Looking to build a garage addition in the Frederick area? Talon Construction is here to help! We are thrilled to showcase our recently completed garage addition and remodel in Middletown, MD. At Talon Construction, we specialize in seamless design-build projects that look like they’ve always been part of your home. Whether you need extra space for vehicles, a new workshop, or a dedicated hobby area, our team manages the entire process—from initial permits to the final coat of paint. Why choose Talon Construction for your addition? • Design-Build Experts: We handle both the design and the build, ensuring your vision is executed perfectly while staying on budget. • Award-Winning Quality: Voted Frederick’s Best for 13 consecutive years! • Professionalism: We treat your home like our own, maintaining a clean and respectful job site every single day. • Local Experience: With over 25 years serving Frederick and Montgomery Counties, we know the local styles and building codes inside and out. Ready to start your own home transformation? Visit our website to see more of our Home Addition Portfolio or give us a call to discuss your project!

The owners of this home in Westfield had a very unfortunate experience with their previous contractor. We can never seem to understand how some bad contractors can take advantage of such incredibly good people. As was the case here. This project was to add a mud-room and laundry room to the side of their home. The exterior of the addition needed a paver walk-way along with matching siding and trim work. The interior consists of tile flooring and wood steps and railings. It was great working for this family and we're glad they can replace their previously bad experience with a good one.

These clients reached out to Hillcrest Construction when their family began out-growing their Phoenixville-area home. Through a comprehensive design phase, opportunities to add square footage were identified along with a reorganization of the typical traffic flow throughout the house. All household traffic into the hastily-designed, existing family room bump-out addition was funneled through a 3’ berth within the kitchen making meal prep and other kitchen activities somewhat similar to a shift at a PA turnpike toll booth. In the existing bump-out addition, the family room was relatively tight and the dining room barely fit the 6-person dining table. Access to the backyard was somewhat obstructed by the necessary furniture and the kitchen alone didn’t satisfy storage needs beyond a quick trip to the grocery store. The home’s existing front door was the only front entrance, and without a foyer or mudroom, the front formal room often doubled as a drop-zone for groceries, bookbags, and other on-the-go items. Hillcrest Construction designed a remedy to both address the function and flow issues along with adding square footage via a 150 sq ft addition to the family room and converting the garage into a mudroom entry and walk-through pantry. - The project’s addition was not especially large but was able to facilitate a new pathway to the home’s rear family room. The existing brick wall at the bottom of the second-floor staircase was opened up and created a new, natural flow from the second-floor bedrooms to the front formal room, and into the rear family hang-out space- all without having to cut through the often busy kitchen. The dining room area was relocated to remove it from the pathway to the door to the backyard. Additionally, free and clear access to the rear yard was established for both two-legged and four-legged friends. The existing chunky slider door was removed and in its place was fabricated and installed a custom centerpiece that included a new gas fireplace insert with custom brick surround, two side towers for display items and choice vinyl, and two base cabinets with metal-grated doors to house a subwoofer, wifi equipment, and other stow-away items. The black walnut countertops and mantle pop from the white cabinetry, and the wall-mounted TV with soundbar complete the central A/V hub. The custom cabs and tops were designed and built at Hillcrest’s custom shop. The farmhouse appeal was completed with distressed engineered hardwood floors and craftsman-style window and door trim throughout. - Another major component of the project was the conversion of the garage into a pantry+mudroom+everyday entry. The clients had used their smallish garage for storage of outdoor yard and recreational equipment. With those storage needs being addressed at the exterior, the space was transformed into a custom pantry and mudroom. The floor level within the space was raised to meet the rest of the house and insulated appropriately. A newly installed pocket door divided the dining room area from the designed-to-spec pantry/beverage center. The pantry was designed to house dry storage, cleaning supplies, and dry bar supplies when the cleaning and shopping are complete. A window seat with doggie supply storage below was worked into the design to accommodate the existing elevation of the original garage window. A coat closet and a small set of steps divide the pantry from the mudroom entry. The mudroom entry is marked with a striking combo of the herringbone thin-brick flooring and a custom hutch. Kids returning home from school have a designated spot to hang their coats and bookbags with two deep drawers for shoes. A custom cherry bench top adds a punctuation of warmth. The entry door and window replaced the old overhead garage doors to create the daily-used informal entry off the driveway. With the house being such a favorable area, and the clients not looking to pull up roots, Hillcrest Construction facilitated a collaborative experience and comprehensive plan to change the house for the better and make it a home to grow within.

This home addition didn't go according to plan... and that's a good thing. Here's why. Family is really important to the Nelson's. But the small kitchen and living room in their 30 plus-year-old house meant crowded holidays for all the children and grandchildren. It was easy to see that a major home remodel was needed. The problem was the Nelson's didn't know anyone who had a great experience with a builder. The Nelson's connected with ALL Renovation & Design at a home show in York, PA, but it wasn't until after sitting down with several builders and going over preliminary designs that it became clear that Amos listened and cared enough to guide them through the project in a way that would achieve their goals perfectly. So work began on a new addition with a “great room” and a master bedroom with a master bathroom. That's how it started. But the project didn't go according to plan. Why? Because Amos was constantly asking, “What would make you 100% satisfied.” And he meant it. For example, when Mrs. Nelson realized how much she liked the character of the existing brick chimney, she didn't want to see it get covered up. So plans changed mid-stride. But we also realized that the brick wouldn't fit with the plan for a stone fireplace in the new family room. So plans changed there as well, and brick was ordered to match the chimney. It was truly a team effort that produced a beautiful addition that is exactly what the Nelson's wanted... or as Mrs. Nelson said, “...even better, more beautiful than we envisioned.” For Christmas, the Nelson's were able to have the entire family over with plenty of room for everyone. Just what they wanted. The outside of the addition features GAF architectural shingles in Pewter, Certainteed Mainstreet D4 Shiplap in light maple, and color-matching bricks. Inside the great room features the Armstrong Prime Harvest Oak engineered hardwood in a natural finish, Masonite 6-panel pocket doors, a custom sliding pine barn door, and Simonton 5500 series windows. The master bathroom cabinetry was made to match the bedroom furniture set, with a cultured marble countertop from Countertec, and tile flooring.

The owners of this home in Westfield had a very unfortunate experience with their previous contractor. We can never seem to understand how some bad contractors can take advantage of such incredibly good people. As was the case here. This project was to add a mud-room and laundry room to the side of their home. The exterior of the addition needed a paver walk-way along with matching siding and trim work. The interior consists of tile flooring and wood steps and railings. It was great working for this family and we're glad they can replace their previously bad experience with a good one.

How do you squeeze a soaker tub, steam shower, walk-in closet, large master bedroom, and a private study into the renovation of a 2-story East Danforth semi? By going UP! For this project, the homeowner had a firm budget and didn't dream it could include a new kitchen as well as the 3rd-floor addition. With some creative solutions and our experience remodeling older homes, Carter Fox delivered an open-concept light-filled home that preserved several original elements in order to save budget for the must-have items - AND a new, customized kitchen.

These clients reached out to Hillcrest Construction when their family began out-growing their Phoenixville-area home. Through a comprehensive design phase, opportunities to add square footage were identified along with a reorganization of the typical traffic flow throughout the house. All household traffic into the hastily-designed, existing family room bump-out addition was funneled through a 3’ berth within the kitchen making meal prep and other kitchen activities somewhat similar to a shift at a PA turnpike toll booth. In the existing bump-out addition, the family room was relatively tight and the dining room barely fit the 6-person dining table. Access to the backyard was somewhat obstructed by the necessary furniture and the kitchen alone didn’t satisfy storage needs beyond a quick trip to the grocery store. The home’s existing front door was the only front entrance, and without a foyer or mudroom, the front formal room often doubled as a drop-zone for groceries, bookbags, and other on-the-go items. Hillcrest Construction designed a remedy to both address the function and flow issues along with adding square footage via a 150 sq ft addition to the family room and converting the garage into a mudroom entry and walk-through pantry. - The project’s addition was not especially large but was able to facilitate a new pathway to the home’s rear family room. The existing brick wall at the bottom of the second-floor staircase was opened up and created a new, natural flow from the second-floor bedrooms to the front formal room, and into the rear family hang-out space- all without having to cut through the often busy kitchen. The dining room area was relocated to remove it from the pathway to the door to the backyard. Additionally, free and clear access to the rear yard was established for both two-legged and four-legged friends. The existing chunky slider door was removed and in its place was fabricated and installed a custom centerpiece that included a new gas fireplace insert with custom brick surround, two side towers for display items and choice vinyl, and two base cabinets with metal-grated doors to house a subwoofer, wifi equipment, and other stow-away items. The black walnut countertops and mantle pop from the white cabinetry, and the wall-mounted TV with soundbar complete the central A/V hub. The custom cabs and tops were designed and built at Hillcrest’s custom shop. The farmhouse appeal was completed with distressed engineered hardwood floors and craftsman-style window and door trim throughout. - Another major component of the project was the conversion of the garage into a pantry+mudroom+everyday entry. The clients had used their smallish garage for storage of outdoor yard and recreational equipment. With those storage needs being addressed at the exterior, the space was transformed into a custom pantry and mudroom. The floor level within the space was raised to meet the rest of the house and insulated appropriately. A newly installed pocket door divided the dining room area from the designed-to-spec pantry/beverage center. The pantry was designed to house dry storage, cleaning supplies, and dry bar supplies when the cleaning and shopping are complete. A window seat with doggie supply storage below was worked into the design to accommodate the existing elevation of the original garage window. A coat closet and a small set of steps divide the pantry from the mudroom entry. The mudroom entry is marked with a striking combo of the herringbone thin-brick flooring and a custom hutch. Kids returning home from school have a designated spot to hang their coats and bookbags with two deep drawers for shoes. A custom cherry bench top adds a punctuation of warmth. The entry door and window replaced the old overhead garage doors to create the daily-used informal entry off the driveway. With the house being such a favorable area, and the clients not looking to pull up roots, Hillcrest Construction facilitated a collaborative experience and comprehensive plan to change the house for the better and make it a home to grow within.

These clients reached out to Hillcrest Construction when their family began out-growing their Phoenixville-area home. Through a comprehensive design phase, opportunities to add square footage were identified along with a reorganization of the typical traffic flow throughout the house. All household traffic into the hastily-designed, existing family room bump-out addition was funneled through a 3’ berth within the kitchen making meal prep and other kitchen activities somewhat similar to a shift at a PA turnpike toll booth. In the existing bump-out addition, the family room was relatively tight and the dining room barely fit the 6-person dining table. Access to the backyard was somewhat obstructed by the necessary furniture and the kitchen alone didn’t satisfy storage needs beyond a quick trip to the grocery store. The home’s existing front door was the only front entrance, and without a foyer or mudroom, the front formal room often doubled as a drop-zone for groceries, bookbags, and other on-the-go items. Hillcrest Construction designed a remedy to both address the function and flow issues along with adding square footage via a 150 sq ft addition to the family room and converting the garage into a mudroom entry and walk-through pantry. - The project’s addition was not especially large but was able to facilitate a new pathway to the home’s rear family room. The existing brick wall at the bottom of the second-floor staircase was opened up and created a new, natural flow from the second-floor bedrooms to the front formal room, and into the rear family hang-out space- all without having to cut through the often busy kitchen. The dining room area was relocated to remove it from the pathway to the door to the backyard. Additionally, free and clear access to the rear yard was established for both two-legged and four-legged friends. The existing chunky slider door was removed and in its place was fabricated and installed a custom centerpiece that included a new gas fireplace insert with custom brick surround, two side towers for display items and choice vinyl, and two base cabinets with metal-grated doors to house a subwoofer, wifi equipment, and other stow-away items. The black walnut countertops and mantle pop from the white cabinetry, and the wall-mounted TV with soundbar complete the central A/V hub. The custom cabs and tops were designed and built at Hillcrest’s custom shop. The farmhouse appeal was completed with distressed engineered hardwood floors and craftsman-style window and door trim throughout. - Another major component of the project was the conversion of the garage into a pantry+mudroom+everyday entry. The clients had used their smallish garage for storage of outdoor yard and recreational equipment. With those storage needs being addressed at the exterior, the space was transformed into a custom pantry and mudroom. The floor level within the space was raised to meet the rest of the house and insulated appropriately. A newly installed pocket door divided the dining room area from the designed-to-spec pantry/beverage center. The pantry was designed to house dry storage, cleaning supplies, and dry bar supplies when the cleaning and shopping are complete. A window seat with doggie supply storage below was worked into the design to accommodate the existing elevation of the original garage window. A coat closet and a small set of steps divide the pantry from the mudroom entry. The mudroom entry is marked with a striking combo of the herringbone thin-brick flooring and a custom hutch. Kids returning home from school have a designated spot to hang their coats and bookbags with two deep drawers for shoes. A custom cherry bench top adds a punctuation of warmth. The entry door and window replaced the old overhead garage doors to create the daily-used informal entry off the driveway. With the house being such a favorable area, and the clients not looking to pull up roots, Hillcrest Construction facilitated a collaborative experience and comprehensive plan to change the house for the better and make it a home to grow within.

This home addition didn't go according to plan... and that's a good thing. Here's why. Family is really important to the Nelson's. But the small kitchen and living room in their 30 plus-year-old house meant crowded holidays for all the children and grandchildren. It was easy to see that a major home remodel was needed. The problem was the Nelson's didn't know anyone who had a great experience with a builder. The Nelson's connected with ALL Renovation & Design at a home show in York, PA, but it wasn't until after sitting down with several builders and going over preliminary designs that it became clear that Amos listened and cared enough to guide them through the project in a way that would achieve their goals perfectly. So work began on a new addition with a “great room” and a master bedroom with a master bathroom. That's how it started. But the project didn't go according to plan. Why? Because Amos was constantly asking, “What would make you 100% satisfied.” And he meant it. For example, when Mrs. Nelson realized how much she liked the character of the existing brick chimney, she didn't want to see it get covered up. So plans changed mid-stride. But we also realized that the brick wouldn't fit with the plan for a stone fireplace in the new family room. So plans changed there as well, and brick was ordered to match the chimney. It was truly a team effort that produced a beautiful addition that is exactly what the Nelson's wanted... or as Mrs. Nelson said, “...even better, more beautiful than we envisioned.” For Christmas, the Nelson's were able to have the entire family over with plenty of room for everyone. Just what they wanted. The outside of the addition features GAF architectural shingles in Pewter, Certainteed Mainstreet D4 Shiplap in light maple, and color-matching bricks. Inside the great room features the Armstrong Prime Harvest Oak engineered hardwood in a natural finish, Masonite 6-panel pocket doors, a custom sliding pine barn door, and Simonton 5500 series windows. The master bathroom cabinetry was made to match the bedroom furniture set, with a cultured marble countertop from Countertec, and tile flooring.

This home addition didn't go according to plan... and that's a good thing. Here's why. Family is really important to the Nelson's. But the small kitchen and living room in their 30 plus-year-old house meant crowded holidays for all the children and grandchildren. It was easy to see that a major home remodel was needed. The problem was the Nelson's didn't know anyone who had a great experience with a builder. The Nelson's connected with ALL Renovation & Design at a home show in York, PA, but it wasn't until after sitting down with several builders and going over preliminary designs that it became clear that Amos listened and cared enough to guide them through the project in a way that would achieve their goals perfectly. So work began on a new addition with a “great room” and a master bedroom with a master bathroom. That's how it started. But the project didn't go according to plan. Why? Because Amos was constantly asking, “What would make you 100% satisfied.” And he meant it. For example, when Mrs. Nelson realized how much she liked the character of the existing brick chimney, she didn't want to see it get covered up. So plans changed mid-stride. But we also realized that the brick wouldn't fit with the plan for a stone fireplace in the new family room. So plans changed there as well, and brick was ordered to match the chimney. It was truly a team effort that produced a beautiful addition that is exactly what the Nelson's wanted... or as Mrs. Nelson said, “...even better, more beautiful than we envisioned.” For Christmas, the Nelson's were able to have the entire family over with plenty of room for everyone. Just what they wanted. The outside of the addition features GAF architectural shingles in Pewter, Certainteed Mainstreet D4 Shiplap in light maple, and color-matching bricks. Inside the great room features the Armstrong Prime Harvest Oak engineered hardwood in a natural finish, Masonite 6-panel pocket doors, a custom sliding pine barn door, and Simonton 5500 series windows. The master bathroom cabinetry was made to match the bedroom furniture set, with a cultured marble countertop from Countertec, and tile flooring.

This home addition didn't go according to plan... and that's a good thing. Here's why. Family is really important to the Nelson's. But the small kitchen and living room in their 30 plus-year-old house meant crowded holidays for all the children and grandchildren. It was easy to see that a major home remodel was needed. The problem was the Nelson's didn't know anyone who had a great experience with a builder. The Nelson's connected with ALL Renovation & Design at a home show in York, PA, but it wasn't until after sitting down with several builders and going over preliminary designs that it became clear that Amos listened and cared enough to guide them through the project in a way that would achieve their goals perfectly. So work began on a new addition with a “great room” and a master bedroom with a master bathroom. That's how it started. But the project didn't go according to plan. Why? Because Amos was constantly asking, “What would make you 100% satisfied.” And he meant it. For example, when Mrs. Nelson realized how much she liked the character of the existing brick chimney, she didn't want to see it get covered up. So plans changed mid-stride. But we also realized that the brick wouldn't fit with the plan for a stone fireplace in the new family room. So plans changed there as well, and brick was ordered to match the chimney. It was truly a team effort that produced a beautiful addition that is exactly what the Nelson's wanted... or as Mrs. Nelson said, “...even better, more beautiful than we envisioned.” For Christmas, the Nelson's were able to have the entire family over with plenty of room for everyone. Just what they wanted. The outside of the addition features GAF architectural shingles in Pewter, Certainteed Mainstreet D4 Shiplap in light maple, and color-matching bricks. Inside the great room features the Armstrong Prime Harvest Oak engineered hardwood in a natural finish, Masonite 6-panel pocket doors, a custom sliding pine barn door, and Simonton 5500 series windows. The master bathroom cabinetry was made to match the bedroom furniture set, with a cultured marble countertop from Countertec, and tile flooring.

These clients reached out to Hillcrest Construction when their family began out-growing their Phoenixville-area home. Through a comprehensive design phase, opportunities to add square footage were identified along with a reorganization of the typical traffic flow throughout the house. All household traffic into the hastily-designed, existing family room bump-out addition was funneled through a 3’ berth within the kitchen making meal prep and other kitchen activities somewhat similar to a shift at a PA turnpike toll booth. In the existing bump-out addition, the family room was relatively tight and the dining room barely fit the 6-person dining table. Access to the backyard was somewhat obstructed by the necessary furniture and the kitchen alone didn’t satisfy storage needs beyond a quick trip to the grocery store. The home’s existing front door was the only front entrance, and without a foyer or mudroom, the front formal room often doubled as a drop-zone for groceries, bookbags, and other on-the-go items. Hillcrest Construction designed a remedy to both address the function and flow issues along with adding square footage via a 150 sq ft addition to the family room and converting the garage into a mudroom entry and walk-through pantry. - The project’s addition was not especially large but was able to facilitate a new pathway to the home’s rear family room. The existing brick wall at the bottom of the second-floor staircase was opened up and created a new, natural flow from the second-floor bedrooms to the front formal room, and into the rear family hang-out space- all without having to cut through the often busy kitchen. The dining room area was relocated to remove it from the pathway to the door to the backyard. Additionally, free and clear access to the rear yard was established for both two-legged and four-legged friends. The existing chunky slider door was removed and in its place was fabricated and installed a custom centerpiece that included a new gas fireplace insert with custom brick surround, two side towers for display items and choice vinyl, and two base cabinets with metal-grated doors to house a subwoofer, wifi equipment, and other stow-away items. The black walnut countertops and mantle pop from the white cabinetry, and the wall-mounted TV with soundbar complete the central A/V hub. The custom cabs and tops were designed and built at Hillcrest’s custom shop. The farmhouse appeal was completed with distressed engineered hardwood floors and craftsman-style window and door trim throughout. - Another major component of the project was the conversion of the garage into a pantry+mudroom+everyday entry. The clients had used their smallish garage for storage of outdoor yard and recreational equipment. With those storage needs being addressed at the exterior, the space was transformed into a custom pantry and mudroom. The floor level within the space was raised to meet the rest of the house and insulated appropriately. A newly installed pocket door divided the dining room area from the designed-to-spec pantry/beverage center. The pantry was designed to house dry storage, cleaning supplies, and dry bar supplies when the cleaning and shopping are complete. A window seat with doggie supply storage below was worked into the design to accommodate the existing elevation of the original garage window. A coat closet and a small set of steps divide the pantry from the mudroom entry. The mudroom entry is marked with a striking combo of the herringbone thin-brick flooring and a custom hutch. Kids returning home from school have a designated spot to hang their coats and bookbags with two deep drawers for shoes. A custom cherry bench top adds a punctuation of warmth. The entry door and window replaced the old overhead garage doors to create the daily-used informal entry off the driveway. With the house being such a favorable area, and the clients not looking to pull up roots, Hillcrest Construction facilitated a collaborative experience and comprehensive plan to change the house for the better and make it a home to grow within.

The owners of this home in Westfield had a very unfortunate experience with their previous contractor. We can never seem to understand how some bad contractors can take advantage of such incredibly good people. As was the case here. This project was to add a mud-room and laundry room to the side of their home. The exterior of the addition needed a paver walk-way along with matching siding and trim work. The interior consists of tile flooring and wood steps and railings. It was great working for this family and we're glad they can replace their previously bad experience with a good one.

This home addition didn't go according to plan... and that's a good thing. Here's why. Family is really important to the Nelson's. But the small kitchen and living room in their 30 plus-year-old house meant crowded holidays for all the children and grandchildren. It was easy to see that a major home remodel was needed. The problem was the Nelson's didn't know anyone who had a great experience with a builder. The Nelson's connected with ALL Renovation & Design at a home show in York, PA, but it wasn't until after sitting down with several builders and going over preliminary designs that it became clear that Amos listened and cared enough to guide them through the project in a way that would achieve their goals perfectly. So work began on a new addition with a “great room” and a master bedroom with a master bathroom. That's how it started. But the project didn't go according to plan. Why? Because Amos was constantly asking, “What would make you 100% satisfied.” And he meant it. For example, when Mrs. Nelson realized how much she liked the character of the existing brick chimney, she didn't want to see it get covered up. So plans changed mid-stride. But we also realized that the brick wouldn't fit with the plan for a stone fireplace in the new family room. So plans changed there as well, and brick was ordered to match the chimney. It was truly a team effort that produced a beautiful addition that is exactly what the Nelson's wanted... or as Mrs. Nelson said, “...even better, more beautiful than we envisioned.” For Christmas, the Nelson's were able to have the entire family over with plenty of room for everyone. Just what they wanted. The outside of the addition features GAF architectural shingles in Pewter, Certainteed Mainstreet D4 Shiplap in light maple, and color-matching bricks. Inside the great room features the Armstrong Prime Harvest Oak engineered hardwood in a natural finish, Masonite 6-panel pocket doors, a custom sliding pine barn door, and Simonton 5500 series windows. The master bathroom cabinetry was made to match the bedroom furniture set, with a cultured marble countertop from Countertec, and tile flooring.

Staircase – Open Sightlines, Natural Light & Architectural Continuity | Second Floor Addition, Toronto This staircase view highlights how the vertical circulation was designed as an architectural feature, not just a means of moving between floors. As part of the second floor addition, the stair was intentionally kept open and light-filled, allowing sightlines to extend through the space and preventing the stairwell from feeling enclosed. The design emphasizes clean geometry and material continuity, tying the staircase seamlessly into the surrounding interiors. Natural light filters through the open configuration, enhancing brightness on both levels and reinforcing a sense of connection between floors. Careful coordination between structure, railing detailing, and finish work was required to achieve this result—ensuring the stair meets code requirements while maintaining a refined, modern aesthetic. This staircase reflects Cedarstone Group Inc.’s design-build approach: thoughtful planning, precise execution, and transitions that elevate the overall experience of the home.

This home addition didn't go according to plan... and that's a good thing. Here's why. Family is really important to the Nelson's. But the small kitchen and living room in their 30 plus-year-old house meant crowded holidays for all the children and grandchildren. It was easy to see that a major home remodel was needed. The problem was the Nelson's didn't know anyone who had a great experience with a builder. The Nelson's connected with ALL Renovation & Design at a home show in York, PA, but it wasn't until after sitting down with several builders and going over preliminary designs that it became clear that Amos listened and cared enough to guide them through the project in a way that would achieve their goals perfectly. So work began on a new addition with a “great room” and a master bedroom with a master bathroom. That's how it started. But the project didn't go according to plan. Why? Because Amos was constantly asking, “What would make you 100% satisfied.” And he meant it. For example, when Mrs. Nelson realized how much she liked the character of the existing brick chimney, she didn't want to see it get covered up. So plans changed mid-stride. But we also realized that the brick wouldn't fit with the plan for a stone fireplace in the new family room. So plans changed there as well, and brick was ordered to match the chimney. It was truly a team effort that produced a beautiful addition that is exactly what the Nelson's wanted... or as Mrs. Nelson said, “...even better, more beautiful than we envisioned.” For Christmas, the Nelson's were able to have the entire family over with plenty of room for everyone. Just what they wanted. The outside of the addition features GAF architectural shingles in Pewter, Certainteed Mainstreet D4 Shiplap in light maple, and color-matching bricks. Inside the great room features the Armstrong Prime Harvest Oak engineered hardwood in a natural finish, Masonite 6-panel pocket doors, a custom sliding pine barn door, and Simonton 5500 series windows. The master bathroom cabinetry was made to match the bedroom furniture set, with a cultured marble countertop from Countertec, and tile flooring.

This home addition didn't go according to plan... and that's a good thing. Here's why. Family is really important to the Nelson's. But the small kitchen and living room in their 30 plus-year-old house meant crowded holidays for all the children and grandchildren. It was easy to see that a major home remodel was needed. The problem was the Nelson's didn't know anyone who had a great experience with a builder. The Nelson's connected with ALL Renovation & Design at a home show in York, PA, but it wasn't until after sitting down with several builders and going over preliminary designs that it became clear that Amos listened and cared enough to guide them through the project in a way that would achieve their goals perfectly. So work began on a new addition with a “great room” and a master bedroom with a master bathroom. That's how it started. But the project didn't go according to plan. Why? Because Amos was constantly asking, “What would make you 100% satisfied.” And he meant it. For example, when Mrs. Nelson realized how much she liked the character of the existing brick chimney, she didn't want to see it get covered up. So plans changed mid-stride. But we also realized that the brick wouldn't fit with the plan for a stone fireplace in the new family room. So plans changed there as well, and brick was ordered to match the chimney. It was truly a team effort that produced a beautiful addition that is exactly what the Nelson's wanted... or as Mrs. Nelson said, “...even better, more beautiful than we envisioned.” For Christmas, the Nelson's were able to have the entire family over with plenty of room for everyone. Just what they wanted. The outside of the addition features GAF architectural shingles in Pewter, Certainteed Mainstreet D4 Shiplap in light maple, and color-matching bricks. Inside the great room features the Armstrong Prime Harvest Oak engineered hardwood in a natural finish, Masonite 6-panel pocket doors, a custom sliding pine barn door, and Simonton 5500 series windows. The master bathroom cabinetry was made to match the bedroom furniture set, with a cultured marble countertop from Countertec, and tile flooring.

These clients reached out to Hillcrest Construction when their family began out-growing their Phoenixville-area home. Through a comprehensive design phase, opportunities to add square footage were identified along with a reorganization of the typical traffic flow throughout the house. All household traffic into the hastily-designed, existing family room bump-out addition was funneled through a 3’ berth within the kitchen making meal prep and other kitchen activities somewhat similar to a shift at a PA turnpike toll booth. In the existing bump-out addition, the family room was relatively tight and the dining room barely fit the 6-person dining table. Access to the backyard was somewhat obstructed by the necessary furniture and the kitchen alone didn’t satisfy storage needs beyond a quick trip to the grocery store. The home’s existing front door was the only front entrance, and without a foyer or mudroom, the front formal room often doubled as a drop-zone for groceries, bookbags, and other on-the-go items. Hillcrest Construction designed a remedy to both address the function and flow issues along with adding square footage via a 150 sq ft addition to the family room and converting the garage into a mudroom entry and walk-through pantry. - The project’s addition was not especially large but was able to facilitate a new pathway to the home’s rear family room. The existing brick wall at the bottom of the second-floor staircase was opened up and created a new, natural flow from the second-floor bedrooms to the front formal room, and into the rear family hang-out space- all without having to cut through the often busy kitchen. The dining room area was relocated to remove it from the pathway to the door to the backyard. Additionally, free and clear access to the rear yard was established for both two-legged and four-legged friends. The existing chunky slider door was removed and in its place was fabricated and installed a custom centerpiece that included a new gas fireplace insert with custom brick surround, two side towers for display items and choice vinyl, and two base cabinets with metal-grated doors to house a subwoofer, wifi equipment, and other stow-away items. The black walnut countertops and mantle pop from the white cabinetry, and the wall-mounted TV with soundbar complete the central A/V hub. The custom cabs and tops were designed and built at Hillcrest’s custom shop. The farmhouse appeal was completed with distressed engineered hardwood floors and craftsman-style window and door trim throughout. - Another major component of the project was the conversion of the garage into a pantry+mudroom+everyday entry. The clients had used their smallish garage for storage of outdoor yard and recreational equipment. With those storage needs being addressed at the exterior, the space was transformed into a custom pantry and mudroom. The floor level within the space was raised to meet the rest of the house and insulated appropriately. A newly installed pocket door divided the dining room area from the designed-to-spec pantry/beverage center. The pantry was designed to house dry storage, cleaning supplies, and dry bar supplies when the cleaning and shopping are complete. A window seat with doggie supply storage below was worked into the design to accommodate the existing elevation of the original garage window. A coat closet and a small set of steps divide the pantry from the mudroom entry. The mudroom entry is marked with a striking combo of the herringbone thin-brick flooring and a custom hutch. Kids returning home from school have a designated spot to hang their coats and bookbags with two deep drawers for shoes. A custom cherry bench top adds a punctuation of warmth. The entry door and window replaced the old overhead garage doors to create the daily-used informal entry off the driveway. With the house being such a favorable area, and the clients not looking to pull up roots, Hillcrest Construction facilitated a collaborative experience and comprehensive plan to change the house for the better and make it a home to grow within.

How do you squeeze a soaker tub, steam shower, walk-in closet, large master bedroom, and a private study into the renovation of a 2-story East Danforth semi? By going UP! For this project, the homeowner had a firm budget and didn't dream it could include a new kitchen as well as the 3rd-floor addition. With some creative solutions and our experience remodeling older homes, Carter Fox delivered an open-concept light-filled home that preserved several original elements in order to save budget for the must-have items - AND a new, customized kitchen.