When Lagois Design-Build-Renovate took on a whole-home remodel of a rural bungalow that was just over a decade old, the goal was clear. The homeowners loved their house. They loved its shape. They loved its space. But they hated everything inside it.
From the dark, awkward kitchen and uninspired ensuite to a home office with no privacy and basement stairs with a ceiling so low the couple cracked their heads every time they descended, this was a 2,100-square-foot home crying out for a makeover.
That’s what multi-award-winning Lagois delivered in a project they call South of the Mountain.
Here’s how Jacob Kirst, owner of Lagois Design-Build-Renovate, and office manager Brenda Salmon explained the project (edited for length and clarity).
Q: What did the homeowners want in their renovation?
A: They were looking for a more open-concept kitchen and living room, including a clean, modern esthetic in the kitchen with better light, more functionality and better flow, and a new fireplace in the living room.
They also wanted a built-in coffee/liquor bar in the dining room, an office with doors for privacy but not cut off from the rest of the home, a more functional foyer, and improved basement stairs, which were in the front entrance. The ensuite, powder room and main bathroom were also a must to upgrade.
Q: What was wrong with the existing kitchen?
A: The old kitchen was builder grade (not a high-end or custom home) and did not have very good flow. There was seating for only two and the peninsula top was quite narrow — not great for entertaining. There was not enough storage, and the cabinets looked stunted against the 10-foot ceilings.
The new layout has great flow around the large island with lots of prep space and task lighting, extra storage, a paper towel holder, a wine rack and a small built-in bar fridge. The two-tone cupboards give the cabinets a modern design, and we took the upper cupboards to the full height of the ceiling.
We also added a herringbone backsplash in the kitchen, which is also featured in the coffee/liquor bar in the dining area for a cohesive feel. The bar has hidden areas to store the coffee maker and liquor and glass upper cabinets.
Q: Can you explain what you did to the office and entryway to satisfy the clients’ desires?
A: The office was drab and open to the front entrance and the living room, so there was no privacy. We introduced a concept of flexible living with glass pocket doors, which allow privacy but also to be interconnected (with the rest of the home) and to optimize views through to the outdoors for natural light and airiness.
We created a “vestibule” style front entry and added two regular doors so the owners’ dogs could be kept in when visitors came to the door — much less chaos.
Q: The powder room has had a major transformation. What did you do?
A: The original door swung into the vanity, so we replaced it with a pocket door. The green came about because the homeowners were asking for it. We fully saturated the small powder room with the deep green; even the inside of the pocket door was painted green. The vertical green tile with sparkly bronze grout fit the space with its 10-foot ceilings.
We also tied all the fixtures to the kitchen, including the champagne bronze faucet and round sink, the pulls, the round light globes. The vanity is the same wood as the kitchen. The arched mirror was used to bring some femininity to the space because the clients tended to go masculine. The gold-framed pictures were all the clients’ doing.
Q: What did you do in the ensuite?
A: The overarching goal was to create a spa-like space of rest, rejuvenation and relaxation, and materials and finishes were selected to align with that. We changed the existing shower to a large walk-in one, added a freestanding tub with unique overhead lighting for a more open space, and designed open wood shelving to tie in with the eight-foot vanity that has extra storage and with the matching light fixtures. The translucent materials promote energy and natural light.
And yes, the homeowners wound up with a space they now love.
See more photos of this renovated home.
And here’s a video of the homeowners:
