Remodel Spotlights

MODERN PERKS, VINTAGE STYLE
This classic, 1925 Sarasota charmer had been home to the catholic church for many years. Its new owners wanted a complete update, but they also wanted to retain the home’s original style, materials and design. In addition, they sought to bring the home into code compliance and revamp the floorplan to increase traffic flow. Joseph Angeleri Inc. was hired for the job, and ultimately created a master suite on the second floor, a larger kitchen, a separate breakfast room and dining room and a children’s master dream suite. Also in the scope of work: a separate building that was turned into a garage with a guest suite above. The remodeler custom milled nearly all the wood trim, preserving the home’s original style. Exceeding hurricane regulations, he also tied the home down to new footings and strapped the framing all the way to the roof, installing new insulated impact windows and doors throughout. After restoring the front door and original stained glass windows, he added protection by installing electrically operated hurricane shutters on all glass.

DESIGNED FOR A ‘JUNIOR SENIOR’
Tracy Lux has spent more than a quarter century creating marketing programs for builders. So when it came time for lux to remodel her own 45-year-old Sarasota home, she was well-versed in the topic and knew that she wanted to incorporate a variety of universal design elements into the project. Lux, founder of trace marketing services, calls herself “a junior senior” and admits that she was finding it increasingly difficult to function as a consequence of her 1,800-square-foot home’s awkward floorplan and obsolete kitchen. So, working with contractor John King of Rampart Homes and interior designers Laurel Phipps and Heather Kardos of Laurel Design Group, she got to work. Also known as “aging in place,” universal design is transgenerational and aims to accommodate all ages and abilities. Putting those design principles into practice started with the crowded kitchen, the configuration of which made entertaining difficult. The interior design team worked with king to create a slightly larger but much more open space, with no barriers to the family room. On the other side, a breakfast bar separates the kitchen from the living/dining area. There’s not even a range hood above the cooktop; with the push of a button, a downdraft ventilation system rises to carry smoke and odors outdoors. Seated at the center island, there’s an unobstructed view of the flat-screen tv on the living-room wall. The kitchen boasts easy-maintenance granite counters, a french-door jenn-air refrigerator with bottom freezer, a two-drawer dishwasher from fisher & paykel and a microwave oven positioned to accommodate the five-foot-tall lux. The center island, also topped with granite, has extra-deep drawers and pull-out storage for dishes. It is directly opposite the dishwasher for ease of transfer. Throughout much of the house, floors are hard-surface to facilitate the possible use of a walker or wheelchair. In one of the home’s three bathrooms, the doorway was widened, the shower stall outfitted with a grab bar, hand-held shower head and seat and the vanity was changed out.

UPDATE, BUT SAVE THE MARBLE
After a complete renovation of the two secondary baths, the owner of this Tampa Palms home also wanted to update and maximize the function of their kitchen without having to demolish it. A major factor was keeping the white marble flooring, which adorns the entire first floor including the kitchen, intact. “We had some minor plumbing changes, according to the new design, such as moving the island sink and updating the electrical systems,” says Jon Greaves of Greaves Construction. With some adjustments in the cabinet layout and new finishes such as a tile backsplash and granite and cabinetry detailing, the owner now has a kitchen that really functions well and looks great, says Johanna Seldes of Interior Design Consulting. “The specialty backsplash accent tiles were something the client has really liked,” Seldes adds. “It took some research but we found the perfect mix of accents.” Upon completion of the project the marble flooring was completely refinished and the new kitchen was complete. The accent tiles were supplied by Gulf Tile and the cabinetry by Camelot Cabinets.

A TASTE OF THE ISLANDS
This circa-1980s home had been updated, except for the kitchen. So the owners asked Mueller Remodeling Inc. to revamp the kitchen in a Tommy Bahama-style, with an island feel intrinsic to the design. So, everything was removed except the existing wood flooring. Beneath the drop ceiling was the original vaulted ceiling, which opened up the space, while custom-built maple cabinets with a cinnamon finish added beauty and functionality. Cabinetry features included lazy susans, shallow shelves for spices, four vertical pull-outs, deep drawers for cookware, drawers with moveable pegs for dinnerware, vertical storage and a wine rack. Recessed and xenon under-cabinet lighting and a stainless-steel, under-mount sink with a complementing stainless-steel grohe faucet were also installed. Design details in the remodeled space included a new kitchen window with a view to the pool area, mint green granite, a tile backsplash of glass and travertine and glass cabinet doors and pendant lights with a tropical flair. The cabinets were completed with crown molding and a furniture-quality island was built. Finally, the kitchen was completed with new state-of-the-art stainless steel appliances.

A BEAUTIFUL, ECLECTIC SPACE
Fox Group Designs, using products available at Ferguson Bath & Kitchen Gallery in Tampa, combined traditional and modern looks in the kitchen of this historic 1924 bungalow, located in South Tampa, to create a beautiful and eclectic space. Shaker-style cabinet doors with beadboard detailing, rust bronze cup pulls and knobs with backplates and an apron-front, farmhouse-style sink typical of the 1920s add vintage flair. By contrast, two different quartz countertops and a glass mosaic backsplash highlighted by under-cabinet lighting introduce a progressive and dramatic color scheme. Stainless-steel appliances, including a telescopic downdraft, complete this strikingly beautiful kitchen, which is as functional as it is charming.