Render to Reality | Union Avenue Main Level Remodel

Where do we start… was it the old and outdated style, the mixed and dark vibes or a change of heart for the homeowners to want to ask themselves “do we want to grow old in this home”? The answer is yes – to everything! The owners loved their location, their home, the charm of Grand Rapids but things were being questioned of how could they age in place in their existing home.

When we met onsite, we walked the spaces and determined a few things that had to happen to make this home ready for the second chapter of their lives. This meant needing to update the stairs to be able to allow for a chair lift if needed, rework the upstairs bathroom to be able to get a wheelchair in the doorway, bringing laundry up to the upper level where all the bedrooms were. The main level did not need much as in layout, but if they were going to do the stairs and upstairs bath, they also wanted to update the main floor finishes. The biggest thing on the main floor the clients wanted was to rework the kitchen to give it an updated feel and better function in kitchen.

When you enter this home, you walk from entry into the family room, and back into living and kitchen which to them was just subpar. The entry was big but felt too dark with little light coming in. The family room had this half wall that they didn’t know what to do with it. The kitchen was dark and hard for two cooks to be in there at the same time with appliances that had far served their time. The living room was busy with beams and dark paneling. The flooring was a mix of all different types that were dated and broke up the eye when looking from one room to the next. The pros in these spaces were that there was plenty of room in the open and spacious areas that all flowed together. 

BEFORE PHOTOS – The clients style of mid-century modern, mixed with touches of eclectic and vibrant tones had us swooning of what to do.

V1- the layout that gave them a U-shape kitchen and reworked a upper closet in addition to the bathroom.

V2 – The layout that checked all the boxes off, giving them a island and the best laundry room they could ask for in a space that had some space to give up.

Per usual, when you see it, you can get a sense of function and how you want to live in your home. These clients did just that! Seeing that they could get a island in the kitchen, they could give up two closets to get a more cohesive cabinet layout. They could see that they would be able to keep their oversized hallway closet and were willing to give up room in their spare room for the laundry. This ended up pushing the bathroom door back away from the stairs which is a huge win!

The main level after photos show the space in their style, simple and clean! Bonus, the fur-babies even got a spot for their food, treats and fresh water in this remodel!

The upper level bathroom and laundry room photos will show you just how updated this space is with the best function for these clients needs!

Another shoutout goes to the wonderful Justin Walz with JD Walz Contracting for his completion of this project! It was fun, different, and his level of expertise is top notch! To say we enjoyed both the clients and this project is an understatement! From pushing us outside our normal designs, we thank you for having us gals at TTDC be part of your next chapter of life!

Cheers to retirement and growing old together!

XO, TTDC