This project was such an incredible design opportunity, and instilled inspiration and excitement at every turn! Our amazing clients came to us with the challenge of converting their beloved family home into a welcoming haven for all members of the family. At the time that we met our clients, they were struggling with the difficult personal decision of the fate of the home. Their father/father-in-law had passed away and their mother/mother-in-law had recently been admitted into a nursing facility and was fighting Alzheimer’s. Resistant to loss of the home now that both parents were out of it, our clients purchased the home to keep in in the family. Despite their permanent home currently being in New Jersey, these clients dedicated themselves to keeping and revitalizing the house. We were moved by the story and became immediately passionate about bringing this dream to life. The home was built by the parents of our clients and was only ever owned by them, making this a truly special space to the family. Our goal was to revitalize the home and to bring new energy into every room without losing the special characteristics that were original to the home when it was built. In this way, we were able to develop a house that maintains its own unique personality while offering a space of welcoming neutrality for all members of the family to enjoy over time. The renovation touched every part of the home: the exterior, foyer, kitchen, living room, sun room, garage, six bedrooms, three bathrooms, the laundry room, and everything in between. The focus was to develop a style that carried consistently from space to space, but allowed for unique expression in the small details in every room. Starting at the entry, we renovated the front door and entry point to offer more presence and to bring more of the mid-century vibe to the home’s exterior. We integrated a new modern front door, cedar shingle accents, new exterior paint, and gorgeous contemporary house numbers that really allow the home to stand out. Just inside the entry, we renovated the foyer to create a playful entry point worthy of attention. Cement look tile adorns the foyer floor, and we’ve added new lighting and upgraded the entry coat storage. Upon entering the home, one will immediately be captivated by the stunning kitchen just off the entry. We transformed this space in just about every way. While the footprint of the home ultimately remained almost identical, the aesthetics were completely turned on their head. We re-worked the kitchen to maximize storage and to create an informal dining area that is great for casual hosting or morning coffee. We removed the entry to the garage that was once in the informal dining, and created a peninsula in its place that offers a unique division between the kitchen/informal dining and the formal dining and living areas. The simple light warm light gray cabinetry offers a bit of traditional elegance, along with the marble backsplash and quartz countertops. We extended the original wood flooring into the kitchen and stained all floors to match for a warmth that truly resonates through all spaces. We upgraded appliances, added lighting everywhere, and finished the space with some gorgeous mid century furniture pieces. In the formal dining and living room, we really focused on maintaining the original marble fireplace as a focal point. We cleaned the marble, repaired the mortar, and refinished the original fireplace screen to give a new sleek look in black. We then integrated a new gas insert for modern heating and painted the upper portion in a rich navy blue; an accent that is carried through the home consistently as a nod to our client’s love of the color. The former entry into the old covered porch is now an elegant glass door leading to a stunning finished sunroom. This room was completely upgraded as well. We wrapped the entire space in cozy white shiplap to keep a casual feel with brightness. We tiled the floor with large format concrete look tile, and painted the old brick fireplace a bright white. We installed a new gas burning unit, and integrated transitional style lighting to bring warmth and elegance into the space. The new black-frame windows are adorned with decorative shades that feature hand-sketched bird prints, and we’ve created a dedicated garden-ware “nook” for our client who loves to work in the yard. The far end of this space is completed with two oversized chaise loungers and overhead lights…the most perfect little reading nook! Just off the dining room, we created an entirely new space to the home: a mudroom. The clients lacked this space and desperately needed a landing spot upon entering the home from the garage. We uniquely planned existing space in the garage to utilize for this purpose, and were able to create a small but functional entry point without losing the ability to park cars in the garage. This new space features cement-look tile, gorgeous deep brown cabinetry, and plenty of storage for all the small items one might need to store while moving in and out of the home. The remainder of the upstairs level includes massive renovations to the guest hall bathroom and guest bedroom, upstairs master bed/bath suite, and a third bedroom that we converted into a home office for the client. Some of the largest transformations were made in the basement, where unfinished space and lack of light were converted into gloriously lit, cozy, finished spaces. Our first task was to convert the massive basement living room into the new master bedroom for our clients. We removed existing built-ins, created an entirely new walk-in closet, painted the old brick fireplace, installed a new gas unit, added carpet, introduced new lighting, replaced windows, and upgraded every part of the aesthetic appearance. One of the most incredible features of this space is the custom double sliding barn door made by a Denver artisan. This space is truly a retreat for our clients! We also completely transformed the laundry room, back storage room, basement master bathroom, and two bedrooms. This home’s massive scope and ever-evolving challenges were thrilling and exciting to work with, and the result is absolutely amazing. At the end of the day, this home offers a look and feel that the clients love. Above all, though, the clients feel the spirit of their family home and have a welcoming environment for all members of the family to enjoy for years to come.

Peter Rymwid
Staircase - large traditional wooden u-shaped dark wood floor staircase idea in New York with white walls and wooden risers

For this kitchen remodeling project, our clients were looking to update their cabinets, while also adding an island with seating space. They decided to go with all new cabinets, which would also allow them to put in a new floor. For the cabinets, they picked our Maui door style in white, while the island was done in a slate color. The island included seating space for 5, which meant we were able to create a new matching bar area in the old dining area. Next, we installed a new Sutherland quartz countertop and a luxury vinyl plank floor in a Bristol Canyon color. Just look at this amazing transformation.

A charming 1920s colonial had a dated dark kitchen that was not in keeping with the historic charm of the home. The owners, who adored British design, wanted a kitchen that was spacious and storage friendly, with the feel of a classic English kitchen. Designer Sarah Robertson of Studio Dearborn helped her client, while architect Greg Lewis redesigned the home to accommodate a larger kitchen, new primary bath, mudroom, and butlers pantry. Photos Adam Macchia. For more information, you may visit our website at www.studiodearborn.com or email us at info@studiodearborn.com.

John Granen
Mid-sized minimalist entryway photo

Laundry room - transitional gray floor laundry room idea in Philadelphia with an utility sink, shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, a side-by-side washer/dryer and beige countertops

Photo Credit: Lincoln Barbour Photo. Interior Design: Kim Hagstette, Maven Interiors. Detail view of the narrow lounge space. The light fixture, table and channel tufted faux fur wall were a joint collaboration between Maven Interiors and Made Inc.

Large trendy l-shaped light wood floor kitchen photo in Miami with a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, metallic backsplash, metal backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Irish Luck Productions Photography, Pete Boehm Construction, Hobbit Construction Designer: Robert Carpenter Respect for tradition and a need for more storage meets in this 90+ year-old home. Beautiful Koch Cabinets with a Seneca door style, Sienna stain, rustic beech wood and a creative use of cabinet space all shines through. Glideware is the ideal solution for pots and pans in a small space kitchen.

Kristen Vincent Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized coastal open concept ceramic tile and brown floor living room remodel in San Diego with gray walls and a concrete fireplace

John G Wilbanks Photography
Inspiration for a timeless u-shaped eat-in kitchen remodel in Seattle with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite countertops, green backsplash, subway tile backsplash and paneled appliances

The Home Aesthetic
Inspiration for a huge farmhouse white two-story brick gable roof remodel in Indianapolis with a metal roof

Bruce Janssen
Bedroom - rustic bedroom idea in Denver with beige walls

While this kitchen is of modest dimensions, it features wonderful luxe effects such as the hand hammered Pewter sink and Italian made island table base - Tastefully designed, defying a style label, ensuring its enduring relevance.

Kristen Vincent Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized coastal l-shaped ceramic tile and brown floor open concept kitchen remodel in San Diego with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Inspiration for a large contemporary l-shaped light wood floor open concept kitchen remodel in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, beige backsplash, stone tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island, distressed cabinets and solid surface countertops

Photography - Nancy Nolan Walls are Sherwin Williams Krypton, trim is Sherwin Williams Creamy, drapery Fabric is F. Schumacher, chandelier is Currey & Co., bed is Patina

Living room - contemporary open concept light wood floor and beige floor living room idea in Seattle with a ribbon fireplace, a stacked stone fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Laurence Taylor
Inspiration for a transitional wine cellar remodel in Orlando with storage racks