September 22, 2017 By Dreams2Reality Leave a Comment

Smaller…and BETTER?

We were asked to update a Master Bathroom for clients who had just moved into their home. The current layout featured a corner tub that was taking up a lot of space. The shower was small and the closet attached to the bathroom also needed more space. If you are going to have a walk-in closet, you need some space to turn around in it. Click below to see what we started with:

Existing Bathroom Plan

We had the tub discussion. This is one of the questions we get asked a lot. “Should I keep the tub?” My answer is,”Do you use it? Do you have a tub in another bathroom?” If you are not a ‘tub person’ don’t feel pressured to have one in your bathroom. Especially if you are looking for extra space. A larger shower, instead of a tub and small shower, will be a great feature to have for you and the next owner.

In this case we proposed the removal of the tub to gain a larger shower. This meant there would be an existing window in the new shower location (on the wall to the right) and it was facing the neighbor’s house. To avoid awkward conversations with their friends next door, the window in the shower was removed and a skylight was installed. I love that it floods the bathroom with lots of natural light and provides the privacy you need in a bathroom. Click below to see the new plan:

Bathroom Plan

The subway tile used on the walls gives it a classic look. The hex floor is the contrast needed for the white walls.

A door swinging into the Bathroom was going to be in the way of the new entrance to the toilet room (on the left as you enter) and bother the person standing in front of the vanity. (on the right as you enter) Of course, a sliding door solved this. I was using these before it was cool.

Love that natural light!!!

I had considered doing a recessed shelf here, but realized I would be featuring the shampoo and soap, not the beautiful tile. So the shelf is on the side of the shower and the shampoo and soap not part of your first impression.

The vanity, mirror and lighting were not changed in this project because this part of the bathroom functioned well with the new design. The only change to the toilet area (to the left) was moving the door, so the closet could expand, by 3 1/2 feet!

Its a common assumption that you need to expand your bathroom to improve its function. That is not always the case. It is possible to change the layout to improve a space’s function without making it bigger. Sometimes it can even get smaller … and better.

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September 16, 2017 By Dreams2Reality Leave a Comment

Moving Home – The Exterior

Those who know us know we have been working on a very special project for the last 1 1/2 years. Family moved back to Iowa and asked us to take on their renovation. Of course we said Yes!

Enter the ranch on 13 acres.

It had a barn, pasture, a place for a garden, fruit trees and it was in the right school district. I told them they should just move in…they did not need us. However, a few more bedrooms were needed. So we went to see it with a realtor. We wanted to know its potential before they bought it, so I was measuring during the showing. The owner was there and I’m the one proposing we change their house. Yep, I’m that person.

I was able to come up with a design that would work for a family of 6 without adding on. It was a miracle.

The biggest change on the exterior was the front porch. It breaks up the front elevation and gives your eye something to land on.

The stone on the columns and exterior wall give the exterior the extra texture it needs to not feel boring. The 3 windows to the right of the porch are the Kitchen and Pantry. When the house was originally built this area was the garage. The current garage, further to the right was added sometime later.

The back needed some entertaining space that was partly sheltered from the weather.

The ridge of the roof was carried through from the porch on the front which allowed for a covered patio. The uncovered patio has room for a fire pit, hot tub and grill.

The barn was doing its job, but it needed a little something…

Red says barn and this one will soon have a barn quilt on the end. Yes, folks, paint changes everything.

Here is the model I used to help with explaining what I had in mind for the exterior.

This was especially helpful when it came to the roof.

I talk to people all the time who are intimidated by changing the exterior look of their house. It does not have to be that way. Our job is to make sure you like what you see before any of the work starts. We use inspiration pictures, 3 dimensional models and sketches to navigate to the finished product that will make your home the one you dreamed it could be.

Here are some Before and During pictures for your viewing pleasure:

The End

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September 6, 2017 By Dreams2Reality Leave a Comment

Switching Places and Adding Spaces

When meeting with our client for the first time, they shared that their dream was to enjoy the view from the back of their house while in the Kitchen. That space was currently used as a Dining Room. So we knew the Kitchen and Dining Room would be switching places. Pictured above is their new kitchen taking the place of the original Dining Room. The stair to the basement would cut into the new Dining Room too much, so of course, the stairs would be relocated to the new addition located behind the back wall of the Kitchen.

Installing granite on the walls makes the Kitchen feel clean and seamless.

This is the view into the Family Room. The wall between the 2 spaces was removed to allow for more connection between the Kitchen and Family Room. This was a priority for our client. The original Kitchen had no visual connection to the Family Room.

You can see into the (new) Dining Room from here. There is a prep sink to the left of the refrigerator. The island is 10′-0″ in length and provides a lot of work space and seating.

The french doors allow access to the Sun Room on the back of the house.

There is plenty of counter space for multiple cooks in this Kitchen.

Additional Pantry storage was required. This large Pantry is right off of the Kitchen. It has a sliding door that conceals it from view if desired. The shelves are adjustable to allow for a variety of items to be stored in close proximity to the Kitchen.

A generous half bath is across from the Pantry. It is convenient for those entering from the new garage. The original garage was located in the walk-out basement of this home and there was only an exterior side door that entered directly into the original Kitchen, so this addition totally changed the way the family entered the house.

You can see the entrance to the Pantry and the Mudroom beyond. The Bathroom is to the left. The tile pictured was already installed in the original Kitchen and connecting Front Entry. The owner was able to locate more of it to extend the tile into the new Kitchen and into the addition.

There is plenty of storage in the Mud Room as well as seating to take your shoes off. There are also shelves across from this wall for baskets. The door to the Garage is to the right of the edge of the picture and the door to the backyard is behind me as I took the picture.

Another item on their wish list was a shop area under a new garage. This required a concrete floor that would act as a ceiling to the shop and floor to the garage. It would need to span across the shop and be able to support cars parked on it. We began to get excited! Because, there would be Styrofoam forms, steel reinforcement and concrete to pour. The picture above shows the garage we added. The shop is below it 🙂 The basement walls are 13′-0″ tall, so there is a lot of room down there.

This is the space below the new Garage.

The glass garage door lets a lot of light into the Shop area.

The Garage exterior was designed to match the existing features of the house.

And now here are the before and during pictures…

This is the view into the original Dining Room on the back of the house. We removed most of this wall.

The wall you see is the back wall of the Kitchen. The addition is accessed through the existing door opening. (by the blue cooler)

That is the size of hole you need for a 3 car Garage, Shop (below), Mud Room, Pantry, Bathroom and set of stairs to the basement.

This is at the back of the Garage. The forms for the concrete were installed and ready for 6 trucks of concrete.

Looking towards the front of the house.

The Shop walls are poured.

A view of the inside of the garage.

Looking into the Shop from the back of the house.

This is the Dining Room turning into the Kitchen.

This is the original door to the outside from the existing Kitchen. It now provides access to the addition.

The drywall is up in the Garage.

The entrance from the Garage into the Mud Room.

Stairs will lead from the Mud Room door above to the yard.

Stone installation on the side of the Garage.

Stone waiting to be installed.

Stone installation on the back of the house.

Here is the plan to help orient you…the addition begins to the right of the new Kitchen and Dining Room.

Adding on and renovating a significant portion of a home is intense, exhilarating and satisfying. To make it less of a roller coaster emotionally, there was a lot of investigating, planning, drawing, discussing and strategizing before any dirt of excavated. I am not one to “wing” it and this project would have been a disaster if all the planning had not taken place. Yeah for nerds!

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August 25, 2017 By Dreams2Reality 1 Comment

From Builder Boring to Sweet Spot

A popular way to add value to your home without adding on is to update space that is already there…Hello Basement! It can be difficult to imagine this subterranean space as anything but a place to collect all of things you should not keep, but I assure you there is hope.

We were given the task of turning a builder-boring basement into a Sweet Hangout space for family and friends. We started with a blank slate, concrete floors and stud walls.

One of the things our client wanted was a place to watch movies and play video games. They wanted a place for the kids to hang out with friends or where the family could have a movie night. Storage was a priority. Records had to fit in a portion of the shelves, a record player and gaming supplies below the TV.

Another request was a place to read. The window seat provides a place to sit and storage under the cushions and in the bookshelves above. The window was already there so the this feature was designed around it.

Schooling happens at home for this family and this space will have a table for kid’s activities. The map mural is fun and educational. This is the second map mural that we have done and it does not disappoint.

The was also a need for a Guest Room and Office. This room is used for both. Yes, its through those doors. Wait for it….

Pocket doors give guests privacy. A Murphy Bed allows for the room to function as a Bedroom or an Office.

There is storage on both sides for office supplies, bedding or clothes.

A bathroom allows guests to have their own space to get ready and avoid journeying up to the second floor to shower. The faucet and the light make this room.

I am saving up for my wide angle lens 🙂 You get the idea…

This is where all the fun happens. The nook was requested to corral toys and to provide a place that is for kids only. Apparently it is a hit.

The duct work could have made this space feel unbalanced, but using a lower ceiling height on the exterior wall above the reading nook balances it out.

A wood counter top provides a contrast to the white cabinets without the cost of quartz or granite.

The black hardware is hard to miss.

The open shelving was custom built and painted to match the cabinets.

Books for miles! This is a simple detail that is classic.

What are your plans for your basement?

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January 24, 2017 By Dreams2Reality Leave a Comment

Same Place but a Different Space!

We were asked to take this kitchen from oak cabinets with little storage and a cramped work area to a bright and spacious, storage packed center of the home. This meant completely starting over and no (real) kitchen for our courageous clients for longer than they want to remember. This was not the only room we transformed, but it definitely has the biggest impact. (The flooring was replaced in a large portion of the main level and a powder room was also renovated.)

The cabinets go to the ceiling for a classic look and to avoid the dilemma of what to do with the space between the ceiling and the top of the cabinets.

After all the traces of the existing kitchen had been hauled out to the dumpster or sold on Craig’s List, the task of getting a larger window above the sink and moving plumbing and heating ducts around to accommodate a larger pantry began. The original Kitchen included a small desk on the left, air ducts and plumbing in a chase and a small closet pantry. This layout is fairly common in this area.

The wood floors tie the Kitchen, Dining and Living Rooms together. This is an engineered wood product that will not move and crack as much as a solid hard wood with changes in humidity.

The bigger window above the sink lets in lots of light and makes this room feel light and open. We almost doubled the size of the opening.

Before

During

After

This hood was used for a classic look.

The microwave is located in the island. Convenient and out of site. (it opens like an oven)

The back splash is a honed marble. (Daltile – Vein Cut – Silver Screen) It is the perfect complement to the granite counters. (Delicatus Brown) We went for maximum impact and did the entire wall around the window.

The island can be used for seating or kitchen prep when the stools are tucked under the counter.

Guests can chat with the cook while seated at the island.

The pantry wall provides much needed storage. The air ducts and plumbing are tucked behind one of the cabinets.

Roll-out shelves make it easier to access items in the back of the cabinet.

Before (Pantry Wall is to the right)

During

After (of course the clock on the right never moved during the entire project)

The lanterns and bar stools are the dark contrast and pop against the white cabinets. (Lanterns – Ballard Designs)

Before

During

After

The distance between the island and perimeter cabinets is something that makes or breaks a kitchen. 42″ is my absolute minimum. I prefer 48″-54″ if possible.

Removing the railing between the Family Room and Breakfast area gives the space a more open feel.

Before

After

Under-counter lighting allows for a variety of moods.

If your cabinets are in good shape you can try selling them on Craig’s List. Someone bought the original cabinets, granite and a few appliances as a package deal from this kitchen.

Are you dreaming of more storage and a new look for your space? Stop dreaming, make it happen!

Dreams2Reality - Design and Remodeling: Beyond Your Front Door

Smaller…and BETTER?

Moving Home – The Exterior

Switching Places and Adding Spaces

From Builder Boring to Sweet Spot

Same Place but a Different Space!

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