How can you get more usable space and flow from a split-level home without changing its footprint? It’s not uncommon to remove a wall or two that separates the Kitchen and Living area. And for this 1990’s split-level design, we did just that. But we also brought together the main, lower and upper levels with new luxury vinyl flooring throughout along with updated staircases and spindles and new baseboards, doors, and trims. The open layout now allows for entertaining without being closed off from the Kitchen. The Kitchen features more storage space with the addition of several tall pantries and a large island for working space. The main Kitchen cabinets are white while the island is painted a light gray to create contrast and black handles and faucets are added for accent. A clean white herringbone backsplash is incorporated along the wall and the white countertop with gray veining ties the whole monotone look together. To bring together the three levels in this split-level design, we installed new luxury vinyl flooring throughout along with updated staircases and spindles and new baseboards and trims. When you’re ready to bring flow and function to your split-level, we’re the Renovator You Can Count On.

When you open the back doors of the home of Nancy and Jeremy Campbell in Granville, you don’t just step out onto a patio. You enter an extension of a modern living space that just happens to be outdoors. Their patio’s unique design and setting provides the comfort and style of indoors while enjoying the natural beauty and fresh air of outdoors. It all started with a rather desolate back yard. “It was completely blank, there was nothing back there,” Nancy remembers of the patio space of this 1972 split-level house they bought five years ago. With a blank slate to work with, the Campbells knew the key elements of what they wanted for their new outdoor space when they sat down with Travis Ketron of Ketron Custom Builders to design it. “We knew we wanted something covered so we could use it in the rain, and in the winter, and we knew we wanted a stone fireplace,” Nancy recalls. Travis translated the Campbells’ vision into a design to satisfy outdoor entertaining and relaxing desires in all seasons. The new outdoor space is reminiscent of a vast, rustic great room complete with a stone fireplace, a vaulted ceiling, skylights, and ceiling fans, yet no walls. The space is completely open to the elements without any glass or doors on any of the sides, except from the house. Furnished like a great room, with a built-in music system as well, it’s truly an extension of indoor living and entertaining space, and one that is unaffected by rain. Jeremy comments, “We haven’t had to cover the furniture yet. It would have to be a pretty strong wind to get wet.” Just outside the covered patio is a quartet of outdoor chairs adorned with plush cushions and colorful pillows, positioned perfectly for users to bask in the sun. In the design process, the fireplace emerged as the anchor of the space and set the stage for the outdoor space both aesthetically and functionally. “We didn’t want it to block the view. Then designing the space with Travis, the fireplace became the center,” remembers Jeremy. Placed directly across from the two sets of French doors leading out from the house, a Rumford fireplace and extended hearth of stone in neutral earth tones is the focal point of this outdoor living room. Seating for entertaining and lounging falls easily into place around it providing optimal viewing of the private, wooded back yard. When temperatures cool off, the fireplace provides ample warmth and a cozy setting to experience the change of seasons. “It’s a great fireplace for the space,” Jeremy says of the unique design of a Rumford style fireplace. “The way you stack the wood in the fireplace is different so as to get more heat. It has a shallower box, burns hotter and puts off more heat. Wood is placed in it vertically, not stacked.” Just in case the fireplace doesn’t provide enough light for late-night soirees, there is additional outdoor lighting mounted from the ceiling to make sure the party always goes on. Travis brought the idea of the Rumford outdoor fireplace to the Campbells. “I learned about it a few years back from some masons, and I was intrigued by the idea then,” he says. “We like to do stuff that’s out of the norm, and this fireplace fits the space and function very well.” Travis adds, “People want unique things that are designed for them. That’s our style to do that for them.” The patio also extends out to an uncovered area set up with patio tables for grilling and dining. Gray pavers flow throughout from the covered space to the open-air area. Their continuous flow mimics the feel of flooring that extends from a living room into a dining room inside a home. Also, the earth tone colors throughout the space on the pavers, fireplace and furnishings help the entire space mesh nicely with its natural surroundings. A little ways off from both the covered and uncovered patio area is a stone fire pit ring. Removed by just the right distance, it provides a separate place for young adults to gather and enjoy the night. Adirondack chairs and matching tables surround the outdoor fire pit, offering seating for anyone who doesn’t wish to stand and a place to set down ingredients for yummy fireside treats like s’mores. Padded chairs outside the reach of the pavilion and the nearby umbrella the perfect place to kick back and relax in the sun. The colorful throw pillows and outdoor furniture cushions add some needed color and a touch of personality. Enjoying the comforts of indoors while being outdoors is exactly what the Campbells are doing now, particularly when lounging on the comfortable wicker furniture that dominate most of the area. “My favorite part of the whole thing is the fireplace,” Nancy says. Jeremy concludes, “There is no television, it would destroy the ambiance out there. We just enjoy listening to music and watching the fire.”

[Our Clients] We were so excited to help these new homeowners re-envision their split-level diamond in the rough. There was so much potential in those walls, and we couldn’t wait to delve in and start transforming spaces. Our primary goal was to re-imagine the main level of the home and create an open flow between the space. So, we started by converting the existing single car garage into their living room (complete with a new fireplace) and opening up the kitchen to the rest of the level. [Kitchen] The original kitchen had been on the small side and cut-off from the rest of the home, but after we removed the coat closet, this kitchen opened up beautifully. Our plan was to create an open and light filled kitchen with a design that translated well to the other spaces in this home, and a layout that offered plenty of space for multiple cooks. We utilized clean white cabinets around the perimeter of the kitchen and popped the island with a spunky shade of blue. To add a real element of fun, we jazzed it up with the colorful escher tile at the backsplash and brought in accents of brass in the hardware and light fixtures to tie it all together. Through out this home we brought in warm wood accents and the kitchen was no exception, with its custom floating shelves and graceful waterfall butcher block counter at the island. [Dining Room] The dining room had once been the home’s living room, but we had other plans in mind. With its dramatic vaulted ceiling and new custom steel railing, this room was just screaming for a dramatic light fixture and a large table to welcome one-and-all. [Living Room] We converted the original garage into a lovely little living room with a cozy fireplace. There is plenty of new storage in this space (that ties in with the kitchen finishes), but the real gem is the reading nook with two of the most comfortable armchairs you’ve ever sat in. [Master Suite] This home didn’t originally have a master suite, so we decided to convert one of the bedrooms and create a charming suite that you’d never want to leave. The master bathroom aesthetic quickly became all about the textures. With a sultry black hex on the floor and a dimensional geometric tile on the walls we set the stage for a calm space. The warm walnut vanity and touches of brass cozy up the space and relate with the feel of the rest of the home. We continued the warm wood touches into the master bedroom, but went for a rich accent wall that elevated the sophistication level and sets this space apart. [Hall Bathroom] The floor tile in this bathroom still makes our hearts skip a beat. We designed the rest of the space to be a clean and bright white, and really let the lovely blue of the floor tile pop. The walnut vanity cabinet (complete with hairpin legs) adds a lovely level of warmth to this bathroom, and the black and brass accents add the sophisticated touch we were looking for. [Office] We loved the original built-ins in this space, and knew they needed to always be a part of this house, but these 60-year-old beauties definitely needed a little help. We cleaned up the cabinets and brass hardware, switched out the formica counter for a new quartz top, and painted wall a cheery accent color to liven it up a bit. And voila! We have an office that is the envy of the neighborhood.

Conceptual Rendering
Example of a small transitional green split-level mixed siding exterior home design in Chicago

A 50's front to back split level in Denver's Hilltop neighborhood, ready for some love and added space!
Example of a mid-sized 1960s yellow two-story brick house exterior design in Denver with a hip roof and a shingle roof

This midcentury split level needed an entire gut renovation to bring it into the current century. Keeping the design simple and modern, we updated every inch of this house, inside and out, holding true to era appropriate touches.

Updated Split Level kitchen open floor plan
Example of a transitional l-shaped dark wood floor eat-in kitchen design in Boston with a double-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, gray backsplash, brick backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

This midcentury split level needed an entire gut renovation to bring it into the current century. Keeping the design simple and modern, we updated every inch of this house, inside and out, holding true to era appropriate touches.

Needing more space for their growing family, these young homeowners approached us to help them create an updated, larger home from their existing 1953 split-level. On the first floor, walls were removed to create an open concept kitchen and living room. A new dining room addition was constructed in the back, as well as a new tandem 2-car garage.

This midcentury split level needed an entire gut renovation to bring it into the current century. Keeping the design simple and modern, we updated every inch of this house, inside and out, holding true to era appropriate touches.

This midcentury split level needed an entire gut renovation to bring it into the current century. Keeping the design simple and modern, we updated every inch of this house, inside and out, holding true to era appropriate touches.

This midcentury split level needed an entire gut renovation to bring it into the current century. Keeping the design simple and modern, we updated every inch of this house, inside and out, holding true to era appropriate touches.

Needing more space for their growing family, these young homeowners approached us to help them create an updated, larger home from their existing 1953 split-level. On the first floor, walls were removed to create an open concept kitchen and living room. A new dining room addition was constructed in the back, as well as a new tandem 2-car garage.

Needing more space for their growing family, these young homeowners approached us to help them create an updated, larger home from their existing 1953 split-level. On the first floor, walls were removed to create an open concept kitchen and living room. A new dining room addition was constructed in the back, as well as a new tandem 2-car garage.

Needing more space for their growing family, these young homeowners approached us to help them create an updated, larger home from their existing 1953 split-level. On the first floor, walls were removed to create an open concept kitchen and living room. A new dining room addition was constructed in the back, as well as a new tandem 2-car garage.

This midcentury split level needed an entire gut renovation to bring it into the current century. Keeping the design simple and modern, we updated every inch of this house, inside and out, holding true to era appropriate touches.

This midcentury split level needed an entire gut renovation to bring it into the current century. Keeping the design simple and modern, we updated every inch of this house, inside and out, holding true to era appropriate touches.

This midcentury split level needed an entire gut renovation to bring it into the current century. Keeping the design simple and modern, we updated every inch of this house, inside and out, holding true to era appropriate touches.

This midcentury split level needed an entire gut renovation to bring it into the current century. Keeping the design simple and modern, we updated every inch of this house, inside and out, holding true to era appropriate touches.