Renovating a Childhood Home to Make it Your Own

It’s been said that “you can’t go home again”, but depending on your definition of “home”, that’s exactly what our client was able to do in this very special total home renovation.

Our client had purchased her childhood home and had the goal to make it her forever home, with a view to “aging in place” design so that it would suit her lifestyle for the future.

This project essentially touched every corner of the existing house, so we worked very closely alongside the architects to ensure there would be no structural issues when removing walls or opening ceilings.

We expanded the front porch out, absorbing the existing one to become part of the family room. In doing this, we opened up the vaulted ceiling and removed the wall between the former kitchen and family room, making the space feel so much larger. We moved what was the main staircase to the basement, in order to better maximize the interior space. We were able to utilize a secondary basement staircase from the front entry and guest room to maintain functional access to the newly remodeled basement.

The overall transformation to take the home from our client’s parents’ aesthetic to her own is truly amazing. We created faux box beams at the living room ceiling, which are a cost effective way to create the look of a structural solid beam. We also were able to integrate her functional and spatial goals for each area within a relatively small footprint, while ensuring that this would be a home she could enjoy safely for the rest of her life. The bathrooms, kitchen and living areas were all designed with aging in mind. 

Our client is happy making new memories in a house that was already the setting of much joy and nostalgia.

We were thrilled to be part of this journey home. 

 

Building an Oasis…

Our homes are often a reflection of our values, and how we hope to spend our time. For clients who love to entertain and host large gatherings filled with food, friends, and fun in the sun, this Project Spotlight will serve as a major inspiration.

Our clients wanted their home to be an oasis for hosting friends and family. That meant upgrades to the kitchen and dining room, to improve functionality for both cooking and entertaining. The large island, top of the range appliances, and bountiful storage provided by our custom cabinetry make it a dream kitchen to work in, alone or with many sous chefs at hand. The coffered ceilings in the dining room create a classic look with an open and inviting feel. The additional cabinetry and countertop match the selections in the kitchen, and provide storage and workspace, as well as a cohesive aesthetic.

We also transformed a screened-in porch into a three season room, making it suitable for additional months of use throughout the year. The views of the picturesque property through the new windows and the wet bar make it an ideal spot to hang out and relax with guests.

The clients’ outdoor property is truly enhanced by the new decking and sleek modern railings, which will stand up to tough upstate weather conditions. To maximize their enjoyment of their beautiful pool, we constructed a free-standing building with room for changing in and out of swimsuits, and storing pool supplies. Our clients worked with Brookside Nursery for their elegant landscaping and patio enhancements, and a local pool company to complete the upgrades to their outdoor space.

Our clients love their renovation and the ample opportunities it provides for making many fun memories with loved ones, all throughout the year.

 

 

A Kitchen With A Place For Everything, and Everything in its Place

Organization just makes life easier.

We all know the power of a well-designed system that contains clutter, hides mess, and sorts the endless “stuff” of our modern lives. Few rooms beg for good storage solutions and proper homes for our items more than the kitchen.

That’s one of the many reasons why this particular Project Spotlight is so inspirational. In this large kitchen renovation, no detail was spared in the achievement of thoughtful storage, easily accessible amenities, and beautiful, cohesive design.

Our clients were fortunate in the original footprint of their home kitchen–it was an already expansive space that needed some aesthetic upgrades and improved functionality for their lifestyle.

We moved the washer and dryer from the basement to the kitchen, and housed them in custom cabinetry that not only conceals the appliances, but creates extra storage space. The kitchen island and peninsula allow for tons of workable space for cooking, eating, or relaxing with friends over a bottle of wine. And that spirit is expertly stored in the beautiful wine refrigerator and wet bar, all conveniently located in the same kitchen space.

Other cool and convenient features include the chef’s pantry, spice rack organization, and special produce drawers, which take cooking and entertaining to another level.

The (seemingly miles of!) custom cabinetry shine in contrast to the two different featured countertop and backsplash materials–a gleaming quartz, and gorgeous gray Barroca soapstone. The effect is classic, sophisticated, and elegant.

Our clients love their new kitchen, and it’s certainly not hard to see why.

 

A Stunning Kitchen Renovation with the Coolest Conveniences

Kitchens are the beating hearts of homes. We work, gather, play, and celebrate in these hubs of our houses. Both messes and memories are made in them every day.

That’s why having a kitchen that truly works for your lifestlye is so important. Enthusastic cooks and entertainers deserve spaces that make their tasks easier, and function at an optimal level for the celebrations they love to host.

In this kitchen renovation, the goal was to improve both functionality and aesthetics for our clients, who enjoy gathering with friends and family. This goal was achieved by creating a wider passage from the kitchen to the dining room, to create a more open feel and flow.

Our custom cabinetry shop created the beautiful hutch, which looks built-in and original to the house. It also offers ample storage and a small additional workspace. The addition of a wet bar designates a special space for serving drinks away from the other appliances. By zoning out these separate areas for their precise purposes, our clients can work together to entertain in their kitchen without crowding. The wet bar again offers more storage, and the perfect place for a beverage cooler.

The result is a bright, open, cassic space that feels warm and welcoming and invites you to linger.

Our clients are thrilled with their gorgeous new kitchen, and look forward to all the celebrations to come in their customized and optimally-convenient space.

 

Go With the Flow

Sometimes the right renovation project doesn’t aim to vastly alter the size of a space, so much as make better use of it for the homeowners.

This was a key element of the kitchen renovation for these clients, who found that their original cooking space left them continually bumping into one another when trying to prepare a meal.

To give the homeowners more room to work and enjoy their kitchen, we changed the orientation and traffic flow of the room. We removed an eat-in table and added a kitchen island, which offers additional counter space and seating. We repurposed a salvaged patio door and moved it into the dining room, which creates a better traffic flow pattern. We also replaced the existing kitchen window with a much bigger window, optimizing the view, and giving a sense of openness and light to the space.

The kitchen also got a beautiful design upgrade, with custom cabinetry in two different, but complementary materials. The new dedicated pantry space, soft close drawers, and luxury vinyl tile flooring all come together to create a modern, sleek, yet warm aesthetic.

Our clients are thrilled with their renovation, and the improved functionality and flow of their kitchen.

Design Details that Delight

This expansive project included the transformation of a kitchen, laundry room/half bath, and a sunroom. The goals were to give our clients improved functionality in their spaces with plenty of storage, some window and door improvements, and an upgrade to the aesthetics.

The house is an older custom home with beautiful interior trim and other high end finishes. Our custom cabinetry and millwork was the correct fit for this exquisite home, and blended seamlessly with the original parts of the house.

We gave thought to things like low-maintenance exterior trim that will last. Our beautiful custom cabinetry provides great storage and organization solutions for the clients. Note the special details like the built-in table that offers a cozy nook for sharing meals together, and the beautiful kitchen island which extends the working space.

 Our clients were delighted with the finished product, and we know they are making many happy new memories in their gorgeous renovated spaces.

 

Making Space for Better Living…

One of the best things about a renovation is that it allows us to update the homes we love to work better for our families. The way we live our lives changes over time, and whether we need more space for our growing families, a different layout for entertaining, or better storage and organization solutions, a renovation can simply make life easier.

In this case, our clients wanted an open concept floor plan for their kitchen and dining areas, and more functionality for their everyday lifestyle as well as entertaining. We removed a wall between the existing dining room and kitchen to accomplish that goal. We focused on maximizing storage space and work space, most notably in the twelve foot kitchen island. We also included plenty of wall storage, which is a great solution for finding more organizational space in your home.

The design choices in color and materials selections gave the project the perfect aesthetic look–clean, crisp, and totally magazine-worthy.

Our clients were wonderful to work with, open to suggestions and collaborative. They are thrilled with their new open kitchen and dining area, and look forward to enjoying it for many years to come with their young family.

A Beautiful New Deck Adds Outdoor Living Space

We like to make the most of our temperate seasons here in upstate New York, and time spent relaxing or entertaining on decks and porches are some of the best ways to enjoy spring, summer, and fall. While we find ourselves in the thick of winter, let’s go behind the scenes of this deck renovation and daydream of sunnier days to come.

For this project, we removed a weathered, treated deck at the back of the home, and built a new deck with composite decking, aluminum railing, and a new pergola.

We added quite a bit of square footage, additional access points, and removed a second floor balcony while updating the look of the entire back of the home.

The back of this house includes a walk-out basement, and the area beneath the existing deck included a concrete slab that we needed to work around. The size and scope of this deck project was considerable, which required expert planning.

The black aluminum rail work really pops against the composite decking, and the project created so much usable space for the clients to entertain their friends and family.

Our clients thoroughly enjoyed their first season with their new, expansive outdoor living space, and we know they’ll continue to enjoy it for many years to come.

 

An Extensive Renovation That Feels Like a Brand New Home

Some home improvement projects simply feel like an upgrade. And some feel like a transformation so dramatic, its hard to believe the “Before” and “After” reflect the same home.

In this Project Spotlight, we’ll go behind the scenes of an extensive, multi-room renovation that is fresh, updated, and modern.

This project included the remodel of our clients’ kitchen, first floor bathroom, laundry room, family room, and the primary bedroom on the second floor. The homeowners were ready to update the décor and also create more kitchen space for better functionality during family gatherings.

We partnered with an architect to consult on the structural changes involved in the project, particularly for the removal of the bearing wall between the kitchen and dining room.

Our design team did a wonderful job of pulling all of the materials and colors together, which created a cohesion between all of the many renovated spaces.

The transformation is nothing short of spectacular, and our clients are absolutely thrilled with the end result.

This Project Spotlight beautifully highlights the many possibilities renovation allows for clients who love their home and their location, but want to revamp their living spaces to better fit their lifestyle and design preferences.

It’s all doable, and we’d love to show you how! Reach out to us today if you’re ready for a new reality in your existing home.

A Gorgeous New Kitchen for Longtime Clients

We are honored when our clients turn to Schrader and Company for repeat projects, sometimes over the course of multiple homes. That was the case in this Project Spotlight, in which we undertook a kitchen renovation for clients we have loved working with over the years, on many different home projects.

For this kitchen renovation, our clients didn’t need an expanded footprint so much as some spacing changes that would improve the room’s functionality for their lifestyle.

In addition to moving appliances to create a new flow, we installed new custom cabinets with quartz counters and full-height quartz backsplashes. We put in a new window unit, new appliances, and new luxury vinyl tile flooring. We built the new cabinets to the existing soffit at the ceiling perimeter, which the clients wanted to preserve. Custom moulding at the higher center portion of the ceiling adds visual interest.

The existing kitchen island remained, and interestingly, is a custom Schrader and Company creation that we built for the previous homeowners.

The mixture of painted and white oak cabinets is a beautiful design touch, and the thoughtful placement of the appliances gives the room a great flow for both cooking and entertaining.

It’s an absolute pleasure to collaborate with these longtime clients, and we are thrilled that they trusted us to bring their vision for their home to life once again.