After moving into their Preston home 15 years ago, our clients were ready for a change. As they considered building a new home in another neighborhood, the couple met with Rufty Homes to talk about the details of a custom build but ultimately decided to stay put because they loved their current location. However, they were so impressed with the Rufty team and Jon’s attention to detail that they hired Rufty Homes to take on a full-scale luxury renovation. 

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Project Manager, Harry Grube worked closely with the couple’s interior designer, Sharon Lake-Gargano on nearly every aspect of the project. 

Sharon explains, “I worked with the homeowners when they first moved into this house and it was wonderful revisiting it all these years later, figuring out how to refresh it into a more contemporary style. This was my first time working with Rufty Homes, and the whole team was wonderful throughout the project. During a renovation, unexpected issues often arise, especially when tearing down walls. As the project manager, Harry communicated with me about everything and we worked together to determine solutions that would work best for the homeowners.” 

During the remodel, nearly every aspect of the home was updated, resulting in a completely new look. Sharon continues, saying, “The homeowners’ style had shifted from traditional into a more contemporary design, so we made sweeping updates to reflect that better.” 

The entryway features some of the most obvious changes, removing the existing front door, replacing it with a large entry door featuring a sidelight and removing a traditional Palladian window from the space. 

Inside, the team took out the staircase and replaced it with a more modern option, complete with a low-profile handrail and sleek balusters in a combination of black and brushed gold to complement the new lighting fixtures in the foyer. 

Sharon and the Rufty team also made significant updates to the kitchen, finding ways to incorporate the homeowners’ love of navy blue in chic and fresh ways. “We started by removing the kitchen countertops, backsplash, and island, but we decided to keep the original cherry cabinets,” Sharon continues. “To help incorporate blues in the space and pull in the reds of the cabinets, I recommended a stunning Ijen Blue quartzite for the countertops that continues up the wall in place of the old backsplash. The result is an eye-catching, dramatic design that looks fresh and crisp.”

The updated design also features thoughtful lighting that helps enhance the colors in the kitchen, giving the homeowners the feel of a new space while they remain in the home they’ve loved for so long.

“When you walk in, it looks like a completely different home now,” Sharon says. “The magnificent entryway leads to a statement-making staircase, where you can see into the kitchen and immediately get a feel for the homeowners’ design aesthetic. I’m thrilled that they are in love with the final product and appreciate all the work Harry, the amazing subcontractors, and the Rufty Homes team did to help bring the homeowners’ wishes and my design plan to life.”

Take a look at some before & afters from this remodel.