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Darcy Bean Custom Construction Inc.
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Sponsored Content
Pro Spotlight: Tips to Uncover Your Home’s Inner Magic
A Champaign contractor shows how to take full advantage of your home’s assets
Sponsored Content
Who: Darcy Bean
Where: Champaign, Illinois
In his own words: “If you plan to stay in your home for another 10 years, you want to renovate for comfort, convenience, function and aesthetics.”
You love your neighborhood and your older home, but somehow the space just isn’t right. You need more storage, more room for cooking or a master suite that doesn’t leave two people tripping over each other. Don’t worry: Remodeling your home for modern living may be easier than you think. “You can open up walls, rethink closets and do all sorts of clever things,” says contractor Darcy Bean. His Champaign custom construction firm does just that, helping clients bring their older homes into the 21st century.
Where: Champaign, Illinois
In his own words: “If you plan to stay in your home for another 10 years, you want to renovate for comfort, convenience, function and aesthetics.”
You love your neighborhood and your older home, but somehow the space just isn’t right. You need more storage, more room for cooking or a master suite that doesn’t leave two people tripping over each other. Don’t worry: Remodeling your home for modern living may be easier than you think. “You can open up walls, rethink closets and do all sorts of clever things,” says contractor Darcy Bean. His Champaign custom construction firm does just that, helping clients bring their older homes into the 21st century.
Putting it all together. Bean grew up working for his family’s farm. “Using tools, solving problems, being creative and keeping busy were my formative experiences,” he says. In high school he studied building and trades, and he worked for a carpenter/contractor after graduation. He started Darcy Bean Custom Construction in 1994.
Get inspired. When you take on a major remodel, you’re entering into an exciting collaboration with a builder, a designer or architect and maybe even craftspeople. The first step is to figure out what you want. “Go to Houzz.com and get some inspiration,” Bean says. “You’re combining your vision, the builder’s experience and the designer’s eye. You want the final result to be really cool, something that has a heart.”
Ready to renovate? Bean’s tips below will help get you on track.
Ready to renovate? Bean’s tips below will help get you on track.
1. Make the Most of Bathroom Space
Your old bathroom may seem cramped, but according to Bean, it’s full of possibilities. A bulky hot-water radiator can be replaced by a tiny unit with a fan tucked beneath a new vanity. Little nooks in new tile walls can provide space for sundries.
Remodeling the master bathroom in this Champaign Craftsman, Bean tapped into existing structures to add space, beauty and functionality. He framed the window in a deep box to allow for a mirrored medicine cabinet beside it, and he took space from above a staircase on the other side of the wall to create the giant cabinets, which conceal a full-size washer and dryer.
See more of this project
Your old bathroom may seem cramped, but according to Bean, it’s full of possibilities. A bulky hot-water radiator can be replaced by a tiny unit with a fan tucked beneath a new vanity. Little nooks in new tile walls can provide space for sundries.
Remodeling the master bathroom in this Champaign Craftsman, Bean tapped into existing structures to add space, beauty and functionality. He framed the window in a deep box to allow for a mirrored medicine cabinet beside it, and he took space from above a staircase on the other side of the wall to create the giant cabinets, which conceal a full-size washer and dryer.
See more of this project
2. Put Industrial Style to Work
Embrace industrial style to show off your home’s good bones. There’s no need to hide stove vents, structural beams or shelving. If your old wood floor has character, refinish it instead of replacing it. This strategy can make a once-tired kitchen feel airy and full of architectural interest.
This Urbana kitchen used to be small and closed off, save for a small entry to the dining room. Bean’s team opened up the ceiling and walls, connecting the new kitchen to the rest of the first floor. In place of the old dining room wall, they built a spacious cooking island with a stainless steel hood.
See more of this project
Embrace industrial style to show off your home’s good bones. There’s no need to hide stove vents, structural beams or shelving. If your old wood floor has character, refinish it instead of replacing it. This strategy can make a once-tired kitchen feel airy and full of architectural interest.
This Urbana kitchen used to be small and closed off, save for a small entry to the dining room. Bean’s team opened up the ceiling and walls, connecting the new kitchen to the rest of the first floor. In place of the old dining room wall, they built a spacious cooking island with a stainless steel hood.
See more of this project
3. Get Personal With Color
While white kitchens are popular, you don’t have to follow the crowd. Materials and colors you love, along with dream storage and work solutions, can form the heart of your updates. “It’s all about bringing your vision to life,” Bean says.
He remodeled this kitchen, also in Urbana, for a client who wanted a cozy, practical room for cooking and entertaining. “We put seating right up against the island,” Bean said. “The cabinets are Douglas fir, and we have deep reds and golds on the backsplash, counters and upholstery.” Cork flooring and a locally crafted wood-and-glass table complete the design.
See more of this project
More: For more information on Darcy Bean and examples of his work, visit Darcy Bean Custom Construction’s Houzz profile.
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
While white kitchens are popular, you don’t have to follow the crowd. Materials and colors you love, along with dream storage and work solutions, can form the heart of your updates. “It’s all about bringing your vision to life,” Bean says.
He remodeled this kitchen, also in Urbana, for a client who wanted a cozy, practical room for cooking and entertaining. “We put seating right up against the island,” Bean said. “The cabinets are Douglas fir, and we have deep reds and golds on the backsplash, counters and upholstery.” Cork flooring and a locally crafted wood-and-glass table complete the design.
See more of this project
More: For more information on Darcy Bean and examples of his work, visit Darcy Bean Custom Construction’s Houzz profile.
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
Quality, pride and attention to detail are the hallmarks of Darcy Bean Custom Construction Inc. After working for... Read More
Review by Tatyana Deryugina:
We hired Darcy & his team to renovate our kitchen and replace our porch with a fully integrated sunroom. He did a fantastic job. He's very experienced and very responsive to our needs & feedback. Most...More