Alex Hayden
Example of a 1950s light wood floor dining room design in Seattle with beige walls

Guest Bedroom Renovation. Client requested a unique boutique hotel vibe, and to use Hotel Indigo for inspiration. Removed Carpet, replaced with gorgeous water color porcelain tile. Repainted deep grays with bold yellow trim and fretwork. Replaced basic white ceiling fan with two tone wood and metal modern ceiling fan with dimmable, white color-shifting LED light. Furnished with an eclectic mix of midcentury styled pieces, as well as industrial and art deco style lamps, a live-edge wood side table, light gray velvet bed, bamboo roman shades, and open clothing storage. Finished with décor items and artwork.

How to help a young couple who loved the location and bones of a traditional home, but wanted a decisive shift in its decor and vibe to modern luxe? Begin by pulling down the 2-story walls of oak paneling, heavy fireplace mantle, and scraping out the dimly lit kitchen. Opening the kitchen into the family room and reworking the architecture of the space was the solution to creating the fresh feeling we were after. Photos by John Bessler

Photography by Picture Perfect House
Example of a mid-sized transitional medium tone wood floor, gray floor and wall paneling foyer design in Chicago with gray walls

Example of a classic medium tone wood floor, brown floor, exposed beam, vaulted ceiling and wallpaper living room design in Columbus with white walls, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

How to help a young couple who loved the location and bones of a traditional home, but wanted a decisive shift in its decor and vibe to modern luxe? Begin by pulling down the 2-story walls of oak paneling, heavy fireplace mantle, and scraping out the dimly lit kitchen. Opening the kitchen into the family room and reworking the architecture of the space was the solution to creating the fresh feeling we were after. Photos by John Bessler

Evan White
Alcove shower - mid-sized contemporary master beige tile and stone slab slate floor alcove shower idea in Boston with an undermount sink, light wood cabinets, beige walls, granite countertops and raised-panel cabinets

How to help a young couple who loved the location and bones of a traditional home, but wanted a decisive shift in its decor and vibe to modern luxe? Begin by pulling down the 2-story walls of oak paneling, heavy fireplace mantle, and scraping out the dimly lit kitchen. Opening the kitchen into the family room and reworking the architecture of the space was the solution to creating the fresh feeling we were after. Photos by John Bessler

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.

One of Tracy’s favorite spots in her home is this custom bookcase library! We had helped deliver that very special custom built in wall 2 years before redesignjng her kitchen, but it needed to shift a bit from the original white-walled look. Adding this deep denim blue paint color to the walls ensured the visual flow and connection of each room on the main level was just perfect!

Guest Bedroom Renovation. Client requested a unique boutique hotel vibe, and to use Hotel Indigo for inspiration. Removed Carpet, replaced with gorgeous water color porcelain tile. Repainted deep grays with bold yellow trim and fretwork. Replaced basic white ceiling fan with two tone wood and metal modern ceiling fan with dimmable, white color-shifting LED light. Furnished with an eclectic mix of midcentury styled pieces, as well as industrial and art deco style lamps, a live-edge wood side table, light gray velvet bed, bamboo roman shades, and open clothing storage. Finished with décor items and artwork.

Kept the same footprint but changed the bathtub to a shower. Remove old gray and burgundy tile walls and replaced it with new drywall and wainscoting with chair rail. Added wall sconces and some vintage details. Chris Krodel

Photography by Picture Perfect House
Mid-sized transitional u-shaped medium tone wood floor and gray floor open concept kitchen photo in Chicago with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, marble backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and gray countertops

Family room - mid-sized transitional open concept medium tone wood floor, brown floor and shiplap wall family room idea in Chicago with white walls, a standard fireplace, a brick fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Guest Bedroom Renovation. Client requested a unique boutique hotel vibe, and to use Hotel Indigo for inspiration. Removed Carpet, replaced with gorgeous water color porcelain tile. Repainted deep grays with bold yellow trim and fretwork. Replaced basic white ceiling fan with two tone wood and metal modern ceiling fan with dimmable, white color-shifting LED light. Furnished with an eclectic mix of midcentury styled pieces, as well as industrial and art deco style lamps, a live-edge wood side table, light gray velvet bed, bamboo roman shades, and open clothing storage. Finished with décor items and artwork.

THE PROBLEM Our client adores their traditional layout and their traditional design style. But there were a few things that could be improved including flow and functionality in the kitchen - not to mention the cabinets, counters and appliances that had seen better days. The family room was used heavily for movie viewing, but it did not have a great set-up for the TV and was seriously lacking in the audio department. Their garage entry had become the primary way into the home for the homeowners, however it did not offer the welcoming feeling they wanted to have after a long day. THE SOLUTION To create better flow, we shifted the entry from the mud hall down a bit which gave us the space to add another run of cabinetry and relocate the fridge. We closed up the former dining room wall and converted it into a new office space as both homeowners work from home. Due to the shift in the entry from the mud hall, we also were able to then center the island to where it should be in the room creating some much needed balance. Because we were not creating an open floor plan and removing walls and such, there was more budget for high ticket finishes. One of which was a 11’ custom walnut countertop for the island which became the anchoring design element for the kitchen along with custom cabinetry and high-end appliances.

How to help a young couple who loved the location and bones of a traditional home, but wanted a decisive shift in its decor and vibe to modern luxe? Begin by pulling down the 2-story walls of oak paneling, heavy fireplace mantle, and scraping out the dimly lit kitchen. Opening the kitchen into the family room and reworking the architecture of the space was the solution to creating the fresh feeling we were after. Photos by John Bessler

Dopamine-inspired home design is becoming a favorite among young families—bright colors, playful lighting, and uplifting energy bring every corner of the home to life. With just a touch of bold color and a mood-boosting light fixture, any space can shift from simple to vibrant, creating a cheerful environment that inspires joy every day.

Guest Bedroom Renovation. Client requested a unique boutique hotel vibe, and to use Hotel Indigo for inspiration. Removed Carpet, replaced with gorgeous water color porcelain tile. Repainted deep grays with bold yellow trim and fretwork. Replaced basic white ceiling fan with two tone wood and metal modern ceiling fan with dimmable, white color-shifting LED light. Furnished with an eclectic mix of midcentury styled pieces, as well as industrial and art deco style lamps, a live-edge wood side table, light gray velvet bed, bamboo roman shades, and open clothing storage. Finished with décor items and artwork.