500 Feet Of Unused, Wasted Space Over The Garage Morphs Into “GuestBedroomOfficeCraftingPlayArea.”

Ann and David Williamson had an exciting opportunity that many homeowners would covet – 500 square feet of unfinished space over the garage of their home …But what to do with such an opportunity?

Their home – built in 1985 – has three bedrooms on the second floor, with a long hallway that ends with a door into the unfinished space. The Williamsons, of course, knew there was a way to use this wonderful space, but they weren’t quite sure how. There were so many fantastic possibilities! So the space remained unused. The door stayed closed.

Years passed and the time finally came that the Williamsons needed the space. With quiet excitement, the Williamsons started the interviewing process, speaking with three or four remodeling companies, finally settling on Upscale Remodeling. “We liked Steve,” Ann said. “We enjoyed our conversations with him, his ideas, and we were impressed with his plans to minimalize disruption to our family. He suggested that during construction, his team would place a stairway outside, next to the space, so all the workers would not have to come through the house. It was such a thoughtful suggestion!”

Thus, work began on the new guestbedroomofficecraftingplayarea. (What? That’s a word… right?)

And the transformation starts right on the other side of that closed door at the end of the hallway, because that door is now a beautiful new French door, enticing, welcoming.

Inside the space is now:

• A stunning spare bedroom, a coveted room for overnight guests. “It is really the nicest room in the house,” said Ann. A dormer was added to increase space. Two closets were built in an unusually tricky spaceA mirror was built into the walls, trimmed so it fit the unusual space. “The available space was used so completely, “explained Ann. “The closets are not full height but they are so functional and the mirror was such a creative solution to fit the tricky space.” The room is light and comfortable. “My sister-in-law says it is the nicest guest room she has ever slept in.” Is it too nice? “My children might make some noise about wanting the bedroom for their own down the road, but I am not sure I want to give up the space!”
• David’s office, a gorgeous space. Two skylights were added to let in great natural light. Pocket doors were added to allow for both privacy and openness. Shelves and David’s desk were built into the space to allow more functionality. David, a Cornell professor, is able to work from home in a comfortable, healthy space.

A crafting space for Ann and her daughter and a play area where the kids can be with Ann and David while they are working on projects.

“We were so happy with the respect Upscale Remodeling showed our home,” said Ann. “They were not loud or intrusive. They were great and we enjoyed having the team around.”

And the space? “We absolutely love the space,” said Anne. “We can’t imagine our home without this space now. Aside from our kitchen, it’s where we spend most of our time.”

“It’s the heart of our home.”

The Refrigerator Used To Be The Focal Point Of The Kitchen… But Upscale Found A Way To Make Our Kitchen SHINE.

When John and Tori Wishart were looking for a home in Ithaca, they found one they loved and bought it for a great price. But there was a reason for that great price — many updates were needed. Over time, they have had many of those updates completed, all by Upscale Remodeling – a half bath, insulation, a roof. But two projects have taken the Wisharts’ breath away – the front porch and the kitchen.

The kitchen in their home desperately needed a total renovation. There wasn’t, actually, much that could be saved. Tori worried about a new look, wondering if it was even possible, because not only was the kitchen small, but, unfortunately, the refrigerator was the focal point of the room. (“The refrigerator!” Tori said. “Can you imagine?”) To their amazement, Steve Nash was able to design a renovated, sleek kitchen, generally sticking to the footprint, while finding a way to recess the refrigerator into the back wall. Now Tori has the kitchen of which she dreamed – where the refrigerator is not the first thing guests see. “I didn’t think they would be able to make such a dramatic change, but finding a way to move the refrigerator was brilliant,” Tori said.

Tori found visiting Upscale’s new showroom prior to the kitchen renovations helpful. “Seeing actual displays simplified our decision-making process. I am a visual person, so the showroom was an amazing asset – I didn’t know what I want until I saw it! And then I just said, ‘That’s it!’”

While she loves her new kitchen, she is just as passionate about her new front porch. John and Tori were living with a narrow cement slab that barely held two people. Nights relaxing on the front “slab” were not comfortable. Upscale built the Wisharts a beautiful Brazilian walnut front porch – so beautiful that people walking or driving past have stopped to ask her who built it. Tori absolutely loves it. “John and I enjoy sitting out there now, relaxing and reading, drinking coffee or wine, depending on the time of day.”

John loves all of the work, too, but he was slower to come around. As Tori was meeting with Upscale Remodeling to discuss the kitchen, she could see John sitting in the livingroom, pretending to pick money off an invisible money tree. “But he is just as thrilled as I am,” says Tori, and the Wisharts are looking forward to more renovations over time. Until then, they will happily sit and sip on their beautiful new front porch.

Endorsing statement: “Each project with Upscale Remodeling has been exactly as we envisioned. We absolutely couldn’t be happier.”