Oasis In The Woods Project Reveal

We are thrilled to be sharing our oasis in the woods project reveal with you. Our clients found a fabulous home on a wooded and secluded lot that was an oasis in the woods that would be a delightful respite from their hard-working lives now and into their retirement years.

They were looking for a balance between modern efficiency and a welcoming ambiance, a match for the different parts of their personalities: hardworking, reflective, and gregarious. The only problem was that the kitchen a primary bathroom were outdated and did not have a feeling of respite and delight.

LiLu's kitchen and bathroom renovations incorporated a welcoming ambience that was a match for the couple’s personalities into the design of their prairie home tucked in the woods.

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Oasis in the Woods Kitchen

In the kitchen, a quartzite countertop inspired an earthy color palette featuring maple cabinetry. The homeowner's love for baking determined the organization of the space. The large island accommodates both cooking and seating.  They can socialize with guests, share their oasis in the woods, and still have room to work. A glass cabinet displays a grandmother's mixing bowl and other treasures that the couple has acquired over time.

In the adjacent family room, the furnishings we selected give the same earthy, grounded, welcoming feeling.

Key Design Ideas

• Use Maple to prevent a domino effect of needing to change wood finishes throughout the open plan
• Repeat the shape of the existing fireplace in the hood to give it more context
• Incorporate earthy colors to create a connection to nature
• Use modern touches in plumbing and lighting to update space

 

Bathroom Oasis

The bathroom was almost cavernous and lacked warmth. We designed a plan that incorporated a new coffee bar, a large soaking tub, a walk-in shower and in-suite laundry. Taking up some of the footprints with large built-ins created a cozier space.

The warmth of walnut, natural stone, and furniture-like vanity transformed this space into an oasis within their oasis in the woods.

Key Design Ideas

• Reclaim unused floor space for storage and desired amenities
• Paint large built-ins the color of the walls to de-emphasize them
• Use walnut wood and furniture-like details at the vanity to create a focal point
• Use toe-kick lighting along with back-lighting the tub to create ambiance

Our Clients Perspective

This house was built in 1996, and we stumbled onto it in 2021. Loren retired recently and Mary is preparing to retire soon – this is our last house. The home was showing its age, so we were thinking of doing renovations. We consulted an architect who referred us to Lisa.

One of the ways to measure a professional is how well they listen. We know Lisa listened. She put pen to paper, sketching ideas as we talked, and she always remembered what we said from one meeting to the next. Every meeting with Lisa and Laura was like going to a small party just for us, with a trusted friend. There are many designers with artistic skill, but it’s rare to find one like Lisa who can help you refine the vision in your head and make it real. Whenever we presented a need, Lisa came up with a solution that was sheer genius. Things we never would have thought of, like a space-saving laundry adjacent to our bedroom and kitchen counters adjusted to Mary’s height.

And she really overachieved with the tub and lighting the bathroom.

Just as important, Lisa and Laura were our strongest advocates. They never left our side. For example, we picked a beautiful stone countertop as a central element of the kitchen design, and when the time came to install the counter, the stone had broken. Lisa and Laura hit the road: If there was another stone to be found, they were going to find it. And they did!

My advice for anyone considering working with Lisa: “Don’t hesitate. Don’t delay. She’s the first person you want on your team.”

 

See the Oasis in the Woods

We started working on this project, as our client said with a specific stone as the central piece in the earthy color palette. The concept was developed around the maple that was already in the home and working with the elements of the home that were already outstanding and enhancing them. For a look at the process, we used to address key pain points in the kitchen and how we solved them look at Making a Kitchen Yours.

For a look at the entire project see Oasis In the Woods.

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