3/27/2025

When these homeowners reached out to us, they knew that their home had a lot more potential than what it currently was, they just didn’t know where to start. They wanted their outdated, traditional European home to feel interesting and different and they wanted help stepping out of their comfort zones. When we first walked through this home, we saw the potential it had. Looking past the updating it needed, this home had good bones and just needed a creative touch to bring it back to life.

Our scope for this project was the entire main floor, but for today’s excerpt of this project we will be focusing on the kitchen, dining room, and mud room. As you can see in the pictures below, these rooms were outdated and the mud room especially, was not functional for a family of four. The finishes were neutral, but overall there was nothing special about the rooms or home as a whole. When working with this space, it was imperative that all details were accounted for and that nothing was missed. During our walk through we determined that we didn’t have to do a lot of demolition to walls or structural items. 

EXISTING CONDITIONS

Since the three of these rooms are all connected to each other, we needed to be smart with the design and make sure each room flows seamlessly into each other. Not only did we want them to flow into each other, but we also wanted to be unpredictable and create an element of surprise that fit in the space. During the process of getting to know our clients more and hearing their feedback, we were able to pick out selections and create a render of our plan. 

THE DESIGN PROCESS

One of the biggest design challenges in this space was achieving a sense of balance with the built-ins around the fireplace. The unique shape of the fireplace meant that standard shelving wouldn’t create the cohesive, intentional look we envisioned. To ensure the built-ins felt proportionate and visually harmonious, we custom-designed every detail—down to the depth, height, and framing. Since these shelves would ultimately showcase decorative accessories, we had to plan ahead, considering the scale and arrangement of décor before construction even began. This thoughtful approach allowed us to craft built-ins that not only complement the fireplace but also feel seamlessly integrated into the overall design.

CHALLENGES

These two rooms sit side by side, giving us the opportunity to step away from the main spaces and create something unique. Our client wanted something different—and that’s exactly what we delivered. From the very beginning, this project felt special. We knew the home had the potential for a stunning transformation, and watching it come to life was incredibly rewarding. Every detail, from the custom-built ins to the carefully curated finishes, was designed to make these spaces feel both intentional and extraordinary. See the project by clicking the photos below.

THE REVEAL