Thirteen years ago, with an infant, a toddler and a preschooler in tow, a Cincinnati couple moved into their dream home. Their newly-built residence sat on a nearly five-acre lot, which included plenty of trees, a pond, and space to roam. The home and its location made for a wonderful place to raise a family.
Today, while those children are not completely raised, all three have grown to be active teenagers and they, and their parents, now have different priorities than they did over a decade ago.
“When we moved into our home, we loved it,” the wife says. “But as our lifestyles changed and our tastes changed, we realized it was time for an update.”
Two spaces clearly demonstrate the definite shift of priorities: The first is an updated mudroom decked out with all the cubbies, lockers, and coat storage three teens could need. The second transformation is geared toward the adults in the home. What was once a playroom filled with toys is now a cozy wine room with green velvet club chairs.
“Our home was always very welcoming, but as our children grew, we wanted spaces that worked better for how we lived and entertained,” the homeowner says.
Assembling the team
To tackle design and renovation efforts, the couple relied on the talents of Jody Salters, principal designer with Nimbus 9 Interior Design, and Sam Broerman and Tony Accurso with Crapsey & Gilles Contractors. Encompassing the entire first floor, plans ranged from new paint, trim, carpeting and furniture in the primary suite, to reconfiguring the floor plan of the kitchen and family room where some walls were moved and others taken down to the studs.
“Our main goal was to create smaller, more intimate spaces in what was a very open floor plan,” the homeowner says. “Plus, the house was a bit dark. We wanted it to feel lighter and brighter.”
When she met with her clients, Salters says, “Ideas started pouring in immediately. I had a vision for the spaces and quickly began drawing floor plans.”
The house was fairly new, but the designer says its interior tone didn’t reflect the personalities of the owners. “When I’m designing, I focus on truly understanding my clients so I can create spaces that reflect who they are and how they live. I pay close attention to their personality, lifestyle, and the feeling they want their home to evoke. It’s part intuition, part collaboration. These clients are modern, stylish, and full of energy, and I knew their house had the potential to reflect that.”
To meet her clients’ wishes and accomplish her vision, Salters says the floor plan was reworked and several walls were removed. The room that changed the most structurally during the renovation was the kitchen. The original island and back wall were both built on a diagonal. While the arrangement provided a great view of the back yard, the layout was awkward. Changing that wall affected the footprint of the powder room, pantry, laundry room, and mudroom which were on the other side.
Experience counts
The homeowners are not novices when it comes to home building and renovation. They built their first home, then once their family grew, they built this home in 2012 with Hueber Homes. They also tackled the renovation of two Florida homes before beginning this latest project.
“My husband and I both had a lot of input,” she says. “We know what we like and what we don’t like. We just needed help getting there.
Lighter and brighter
One of the main features the husband wanted was a large wood-burning fireplace in the great room. Originally, the room had a gas fireplace with glass doors which was seldom used. The new fireplace is surrounded by a cast stone mantel.
“We sit in front of that fireplace all the time in the fall and winter,” she says. “There is a beautiful view out the windows.”
Noticeably absent in this room is any sign of a television. But the wife admits that during football season, a set might be rolled in so that the family can enjoy the game and the fire simultaneously.
Fireplace aside, the stunning focal point in this room is a custom-designed chandelier which hangs from the 22’4” ceiling. “Each pendant is suspended at a different height, creating visual interest and added dimension,” Salters says. “It’s almost like looking at stars.”
Even though there were a lot of windows in this room, the couple never felt like the room had enough light. The additional brightness and drama of this fixture is a game changer.
Entertaining center
Between the great room and the kitchen is the bar area where a traditional taller bar was replaced with a much more functional center island, complete with a dramatic quartzite waterfall countertop. Behind the island, floor-to-ceiling, black painted cabinetry with lighted glass fronts allow the beverage selection to glow.
While that island is often used when the couple entertains—sometimes for seating, other times as a food and drink station—the main island in the kitchen is where the family gathers for quick meals. The new island offers more countertop space and is much more functional than its predecessor. To brighten the space, dark perimeter cabinetry was replaced with lighter, white selections. The island still sports a powerful black finish, but the look is softened with a honed Taj Mahal quartzite countertop that transitions to a walnut eating/sitting space with wood hexagon paneling on its back and sides.
“We designed the stain for the wood top to coordinate with the wood paneling,” Salters says. “It adds beautiful depth and texture to the space.”
Hearth room hangout
Don’t let the white sofa fool you, according to the homeowner, the hearth room is where everybody hangs out. “It’s a simple, light, and calming room,” she says. We can go in there and “turn it off” and relax a bit.
As for the white sofa: “Treated fabrics are the new craze,” Salters says. “Because of their stain, moisture, and odor resistant qualities, it’s easier to design with lighter colored fabrics, without worrying about spills or messes.”
While this room carries on much of the monochromatic theme found throughout the rest of the home, two hot pink club chairs add a striking pop of color. Instead of bookcases, Salters designed upholstered benches to flank the fireplace. This is extra seating when there’s a crowd, but the homeowner says that sometimes her kids will lie there.
This is the go-to room when the kids have friends over…even sleeping here on several occasions. “I’ve even seen someone sleeping on the ottoman,” the wife says.
Mission accomplished
The signs are there. Whether it’s the family gathered by the fire, a crowd stretching from the great room to the kitchen and through the bar, or kids gathered on every available surface in the hearth room—the remodeling goal to make this a welcoming home for teens and adults alike, was met—and by all counts—exceeded.
RESOURCES Architect Brad Roush Remodeler Crapsey and Gilles Contractors Interior, kitchen, and bath design Jody Salters, Nimbus 9 Lighting Wired, John Richard, Fine Art Lamps, Visual Comfort, Arteriors Wall Treatments Designers Guild, Duchateau, Phillip Jeffries Furniture Robert James, Uttermost, Theodore Alexander, Sunpan, Thayer Coggin, Global Views, Bernhardt, Vanguard, Made Good, Custom Window treatments Custom with Brimar Hardware, Nimbus 9 Hearth room banquettes Orange Chair Kitchen cabinetry Dutch Cabinet Company Kitchen countertops and backsplash Stone Statement
Article by Karen Bradner | Photos by Kortnee Kate Media
Article originally appeared in May