Demo Dreams Meets Designer Wisdom

When we first met these clients, they were laser-focused on one thing: tearing down the wall between the living room and family room. Full demo mode. HGTV dreams. Sledgehammers in hand. But we gently stepped in—without hard hats—and said, “What if we gave you three options, including your demo fantasy… and maybe, just maybe, you’ll love the one that keeps your walls and your sanity intact?”

Spoiler alert: they chose option one—our favorite. No walls came crashing down, and yet the space opened up in all the right ways.

Let’s talk about this transformation, shall we?

We widened the opening between the kitchen and family room, giving the home a far better flow (and making it less of a hallway hustle). We also created not one, but two pocket door openings between the family room and the living room. Custom doors, no big deal. But structurally? That part took a little finesse. We had to ensure everything remained sound, secure, and ready for the long haul—no shortcuts here.

The former formal living room? Oh, she got a glow-up. What was once an underused space now serves triple duty: office, library, and cozy lounge—thanks to fully custom built-ins and a vibe that says, “Yes, I do take Zoom calls from a designer showroom.”

The foyer? We moved that closet (bye!) and widened the entrance into the kitchen. Now, guests are greeted with light, openness, and a fresh perspective—not a traffic jam.

And don’t even get us started on the fireplace. Actually—please do. We replaced the old stone with stunning honed marble chevron tile, designed a new mantel, added molding that would make a historic brownstone blush, and flanked the entire setup with brass sconces for extra glow. The cherry on top? Wallpaper. Yes, the thing they swore they’d never do. We snuck in pattern on either side of the fireplace, and dare we say—it’s their favorite part now.

The family room itself is outfitted with chef’s kiss custom pieces: tailored accent chairs, a navy coffee table that grounds the space, a rug that could stop traffic, and ottomans cleverly tucked away for bonus seating (or spontaneous foot propping). Even behind the sofa, we gave them a console setup with extra stools—just waiting for guests, kids, or a casual moment of shoe-tying.

In the end, this wasn’t just a renovation. It was a total rethinking of how they live, entertain, and enjoy their home. And it all started with the power of “What if?”

Moral of the story? Sometimes the best solution isn’t knocking it all down. Sometimes it’s just knowing exactly where to make space—and where to make magic.