At this historic home, we remodeled the main level in a manner that maintains much of the original charm while also updating the flow and finishes throughout. The existing layout of the home was relatively closed off and dark. Our goal was to open up these spaces in a way that fits the home, offers clear sightlines, and still defines each room.
When you first walk in the front door you are greeted with the living room to your left and the office to your right. We updated both spaces by restoring many of the original details and incorporating new finishes that fit with this original character. This included restoring the doors leading to the dining room, matching the new doors leading to the office, replacing the bookshelves in the office, and carefully selecting new tile for the fireplace surround.
Located just beyond the living room is the dining room which also offers access to the kitchen. The existing layout between the dining room and kitchen included an awkward hallway and closet. We removed these and opened up the wall between the two spaces by adding a cased opening that is a similar style to the original opening found between the dining room and living room.
In the now open-concept kitchen, we combined the secondary dining room with the kitchen for additional space and storage. We then added a peninsula along the newly opened wall to serve as a divider between the kitchen and dining room that still offers clear sightlines. The counter on the peninsula then extends in an L-shape along the exterior walls and is grounded by a large island in the center. Along the interior wall, we reconfigured a few closets to add a full wall of cabinets for additional storage. The new layout in the kitchen is ideal for hosting with the stove, fridge, and sink creating a working triangle in addition to plenty of prep space along the peninsula and island, storage, and seating.
On the other side of the kitchen, is the family room where we centered the ceiling fan and updated the furnishings to coordinate with the new kitchen design. In the mudroom, we replaced the tile with a fun and playful design that elevates the space and added cabinets to help keep things organized.
Down the hall from the kitchen, we used a portion of the reconfigured closet space to create a walk-in pantry with a mix of cabinets, counter space, and open shelving. We also updated the bathroom with new finishes.
After months of planning and careful observation throughout construction, this project achieves our goal of balancing the old with the new to create an updated space that fits with the home’s original character.
Project Team:
Architect: Annie Schwemmer AIA, Renovation Design Group
Contractor: Matt Russell, Build Utah
Interior Designer: Robin Norwood Interiors
Structural Engineer: Jared Palfreyman, LEI
Photographer: Lindsay Salazar Photography
Additional Content From This Project: