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Time To Downsize? Remodeling A City Condo With Hints Of Home

Black kitchen island with white countertop in foreground, dark brown maple cabinetry in background, with glass sconce above the sinkWhether youโ€™re ready to fully move from your longtime house into a smaller space or want to prep a property and rent it out until that time comes, downsizing can still embody elements of your previous home โ€“ and remodeling can help make it truly yours. We talked with Normandy Designer Ashley Noethe about tips for downsizing and home remodeling your new space.

Ashley recently worked with a Glen Ellyn, IL couple who decided to downsize and move into a condo in the Gold Coast neighborhood of Chicago for their retirement years. โ€œNormandy remodeled their kitchen over twenty years ago and they really liked their island set-up, so we looked up that blueprint and they chose to have some elements in the same places, like the trash and silverware drawer, so that it was an easier adjustment,โ€ Ashley says. โ€œBut they did choose a larger island this time around since they wanted more room for their grandkids to belly up when they visit!โ€

The larger island was made possible by bringing down a wall that formed the original galley-style kitchen, which was closed off from the rest of the living and dining areas. โ€œIt was dark and tight, and there wasnโ€™t much counter space or room for more than just one person. There were so many windows in the rest of the space, so it just made sense to open everything up, because they love to entertain,โ€ Ashley says. โ€œIt was helpful talking with the building manager, who gave us tips from two other units who had done similar projects.โ€Large black kitchen island with white countertop in foreground, windows showing greenery in the background

Another feature that brought in elements from their former home was a display area for their art collection. โ€œOne of the walls around the balcony was curved and made the furniture layout tough, so we squared that off and created an area to showcase the art pieces theyโ€™ve collected from all their travels,โ€ Ashley says. โ€œFunction first, thatโ€™s where I always start. Then we can make anything beautiful.โ€

With the layout adjusted and opened up, Ashley focused on the aesthetics of their new urban space. โ€œSince theyโ€™re in the city now, in this fabulous older building, we wanted to capture that vintage charm but give it a sleek city vibe that was cozy but not flashy,โ€ Ashley says. โ€œWe decided on a โ€˜sleek industrialโ€™ look by bringing in deep brown and blacks, with a pop of white on the island countertop, Dark brown maple range hood and matching surround cabinetry, and induction cooktopwhich is the start of everything brightening up as you move towards these beautiful windows.โ€

The range hood and cabinetry are maple with rich stains and the backsplash is a quartz slab in a sophisticated chocolate brown. The kitchen also features an induction cooktop and elegant light fixtures.

โ€œIt was technically just a kitchen remodel, but it wound up more like a full first-floor remodel since we addressed the kitchen, dining and living areas,โ€ Ashley says. โ€œNow this is a great space for all types of gatherings, all together in one room and not cornered into one little space.โ€

If youโ€™d like to talk more about how to create your perfect condo, you canย set up a time to talk with Ashley. For more examples of home designs, visit ourย photo gallery. For regular updates on design trends and tips on home remodeling, follow us onย Facebook,ย Instagram,ย LinkedInย andย Pinterest!

Tips for Adding a Vaulted Ceiling in a Home Addition

interior view of a family room addition with a vaulted ceiling

Vaulted ceilings, also called cathedral ceilings, are a unique design element that can instantly make your home feel grand. โ€œA vaulted ceiling is a wow factor that not only creates visual interest, but also provides an opportunity for more natural light,โ€ Normandy Designer Jeremy Paris says.

But including a vaulted ceiling in your home addition isnโ€™t like adding wainscoting or a patio door. It takes some additional planning, and often a bit of extra expense, to ensure that your newly added room feels as good as it looks. Jeremy shared his tips for adding a vaulted ceiling in a home addition.

Vaulted ceilings create that wonderful, airy feeling in a room because you guessed itโ€ฆ thereโ€™s more air. That means your furnace and air conditioner need to be up to the challenge of keeping the space warm in the winter and cool in the summer. โ€œItโ€™s fairly common to add a secondary furnace and air conditioner whenever youโ€™re considering a sizable addition, and perhaps even more so when you have a vaulted space,โ€ notes Jeremy. Another reason you may want a dedicated heating and cooling system โ€“ more dramatic wall space often leads to more windows.

โ€œTwo very common approaches to creating a focal point in a vaulted room is through a striking fireplace or dramatic windows,โ€ says Jeremy. โ€œDepending on the direction the home faces, this may impact how hot or cold the room feels, so having an independent thermostat for this room can be a real benefit. Ceiling fans can help circulate air to help with both heating and cooling.โ€

Ensuring the room retains those comfortable temperatures also factors in the design of the vaulted ceiling. โ€œAny available attic space between the exterior roof and the interior ceiling needs to be insulated to meet the requirements of the latest energy code,โ€ shares Jeremy. This helps keep temperatures stable and allows the heating and cooling system to operate more efficiently.

Generally, the design of a vaulted ceiling is dictated by the size of the new space, the existing roof slope, and structural considerations. โ€œWe want additions to feel like a natural extension of your home, so ideally, the addition will have a roof pitch similar to the rest of your home,โ€ notes Jeremy. Once you have a sense of how high the ceiling will be in your new room, you can begin to work through other ways of bringing drama to the space. โ€œDecorative beams can be a wonderful way to draw attention to the height of the room,โ€ says Jeremy. โ€œA statement light fixture is a popular choice if beams arenโ€™t an option, which also provides the benefit of additional illumination for the room.โ€

Creating a home addition that wows comes down to more than just a fabulous ceiling. If youโ€™re contemplating adding space to your home, set up a time to talk with Jeremy about the possibilities. You can find photos of home additions weโ€™ve completed in our photo gallery or sign up for our monthly newsletter to get design inspiration delivered right to your inbox. For regular updates on design trends and tips on home remodeling, follow us onย Facebook,ย Instagram,ย LinkedInย andย Pinterest!

White vaulted ceiling with chandelier and many windows White vaulted ceiling with wood beam at peak in child's bedroom

White vaulted ceiling in white kitchen, windows looking out in background, table in foreground ย White cathedral ceiling with blue-gray wainscoting above fireplace reaching to ceiling, gold chandelier

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