mosby st louis kitchen update

As time moves on, tastes change. This prompted the owners of a Chesterfield home built in 1980 to call Mosby Building Arts. They still loved the size and layout of the home, but their tastes had changed from traditional to contemporary, and they wanted a new look.

To give an old home a new look doesn’t always require changing floorplans or square footage. Remodeling can be as simple as updating surfaces and adding new accessories. With the guidance of Mosby designer, Dean Vitale, the clients refreshed their home with a more modern look. Here’s how it was accomplished.

mosby fireplace before the remodel

The first step to changing the feel of the public spaces on the first floor was removing the carpeting and parquet flooring and installing new hardwood – stained a dark, rich brown – in the living room, family room, powder room and hall. It was melded with the existing kitchen hardwood, which was refinished and stained to match. This creates a seamless background that connects all the rooms.

In the family room, the original fireplace, nestled between built-in bookcases, felt tired. While discussing options for updating it, the man of the house revealed he’d always longed for a polished concrete fireplace, but is that possible? Would it even work with the rest of their house?

To give an accurate representation, 3D designs were drawn to show them exactly how a concrete fireplace would look in their home, and they were delighted. Taking this seemingly radical step inspired the look of further updates, creating the overall aesthetic they would pursue.

mosby fireplace remodel during

So as not to disturb the bookcases and keep costs down, the original firebox was kept (and painted black to disappear), and the angular concrete surround was formed over the existing brick (above), and polished to a soft, satiny sheen.

mosby concrete fireplace remodel

The remaining brick was covered with plywood and new drywall. A simpler, wider crown molding capped it off, and this same molding runs throughout the first floor to further tie the rooms together.

 

chesterfield powder room before the mosby remodel

The powder room off the hall between the family room and kitchen was stripped of its wallpaper, parquet flooring, toilet and vanity.

mosby powder room remodel after

The powder room transforms with a flat-panel, floating vanity with jewel-like cabinet pulls, black onyx top and a single-lever faucet, new toilet, medicine cabinet disguised behind a picture frame mirror, lighting fixture and a coat of silky grey paint.

In the remodeling industry, this trading of old surfaces for new is called a “pull and replace.” The art comes from what new surfaces are chosen and how they are coordinated. In this case, the designer kept in mind the clients’ taste and the overall scope of the project to make selections that add the right amount of glamour.

chesterfield kitchen before the mosby remodeling update

The homeowners were happy with the layout of their kitchen and wished to keep the cabinets, but with a new look. The designer concentrated on cosmetic ways to make the kitchen pop.

chesterfield kitchen after the mosby remodeling update

To add a sense of dynamics to the room, the base cabinets are painted a sophisticated dove grey, the upper cabinets are a milky white. Stainless steel drawer pulls and knobs are the crowning detail. Next is a linen-colored onyx countertop, which creates a neutral contrast for the showstopper new backsplash. The mosaic tile backsplash is a sparkling combination of glass and metal tiles.

mosby kitchen 03 after

The backsplash carries to the other side of the kitchen, and paired with new stainless steel appliances, the kitchen is a take on contemporary style that reflects the owners’ warm and enthusiastic personalities.  See more photos of this updated kitchen here.

This whole-house refresh includes switching out incandescent for LED lights, new paint in all the rooms, and outside, colonial-style light fixtures were replaced with decidedly modern fixtures that breathe new life into the front entry.

With the construction-based remodeling updates complete, the homeowners continue to work with their Mosby designer to refine the look. They’ve selected new floor rugs, dining room furniture and accessories that carry the refreshed, modern feel throughout the entire first floor. They feel like they’re living in a new place while retaining all the comforts of home.

If you would like to refresh the look of your home with some expertly applied updates, call the Mosby Building Arts office at 314.909.1800, or contact them here.