Featured Article: Modern Victorian
Link to the online article:
https://citylifestyle.com/chicago-il/articles/home-services/home-remodeling-project
The home was having a “mid-life crisis.” That’s how best to describe this 120-year-old Victorian that long ago had been converted into a two flat. The new owners are a young professional couple with a new baby; he's a software engineer who worked from home long before the pandemic made that practice a necessity for so many families.
Kerry and John Briggs (Briggs Design Associates) were called upon to assess the house and manage the design and build of a series of upgrades for the owners, as the house had to accommodate a variety of needs.
After digging into the home’s history the owners shared a few interesting discoveries about how previous families used the home (including the time that a herd of goats were stabled in the basement during the coldest days of winter). The Briggs team listened, and incorporated the home's unique experiences and challenges into designing the best solutions for their renovation plan.
A primary goal was to maintain its Victorian feel, while adding updates and more modern features throughout the house. A formal dining room was transformed into a new kitchen, while the adjoining old kitchen space became a wonderful walk-in pantry.
As to be expected, the home had settled a bit over the years; that meant the floors and ceilings in some places needed to be leveled properly. And, with a home of this vintage, there were a few surprises along the way. After deciding the existing family room fireplace was impractical, renovations revealed that not only was it inoperable, but apparently was originally built as a "faux fireplace" (i.e., “all show and no glow"). On the flip side of surprises, while removing a wall to accommodate a more practical open floor plan, a pair of beautiful pocket doors were revealed (previously covered over by sheet rock, likely decades ago), a serendipitous find now gloriously restored.
The lighting system was converted to LED lighting products, controlled by a multi-zone, multi-scene "smart" system. This allows the owners to have unlimited preset scenes throughout the day with lights brightened or dimmed to a pre-determined level depending on the function of the space and time-of-day.
While refinishing the hardwood flooring, care was taken to keep to the original stain. Any new flooring was stained to match. The built-in cabinetry and millwork were painted a beautiful soft gray/green.
The owners love to entertain, so the new open plan is perfect for gathering lots of people; it's now a go-to place for family and friends events.
“The plans [that Briggs Design created] were more than we could have imagined,” said the owners recently. “Kerry is very helpful in the decision-making process, explaining each detail and creating a step-by-step process without making it an overwhelming experience. She was very receptive to our style and needs while maintaining the character of our turn-of-the-century home (and also giving it a much-needed modernization). We are now using her for our second level designs. All told, our project will involve the kitchen relocation and renovation, mudroom, living room, dining room, family room, closet space, stairwell, and the relocation of an exterior door.”
Briggs Design Associates (North Barrington) specializes in renovating and remodeling spaces carefully designed to meet the requirements and routines of every client. Kerry and John Briggs focus on all things residential, specializing in remodeling and interior architectural design. Learn more at Briggs.design.
Redesign Products & Suppliers:
Cabinetry: Custom Amish-crafted with millwork by Miller's Holzwerk, Tuscola, IL.
Cabinetry Hardware: The Knobbery, Arlington Heights
Counters: Cambria Quartz, fabricated and installed by Old World Stone.
LED Lighting: Juno Lighting and Environmental Lighting.
Dimming System: Legrande.
Undercabinet Angled Power Strips: TaskLighting.com.
Farmhouse Sinks: Blanco.
Plumbing Hardware: Kohler.
Floor and Subway Wall Tile: MidAmerica Tile.
https://citylifestyle.com/chicago-il/articles/home-services/home-remodeling-project
The home was having a “mid-life crisis.” That’s how best to describe this 120-year-old Victorian that long ago had been converted into a two flat. The new owners are a young professional couple with a new baby; he's a software engineer who worked from home long before the pandemic made that practice a necessity for so many families.
Kerry and John Briggs (Briggs Design Associates) were called upon to assess the house and manage the design and build of a series of upgrades for the owners, as the house had to accommodate a variety of needs.
After digging into the home’s history the owners shared a few interesting discoveries about how previous families used the home (including the time that a herd of goats were stabled in the basement during the coldest days of winter). The Briggs team listened, and incorporated the home's unique experiences and challenges into designing the best solutions for their renovation plan.
A primary goal was to maintain its Victorian feel, while adding updates and more modern features throughout the house. A formal dining room was transformed into a new kitchen, while the adjoining old kitchen space became a wonderful walk-in pantry.
As to be expected, the home had settled a bit over the years; that meant the floors and ceilings in some places needed to be leveled properly. And, with a home of this vintage, there were a few surprises along the way. After deciding the existing family room fireplace was impractical, renovations revealed that not only was it inoperable, but apparently was originally built as a "faux fireplace" (i.e., “all show and no glow"). On the flip side of surprises, while removing a wall to accommodate a more practical open floor plan, a pair of beautiful pocket doors were revealed (previously covered over by sheet rock, likely decades ago), a serendipitous find now gloriously restored.
The lighting system was converted to LED lighting products, controlled by a multi-zone, multi-scene "smart" system. This allows the owners to have unlimited preset scenes throughout the day with lights brightened or dimmed to a pre-determined level depending on the function of the space and time-of-day.
While refinishing the hardwood flooring, care was taken to keep to the original stain. Any new flooring was stained to match. The built-in cabinetry and millwork were painted a beautiful soft gray/green.
The owners love to entertain, so the new open plan is perfect for gathering lots of people; it's now a go-to place for family and friends events.
“The plans [that Briggs Design created] were more than we could have imagined,” said the owners recently. “Kerry is very helpful in the decision-making process, explaining each detail and creating a step-by-step process without making it an overwhelming experience. She was very receptive to our style and needs while maintaining the character of our turn-of-the-century home (and also giving it a much-needed modernization). We are now using her for our second level designs. All told, our project will involve the kitchen relocation and renovation, mudroom, living room, dining room, family room, closet space, stairwell, and the relocation of an exterior door.”
Briggs Design Associates (North Barrington) specializes in renovating and remodeling spaces carefully designed to meet the requirements and routines of every client. Kerry and John Briggs focus on all things residential, specializing in remodeling and interior architectural design. Learn more at Briggs.design.
Redesign Products & Suppliers:
Cabinetry: Custom Amish-crafted with millwork by Miller's Holzwerk, Tuscola, IL.
Cabinetry Hardware: The Knobbery, Arlington Heights
Counters: Cambria Quartz, fabricated and installed by Old World Stone.
LED Lighting: Juno Lighting and Environmental Lighting.
Dimming System: Legrande.
Undercabinet Angled Power Strips: TaskLighting.com.
Farmhouse Sinks: Blanco.
Plumbing Hardware: Kohler.
Floor and Subway Wall Tile: MidAmerica Tile.
Country: United States
