In continuing to highlight the favorite designs of 2010, the renovation of Susan’s home is at the top of our list.   We really gathered our resources for this one – carpenters, reupholsterers, and cabinet makers as well as other contractors to transform the first floor into something the homeowners would absolutely love for years to come – not to mention be the envy of friends .     This design was at least a decade in the making, as Susan had kept magazines from as far back as 1999  and clippings from designs she saw and wanted to recreate  in her own home.    So, our first meeting was to assess what could be done and to get the various contracting professionals on board to make the renovation happen within a few months while maintaining the schedules with tasks.

Here is one of the “before” photos of Susan’s kitchen. 

What made this design so much more than just a kitchen makeover were the details.  Carefully crafting an island which would fit in the space yet still allow for free traffic flow was important.   Adding  legs to the island, base toe-kicks, and molding below and above the cabinets did cost more, but the end result really helped create a beautiful kitchen.  If you’re going to do it, do it right and do it well!

Of course, the cabinetry and island weren’t the only great features of this renovation.   There was this wall which could be filled with a buffet and hutch or some sort of furniture but Susan had grand plans.  Below is the before photo. 

Stone work surrounding a built in hutch and buffet took it from ordinary to absolutely extraordinary!     Additonally we added columns in the room to add a bit more architectural interest.

Here’s another view of that awesome wall

Were we done yet?  Heck no!  While the kitchen design was in production, other rooms of the home were given a bit of a facelift too.  We actually worked the entire first floor – but in sticking with my FAVORITES and to keep this post from becoming a book, I just want to show you one more room.    In one of the above photos you probably noticed part of the family room and a big red squishy couch, some old carpet, and well, just stuff that we changed.   That big red squishy couch and it’s companion, the chair and a half,  still reside at Susan’s home, but they did not  escape the makeover process…

Here’s another before photo -

Before I get to the “after” photo, here are my thoughts about reupholstering furniture.  If you are thinking about replacing furniture, think about what you have first. If you have a unique or a great quality piece of furniture, then spend the money to have it reupholstered.  I’m not going to sugar coat it – reupholstery can be expensive and in some cases, you can buy a new couch or piece of furniture for about the same amount of money you’d spend on reupholstery, but the difference is quality.   To get great quality furniture these days, you have to pay for it.  I’ve seen high quality sofas start at $3000.    So, that sofa you’ve had for many years – as long as there is no rotten or damaged wood and it is structurally sound, do a bit of homework and at the very least,  get an estimate and then do your comparisons.  For Susan, the decision was easy.  The cost of reupholstering the furniture actually cost less than trying to replace it with like-quality furniture.   

After a few months of having various contractors come in and out of her home, we finished the design in that special way we do, and  just in time for her daughter’s graduation party.   This home is indeed one of my favorites we had the privilege of working on – what is your favorite part?

Kate