Before & After: Builder Basic to Functional Focal Point

From Krista:

My clients are a young couple ready to make their “builder basic” house into a home that is customized to them. With a baby on the way, it was time to make the home feel comfortable, lived in and most of all, functional. We mainly focused on the main floor, investing in key areas such as the kitchen, family room and ensuite.

The homeowners decided when buying their custom home to hold back on upgrades until they lived in the space which allowed them to truly understand how they lived in it and what they would need. Fast forward 3 years with no furniture, storage or even art on the walls, my clients were desperate to create a wow factor in their space. More importantly, improving their very bland fireplace wall into a conversation piece.

Although not shown in the photo, this wall actually is as tall as the second story, open to the staircase and upper hallway. We decided to take advantage of the “nooks” beside the fireplace and highlight them with wanted tall bookshelves to display their art, collectibles and memorabilia. Second, we knew the fireplace surround need help as well.

To keep costs down, we applied shaker MDF panel moulding to the already existing drywall, removed the builder mantle and added in a more contemporary and stylize mitered surround to what was existing. Essentially, this entire renovation consisted of very little changes, instead it was more about adding to what was there.

In addition to the millwork and paneling, we gave the room a fresh coat of paint, adding in some comfortable furniture and a rug, and now this room is set for the whole family to enjoy 🙂