Whew - It's installed and photographed. I was so excited to work with long time clients, Becky & Jed Guenther on the update and renovation of her home in Dilworth. We met almost, what.. 10 years ago when I help with a few rooms in their home and have remained friends over all these years. It was time, really time, to update and do some things in the house that always needed it, but like many of us it's all about timing. Kids are older now and really needed a space to hang out in, master bedroom needed a facelift, master bath needed a gut job, and there was no outdoor space to really speak of. The biggest part of this renovation was the basement. It was small and dark with a wall separating the former little kid living space with walkable crawl space full of ductwork and pipes. The goal was to really turn it into a space that work for her growing boys and sweet little girl. With a new color scheme in the plan we decided to give the entire place a new look to last the next 10 years. With a new bathroom, basement and outdoor place needing major work an architect and contractor (Craig Cox and Andrew Roby) were in order and believe it or not, they lived though the entire process without having to move out ! Becky claims it was pretty painless. It's all finished now and I have really kept new mom Mekenzie busy with these images. Take a look at a major renovation and it's final look !
I'll give you tour from the front door through.
Living Room . . I kept the grass cloth I originally put in the space all those years ago and repurposed a older sofa and chair in another room. We decided this space, visible right when you walk in the front door, should have four chairs for a little adult conversation and grown up time as oppose to your typical sofa / chair combo. New bookcase all styled up, new chandelier, new rug and all new accessories.
Living Room . . I kept the grass cloth I originally put in the space all those years ago and repurposed a older sofa and chair in another room. We decided this space, visible right when you walk in the front door, should have four chairs for a little adult conversation and grown up time as oppose to your typical sofa / chair combo. New bookcase all styled up, new chandelier, new rug and all new accessories.
This space sets the tone with shades of cream and white with little touches of navy. Windy O'Connor's two pieces look so beautiful and are our pop colors.
When styling any bookcase I like to use larger piece in like colors.
Just off the living room is a small home office. Becky tells me she loves this room now. Cozy and styled up with a new navy floor to ceiling paint color with trim added, that repurposed sofa and recovered chair and new desk & window treatments.
Rounding the corner you hit the dining room. I love this new look. Formerly green wall paper and a glazed ceiling, I chose to do the pop of navy on the curtains and all white. So bright and pretty now. This new chandelier is a stunner and her more traditional pieces now seem much more updated.
Rounding again into the kitchen. Formerly cream cabinets and your typical granite on the counters. We drastically changed the look of this space by repainting all her cabinets, adding a new calacatta classic counter top, shiplap on the side walls, new hardware, backsplash, lighting and barstools.
Gorgeous and bright and much more updated !
The final touch in this space and something I usually leave for last. The perfect art piece. One of my favorite things to do is take my clients out to lunch at the very, very end and art shop together. Art being so subjective, several of my favorite local galleries allow me to take pieces back home and try them out. With the spaces complete, much easier to pick the perfect one ! Thanks to Hidell Brooks and artist Mary Rountree Moore for the perfect final touch.
The family room off the kitchen ties beautifully with both the front of the house and new outdoor space. The ceiling was previously stained, I lighted it with the trim color we used throughout and added two new lighter chandeliers. New accordion doors were installed to take you to the new outdoor living space.
The former basement . . now kid's media and game room. Wow. This turned out amazing !!! I was even surprised at how big it feels now. The contractors, Andrew Roby did a fabulous job taking out a large wall and relocating all that duct work and plumbing. I covered up the brick fireplace with tile in a more modern look. Added floating shelves and a gorgeous custom cabinet by my amazing carpenter Jacob Wolfe. I chose a sectional that comes in pieces (to get down the stairs and hold it's shape with those boys), a new off white Eames chair and gorgeous large mirrors and sofa console table. Definitely much more grown up now.
Everyone fights over this chair, one of my favorites.
This area was the formerly the storage, ductwork, pipe space . . . not any more. Cleverly moved, don't ask me how or where, to allow the room to open up. I found the coolest of pool tables / dining table. Comes with wood top that can easily be added on or taken off.
Inexpensive but cool industrial like lighting . .
I cannot believe how open this all is now, and what a fun space for those boys who really seem to love it now. Much more room to spread out and filled with teenage friendly furniture.
Our carpenter and furniture maker, Jacob Wolfe is the best ! His attention to detail and creativity is amazing. I gave him a very rough drawing of a piece I need for this small space and voila. Beautiful cabinet with floating shelves for this small corner to house all those electronics.
And wow - this new wine storage closet was tedious but so worth it - they love it !
Had Keith create a little art as well for the pool area .
Before we head upstairs I want to show you the killer new outdoor space !! This, the master bathroom and basement were designed by architect Craig Cox here in Charlotte and all tie in perfectly with the design of this house. This outdoor space, with it's ceiling mount heaters and working fireplace can be enjoyed year around.
Floor to ceiling screens and it's large footprint allow for two sofas and two lounge chairs in the sitting area. I kept the color scheme going from the interior to exterior and painted the entire room the next exterior paint color - Ben Moore's china white.
The new step down living space transition with 2 steps to the old, existing porch now a dining area.
New dining space with custom ombre chandelier, dining table and chairs.
Every porch needs a big dose of green, we had Margaret McBryde of Charlotte company "Potheads" fill the exterior planters we found while working on the gorgeous next back yard transformation (see her facebook page here)
Master Bedroom, um.. total transformation from where it was before. The dark wood like ceiling and tan and red colors I designed all those years ago has been replaced with all white, China White. I had our same carpenter Jacob Wolfe make and install these new beams made of old barnwood along with two doors leading to the new master bathroom (see below). His attention to detail not only make my job easy his pieces are always stunning.
So - all white with a Stark carpet wall-to-wall in a graphic pattern to add texture and visual interest to break up all that white.
New custom side chests in tone-on-tone grey, storage ottomans in each window and soft window treatments with an organic feel.
We had the bed custom made with it's beautiful nail head detail.
Leading to the new master bathroom, these doors !!!! May be my favorite thing. Jacob did a beautiful job carving out the detail and adding the gold leaf to pop. We finished them with two knobs that are actually curtain tie backs.
Ahh.. new bathroom. It turned out perfectly. I carried the white but had the new cabinets painted a pale grey. White counter top and new touches of antique brass details mixed with the chrome.
The tile added a necessary pop and ran from counter top to ceiling and the showpiece of this new master bathroom.
Thank you, Thank you to ALL involved on this big project.
