Tradition Meets Today: Updating a Family Home for the Next Chapter (Traditional Home Remodel)

It’s amazing how quickly two decades can pass when you're raising a family. In the day-to-day of busy schedules, homework at the kitchen table, and countless birthday parties, a home quietly grows up with you. While the structure may be maintained—paint touched up, carpets cleaned, maybe even a new appliance or two—our needs and tastes evolve in ways that aren't always obvious until we step back and take a good look.

That’s exactly what happened in this 2004 home. What once felt current and cozy was beginning to feel dark, dated, and disconnected from how the homeowners now use their space. This remodel and design update was about honoring the life that had been lived here, while bringing the home into alignment with who the family is today.

Dining Room: From Heavy and Formal to Elegant and Light

elegant formal dining room with glass and brass chandelier, ivory drapery, beautiful place settings

One of the most dramatic transformations took place in the dining room. Gone are the dark red walls, heavy drapery, and abundance of dark wood tones that once defined the space. In their place is a lighter, more elegant atmosphere that still respects the room’s original character.

Before

The original antique dining table, now beautifully refinished, is surrounded by the existing chairs—refreshed with new life. We first painted the chairs in Benjamin Moore Simply White, but they read way too white in this space. Thankfully, our painter is a true partner in every project, and it was a quick pivot to Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist—a warmer, more nuanced tone that worked beautifully with the palette.

The seats got an instant glow-up with a cheerful floral fabric from Thibaut. The print adds just the right amount of personality and color, without overwhelming the space.

Elegant dining room with a wooden table, painted vintage white chairs, blue-green Turkish oushak rug, green runner, and flowers. Gold-framed mirror and glass and brass chandelier.

We also addressed scale. The old rug nearly filled the entire room, hugging the walls and making the space feel heavy. We replaced it with a slightly smaller Turkish Oushak rug, choosing one with more vibrant colors to add energy and complement the new palette. Walls were painted in one of our tried-and-true favorites: Sherwin Williams Opaline. It’s a whisper of gray-green that functions like a neutral but offers so much more depth. It’s calming, subtle, and incredibly elegant.

Finishing Touches

Lastly, we softened the windows with classic ivory linen drapery, trimmed with an embroidered tape for extra detail. Acrylic and brass hardware adds a fresh, updated touch and ties in beautifully with the new chandelier overhead. We worked in a special antique table that had been passed down in the homeowner's family, and we replaced the outdated china cabinet with a more transitional credenza with plenty of storage for china.

Kitchen: Function Meets Fresh Finishes

Modern kitchen with wood cabinets, painted green island with whiskey leather bar stools, stainless steel hood, ivory ceramic backsplash, brass faucet and hardware and a window above the sink. Warm and inviting.

Next up in the remodel was the kitchen—the heart of the home and a space that needed to work harder for this busy family. The client wanted to lighten things up, but not lose the warmth and character of the existing stained cabinetry. It was important to strike that balance between fresh and familiar.

We started by removing the dark slate floor tile and continuing the wood flooring from the rest of the home into the kitchen. This instantly created visual flow and made the whole space feel larger and more cohesive.

We also updated the hardware and faucet to a brushed brass finish, which adds a touch of quiet luxury and was repeated in other rooms throughout the home for continuity.

Lightening the surfaces also made a huge impact. We chose a soft, nuanced quartz for the countertops and paired it with a creamy ceramic tile backsplash that adds just enough texture and warmth while keeping the palette light and easy on the eyes.

To complete the space, we brought in new leather counter stools—equal parts comfort and style—that bridge the warmth of the cabinets with the newer tones and textures throughout the kitchen.

Before

From Desk Area to Coffee Bar

Two areas in particular weren’t functioning as well as they could: a built-in desk area and the kitchen island. The old desk area had become a catch-all clutter zone, so we transformed it into something the whole family actually uses—a coffee and espresso bar. We demo’d most of the cabinetry, kept what made sense, then added a tall cabinet for storage and open shelves for mugs and accessories. It’s now a daily-use area that feels intentional and inviting.

Before

Kitchen Island

The kitchen island didn’t provide enough seating or flow, so we reimagined it entirely—enlarging it and painting it a beautiful accent green to add depth and interest to the space. It now functions as a true hub for casual meals, homework sessions, and entertaining. As with every good kitchen, lighting played a big role in the transformation. We opted not to add pendant lights over the island—keeping the sightlines clean and open—but we did update the over-sink light with a brass and glass pendant. It’s a small change with a big visual payoff.

Family Room: A Fresh Look for a Well-Loved Space

Design mood board furniture collage: beige sofas, patterned pillows, rustic coffee table, blue glass lamp, patterned armchair, floral rug background.

If walls could talk, this family room would have decades of stories to tell—birthday parties, movie nights, board games, and cozy weekends. It had been the heart of the home for years, and while it was still functional, it was time to honor all that history with a fresh update.

We began with a foundational piece that wasn’t going anywhere: the antique rug. With its rich pattern and beautiful wear, it holds so much character. We leaned into the lighter tones within the rug to guide our new color palette and began layering colors and patterns to create a refreshed but harmonious look.

Another non-negotiable? The coffee table. It’s a piece full of memories and meaning, so we gave it new life by building a softer palette around it.

Two patterned modern recliner armchairs with green cushions sit by a window. A white table with a lamp and flowers is between them. A dog lies nearby. Cozy setting.

The overall layout still worked, but the old red leather recliners had done their time. We replaced them with custom motorized recliners—updated in every sense, with fabric that feels elevated and fresh. (Bonus: they look like stylish armchairs. Function and form.) We also gave the lamp table a new lease on life with a coat of Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist, lightening the overall look while tying it back to other rooms in the home.

One of the most transformative moments came from pulling out the coral and green tones in the rug. Combined with lighter, high-performance upholstered sofas, the whole space suddenly felt brighter and more current—without losing its traditional roots.

Bar Glow Up

We also gave the bar area a much-needed glow-up. The old wine glass holders were removed, and the millwork was reworked slightly to accommodate an ice machine (a small change with big impact for entertaining!). The bar countertop and backsplash were updated with a quartz surface flecked with green, and the cabinetry was painted to match the green accent used on the kitchen island—tying the spaces together beautifully.

Powder Bath: From Dated to Dashing

Over the years, the powder bath had become the domain of the homeowners’ teenage son. It was originally designed with a more traditional, floral feel—charming, but no longer fitting for its current user. Our goal was to trade that aesthetic for a more tailored and masculine look that still felt intentional and elevated.

We started fresh by replacing all of the tile and plumbing fixtures, giving the space a much-needed update in both form and function. The existing vanity was kept, but repainted to complement the new palette, topped with a sleek new countertop for a clean, cohesive finish.

Lighting is always key in a small space, so we brought in a new fixture and added a mirror with hidden storage—perfect for keeping everyday essentials tucked away without sacrificing style. The final touch? A moody, artful wallpaper that completely redefines the room and sets the tone for this updated, more modern space.

Before

Primary Bath: From Heavy to Heavenly

Elegant remodeled primary bathroom with light blue-green cabinets, large mirror, white freestanding airjet tub, gold and glass chandelier, and brushed gold fixtures. Soft lighting creates a serene atmosphere.

The original primary bath reflected the early 2000s aesthetic—complete with a built-in whirlpool tub, heavy finishes, and dark red granite counters. While it had served its purpose, it was time to lighten things up and give the space a sense of calm, airiness, and luxury.

Elegant bathroom with white tub, gold fixtures, chandelier, two framed prints, and white towels on a hook. Bright and serene atmosphere.

The first big change was removing the old tub. During demo, we discovered a hidden mold issue behind it—never fun, but sometimes those surprises lead to even better design choices. In this case, it prompted the switch to a freestanding air jet tub, which instantly modernized the space and created a spa-like centerpiece. Since the plumbing couldn’t be relocated into the wall, we designed a custom quartz shelf to conceal it. As it turns out, that shelf also makes the perfect perch for a candle, a glass of champagne, or a favorite book. Win-win. And the chandelier above? It brings all the sparkle and style, completing the look with a touch of glamour.

In the shower, we made a few smart modifications. The pony wall to the right of the tub was extended slightly—not only does it offer more privacy, but it also gave us a logical place to hang towels (something builders often forget to plan for!). We selected a classic rectangular tile, but opted for a "stacked and striped" layout that adds just the right amount of visual interest. It’s fresh, elevated, and timeless—just like the rest of the bathroom.

We chose to keep the existing millwork but gave it a refresh by painting it a serene blue color—a color the client had admired at a friend’s home. We also added a hair tool pullout for everyday convenience. The mirrors, originally custom-sized for the space, were also given new life with painted frames, creating cohesion without the cost of a full replacement.

Before

Primary Bedroom: A Quiet Continuation

What a difference paint can make! We carried our go-to neutral—Sherwin Williams Opaline—into the primary bedroom, instantly giving the space a lighter, more peaceful feeling. It’s a subtle shift that ties in beautifully with the newly refreshed primary bath and the rest of the home.

We also introduced a few new furniture pieces to update the room, keeping the overall feel relaxed, elegant, and serene—exactly what a primary suite should be.

Design Plan and Before

Reflecting on a Home’s Evolution

This project was about so much more than just updating finishes or picking new paint colors—it was about honoring the life lived in this home over the past 20 years, while making it ready for the next chapter. As kids grow up, needs shift, and styles change, our homes should evolve with us.

By keeping the elements that held meaning and memories—like heirloom furniture and well-loved architectural details—and layering in fresh materials, lighter palettes, and smarter functionality, we helped this house feel like a renewed reflection of the family that calls it home.

It’s a reminder that good design doesn’t erase the past; it builds beautifully upon it. Is your home ready for its next chapter? Click here to connect with us—we’d be honored to help bring your vision to life.