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This overall view of theremodeling project at theMiddletown home of theMcTague family reveals amodern open plan withgood flow on the first floor. Facing page: The vintage,reclaimed mantel inspireddesigners to place a beamin the new opening of therenovation.

WWHEN THE McTAGUES FOUND THEIR NEW HOME IN THEMIDDLETOWN VALLEY THEY WERE IMMEDIATELY ATTRACTED TO THELOCATION—A QUIET NEIGHBORHOOD WITH GENEROUS VIEWS OF THECOUNTRYSIDE. What the McTagues didn’t love, however, was the outdated 1990s interior.To her, the first floor spaces “felt confining, dark, and just didn’t flow well.”

House RejuvenationNew Life EmergesIn Outdated Spaces

�BY MEREDITH ERICKSEN OF TUSCAN BLUE DESIGNPHOTOGRAPHY BY TURNER PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIO

She saw that the existing interior didn’t maximize the best architectural features of thehouse—a light-filled sunroomand an amazing stone fireplace.The McTagues had troubleseeing the potential of their newhome and needed a bit of visionto help them uncover it.

We first met with theMcTagues to review their optionsfor a first floor remodel just beforethey purchased their home. Wewalked through the rooms,discussing how to use the spaces.For a busy family of four, livabilitywas a key element in the design.Emma said she wanted to banish

the layout and transform thekitchen/sunroom into a modernopen plan with good flow to serveas the first floor hub. Sheenvisioned the new space to befamily-friendly but also a spot forentertaining. We all agreed thatremoving the wall (or a portion ofthe wall) between the sunroom

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and kitchen provided great potentialfor an open space. The McTagueslisted their wishes for the kitchen; wereviewed the budget (a must-have to

start a remodel project) and began thedesign process. The first step is always the

layout. We took the footprint of thekitchen/sunroom and by sketchinglayouts quickly realized that removing

a portion of the sunroom wall createda circular flow with easy access to allareas on the main floor. Taking it onestep further, we altered the cased

opening from the kitchen to thedining room, making the opening a bitwider and taller to the ceiling. Later,during construction, we realized thisslight alteration in a doorway instantlycreated a visual and physical

connection between the dining roomand kitchen. It was a small changewith a big impact. With the McTagues’ wish list in

hand, we started the kitchen design.Fortunately, two islands— one forprepping and one for stool seating—fit perfectly in the long space. Kitchenislands are all about function withcounters for cooking prep space andabundant storage underneath. Wetucked appliances along the perimeterwalls and even found space for a largecabinet-style pantry.

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The new kitchen contains two islands, one for prepping and one for stoolseating, with abundant storage beneath. Right: A look at the outdated spacebefore renovation.

ALL THE FINISHES ARE FAMILY-FRIENDLYWITH EASY-TO-CLEAN QUARTZCOUNTER TOPS, REFINISHED WOODFLOORS AND DURABLE PAINTEDCABINETS.

Aesthetically we all agreed thenew kitchen had to visually connectto the surrounding first floor rooms.Emma loved the idea of usingmultiple mediums—wood, marbleand metal. We took cues from thestone fireplace for a color palette ofwarm gray, gray-blue and whitelinen. The vintage, reclaimed mantelinspired us to place a beam in thenew opening between the sunroomand kitchen. Emma wanted thekitchen to feel timeless, not one styleor another. Once we settled on theoverall look, the design details andfinish selections fell into place. Allthe finishes are family-friendly witheasy-to-clean quartz counter tops,

refinished wood floors and durablepainted cabinets. Industrial pendantlights were paired with traditionalcabinetry details, a stunningstainless-steel hood and chromefixtures to give the space an eclecticmix of elements.

FORMING A TEAMThis renovation came at the busiesttime of the McTagues’ lives—arelocation, a new job and childrentransitioning to new schools. Theywere looking for a team to seamlesslymove them through the design andconstruction phases. As interiordesigners in the remodeling field, wecultivate relationships with trusted

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You can never have enough seating, especially when entertaining. This islandwith its stools is perfect for sitting down to breakfast or accommodating anoverflow of guests who always seem to gather in the kitchen.

Tips to SurvivingConstruction

It’seasy to get excited about a homeremodeling project. But after a fewweeks (and maybe months) of people inyour house, dust everywhere, noise,etc., reality can set in. Here are a fewtips to stay sane while you are waitingfor your dream space to finish:

• Take before photos—something to look at as you go through the process to see the progress being made.

• Have your contractor set up a temporary kitchen in the garage, basement or spare room.

• Use your outdoor space—if the weather is nice, your outdoor space is a quiet retreat. We recommend kitchen remodels during the summer months, so you can always use the grill to cook meals.

• Have a room in the house as a refuge. Often this is the bedroom or maybe a basement space. You need a relaxing spot to recharge.

• Hopefully your contactor or interior designer will tell you it’s not going to be a simple process, so be patient. It will all pay off in the end with a lovely new space.

carpenters, contractors and builders.We know that a positive generalcontractor/client partnership is oneof the most important elements for a successful remodeling project. Thus we were able to recommendPete Ring of Lighthouse Craftsman, a perfect match for the project.Here is a snapshot of how he

worked with the McTagues.• Before construction started, he met with the owners a number of times just to review the construction process itself.• All of us met for planning meetings to discuss the design.He was aware when to call us and discuss the construction design details.

• A detailed project map was provided so the McTagues could plan their schedules and knew what to expect each day. • His team was not intrusive. Workers arrived and left at the same time every day so the McTagues could plan for family time. “The design-to-construction

process was remarkably easy for acomplex project,” Emma says. “Weall just co-habited in our work zone.And when your contractor gives youa gift of eggs from his flock youknow it’s a good partnership.” With a clear vision and smart

design plan you can discover newpossibilities for your outdated spaces.After an extensive three months-plus

remodeling project, the McTagues arethrilled with their new home. “The kitchen/sunroom remodel

has completely transformed ourhome,” Emma adds. “We love thefunctionality of the layout with twoislands, two sinks, the appliancegarage and even the pot filler. Thecustom cabinetry is elegant and weappreciate all the cabinet details.This light filled space is better thanwe ever imagined and was worth allthe effort.

Tuscan Blue Design147 W. Patrick St.301-620-0500www.tuscanbluedesign.com

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A bank of windows in the dining area lets in plenty of sunlight as well as providing a spectacular view of theMiddletown Valley.

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