Reimagining the Great Room & Sunroom
Picking up where we left off in the first blog: Among the main features of this newly remodeled home is an inviting, comfortable family living space. The homeowners’ vision was to update and upgrade the existing great room and redesign the sunroom to make the room feel more like a seamless extension of the home — not an afterthought.
Here’s a glimpse at where we started, how we finished and the steps we took to get there.
The Great Room Before
The existing great room with wood paneling and dark carpeting was drab and outdated. Separated by a half-wall abutting the kitchen on one side and a two-sided fireplace shared with the dining room on the other, the central room had potential waiting to be discovered. With plans in hand, we gutted the space down to the studs and got to work.
The Great Room Ceiling Redesign
While the great room’s existing footprint was sizable, the room lived small. To create a loftier, more airy space, we redesigned the ceiling vault by encroaching an upstairs storage area. Dropping in a steel beam carries the load to develop the dramatic cathedral ceiling. We kept the existing soffits and integrated them with the steel beam to carry the load from the removed bearing wall. All beams tie into the tray ceiling design for a functional and beautiful design element.
We incorporated the original upstairs storage area into the new cathedral ceiling:
The new great room ceiling:
The Great Room Game Area & Bar
The family likes to host game nights, so we incorporated a game area and bar in the great room featuring a beverage fridge, custom-lighted display cabinetry and room for their game table.
The Great Room Fireplace
After removing the existing two-sided wood-burning fireplace, we installed a new gas fireplace and built a custom stone surround to the ceiling with a rich wood mantel. (Heat and Glo 42” Direct Vent Fireplace with Galleria 8 New Bronze doors)
The original two-sided wood burning fireplace:
The new gas fireplace:
The Sunroom
The old sunroom was an add-on living area accessed off the existing great room. While the room did offer much natural light, it needed a major facelift to flow with the newly upgraded living space throughout the rest of the home.
The Sunroom Before
The Sunroom During:
The Sunroom After
We redesigned and reframed the sunroom space with a bank of four oversized windows for even more natural light: A larger opening from the kitchen creates a seamless flow between living areas. Now, the space opens the view to the backyard. Looking up, we vaulted the ceiling to create a larger feel: A center beam carries the load and is wrapped with wood as part of the stunning natural wood ceiling. Relocating the sliding glass doors provides easy access to the newly updated outdoor living space.
The hues in the stone fireplace tie in with the custom stonework in the great room (Heat and Glo 36” Direct Vent Fireplace with folio front and New Bronze doors).
Custom millwork and engineered hardwood floors sourced through Dover Floor & Tile Center are used throughout the first floor’s main living space to create a cohesive look for visual harmony. (Armstrong Timbercuts in Maple Woodland Hills)
The Main Staircase
Part of the renovation of the downstairs living area included opening the staircase, creating a larger foyer, and relocating the front door using part of the former dining room space to make a grander front entrance.
Before, During & After Photos
With the great room, sunroom and entryway renovations wrapped up, I’ll move on to the kitchen remodel in my next blog. Follow along for more details.
Patti Saracusa
