Inside Out and Outside In: The Best of Both Worlds

There are people who describe themselves as outdoorsy. And those who consider themselves to be more indoorsy. But what if you like them both? We know some homeowners who came up with the perfect solution: a screened in porch with some amazing features that beautifully bring the outdoors in and the indoors out.

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These homeowners were smart about how they went about this renovation. They lived in the space for a bit before planning their home improvement project. This strategy gave them the opportunity to see where they like to spend time in their home and what renovation project would give them the most bang for their remodeling buck. The former screened in porch was a much used, much loved part of the home. It was small, dark, and a bit dated, but the homeowners found themselves spending a lot of time there with family and friends. Making it bigger and better seemed like a no brainer.

First, the enclosed porch was extended and given a vaulted ceiling. A new masonry fireplace gave a place to gather on those cool, fall evenings. The extended space gave room for multiple seating areas, as well.

This porch combines the best of the indoors and outdoors, with matching wooden floors and ceiling with exposed beams. Recessed lights, ceiling fans, and built in heaters, as well as the fireplace, make this covered porch a useable space for all four seasons. The house was given new sliding doors. The former door to the house was repurposed as the new door leading to the now attached garage/rec room space.

New steps lead from the covered porch to the paver patio, providing a wider entry to the porch and some extra outdoor seating.

The existing patio got a major upgrade in the process. The fireplace isn’t just for those sitting on the covered porch. Instead, a two-sided fireplace was installed, so it can be enjoyed from the inside or the outside. Double the cozy seating areas, which can be enjoyed no matter if you’re outdoorsy or indoorsy.

As the sun sets earlier and the nights grow cooler this time of year, it’s the perfect timing to post this project. You can imagine sunset happy hours at this home. With a little planning, we can create an indoor/outdoor oasis just as lovely in your home. The first step? Give us a call.

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Outdoor Projects, Bespoke RemodelingJennifer BuchholzSeptember 21, 2021The English Contractorporch, cincinnati, bespokeremodeling, bespokeremodel, madeira, homeimprovement

End of an Era: Goodbye, 1930s Bathroom!

So many of you have a love of historic homes—and we’re with you there. We were lucky enough to be called into renovate a Tutor-style home in Avondale. Several areas of the home had already been tastefully updated, adding modern detail while preserving original elements, like rich woodwork and unique window hardware. Charm, however, only goes so far when you have to live in a home every day, and kitchens and bathrooms are two important areas of the home that just work better when they’ve been renovated. The English Contractor team worked with these homeowners, who happen to have a great eye for style and design, to modernize the home’s bathrooms.

We’ll take you through the owner’s suite bathroom, a space that had not been touched since likely the 1930s or 1940s. A home like this though, is a part of history, even through styles have changed and products wear out. You’ll be happy to hear that many of the pieces of this bathroom were salvaged and resold to collectors, so they will happily live on in another bathroom somewhere.

Photo: Ross Van Pelt

The original bathroom had black tile with gold glazing that had worn away over time. One wall was covered in rose gold mirrors, with a convenient slot to dispose of safety razors (which we discovered during our renovation). A mint green Art Deco sink with chrome detail was centered on the wall.

The bathroom was carefully brought down to the studs. The basic layout of the space is the same, but is now brighter and seems bigger, with lots of extra storage. The black floor tiles were replaced with the Daltile Marble Attache in Calcutta Satin. The solo sink was replaced with a long vanity that can now hold two sinks, with a stone top to coordinate with the marble floor and shower tile.

Photo: Ross Van Pelt

The commode previously sat behind a full wall, with frosted window. A new half wall gives some privacy and lets more light from the adjacent window into the space. We love the addition of a countertop to this half wall as well.

Yes, that mint green sink had a matching mint green toilet. It was replaced with a new Kohler, with an angular tank that still gives this bathroom a vintage-y feel. The mirror was deleted and the window extended, with a gorgeous, chunky sill.

Both versions of this bathroom had a built-in vanity. We preserved this idea in the new space. The new bathroom has a narrow cabinet, topped with stone, and a light up mirror behind it. The light up mirror keeps the space looking clean and modern, without the need for an additional sconce or light fixture. We love the addition of recessed shelves between the shower and the vanity—what a perfect place to keep towels and extra toiletries at the ready.

This was one of this projects where we loved seeing the “before” as much as the “afters.” It was a fun walk through history was we worked in this home. We’ve included lots of before and afters here, so you can fully appreciate the impact of this renovation.