This year has seen a particularly generous surge of renovations and remodels. With more emphasis on quality family time, many of us are expanding our living and dining rooms, upgrading bedrooms and bathrooms, and even adding outdoor spaces to gather while being socially distant. For a recent renovation in Green Hills, an addition and remodel created the perfect space for a growing family and made more room for quality time. With their sights set on giving their traditional ranch house near Woodmont Park a more modern upgrade, the homeowners enlisted the help of Van Mol Restoration to create an open concept, streamline the kitchen, and build a laundry, bedroom and bathroom — and all of it transpired while the family was living in the home and preparing for a brand new baby!
The homeowners were looking for a more open-concept kitchen, which appears to be a common request these days. Derek Van Mol, owner of Van Mol Restoration, says, “One thing I’ve noticed over the past few years in the new modern homes going up is that the people who have more traditional homes are trying to open up those spaces, so there’s a living room or den in the kitchen.”
Oversized kitchen stools offer a comfortable place for the family to eat breakfast or gather around as dinner is prepared, while white oak flooring stands out amid the white Shaker cabinetry and modern appliances. The fridge, originally located on the far wall, was moved to accommodate for better flow.
A six-burner gas stove and perfectly placed pot filler offer practical conveniences. The kitchen also boasts a textured, elongated subway tile, giving it added depth.
Originally a two-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath residence, the renovation nearly doubled the home, adding two additional bedrooms and bathrooms. Beginning with exterior improvements on the painted brick abode and half-acre lot, and then moving on to the addition, owner Derek Van Mol and his team diligently worked to renovate all of the components outside of the homeowners’ living space before disrupting the common areas. When it was time to connect the addition to the existing floor plan and begin the kitchen remodel, they set up an interim kitchen in the dining room that allowed the family to continue their day-to-day activities without temporarily relocating. “When we’re doing a remodel, we want to stay out of [a homeowner’s] space for as long as possible,” says Derek. “So, what we do is work on all of the foundations, exterior work and additions, and then tie the addition into the home before we actually connect the two.”
The Van Mol team used zip walls to isolate the space and keep dust to a minimum, also renovating the laundry and guest room before moving on to other facets of the project to accommodate all of the family that was coming into town to celebrate and help out with the new baby. “They had in-laws who were coming in by a certain time to help with the baby,” recalls Derek. “In fact, the homeowners had the baby during the process. It was interesting, to say the least! Going to the hospital for them was like a little vacation away from the construction zone.” But looking beyond the drywall and debris, it was easy for them to see the bigger picture — even more opportunity to gather for family meals and fill the halls with laughter. And that’s what made it all worth it.
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A quartz countertop surrounds this beautiful farmhouse sink, spotlighted by gold pendant fixtures chosen by the homeowner.
Creating a less compartmentalized layout, Van Mol Restoration opened up the kitchen and living room area for a more cohesive and airy space. “The island creates an imaginary barrier between the living room and the kitchen,” says Derek, who installed all new cabinetry in both rooms.
A “wall” of windows ensures a brightly lit family room, with double doors that open to a newly installed patio area.
Homes constructed in the ’70s are notoriously segmented, so Van Mol Restoration removed a wall to connect the living room and kitchen. All new hardwood flooring seamlessly ties the two spaces together.
A focal point of the living room, this beautiful built-in bookcase was created by Van Mol Restoration and is accented by a wood-paneled backdrop, to store the family’s books and treasures.
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A mirror with floating glass shelves holds pretty trinkets and a collection of decanters, while the lower cabinets feature lion drawer pulls that the homeowner picked up on her travels.
A “drop zone” for all things kid-related, custom cubbies and built-ins make organizing a breeze. “There’s a walkway from the end of the driveway so they can walk straight into this room,” explains Derek. “That way, it can be a bit of a dumping ground.”
Wood beams and beautiful hardwood floors give this bedroom a rustic feel.
Part of the addition, this guest bedroom was built just in time for the homeowners’ in-laws to arrive.
This bathroom addition boasts his-and-hers sinks and a spacious shower.
The laundry room is a perfect example of how repurposed elements can give way to functionality. Here, the old kitchen cabinets were used to create additional storage. Van Mol Restoration built a custom countertop to tie it all together.
It’s not atypical for builders to run into a snag here and there during construction, and this gorgeous remodel was no exception. The initial plans called for a crawl space but digging proved that an impossibility. “I don’t know if there was a stream or a natural spring underneath,” explains Derek, “but we would come back every day, and everything we had dug would be filled with water. So, we had to get creative with that.” The Van Mol team switched gears and built the addition on a slab foundation instead, and they were finishing up their work at the onset of the pandemic. Fortunately, the project was completed before closures and lockdown procedures were put in place. Despite the project’s success, the homeowners were inspired to move out of state with their two young children not long after — but the house turned out so beautifully that Derek tells us it sold only one day after being put on the market. Proud of their stunning renovations, he says, “I love a happy client. Even if it’s only for a couple of months before they decide to move to Florida!”
Hidden in the backyard, stone pavers and upgraded landscaping create a little patio area leading up to the new addition, which used to be a detached garage.
Ideal for entertaining guests or enjoying a fall evening, this patio overlooks the backyard, where there’s plenty of room for kids to run around.
All images courtesy of Zach Harrison Photography.
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