Project Info

Designer: Mark Lind / CG&S Design-Build, Austin, Texas
Contractor: Dolores Davis / CG&S Design-Build, Austin

Priorities

• Correct the structural and framing issues discovered in the original design • Open up and connect the kitchen, dining room, and living room
• Update the finishes in a contemporary style

Solutions

When this three-story weekend retreat required repairs due to water damage from burst pipes, it was discovered that the home was originally constructed with undersized wall and ceiling joists and over-spanned beams. The owners seized the opportunity to completely redesign their kitchen as they fixed these structural problems.

The CG&S Design-Build team, led by designer Mark Lind, outdid themselves on the house: gutting, re-framing, and adding structural support where necessary. What resulted from the overhaul was an almost entirely different house with a spacious, contemporary kitchen. Walls were removed to link together the kitchen, dining room, and living room.

No longer separate and confined, the kitchen is now an attractive focal point on the entry level. A large, central island lined with modern chairs faces out toward the living room. Unobtrusive appliances and shining white countertops lend a sleek appearance to the minimalist kitchen. The mixture of cherry and painted cabinetry provides visual interest in addition to increased storage.

In the kitchen and elsewhere, existing lighting was upgraded to better illuminate the house, and natural light can flood in from large picture windows that frame views of the hills. The expansive layout and enhanced lighting seem to invite a flow of party guests. After such a beautiful renovation, the owners might just be thankful for those burst pipes.

Judges’ Comments

The judges awarded high marks for the innovative use of various materials and praised how everything fit into the space. They also noted that the remodel “made the house more visually interesting and expansive.”

Products

Countertops: Silestone
Flooring: US Floors
HVAC Equipment: Trane
Kitchen cabinets: Kingwood Fine Cabinetry
Oven: KitchenAid
Paints/stains: Kelly-Moore, Benjamin Moore
Windows: Don Young
Vent Hood: Zephyr