[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.

2011 NARI CAPITAL COTY FINALIST AWARD WINNER This 1970’s split-level single-family home in an upscale Arlington neighborhood had been neglected for years. With his surrounding neighbors all doing major exterior and interior remodeling, however, the owner decided it was time to renovate his property as well. After several consultation meetings with the design team at Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes, he settled on an exterior layout to create an Art & Craft design for the home. It all got started by excavating the front and left side of the house and attaching a wrap-around stone porch. Key design attributes include a black metal roof, large tapered columns, blue and grey random style flag stone, beaded stain ceiling paneling and an octagonal seating area on the left side of this porch. The front porch has a wide stairway and another set of stairs leads to the back yard. All exterior walls of the home were modified with new headers to allow much larger custom-made windows, new front doors garage doors, and French side and back doors. A custom-designed mahogany front door with leaded glass provides more light and offers a wider entrance into the home’s living area. Design challenges included removing the entire face of the home and then adding new insulation, Tyvek and Hardiplank siding. The use of high-efficiency low-e windows makes the home air tight. The Arts & Crafts design touches include the front gable over the front porch, the prairie-style grill pattern on the windows and doors, the use of tapered columns sitting over stone columns and the leaded glass front door. Decorative exterior lighting provides the finishing touches to this look. Inside, custom woodwork, crown molding, custom glass cabinets and interior pillars carry the design. Upon entering the space, visitors face a large partition that separates the living area from a gourmet Arts & Crafts kitchen and dining room. The home’s signature space, the kitchen offers contrasting dark and light cherry cabinets. Wide plank hard wood floors, exotic granite counters and stainless steel professional-grade appliances make this a kitchen fit for any chef.

Photography by Daniela Goncalves
Inspiration for a small transitional l-shaped light wood floor eat-in kitchen remodel in Boston with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, granite countertops, white backsplash, mosaic tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

This project is an incredible transformation and the perfect example of successful style mixing! This client, and now a good friend of TVL (as they all become), is a wonderfully eclectic and adventurous one with immense interest in texture play, pops of color, and unique applications. Our scope in this home included a full kitchen renovation, main level powder room renovation, and a master bathroom overhaul. Taking just over a year to complete from the first design phases to final photos, this project was so insanely fun and packs an amazing amount of fun details and lively surprises. The original kitchen was large and fairly functional. However, the cabinetry was dated, the lighting was inefficient and frankly ugly, and the space was lacking personality in general. Our client desired maximized storage and a more personalized aesthetic. The existing cabinets were short and left the nice height of the space under-utilized. We integrated new gray shaker cabinets from Waypoint Living Spaces and ran them to the ceiling to really exaggerate the height of the space and to maximize usable storage as much as possible. The upper cabinets are glass and lit from within, offering display space or functional storage as the client needs. The central feature of this space is the large cobalt blue range from Viking as well as the custom made reclaimed wood range hood floating above. The backsplash along this entire wall is vertical slab of marble look quartz from Pental Surfaces. This matches the expanse of the same countertop that wraps the room. Flanking the range, we installed cobalt blue lantern penny tile from Merola Tile for a playful texture that adds visual interest and class to the entire room. We upgraded the lighting in the ceiling, under the cabinets, and within cabinets--we also installed accent sconces over each window on the sink wall to create cozy and functional illumination. The deep, textured front Whitehaven apron sink is a dramatic nod to the farmhouse aesthetic from KOHLER, and it's paired with the bold and industrial inspired Tournant faucet, also from Kohler. We finalized this space with other gorgeous appliances, a super sexy dining table and chair set from Room & Board, the Paxton dining light from Pottery Barn and a small bar area and pantry on the far end of the space. In the small powder room on the main level, we converted a drab builder-grade space into a super cute, rustic-inspired washroom. We utilized the Bonner vanity from Signature Hardware and paired this with the cute Ashfield faucet from Pfister. The most unique statements in this room include the water-drop light over the vanity from Shades Of Light, the copper-look porcelain floor tile from Pental Surfaces and the gorgeous Cashmere colored Tresham toilet from Kohler. Up in the master bathroom, elegance abounds. Using the same footprint, we upgraded everything in this space to reflect the client's desire for a more bright, patterned and pretty space. Starting at the entry, we installed a custom reclaimed plank barn door with bold large format hardware from Rustica Hardware. In the bathroom, the custom slate blue vanity from Tharp Cabinet Company is an eye catching statement piece. This is paired with gorgeous hardware from Amerock, vessel sinks from Kohler, and Purist faucets also from Kohler. We replaced the old built-in bathtub with a new freestanding soaker from Signature Hardware. The floor tile is a bold, graphic porcelain tile with a classic color scheme. The shower was upgraded with new tile and fixtures throughout: new clear glass, gorgeous distressed subway tile from the Castle line from TileBar, and a sophisticated shower panel from Vigo. We finalized the space with a small crystal chandelier and soft gray paint. This project is a stunning conversion and we are so thrilled that our client can enjoy these personalized spaces for years to come. Special thanks to the amazing Ian Burks of Burks Wurks Construction for bringing this to life!

[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.

Bloomington is filled with a lot of homes that have remained trapped in time, which is awesome and fascinating (albeit sometimes frightening). When this young family moved to Bloomington last spring, they saw potential behind the Florida wallpaper of this Eastside ranch, and good bones despite its choppy layout. Wisely, they called SYI and Loren Wood Builders for help bringing it into the two thousand-teens. Two adjacent bathrooms were gutted together and went back up in much better configurations. A half bath and mud-cum-laundry room near the garage went from useful but blah, to an area you don't have to close the door on when guests come over. Walls came down to open up the family, living, kitchen and dining areas, creating a flow of light and function that we all openly envy at SYI. (We do not hide it whatsoever. We all want to live in this happy, bright house. Also the homeowners are amazing cooks, another good reason to want to move in.) Like split-levels and bi-levels, ranches are often easy to open up for the casual and connected spaces we dig so much in middle America this century. Knock down walls; unify flooring; lighten and brighten the space; and voila! a dated midcentury shell becomes a modern family home. Contractor: Loren Wood Builders Cabinetry: Stoll's Woodworking Tile work: Fitzgerald Flooring & Construction Photography: Gina Rogers

2013 CHRYSALIS AWARD SOUTH REGION WINNER, RESIDENTIAL EXTERIOR This 1970’s split-level single-family home in an upscale Arlington neighborhood had been neglected for years. With his surrounding neighbors all doing major exterior and interior remodeling, however, the owner decided it was time to renovate his property as well. After several consultation meetings with the design team at Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes, he settled on an exterior layout to create an Art & Craft design for the home. It all got started by excavating the front and left side of the house and attaching a wrap-around stone porch. Key design attributes include a black metal roof, large tapered columns, blue and grey random style flag stone, beaded stain ceiling paneling and an octagonal seating area on the left side of this porch. The front porch has a wide stairway and another set of stairs leads to the back yard. All exterior walls of homes were modified with new headers to allow much larger custom-made windows, new front doors garage doors, and French side and back doors. A custom-designed mahogany front door with leaded glass provides more light and offers a wider entrance into the home’s living area. Design challenges included removing the entire face of the home and then adding new insulation, Tyvek and Hardiplank siding. The use of high-efficiency low-e windows makes the home air tight. The Arts & Crafts design touches include the front gable over the front porch, the prairie-style grill pattern on the windows and doors, the use of tapered columns sitting over stone columns and the leaded glass front door. Decorative exterior lighting provides the finishing touches to this look.

Nested along the iconic Rideau River in Manotick, this luxury modern custom home will be constructed by Les Maisons Bruyère Homes. The exterior is enhanced with maintenance-free EIFS cladding, aluminum wood-look plank siding, and stone in colours that reflect the surrounding natural environment. Each exterior finish is further highlighted with unique roof heights, providing visual interest from every angle. The 3′ overhand with downward soffit lighting adds warmth to the modern structure. From the covered front entry, there is a view of the river through the great room and its floor-to-ceiling glass sliding doors. During the winter months, sliding glass doors will help to keep the cold air out of the rest of the home, and a generous walk-in closet accommodates storage for the family and large gatherings. The main-level great room, dining room, and kitchen will be light-filled, open spaces with 10′ ceilings and floor-to-ceiling glass doors and windows towards the river. Cozy evenings will be spent around the 3-sided fireplace. Perfect for entertaining, the 10′ x 5′ kitchen island will welcome guests to share food and great conversation. The pantry allows for an additional refrigerator or stand-up freezer and plenty of storage. On warm summer days, the outdoor kitchen with bar seating is steps away on the extensive deck. The outdoor stone fireplace will extend its use into the cooler months. Protected by a retractable ShadeFX canopy, there’s always the choice of shade, sun, or protection from the rain. Cantilevered retractable ShadeFX canopies extend from each section of the back wall, providing protection from the sun inside and out. The home is just shy of 4,800 sq ft and boasts a main-floor guest suite with private entry through the mudroom. On the second level, you’ll find the spacious primary bedroom suite and 3 additional bedrooms, all with ensuite bathrooms. The laundry room is conveniently located adjacent to the bedrooms. The primary bedroom ensuite has a very practical separate toilet room, spacious shower, double sinks with a makeup table between, and a luxurious standalone tub. A second guest bedroom suite (or optional self-contained apartment with private entrance) is located on the walk-out basement level. Not a typical basement, the 9’ ceilings, and floor-to-ceiling windows will bring abundant light into the entertainment area and family room. In addition to the guest bedroom suite, there is a gym and a home theatre tucked in behind the stairs. A 2-piece bath, mechanical room, and storage complete the interior. Outside, the large covered patio leads into the pool area. A two-piece bath/changeroom, optional sauna, and wet bar complete this spa-like outdoor space. Out front, the attached garage can accommodate four+ vehicles and a sizable workshop or storage. The basement and main level mudroom are easily accessible directly from the garage. A second detached garage is an option.

Nested along the iconic Rideau River in Manotick, this luxury modern custom home will be constructed by Les Maisons Bruyère Homes. The exterior is enhanced with maintenance-free EIFS cladding, aluminum wood-look plank siding, and stone in colours that reflect the surrounding natural environment. Each exterior finish is further highlighted with unique roof heights, providing visual interest from every angle. The 3′ overhand with downward soffit lighting adds warmth to the modern structure. From the covered front entry, there is a view of the river through the great room and its floor-to-ceiling glass sliding doors. During the winter months, sliding glass doors will help to keep the cold air out of the rest of the home, and a generous walk-in closet accommodates storage for the family and large gatherings. The main-level great room, dining room, and kitchen will be light-filled, open spaces with 10′ ceilings and floor-to-ceiling glass doors and windows towards the river. Cozy evenings will be spent around the 3-sided fireplace. Perfect for entertaining, the 10′ x 5′ kitchen island will welcome guests to share food and great conversation. The pantry allows for an additional refrigerator or stand-up freezer and plenty of storage. On warm summer days, the outdoor kitchen with bar seating is steps away on the extensive deck. The outdoor stone fireplace will extend its use into the cooler months. Protected by a retractable ShadeFX canopy, there’s always the choice of shade, sun, or protection from the rain. Cantilevered retractable ShadeFX canopies extend from each section of the back wall, providing protection from the sun inside and out. The home is just shy of 4,800 sq ft and boasts a main-floor guest suite with private entry through the mudroom. On the second level, you’ll find the spacious primary bedroom suite and 3 additional bedrooms, all with ensuite bathrooms. The laundry room is conveniently located adjacent to the bedrooms. The primary bedroom ensuite has a very practical separate toilet room, spacious shower, double sinks with a makeup table between, and a luxurious standalone tub. A second guest bedroom suite (or optional self-contained apartment with private entrance) is located on the walk-out basement level. Not a typical basement, the 9’ ceilings, and floor-to-ceiling windows will bring abundant light into the entertainment area and family room. In addition to the guest bedroom suite, there is a gym and a home theatre tucked in behind the stairs. A 2-piece bath, mechanical room, and storage complete the interior. Outside, the large covered patio leads into the pool area. A two-piece bath/changeroom, optional sauna, and wet bar complete this spa-like outdoor space. Out front, the attached garage can accommodate four+ vehicles and a sizable workshop or storage. The basement and main level mudroom are easily accessible directly from the garage. A second detached garage is an option.

2013 CHRYSALIS AWARD SOUTH REGION WINNER, RESIDENTIAL EXTERIOR This 1970’s split-level single-family home in an upscale Arlington neighborhood had been neglected for years. With his surrounding neighbors all doing major exterior and interior remodeling, however, the owner decided it was time to renovate his property as well. After several consultation meetings with the design team at Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes, he settled on an exterior layout to create an Art & Craft design for the home. It all got started by excavating the front and left side of the house and attaching a wrap-around stone porch. Key design attributes include a black metal roof, large tapered columns, blue and grey random style flag stone, beaded stain ceiling paneling and an octagonal seating area on the left side of this porch. The front porch has a wide stairway and another set of stairs leads to the back yard. All exterior walls of homes were modified with new headers to allow much larger custom-made windows, new front doors garage doors, and French side and back doors. A custom-designed mahogany front door with leaded glass provides more light and offers a wider entrance into the home’s living area. Design challenges included removing the entire face of the home and then adding new insulation, Tyvek and Hardiplank siding. The use of high-efficiency low-e windows makes the home air tight. The Arts & Crafts design touches include the front gable over the front porch, the prairie-style grill pattern on the windows and doors, the use of tapered columns sitting over stone columns and the leaded glass front door. Decorative exterior lighting provides the finishing touches to this look.

Nested along the iconic Rideau River in Manotick, this luxury modern custom home will be constructed by Les Maisons Bruyère Homes. The exterior is enhanced with maintenance-free EIFS cladding, aluminum wood-look plank siding, and stone in colours that reflect the surrounding natural environment. Each exterior finish is further highlighted with unique roof heights, providing visual interest from every angle. The 3′ overhand with downward soffit lighting adds warmth to the modern structure. From the covered front entry, there is a view of the river through the great room and its floor-to-ceiling glass sliding doors. During the winter months, sliding glass doors will help to keep the cold air out of the rest of the home, and a generous walk-in closet accommodates storage for the family and large gatherings. The main-level great room, dining room, and kitchen will be light-filled, open spaces with 10′ ceilings and floor-to-ceiling glass doors and windows towards the river. Cozy evenings will be spent around the 3-sided fireplace. Perfect for entertaining, the 10′ x 5′ kitchen island will welcome guests to share food and great conversation. The pantry allows for an additional refrigerator or stand-up freezer and plenty of storage. On warm summer days, the outdoor kitchen with bar seating is steps away on the extensive deck. The outdoor stone fireplace will extend its use into the cooler months. Protected by a retractable ShadeFX canopy, there’s always the choice of shade, sun, or protection from the rain. Cantilevered retractable ShadeFX canopies extend from each section of the back wall, providing protection from the sun inside and out. The home is just shy of 4,800 sq ft and boasts a main-floor guest suite with private entry through the mudroom. On the second level, you’ll find the spacious primary bedroom suite and 3 additional bedrooms, all with ensuite bathrooms. The laundry room is conveniently located adjacent to the bedrooms. The primary bedroom ensuite has a very practical separate toilet room, spacious shower, double sinks with a makeup table between, and a luxurious standalone tub. A second guest bedroom suite (or optional self-contained apartment with private entrance) is located on the walk-out basement level. Not a typical basement, the 9’ ceilings, and floor-to-ceiling windows will bring abundant light into the entertainment area and family room. In addition to the guest bedroom suite, there is a gym and a home theatre tucked in behind the stairs. A 2-piece bath, mechanical room, and storage complete the interior. Outside, the large covered patio leads into the pool area. A two-piece bath/changeroom, optional sauna, and wet bar complete this spa-like outdoor space. Out front, the attached garage can accommodate four+ vehicles and a sizable workshop or storage. The basement and main level mudroom are easily accessible directly from the garage. A second detached garage is an option.

Nested along the iconic Rideau River in Manotick, this luxury modern custom home will be constructed by Les Maisons Bruyère Homes. The exterior is enhanced with maintenance-free EIFS cladding, aluminum wood-look plank siding, and stone in colours that reflect the surrounding natural environment. Each exterior finish is further highlighted with unique roof heights, providing visual interest from every angle. The 3′ overhand with downward soffit lighting adds warmth to the modern structure. From the covered front entry, there is a view of the river through the great room and its floor-to-ceiling glass sliding doors. During the winter months, sliding glass doors will help to keep the cold air out of the rest of the home, and a generous walk-in closet accommodates storage for the family and large gatherings. The main-level great room, dining room, and kitchen will be light-filled, open spaces with 10′ ceilings and floor-to-ceiling glass doors and windows towards the river. Cozy evenings will be spent around the 3-sided fireplace. Perfect for entertaining, the 10′ x 5′ kitchen island will welcome guests to share food and great conversation. The pantry allows for an additional refrigerator or stand-up freezer and plenty of storage. On warm summer days, the outdoor kitchen with bar seating is steps away on the extensive deck. The outdoor stone fireplace will extend its use into the cooler months. Protected by a retractable ShadeFX canopy, there’s always the choice of shade, sun, or protection from the rain. Cantilevered retractable ShadeFX canopies extend from each section of the back wall, providing protection from the sun inside and out. The home is just shy of 4,800 sq ft and boasts a main-floor guest suite with private entry through the mudroom. On the second level, you’ll find the spacious primary bedroom suite and 3 additional bedrooms, all with ensuite bathrooms. The laundry room is conveniently located adjacent to the bedrooms. The primary bedroom ensuite has a very practical separate toilet room, spacious shower, double sinks with a makeup table between, and a luxurious standalone tub. A second guest bedroom suite (or optional self-contained apartment with private entrance) is located on the walk-out basement level. Not a typical basement, the 9’ ceilings, and floor-to-ceiling windows will bring abundant light into the entertainment area and family room. In addition to the guest bedroom suite, there is a gym and a home theatre tucked in behind the stairs. A 2-piece bath, mechanical room, and storage complete the interior. Outside, the large covered patio leads into the pool area. A two-piece bath/changeroom, optional sauna, and wet bar complete this spa-like outdoor space. Out front, the attached garage can accommodate four+ vehicles and a sizable workshop or storage. The basement and main level mudroom are easily accessible directly from the garage. A second detached garage is an option.

At the outset, this project began with the transformation of a 2-car attached garage. The goal was to create a mudroom, an exercise room, and a breezeway to seamlessly connect the spacious detached garage with the main part of the house. Additionally, the project involved partial roof removal and the addition of a new front entry. But then came an unexpected twist – scope creep. We found ourselves veering away from the initial client-supplied architectural plans. After numerous consultations with the clients and several iterations of the design, we arrived at a significantly improved plan for the remodel and addition. Our journey commenced with the demolition of almost the entire former 2-car garage, making space for a new, oversized 3-car garage measuring 40′ x 28′. This garage was strategically placed between the existing house and the large detached garage. We introduced a custom low-sloped flat roof, designed to address historical drainage issues. To mitigate water pooling, we created a custom concrete step at the back corner of the garage, equipped with a sturdy metal grate that sits flush with the step. We also installed a PVC drainage system, commencing at the step and running beneath a newly designed patio, ultimately draining into the yard. These measures have significantly reduced water accumulation around the house. The new garage boasts several features, including Longboard aluminum siding, custom full glass garage doors, interior drywall finished to a level 4, an abundance of can lights, an epoxy floor coating, vinyl base trim, a new forced air garage heater, and more. The clients also requested a designated space for their three kids and their friends to enjoy, thus giving birth to the “Kid Zone.” We partitioned a section of the existing oversized garage, resulting in a space measuring approximately 22′ x 32′, brimming with entertainment possibilities. To enhance control over the temperature in the Kid Zone, we collaborated with our licensed HVAC partner to install a cold weather mini-split system. One of the most significant challenges was the modernization and consolidation of the home’s main electrical systems. We reconfigured and combined 6-7 different electrical panels into just two. One panel serves the main house, while the second is dedicated to backup power from a generator. These panels, along with the boiler for the in-floor heating system, are housed in a newly constructed mechanical room within the Kid Zone. Inside the main house, we completed various tasks, such as removing the ceiling in the hallway from the new garage to address prior water damage, improve insulation, and rework electrical and HVAC systems. We also replaced the ceiling from the front door to the base of the stairs, adding new can lighting and enhancing insulation. Skilled drywall specialists then installed and finished new drywall to a level 5 standard. The exterior of the house underwent a complete overhaul. Before installing new roofing on the entire house and garage, we modified an existing flat roof by adding custom lumber and plywood to enhance the pitch, preventing future ice dams. A new rubber roof was expertly installed on the oversized 3-car garage, and the flat roof section we re-framed. Our meticulous exterior team removed old white aluminum soffit, fascia, and gutters, replacing them with new framing to accommodate Longboard soffit material. This task was particularly challenging due to the age of the house and the non-standard wall and roof framing. Our skilled exterior subcontractors ensured a perfect fit. Near the pool area, we discovered severe rot and decay from years of water intrusion. After informing the homeowners, we ordered and installed five new commercial-style block framed windows and a custom 8′ high Anderson patio door. This involved careful removal and replacement of window headers from the outside to avoid disturbing the finished part of the house. We reframed the large openings to fit the new windows, and our skilled trim carpenters installed new walnut casing, base, and window sills. In total, we replaced around 900 lineal feet of soffit and installed approximately 32 squares of aluminum siding. The entire house was meticulously prepped, repaired, and painted according to the client’s chosen color. Throughout the project, we incorporated numerous custom touches and unique design elements, some of which you can see in the pictures. Our team also addressed various unforeseen challenges, from soil issues to rot and decay repair, roof leaks, drainage problems, electrical and HVAC complexities, and much more. At Xpand Inc., we take pride in making it all happen, turning your remodeling and renovation dreams into reality.

2011 NARI CAPITAL COTY FINALIST AWARD WINNER This 1970’s split-level single-family home in an upscale Arlington neighborhood had been neglected for years. With his surrounding neighbors all doing major exterior and interior remodeling, however, the owner decided it was time to renovate his property as well. After several consultation meetings with the design team at Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes, he settled on an exterior layout to create an Art & Craft design for the home. It all got started by excavating the front and left side of the house and attaching a wrap-around stone porch. Key design attributes include a black metal roof, large tapered columns, blue and grey random style flag stone, beaded stain ceiling paneling and an octagonal seating area on the left side of this porch. The front porch has a wide stairway and another set of stairs leads to the back yard. All exterior walls of the home were modified with new headers to allow much larger custom-made windows, new front doors garage doors, and French side and back doors. A custom-designed mahogany front door with leaded glass provides more light and offers a wider entrance into the home’s living area. Design challenges included removing the entire face of the home and then adding new insulation, Tyvek and Hardiplank siding. The use of high-efficiency low-e windows makes the home air tight. The Arts & Crafts design touches include the front gable over the front porch, the prairie-style grill pattern on the windows and doors, the use of tapered columns sitting over stone columns and the leaded glass front door. Decorative exterior lighting provides the finishing touches to this look. Inside, custom woodwork, crown molding, custom glass cabinets and interior pillars carry the design. Upon entering the space, visitors face a large partition that separates the living area from a gourmet Arts & Crafts kitchen and dining room. The home’s signature space, the kitchen offers contrasting dark and light cherry cabinets. Wide plank hard wood floors, exotic granite counters and stainless steel professional-grade appliances make this a kitchen fit for any chef.

These kitchen & dining spaces were previously separated by cabinets between the them, making them feel cut off and dark. We opened the whole space up, installed bright white cabinets & quartz counters and added new windows and a french door and built a banquette for a charming eat-in kitchen nook. The space is now cheerful, bright and open!

A Carolee McCall Smith design, this new home took its inspiration from the old-world charm of traditional farmhouse style. Details of texture rather than color create an inviting feeling while keeping the decor fresh and updated. Painted brick, natural wood accents, shiplap, and rustic no-maintenance floors act as the canvas for the owner’s personal touches. The layout offers defined spaces while maintaining natural connections between rooms. A wine bar between the kitchen and living is a favorite part of this home! Spend evening hours with family and friends on the private 3-season screened porch. For those who want a master suite sanctuary, this home is for you! A private south wing gives you the luxury you deserve with all the desired amenities: a soaker tub, a modern shower, a water closet, and a massive walk-in closet. An adjacent laundry room makes one-level living totally doable in this house! Kids claim their domain upstairs where 3 bedrooms and a split bath surround a casual family room. The surprise of this home is the studio loft above the 3-car garage. Use it for a returning adult child, an aging parent, or an income opportunity. Included energy-efficient features are: A/C, Andersen Windows, Rheem 95% efficient furnace, Energy Star Whirlpool Appliances, tankless hot water, and underground programmable sprinklers for lanscaping.

[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.

Starting in the kitchen, we added a wall of mounted espresso stained cherry cabinets with crown molding and white tile backsplash. Gorgeous granite counter tops, a large island with possible seating options and matching double counter tops against espresso stained cherry siding, and built-in stainless-steel appliances; including a fridge, oven, stove-top and hood, are some of the features that this kitchen boasts. To ensure there is enough lighting, recessed lights were installed along with a couple hanging lantern lights above the island. The look is finished with a beautiful dark hardwood flooring.

Game room with polished concrete floors, shiplap and reclaimed wood walls, and lots of natural light.
Game room - large country open concept concrete floor game room idea in Austin with white walls and a wall-mounted tv