This fifteen-year-old Cleveland townhome not only needed a total update of finishes, materials and numerous repairs, but also suffered from a poor layout. Our firm was hired to take care of all these issues. We worked in every room: making dramatic changes to the kitchen, dining and living area on the main level and the primary suite on the third floor.

The main floor had an unusual problem: too many windows in the living area. It made the placement of furniture almost impossible. The homeowners wanted a large TV, fireplace and a comfortable seating area. To create the space they wanted, we added a feature wall along the existing stair handrail.

The dining area was dark due to overly large wing walls separating it from the kitchen and living areas, so we cut them back and created a bar/buffet (also on the couples’ wish list). The kitchen had dated cabinets and appliances and felt chopped up. The clients wanted to create a separate but open pantry and coffee area which they love. We took out the tile in the kitchen and continued the oak flooring to further unify the layout. 

The primary bedroom, bath and adjacent laundry area had an awkward angled wall that complicated each of those spaces. We straightened out the wall and each room became larger. The bedroom gained space on the wall for a TV across from the bed. The bath easily accommodated a large shower and double vanity with storage. And by adding cabinetry to hide the plumbing and utilities, the laundry area could be open to the hall.

The original master bath and a tiny room off the master bedroom were demolished and combined to create the gracious new bath you see above. Then we converted an adjacent bedroom into a large walk-in dressing room.

Our clients requested a spa retreat that would facilitate a refreshing preparation for the day and a more leisurely prep for a night out. As design professionals, their eyes search for perfection. We were pleased to bring to life a design that embraces balance and elegance both visually and tactilely.

The main design feature of the bath is the long wall with two vanities. They are symmetrically located on either side of a new French-door entry from the bedroom. The pair of floating vanities adds drama with the veining emulating the colors of blue quartzite. This combined with the marble doorknobs, the marble penny-hex mosaic floor tile at the door, and the brushed brass metals adds a touch of glamour. The adjacent dressing room has a more masculine design but is thoughtful and elegant just the same.

Moving from New York City during a pandemic wasn’t an easy transition, but our homeowners purchased a 1920 Tudor Revival home in Cleveland. While it truly is a beautiful home, some portions had fallen into disrepair and other interior rooms needed modern updates.

About a year after purchasing their 6-bedroom 3.5-bath home, our homeowners hired our general contracting firm to update and historically restore significant portions of it. Having completed a major remodel of their brownstone home in NYC, they were no strangers to the remodeling process and knew what to expect from their contractor. They carefully selected which products were being used in their historic home.

They had previously fallen in love with cabinetry from Downsview and wanted to install it in their Cleveland home. So our firm completely gutted the master bathroom and kitchen to update those rooms. We also oversaw the installation of a whole-house generator as well as the new landscape design.

Our clients also requested cedar-lined closets, new stair balusters and hand rails, new hardware on the windows and doors, new paint in every room, and new light fixtures throughout the interior and exterior of the home.

When a gourmet cook who was accustomed to commercial appliances and conveniences bought this home, she knew the tiny kitchen would need an overhaul. In addition to the frustratingly small appliances (such as the “Barbie-size” refrigerator), the kitchen had a serious lack of counterspace. Our client hated the range awkwardly placed in the middle of the kitchen with no room for a commercial range.

This kitchen also lacked the historic architectural elements that the homeowners enjoyed throughout the rest of the home. They wanted 1920s charm while upgrading to modern kitchen appliances, storage and functionality. Although this kitchen had seen changes in its one hundred years, none of those changes had been beautiful or thoughtful! 

Expanding the workspace required enclosing the exterior porch in order to add that space into the kitchen footprint. Since we were removing their old porch we created a new back porch to provide an easier transition from the elements into the kitchen, which is the homeowner’s main entry point.

What started with the demolition of everything down to the exterior brick and subfloor (including 5 different flooring types) ended with a gleaming new kitchen replete with new appliances, beautiful crown molding, natural light, storage and more space! Enjoy images of the new kitchen, mudroom and butler’s pantry space below.

2020 Kitchen and Solarium Renovation

NARI 2021 CotY Award, Kitchen Remodel under $100,000

After hiring another contractor to build a solarium over their back deck, our homeowners decided it was time to let the sunlight from the solarium fill their kitchen. They hired our team to complete an intricate kitchen remodel. Because the kitchen space was very small, the design plan included moving doors, removing walls and sharing space with (but not disturbing) the glass ceiling and walls of the solarium.

Eager to start their project, our client purchased lime green marboleum flooring and large commercial appliances prior to hiring us; both items added a level of difficulty to this project. They insisted on vertical grain walnut cabinetry, which draws one’s eyes up to the 9 ft. ceiling but was a huge challenge for the cabinet maker, carpenters and entire team. We met with many more challenges along the way in this 100-year-old home. But we met each challenge with a solution; and our client had a few fun, quirky, creative ideas of her own.

In the end, our client’s list of her favorite things was long! We were able to give her a dream kitchen in the the midcentury modern (yet contemporary) style. What they love most of all is the openness as they move seamlessly from kitchen to solarium to garden.

 Our clients asked for us to begin work on the front of the house where we added a lovely front porch with columns, portico and flagstone pavers leading up to the porch. After completing that project, we moved to other projects on the house including painting the exterior, new driveway, new windows and full remodel on the interior. Take a digital tour of the house with us to see our work!  

Our client longed for a home that was modern, masterfully crafted, and easy to entertain in. “We didn’t want to make it too modern where it wasn’t classic. And, we also didn’t want this kitchen to look like a museum.” she said. Our client stressed that the most important goal was to honor the house and its history, however she was ready for a complete overhaul.

Her family’s needs were very relevant for a modern family living in a historic home and included the following:

• A kitchen and dining room that married function and beauty and was entertaining-friendly
• A breakfast area that would serve as their casual family spot and could include a TV
• A place to store shoes, bags and coats when entering from the garage
• A butler’s pantry to show off servingware and everyday china yet tuck away the coffee station and wet bar

To meet our client’s needs we completely renovated most of the first floor, which included removing multiple walls, eliminating several closets, duplicating an elliptical opening, adding a mudroom and butler’s pantry, and creating a kitchen that was ideal for both family life and entertaining.

Before hiring us, they needed help. Two substantial DIY home projects that were underway had come to a grinding halt. Their current master bathroom packed in a tiny gable needed more than a remodel, it was begging for additional space. (And finding the right layout stumped our homeowners and other professionals whom they consulted.) Our clients wanted modern conveniences—including a whole house AC system—while maintaining a historically relevant remodel. Finally, they needed a home remodeling professional that could perform the quality of work while handling the challenges of an old home.

The former master bathroom was so tiny only the husband used it. The couple had never shared a bathroom before this remodel. Accustomed to their own space, they asked for the new design to keep their individual areas while allowing them to share a larger bathroom.

To meet our clients’ needs we combined two rooms: the original bathroom and a small office/closet to create a spacious bathroom that included a pedestal sink for him and a large vanity for her. We also added an elegant shower, a toilet with a privacy wall, and a marble dressing table.