Some homes are remodeled. This one was rethought — without losing the soul of what made it special in the first place. Our clients came to us with a true mid-century modern home and a clear vision: keep the character, open the layout, and quietly weave in the universal-design features that would let them stay in this house through every chapter of their lives.
The first hint that this remodel was designed differently shows up before you’ve even reached the front door. There are no stairs. Instead, a graceful ramp leads up to the original entry, where the slate tile floor has been carefully repurposed and the original front door welcomes you in just as it did decades ago.
Inside, the family room layers new and old — warm new wood floating floors below, original wall base above, and the unmistakable rhythm of mid-century proportions. From there the home opens into a refreshed kitchen built around how the family actually moves and works. A generous corridor between counters lets two cooks pass freely, and we engineered three extra inches into each cabinet run so the countertop behind the cooktop has a little more breathing room. Custom sapele wood cabinetry was specified to match the home’s original mahogany doors and millwork, and a built-in range hood wrapped in matching wood ties the whole space together.
Step out the back and you’ll find the kind of detail many remodels miss — a flush threshold, a gentle ramp, and a comfortable seated patio area that’s just as accessible as the front. Just inside that door, we relocated the laundry from the basement to the main floor, removing one more daily climb from our clients’ lives.
The primary bathroom is where universal design and beautiful design meet most clearly. The shower is fully accessible — flush-entry pan, handheld and fixed shower heads, and removable glass doors that can swap to a curtain if needs ever change. Inside the walls, we installed solid backing throughout the shower so grab bars can be added later without disturbing tile. Original tile windowsills were preserved, and a warm laminate vanity countertop keeps the space feeling personal. In the secondary bath, a salvaged tub from elsewhere in the home pairs with marmoleum flooring and IKEA cabinetry — a thoughtful budget call that keeps quality high without overspending.
The same approach runs through the rest of the home. Hallways are a generous four feet wide, every interior door is three feet across, and the original hallway cabinet stays — but its doors swing wide enough to reach the lower shelves from a seated position. In the primary bedroom, a third window discovered behind a wall mid-project was framed back in, giving the room natural light from three directions — a small but powerful nod to biophilic design.
We also installed an ERV (Energy Recovery Ventilator) to bring filtered fresh air into the home year-round, supporting both indoor air quality and energy efficiency.
The result is a home that honors its past, serves its owners today, and is ready for whatever the next thirty years bring.
Key Features
- Universal-design entry: front-door ramp and flush back-door threshold
- Fully accessible primary bathroom with curbless shower, removable glass doors, and grab-bar backing pre-installed in walls
- 4-foot wide hallways and 3-foot wide doors throughout
- Main-floor laundry (relocated from basement)
- Refreshed kitchen with extra-deep cabinet runs for added countertop workspace
- Custom sapele wood cabinetry, color-matched to original mahogany millwork
- Built-in range hood with custom wood housing
- Repurposed and preserved originals: slate entry tile, front door, wall base, hallway light fixtures, and a salvaged bathtub
- Original tile windowsills preserved
- New wood floating floors in main living areas
- Marmoleum flooring and budget-conscious IKEA cabinetry in secondary bath
- Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV) for fresh air and improved efficiency
- Biophilic design: natural light from three directions in the primary bedroom
- Mid-century modern character preserved throughout
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