Inside, everything was repainted to freshen it up. "Colors age," she says, "so even an existing neutral color may not work because it's the wrong shade." Initially, the kitchen received the most attention. The floor was replaced with hardwoods, and existing cabinets were painted white to lighten the small space. A year and a half and a new baby later, the real renovation took place.
Planned to Perfection
Before tearing down the back wall, Trish and Morris really did their homework. As a designer, Trish knew the importance of making plans and gathering information. She drafted a solid floor plan including all their specific wants long before a builder was contacted. When the time came, Trish and Morris took five bids before deciding on a builder. "I noted names of contractors who were doing work in other areas of our neighborhood," she says, explaining how, in addition to personal referrals, they found a reputable builder.
The new space added 550 square feet to the house, including a casual dining/living area, an office/closet, and a secondary bedroom for their son that connects to an existing bath. "Our goal was to keep the new in proportion with the old," Trish says. "It had to have a smooth transition."
Access was created from the old house to the new area by removing the kitchen door and surrounding wall. A bar for dining fits inside the cased opening to join the spaces. Measuring approximately 18 x 28 feet, the addition meets all of their needs and makes the house live much bigger than its 1,850 square feet.
The room is alive with color and warmth, reinforced by a mix of comfortable and colorful accents. "Color makes me happy," Trish says. "Morris really wanted it to be a bright, cheerful room as well, because we knew this is where we'd spend most of our time." And because they recently added another member to the family, the expanded space was completed just in the nick of time. Trish smiles, knowing they will likely outgrow this house too. "It will be tough to leave it," she says, "because it is where my family started." Luckily for the next young couple, it's been broken in.
