THE PICS HAVE ARRIVED ... COME VIEW A 70'S HUNTER'S CABIN REDESIGNED INTO A CHIC CONTEMPORARY HOME!

Happy Friday everyone.

Today is the day I reveal the project I had been working on in Central Florida for the past several months.

I had met my clients through a mutual friend during their birthday party. She had mentioned her "mancave" home and how she desperately wanted to red update the great room. She knew of me as a writer, illustrator, and artist, but not an interior designer.

She was thrilled when I told her how I would recreate her space. Without even seeing the home, I was hired. I am one of those people that have a sixth sense about what a client wants. It is a gift and I am very thankful to have it.

A few days later I arrived at the lovely riverfront home. Nestled between two rivers on a small barrier island, this brick and timber ranch looked quite polished from the outside. With lush landscaping the "A" framed home welcomed me.

My jaw dropped as I entered. What I had faced was the nightmare my client had described ... only ten times worse. It was like walking into a time warf. Dry cedar, hung diagonally on each EVERY wall. The unfinished cedar-beamed ceiling sparkled with frosted popcorn... YUK! The sunken living room, affectionately know as "THE PIT" was surrounded by cedar fenced railings, with only a small opening to descend the two steps into it.

The heavy stone fireplace LOOMED over restricted space. It seriously looked like something you would see outdoors.

As my eyes glanced around the dark burgundy leather sofa sectional weighed down the room even more. The space was split in two- floor wise- half terra cotta tile, the other half a soft cream colored carpet (the only light thing in the space).

The dining furniture consisted of even more wood... oak this time, ranging from the 1930's to the70's. The crowning jewel was the etched paneled 70's chandelier.

The kitchen had been remodeled about six years prior, but the paper screamed 80's and the very heavy burgundy stools added even more weight to the NINE FOOT breakfast bar. No backsplash had been installed, only more of the dated wall paper.

Now don't get too discouraged. I certainly didn't, the space HAD AMAZING bones and potential. Two eight foot sliders and one six foot slider opened up to a stunning huge patio, pool with birdcage screening, and an AMAZING river view.

The space was open with four different sections. My job was to marry these four disjointed spaces into one stunning cohesive, functional, and modern space.

After my eyes adjusted, we signed the contract and a second later I was on my iPad. First things first ... get rid of the ugly huge leather barstools. Within fifteen minutes I had ordered six fabulous new low-rise contemporary ultra suede and chrome stools.

This was the first of MANY purchases. My clients wanted EVERYTHING new.

Believe it or not it took me some time to convince them to pull the cedar and drywall the space. The next feat was to scrape the popcorn off the ceilings and refinish and seal the beams. That took a while too. After 23 years in this space, they had a hard time finally letting go. But, I knew they were up for it. Once the demo started, their excitement rose.

Well are you ready for the Pics? I guess I have talked enough. Pictures speak louder than words.

I will show you two before and two after. Again the space is huge ... about 2000 sq. ft. I don't really have a good after pic. The kitchen was too cluttered when I was taking my pics. Not too much work was done in their anyway.

Prepare yourselves .... And now .... here they are!

 

As you can see this is the kitchen and dining area. SO MUCH WOOD....

Now for the afters....

This is my favorite pic ... and yes ... this IS the same house!

This pic is a daytime pic with a glimpse of the kitchen backsplash and new kitchen island stool.

Here you can see the heavy leather sectional and the Danish recliner, which is the ONLY piece of furniture the client insisted on using. 

Here you get a good feeling for the "Pit."

In the "after" pic two things are missing, the window treatments and fireplace glass enclosure. They are installed now, but not at the time I had left.

Now the afters. The pit literally has been transformed with the stone demoed and replaced with drywall and gorgeous glass tile.

Here is a lovely view from the dining area facing the living room and the Pit on the left. Notice the lovely custom railings i had designed specifically for this space.

A close up of the PIT... Isn't the fireplace stunning? I also tied in a LOVELY 19th century Seth Thomas clock in with this new contemporary space. 

Mixing a few choice pieces adds personality and warmth to contemporary spaces.

Well I hoped you enjoyed the shocking remodel. After ten weeks of countless hours I have two very happy clients.

Remember everyone, you too, can change your space. No matter what period your home was build in, you too, can transform your home. With proper planning any transformation can be done, even on a limited budget. Believe it or not, I was able to do this WHOLE remodel, including EVERYTHING including electronics for less than it cost for me to remodel my kitchen four years ago. It's amazing how prices have come down and depending on your geographical region, you can do something major for any budget.

Have a great weekend everyone... I'll be dropping by, still catching up with old and new friends.