Interior Renovations - Zimmerman Architects

Archive for Interior Renovations

How we turn “wasted space” into something wonderful

Posted by Diane Himics on

February 24, 2025

Building With Hope and Faith

Giving Wasted Space a New Life

While it’s our mission and our joy to transform our clients’ lives by transforming their homes, we felt it was time to shed light on a small piece of a larger project that often gets overlooked.

After all, when we’re expanding your home’s footprint, or making room to move in a whole generation of your family, we showcase all the marvelous renovations and run out of time to talk about that one odd, small space we “recycled”. In this edition, we are spotlighting how we gave “wasted space” a whole new life.

Many homes have at least one wonky area, like empty space under a set of stairs, or areas with low head-height due to the placement of heat and air ducts. Or it could be low roof lines, angled ceilings, little alcoves and all manner of weird angles.

Gotta love it! We do – it’s where we put our creativity to the test. We hate waste, and here we’ll reveal how we created a custom shelving unit and an expansive pantry out of (almost) nothing. We were brought in for a larger transformation, but we couldn’t ignore the temptation to do something amazing with “the little space that could”.

Basement Space with Potential

In this home’s basement, the main trunk line was pretty low, and the duct was 4 feet off the floor. They had heating and air ducts placed in a manner that created odd, empty space. That space cried out for help and we answered their call by creating a built-in shelving unit to fit that area. When visitors spot the new built-in, they would never guess there was duct work we were trying to hide.

Why pay so much attention to the basement? Originally an unfinished basement, part of the project entailed transforming it into a very functional space to suit the homeowners’ goals. Elsewhere on this floor we designed a spacious environment for kids to hang out. While the parents also wanted to utilize the bathroom and home gym downstairs, we made sure that no one would disrupt each other. By organizing the placement of the individual spaces, everyone had privacy and room to maneuver.

In another area in the basement, also worked around the duct work, is a brand new walk-in pantry and bulk supply storage area. While the kitchen on the main floor already had a small pantry, this was ideal for extra stock and their bulk supply storage area. Because of its odd measurements, we had fun making it all work, which you can see in the short video below.

Your surroundings can totally affect your life,
your spirit, your emotional well being!

Do you have transformational dreams for your house and
simply can’t “see it happening?”
Click below to get started.

I would love to talk!

If a friend forwarded this to you, this does not mean that we have added you to our list. However, if you would like to receive our updates, click below.

Yes, send me your design tips.

Categories : Interior Renovations

The Childhood Home Becomes The Forever Home

Posted by Faith and Hope on

December 2, 2024

Building With Hope and Faith

The Childhood Home Becomes the Forever Home

We were recently requested to work our magic, turning a client’s childhood home into a multi-generational forever home. We’re honored when we get to participate in our client’s long-term goal!

The Goal

When the owner bought the house she grew up in from her mom, she wanted a full renovation – but – and she couldn’t stress this enough – she also wanted to avoid a cookie-cutter “McMansion”. Above, you see the front of the home before renovations.

Because the client’s mother would still be living there, they didn’t change the master suite on the main level. Instead, they looked to other areas of the house to create their transformation.

The aim was to make the house not only comfortable for herself, her husband, and her mother, but also for their adult children and grand-kids who would visit from out-of-state and stay over for the holidays. Sometimes they have up to 20 people to entertain, so they were eager to make space for everyone.

Below, the front of the home after renovation completed.

A Dream Kitchen and Dining Room

“I don’t know how Mom used to cook holiday meals in this kitchen”
the client exclaimed.

We designed a flowing open floor plan and enlarged the kitchen—by a lot. Where it used to be tiny and closed off from the rest of the house, it is now open, showcasing a large island with seating and a huge dining table perfect for the holidays. There’s also a big walk-in pantry and a new laundry space off the kitchen that can be closed off with pocket doors.

Sun Room and Extended Bedrooms

Also on the main floor, an old screened-in porch was turned into a large sun room, with lots of windows, that can be used year round. It features two sets of interior large glass pocket doors that can close off the room if someone is watching television, or can remain open to feel connected with the rest of the house.

Outside, the old narrow front porch—so narrow chairs couldn’t fit—was partially removed so that the two bedrooms on the main floor could each be extended by a few feet. We kept a portion of the porch by the front door to offer a covered entrance way.

Exterior - Deck & Patio

Our design added a new deck on the first floor level so that the owners could really enjoy their big, private, wooded backyard. (see above) Designing the deck around a tree to save it—the finished product feels almost like being in a tree house.

The encircled tree can be seen both from the first floor and from the lower level bedroom suite. In addition, we added a new patio for the lower level of the house. (see below) With stairs to the deck above, there is now plenty of access to the backyard.

A New Master Suite

The basement level is the location of the new master suite for the client and her husband. It started out as a “sort of finished” basement with a concerning musty smell. Initially feeling small and cramped, the space was transformed into something luxurious. An HVAC contractor was able to remove the humidity, and with our new design, the master suite now has much to boast about, including massive walk-in closets, a full master bath, lots of natural light, and sliding glass doors for direct access to the patio. The lower level also gained an office and family room, with an updated fireplace.

Clever touches, such as a frosted glass window placed above eye level in the fully interior master bathroom, allowed natural light from the family room to enter the space making it feel fresh. This master bath is enhanced with unique tiling (see below), enclosed glass shower, heated towel bar, and a medicine cabinet with integrated LED lights.

Interior Design to the Rescue

Working with an interior designer, who was also a family member, the finishing touch was the merging of the two households into one home, collaborating on decisions such as light fixtures, furniture placement, artwork and area rugs.

Take a look at this reupholstered antique sofa.

No Place Like Home

We’re always asked, “how long will this take?” and the truth is that there are many factors that contribute to the length of a project. Construction schedules, zoning laws, and lots more variables come into play. We went into this one with realistic expectations, but luck was on our side and the project was finished within a year. The house was now ready to welcome—and easily accommodate—the whole extended family during the holidays.

Breathing new life into a home is our goal and our specialty!

Your surroundings can totally affect your life,
your spirit, your emotional well being!

Do you have transformational dreams for your house and
simply can’t “see it happening?”
Click below to get started.

I would love to talk!

If a friend forwarded this to you, this does not mean that we have added you to our list. However, if you would like to receive our updates, click below.

Yes, send me your design tips.

Categories : Interior Renovations, Renovations, Working with Zimmerman Architects

Tags : exterior renovation, forever home, Interior Renovations, Kitchen Renovation

Designing Your Home That Fits Your Family’s Generations

Posted by Faith and Hope on

November 15, 2024

Building With Hope and Faith

Designing a Home That Welcomes All Family Members

In a previous blog, we reviewed who might be likely candidates for living in a multi-generational home; the challenges of privacy and space; and how bringing all your goals and concerns to the table ensures your experience–and results–are customized to you and your family.

Let’s look further into planning your home renovation, to accommodate bringing your family members of various generations to live with you in comfort and harmony.

The Living Rooms

Do We Share A Great Room – Or Plan Separate Living Areas?

When 2 or 3 generations are sharing one home, it’s natural to want to have your own quiet area to relax. You could all agree on one major group gathering space, like a large Great Room, and each generation or family section might also benefit from having their own private smaller space.

Once we speak with your family members and discover their needs and wants, we can design something beautiful and comfortable. This might be a den, a sitting area, a finished attic or basement suite, or an additional living room.

Will We Ever Have Enough Storage Space?

Each generation will also have different storage needs and want different types of spaces –from children’s toys to libraries, workout rooms, craft and workspaces. We design ample space solutions for each family member with built-ins, senior-friendly accessible closets, and storage rooms. With today’s design choices, the same room could be either a craft room, a work-from-home-room or even a guest bedroom!

Bed and Bath

How Private Are the Bedrooms & How Many Bathrooms Do We Need?

If you need to accommodate couples and whole families, let’s make sure there are dedicated spaces for privacy, which is critical for maintaining harmony in relationships as well as personal well-being. Ideally, we aim for a minimum of one bathroom per generation, as well as separating or soundproofing the sleeping spaces.

When it comes to soundproofing for privacy, we utilize materials for insulated walls, double-glazed windows, and recommend using rugs to help dampen sound. Creating buffer zones, like a hallway or closet between shared and private spaces, can also reduce noise transfer.

Coveted Kitchens

Busiest room in the house! How do we keep the harmony?

Having one gorgeous, expansive, shared kitchen should not prevent the other family members from having their own mini-kitchen. Multiple generations may have different cooking and dining preferences and routines. Food allergies, special dietary restrictions and even methods of cooking need to be taken into consideration for a kitchen that will work the way you need it to.

Mom and Dad may want their own small kitchen near their personal spaces to feel they’re not in anyone’s way when eating times collide or someone needs a snack. And while a set space for a café table for two may be in order, a spacious dining area for full family dinners (and guests!) is a must.

If there’s no room for (or no desire for) a separate kitchen, let’s plan on accommodating more than one cooking station, dual sinks, ample counters, and other ways to make food prep and eating safe, easy and enjoyable in a large household.

Enjoying the Property

Outdoor Access and Privacy

Let’s consider various outdoor areas, such as a private balcony, a large deck or a secluded garden corner. These may be for the entire household to enjoy each other’s company or a quiet place to get away. If space allows, we can design separate entrances to the outdoor areas to enhance privacy, especially with children entertaining friends, or a business professional seeing clients.

Balancing togetherness and privacy in multi-generational homes can be challenging–but we love challenging projects! We want to help you create a home that respects individual privacy and autonomy while still providing comfortable, shared spaces for family connection.

Stay tuned for future editions where we address more aspects of evolving your home as your family evolves! We would also love to hear what you would like us to address on this topic!

Your surroundings can totally affect your life,
your spirit, your emotional well being!

Do you have transformational dreams for your house and
simply can’t “see it happening?”
Let’s get started.

I would love to talk!

If a friend forwarded this to you, this does not mean that we have added you to our list. However, if you would like to receive our updates, click below.

Yes, send me your design tips.

Categories : Interior Renovations, Mulit-generation, Working with Zimmerman Architects

Tags : kitchen, multi-generation, shared spaces, storage space

An Interior Renovation to Keep Up With Your Lifestyle

Posted by Faith and Hope on

June 7, 2024

Building With Hope and Faith

An Interior Renovation

Not all major renovations require “building out or building up”. Plenty of improvements can be made to your home without a change in the home’s footprint. This month we show you an interior renovation that was a “reconfiguring” rather than an “enlarging”.

We start each project listening to the homeowners’ challenges and concerns. They love to entertain and had a great backyard setup complete with pool that was great for this. The house – not so much.

The existing living room, dining room and kitchen felt “choppy and closed off” from each other. (see 3 photos below.) This is quite common in older homes where the layout typically consisted of small independent rooms often only connected to each other through a door or relatively small opening.

Although common and popular then, our homes have evolved to be more open spaces that allow us to interact with those in the adjacent spaces.

For this project, we opened up the living room, dining room and kitchen areas by removing walls. And bonus! There was an underused room in the back of the house by the kitchen, so we took advantage of that space as well.

Originally a dining room, years ago it had become an underutilized rear entry and pass-through to the main part of the house, when a living room was added at the front of the house.

In our renovation, the original living room became the new dining room. And all the spaces are now open to each other. The new kitchen is now more open and larger, highlighted by a new large island with seating which allows and encourages socializing and entertaining. (see our key photo, top)

Below you can see the view from the dining room before (left) and the same view after (right).

A New Bathroom, Ready for Guests

Before our project, there was a full bathroom that everyone had access to. The master bedroom lacked a private en-suite bathroom.

As we opened up the area, we were able to carve out sufficient space for a half bathroom that is now the “public” restroom.

That allowed the existing full bath to become a private space for the adjacent master bedroom, creating a true master suite.

Can We Move the Stairs? Of Course!

The former kitchen had an awkward layout due to a set of stairs leading to the basement. It prevented the owners from taking advantage of that whole area.

Our design reconfigured the stairs and moved the entrance to the basement outside of the kitchen. What did this mean for the kitchen? Now the whole corner of the kitchen could be more efficiently used and the cabinets could continue, gaining more counter and more storage space for the homeowners.

Opening these new stairs with beautiful new railings instead of enclosing walls allows the kitchen to be more open to the adjacent dining room and to have a view all the way through to the front door.

We didn’t stop there – halfway down the stairs there was a partial landing that had originally been a side entrance. Years prior, it had been converted to an awkward, inefficient pantry-like space. Out of that dead space, we created a new walk-in open pantry just a few steps down from the kitchen (below, right).

The Kitchen They Dreamed Of

When you want to have an entertaining-ready kitchen, you may want what our homeowners asked for: it now has an oversized refrigerator (4 feet wide) an oversized stove (4 feet wide) which features a large 8-burner cooktop and 2 ovens and also has a convenient wall mounted pot-filler faucet. The new kitchen is now large enough to host lots of friends but also is comfortable for just the family or a small cozy gathering. And what would an entertainment-ready kitchen be without a bar area dressed with gorgeous glass-front cabinets and wine fridge below?

It’s important to mention here that as an older house with plenty of character, it was essential to achieve the balance of a modern kitchen fitting well with the older house. When removing some walls, and installing beams, the deliberate choice was made to use old timber beams – distressed, repurposed wood.

There are timber beams on either side of the chimney that retain the character and feel of an old house.

So if you’re wondering how you can ever modernize your kitchen and entertaining area in an older home without it losing its character, this is the type of project we take on with great respect for your home’s history as well as your needs and dreams for today.

Your surroundings can totally affect your life,
your spirit, your emotional well being!

Do you have transformational dreams for your house and
simply can’t “see it happening?”
Click below to get started.

I would love to talk!

If a friend forwarded this to you, this does not mean that we have added you to our list. However, if you would like to receive our updates, click below.

Yes, send me your design tips.

Categories : Interior Renovations, Renovations, Residential Design, Working with Zimmerman Architects

The Story of the Cabin that Grew up on a Hill – Interior Edition

Posted by Faith and Hope on

May 8, 2024

Building With Hope and Faith

The Little Cabin That Grew Up
Interior Edition!

Last time we revealed our exterior transformation of the Cabin That Grew Up On a Hill. There was so much detail to this project that we saved our coverage of the interior for this edition of our newsletter! Can’t wait to see inside? Here we go.

The homeowners wanted to keep the stone fireplace of the original home. A unique feature of the house is that the stone walls of the exterior of the house are visible on the interior as well. This area, with a band of windows above the stone walls, used to be an enclosed porch.

The existing windowsill was in poor condition so a new live edge sill was added.

This is wood that still has bark along the edge. The rustic look really compliments the old stone walls.

The house has 3 distinct sections. How cool is it that you can see parts of the outside of the house from different vantage points when you’re standing inside?

New Design of the Main House

After construction, the main part of the house now features 10 ft ceilings and an open floor plan. The original enclosed porch has now become part of the living room, which naturally enlarged the living space. A stunning collection of windows contributes lots of natural light.

There are new glass doors separating the dining room from the kitchen. This way the home chef can see what’s going on in the dining room while containing cooking smells in the kitchen.

Before the renovation, the 2nd floor of the house was a modest loft that overlooked the living room with 2 small bedrooms and a bathroom; and there wasn’t a lot of head space.

Now the second floor is a full-sized space containing 3 bedrooms, with 2 in the back, and the master suite at the front of the house taking advantage of the beautiful view.

Above the second floor is a spacious walk-up “attic” with large windows and a skylight, making it light and bright. It’s so beautiful, we hate to call it an attic – It’s a beautiful finished space, not a dark unpleasant area filled with boxes of stuff.

In addition to the finished walk-up attic there is now a full height basement. This is also partially finished and has a full bathroom and a door to outside.

The Connector

The first floor also acts as the indoor connector to the in-law suite, via a set of stairs. The garage and connector piece were both new footprint to the house.

From the 1st floor level of the main house, you enter the enclosed and heated breezeway, a wide hallway with windows on both sides. This leads to a set of stairs that takes you down to the in-law suite.

The New In-Law Suite

Located above the new 2-car garage, this is a perfect space designed for the homeowners’ aging parents. It features cathedral ceilings and a large custom arched window that serves as a focal point and provides sweeping views of the valley. The suite is a comfortable sized apartment, with bedroom, study, living room and kitchenette, (mini kitchen).

Your surroundings can totally affect your life,
your spirit, your emotional well being!

Do you have transformational dreams for your house and
simply can’t “see it happening?”
Click below to get started.

I would love to talk!

If a friend forwarded this to you, this does not mean that we have added you to our list. However, if you would like to receive our updates, click below.

Yes, send me your design tips.

Categories : Interior Renovations, Kitchen Renovation, Mulit-generation, New Construction, Residential Design, Working with Zimmerman Architects

Updating a Historic Home While Keeping its Charm

Posted by Faith and Hope on

December 21, 2023

Building With Hope and Faith

Updating a Historic Home While Keeping its Charm

Imagine this – when the forecast calls for freezing temperatures, that means you run downstairs and shut off your water so that the pipes in the kitchen don’t freeze.

Are we describing a living situation decades ago? Actually, a client we just worked with had been dealing with this very challenge. As you can imagine, they were more than ready for a renovation!

They were also more than ready for us to end another (slightly less dire) predicament. In their lovely and charming craftsman style cape cod home, there was only one bathroom. It was on the main floor; and the master bedroom was upstairs. Imagine navigating a dark, enclosed staircase in the middle of the night to use the facilities!

Fortunately for them, we were able to make both those issues disappear – and give them even more reasons to love their home.

The homeowners loved the character of their cape cod home and its craftsman style architecture. They were ready for “modern conveniences” but didn’t want to give up the personality and artful design of the home. It became our mission to honor the history and style while upgrading with modern conveniences where possible.

What Is the Craftsman Style All About?

Craftsman style homes are an American architectural tradition that emerged and spread between 1900 and 1929. It railed against the mass-produced, Industrial Revolution-fueled Victorian architecture boom that celebrated manmade materials. Craftsman architecture was an ode to the beauty of natural materials and forms, and the marvels of what humans can make with their own hands.

A Kitchen Makeover That Kept the Original Charm

The house had a small previous addition to the kitchen that was built on concrete piers rather than a standard foundation, so it was open underneath. In freezing temperatures, the kitchen sink froze, so the homeowners had a regular routine of shutting off the water to prevent the pipes from freezing, which naturally meant they had no running water in the kitchen during this time.

While the homeowners loved the beautiful woodwork in the home, plus its personality and charm, their kitchen was comprised of three small choppy spaces: there was a little porch, a small addition tacked onto the back of the house, and the original kitchen.

The kitchen before

In our design, the porch and tiny addition were removed. We designed a new addition and an entire kitchen renovation. While it used to be dark, the kitchen is now light, bright and airy, featuring craftsman details to match the rest of the house. How do you bring some craftsman detailing to your interior? The craftsman styled cabinet doors complement the existing house and the painted wood trim on the windows and doors match the stained trim found elsewhere. The stained-glass light fixtures as well as the period switch plate covers enhance the look.

Initially, the homeowners were concerned that they would end up with a standard modern, cookie cutter kitchen. Instead, they were delighted that the new design was perfectly in line with their style preferences. Oh, and the pipes don’t freeze now.

The kitchen after the renovation

Opening The Staircase

The staircase to the second floor had been fully enclosed with walls and a door. In our design, we allowed the natural light to flow through the area by opening up the stairwell.

Removing the walls allowed the home to show off the natural beauty of the newly replaced stairs, which with our design, now end in an elegant railing with a craftsman newel post. Because the staircase is situated at the edge of the new kitchen, the whole space feels larger.

How To Create a Bathroom from Existing Space

As mentioned before, the existing house had only one bathroom which was situated on the first floor. The master bedroom on the second floor really needed its own bathroom, for the convenience and safety of the homeowners.

A cape cod home has a steep roof area, so we used some of the unfinished attic space that was on the same level as the bedroom. It already had a high enough head height to be able to carve out a new master bathroom.

Fortunately, that part of the attic even had a window to help make the bathroom a light and cheery space.

Renovating the Exterior While Retaining the Charm

To complete the look, new siding and trim enhanced the curb appeal while keeping to the character of the existing neighborhood, full of older homes. The new siding and trim totally changed what it looked like without sacrificing the character or making it look out of place.

Out went the old concrete patio in the rear of the home, and in its place came a lovely new deck at the kitchen level. Even the detached garage was updated with new siding to complete the picture.

Inside and out, these updates kept the personality and charm of their preferred style, yet totally transformed the experience of living in the house for the owners.

What Our Clients Learned

If you like most of your house but there’s a few things that really need to change, you don’t have to find another home and move; you can stay there and renovate the parts that aren’t working for you. Let us help you bring those particular spaces up to the same caliber as the rest of your house and still keep the charm of the original home.

You can upgrade your kitchen or expand other parts of your home to meet your particular needs and lifestyle, while keeping the quaint character of the house.

For some of our clients, their home was built in the 1900’s but they want the conveniences of the 2000’s. How do we make it happen without your home looking disjointed? We know how to keep that look and feel of the original character of your home and design renovations that respect its history.

Your surroundings can totally affect your life,
your spirit, your emotional well being!

Do you have transformational dreams for your house and
simply can’t “see it happening?”
Click below to get started.

I would love to talk!

If a friend forwarded this to you, this does not mean that we have added you to our list. However, if you would like to receive our updates, click below.

Yes, send me your design tips.

Categories : Exterior Improvements, Interior Renovations, Kitchen Renovation, Renovations, Residential Design, Working with Zimmerman Architects

Planning a Renovation? Don’t Stop at What You NEED…

Posted by Faith and Hope on

December 11, 2023

Building With Hope and Faith

Planning a Renovation?
Don't Stop at What You NEED...

Working with our clients, one of our most important tasks is to LISTEN. But many times, our homeowners tell us all about what needs to be done and stop there. What about what you WANT?

It’s YOUR house and we want you to enjoy it for years to come. So, we’re giving you permission to go further – think about the kind of space and experience that will make you excited!

We help you think more creatively about all the aspects of your space that will make life not just more functional but also joyful!

Not Sure How To Renovate a Historic Home?

If your home was built “way back when” and could use a loving renovation, we can help you improve and modernize your home without losing historic charm and personality.

Make sure you subscribe to our YouTube Channel, so that you don’t miss one of our upcoming Project Prep Episodes!

If a friend forwarded this to you, this does not mean that we have added you to our list.
However, if you would like to receive our updates, click below.

Yes, send me your design tips.

Your surroundings can totally affect your life,
your spirit, your emotional well being!

Do you have transformational dreams for your house and
simply can’t “see it happening?”
Click below to get started.

I would love to talk!

Categories : Exterior Improvements, Interior Renovations, Renovations, Residential Design, Working with Zimmerman Architects

Bringing Your Home into the Future

Posted by Faith and Hope on

November 29, 2023

Building With Hope and Faith

Bringing Your Home into the Future

As we hope and plan to stay in our homes for the long term, we know that our houses should fill our needs 10 and 20 years from now, not just next month. It’s smart to consider features that we’ll appreciate in the coming decades. Your home is your sanctuary, your party hosting domain, and the place you can continue to explore new hobbies, learn new things, and really enjoy your retirement years the way you want to. Let’s look at possibilities that might take your house comfortably into the future.

Easy Access

While the homes of the past featured the master suite at the top level, there’s no rule that says your bedroom has to stay up there. It’s becoming popular to relocate your master suite to the main floor. Your guest bedrooms can be upstairs, so when your adult children come to visit, they can “make the hike” to their bedroom.

Bigger Garages For Different Reasons

No one envisioned SUV’s back in the 60’s and 70’s. If your house was built prior to the age when everyone in the house had their own car and then some, you’re likely stuck with a 1 car garage, or even a too-narrow 2 car garage. We have redesigned garages that fit your vehicles and your new lifestyle without making it an eyesore from the street.

Beyond Repurposing Bedrooms

While your empty nest may no longer host your teens, and you have your eyes set on transforming their bedrooms into other uses, you may want even more room! The craft room, yoga studio, dressing room (see above), library and art studio of your dreams can be yours even if you believe you don’t have enough rooms available right now. An addition doesn’t have to be massive – just designed correctly to look stunning and give you the space you want.

Kitchens Get Larger and More Functional

It seems that every year, kitchen design trends encourage larger kitchens! We want you to have all the space you want and need. Your kitchen can be open to adjacent spaces so you can interact with family and friends without being “stuck” in the kitchen, feeling isolated while you’re cooking.

With the popularity of home cooking (have you seen all the cooking competitions on TV??) people are not only wanting more room to spread out to roll out pie dough and shape homemade pasta, but also store all these gleaming newfangled kitchen counter appliances.

Let’s create a kitchen for you that has the space, the storage, the counter height, the mobility features that you’ll love for years to come.

Building Spaces Where They Make Sense

Folks are bringing their washer and dryer into spaces adjacent to their expanded kitchens for more efficiency, creating a mudroom by the back door that leads to the laundry room that leads to the kitchen. It’s beautiful and it’s super-efficient, helping you and your family to flow through your day and love your space, too.

Do you have a backyard with a lovely deck, swimming pool, garden and patio – but no bathroom anywhere near the back door? Let’s fix that and give even more enjoyment to the back yard life, while eliminating the extra work created when the back yard gets tracked through the house.

Here’s the deal – your home was designed years ago, in a different time, when people simply lived differently. Back then, they couldn’t envision what life would be like now. So why leave your home in the past? Let’s explore how you want to enjoy your home next month, 10 years from now, and beyond.

Your surroundings can totally affect your life,
your spirit, your emotional well being!

Do you have transformational dreams for your house and
simply can’t “see it happening?”
Click below to get started.

I would love to talk!

If a friend forwarded this to you, this does not mean that we have added you to our list. However, if you would like to receive our updates, click below.

Yes, send me your design tips.

Categories : Interior Renovations, Renovations, Residential Design, Working with Zimmerman Architects

The Renovation Transformation: A Guided Tour of the Interior

Posted by Faith and Hope on

August 28, 2023

Building With Hope and Faith

The Renovation Transformation

We enjoy taking on a variety of home renovation projects of all sizes. We shared the first part of this design story last month, where we gave you a tour of the exterior of this renovation transformation. This time, we’ll give you a guided tour of the beautiful new interior. We hope you love this as much as we (and the homeowners) do and can visualize your own home achieving a design upgrade.

Opening the First Floor Expanded The View

This traditional Cape Cod style house used to consist of small walled off spaces and doorways. During design discussions, our homeowners came prepared with a wish list, and at the top of the list was an open floor plan, a larger kitchen, an expanded basement, and a new great room.

What Is a Great Room?

Great Rooms are not a new concept, dating back to medieval castles. Today, great rooms are combinations of several different rooms in a home. It can typically include a living room area, dining area, and kitchen or bar area. It is an open and inviting space for family and guests to enjoy entertaining and relaxing.

The house now has a new addition, which you cannot see from the front. In this new space, we created the Great Room they had always wanted. We redesigned the kitchen for a larger footprint and removed the walls.

To open things up further, the kitchen flows right into their new great room, which has a vaulted ceiling and a lovely view of the swimming pool in the backyard. The whole area is bathed in light from all the windows and skylights, and the now-open floor plan.

Unexpected and Bonus Design

Our homeowners wanted to open up the dining room area, but there was a staircase right in the middle, surrounded by walls. It completely interrupted their vision of an open floor plan. This dining area connected to the great room and the kitchen.

While the homeowners couldn’t see how it could be accomplished without relocating the stairs, we designed the stairs to be in an open space. Their dream came true: when you open the front door you have an uninterrupted view straight through to the back windows.

While designing the great room, we added a surprise we knew they would love – a balcony on the 2nd floor that overlooked the great room. They were overjoyed at getting this bonus they had not imagined. There’s a high window in the great room. When you’re on the 2nd floor balcony you can see the back yard through the large window.

Getting Better Use of Their Spaces

— The former living room is now a reading room with glass French doors. An open floor plan has many advantages, but now it was important to establish a quiet and private area that can be closed off with doors. This was the perfect spot and size for a cozy library.

— Another part of their wish list was to make their existing first floor bedroom into a master suite with walk in closet and private bathroom.

— In the basement area under the new addition, our design included a yoga studio. If you’re going to make this your forever home, it’s important to include the features that will make the space enjoyable and functional for many years to come for your personal goals, taste and preferences. In the yoga studio, the full-sized windows have a view to the backyard, making it a lovely and peaceful place for fitness and meditation.

Before the renovation there was one entry into the basement which was down the interior stairs. We added an additional entry directly from outside and also connected the old and new basements.

It all added up to taking a traditional Cape Cod house from modest to sensational.

Our Clients Are Just Like You

Our homeowners had been living there a long time. They loved their style of home, their neighborhood, and the property. This was their forever home, with no thoughts of moving. They knew what they didn’t like, and they knew what they wanted. How it would or could happen, was the unknown factor. “We don’t think you can do that with this house” is a phrase we’ve heard many times over many projects.

One thing they knew for sure: the time was now. As they put it, “if not now, when??”

Your surroundings can totally affect your life,
your spirit, your emotional well being!

Do you have transformational dreams for your house and
simply can’t “see it happening?”
Click below to get started.

I would love to talk!

If a friend forwarded this to you, this does not mean that we have added you to our list. However, if you would like to receive our updates, click below.

Yes, send me your design tips.

Categories : Interior Renovations, Kitchen Renovation, Renovations, Residential Design

Thinking Ahead – Should I Stay or Should I Move?

Posted by Faith and Hope on

July 3, 2023

Building With Hope and Faith

Thinking Ahead – Should I Stay or Should I Move?

Our specialty is helping homeowners fall in love with their home. People at or nearing retirement age are often faced with the quandary of staying in their family home or downsizing to a small home or condominium. In the past few years, it’s been a popular trend to “downsize” – but a trend is not a rule, so the option of where you live is always completely up to you!

Deciding whether to move to a new home or to renovate your current house is a significant decision. One huge factor is your own financial situation, so you’ll want to consult with your financial advisor to help you understand your options.

Other than the financial, here are some things to consider.

Lifestyle and Recreation

If you’re planning on retiring soon and have made it a priority to be in a living situation where you’re close to the golf course, pool or tennis court, then you should look at a place to live where these recreational choices are convenient.

You’ll want to be careful of the freedom you’re giving up, however. Condo and townhome living means adhering to the rules of the Home Owners Association, so you’ll want to be crystal clear about those rules before you make the leap.

Mobility and Safety

Some retirees move to single-level living because stairs may become hard to manage, or having your laundry in the basement is becoming tricky. We want you to stay safe but that doesn’t mean leaving a home and neighborhood you love. We have created designs to move your laundry room to where you want it, and to accommodate elevators and other mobility installations. Renovation of a house you love may be a wiser choice than moving to a new area just because of stairs.

Left: a shower designed with beauty and safety in mind.

Right: an elevator right in your home.

Neighborhood and Relationships

One important contributor to a long and healthy life is cultivating personal bonds and relationships. If you have strong community connections or proximity to family and friends, moving will cause an emotional disruption. Some retirees and seniors moved because they thought they should have a smaller or easier place to live, yet regretted the friendships they left behind after their move.

Modern Appearance and Convenience

Your old home has an outdated kitchen, tiny bathrooms and never enough electrical outlets and lighting. We get it! This is why we love planning new rooms and modern convenience features with our homeowners. We can arrange the floor plans so they actually work for you, and you can have the modern and spacious rooms you’ve always admired – right in your own home.

BETTER Should Be Defined by YOU

Everyone has an opinion, and people often say that moving to a smaller place will be easier – better. But is it? For some, sure, but not for everyone. If moving to a smaller place means giving up your sewing room, your den with a piano, your sunroom where you like to sip your coffee, your deck for having a glass of wine with friends, then how is that better? You deserve the space you want, the rooms you want, to live life how you want.

Ultimately, the decision to move or renovate depends on your unique circumstances and preferences. It may be that moving is the right thing to do, but do your homework first. We welcome a phone call so that you can tell us about your situation and your preferences.

Your surroundings can totally affect your life,
your spirit, your emotional well being!

Do you have transformational dreams for your house and
simply can’t “see it happening?”
Click below to get started.

I would love to talk!

If a friend forwarded this to you, this does not mean that we have added you to our list.
However, if you would like to receive our updates, click below.

Yes, send me your design tips.

Categories : Interior Renovations, Renovations, Residential Design, Rightsizing for Retirement, Working with Zimmerman Architects

Archive for Interior Renovations

Giving Wasted Space a New Life

Basement Space with Potential

Your surroundings can totally affect your life,your spirit, your emotional well being!

The Childhood Home Becomes the Forever Home

The Goal

A Dream Kitchen and Dining Room

Sun Room and Extended Bedrooms

Exterior - Deck & Patio

A New Master Suite

Interior Design to the Rescue

No Place Like Home

Your surroundings can totally affect your life,your spirit, your emotional well being!

Designing a Home That Welcomes All Family Members

The Living Rooms

Bed and Bath

Coveted Kitchens

Enjoying the Property

Your surroundings can totally affect your life, your spirit, your emotional well being!

An Interior Renovation

A New Bathroom, Ready for Guests

Can We Move the Stairs? Of Course!

The Kitchen They Dreamed Of

Your surroundings can totally affect your life,your spirit, your emotional well being!

The Little Cabin That Grew UpInterior Edition!

New Design of the Main House

The Connector

The New In-Law Suite

Your surroundings can totally affect your life,your spirit, your emotional well being!

Updating a Historic Home While Keeping its Charm

What Is the Craftsman Style All About?

A Kitchen Makeover That Kept the Original Charm

Opening The Staircase

How To Create a Bathroom from Existing Space

Renovating the Exterior While Retaining the Charm

What Our Clients Learned

Your surroundings can totally affect your life,your spirit, your emotional well being!

Planning a Renovation? Don't Stop at What You NEED...

Not Sure How To Renovate a Historic Home?

Make sure you subscribe to our YouTube Channel, so that you don’t miss one of our upcoming Project Prep Episodes!

Your surroundings can totally affect your life,your spirit, your emotional well being!

Bringing Your Home into the Future

Easy Access

Bigger Garages For Different Reasons

Beyond Repurposing Bedrooms

Kitchens Get Larger and More Functional

Building Spaces Where They Make Sense

Your surroundings can totally affect your life,your spirit, your emotional well being!

The Renovation Transformation

Opening the First Floor Expanded The View

What Is a Great Room?

Unexpected and Bonus Design

Getting Better Use of Their Spaces

Our Clients Are Just Like You

Your surroundings can totally affect your life,your spirit, your emotional well being!

Thinking Ahead – Should I Stay or Should I Move?

Lifestyle and Recreation

Mobility and Safety

Neighborhood and Relationships

Modern Appearance and Convenience

BETTER Should Be Defined by YOU

Your surroundings can totally affect your life,your spirit, your emotional well being!

Recent Posts

Categories

Archives

Your surroundings can totally affect your life,
your spirit, your emotional well being!

Your surroundings can totally affect your life,
your spirit, your emotional well being!

Your surroundings can totally affect your life,
your spirit, your emotional well being!

Your surroundings can totally affect your life,
your spirit, your emotional well being!

The Little Cabin That Grew Up
Interior Edition!

Your surroundings can totally affect your life,
your spirit, your emotional well being!

Your surroundings can totally affect your life,
your spirit, your emotional well being!

Planning a Renovation?
Don't Stop at What You NEED...

Your surroundings can totally affect your life,
your spirit, your emotional well being!

Your surroundings can totally affect your life,
your spirit, your emotional well being!

Your surroundings can totally affect your life,
your spirit, your emotional well being!

Your surroundings can totally affect your life,
your spirit, your emotional well being!