Many of our remodeling projects focus on creating a more usable space for growing families, and today's featured blog is no exception. Generally, when we think about hosting and entertaining, we tend to focus on the kitchen and living spaces. However, equally important are the bedrooms for all of your guests. Today we will run through a unique attic remodel that turned this storage space into the perfect bunk room for the grandkids!

When Patty first laid eyes on the corner lot adjacent to the Rehoboth Bay that would become the site for her dream home, she never imagined the possibilities. Partnering with Mark McInturff of McInturff associates, a long-time friend and collaborator, Patty and Mark got to work designing the home of her dreams. The goal for Patty and Mark was to design a house that capitalized on the views of the bay, included outdoor living space, and captured the coastal breezes.

While curb appeal is important when marketing a house, it is also an important detail to consider in homes that aren’t for sale. The driveway and entry to a home is usually the first detail of the home people are introduced to, whether the home owner, or guests. A well designed driveway frames the entry to the home and invites guests to focus on the home rather than the driveway. This before and after illustrates a driveway project that goes from drab to fab! Clients approached us about transforming their overgrown and dilapidated driveway. The driveway in question ran along the property boundary with their neighbors, and the neighbors actually teamed up to design a driveway space that would function for both properties.

The Village Improvement Association (VIA) invited Boardwalk Builders to take part in their 2016 Designer Show House remodel in conjunction with local designers. Naturally, we were thrilled and honored to be invited! Boardwalk Builders loves to be involved with community events, and the 2016 event was our second Designer Show House project with the VIA.

When we address our family of clients, we really mean family. We recognize that Boardwalk Builders' successes are due in large part to our wonderful homeowners who share many of our values. In an effort to keep in touch with our growing client base we try to organize monthly open table "Dutch Treat" dinners. The idea is that a fluid group of friends and acquaintances gathers to socialize once a month. Some folks make it every month, and some less frequently. Typically the group ranges from an intimate 8 to a more rambunctious 18. We try to schedule the dinners every 6 weeks, and taking a break over the busy summer season.

These homeowners approached us with the desire to create a space that would be better suited to entertaining their family and friends. The existing kitchen was dark and cramped and the homeowners wanted a larger, brighter space in their home. By adding an addition we were able to move the kitchen to a new location in the home and transform the original kitchen to a sitting area. The result is a bright, spacious kitchen and sitting area where large groups can comfortably gather.

At this bay front home the prime views of the Rehoboth Bay had become underappreciated due to the lack of enjoyable outdoor space, so the homeowners decided to make an outdoor living upgrade. Turning to Boardwalk Builders for help expanding their deck overlooking and improving their curb appeal we were able to revamp their outdoor space without impeding on the views of the bay.

At Boardwalk Builders we strive to put our customers first because we believe that our relationship with our clients is pivotal to our success. Customer service has always been one of our top priorities, and after years of practice, we seem to be on the right path. This effort has helped us to earn a 100% referral rating on Guild Quality. But we will never stop trying to improve your experience with our team.

To us, excellent customer service starts with the first call. While our goal is to set up an appointment to take a look at the problem or project at your home, there are times when the issue is outside our area of expertise. In those situations we do our best to refer you to someone who can help. At the first appointment we try to reach an understanding of your goals. Understanding what is important to you helps us define what the priorities for the project should be. Once the groundwork is laid, we are ready to be by your side for the duration of the project.

Creating a Sanctuary

As the before photos show, this master bath was poorly designed and lacked energy and feeling. Instead of offering respite from daily stress, the bath added to the daily struggle with constant clutter. Frustrated with their dated and cramped master bath, the homeowners came to Boardwalk Builder for help creating a more enjoyable sanctuary. Although the bathroom itself was large (11 ft x 9 ft) a seldom-used tub blocked access to the window and made the room feel crowded. Additionally, a linen closet squeezed the vanity and the shower was tiny and dark. To open up the space and make it more welcoming, new floors, cabinets, countertops, paint and shower were added to create a luxury feel in this master bath.

While Delaware escaped winter storm Jonas with minimal snowfall, our coastal areas suffered damage from historically high water levels. Due to the combination of full moon, high winds, and precipitation, many homeowners were impacted by floodwaters.

(Photo by: Chris Flood. Found in the Cape Gazette).

Nestled along a golf course the screened in porch of this home offered beautiful views of the lush greenery. While the existing screened porch provided a wonderful room to enjoy warm weather, the homeowners wanted to create a space where they could comfortably spend more time throughout the year.

Objectives:  This North Shores townhouse has been the family vacation & gathering spot since 1971, and held great memories of wonderful times & childhood evolution.  Sagging floors, roof deck leaks and salt air had all taken their tolls.  The family decided to keep the condo as a legacy property to use & enjoy in the coming years.  The quest was to update the condo, keeping the feel & flavor, but making it more comfortable & functional for an extended family that includes kids, dogs & messy guests. 

What we did:

1. Structure:  Like many similar structures in the neighborhood, the floors and roof in this 1970-era condo had sagged significantly.  We added steel beams (concealed within the original framing) to straighten the structure.  This also allowed us to eliminate a post in the dining room.
2. Floor plan:  On the second floor the elimination of the dining room post and the widening of the kitchen doorway dramatically improved traffic flow in the once-claustrophobic kitchen.  In the first-floor master bedroom we created a larger bath and a walk-in closet by relocating a few partitions.
3. Energy & Comfort:  A chronically wet crawlspace & leaking roof deck had created moisture problems and musty odors for years.  The home is now protected by a new Duradek roof membrane above and a carefully detailed crawlspace liner below.  The musty odors are a distant memory.
4. Clean & Fresh:  The timeless beach feel of the new kitchen & bath cabinets and wood & tile floor, coupled with the original furniture, evokes the memories of years of family meals & heart-to-heart conversations centered around the table lovingly referred to as “the damn orange table”.

Objectives:  The owners loved their rear-yard cottage-above-garage and referred to it as the “Love Shack” but it was in need of serious repair.  The building was sinking into the ground; knee braces added to the garage made the space almost unusable and did not keep the shack from shaking.  The living space was divided into two small rooms and a half-bath, with the ceiling at only 7’.  The owners asked us to fix the structural issues, upgrade the energy-efficiency & make the interior roomier while preserving the cottagey look & feel. 

What we did:  

1. Structure: The structural repairs included adding a new foundation below the garage walls.  By adding plywood to both sides of the garage walls and the garage ceiling we eliminated the shaking.  Removing the ceiling joists and adding a structural ridge beam greatly expanded the sense of space upstairs.
2. Floor plan:  We removed all the interior partitions and reformatted the floor plan with the bathroom at the back.
3. Energy & Comfort:  We added spray foam insulation, Pella windows and a high-efficiency ductless heat pump unit to condition the cottage for year-round use.
4. Cottagey:  We kept the original beaded wall paneling and reinstalled the original ceiling paneling on the new cathedral ceiling.  The custom bath built-ins maximize storage without cluttering the bedroom area.  Built-in soffit lighting accents the ceiling and wall-mounted sconces & reading lights add light without clutter.

Objectives: The owners’ goal with this home in The Pines was to create a larger home, respectful of the traditional texture of the neighborhood.  They needed a larger home to accommodate frequent house guests while preserving the owners’ privacy. The result is a modern cottage that combines original elements with Nantucket cottage styling.  The interior features intimate spaces rich in texture, from the beaded ceiling of the living room to the reclaimed beams used in the ceiling of their private sitting room.  

What we did: 

1. Structure:  We expanded the first floor above a new foundation, and built a new second floor. 
2. Floor Plan:  Aside from the dining room, every space in the house was reassigned and several small first floor rooms were combined to create a large living room.  The expanded first floor includes the original dining room, an expanded kitchen, guest bedroom& bath, sitting room and living room. The added second floor is largely devoted to the owner’s suite, including master bedroom, bath, laundry, dressing area, and home office.
3. Energy & Comfort: Energy upgrades included all new insulation, a conditioned crawlspace, and new high-efficiency boiler & air-conditioning. 
4. Nantucket:  The exterior makes extensive use of enhanced traditional trim detailing, particularly around the Marvin windows.  The original wood floors in the dining room are matched by new wood floors in other rooms.  Beams salvaged from the original roof framing are reused as accents in the office.   A close look at the screen porch reveals the details added to unify it with the updated exterior styling.  

This 18^th-century millhouse was moved to its current location near Lewes’ Shipcarpenters Square in 1994.  A new foundation and some structural repairs prepped the original structure for a sensitive renovation.  The original structure was augmented with an addition, to bring the combined house to 2,500 square feet.  The addition houses a sunny great room, together with kitchen and guest bedrooms.  The design for the addition, by Architect Terry Jackson creates the look of a home added onto over time.  Window & siding details for the original structure were copied from remnants of original materials.