Remodel Spotlights

A New Place in the Sun
Energy efficiency was a priority when the owners of this 14 year-old home decided to transform their open lanai into a sunroom, says Charles Hancock of Eden Construction. “They planned on having a lot of people over and they wanted to enjoy the backyard and the view without getting wet,” Hancock adds. Because the space would be used for entertaining, the homeowners wanted more room for comfy and inviting furniture. And they wanted to make certain that the sun room didn’t become a sauna during hot Florida summers. So Hancock and his team added another 338 square feet to the existing 226 square feet and enclosed the space—without disrupting the view of the pond. They also lowered the ceiling, added air-conditioning and installed Energy Star-rated windows. The low roofline on the outside of the home was a challenge so the crew cut off the overhang. The new room, which is comfortable even without the new air conditioner running, is now an ideal place to mix and mingle.

Beautiful Inside and Out
This Mediterranean-style home already had a lot going for it. It was fairly new—built in 2006—and the prestigious Windermere address was an additional plus. But the homeowners wanted more family living space, both indoors and out, as well as an improved lake view. So Elan Design Studio and Brentwood Renovations & Custom Homes devised a plan to add 591 square feet indoors, which allowed for a larger great room and an exercise area. Outdoors, the team created a 384-square-foot oasis anchored by a stone fireplace. More windows and sliding glass doors were installed to enhance the water view. And the roof was extended over the lanai, which boasts a stained concrete floor that’s as durable as it is beautiful. Says Catherine Lane, Elan Design Studio director. “We made the home so much more livable and created a personalized gathering space for the family with new and existing spaces that flow seamlessly.”

Now it’s a Tropical Oasis
Before being remodeled, the outdoor space in this Orlando ranch-style home didn’t have much eye appeal, says Danny Arroyo, vice president of John Scribner Construction Company. “It was just a big, big concrete driveway with a bunch of trees,” Arroyo adds. But not for long. The Scribner team turned the existing two-car garage into a large family room, added a new three-car garage and created more than 1,200 square feet of outdoor living space. Doors from several rooms offer access to the new pool. The home, which sits on a corner lot, also gained a covered porch with plumbing and wiring that allows for an outdoor kitchen to be added later. Although the crew faced a challenge—the city wouldn’t allow the old and new structures to be connected—they were still able to provide the homeowners with the privacy they’d requested. In short, a long driveway with a patch of grassy area was transformed into a secluded tropical oasis.

Outdoor Living at its Best
No whole-house renovation is complete without an outdoor makeover, too. PSG Construction started with the existing deck and screened room at the rear of this home and created a new covered patio and porch with dramatic arches and a tile roof. Sets of glass doors along the back of the home open the interior rooms to the outdoors, where the homeowners can enjoy a summer kitchen and spacious, open-air lounge and dining areas.? Decorative iron railing, 
planters and ceiling fans freshen up the alfresco space, which is extended via steps down to a new deck surrounding a renovated pool and spa. The front of the home also gained additional curb appeal with a pergola, a brick paver driveway and appealing landscaping.

A Terrific Transformation
When your existing outdoor living space isn’t working for you, it’s time to restructure it into a more user-friendly space. So SSCI of Florida was called in to redesign and rejuvenate the haphazard outdoor living area of this Orlando-area home. Prior to the project, the home had a closed-in porch and pool area with a disconnected wood deck that just didn’t function for the homeowners. After the project, the home boasted a new family area with a wet bar and an expanded master suite with a sitting room. Both rooms at the back of the house now offer easy access to the pool. SSCI, based in Oviedo, also installed pavers along the pool and new patio, which was covered to create a more comfortable environment.

From Bland to Beautiful
What this outdoor living space had: an outdated kitchen/bar area, a small TV, bland white ceiling fans and a standard pool/spa. What it didn’t have: pizzazz. Armed with the homeowners’ wish list and virtual reality software, Sea Maiden Pools created an interactive animated video of what the remodeled space could look like. Today, it’s a functional and stylish oasis with Jerusalem gold limestone tile on the floor and on the reshaped bar, which also sports granite countertops and a backsplash. Comfortable new stools allow guests to watch the big game on a wall-hung, flat-screen TV flanked by elegant sconces. Above are new decorative ceiling fans while off to one side is a stainless steel barbecue with hood.? In addition, the remodeled pool and spa now have water features, LED lighting, travertine waterline tile and a new pebble interior finish.