Nine impressive home transformations will be open to visitors during the 30th annual Fall Remodelers Home Tour Sept. 21-22 hosted and sponsored by BRAG Ann Arbor – The Association for Local Building Industry Professionals.
Tickets are valid for all homes on both days and can be bought at any home during the tour ($10, cash or check only, ages 16 & under are free) . Tour the homes on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 21 & 22 with homes open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The event features nine quintessentially remodeled homes, with six in Ann Arbor, and three in Plymouth.
1: Architectural Resource & Vinewood Custom Builders 1042 William St., Plymouth
What if you love where you live but not what you live in? This 1920’s Dutch Colonial was in need of an update and more space to accommodate our client’s family needs. However they were very sensitive to the fact that they lived in a beautiful historic home and neighborhood and wanted the new work to honor and respect that. We invite you to come enjoy this whole house remodel and addition project and discover how Architectural Resource and Vinewood Custom Builders teamed up to give our homeowners a historically sensitive home they now love, and we can help you transform your own home! Stop by, we’d love to show you around!
About Architectural Resource Headed by Michael Klement, AIA, Architectural Resource is a nationally recognized, award-winning, architectural design firm specializing exclusively new homes, cottages, additions, remodels, and renovations. Since the firm’s inception in 1991, creating beautiful homes for our clients that are healthy, sustainable, and energy efficient has been the heartbeat of our mission.
About Vinewood Custom Builders Vinewood Custom Builders specializes in creative solutions to find the ideal blend of function and design. Whether it’s a new home, addition or remodel, we use a collaborative approach to create spaces that fit our client’s lifestyle and seamlessly combine the old and the new.
2: Cowdin Design + Build 1441 Carol Avenue, Plymouth
Mid-Century Modern, Open Concept, Understated Luxury… all phrases to describe this beautiful renovated home. Originally built in 1958, we more than doubled the size, adding a new 2nd floor, extending the main living area and replacing every utility, wire, drain and supply line making it as good as, or better than, a brand new home.
Overbuilt is an understatement… as CDB partners with R&K Metro in our first foray into the spec. side of the business… yes this home is (or was at time of printing) for sale! You could own this gem within walking distance to Downtown Plymouth!
Brick, stone, Hardie siding, Longboard and a steel and glass garage door give curb appeal, while on the inside you are welcomed into an open great room, with concrete clad linear gas fireplace, exposed steel, wide plank maple flooring and a kitchen fit for family or entertaining. A large mud room, 1st floor laundry with dog wash, a powder room and a comfortable master suite complete with Kohler DTV digital shower complete the 1st floor. Upstairs has a large, high loft with three bedrooms and two full baths.
We welcome you to walk, talk about and be inspired by this home we are proud to have been a part of!
About Cowdin Design + Build New custom homes, additions, renovations, remodels, or finishing your basement, Cowdin Design + Build is poised for your needs. Our team approach blends in-house architectural design staff directly with production/ construction for a truly cohesive all-in-one client experience. Every client and home is unique, which is why at Cowdin Design + Build, every design is custom tailored to fit your specific needs.
3: Cowdin Design + Build 12565 Latheron, Plymouth
The owners of this modern two-story colonial home were looking to upgrade their 2,000 sqft unfinished basement. Our in-house design team answered the challenge with a glamorous bar area, multiple entertaining areas, modern 72” linear stone fireplace, finished full bathroom and a custom wine cellar.
Entering down the stairs, your way is lit with low wall stair lights. At the bottom of the stairs is the focal point of the basement, a modern 72” linear fireplace with stone veneer. There is a seating area to the left with a large family/media room. On the other side of the fireplace is a card table for friendly gatherings. The glamorous bar area is what people dream about for their main kitchen, with a wrap around “U” shaped counter with seating for 8. Dropped ceiling accent lighting, display cabinets and a custom wine cellar complete the space.
This is an example of what can be done with unused space when a client and designer collaborate and execute the perfect plan here at Cowdin Design + Build!
4: Alpha Design+Build 1375 Bardstown Trail, Ann Arbor
This family of four needed a space that worked for their busy lifestyle. And, our client desired a warm, inviting kitchen like her childhood home had, not her small, dark one. She imagined a kitchen with clean lines and dreamed of incorporating her favorite Motawi tiles into the design. Our designer knew this family put their trust in Alpha after working with other area firms and we were up to the challenge.
Opening two storage areas inside the garage entry created a mudroom for the family to unload school supplies and coats, with plenty of storage for sports equipment and musical instruments. We increased the size of the kitchen by enlarging the window and decreasing an 8’ sliding door wall. Enhancements like a space for keys and mail help the family stay organized. We crafted a special cabinet to hold a white/cork board, as well as a pocket door cabinet to store a microwave and coffee maker above a pullout recycling bin. Electrical outlets were concealed in the countertop and under cabinets so they didn’t conflict with the beautiful Motawi tile backsplash, just like our client dreamed of.
About Alpha Design + Build Alpha Design + Build is one of the area’s premier custom builder/remodelers. The Design Build method, built on collaboration and communication, unifies the designer and builder as a single entity. Our team includes professional designers, project managers and master carpenters working together to provide beautiful custom living spaces and ensuring our clients have a smile on their face from start to finish!
5: Rochman Design Build 2015 Day Street, Ann Arbor
A reconfigured floor plan and a small addition were created to bring a dramatic update this classic 1927 Ann Arbor Hills home. The addition off the back of the home is 10.5’ x 17.5’, and contains the new kitchen. The adjoining spaces were all reconfigured for better flow and to create a spacious and highly used mudroom, a walk-in pantry, and a large eating area with a built-in wet bar. The spaces are well appointed with skylights, a 7’ long prep island, a radiant heat panel, many windows, and beautiful materials. We look forward to showing you how open and spacious this now feels.
About Rochman Design Build At RDB, we believe that the remodeling journey is as important as the final destination. To ensure that, our in-house designers start with inspirational designs that harmonize beauty and function, reflecting our clients’ lifestyle and needs. Our in-house carpentry staff then helps bring those visions to life with the utmost care, ensuring a predictable and dependable process. Building relationships as a foundation for trust, owner and design director Gary Rochman, is personally involved with every project. We’ve been exceeding our clients’ expectations and elevating their love of home for 30 years. Talk to us or our many repeat clients; We Create an Experience Beyond Remodeling
6: Better Shelter 1530 Hanover Court, Ann Arbor
A classic Ann Arbor ‘60s colonial is ushered into the 21st century with this whole-house remodel by Better Shelter. The spacious and practical floorplan remains, but a sparkling fresh interior with a new kitchen and bathrooms launches it into its next sixty years. Two small bedrooms and a broom-closet bath have been merged into an owner’s suite, creating a luxurious bathroom with a contemplative navy color scheme, an expansive shower, soaking tub, double vanity, and walk-in closet. Additional hardwood flooring has been matched to the original, grounding the house in seamless, solid oak. New trim, interior doors, and hardware give the clean look of new construction, vanquishing years of nicks and chipped paint. Sometimes better shelter is just below the surface, with a tried-and-true style waiting for its next act.
About Better Shelter Better Shelter is an Ann Arbor-based remodeling company that began as a family-owned painting company in the 1980s, working on countless Showcase of Homes projects in Washtenaw County. Better Shelter offers superb communication, tight timelines, and relentless attention to detail on every project, big or small.
7: Giraffe Design Build 1100 Brooks Street, Ann Arbor
Modern Reinvention in Water Hill This family of artists reinvented their home from the very foundation up, transforming a dated and constrained footprint into a bold, modern, and spacious family home that fits the context of their Water Hill neighborhood. The unique, dramatic design embraces three levels of living space to provide ample personal space within a modest footprint.
Inside and outside spaces graciously blend together with surrounding decks. A second floor cantilever supports a lovely master suite above, while simultaneously sheltering the back deck below. Interior spaces billow with natural light thanks to expansive windows and skylights that illuminate nearby nestled nooks perfect for reading and creative musings. White walls showcase their artwork and furniture, while natural building materials such as white oak floors, slate tile, quartzite counters, and cedar siding add warmth and texture.
Join us to view this one of a kind home that defines Inspired Design.
About Giraffe Design Build Reach your dream of an inspired living space. We are client centric, design driven and believe the built environment profoundly impacts the quality of people’s lives. Together with our clients, our collaborative team of designers and craftsmen transform existing spaces into healthy, joyful sanctuaries where families celebrate daily life.
8: Dexter Builders 800 Pomona Drive, Ann Arbor
Our customers purchased this dated 1,000 sf ranch to downsize and to be within walking distance to downtown Ann Arbor. They asked Dexter Builders to transform the home into a great place to live. Our masterful team completed a whole house renovation that is exceptional.
They are avid cooks and the kitchen was to be the central point of the design. Our design expanded the back of the house to make room for the large kitchen and a new master suite. The addition included a full basement, which was finished with a bedroom, bath, and family room with a bar.
About Dexter Builders Dexter Builders is your one-stop shop for all your home remodeling and construction needs. Serving the Ann Arbor area since 2000, we are a dedicated group of professionals who listen to our customers, give insightful advice and follow through on our commitments. Our goal is to have a positive impact on our communities through quality remodeling and additions and partnerships with local suppliers and craftsmen.
9: Meadowlark Design+Build 970 Pine Tree Drive, Ann Arbor
A Manufactured Makeover Loving their location, but not the tight spaces and curb appeal of their home, our clients felt it was time to update their builder-grade manufactured house and transform their existing space into a functional, energy-efficient home. Working with the designers from Meadowlark Design+Build, it was determined that only a small, 177 sq. ft. addition was needed to enhance kitchen utility – all the while providing a visually connected but separate screened porch – reminiscent of one from the owner’s childhood. The open and inviting interior reconfiguration now aligns with how the family lives and entertains, as the striking exterior transformation removes all traces of the classic manufactured aesthetic making this home a truly magnificent “before & after” story.
About Meadowlark Design+Build Meadowlark Design+Build is an award-winning full-service residential contractor. With a talented design staff of architects and design professionals, we produce inspired designs in-house, as well as collaborating seamlessly with the area’s best architects. No design-build company is complete without a construction department, and Meadowlark’s is one of the best. Our own field crews, 28 strong, make designs come alive with an expertise that only in-house craftsmen can possess. On time and on budget, our work is backed up with a complete three-year warranty. Make your house a Meadowlark home!
