Design ideas for a large contemporary open plan dining in Saint Petersburg with beige walls, light hardwood floors and a corner fireplace.

This is an example of a large country open plan dining in Melbourne with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a corner fireplace, a stone fireplace surround and brown floor.

This project was such an incredible design opportunity, and instilled inspiration and excitement at every turn! Our amazing clients came to us with the challenge of converting their beloved family home into a welcoming haven for all members of the family. At the time that we met our clients, they were struggling with the difficult personal decision of the fate of the home. Their father/father-in-law had passed away and their mother/mother-in-law had recently been admitted into a nursing facility and was fighting Alzheimer’s. Resistant to loss of the home now that both parents were out of it, our clients purchased the home to keep in in the family. Despite their permanent home currently being in New Jersey, these clients dedicated themselves to keeping and revitalizing the house. We were moved by the story and became immediately passionate about bringing this dream to life. The home was built by the parents of our clients and was only ever owned by them, making this a truly special space to the family. Our goal was to revitalize the home and to bring new energy into every room without losing the special characteristics that were original to the home when it was built. In this way, we were able to develop a house that maintains its own unique personality while offering a space of welcoming neutrality for all members of the family to enjoy over time. The renovation touched every part of the home: the exterior, foyer, kitchen, living room, sun room, garage, six bedrooms, three bathrooms, the laundry room, and everything in between. The focus was to develop a style that carried consistently from space to space, but allowed for unique expression in the small details in every room. Starting at the entry, we renovated the front door and entry point to offer more presence and to bring more of the mid-century vibe to the home’s exterior. We integrated a new modern front door, cedar shingle accents, new exterior paint, and gorgeous contemporary house numbers that really allow the home to stand out. Just inside the entry, we renovated the foyer to create a playful entry point worthy of attention. Cement look tile adorns the foyer floor, and we’ve added new lighting and upgraded the entry coat storage. Upon entering the home, one will immediately be captivated by the stunning kitchen just off the entry. We transformed this space in just about every way. While the footprint of the home ultimately remained almost identical, the aesthetics were completely turned on their head. We re-worked the kitchen to maximize storage and to create an informal dining area that is great for casual hosting or morning coffee. We removed the entry to the garage that was once in the informal dining, and created a peninsula in its place that offers a unique division between the kitchen/informal dining and the formal dining and living areas. The simple light warm light gray cabinetry offers a bit of traditional elegance, along with the marble backsplash and quartz countertops. We extended the original wood flooring into the kitchen and stained all floors to match for a warmth that truly resonates through all spaces. We upgraded appliances, added lighting everywhere, and finished the space with some gorgeous mid century furniture pieces. In the formal dining and living room, we really focused on maintaining the original marble fireplace as a focal point. We cleaned the marble, repaired the mortar, and refinished the original fireplace screen to give a new sleek look in black. We then integrated a new gas insert for modern heating and painted the upper portion in a rich navy blue; an accent that is carried through the home consistently as a nod to our client’s love of the color. The former entry into the old covered porch is now an elegant glass door leading to a stunning finished sunroom. This room was completely upgraded as well. We wrapped the entire space in cozy white shiplap to keep a casual feel with brightness. We tiled the floor with large format concrete look tile, and painted the old brick fireplace a bright white. We installed a new gas burning unit, and integrated transitional style lighting to bring warmth and elegance into the space. The new black-frame windows are adorned with decorative shades that feature hand-sketched bird prints, and we’ve created a dedicated garden-ware “nook” for our client who loves to work in the yard. The far end of this space is completed with two oversized chaise loungers and overhead lights…the most perfect little reading nook! Just off the dining room, we created an entirely new space to the home: a mudroom. The clients lacked this space and desperately needed a landing spot upon entering the home from the garage. We uniquely planned existing space in the garage to utilize for this purpose, and were able to create a small but functional entry point without losing the ability to park cars in the garage. This new space features cement-look tile, gorgeous deep brown cabinetry, and plenty of storage for all the small items one might need to store while moving in and out of the home. The remainder of the upstairs level includes massive renovations to the guest hall bathroom and guest bedroom, upstairs master bed/bath suite, and a third bedroom that we converted into a home office for the client. Some of the largest transformations were made in the basement, where unfinished space and lack of light were converted into gloriously lit, cozy, finished spaces. Our first task was to convert the massive basement living room into the new master bedroom for our clients. We removed existing built-ins, created an entirely new walk-in closet, painted the old brick fireplace, installed a new gas unit, added carpet, introduced new lighting, replaced windows, and upgraded every part of the aesthetic appearance. One of the most incredible features of this space is the custom double sliding barn door made by a Denver artisan. This space is truly a retreat for our clients! We also completely transformed the laundry room, back storage room, basement master bathroom, and two bedrooms. This home’s massive scope and ever-evolving challenges were thrilling and exciting to work with, and the result is absolutely amazing. At the end of the day, this home offers a look and feel that the clients love. Above all, though, the clients feel the spirit of their family home and have a welcoming environment for all members of the family to enjoy for years to come.

Marie-Dominique Verdier
Large country open plan dining in Denver with a stone fireplace surround, brown walls, dark hardwood floors and a corner fireplace.

Dining Room & Kitchen Photo by David Eichler
Mid-sized scandinavian open plan dining in San Francisco with white walls, medium hardwood floors, a corner fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and brown floor.

Contemporary Scandinavian-inspired redesign of an historic Hamilton Victorian home.
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional dining room in Toronto with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a corner fireplace, a wood fireplace surround and brown floor.

Design ideas for a large traditional dining room in Saint Petersburg with white walls, medium hardwood floors and a corner fireplace.

Photo of a mid-sized midcentury kitchen/dining combo in Orange County with white walls, concrete floors, a corner fireplace, a brick fireplace surround, grey floor and exposed beam.

Inspiration for a large transitional kitchen/dining combo in Atlanta with white walls, medium hardwood floors and a corner fireplace.

A lovely traditional dining room, a nod to the historic architecture of the 1908 home. An imported handmade area rug is the foundation of the room. Scalamandre floral linen drapery fabric adds elegance and pops of color. Grass cloth wallpaper provides interesting texture and a suitable backdrop for the Client's original art.

Wohn-Esszimmer mit Sitzfenster
Inspiration for a large contemporary open plan dining in Munich with white walls, plywood floors, a corner fireplace and beige floor.

This is an example of a traditional separate dining room in Stockholm with medium hardwood floors, a corner fireplace and orange floor.

This is an example of an expansive traditional dining room in Atlanta with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a corner fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

Small country open plan dining in Other with white walls, porcelain floors, a corner fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, brown floor and exposed beam.

A rustic dining experience along side an original to the home brick gas fireplace. Custom upholstered chairs, trestle table, and brand new white oak, wide plank flooring.

The rich brown mahogany woodwork contrasts with the fireplace's marble surround, painted white walls and tall, sheer window treatments. Daniel Newcomb Photography

Photo of a large mediterranean kitchen/dining combo in Houston with white walls, beige floor, marble floors, a corner fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.

This modern dining room accompanies an entire home remodel in the hills of Piedmont California. The wet bar was once a closet for dining storage that we recreated into a beautiful dual wet bar and dining storage unit with open shelving and modern geometric blue tile.

This is an example of a mid-sized country kitchen/dining combo in San Diego with beige walls, medium hardwood floors, a corner fireplace and a stone fireplace surround.