Downtown Naperville remodel

this home was built in the 1920s and completely renovated in

approximately 2004-2005 by the former owners who addED a second
story and an adjoining garage with an apartment/ man cave above.
The new owners sought to make it their own by tweaking certain
elements in the home and furnishing it in their style with the end
result being amazing!
but now you be the judge!

The Living
room

before

During:
we added a
bold white
crown
molding, a new
paint color
palette and
lighting

A white
paneled overmantle was
added to tie in
the NEW bold
white
millwork

After
although
not yet
fully
accessorized, we
added
recessed
lighting, a
light
fixture in
the center
of the
room, an
oushak
rug, coffee
table,
window
coverings
and
pillows to
tie the
room
together

An 8 x 10 subtley-toned oushak rug with a glass coffee table highlights the beauty of the rug

The hallway leading

from front to back
was VERY dark [IN
ADDITION TO MY BEING
A POOR
PHOTOGRAPHER] so we
added recessed
lighting to
illuminate the space.

sconces WERE ADDED on

either side of the
doorway leading to the
bathroom and THE
reddish-orange staircase
WAS RESTAINED to a dark
espresso shade with a high
gloss finish. wainscot was
added which was painted
white along with the
stair risers and balusters
in keeping with our
lighter-brighter color
palette.

Removing a key wall

THE DINING ROOM WAS SEPARATED FROM THE KITCHEN WITH A WALL THAT BLOCKED
NATURAL LIGHT FROM ENTERING THE KITCHEN AND FAMILY ROOM SO WE FELT It WAS
ESSENTIAL TO REMOVE THIS WALL

this WALL ALSO

PREVENTED an
open concept
floor plan
WHICH SO MANY
FAMILIES WANT
TODAY

THE doomed
wall as viewed
from the
dining room

AND FROM the kitchen

Before we could REMOVE the wall we had to

determine if It was a structural supporting
wall which would require a supporting
beam.
Luckily, it was not!

The wall housed numerous electrical openings

which had to be relocated.

THE REMOVAL OF
THE WALL
ALLOWED LIGHT
TO POUR
THROUGH THE
HOUSE

VOILA! The wall is gone

YOU CAN SEE HOW THE REMOVAL OF THIS WALL MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE TO THE FLOOR
PLAN!

the kitchen was

dark, so we
added more 4
recessed can
lights, installed
led bulbs in the
existing cans,
added 2 large
island light
fixtures and
under cabinet
lighting to
brighten the
space.

CREATING A Dining room buffet

OPPOSITE THE NEWLY REMOVED WALL WAS EXISTING BLACK CABINETRY WE
TRANSFORMED INTO A FUNCTIONAL BUILT-IN BUFFET CABINET

Before:
BY replacing the
upper cabinets with
new cabinets which
sit atop the counter
and extend to the
ceiling WE WERE ABLE
TO create a built-in
furniture piece
WHICH eliminateD
clutter by
concealing the
electrical outlets
inside the cabinets
thus providing a
hidden area to
charge cell phones,
tablets, etc.

We RETAINED the
existing LOWER
black
cabinetry,
painted it white
and added new
hardware.

Eyeball recessed can

lighting highlightS
the new cabinetry
and recessed can
lights installed in
between the cabinets
HIGHLIGHTS A NEW
DRIFTWOOD MIRROR.

A GORGEOUS
NEW CRYSTAL
CHANDELIER
WAS INSTALLED

STAINLESS STEEL wire mesh was added to

customize The cabinet doors

a new honed marble counter top was installed.

expanding the island

we EXPANDED
THE ISLAND BY
addING
cabinets TO THE
front of the
island

LIVING
THROUGH THE
MESS

BEAUTIFUL NEW GRANITE IS INSTALLED

to TIE IN THE
WHITE
WOODWORK
WE EXTENDED
THE UPPER
CABINTRY TO
THE CEILING BY
ADDING a
larger crown
with a white
frieze BOARD
underneath
which was
covered WITH
a CUSTOM
stainless steel
wire mesh

New Stainless steel cabinet knobs cOmplement the stainless steel appliances and mesh on the frieze

Adding a Window seat

Because the window was bumped out from the BUILDING, IT PRESENTED THE
PERFECT OPPORTUNITY to add a window seat

framing the window seat, adding sconces on either side and recessed
lights at the top of the BUMP OUT

IN KEEPING
WITH OUR
DESIGN
AESTHETIC
pillars were
built on
either side of
the window
seat

Space was left

at the top OF
THE WINDOWS
to ALLOW FOR
A window
covering

A PLASTIC
COVERING
PROTECTS
THE CRYSTAL
ON THE NEW
CHANDELIER!

Awaiting
custom feet
for the
bottom of the
window seat
which was
left open for
TO
ACCOMMODATE
THE hot water
heating vent

WE ADDED A COMFY SEAT CUSHION,

CONTRASTING PILLOWS AND A WINDOW
VALANCE BUT WERE STILL WAITING FOR THE
ELUSIVE CUSTOM FEET

FINAL CONSTRUCTION PHASE: BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER

To brighten
the kitchen
and integrate
our bold
white
woodwork
theme a 36
white
farmhouse
kitchen sink
WAS ADDED.

a custom
white fireclay
subway tile was
used for the
backsplash
and a
contrasting
herringbone
pattern was
used under
the stainless
steel stove
hood. To frame
the
contrasting
pattern a
frame was
created by
adding a tile
chair rail
bordered by a
single row of
stainless steel
mosaic tiles
which added a
beautiful
touch!

We added 2
stunning
chrome and
glass light
fixtures with
Edison bulbs
over the
island

Under
cabinet
lighting is
being
installed

THE [ALMOST] FINISHED PROJECT

The Family room

Before

During we added recessed lights, a ceiling light fixture, crown molding, and a
new paint color

Custom built-in tv/bookcase cabinetry

Before a perfect wall for a built-in

The clients purchased the tv SO I could finalize my

design, integrate It in the CABINETRY and create a
frame around it.

cabinet doors WERE

ADDED at the bottom
OF THE UNIT for
storage and to
conceal the
technical equipment.
framed glass shelves
WERE USED to allow
the recessed lights in
the top of the unit to
illuminate all of the
shelves. Additionally,
recessed eyeball
lighting was
installed in the
ceiling which
highlights the
cabinetry

The center
panels open by
touching the
doors.

awaiting the final touches. The new rug, art between windows and woven wood
shades

REMODELING The Bathroom

The first floor powder room/bathroom is used by everyone who visits
therefore I love to transform this important room into a sparkling jewel box

before:

DURING:
We re-tiled
the
bathroom
using a
hexagonal
marble
framed by
mother-ofpearl and a
beautiful
sparkley
mother of
pearl
mosaic. We
concealed
the glass
block
window by
re-framing
it with a
bump-out
shelf.

to contrast the
existing white
pedestal sink and
toilet we installed
a dark taupe
wainscot which we
continued in the
shower with 12 x
24 horizontal
marble tile expertly
installed by lucio, a
master craftsman

the mirror was

created by using
marble chair rail
and pencil to
create the frame

This is one of the most

beautiful bathrooms
we have ever created!