Case Study: Award Winning Whole Home Renovation

A Design-Build Transformation of a Dated 1990s Model Home into a Legacy Family Retreat
Calusa Lakes, Nokomis, FL

Project Snapshot

Location: Calusa Lakes, Venice, FL
 Project Type: Whole-Home Renovation + Pool & Lanai
 Home Size: Approx. 2,800 sq ft
 Scope: Full interior reconfiguration, kitchen, bathrooms, closets, office, laundry,

cabinetry, windows/doors, HVAC redesign, automation, pool renovation

 Recognition: NARI Award – Best Whole-Home Renovation

The Starting Point -
A Home Frozen in the 1990s

Our clients reached out after inheriting a family home in the Calusa Lakes neighborhood. While the house had good bones, it was unmistakably dated. Originally built as a model home, it showcased every design trend of the 1990s—most of which had not aged well.
The challenges were immediate and extensive:

 Wallpaper throughout the home
 Multiple mismatched floor coverings (tile, carpet, inexpensive hardwood)
 A closed-off, poorly designed kitchen
 Dated bathrooms with undersized showers and vanities
 Short interior doors paired with unusually tall ceilings
 Angled walls, soffits, and odd openings that wasted square footage
 Limited closet and storage space
 Outdated windows and exterior doors
 A cramped laundry room with a bulky hot water heater
 A pool and lanai in need of major renovation

Although the home measured nearly 2,800 square feet, the layout made it feel tight, disjointed, and inefficient. Several interior walls served no real purpose, while other areas hid large voids of unused space. This was not a cosmetic update. The home needed a complete transformation.

Understanding the Vision: A Home for Generations

After signing a retainer agreement and establishing an initial budget, our first priority was understanding both the structure and the people who would live there. With the help of a draftsman, we created a detailed as-built plan, accounting for every square inch of the home. This allowed us to identify load-bearing walls, structural opportunities, and hidden inefficiencies. When we sat down with the homeowners, the vision became clear:

 The husband was nearing retirement; his wife would retire soon after
 Their primary residence was in Kentucky
 This Florida home needed to become a legacy property for children and grandchildren
 Spaces had to encourage gathering, comfort, and connection
 The kitchen needed to be central, functional, and welcoming
 The home had to flow seamlessly to the lanai and pool
 Storage was critical
 A private yet connected home office was essential

Every design decision moving forward was filtered through this lens.

The Design-Build Solution:
Reimagining Space & Flow

Space is always at a premium in Florida homes, so efficiency became a guiding principle. Through careful analysis, we uncovered nearly 300 square feet of unusable void space hidden behind walls. Angled walls—a once-popular trend—were removed entirely, instantly improving flow and functionality.
Architectural Improvements Included:

 Eliminating unnecessary interior walls
 Reconfiguring openings to improve sightlines
 Raising all interior doors to 8-foot heights
 Enlarging baseboards, casing, and trim to match ceiling scale
 Adding substantial crown molding for cohesion and balance

The result was a home that finally felt proportional, calm, and intentional.

A Dedicated Home Office
that Inspires Focus

The former front dining room was transformed into a stunning home office enclosed with French doors. Designed for both productivity and comfort, the space includes:

 Floor outlets for a movable desk
 Custom-built cabinetry for files, printers, supplies, and display
 Storage that hides clutter while showcasing meaningful family heirlooms

Today, the space feels like a place where you want to work—or simply sit, read, and relax.

Owner’s Suite: A Private, Spa-Like Retreat

The owner’s suite underwent a complete reconfiguration.
Major changes included:

 Removing an oversized, non-functional whirlpool tub
 Relocating and dramatically enlarging the shower
 Thoughtful lighting, mirror placement, and tile design
 Custom cabinetry vanities

A key design goal was storage and privacy. The new layout introduces a hallway flanked by two massive his-and-her walk-in closets, each outfitted with built-in cabinetry for clothing, shoes, and accessories. Pocket doors allow the entire suite to be closed off when desired.

An outdated tray ceiling was reframed for a cleaner, more modern profile, while French doors replaced the original single entry door—adding elegance and symmetry.

The Kitchen: The Heart of the Home

The kitchen was enlarged and reconfigured to become the true centerpiece of the home.
Key features include:

 A full-size Sub-Zero refrigerator
 A professional Wolf gas range (requiring a full gas system retrofit)
 A large island with seating for up to eight
 Extensive storage and custom cabinetry
 A coffee bar and beverage center with easy access from the pool

The kitchen now connects effortlessly to the main living space, lanai, and club room—making it ideal for family gatherings and entertaining.

Guest Wing, Storage, and Functionality

The guest bedrooms and shared bathroom are located in a separate wing, which can be closed off via a pocket door to provide privacy.
Enhancements included:

 Bedrooms resized to comfortably fit king beds
 Built-in hallway storage
 Custom closets designed to blend seamlessly with the home’s aesthetic
 An expanded shared bathroom with a large walk-in shower

Every square foot was designed to be both beautiful and useful.

Laundry, Garage, and Behind-the-Scenes
Upgrades

The laundry room was completely transformed with custom cabinetry, and the bulky hot
water heater was removed and replaced with an exterior tankless system.
Additional upgrades:

 New windows and exterior doors throughout
 Garage cabinetry and floor coating
 Luxury LVP flooring throughout the home with seamless transitions
 Zero thresholds for aging-in-place planning

When Something Almost Went Wrong: HVAC Discovery

With the home fully opened during construction, we discovered a major issue: the existing HVAC system was undersized and leaking, causing inconsistent temperatures throughout the house.
Rather than ignore the problem, we educated the homeowner on the long-term impact.
Using engineering reports, we demonstrated how a redesigned system would improve comfort and efficiency.
The result:

 A completely reworked HVAC system
 Additional attic insulation
 Improved energy efficiency
 The ability to downsize the HVAC unit due to better performance

This investment dramatically improved both comfort and operating costs.

Indoor-Outdoor Living, and Entertainment

The pool and lanai were fully renovated, creating a seamless indoor-outdoor experience.
A new club room off the kitchen and pool area features:

 Massive custom-built cabinetry
 A dedicated entertainment zone for movies and sports
 A whole-home sound system tuned to the homeowner’s favorite movie, Top Gun

When the patio doors open, the home flows effortlessly outdoors—exactly as envisioned.

The Outcome: A True Legacy Home

This project was complex, demanding, and deeply rewarding. What we’re most proud of is not just the finished space—but the management of the process. Attention to detail, communication, and disciplined project coordination resulted in an award-winning home that will serve generations of this family. When we return to visit, the homeowners express their gratitude. Being trusted with a
project of this significance—and becoming part of their family legacy—was truly a
privilege.