Out with the Old, in with the New: Northeast Ohio Home Renovation Part 1
year: 2023
type: residential remodel
client: #ImComingHome
style: clean, gathered, natural, intentional, cozy
Sometimes old houses are beyond repair and the only fix is a complete tear-down. However, there’s something magical about giving a home a new life while honoring its original details. This project is the perfect example.
This house changed several times since it was built 100 years ago. The brick portion once stood on its own, filled with lots of rooms. The vinyl exterior marks an addition, built by a family that needed more space. They added a living room, master suite, laundry room, full bath, and garage. Then, those owners passed their beloved home onto their daughter who was ready to spruce things up once again.
She recognized that her childhood home had loads of potential, but she didn’t know where to begin. So she entrusted the team at S. Flynn Design + Build to formulate and execute a plan that would make her old house feel brand new again.
This Northeast Ohio home (also known as project #ImComingHome on our Instagram) was stuck between the original build and the updates made 20 years ago. To better coordinate these spaces, we completely redesigned the first floor to make everything look harmonious and improve the flow. To ensure all our client’s boxes were checked, we also built an addition.
Once we started construction, we quickly learned that this old home was going to put up a fight. The original owner was a glass mason who constructed the house using glass blocks. Demo was a massive feat in and of itself, but our guys trudged through and made it happen. Keep on scrolling to see how we reimagined this cherished home!
Priorities & Plans
01.
Exterior Updates
02.
One of the most unique features in this phase is the custom floating bed — suspended from the ceiling with heavy steel chains. It’s part sculptural statement, part sanctuary. The design creates a weightless, quiet motion that feels perfectly at home in this woodland setting.
Positioned to face the wall of glass, the bed lets you wake up eye-level with the forest floor — trees, light, and all. It’s a perfect example of how thoughtful design can make even a simple element feel experiential. Instead of just a place to sleep, it becomes a moment — one that captures the calm, effortless feeling this project is all about.
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French Country Kitchen Design
03.
The original kitchen was dated and small for the homeowner’s large family. Space was a top priority for our clients, so to give them some much-needed room to spread out, we tore down the walls enclosing the kitchen and shifted it to where the dining room once stood. This allowed us to design a massive kitchen island, ensuring all family members fit comfortably.
First, we painted the cabinets a calming green. Then, we mixed materials throughout the kitchen for an eclectic, collected look. Looking closely, you’ll see we mixed wood tones. We used a natural oak on the floor and a coffee stain on the cabinets, island, and table. We also mixed metals, a characteristic in many of our designs. In the kitchen, we used black, polished nickel, and gold. When mixing metals, we strive to achieve a ping-pong effect, purposefully skipping materials so the eye moves effortlessly around the room. For example, we placed gold wall sconces above the sink and gold hardware on the cabinets below, using polished nickel on the faucet in between the two.
To further play off French country design, we laid a brick-shaped tile in a soft, subtle neutral tone. Real brick would have been too red and harsh in this space, so we went with a milder approach. Complimenting the tile, we also mixed standard shaker cabinet fronts with slim shaker insets for a soft, elegant detail.
Beyond aesthetics, this big family needed practical elements, so we designed a beverage bar and added a drip ledge to their sink. These little details make this kitchen feel completely custom and neatly pulled together.
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French Country Pantry
04.
As always, our process began with design — not demolition. We believe the best builds start with intention, and this project proves that principle again. The basement finish brings balance: sleek yet warm, modern yet timeless, grounded yet full of light.
This space embodies everything #WeekendCabinInTheWoods stands for — thoughtful design, honest materials, and a connection to place.
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Dining Room & Serving Station
05.
For practical purposes, we moved the dining room where the original kitchen used to be and gave this space a refresh. We dropped the windows down and built a bench into the wall for extra seating. To complete the design, we selected a large table with curved ends to accommodate even more people. Opposite the dining room, we built a serving station complete with a sink and plenty of storage space for plates and glassware.
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There you have it folks, our beautiful French country kitchen, dining, and exterior remodel! And if you can’t get enough of this design, stick around for part 2, where we detail the living room, mudroom, primary bath, and more!
