Aaron and Brook Smith set their sights on an English-style Tudor home near Lake Atalanta in downtown Rogers. Knowing the house needed work, they started with their own plans and then ran into a joyful interruption when they found out Brooke was pregnant! They welcomed their son, Samuel, and tried to get back on track with home renovation.
They were interrupted again when they had to put their plans on hold after discovering that Brook has a rare health condition that causes tumors. Now that she has finished treatment, they are more ready than ever to move forward on their remodeling plans, this time with help.
This wasn’t going to be just a small fix. The Smiths needed Dave and me to come in and do more than just add to the changes; they want a home to enjoy for many years. This meant updates to living areas around the house to support…surprise: their growing family!
Exterior
BEFORE
This house was dabbling in the look of an English Tudor but missed out on the important qualities and details characteristic of that style. The Smiths asked us to lighten up their home as they didn’t love the dark features that typically accompany a true Tudor-style home. We took this into account and decided to veer away from a traditional English Tudor and, instead, create a home that would be more like a charming cottage one might find in the English countryside.
The first plan was to give the exterior new life and light by replacing all the windows and painting over the dark brick and stone with a classic white. We kept the porch, opened it up, and bulked up the hanging rope on the existing porch swing that Aaron had built.
I really wanted to build out an arched entryway to create dimension and add in an important Tudor element. Unfortunately, city codes permitted us from adding to the square footage of the home. Instead, I had a custom arched front door built to add cottage charm to the entryway. A new dormer on the roof gave dimension to the exterior and we rounded out all the new details with window boxes along the front.
The home is now bright and warm and feels much more like the beautiful, welcoming cottage that Aaron and Brook hoped for.
AFTER
SOURCES
Porch Light | Kichler
Porch Fan | Hunter
Front Door | KLH Construction
Flag | Allegiance Flag Supply
Exterior Paint Color | BM White Dove
Exterior Trim Color | BM Edgecomb Gray
Kitchen and Dining Room
BEFORE
I hoped to bring the character and charm of a traditional English kitchen to this project. Aaron and Brook were not afraid of color, so we planned for dark blue kitchen cabinets to offset the new lightened surroundings and open space of the family room. We removed the laundry room and brought it in as part of the kitchen. An arched window added even more charm and contributed to the home’s English theme.
The new herringbone wood floors laid the foundation for this space by adding in olde-worlde character. Dave again worked his kitchen magic and built a butcher block island with a gas cooktop and a hidden gas line running up the island’s leg. This new island feels more like a piece of furniture than a bulky island. It also helps the space breathe and flow nicely. Hanging sconces above the island and its pale wood surface balanced the new dark blue cabinets and gave the timeless appearance of texture and countryside character. I just love the fresh palette that took this space from dark and small to colorful and spacious!
AFTER
SOURCES
Rug | Turkish Trunk
Kitchen Faucet | Kingston Brass
Cabinet Hardware | Top Knobs
Cabinet Color | F+B Hague Blue
Family Room
BEFORE
Brook and Aaron wanted more light and an open area for guests in their living room. Our plans for this involved changes that would allow more natural light inside.
In this room, we filled an existing half-wall to create a full built-in perfect for kid storage, and a unique way to display their son’s Lego creations. Above the stairs, another arched entry helped the interior transition to that true Tudor style.
AFTER
SOURCES
Furniture | Howse
Runner | Turkish Trunk
Living Room Fan | Hunter
Wall Color | F+B Pointing No.2003
Built In Color | BM Edgecomb Gray
Nursery
BEFORE
We have been so ridiculously blessed and humbled by the job we get to do. We get to surprise families with a renovated home where they can build a life and make memories. But, this was the first time we were able to surprise a family with the reveal of not only their home, but also of a nursery, and the gender of their new baby!
When they told me that they were going to find out if they were having a boy or a girl and then agreed to let us surprise them with the news, I was so excited! This nursery reveal was a double surprise – we surprised them with a baby’s room and revealed they were having a girl!
To bring soft, pretty colors to this room, I chose muted pastels. The rainbow on the wall represents a promise, like the one given by God to Noah. This baby girl embodies what Aaron and Brook have waited and longed for, in spite of Brook’s health challenges and working toward a long-term home. My hope for this nursery was for it be a visual symbol of the promise that joy always returns, even after suffering.
AFTER
SOURCES
Furniture | Little Seeds
Glider | Dave Marrs
Light Fixture | CB2
Mural Colors | F+B
Hardwick White No.5
Calamine No.230
Setting Plaster No.231
Dorset Cream No.68
Main Suite
BEFORE
Aaron and Brook asked that their small garage be turned into additional space for the house and become their new bedroom. Since their son would be moving into their current room, and his room would become the nursery, this would give them their own sanctuary. We set to work designing a big transformation!
I wanted them to have an elegant main bedroom that provided a cozy respite. Subtle trim detail on the wall and custom built-ins in soft colors on either side of the big window made this space sophisticated and elegant, like a relaxing hotel room.
Their new main bathroom has a marble floor and a big shower with handmade tiles. The double vanity and freestanding tub give these parents a real suite to call their own.
AFTER
SOURCES
Center Light | Kichler
Bedroom Sconces | Kichler
Furniture | Howse
Built In Hardware | Top Knobs
Main Bath Tile | Tom January Flooring
Main Bath Sconces | Target
Main Bath Mirrors | Overstock
Bathroom Hardware | Top Knobs
Main Bedroom Paint Color | F+B Jitney No.293
Main Bath Vanity Paint Color | SW Rosemary
Family Closet and Laundry Room
BEFORE
The Smiths didn’t need their garage as much as they needed new and efficient living space. This allowed us to transform the existing garage into two new rooms: the main bedroom and a laundry room.
A dual mudroom/laundry room gives a family a great place to come in from outdoor play. It really works well for families with children who are constantly hauling stuff in and out and need a place for all the items in transition. Since this was initially a garage, the new room is easily accessible from the driveway. The built-in family closet along one wall accommodates any kind of storage the Smiths might need, and of course…we had to include the requisite locker-like storage!
We also took the best possible advantage of the garage door space to bring natural light from the outside in with a large window. To complete this room, I chose a fun black and white tile that keeps the space bright and sophisticated.
For us to be able to take over this house remodel for Brook and Aaron was such an honor, especially with the surprise nursery and reveal of their baby’s gender. They’ve had a hard journey, and we’re so happy for them to continue their life together in a home all ready for their family.
Photo Credit: Mike Davello