A whole-home remodel can completely change how a house looks and functions without losing the character that makes it feel like home.
For one Lawrence remodeling project, nearly everything was new, from the roofing and siding to the electrical, plumbing, drywall and flooring. But looking brand new wasn’t the goal.
Instead, the homeowners wanted a timeless home with details inspired by decades past. Winston Brown worked alongside homeowner and interior designer Lisa Foust to rethink the floor plan, incorporate highly customized features and bring old and new elements together throughout the home.
What Goes Into a Whole-Home Remodel?
For this Lawrence home, the process started with the floor plan.
The homeowners had originally planned to build a new home but ultimately changed direction when an existing home became available through a mutual friend. The opportunity was to take the home they had and transform it around what they had already envisioned.
Winston Brown worked through several versions of the floor plan with the homeowners. A former office and piano room became the primary bedroom, while an existing bedroom and bathroom were reconfigured to create a closet corridor connecting the new bedroom and bathroom.
The plans evolved to include an additional garage and other structural changes that created more usable space throughout the home. Once the floor plan was finalized, the project moved into interior design and selections for spaces including the kitchen, butler’s pantry and mudroom.
The reconfigured floor plan opened the stairway to the dining room below.
From demolition through the homeowners moving back in, Winston Brown facilitated the construction, installation and labor needed to bring the plans and selections together.
How Can a Remodel Add Modern Function Without Losing Character?
Although nearly everything in the home was replaced, many of the design decisions were intended to make the finished space feel as though it had been there much longer.
Wallpaper, light fixtures, paneling and other period-inspired elements helped establish that character. New Pella windows were selected with a retro grid pattern, while reclaimed and antique pieces were incorporated throughout the home.
A wooden window from the homeowner’s grandfather’s 100-year-old home, repurposed between the living room and wet bar.
A wooden window from the homeowner’s grandfather’s 100-year-old home was repurposed between the living room and wet bar. In the dining room, an antique fireplace surround became a focal point, framed by historic cabinets that were installed and refinished on either side.
The antique fireplace surround and refinished historic cabinets in the dining room.
Other reclaimed pieces, including sinks, faucets and bathtubs dating to the 1800s and early 1900s, were restored and given new life.
A restored clawfoot bathtub, one of several reclaimed fixtures throughout the home.
The result wasn’t about choosing between old and new. It was about finding ways for the two to work together.
What Custom Features Can Be Included in a Home Remodel?
Some of the most unique details came directly from how the homeowners wanted to use their home.
In the laundry room, custom cabinetry was designed to completely conceal the washer and dryer. The doors slide out and close in front of the appliances, something Winston Brown had never incorporated in hundreds of previous remodels.
Custom-built cabinetry throughout the home conceals practical essentials behind a furniture-quality finish.
Solid brass strips were also incorporated into the tile floors. They’re subtle details, but they demonstrate how customization can extend beyond the most noticeable features in a room.
A custom remodel can involve much more than choosing finishes. It can create solutions around the homeowner, the existing house and the details that are important to them.
Planning a Whole-Home Remodel in Lawrence
A whole-home remodel can be an opportunity to rethink how rooms connect, how the home functions and which details are worth preserving or reimagining.
The primary bedroom balances new construction with the timeless character the homeowners wanted throughout.
For this Lawrence home, that meant combining extensive new construction with restored pieces and period-inspired details to create something that felt personal to the homeowners.
Take a video tour of the finished Lawrence remodel.
If you’re considering a home remodel in Lawrence, Winston Brown can help you explore what’s possible within your existing home and create a plan around how you want to live in it.