Jennifer and Griffin McGahey knew they wanted more living space. After much consideration, they decided their Birmingham neighborhood and neighbors were second to none, so remodeling their existing home was the way to go. They enlisted Scott Carlisle of Christopher Architecture and Interiors to help them renovate their house into the masterpiece it is today. Their original home was 2,200 square feet with three bedrooms and two baths. The McGaheys wanted a bedroom for each of their two boys, plus a guest room for visiting family. It was important to them to have an open family living arrangement and a home office, but not a priority to have a traditional dining room. By bumping out the existing foundation a mere six inches, removing all but two walls and going up with a second story, all their needs were met! The end result is a highly functional, breathtakingly beautiful space of 3,700 square feet, with scores of details from the ground up.
The original house was a three-bedroom, two-bath with 2,200 square feet. The couple has two young boys and out-of-town family that likes to visit so they desired a home that could accommodate it all.
WOW! What an amazing transformation! Perfectly pitched roof lines and meticulous attention to detail are par for the course with Christopher Architecture and Interiors.
Adding a second story is easy. Making the end result appear seamless isn’t.
Soaring ceilings create volumes of space and beauty in the family room.
Here we see the foyer in the construction phase. Large floor-to-ceiling windows are prominently featured in the remodel, giving way to plenty of natural light throughout the home.
The kitchen, dining area and family room are open and spacious, allowing use of all areas of the house.
The kitchen is light and bright, with a marble countertop, marble-tiled walls and a limestone-topped island.
The soaring ceilings and open floor plan make the home feel spacious, without interfering with its intimacy.
The home entrance opens into a spacious foyer with a grand staircase.
Smart thinking: the foyer light fixture lowers with the flip of a switch, allowing the homeowners to change the bulbs when necessary.
The homeowners opted for a home office in lieu of a more traditional dining room.
A wet bar adds function to the eat-in kitchen area.
Both boys’ rooms are furnished in similar fashion with the same paint colors and red accents, giving continuity to the home.
Each of the McGahey sons got a special room with built-in furniture.
Jennifer found these stainless steel shelves for the kitchen at a local restaurant supply store.
A small, functional powder room was added downstairs.
The master bathroom boasts an unusual set of suspended mirrors against a wall of windows. Fortunately, there is a high fence and some lush landscaping separating them from the neighboring house!
Setback regulations made a garage impossible, but the storage shed shown here allows plenty of space for sports and outdoor equipment.
Details throughout the home make all the difference. Here, to the left of the front door, is a custom creation by architect Scott Carlisle.
Here is the view of the back of the house before the renovation.
The backyard is now ready for entertaining kids and cooking out.
Scott Carlisle says he enjoyed working with the McGaheys on this project. He notes that they were ideal clients, as they gave him “enough rope and enough boundaries” to do his job.
Resources:
- Architect: Christopher Architecture and Interiors
- Builder: Ruff Reams
- Decorator: Shea Bryars 205.533.2268
- Landscape: Father Nature Landscapes
- Interior paint color used in main living areas: Pratt & Lambert Windham reduced by 25%
- Light fixtures: Foyer: Foucault’s Orb Chandelier, Restoration Hardware; Family Room: Troy Large Pendant, Morgan Collection, Ferguson; Boys’ Rooms: Zuo Modern (www.zuomod.com)
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