June 9th, 2011 -
When homeowner Nancy Schwartz experienced a change in her life, she decided it was time to take charge. Her actions helped her rediscover herself and, with HighCraft’s remodel expertise, create a new living space that is bright, cheery and open – just like its owner.
The project started with the master bath. “I had decided it was time to do something for myself,” says Nancy. “The bath was dark charcoal grey and very masculine. I wanted it brighter and lighter.” A phone call to HighCraft led to a transformation for both the bath and for Nancy.
“The bath ended up just the way I wanted it, very contemporary, though I didn’t know that was my style at the time.” As Nancy watched the charcoal disappear, she felt the room come alive. The dour color was replaced with fresh, glass blue and white mosaic wall tiles, and clean, cream and soft gray textured floor tiles.
“That contemporary look became my style: clean and open,” she says. “Three-quarters of the way through the bath, I decided to have HighCraft redo the tile around my fireplace and repaint the whole area in light green. When I saw the result, I just had to do the kitchen.”
HighCraft’s Project Manager Dana Gibson provided Nancy the support she needed to follow through with her design. “The fun thing for me is that I designed it and Dana made it happen,” she recalls. She selected a watery seafoam green glass brick tile for her kitchen backsplash and together she and the team at HighCraft based the design off of that element. Unnecessary headers and restricting walls that closed the kitchen off from the rest of the house were removed, opening up the space and allowing natural light to spill in. The dark, oil-finished hardwood floors were stripped and re-finished with a natural tone that immediately enlivened the space.
Nancy’s dated, rustic Hickory cabinets were removed and replaced with modern, crisp white painted cabinets. The impressive height of the kitchen was emphasized by installing double stacked cabinets all the way to the ceiling. Reeded glass fronts were added to the top row, acting as mini display cases for Nancy’s glassware and pottery when lit from within. Sleek stainless steel appliances and a high end stainless Grohe faucet provided by Ferguson Enterprises help create a cohesive design. . The contrasting natural Maple island designed specifically for Nancy can be repositioned within the space, making the room not only aesthetically pleasing, but highly functional.
During the kitchen remodel, Nancy came to Dana with an unusual request: hide the power outlets and switchplates in the backsplash. “The glass tile needed to be seamless. Being broken up by outlets would ruin the look. I asked Dana if we could tuck the outlets up under the cabinets. He said he had never done that before, but, by the next morning, he had it figured out.” The result is breathtaking; a smooth stream of uninterrupted glass.
Now Nancy has a home that makes her feel lighter, brighter and happy. “Walls really came down in the house – it opened up and I opened up at the same time,” says the happy homeowner. “I really came out of myself with this project. And Dana was great – so supportive of my ideas. We have become great friends.”
Nancy now feels like her home fits her personality, and she has a new appreciation for the importance of a living space that makes you happy. Let the team at HighCraft help you find your new space. To find out more visit www.HighCraft.net or call (970) 472-8100.
