Mike and Karen appreciate so many things about their home in Fox Acres, the mountain golf club community in Red Feather Lakes. Built in 1989, their house was designed by renowned architect Don Brandenburger, famous for creating Napa Valley wineries and resort homes across the country. The couple’s house is beautiful and solidly built, boasting an expanse of tongue-and-groove vaulted ceilings with beams, local stone integrated with warm wood, and abundant windows that flood the home with natural light.
“It drew us in,” Karen says, describing the first time they walked through its front door. After owning their home for nearly a year, Mike and Karen realized there was quite a bit of work to be done. In addition to an old electric cooktop that had seen better days, they needed to replace the failing HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems, as well as every inch of flooring. Their aging home needed a lot of love.
Karen, a retired interior designer and custom home builder, knew it made sense to tackle all of the system repairs at once. And while they were at it, the timing was ideal to remodel other parts of their home that were worn, outdated, and didn’t reflect their style.
WHY THEY CHOSE HIGHCRAFT
When it came to choosing a building contractor, Karen admits she and Mike have high standards. Having worked in the industry for decades, she wanted a remodeling contractor with a good reputation, exceptional quality, and impeccable customer service. After interviewing multiple local companies, Mike and Karen chose the design-build team at HighCraft Builders.
During the planning phase, “The team at HighCraft listened intently and nailed the design that we wanted,” Karen says. “HighCraft’s process is incredible. They wanted every detail perfect. It was like they were remodeling the home for themselves.”
She and Mike also valued HighCraft’s in-house design studio where they could compare samples in one central location rather than having to drive, back and forth, to multiple vendor showrooms.
THEIR REMODEL, ROOM BY ROOM
Karen wanted a minimalist Scandinavian feel to the home that also elevated its existing mid-century modern aesthetic. “We wanted a lot of vertical features, like slatted walls and vertical tile,” she explains.
THE KITCHEN
Once the couple decided to pursue a remodel, “We were ready to gut the kitchen,” Karen says, describing the room as a closed-off space that made a cook feel isolated during get togethers.
To open up the kitchen, HighCraft removed a wall, desk area, and the awkward 1980s passthrough doors to the dining room.
During the wall removal, HighCraft discovered two load-bearing columns. Adding a third for symmetry, the team created a stunning new architectural feature with metal detailing that mimics the ceiling brackets in the great room.
The original small island lacked counterspace and seating, and the antique wood-burning cookstove—while charming—didn’t warrant the large area it occupied in the kitchen.
After removing the cookstove, HighCraft repurposed its stone surround into a functional space, which delighted Karen.
The remodeled kitchen now enjoys a prep sink and wine storage area where the vintage stove once stood.
A larger island with generous seating encourages guests to linger in the welcoming kitchen.
And the former desk area in the corner was converted into a new floor-to-ceiling pantry with coffee bar.
All perimeter countertops and cabinetry were updated for a cleaner, more minimalist look.
THE DINING ROOM
“We repainted every faux-finished surface throughout the home,” Karen says, “including the display wall in the dining room.”
Its calming blue-gray hue complements the new, lighter flooring and deeper gray of the kitchen ceiling and structural columns.
To brighten the space, the L-shaped bay of original base cabinetry was refinished with a fresh coat of paint.
And the old, crumbling slate countertop was replaced with gorgeous, leathered granite to add texture and eliminate glare.
The wet bar on the great room side has a new sink, faucet and prep surface for added convenience.
THE GREAT ROOM
The updated great room celebrates Karen’s love of mid-century modern design. It also showcases the original fireplace and hearth for a true mountain home vibe.
New custom door fronts were added to existing built-in shelves on either side of the fireplace to preserve hidden storage.
The new door panels also double as the slatted accent walls that Karen was so passionate about including in the remodel.
As the room’s main focal point, the wood-burning stone fireplace finally received a long-overdue mantel.
To ensure it was noncombustible, Mike and Karen chose a mantel cast in concrete that could easily pass for a rustic beam of reclaimed wood.
THE POWDER BATHROOM
In the fully renovated powder bathroom, the mid-century lighting, minimalist mirror, and floating vanity with vertical detailing, create subtle yet elegant tie-ins to the home’s thoughtful design plan.
THE STUDY
The original bold, vertical paint lines in the study felt too dark and dated. A light and bright refresh was a welcome change in the space. To add a bit of contrast, the ceiling was painted the same rich gray as the kitchen and primary bedroom.
THE PRIMARY SUITE
The primary bedroom’s existing built-ins benefitted from new reeded door fronts.
In the remodeled primary bathroom, Mike and Karen now enjoy melamine cabinetry with modern finger-pull hardware in a champagne bronze finish.
Vertical tile wainscoting frames the freestanding tub, tying into the neutral color palette and cabinetry beyond.
The luxe shower fixtures pick up the gold veining in the marble-look porcelain tile surround.
A captivating three-orbed pendant, backlit mirrors, toe-kick lighting, and underlit shelves add warmth to the space.
The floating shelves also create interest and breathing room on the right side of the vanity, and their glow draws the eye toward the natural view in the sitting niche beyond.
Additional statement-piece lighting fixtures were installed throughout the home, reflecting the couple’s elevated style and Karen’s keen eye for design.
Final Homeowner Thoughts
What do Mike and Karen like most about their remodeled home in Red Feather Lakes? “Every part of it,” Karen says. “I cried happy tears when I first saw the finished project, and wondered ‘How on earth were they able to pull this off, in the timeframe they said they would, and on budget?’”
As homeowners, Mike and Karen are impressed with HighCraft’s fixed-price contract and guaranteed completion date. As a former builder, Karen is doubly impressed. “I know what it takes to make that happen. HighCraft went above and beyond.”
When asked to describe their finished remodel, Karen says the home is much more functional and inviting, as well as awe-inspiring. “Every redesigned area enhances the charm of its mid-century style,” she says.
Karen looks around their home, taking it all in. “Breathtaking,” she says. “It’s just breathtaking.”
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Whether you’re ready to develop plans for a custom home, or want to reimagine the space you have with a remodel or addition, HighCraft’s experienced design-build team can navigate every detail of the planning and construction process for projects of any size. Contact HighCraft with questions or to schedule a free consultation.
