A Place for Family: Brier Creek Before & After

by Allie Racette | Sep 4, 2024 | Bathroom Renovations, Kitchen Renovations

This beautiful renovation took almost an entire year, but it was worth every moment. This house in the Brier Creek Country Club was built by Toll Brothers in the early 2000s and hadn’t seen any updates since. Our clients were a family of four with two young daughters and relatives from France that frequently flew in to visit for extended periods, so our goal was to give them a functional family space with plenty of style.

Kitchen

The kitchen was the focal point of this transformation. The narrow island and closed-off U-shape just weren’t working, and the tile flooring in the kitchen clashed with the engineered hardwoods throughout the rest of the house, breaking up the floorplan even more. This cramped, outdated kitchen wasn’t just visually unappealing – it was impractical for this busy family!

To open up the floorplan, we installed a 20-foot structural steel beam that allowed us to remove the wall between the kitchen and the sunroom. This made space for a double island, perfect for prep, cooking, and entertaining, with ample seating that flows seamlessly into the dining room, accommodating up to 10 people.

We updated all the appliances in the kitchen, including a double wall oven, a large gas cooktop, a convenient pot filler, drawer microwave, dishwasher, and a new built-in refrigerator. We used a classic color palette to brighten the space and incorporated timeless materials – a marble countertop, marble backsplash, and marble mosaic tile with fluted glass to add a touch of detail to the design.

One of the homeowners is French (meaning she loves her coffee and espresso!) so we completed the kitchen with a gorgeous coffee bar. We also got rid of the outdated tile and updated the flooring throughout the entire first floor, making for a harmonious, cohesive finish.

Bathrooms

All the bathrooms in the home were very plain and builder grade, though the primary bathroom needed a lot more work. A large tub had been installed by a previous owner, and with very little walking space on one side, it definitely wasn’t to code. We replaced that outdated monstrosity with a tub against the back wall that was more appropriately sized but just as luxurious. Other luxury touches in the primary bathroom included a chandelier above the tub, more classic marble, fluted glass, gold finishes, his and hers vanities, decorative tile in the shower niche and, to top it all off, a heated flooring system.

In the three remaining bathrooms, we updated all the fixtures and finishes and added fun, decorative touches throughout, like wallpaper, tile mosaics, and pops of color.

ADDITIONAL UPGRADES

In the foyer, we added a beautiful new chandelier to brighten the space. The laundry room got a new marble floor, updated cabinetry, a new sink, and floating shelves. We also created a built-in mudroom and a new closet for coats – plenty of practical storage for a family of four!

Finally, we transformed the husband’s office with custom built-ins and a dark, saturated paint in Peppercorn, giving the space a sophisticated, masculine vibe.

While we did some major renovations, there are a few details we didn’t change. We left the columns throughout the home and the ornate balusters on the staircase, maintaining some of the original charm while creating a beautiful, cohesive space with a bit of classic Parisian flair. Our clients are thrilled with the results, and so are we!

1SpottedDesignAnnieMarchettaBluemontBrierCreekKitchen-6

8SpottedDesignAnnieMarchettaBluemontBrierCreekPrimaryBath-1 (1)

6SpottedDesignAnnieMarchettaBluemontBrierCreekOffice-2 (2)

7SpottedDesignAnnieMarchettaBluemontBrierCreekLaundryRoom-4 (1)

From House to Home: Before & After at Electra

by Allie Racette | Jul 17, 2024 | Bathroom Renovations, Kitchen Renovations

These clients moved to North Carolina from out of state and purchased a house built in 1972 – which had since been stuck in 1972. The property had seen few updates, if any, since its construction, and was in desperate need of a renovation. From the color-coordinated bathroom tile to the heavy, dark kitchen cabinets, this house was stuck in time and ready for a refresh. In the middle of the renovations, our clients found out they were pregnant, so the goal was clear – transform an outdated house into a beautiful, functional family home.

The first step to revitalizing the house was opening up the floor plan between the kitchen and the dining room. We moved the laundry room – which had previously been tucked away in a closet between the kitchen and the dining room – upstairs, making space to knock out a few walls and create an open, spacious floor plan perfect for family gatherings and entertaining.

The changes to the floor plan didn’t stop there. We framed out an oversized upstairs bonus room to add an extra bedroom, perfect for a growing family. We also expanded the primary bathroom, giving the new parents a luxurious space to unwind.

Though we updated all three bathrooms in the house, the kitchen and dining room were the center of the transformation. After opening up the floor plan, we designed the dining room around the dining table, a refinished family heirloom, adding decorative wainscoting to the walls and an elegant new light fixture. In the kitchen, we added a large island for extra prep room and seating space and incorporated a beautiful hexagon marble tile backsplash. The nearby coffee bar was given a coordinating diamond mosaic backsplash to compliment the hexagons. This kitchen also features a touch faucet, perfect for child-sized hands still learning how things work!

Don’t worry – we didn’t erase the history from this house. In the foyer, we kept the original 1970s parquet floor, which we stained to coordinate with the LVP throughout the rest of the home.

Our clients bought this house for $465k, and with our updates, it’s now valued at more than $750k. What was spent on renovations added nearly double the cost of those renovations to the value of the house, creating instant equity for our homeowners. They were able to purchase an outdated property in an incredible neighborhood for a lower cost and renovate it into their dream home.

Very soon after we finished the renovations, our clients’ son was born, bringing the process full circle. We didn’t just renovate a house – we created a forever home for a young family to grow and make memories for years to come.

ElectraDriveSpottedDesignRaleighInteriorDesigner-12

ElectraDriveSpottedDesignRaleighInteriorDesigner-2 (1)

ElectraDriveSpottedDesignRaleighInteriorDesigner-16

Choosing the Best Stone for Your Kitchen Counters

by Allie Racette | Mar 16, 2023 | Kitchen Renovations

You’re finally remodeling your kitchen, meticulously selecting every last detail. You’ve chosen your cabinets, your flooring, your plumbing and hardware finishes, your light fixtures – but one decision is harder than the rest. What type of stone should you choose for your countertops?

From marble to granite to quartz, there are many types of stone to choose from, and they each have their pros and cons. While we could compare and contrast every type of stone there is, it’s better to stick to the popular choices. (They’re popular for a reason, after all.)

So, when you’re choosing your countertops, how do you decide – marble or quartz?

MARBLE

When picking a kitchen countertop, it’s important to keep in mind how you’ll be using your kitchen. Are you building a chef’s kitchen because you love to cook and entertain, or are you more interested in aesthetic over function? Marble countertops are a popular choice for their luxurious, elegant look, and honed marble can be a good choice for homeowners looking for a more natural, matte stone finish. There’s no question that marble is a durable stone, but maintaining that durability requires time, attention, and money. If your marble countertops aren’t resealed every three to six months, they can be prone to staining and scratching, and have even been known to crack under high heat. If you’re the type of chef that takes a hot pan out of the oven and sets it directly on the counter, marble might not be the right choice for you.

QUARTZ & QUARTZITE

Quartz and quartzite countertops are popular alternatives to marble – but what’s the difference? While quartzite is natural stone, quartz countertops are man-made, consisting of natural quartz crystals, resin, and pigments. Quartz and quartzite are similar in durability and are scratch and stain resistant, but the resin in quartz countertops can burn under high heat. Quartzite, however, is natural stone, meaning it’s more porous – which also means your quartzite countertops will require resealing at least once a year to prevent staining.

Because quartz countertops are manufactured, they have an advantage when it comes to customization. Quartz countertops can be pigmented and molded to fit almost any kitchen design you can dream up, whereas quartzite countertops leave you reliant on their naturally occurring hue and beauty.

Marble, quartzite, quartz? There are benefits to whatever countertop you choose, from the natural beauty of marble to the low-maintenance durability of quartz. Whatever you decide, you’ll want a countertop that fits both your aesthetic and your lifestyle. Talk to your interior design team – we can help you make the choice that’s right for you and your home!

Want even more information on stone options for your countertops? Download our cheat sheet comparing the most common stone choices!

Quartz (top), honed marble (middle), and quartzite (bottom) are all popular choices for kitchen countertops.

Full Kitchen Reno: Before & After at Lakeside

by Allie Racette | May 2, 2022 | Kitchen Renovations

Not all homebuyers can see the potential in an outdated space, but Matt and Mary purchased their home knowing they would eventually want to update the kitchen. The original layout of Matt and Mary’s kitchen was claustrophobic, the workflow funky. The fridge was adjacent to the side door off the driveway — their primary entrance to their home — the oven was in a cramped corner, they lacked counter space, and the peninsula made the room feel closed off. Along with the awkward layout, everything was old, musty, sagging, and in desperate need of replacement.

At Spotted, we start every project by sitting down with the client to discuss the current state of their space, digging deep to pinpoint what’s working and what needs to change, and then we put together a preliminary quote and budget. There are plenty of options for financing home projects, from personal loans to HELOCs — but Matt and Mary wanted to pay for their kitchen remodel without a loan, so we set their project aside while they saved up. A few months later, we circled back and got started on their new kitchen. Matt and Mary didn’t mind waiting a bit longer; the anticipation is half the fun of a big project.

We had a few main goals with this remodel:

Improve the workflow of the kitchen
Create more open space to enlarge the room
Optimize the kitchen for a homeowner who loves to cook and bake!

A design board and renderings help us visualize the finished product.

A huge thank you to Wayfair for sponsoring the beautiful hardware in this space.

Serene Lily 7 9/16″ Center to Center Bar Pull

1 1/4″ Diameter Mushroom Knob Multipack

With Matt and Mary’s needs and wants in mind, we started preparing design renderings, revising until we’d found the perfect solution for the kitchen’s odd layout. At the same time, we pulled design inspiration from Matt and Mary’s Pinterest boards, and started sourcing everything we needed — tile, plumbing, countertops, and more — from local suppliers.

A few weeks later, after plenty of revisions and lots of fine-tuning, we were ready to start ordering materials. Behind the scenes, our design team was busy creating construction plans, meeting with our contractors, tracking our sourced items, and double-checking everything to ensure it arrived on site — on time and intact.

With everything reviewed, approved, and accounted for, construction finally began. The Spotted team conducted regular site visits to ensure everything was being installed to spec, and we handled any issues that arose during construction, acting as the liaison between the clients and the construction team. Our goal is to make the renovation process as easy and stress-free as possible for every client. As is the nature of construction, things will go wrong and issues will arise – but we stay on top of things with a solutions-first approach.

Take a look at the before and after of this gorgeous kitchen remodel! We optimized aesthetic and function to create a beautiful, livable space, perfect for cooking, baking, and gathering. Maybe these results can even provide some ideas and inspiration for your own future kitchen remodel, or help you see the potential in an outdated space during your homebuying journey.