Matthew Harrer Photography Sherwin Williams "Requisite Gray" Paint

Michael Pennello

A cosy and fresh family room. The piano is flanked by shelving with a combination of open and closed shelving ideal for displaying objects and books of interest, collected over a lifetime. Leslie Goodwin Photography

These clients reached out to Hillcrest Construction when their family began out-growing their Phoenixville-area home. Through a comprehensive design phase, opportunities to add square footage were identified along with a reorganization of the typical traffic flow throughout the house. All household traffic into the hastily-designed, existing family room bump-out addition was funneled through a 3’ berth within the kitchen making meal prep and other kitchen activities somewhat similar to a shift at a PA turnpike toll booth. In the existing bump-out addition, the family room was relatively tight and the dining room barely fit the 6-person dining table. Access to the backyard was somewhat obstructed by the necessary furniture and the kitchen alone didn’t satisfy storage needs beyond a quick trip to the grocery store. The home’s existing front door was the only front entrance, and without a foyer or mudroom, the front formal room often doubled as a drop-zone for groceries, bookbags, and other on-the-go items. Hillcrest Construction designed a remedy to both address the function and flow issues along with adding square footage via a 150 sq ft addition to the family room and converting the garage into a mudroom entry and walk-through pantry. - The project’s addition was not especially large but was able to facilitate a new pathway to the home’s rear family room. The existing brick wall at the bottom of the second-floor staircase was opened up and created a new, natural flow from the second-floor bedrooms to the front formal room, and into the rear family hang-out space- all without having to cut through the often busy kitchen. The dining room area was relocated to remove it from the pathway to the door to the backyard. Additionally, free and clear access to the rear yard was established for both two-legged and four-legged friends. The existing chunky slider door was removed and in its place was fabricated and installed a custom centerpiece that included a new gas fireplace insert with custom brick surround, two side towers for display items and choice vinyl, and two base cabinets with metal-grated doors to house a subwoofer, wifi equipment, and other stow-away items. The black walnut countertops and mantle pop from the white cabinetry, and the wall-mounted TV with soundbar complete the central A/V hub. The custom cabs and tops were designed and built at Hillcrest’s custom shop. The farmhouse appeal was completed with distressed engineered hardwood floors and craftsman-style window and door trim throughout. - Another major component of the project was the conversion of the garage into a pantry+mudroom+everyday entry. The clients had used their smallish garage for storage of outdoor yard and recreational equipment. With those storage needs being addressed at the exterior, the space was transformed into a custom pantry and mudroom. The floor level within the space was raised to meet the rest of the house and insulated appropriately. A newly installed pocket door divided the dining room area from the designed-to-spec pantry/beverage center. The pantry was designed to house dry storage, cleaning supplies, and dry bar supplies when the cleaning and shopping are complete. A window seat with doggie supply storage below was worked into the design to accommodate the existing elevation of the original garage window. A coat closet and a small set of steps divide the pantry from the mudroom entry. The mudroom entry is marked with a striking combo of the herringbone thin-brick flooring and a custom hutch. Kids returning home from school have a designated spot to hang their coats and bookbags with two deep drawers for shoes. A custom cherry bench top adds a punctuation of warmth. The entry door and window replaced the old overhead garage doors to create the daily-used informal entry off the driveway. With the house being such a favorable area, and the clients not looking to pull up roots, Hillcrest Construction facilitated a collaborative experience and comprehensive plan to change the house for the better and make it a home to grow within.

Remodel of a den and powder room complete with an electric fireplace, tile focal wall and reclaimed wood focal wall. The floor is wood look porcelain tile and to save space the powder room was given a pocket door.

GREAT ROOM! Gorgeous Leathered Fantasy Brown Marble countertops combined the cool grays wall colors with the warm brown of the floors. This huge island seats many. The Warm Off White cabinets feel rich! Stone surrounding cook-top and fireplace. The castle like arched beam ceiling details in the Breakfast nook and over the island lightened up with off white paint.

Photography by Misty, Plano TX

In front of the windows is a space for intimate dining or playing games. The custom game table was designed to allow leg room for the wing back chairs to tuck under comfortably. White plantation shutters open to views of the beach and the sand dunes while allowing control of light and privacy. Photography: Lauren Hagerstrom

James Haefner Photography

Anthony Crisafulli

We love a sleek shiplap fireplace surround. Our clients were looking to update their fireplace surround as they were completing a home remodel and addition in conjunction. Their inspiration was a photo they found on Pinterest that included a sleek mantel and floor to ceiling shiplap on the surround. Previously the surround was an old red brick that surrounded the fire box as well as the hearth. After structural work and granite were in place by others, we installed and finished the shiplap fireplace surround and modern mantel.