Our clients fell in love with their home and its beautiful, secluded surroundings the first time they saw it. Over time however, the split living space on the main floor proved to be not as functional as they wanted it to be for their family, nor did it provide a great connection to the outdoor space that they loved so much.
The solution, while clear, was not simple. To remove the main load bearing wall shared by these two rooms took a considerable amount of framing and the introduction of new structural components to merge two unique rooflines. The removal of the wall created an eat-in kitchen with a wall of windows and an open concept living area. One of the main features and highlights of this space is a uniquely designed banquette that is a custom built-in extension of the island, offering both seating at the island as well as a place for an actual dining table.
The new layout also offered ample space for cooking, as well as a coffee and tea area for the family’s assortment of favorite beverages. Custom cabinetry adorns the walls alongside a neutral and classic backsplash, new white oak floors, updated entryway, and hallway pantry closet.
“Working with the Walczaks was a fantastic experience from start to finish! We met and interviewed several different firms and knew clearly we wanted to work with Lisa and Derek. We loved Lisa’s design aesthetic and process and really trusted and respected Derek as a contractor to oversee the project. One major reason was they have long-standing relationships with quality sub-contractors, so the coordination was seamless and everyone from the electricians to the cabinet makers, to the painters were very courteous, professional and the work was outstanding! We had small space and a long wish list (take down walls, double wall ovens, a need for a lot more storage, a dedicated coffee bar, giant windows). Lisa offered us several different designs to make sure it was prefect for us, including one that not only ticked all the boxes I had asked for but allowed us to have a continuous open flow with our screened in porch, and added more seating for our dining table and looked absolutely beautiful! We get compliments all the time! The entire process went very smoothly, was on time and on budget. The app they use to communicate and map out the process is great and allowed us to see what was happening each day, where we were in the process, and I loved the ability to have everything from material selections to invoices in one place. You might be able to find someone do to the work cheaper but the peace of mind of working with true professionals who stand by their work is worth it. They never try to upsell or pressure you and worked hard to stay within our budget without sacrificing our vision. I only wish we had found Lisa and Derek before we hired the other contractors for previous projects. Nothing is ever perfect, but this experience was about as close as you could get! We plan to work with Walzcak for all our future needs!”
