary Suite, Guest Bathroom, Guest Bedroom, and the paint and flooring in that section of the home.

Like with any renovation we started with demo. After tearing the entirety of the primary suite and guest bathroom down to almost the bones, we got started on the new layout. The biggest changes to this stage of the project were definitely the bathrooms. We weren’t just changing the finishes in these spaces, but we took out and moved walls to create more appealing and functional spaces!

The Primary SuitE

For the Primary Suite, we reconfigured the entry to the bathroom to create a more open layout. We moved the steam shower and soaking tub to one side of the bathroom. This provided more floor space, in addition to taking over an adjacent bedroom, for a beautiful, spacious walk-in closet. We also were able to add a linen closet built-in at the entrance of the bathroom.

The steam shower was an important part of the primary suite. One of the luxurious we added was the fully tiled, custom curved bench. It took some research to find something that was readily available. Once it was installed you can tell that the steam shower would never have been finished without it! This shower is fully equipped with music, chromotherapy, steam, body sprays, and more!

The finishes we paired together are mixtures of grey, white, and black. The darker wood stained cabinets add a lot of depth and warmth to the bathroom and closet. I love seeing some dark wood tones come back into design and paired in new, updated ways!

Guest Bathroom

In the “Before” blog post you can see how this bathroom used to be separated into two rooms. Half had a double vanity and the other with the shower and toilet. Taking out the wall and reducing to a single sink opened up the room. Since the clients didn’t need the bathroom to be as big as it was before, this change allowed them space where it mattered. A gorgeous double-door entry was added to their primary suite instead of the original small hallway. We weren’t going to skimp on the design of the bathroom though! We installed a stunning marble hex floor tile that combines both the grey and brown tones from the vanity. You may also notice that the ceiling in this room was also able to be raised by a few feet!

Second Phase

One of the big changes throughout the home was refinishing the flooring and making it a significant amount lighter. In the main areas of the home, an original knotty cedar ceiling was used. But with all of the changes to the lighting layout, we decided it would be easier to replace the ceiling rather than repairing it. With the new ceiling, we decided to stay away from the rustic knots and mimic the new floor. Those two changes alone modernized and lightened the home immensely! The core of the home isn’t something we wanted to change and there were elements we wanted to preserve. One detail we didn’t touch was the stone fireplace. It is the heart of the home, keeping texture and warmth in this space.

The Kitchen

We reconfigured the kitchen layout by moving some appliances and the island for a better flow. The light creamy perimeter cabinets paired perfectly with the darker stained island. This stain is used in the bathroom and closet in phase one as well. The other element that is the perfect touch in the kitchen and pantry is the backsplash. The uneven edges of the zellige tile and the variation of grey is SO good!!

When doing this phase, we reconfigured the existing pantry and laundry room to make one large pantry. If you want to see a quick tour of the pantry’s coolest feature, check it out over on Instagram. Since the home has laundry in other areas, this one wasn’t needed. We were able to utilize the space for the pantry and add a walk-in cleaning and storage closet. We refreshed the powder room flooring, vanity, and countertop to pull from the rest of the home’s design.

The Hillside project’s main home has now been complete! Check out the final reveal over at this post!

August 1, 2022June 15, 2023

Hillside Residence: “Before”

Our Hillside Residence Project is a traditional home that sits on 50 acres of land. The home is surrounded by open fields that end at a beautiful tree line and sits on a hillside. Our clients have been living in this home for 20 years, which they had also originally built. This home has a beautiful structure and 20 years ago was exactly what the clients wanted and needed. However, the home is no longer functional for our client’s needs and the finishes and designs have become outdated!

This renovation project consists of taking over a bedroom to expand the Primary Suite (similar to what we did at our Pittsburg Residence!) and reconfiguring the whole suite, remodeling a guest bathroom, and adjusting the main spaces of the home to provide a larger pantry and a storage and cleaning closet while also updating the kitchen and powder room. The main spaces will continue to be an open concept, but with new finishes reflecting a traditional yet natural aesthetic.

THE PRIMARY SUITE FACE LIFT

The primary suite was feeling plain and dated. There were also some significant tile issues due to the steam shower. The closet was too small, and for these empty nesters, it made sense to take over an adjacent bedroom and let their suite become the new priority! There were certain parts about the bathroom layout that we felt could be adjusted to create a better flow of traffic and have a more pleasing use of square footage. Our clients also asked for one additional change to the primary suite, which was to expand the entrance to the suite. To do so, we are breaking down another wall that backs to the adjacent guest bathroom. Since that bathroom is able to be decreased in size, this adjustment will easily allow us to add a double door to the primary suite, creating a beautiful grand entrance of our clients’ dreams!

GUEST BATHROOM RECONSTRUCTION

This bathroom space is very linear with two separate rooms. One is used for a double vanity and the other for the shower and toilet. This layout easily allows multiple people to use different areas of the bathroom at the same time. However, it’s now feeling way too large and closed off from what our clients currently need! As previously mentioned, the wall by the entry door will be moved. The bathroom will be smaller and reduce the vanity to a single sink. We will also remove the wall separating the vanity from the toilet area so the space feels larger.

THE KITCHEN update

They kitchen currently has two islands, with one that sits at a bar height. Even though this main space is fully open, the high-top island creates a separation. It cuts off the kitchen from the dining room and living area. Our plan is to remove both islands, then bring in a single larger island at counter height. This adjustment will reduce the pinch points around the dining room and living room. In the past, arranging furniture has always been difficult due to the kitchen island! In the new kitchen layout, we reconfigured the perimeter cabinets and appliance locations, allowing for more cabinets and a better flow to the space.

Besides a change to the flooring and all finishes, the other major change to the space will be the ceiling. Right now, you see wood planks with a lot of knots and a golden orange finish. Since we have so many changes to the light placement, we would need to adjust the ceiling detail as well. The clients love the wood, but not the knots, so the plan will be to freshen up the whole ceiling with new wood planks. This will also allow us to move lights according to the new layout without issues.

PROJECT SCHEDULE

We came to a decision with our clients to approach this project in phases, especially with the increased lead times. We didn’t want to start everything at once and then have clients with a home that isn’t livable with continued delays. The primary suite and guest bathroom was completed last year, and the main spaces of the home just recently wrapped up! You can see some of the progress at this post!

The final reveal of this project can be found here.

If you have a project on your mind, be sure to get in touch! You can contact me or book online here.

December 3, 2021December 3, 2021

Riverbend Residence: Progress Update

Many of you have been following along on the Riverbend project through Instagram. I love seeing your reactions and enthusiasm through comments and DMs! In this post I’ve gathered all the progress shots of the Riverbend project to show what has changed in the past months. If you want to get a better idea of how big the changes have been, you can see the before post here!

Tender Love and Care

This home definitely had a lot of potential (it really needed some TLC). We wanted the home to be more functional so updating the floor plan was a top priority. We also were looking to make lots of cosmetic updates. Those included replacing all the tile and old grey carpet with beautiful engineered wood flooring, and of course taking out over 5 decorative columns! The home needed an update to the outdated electrical and plumbing. With all these changes in store, we tore most of the spaces down to the studs.

Tear Down

After all the tear down, the crew started taking out unnecessary walls and adding in new ones based on the updated floor plan. Walking through the space with just the studs up and flooring removed we were getting so excited for how much open and functional space we were able to add to the home! The biggest changes were visible in the kitchen and primary suite bathroom. Once the sheetrock was up, the interior of the Riverbend home was visibly transformed!

Let the fun begin!

The fun part has started! I loved seeing the gorgeous flooring installed! The tone of the wood brought so much warmth to the space, especially when paired with freshly painted white walls! In the Primary Suite we used a combination of three different tiles. All three had tones of grey or white within them. Some darker with white veining, which we applied to the shower walls. We pulled in the whiter and light grey tones in both the mini hex tile on the shower floor and the large-scale rectangular tiles on the rest of the floor.

Cabinets Cabinets Cabinets

We were anxiously awaiting a phone call that would let us know our custom cabinets were finished and ready for install! Once we got the call, we were back on site to watch those beauties go in! For this project we went with a modern cabinet style but used a rustic white oak to add character to the cabinets through the knots and wood grain. We couldn’t capture the floors in the updated shots because they were being protected but believe me the custom cabinet stain complimented the floors perfectly! We used the same cabinet style and finish for the mudroom, and both bathrooms. With white walls and grey tiles, the rustic oak cabinets added the perfect warmth to all of the spaces!

Almost Finished

The last update I was able to capture was the quartz countertop install! The quartz slab we went with was primarily white with grey veining throughout. We chose a modern straight edge for the countertops, which paired with the modern cabinets beautifully! The quartz was also added to the bench and niche ledge in the walk-in shower. Here the white veining in the grey tile on the walls was a sight to see once the white quartz with grey veining was in.

There is one more update that we haven’t shared with you yet! There’s going to be another wow factor added in the Kitchen! I know, it already looks SO good but just wait until you see it all put together. Stay tuned for the final reveal!

If you have a project on your mind, be sure to reach out! You can contact me or read more about our services here.

November 14, 2021November 14, 2021

Riverbend Residence: “Before”

The Riverbend Project has a WOW factor. Located right on the Spokane River, there is an abundance of windows that bring in the beautiful outdoor views. The clients contacted me not too long after purchasing this home. They were interested in making a lot of changes, especially to the two upper levels of their home. During the initial walk through I saw why this family wanted to make the changes they did!

The transformation to the Riverbend Project consists of: A complete tear out of the current kitchen, pantry, bathroom, laundry and main floor wet bar. Throughout the whole main floor, we are changing all interior finishes and fixtures to create a space that better reflects the family. We’ll also be eliminating over five decorative columns in the entry and living space. This will open it all up and maximize the view! On the second floor, we are designing a primary suite worthy of its title. A full overhaul of the bathroom layout along with new finishes will update the suite beautifully.

What a “Kitchen”

There are definitely a few spaces in the Riverbend project that I am most excited about, the first being the kitchen! I see the kitchen as the heart of the home — an area for entertainment and gathering of family. The current kitchen situation was lacking storage and counter space, but the layout also had some major concerns! The stove top was placed at the end of a small island with zero counter space around it. This wasn’t only inconvenient, but it was also dangerous with little ones running around.

We have BIG plans for this kitchen. We are making a switcharoo with the living room and kitchen spaces to gain more square footage for the kitchen. This means also eliminating an outdated fireplace and an unnecessary wet bar. Taking care of all that will really open the space, allowing for more of an open concept that creates a larger kitchen, with much better flow. The existing kitchen will become the living room where we will add a new gas fireplace.

white cabinet bar with black countertops

Main floor refresh

On the main floor, we’ll also be updating the guest bathroom and the laundry room. A few minor changes to the layout in these areas allowed for better circulation from the back entry of the home to the main spaces. Both spaces will have new custom cabinets and counters, flooring, lighting and plumbing, as well as a fresh coat of paint.

Grand Entrance

Another space I am excited to transform is the entry way. The entry is the first space anybody entering your home sees! I wanted to make sure that the first impression guests had when walking into the Riverbend Residence would reflect the family and the new home. There was an abundance of decorative columns in the entry, which didn’t match the family’s aesthetic and they were blocking the view of the river. Thankfully these columns were not load bearing and we were able to take out all of them! The entry’s grand staircase will also be refinished completely. The other change we are so very excited for is to add a fresh coat of white paint throughout!

Primary Suite Of No Ones Dreams

The primary suite bathroom consisted of a small walk-in shower, an L shaped vanity, a toilet room, and a HUGE jacuzzi. However, the layout of the rooms were very broken up, making for an awkward space. We completely reconfigured the room to create a larger shower, replace the large jacuzzi with a beautiful freestanding tub, and designed a custom double sink vanity. We took out another unnecessary wet bar and fireplace and added a wall to create a fully separate bedroom space from the bathroom.

Our Riverbend project will be nearing it’s finish here soon. If you’ve been following along on Instagram, you’ve already seen the cabinets and countertops go in! We’ll be sharing an update of the Riverbend Residence soon, and then in the near future we’ll be posting the final reveal! Follow us on Instagram to get updates on new blog posts so you don’t miss any a thing!

If you have a project on your mind, be sure to get in touch! We already have a waiting list lined up for the new year that we’re excited to start tackling! Check out our services and let’s chat!

September 9, 2020September 10, 2020

Park Residence: Progress Update

white kitchen with square backsplash tiles

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.

drywall phase on laundry room renovation

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.

white oak cabinet with soapstone counter

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!

June 12, 2020June 6, 2020

Park Residence: “Before”

I can’t wait to share this first post about our Park Residence project, as it’s a special one! Shortly after the very first consultation for this home, the client messaged me and had discovered we were related. Small world, right? But it gets even crazier — the client’s home had been in the family for some time. In the past, it was actually my great grandmother’s home! These clients are already the sweetest people in the world. But this news was just a cherry on top for me. What serendipity! And what an amazing honor to both work for them and bring new life to a historic family home!

This renovation project consists of the main spaces of the home — opening up the wall between the dining room and kitchen and updating both spaces, adjusting traffic flow for the stairs to the basement and refreshing the stairs to the upper level, reconfiguring and updating the laundry room, and changing the upstairs bathroom to incorporate a shower and get a better use of space despite the difficult ceiling angles. Ready for a tour?

THE KITCHEN WITH A LOT OF DOORS

This kitchen had been refreshed several times over it’s lifetime. However, the root of all of it’s problems was never solved. Despite having a great amount of square footage, it could not be used to it’s fullest potential because it lacked wall space. Specifically, the wall space was taken up by circulation paths and doors! The door on the left is the clients’ primary entrance to the home. It goes through the laundry room and then to the home’s exterior and garage area. The door on the right goes to the basement, which is only used for storage.

“Floating” appliances, like the range in this kitchen, is always a pet peeve of mine. The refrigerator also blocks a good amount of the door on the left, which is a major circulation path. In addition, the clients’ main complaints included lack of storage and lack of counter/prep space.

A WELCOMING LAUNDRY ROOM

The current laundry room had a big role to fulfill to provide many functions. On top of laundry, it held an original utility sink, it had kitchen/pantry overflow, and it was the main entrance for the homeowners from the garage. However, a catch-all isn’t the most desirable thing to walk into for the first impression of your own home.

Our goal for this space was to simplify the layout, add storage, and make it feel as special as the rest of the home’s updates. In order to improve the layout, we would need to remove an unused chimney from the corner. This would provide us JUST enough space to move the doorway. Going through the doorway, you would no longer be directed right into the side of the impeding refrigerator.

BREAKFAST NOOK AND DINING ROOM

Within the kitchen was also a breakfast nook, which wasn’t essential to keep. We also planned to remove the wall between the dining room and kitchen for a better connection during family gatherings.

In the left picture, the door on the left leads to the staircase and only bathroom on the main floor. We wanted to reconfigure the stairs so that: (1) the door to the basement stairs would be moved out of the kitchen; (2) the staircase as a whole would be more open and inviting; (3) I personally felt this would make the bathroom feel more accessible by guests.

a future master bathroom

This bathroom space had charming architecture, but made quite the fuss when it came to head space. Ceiling slopes in every direction limited what functions could take place in each part of the room. The clients had hoped for this to be part of a future master suite, so incorporating a shower was an absolute must. How did we solve this problem? You’ll have to check back for our progress post! If you happen to know one of my favorite tricks for bathroom space planning, you’ll know exactly what I did!

How cute are some of these details? I personally fell in love with the window situation in this room! We also wanted to refurbish the tub — some of these details were very important in preserving the home’s history.

progress despite delays

After some delays due to Covid-19 restrictions, this home is finally approaching it’s time for a progress update post! Cabinets were installed this last week, and things will start looking like a home again very soon. Stay tuned while I pull together all the exciting details to share!

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!

May 6, 2020September 7, 2020

Pittsburg Residence: Progress Update

adding a vaulted ceiling in home renovation

I know so many of you have likely followed this project’s progress over on Instagram for the past 6+ months! Week by week I have shared little glimpses on our stories about the updates that happened. But now, it’s time to put them all together so you can see the evolution of this project all at once! In case you want to peek at the before photos first, you can find the blog post here.

Stepping Back in Time

There were many cosmetic updates needed ranging from removing wallpaper, window treatments, thick squishy carpet, and outdated plumbing and lighting. Everything was removed down to the studs so we could update as well as make those critical changes to the floor plan.

Gutting for Functionality

It’s not uncommon for us to design new electrical plans to provide more lighting or better serve a renovated floor plan. Beyond electrical work, this home also had plumbing and HVAC updates. A large amount of mechanical changes were made to better heat and cool the house. For this reason, it felt like a long process before walls could get insulation and closed back up.

Project Goals

One of the goals for the project included raising the ceiling in the main areas to create a spacious environment. Along with this, enhancing natural light from the existing windows and adding more light through the use of skylights. We would also achieve this by removing the central wall between the kitchen and living room allowing the light to filter through the main space.

Closing Up the Walls

We worked “behind the walls” for so long on functional issues (HVAC, etc.) that it felt like a huge step to get things drywalled and painted! Subfloors were then evened out, main finishes were installed (engineered wood and new brick fireplace), and bathrooms were waterproofed.

stacked brick layout for fireplace surround

Aesthetic Plan

Aesthetically, the goal was to honor the home’s midcentury roots while using a timeless, natural palette that felt elevated yet comfortable. We used A LOT of tile in this home, so it was extra important to use finishes that felt warm and earthy.

It was really exciting to incorporate cedar throughout the main space! It tied in beautifully with the white oak engineered floors, and warmed up the room so much!

Room for Drama

We had a few plans for bringing some contrast in, such as the black framed Andersen windows and the black brick fireplace. I was THRILLED when the clients were willing to take the leap into a several other moody focal points! Time and time again, I’ve learned that stepping outside of your comfort zone brings the best results. They always end up to be my favorite spaces. So without further ado, I bring you…black tile walls, and black cabinets.

Other Design Details

I’m totally in love with the doors in this home. We really had to push to get these interior doors because they had a pretty long lead time. But my goodness were they worth the wait! Sometimes standard just won’t do! The front door is another favorite and while it’s GORGEOUS in it’s natural state, we’ll be staining it with a walnut finish. This will match some of the other walnut details we have throughout the home’s cabinetry.

One other little special spot in the home is the small half bathroom right off of the mudroom and kitchen. We went with a grey tile with the slightest green undertone. There are some other fun details happening in this little space and it will certainly pack a punch.

We are starting to finalize the exterior details as well. It was a special surprise to show up for a site visit and see the cedar soffits already installed! I’m loving them! The exterior and landscaping has barely begun though. Thank goodness for this beautiful Spring weather so we can start working on the exterior and landscaping next!

The Final Push

We’re getting so much closer but there’s still a lot to be done! Many spaces I haven’t even shown you (ahem…just wait for the master closet!)! I can hardly wait to bring the last surprises over to the reveal.

Be sure to check back soon for the final reveal!

If you have a project on your mind, be sure to reach out! You can contact me or book online here.

February 12, 2020September 7, 2020

Helena Residence: Progress Update

As I mentioned in the last post (with the before shots of this project), this project actually took place last summer! We wrapped up in the Fall and just last month got to go do some styling and photographs. All this to say, our “progress” blog post is a bit delayed here! While shuffling through my archived project folders on my computer, I counted over 20 projects (big and small) that have never seen the internet. So hey, on the bright side, we made it here today!

Over on Instagram, I’m consistently sharing story posts of site visit updates as they happen. It takes a bit more time to prepare the photographs for our blog, but it’s so fun to look back at projects on these posts to really see everything from start to end without the other distractions of social media. We’ve used this blog a bit like our project journal, and we hope you enjoy diving into the details of your favorite projects here.

demolition begins

The Helena Residence was pretty straightforward as far as demolition goes. We weren’t tearing apart tons of walls to change layouts, it was mostly just cosmetic changes. Some of the original finishes were so dated though that it really felt great to see those pulled away and have a fresh slate to work with.

The two bathrooms were probably the most labor intensive. They were fully gutted and one had some minor adjustments to the layout, which meant moving some plumbing around.

tile preparation & installation

It was nice to see the bathrooms start pulling back together with sheet rock and cement board. It’s always a good sign that finishes will be going in soon and the real transformation is going to begin.

shower with cement board under construction

I loved the transitions throughout the bathrooms. From the large black hex to the mini for the shower pan, and the large hex to the white oak vinyl, they were some beautiful pairs.

the arrival of cabinetry

When cabinets arrive, it’s a domino effect of good things. Counters can then get installed, along with backsplash, plumbing fixtures, lighting and hardware. These bathrooms started pulling together very quickly and it was an exciting time!

We also finally got to see the laundry room start to transform. It didn’t quite make sense to do the walnut cabinetry in the laundry room, so we went with a stocked grey color and paired it with black hardware. My favorite detail to plan was the waterfall drop in the counters for a very sleek detail. This change of height was necessary due to the taller height of the washing machine and dryer, but the lower height needed for comfort at the sink.

the fireplace transformation

One of the most satisfying parts was seeing the fireplace get cleaned up. The hearth on this thing was multi-layered and we had to pull it all out before we could frame over the brick. While many midcentury houses look incredible with painted brick fireplace surrounds, we wanted something much sleeker here. We went through a pretty extensive sampling process to get the look just right. And then more trial and error on the actual fireplace to make sure it had the perfect amount of variation (or lack thereof, which was difficult to achieve) for our clients.

This process was discouraging at times, sometimes to the point of questioning if we should just paint it. I’m so glad we held strong because the finished result is gorgeous. Custom walnut cabinets were added to the side for media storage as well as an area for games, toys, etc.

the final details

Mirrors, lights, hardware, and furnishings… these pull a space together and it’s always so exciting to watch the tiniest things make the biggest impact. I love hearing from clients about their experiences and reactions to their new environment. When I found out about the joy and twirling that happened when this little girl saw the wallpaper in her new bedroom, my heart just about exploded. Creating the backdrop of someone’s life where their memories will be made is the biggest honor.

Be sure to check back soon for the final reveal of this modern gem!

If you have a Spring or Summer project on your mind, be sure to contact me here! It’s time to start planning your design and booking a contractor to meet that timeline! You can contact me or book online here.

February 7, 2020April 27, 2020

Helena Residence: “Before”

We recently had the opportunity to return to a project that we finished last year to take some photos. While I’m so excited to share the final reveal, I never do so without showing where it all started. This is a gorgeous midcentury home that our clients had just acquired. We knew we were in for a real treat! You just never know what kind of gems you will find in an older home. Take a scroll down memory lane with us!

a wrongly placed farmhouse style

I say farmhouse, but honestly, I’m just not sure what happened here. When you first walk down the stairs to the basement, you are greeted with several chunky posts and beams, complete with mosaic tiled “shelves.” They were purely aesthetic, but just not an aesthetic that fit with the midcentury vibes the home longed to return to. The brick fireplace had so many layers and levels of design, it was quite busy and just a major beast. The storage next to it was obviously great and convenient but again did nothing for this major focal point opportunity. We were excited to tear it all out and design something bold yet clean here.

LAUNDRY ROOM GOALS

As you walk from the family room down the hall, you eventually run into the biggest blast from the past that I’ve ever seen. And I’m no stranger to original midcentury homes! In fact, it’s where my career all started when working in Denver. I imagine at one point, this was the most stylish laundry room and maybe the most fun for those who enjoyed hallucinogenics. It doesn’t take long in this space to feel like you may have taken a few yourself. The green and yellow on every surface was so overbearing. But seriously, I was in awe over it, in the worst possible way! We like to have fun with these kinds of situations.

bedrooms that are refreshingly boring

After seeing the laundry room, I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect for the rest of the basement, as we were just getting started. To my surprise, the rest of the rooms were refreshingly boring and pretty darn easy to take care of with the remodel. With some new doors and trim, updated light fixtures, a lot of paint, and new windows, they’d be as good as new.

the half-done bathrooms

There were two bathrooms that would be gutted during this project. Both appeared to have been partially updated at some point. My favorite part of midcentury homes is guessing what color the plumbing fixtures will be and adding it to the long list of colored sinks, toilets, and tubs I’ve seen. I’m also thinking I should start a collection of wallpapers from these renovations! Unfortunately I’ve already missed out on tons of amazing opportunities for collecting these.

Anyway, the first bathroom had a very small shower stall, which was the biggest complaint for our clients. This is a guest bathroom that gets used very frequently, so they wanted it to be a more comfortable size. It was the only part in the basement that we needed to explore a different layout!

The next bathroom would be the kid’s bathroom; the perfect Jack & Jill suite and I wanted to make it extra special for them. Again, mostly just cosmetic changes would be needed. However, I did want to remove the partial wall to make the space feel a tad bigger.

I’ve been filtering through my project archives and it’s been so fun to look back at this project! It’s been almost a year from when I met these wonderful clients. I’m so excited to share the final reveal, but first keep an eye out for the progress post, coming soon!

If you have a Spring or Summer project on your mind, be sure to get in touch! It’s time to start planning your design and booking a contractor to meet that timeline! You can contact me or book online here.