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Houzz Tour: A Loving Remodel for High-School Sweethearts

It is like something out of a book: Michael and Ellie Mroz locked eyes their freshman year of high school in Westfield, N.J., and have been together ever since. After graduating from high school and college, the couple moved back to their hometown where both of their families still reside. They found their dream home — a 72-year-old home on a tree-lined road. The home hadn’t been changed in more than 60 decades, so the couple needed to redo almost everything. “We wanted to expand and upgrade the home, and infuse our clean, classic and coastal style in the existing structure,” Ellie says.

Michael Robert Construction

Michael was the general contractor to the home, therefore he and Ellie decided to make minimal adjustments to the outside of the home. The couple wished to keep the home’s authentic look and match the rest of the area. A new garage was added to the home, however the only other changes outdoors are aluminum flashing and new trimming.

Michael Robert Construction

Light oak floors, exposed beams, white trimming and also blue-toned paints contribute the coastal style they wanted. In the foyer hardwood floors with a walnut border were set up. Ellie picked a navy grasscloth wallpaper for the walls. “I’m a huge fan of decorating with texture instead of loud colours or prints,” she states. “I think walls are a excellent spot to do this.”

A sharp navy and white geometric carpet was selected for the stairs, and the stair rods are capped with pineapple finials, finishing off the foyer’s coastal look.

Background: Thibaut
Light fixture: Hampton Semi-Flushmount, Hudson Valley

Michael Robert Construction

Ellie and Michael decided to use a lower-grade bamboo floor for more version, thickness and warmth. In the formal dining room (initially the home’s living room), they also installed a light fixture and trestle table and added wainscotting and coffering on the ceiling and walls.

Table: Trestle Salvaged Wood Extension Dining Table, Restoration Hardware
Chandelier: Pillar Candle Large Chandelier, Restoration Hardware
Chairs: HENRIKSDAL Chair, IKEA

Michael Robert Construction

The blue-gray island is almost 10 feet long, providing Ellie lots of space to entertain and cook. She and Michael decided to provide the Carrara marble counter the look of a double edged slab by mitering the edge of this only 2.5-inch piece. “It’s a great industrial sense, and the production is superb,” Ellie says. “The veins of the masonry follow down over the edge to give it a smooth look.”

Pendant: Benson Pendant
Cowhide: KOLDBY, IKEA

Michael Robert Construction

Even though the kitchen already receives a ton of light from the large window in the adjacent breakfast nook, Ellie and Michael add narrow windows on both sides of the stove to let in even more natural lighting.

Barstools: Pier 1
Cabinetry: Brookhaven by Woodmode combined with some habit pieces/panels

Michael Robert Construction

The backsplash behind the desk area from the kitchen was painted with magnetic primer and chalkboard paint, which makes it the ideal spot to leave notes. The built-in cabinetry is in precisely the exact same style as the rest of the kitchen to create a unified look.

Michael Robert Construction

A custom half-circle window was set up in the breakfast nook. The window makes the space feel bigger by supplying a view straight into the backyard and enabling lots of morning light to filter through. A built-in bench offers extra seating and makes the space feel cozy.

Table: Montego Dining table in black, Pottery Barn
Chairs: Aaron Wood Seat Chair in black, Pottery Barn
Pendant: Victorian Resort Pendant in glossy nickel, Restoration Hardware

Michael Robert Construction

Among Ellie’s favourite features is that the ceiling she made in the great room. The ceiling is a glossy white beadboard with flat beams (the room did not have the elevation for dropped beams). The area right next to the living room is the kids’ play area. Here, the couple decided to make the ceiling a bit bigger and abandon the beadboard in a natural colour. The difference gives a subtle awareness of differentiation between the two spaces, and aids the play place feel warmer.

Couches: Baldwin slipcovered sofa and seat, Macy’s
Play place carpet: Skip Hop Playspot

Michael Robert Construction

The rustic-looking wood press unit comes from Restoration Hardware, and Ellie and Michael additional shoe molding to give it a much more custom, built-in look. The majority of the goods in the home are a mix of Restoration Hardware, Pottery Barn, Crate & Barrel and IKEA, blended with a couple finds from local shops and their travels.

Michael Robert Construction

This formal living room was initially the home’s dining room. Since they love to entertain and also have family dinners, the couple decided a bigger dining room would better suit their lifestyle. For the walls, Ellie picked a plastic grey wallpaper with a silk-like look. But since it is made of such durable material, it can be scrubbed, washed and even bleached — ideal for a home with two small children.

Arm chairs: Pottery Barn
Couch: Bayside Total Sleeper, Crate & Barrel
Ceiling pendant: Finley Small White Pendant, Crate & Barrel
Background: Thibaut

Michael Robert Construction

The mudroom was a great practical improvement for this growing family. The couple brightened up the area with apple green baskets and a cheerful turquoise door. “This doorway is very special to people,” Ellie says. “My husband calls it the ‘grin door’ since it makes him smile every morning when he leaves for work.”

Tile: Tumbled Travertine
Paint color: Castaway by Dunn Edwards

Michael Robert Construction

Ellie and Michael made the upstairs master suite for a respite from their busy lifestyles. Dark wood furniture contrasts with a subtle and pearlescent wallpaper. Classically designed light fixtures stay in accord with the kind of the rest of the home.

More Houzz Tours:
A Home Full of History and Surprise
Fantasy Surf Shack in Pleasure Point
Modern Shingle Style in Utah

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