Sara and Aaron spend a lot of time in their Old Town Fort Collins house. They both work full-time from home, and it’s where they entertain, relax and recharge, too. The house is also home to their four adorable dogs (left to right): Falcor, Astro, Blue and Leo.
The couple liked the location and layout of their older home, but they wanted a kitchen remodel, basement finish, and mudroom renovation to better fit their lifestyle.
KITCHEN REMODEL
Challenge: The kitchen felt tired and dated.
Solution: HighCraft updated the kitchen to match their style, installed statement lighting, and included more storage.
Our team matched new vertical-grain, shaker-style fir cabinetry to the existing high-top butcher block countertops on the island and peninsula ledge, and to the wood paneling on the island and ceiling beam.
The expanse of warm wood is balanced by the cool and modern contrast of white geometric tile, black hardware, deep gray countertops, and stainless steel appliances.
By preserving the original kitchen and dining room layout, the homeowners kept the original hardwood floors intact. Our crew did a “screen and recoat” to buff, protect and refresh the flooring.
We installed secret kitchen storage, including push-to-open toe kick drawers, and a pantry pull-out cabinet tucked behind the new refrigerator.
HighCraft replaced the dated, traditional backsplash with a modern, geometric tile in a glossy white finish with contrasting dark gray grout. The countertops are PentalQuartz in Coastal Grey. And both the main and prep sinks have convenient touch faucets in a brushed stainless finish.
Our team also updated lighting throughout the home, including statement pendants in the kitchen (left) and mudroom (center), and the dining room chandelier (far right).
MUDROOM REMODEL
Challenge: Sara and Aaron walk their dogs several times each day, and cleaning muddy paws, and trying to keep the dog accessories organized, was difficult in their old space.
Solution: HighCraft created a functional, stylish and easy-to-clean mudroom with dog wash, leash hooks and storage cubbies.
The new dog wash and mudroom stops muddy paws in their tracks. The subway tile shower surround extends into the room as wainscoting, making the space easy to clean. And the straight-stack tile installation, versus staggered offset tiles, gives the shower a more modern look. The built-in shampoo niche uses montane penny round tile in a brushed silver finish for a pop of interest.
Ceramic 12”x24” tile in Grey Stone is a great choice for the mudroom floor. And triple hooks in matte black by Room and Board keep the dog leashes and accessories organized.
For design consistency, our craftsmen used the same vertical-grain fir cabinetry in the kitchen, basement and mudroom. We also installed the same Coastal Grey quartz countertop used in the kitchen for the dog shower ledges. The mini frameless glass door keeps the dogs corralled during showers, and is easy to wipe down.
BASEMENT FINISH
Challenge: Sara and Aaron hang out in their basement A LOT, but the room was dark, uninviting and a little boring for their taste. They wanted to make the space more cozy and stylish with durable flooring for the dogs.
Solution: HighCraft finished the basement by installing a natural gas fireplace, modern tile surround and built-in cabinetry, as well as luxury vinyl plank flooring that is durable, waterproof and dog-friendly.
HighCraft transformed the unfinished fireplace box into a statement wall with functional fireplace and storage. The double-diamond porcelain tile reflects Sara and Aaron’s style, and adds a modern touch to their fireplace surround.
The luxury vinyl plank flooring is made from real maple in a natural, yet waterproof, finish. Again, for design consistency, vertical-grain fir cabinetry was used for the custom fireplace built-ins (above) and the dry-bar base cabinet (below).
Special thanks to homeowners Sara and Aaron for the photo of Falcor, Astro, Blue and Leo used in today’s post!
Whether you build new construction, or remodel what you have, HighCraft’s experienced design-build team can navigate every detail of the planning and construction process so you don’t have to. Contact HighCraft with questions or to schedule a free consultation.
