Project Highlight: Indianapolis Modern Condo Remodel
Downtown Indianapolis is experiencing a rebirth, with people of all ages buying properties with the goal of creating a comfortable living space in an urban setting. Our clients are empty nesters who wanted to downsize into an Indianapolis condo. Once they found their home, they contracted with Steve Gray Renovations, who then introduced us to the couple. The goal was to remodel the traditional-styled space into a more modern condo that reflected our clients’ new lifestyle. The existing interior was gutted to the studs, allowing the homeowners to change the flow and functionality as needed. While our clients were very detail-oriented and clear about their style, they wanted our expertise in guiding them through the wide array of decisions to achieve their vision, as well as access to materials and pieces not directly available to the consumer.
Modern Design Scheme
Clean lines, a white-on-white color palette, lots of texture, modern styling and subtle personality underlie the design scheme for this modern condo remodel. Instead of using rich colors, all of the architectural detailing is over-scaled to add heft to the open concept floor plan. Furniture and accessories are also scaled to complement the chunky details. Since one can see much of the main level from each room, the design scheme flows throughout the space.
Great Room Design
Asymmetrical Fireplace Design:
The fireplace is the focal point of the main living space, so our design began here. The location of a new staircase meant furniture placement options were limited. We developed an asymmetrical design for the fireplace that would allow the furniture to wrap around the focal point. The balance of the shelving moved to the right and a thick stone mantle was continued as a countertop in the shelving area. The hefty nature of the mantle meant the rest of the shelving had to match that weight, as did the accessories. A linear fireplace design allowed us to hang the television at a comfortable viewing angle while also protecting the components from heat damage. A grey, stacked stone fireplace surround completed the modern look.
Design Details:
The thick architectural details are also seen in the ceiling beams, which were painted white to blend with the ceiling while adding interest. Our client’s existing sectional worked perfectly in the space, and was complemented with a new chair, coffee and side tables, and floor covering. White and soft-toned natural accessories complete the sleek look.
Modern White Kitchen Design
Kitchen Design Challenges:
We collaborated with Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery on the kitchen design. As experts in cabinetry and appliances, they were valuable partners in implementing the style of this project. The chunky architectural detailing from the great room needed to flow into the adjacent kitchen area. Designing a kitchen with a thick countertop adds a layer of complexity to the process. Special accommodations need to be made, particularly with cabinet design and appliance installation. Bringing in a knowledgeable partner ensured our clients would end up with the look and functionality they wanted.
Our client was set on a white-on-white kitchen, which can be tricky to implement due to the many variations of white. Many different materials need to complement each other without matching. The key to the success of this type of color scheme is evaluating the undertones of each material to ensure your choices coordinate with each other and the overall design.
Design Details:
We used quartzite for the countertop, a natural material that has the look of marble without the durability issues. Our client chose white, flat-panel cabinetry with a full overlay to support the clean lines of the design scheme. Oversized pulls on the drawers continue the thick scale of the home. Our clients shared our love of impactful lighting, so we sourced gorgeous imported pendants that project light patterns onto the ceiling—one of the highlights of the kitchen.
Dining Space Design
The design of the dining space adjacent to the kitchen was crafted around how our clients planned to live in their smaller home. They rarely sit at a dining table; however, they wanted the option for seating while entertaining guests. Multi-purpose furniture is useful in smaller spaces, where pieces can be moved around based on daily needs. We ended up designing a custom piece that would serve as a sofa table when closed down, and a flip-top dining table when they needed it for that purpose. We also had two light-weight ottomans customized to sit in front of the fireplace but could also become two additional seats for the dining area. Finally, we designed a built-in bench for the dining area that suited the table when it was there, and could be flanked by the small side tables that sat in the living room when it was not.
Modern Master Bedroom Design
Describing a design with words is difficult, so we love when our clients come to us with pictures of the look they are going for. Our client had found a concept photo for her master bedroom, which we emulated as much as possible. Soft off-white walls and white bedding support the modern styling and are complemented by warm colors to create a serene vibe without looking contrived. Custom nightstands were built to support the height, width and style our client desired. The hardwood flooring was covered with a wool carpet custom-cut and bound.
Modern Master Bathroom Design
Working with Marble:
A thick marble countertop continues the detailing from the main level into the master bathroom design. Marble was used throughout the space, and the installation process highlighted the need for a qualified installer. Natural products have their own characteristics, and attention must be paid to how each tile adds to the final design. There is an artistry that comes with this type of installation, and fortunately we worked with Tremain Tile, Marble & Granite, a local tile expert. From the bathroom and shower floor, to the details of the shower niche, they were able to place each piece of marble to create a cohesive and beautiful look.
Design Details:
Our client was quite involved in choosing lighting and fixtures. We landed on a polished nickel finish, which has a warmer cast than chrome.
Modern white-on-white design schemes do not have to be boring. Adding architectural elements, texture and soft analogous colors can offer quite a bit of personality and interest to a space. Our clients were clear they wanted a soft, downtown modern condo. By bringing in thick, textural elements and custom-design pieces, we were able to give them the look and functionality they wanted without compromising style.
Project Highlight: Addressing Details through Home Remodeling
Our clients purchased their home when they moved back to the Indianapolis area to be closer to their grandkids. The bones of the house were great, but the details were in need of some TLC. Our clients and their contractor, Steve Gray Renovations, brought us in to help them with their remodel, as well as incorporate the items they loved from their previous home into their new space.
Our clients had gone through the interior design process with their last home, so they knew already what they liked and disliked. The wife wanted strong contrast in her new space and she had a lot of pictures that communicated her desires clearly. She found the carpet for the entryway stairs on her own, and that striking element drove the design for the rest of the home. While the couple was decided about the look they wanted, they sought out our help to bring all of the elements together.
Kitchen Remodel
The kitchen needed the most help so we focused most of our work there. The original layout included a strangely shaped island that was too small for the large kitchen. The Thermofoil cabinets lacked the detailed finish work one expects in an executive home. Finally, the current kitchen design left much to be desired in terms of the view from the adjacent hearth room. Our goal for the kitchen remodel was to make it much more functional and beautiful.
Our client wanted to keep the perimeter cabinets; however, painting Thermofoil can be a challenge. Instead, we called in Nathan Alan Design to modify and improve the cabinetry by replacing and painting the doors. We also addressed small details that were missing, such as filling in weird gaps, and adding crown molding and side paneling. The underdone cabinetry over the fridge was reconfigured to include doors which provided hidden storage. Finally, we redesigned the island to better suit the space and the needs of the homeowner. Again, we called in Nathan Alan Design to build, install and finish it. Now our clients have more work space and seating for four in their kitchen.
The view from the hearth room made the range a focal point for the kitchen. To make it more appealing we removed a granite backsplash and the counter tops, and redesigned the cabinets on either side of the range. We updated the glass doors in the cabinets to highlight our client’s pretty dishes and glassware. That same glass, along with painted solid cabinet doors, was added to the butler’s pantry between the kitchen and the dining room to make the pass-through pretty too. A new hood was installed over the range offering heft and shine. Finally, a backsplash of black ceramic tile with a light grout and black quartz counter tops were added to the white kitchen, solidifying the contrast our client was looking to bring into the space.
Hearth Room Remodel
The fireplace wall in the hearth room also lacked the quality and beauty our clients wanted for their home. Since the space is right off the kitchen, we tied the look of the two rooms together by pulling in the black from the countertops. We modified the existing cabinetry to hold a TV and added crown molding. To tie in the fireplace surround, we used black natural stone and built a grander mantle to better suit the scale of the space. Finally, we added lighting above the cabinetry to highlight the contents of the shelves. All of these changes turned an underwhelming space into a showstopper.
Lighting Design
To complete the updated and sophisticated look of the remodel, we created a lighting plan that included many different fixture styles that all flowed well together. Every light fixture in the home was replaced with designer quality lighting. We always prepare our clients for the investment good lighting requires. When the project is finished, the most common remark is how much they love it! While lighting may seem like a secondary aspect in a design scheme, it is actually primary because it illuminates. Lighting, particularly hanging fixtures, also adds a sculptural element and can be like art in a space. Finding well-designed and appropriately scaled fixtures can be one of the most challenging aspects to a design project. Our clients were thrilled with the final look.
Furniture and Furnishings
We have written many articles about how the furniture from one home most likely will not fit into your next. However, for this client, the opposite was true! Her work with a designer in her previous home left her with furniture she loved and wanted to incorporate into her new space. Because the scale and style were appropriate, we were able to design the hearth room around her existing furniture. She also had fabric samples and pictures for us to work from so that although the actual furniture was in storage, we could choose paint colors, wall covering and window treatments that complemented the style. This project was an exception to the rule and we were happy for our clients.
The small details that give a finished, sophisticated look to a space are easily overlooked during the home-buying process. Our clients were surprised by what they found when they began remodeling. We were able to come up with creative solutions to drastically improve what was already there, giving them the functionality and style they envisioned for their new space.
Questions about this remodeling project? Send us an email or give us a call at 317.253.8986.
Project Highlight: Village of West Clay Great Room Design
Reaching the milestone of downsizing from your family home into a space that suits the next phase of your life is an occasion to celebrate. It is also an opportunity to refresh your style, keeping the items that still resonate with you while bringing in new elements. Our client recently had a home built in the Village of West Clay in Carmel, IN to serve her and her family in their next stage of life. The open concept of the house design differed from her previous traditional house, offering her the opportunity to adopt the transitional style. The great room design is a perfect example of how we were able to meld the comforts of her old home into the modernity of her new space.
A spacious entryway leads into the great room and kitchen which are open to each other. The goal of the home’s design was to create a spacious, airy feeling. A large wall of windows helps achieve this look by bringing a lot of light into the space. Tall ceilings and crown molding add to the open feel. To ground the space, we added rich medium-brown wood flooring. The soft greys and creams of the kitchen were pulled into the great room as well for a cohesive look.
Our client wanted a favorite piece of art to serve as the focal point of the great room, which would also drive the color scheme. A fireplace was built in the center of the wall opposite the kitchen, serving as the architectural focal point supporting the painting. The fireplace surround was finished in a soft beige-coral to complement the art piece without distracting from it. We built cabinetry on either side of the fireplace for storage, accessories and television placement.
The blue, pink and green hues from the art piece were pulled into the rest of the space in many ways. A sofa upholstered in a highly textural blue fabric was brought from her previous home, as well as the cream and rose chairs. We added green and pink to the sofa through the throw pillows, and continued the blue into the kitchen with a window treatment set on a wall opposite the painting. The creams and muted blues of the rug complement the colors of the space while softening the rich tone of the sofa.
Our accessory choices supported the colors in the art piece and sofa as well. Blue and cream Asian ceramics dominate the large open space above the cabinetry, complemented by reflective elements and color variations. The apples bring in the green, also adding an organic look. We continued that nod to nature on the table tops by including fresh flowers and plants. By including our client’s glass lamp in a medium blue we were able to provide reading light to the sofa without obstructing the lovely view of the windows.
The final result was a comfortable, open, and light-filled space that highlighted one of our client’s favorite art pieces. She was able to meld the items she loved from her previous life into her new home.
You can learn more about this new construction project in a previous blog post:
Project Highlight: Downsized Kitchen Design
