A Home for Connection...Creekside Brickhouse Transformation

For this family of four, a home was much more than just the beauty. A stunning aesthetic is of course pleasing but function is key ... to how you live in the home, to making the most of your space and time together. Seeing the end-state utilization of the space is crucial to creating the wish list of possibilities, not only to maximize function, but to make a house a home.

One of the girls curled up with a book in the hanging chair off the kitchen. The other, nearby in the family room building and creating. Dinner on the stove and the table set for a family meal. It's a home and a space meant for gathering. Designed for togetherness and function - whether gathering as a family or hosting friends.

What started as a whole house remodel project transformed into a home all about connection - a space where this family can create moments together.

This custom 1980s home was overly formal with compartmentalized spaces. Rooms felt small and closed off. The home lacked a natural flow to function for how families live today. Homes and Such reimagined what this home could be with a focus on connection. This meant combining spaces to better function for a family and making the most of what was already there. The result is a home that easily flows from one space to the next, allowing the family to live intentionally and make the most of their home's square footage.

"You don't have to always add square footage for a bigger and more open feel," shared Jyoti. "You can be smart in how you connect existing spaces to get the same effect."

For this family of four, a home was much more than just the beauty. A stunning aesthetic is of course pleasing, but function is key ... to how you live in the home, to making the most of your space and time together. Seeing the end-state utilization of the space is crucial to creating the wish list of possibilities, not only to maximize function, but to make a house a home.

One of the girls curled up with a book in the hanging chair off the kitchen. The other, nearby in the family room building and creating. Dinner on the stove and the table set for a family meal. It's a home and a space meant for gathering. Designed for togetherness and function - whether gathering as a family or hosting friends.

What started as a whole house remodel project transformed into a home all about connection - a space where this family can create moments together.

This custom 1980s home was overly formal with compartmentalized spaces. Rooms felt small and closed off. The home lacked a natural flow to function for how families live today. Homes and Such reimagined what this home could be with a focus on connection. This meant combining spaces to better function for a family and making the most of what was already there. The result is a home that easily flows from one space to the next, allowing the family to live intentionally and make the most of their home's square footage.

"You don't have to always add square footage for a bigger and more open feel," shared Jyoti. "You can be smart in how you connect existing spaces to get the same effect."

Emphasizing Connection & Functionality

From there, you move into the main living spaces of the home, including the family room, kitchen, and dining space. What was once four separate rooms was reconfigured into a L-shaped design to maximize sightlines, giving the feeling of one, larger connected space, with room for lounging, cooking, dining, and connecting.

By looking at the individual spaces, the impact of natural light, and understanding movement, you can make the most of the existing structure to create a layout that works. The first step was repurposing, opening up and integrating spaces together. The monochromatic color scheme is a play on white on white. It feels minimal and modern, but also open and cozy. This family room is meant to be lived in with a minimalist vibe that isn't short on function or comfort. The built-in ledge is reinforced to accommodate kids. The television is mounted flush to the wall with all of the wires and cords concealed inside the ledge to maintain the sleek, clean aesthetic. Mixing styles is key to capturing the design aesthetic. Industrial light fixtures add contrast, yet still feel modern.

Opening up the family room to the kitchen and dining area creates connection between these well-loved spaces. Openness provides the necessary room to move around and where there is space, people naturally congregate. This kitchen is infinitely more open with functional counter space where it matters most and room to move freely whether cooking or hosting. Open shelving is super functional for dishes used on the daily and keeps things accessible for the kids.

Customization Adds Purpose

An island felt essential for a modern kitchen and home focused on function but the size and scale of the space required a unique solution. Rather than cramming in a conventional rectangular island, this custom, circular island creates the perfect connection point. Not only does it feature the widest natural marble slab in the state and seat up to 10, but boasts tons of storage space for those oversized pots and such. Designed as a counter height dining table, this island maximizes function, while making the most of south-facing windows and creek views.

The marble is continued throughout, including in the unique design of the range backsplash which was hand-drawn and then cut. The aesthetic is very clean and true to form with interesting and functional details. To the right of the range is a niche for oils or other cooking essentials. This is a feature that cannot be added as an afterthought, but instead planned with intention and built into the home to maximize the function of the space.

What was once a breakfast nook with more cabinetry was left open. The addition of an egg swing adds texture and provides the perfect spot for the kids to hang out while dinner is being prepared. There is also a natural line of sight into the formal living space which exudes a more moody vibe.

For the Love of Hosting

Space for gathering is essential whether gathering as a family or hosting friends. The openness of this home and main living space make it perfect for connecting and catching up. The kitchen features a hidden bar that seamlessly blends, while providing maximum function when the mood is right. It's proximity to the counter-height dining table provides the ideal spot for mixing cocktails. From there, guests can move into the moody, formal living room. Originally, the plan was to open up this wall but with significant plumbing housed here, the decision was made to keep this largely adult space more intimate. Instead, a pinboard was inset in the wall, adding a hint of design and maximum function.

This room blends original elements of the home with modern design to create a vibe that is both cozy and eclectic. The brick fireplace features an oak mantel and for the homeowners, it was love at first sight. Integrating these features into the design retains some of the inherent charm of the home.

Lighting within the space further accentuates the loungy vibe. The fixtures will never light up the space, but instead create a relaxing atmosphere for easy conversation. The perfect spot for a drink at the end of a busy day or when entertaining guests.

The mix of styles captures Homes and Such's design philosophy. There is no design style that singularly defines a person or their space. Instead, it's about bringing together the best of what a home has to offer and a client's personal design aesthetic, all while maximizing function.

This formal space is a master of mix. The modern couch and chairs complement the richness of the dark paint palette and traditional woodtones. The coffee table is an original factory cart from the 40s, bringing together the traditional and modern styles.

A custom cast accent table and the jute charpoy, a quintessential bench from India, add visual interest. The piano is used by the kids and surrounded by a gallery wall mixing Indian jewelry and art, sketches, travel mementos, brushstrokes by the girls when they were little, and family artwork. This unique mix of pieces is an instant conversation starter and captures what is truly important to this family. And finally, the wooden chest that belonged to the previous owners, is a nod to the history of the home, further capturing the charm of what the home once was.

Combining Styles

The key to combining styles is to consider the elements that flow throughout the home and spaces. From using color as an accent to going all in on flooring for a neutral and modern aesthetic, some things are best kept simple.

Custom-made ashwood flooring from a local mill in Wisconsin, in a nearly raw, natural finish sets the stage for an overall design that is both modern and moody, neutral and bright, functional and minimalist. Combining design styles is equally parts art and science. Mixing and matching is about creating a palette and layering in accents to capture your design aesthetic.

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