A Radical Change: A Real Family's Remodeling Story

When Lisa and Eric bought their 1960s home back in 2007, they fell in love with the lot and location. As their family grew, they filled their home with memories and special features for their active lifestyle. Eric built a tree house, hockey rink and swing set in the yard for their three children. Plus, they added a zip line and ninja ropes for even more outdoor fun.

Now, more than a decade later, the home still had plenty of space for Lisa, Eric and their children, Elizabeth (11), Colby (9) and Brady (7), but the layout just wasn’t working. A large formal living room ran the width of the house and the formal dining room was rarely used. In their traditional Colonial home, the kitchen and family room, where the family spent most of their time, were in the back of the house and felt closed off from the rest of the space.

“Our home felt very segmented, and we felt like we didn’t use 75 percent of the main floor,” explains Lisa. “Since our home is south facing, the back of the house, which had the kitchen, got no natural light.”

The family loved the community and the neighbors they had gotten to know over the years. Plus, large trees and hills surrounded the home, they loved having all four bedrooms on the upper level, and the location was convenient for both Eric and Lisa’s work. So rather than move, they decided to create a new layout that took advantage of the space they already had.

Eric and Lisa visited various remodeling shows, so when the time came to choose a remodeler to partner with, they knew just whom to call: Revolution Design and Build. They had known Rob Aldecocea, partner at Revolution Design and Build, for years and had toured many of the remodeling company’s past projects.

Sid Levin, principal of Revolution Design and Build, and Rob presented multiple new designs to Lisa and Eric. Two floor plans were fairly similar to their current layout with some simple modifications, but the third option was much more radical. This plan involved moving the kitchen/hearth room to the front of the house and making the new space stretch the entire width of the home. It also added a casual kitchen seating area, the formal dining room would become a music room/living area, and the former kitchen would be turned into a dining room with a huge door leading to the backyard. Lisa and Eric decided it was time for a radical change.

As they moved forward reconfiguring their entire main level, Lisa and Eric were impressed with how much guidance the team provided and how thoughtful they were with each detail. “They really simplified the stages for us,” explains Eric. “They would break it down letting us know what decisions we’d need to be making at different stages throughout the process.”

Making so many decisions throughout a remodel can feel overwhelming, and having a supportive, professional team to guide you makes all the difference.

“Sid walked us through each decision, making suggestions and explaining why each choice would be good. We felt totally cared for throughout the project,” says Lisa. “To say that they took care of everything is an understatement — they were absolutely amazing. I learned so much from Sid about design and materials, and I appreciated how thoughtfully he considered our home in all his suggestions.”

One of the most difficult parts of the process was how unexpectedly emotional it was to say goodbye the “old” house. Since Elizabeth, Colby and Brady had all grown up in the house, Lisa and Eric wanted them to feel at peace with the remodeling process. “When it was down to the studs, we let them choose a spot to sign their names and draw a self-portrait,” Lisa explains. “Those areas are covered by sheetrock now, but they know and remember their spots and feel they have a little secret behind the beautiful walls.”

Now, hickory floors flow beautifully underfoot and a luxurious quartz island is a welcoming place to gather. In fact, it’s one of Elizabeth, Colby and Brady’s favorite spots in the remodeled home.

The remodel has totally transformed the way they live in their home. Rather than feeling secluded and cramped in the kitchen, Lisa and Eric can cook together, and the open floor plan creates a feeling of togetherness with their guests. The reconfiguration allows sunlight to pour in through the windows creating a warm and cozy atmosphere. Plus, the new dining room is used regularly, and is a calm, peaceful retreat that looks out onto the beautiful yard.

“I love the big doors leading to the backyard,” Eric says. “It really opened the whole house up and helped the design come together.

“Before, I felt that the house was on hold, just waiting to get decorated or lived in. But it didn’t feel like us. It felt like we were living in someone else’s space,” says Lisa. “Now, it feels like ours, and we love it all.”

Visit this home on the 2018 Fall Remodelers Showcase – Home #R33 by Revolution Design Build