These Berwyn-based clients reached out to Hillcrest Construction shortly after finding what would soon become their dream home. After deciding to relocate from a nearby neighborhood, the new house offered a great location in the right school district, a great property with privacy and nature views, and the right sizing to support their family. What the house lacked were modern updates, a proper en-suite bathroom, and a floor plan that fostered seamless flow between the kitchen and living spaces for both daily life and entertaining guests.

Throughout a comprehensive front-end design phase, it was determined that by relocating and removing choice interior walls, a kitchen large enough to facilitate a central island workspace and eating space could be created without increasing the overall footprint of the house. Additionally, by relocating the original laundry room upstairs, closer to the bedrooms, the previously partitioned family room could be expanded towards the kitchen to connect the flow and sight lines between the workspaces and the leisure spaces- a perfect setup whether it be for morning cartoons at breakfast, NFL Sunday afternoon lunches, or evening live music videos streams when on “Couch Tour”.

The kitchen was designed within the newly organized interior walls with an emphasis on the island. The eight foot island countertop sits between the main prep areas and the pantry/coffee bar area. Its positioning allows for convenient traffic flow through the kitchen without crossing paths and interrupting a household chef hard at work. On the prep side of the island, the layout and proximity between the sink, range, microwave drawer, dishwasher, pullout trash cabinet, and deep drawers for dinnerware make for a streamlined cooking experience with everything being no more than an arm’s reach away. The pantry side of the island features enough room for island seating which makes it a good spot for conversation and/or catching a quick meal.

Rounding-out the main level, a Hillcrest-Custom Shop banquette bench seat was crafted to offer a casual dining area with touch-to-open drawers below for mid and long term storage. The windows behind the banquette area were relocated to align with the design and to make room for the elongated kitchen. For the lesser affected rooms, the home’s original oak hardwood floor had its aging finish removed and replaced by a brighter, natural finish thus making the overall feel of the main level spring to life. The very small, but convenient powder room was updated with new fixtures, new tile, and cabinetry sized to fit perfectly.

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Although each bedroom of the upstairs was updated with the removal of the antiquated baseboard radiators and a new paint job, the upstairs focus was centered on the bedroom suite and the interaction between the sleeping area, the walk-in closet, and the bathroom.

The original layout of the suite included a short, stubby hallway flanked by a small walk-in closet and a small bathroom of the same size.

By repurposing the hallway area and creating access directly to-and-from the bedroom for the closet and bathroom, the bathroom floor plan was able to be doubled in size. With the newly designed floor plan, the ample space was used for a uniquely tiled shower with custom glass surround, and much like the custom banquette downstairs, the perfect double vanity solution was crafted at the Hillcrest-Custom Shop featuring black walnut doors and drawer fronts along with with custom pull-out trays within. Premium Quartz slabs along with Polished Chrome Kohler fixtures rounded out the bathroom at the countertop and within the shower.

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The goals for the basement were modest from the get-go, but in the end, it serves as a great work-out space and general rec room. The new basement features new carpeting, soffited ductwork, an open painted ceiling, and new lighting. With the finished closet for long term storage, the space will continue to serve as a get-away space and refuge for neighborhood kid-friends looking for a high-leverage Mario Kart challenge.

Overall, the project experience was a joy for both the clients and Hillcrest. And with project completion coinciding with the closing of the clients’ former home, this “Move-in Ready Remodel” was quickly tapped as a “Dream Home” by the client, and the Hillcrest Construction team couldn’t be more proud to be a part of it.