Craftsman Cottage Makeover

We partnered with a local interior design firm to turn this inconspicuous mid-century cottage into stunning craftsman style home.  Our main goals focused on giving this house a unified style, provide street-side curb appeal, and provide for a great indoor space with an open plan.  The owner also wanted to add living space by either adding a 2nd story addition or finishing the basement.  All that had to be accomplished on a limited budget.  

​

After exploring the 2nd story addition option, the team ultimately decided that it was much more cost effective to finish out the existing basement instead of adding a 2nd story.  This also allowed us to shift some of the resources and provide a new front porch and rear deck.  The front porch added incredible curb appeal and allowed the main entrance into the house to be shifted from the existing side entrance, to now be from the front of the house.  This provided a covered space offering protection from the elements as one enters the house into a new foyer.  A new code compliant switchback staircase was constructed in a new location leading into the basement, which now was finished and offered additional accommodation of a guest bedroom with new egress window.  The existing kitchen and dining room was combined into a new great room, thanks to removal of the previous staircase.  The existing 8 feet high ceiling was modified and lifted to 9'-8" height to create a great room space with better proportions.  The entirety of the interior was remodeled, including a new kitchen with large island, all bathrooms, and bedrooms. 

​

The exterior was upgraded with new windows, new roof, new siding, and carefully laid out trim and frieze boards.  The end result was even more stunning with carefully selected paint scheme light blue with white accents, more akin to a seaside craftsman cottage one would find in a sleepy town along the Lake Michigan coast than a Chicago suburb.

 

Project Status - Construction Completed