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Custom Details Bring Our Client's Vision To Life
Every homeowner has a vision of his or her perfect home. Some dream of a warm and traditional room featuring dark woods and lots of texture. Others see softer colors and shiny finishes creating the canvas for their remodeled space. In some cases, the owners of a home may have two distinctly different visions for their home and wonder if there is a way to meld the two together harmoniously. We are happy to say that yes, it can be done! You can see how we were able to accomplish it for recent clients by creating custom details in nearly every room of their house.
Our clients reached out to us after they purchased a Cape Cod style home with the vision to completely remodel it and create a home where they could entertain their family comfortably, especially during the holidays. The husband and wife had their own specific style preferences, which were quite different. He preferred a rustic aesthetic featuring live edge wood accents. She loved spaces with a bit of glitz and glamour, with touches of her favorite colors like blue and purple.
Our design team spent time with the couple discussing their ideas and looking at inspiration photos. These discussions allowed us to develop custom elements within their remodeled spaces that echo both of their individual preferences, yet work well together to create a cohesive space that brings both of their visions to life.
HERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF THE CUSTOM DETAILS INCLUDED IN THEIR HOME:
Custom pendant lighting fixture in the dining room. Our clients knew they wanted to use pendant lights in the dining room. We created a custom piece that would capture both of their preferences by selecting several glass pendants in a variety of shapes and sizes and hanging them at different lengths from a gorgeous piece of live edge wood. This became one of the focal points in their entertaining space.
Knotty Alder Columns & Doors. After removing a wall to open the living room into the dining and kitchen areas, we selected Knotty Alder wood for the columns and doors to bring a warm and welcoming feel to the main entertaining area. The richness of the wood balances with the light, natural tones of the stacked stone backsplash, and cream and sage green cabinetry found in the kitchen.
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Live Edge Fireplace Mantel. A beautiful piece of live edge wood was crafted to become the fireplace mantel, which also created another beautiful focal point.
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Iron Scroll Lighting Valances. (in the master bathroom and tub/sitting area) Our client asked for a light source that would not shine down into her eyes while using the bathroom. She found and fell in love with a metal scroll piece online and we used it to create a lighting valance by building a frame to house the metal piece. Behind it we installed lights on a dimmer to provide the soft light source our client requested.
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Custom Tile Design in Shower. We created a 100% custom tile design in the shower highlighting our client’s favorite colors. The shower floor and wall border are made of marble pieces designed to look like pebbles. Italian tile is used to edge the border and bring in some sparkle. The tile mosaic is a work of art featuring hand selected and hand assembled pieces that create a gorgeous focal point.
This home is a lovely combination of each of the homeowner’s individual tastes. He can enjoy the rustic touches of the live edge wood and knotty pine columns and doors in the living room and dining rooms, while she relaxes in the softly lit master bathroom and sitting room decorated with artful lighting and mosaic tile designs in her favorite colors. It was such a pleasure to create all of these wonderful custom details for our clients and we wish them many years of enjoyment in their remodeled home.
Are you ready to love your home again and remodel your home to improve your lifestyle? We specialize in doing just that for homeowners in Hampton Roads and invite you to reach out to our team to discuss your vision and how we can help bring it to life.
Smart Kitchen Design & Selections by Benson Homes
Kitchens are the focal point of most homes. It’s where you cook, entertain, and dine as a family and upending that space to remodel can be a headache. One of our recent projects was with a couple whose lifestyle included working nights and traveling often, so naturally they were hesitant to bring construction into their home. We are happy to say that not only were they thrilled with the results of transforming their outdated kitchen but they had minimal disruption to their lifestyle during the process.
During the design phase, we worked closely with the homeowners to check everything off the list of their dream kitchen. From making the kitchen feel more connected to the other main level living spaces, to improving storage and redesigning the kitchen ventilation system to vent cooking smells outdoors, we were able to add all their requests into the final design.
The clients had a galley style kitchen and, with the exception of a small pass-through window, the kitchen and adjacent family room were closed off from one another. The existing espresso stained cabinetry darkened and narrowed the kitchen and the brown tiled floor and bright blue walls gave the room an over-all outdated look.
Our design involved removing a portion of wall between the kitchen and family room making the space feel larger, more open and bright. It also connected the kitchen to the living room and allowed the two spaces to flow freely into one another. Having a new open area allowed us to extend the granite countertop to create a bar with additional seating and adding new LED recessed lights, under-cabinet lighting, and pendant lights over the bar made the kitchen brighter.
The material selections were integral in transforming the space into a personalized dream kitchen. Our clients chose a maple cabinetry with an oak stained tumbleweed finish and modern hardware paired with creamy granite countertops. The square tan colored tile along the walls were replaced with a pearl tumbled travertine backsplash in subway style. This change modernized the space and elongated the walls, giving it a streamlined and “unfussy” look. A few standout features that added character to the space include a set of floating shelves, concrete farmhouse sink, and mercury glass pendant lights. Flooring throughout the first level was updated to an easy-to-maintain synthetic wood floor.
“I am in love with our kitchen every single day. It’s still hard to believe the transformation it went through, but the function is infinitely better, and the beauty and quality is incredible.”
The homeowners are happy that they can now cook, entertain and dine in a space that was designed specifically for their needs and that reflects their style! Are you ready to love your home again? We would love to talk with you.
Entertainment-Ready Kitchen Remodel by Benson Homes
This remodeling story is a wonderful example of how removing and shifting walls can have an amazing impact on the functionality and visual appeal of an entire level of a home. When our clients reached out to us, they were looking to create an open concept Kitchen that would allow for easy entertaining. The couple had recently purchased this townhome so his mother could be closer to the family.
Watch the transformation video!
The existing floorplan offered first floor living, but the Kitchen was tucked in the back and was separated from the rest of the living space by a full wall with a small pass through into the Dining Room. Our design involved removing the dividing wall between the Dining Room and Kitchen as well as the fake columns and beam that separated the Dining Room and Living Room. The entire space was opened up to allow for easy flow and view throughout the first floor living space. The wall shared by the Kitchen and large Master Bedroom was shifted back just enough to provide a full wall of additional cabinetry including a much-needed large double Pantry cabinet. Now that we had opened up the Kitchen area we could focus on the cabinetry layout and selections.
The existing wood toned cabinets were replaced with white with a crown molding to match with the rest of the home. The larger, open space allowed for more cabinetry and the addition of an island with seating for the grandkids. We were able to repurpose the old cabinets above the washer and dryer in the adjoining laundry room and swapped out the existing swing door for a pocket door. The slate-look ceramic tile was replaced an engineered wood flooring that creates a sense of warmth and is very easy to clean. A dark Cambria countertop compliments the tile found in the dining and living area and a natural field tile backsplash offsets the cabinets beautifully.
The single fluorescent ceiling light was outdated and did not provide adequate lighting for the new Kitchen. The new lighting plan was carefully thought out to provide general illumination through well placed recessed lighting; task lighting through pendant lighting over the island and under cabinet lighting; and aesthetic fluidity with an eye-catching chandelier for the Dining Room table. Special details include a touch faucet, under counter microwave and glass front cabinetry for displaying dishes.
By removing and shifting walls, we improved the entire flow of the first floor visually as well as functionally and created a beautiful, light-filled space for cooking and entertaining. Grandma can easily prepare meals in her new Kitchen and still chat with her guests and grandchildren who love to sit at the island as well as in the adjoining Dining Room and Living Room.
The Benson Homes team really enjoyed creating this space for this family and we hope they will enjoy spending time with friends and family for years to come.
Transforming a Garage into a Multi-Functional Space
Many families ponder the idea of adding extra living space for a few years before they are actually ready to remodel. Then, all-of-the sudden, something will happen that makes them realize that they can’t wait any longer. In the case of this remodeling story, it was the snowstorm of 2016 that spurred the homeowners into action. As the family was stuck in the house with nowhere to go, they longed for more space. The parents longed for a getaway spot for themselves that could also double as a hangout area for the kids and their friends. As they considered their options, there was one clear choice…to renovate the detached garage.
The detached garage previously functioned as a workshop and storage room and offered plenty of square footage to create a family room, kitchenette, and full bath. It’s location right beside the outdoor kitchen made it an ideal spot for entertaining and provided an easily accessible bathroom during the summertime. Even the canine family members get to enjoy it as they have their own personal entrance, through a bathroom doggie door.
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Our design team listened carefully to our client’s wishes to create a space that had a modern rustic feel and found selections that fit their aesthetic perfectly. To set the tone, Blackstone Oak luxury vinyl plank flooring was installed throughout. The kitchenette area features Maple Shaker style cabinets in a pecan shell stain, Uba Tuba granite countertops, and an eye-catching amber glass and antique bronze pulley sconce. Rather than use just an ordinary door for the bathroom entry, a gorgeous Knotty Alder barn door creates a stunning focal point of the room.
The fantastic selections continue in the full bath. A reclaimed wood double vanity with a gray washed pine finish anchors the room. White, semi-recessed sinks with chrome faucets add some contemporary accents, while the glass and oil-rubbed bronze mini pendant lights are a balance between both rustic and modern. The design called for taking the shower tile to the ceiling and it really paid off. A sliced pebble tile floor in the shower is curbed with Uba Tuba granite, creating a clean line and another accent detail.
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The new multi-functional space looks like a natural extension of their home, with its matching exterior lights, new windows, doors, and sliders. And with winter approaching and snow on the way, this family is ready to hunker down and ride out the storm in comfort and warmth. When summer arrives, they have a designated bathroom for outdoor entertaining and a wonderful area for guests to hang out.
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It was a pleasure to create this beautiful remodel for our clients and we hope that they continue to enjoy it for many years to come.