If you were to walk into one of our most recent remodels, you would immediately be blown away by the modern layout and the attention to detail in every aspect of the home. What you would see is a stunning waterfront home in Lake Stevens, WA that is the perfect mix of open concept as well as having beautiful conversation nooks to enjoy great conversation with friends and family. If you didn’t know that the house was recently remodeled, you would probably guess that the home was built recently, maybe in the last 10 years or so.
If you were to guess that, you’d only be off by a mere 100+ years. Just an entire Century, nbd. But I don’t think anyone would fault you for thinking you were walking into a brand-new home. This old-yet-new classic has undergone multiple transformations in its long life, but this newest reimagining of the space has given it truly timeless appeal.
The Leak That Launched a Thousand Dreams
The homeowners had been dreaming of renovating the downstairs since they moved in years ago, but their timeline for the renovation was solidified when a leak from upstairs was discovered in the living room below. A leak is no one’s idea of a good time, but in this case, the homeowner’s bad bout of luck eventually led to a main floor transformation that dreams are made of.
Here’s a shot of the living room of the original main floor before construction started (but after part of the house was torn up with the leak). When the homeowners bought the house, the living room was all the way at the back of the house, and it had posts that cut into the room, visually dividing the TV area from the fireplace, and that division in the room made it too small for a family-sized couch. Beside that was another small walled room that further broke up the space, and then beside that was a small office with French doors.
In their reimagining of the space with the Corvus crew, the homeowners knew they wanted to change the main layout. Rooms needed to be opened up to create larger gathering spaces, lines had to be redrawn, and spaces had to flow better. This meant a series of subtle but impactful changes: removing a couple of partitions here, re-aligning a few doorways there, and opening up sightlines so that when you walk through the front door, your gaze naturally flows toward the lake.
The Living Area Expanded
The homeowners decided that moving the living room to the front of the house made sense to give a larger and more welcoming space, which meant tearing down the office walls and getting rid of the French doors. The result was a completely transformed layout of the entire main floor that somehow expanded the usable space and still created distinct entertaining areas.
Remember that water-damaged living room? Yeah, it’s no longer a sad, soggy memory. The space has now been reimagined into a stylish, open-concept living area where everyone can fit on the couch. And, the space where the living room used to be? It’s now a cozy nook at the back of the house overlooking the lake.
This space was the perfect place for a built-in library and wet bar. Corvus worked hard to make this space as the ultimate multi-purpose room, where you can grab a book, pour a drink, and still manage to hold a classy conversation. It’s cozy, functional, and effortlessly stylish—basically, it’s the room you’ll brag about to everyone who walks through the door.
And just like that, the awkward maze of rooms of the previous design turned into an open and easy-to-navigate floorplan that encouraged conversation with just enough separation of the different rooms. This cohesive separation is the key ingredient that is missing from many open floorplans, and it allows for different activities to take place in each space without interrupting others.
The goal was to have spaces that are made for entertaining, and the Corvus crew made that vision come to life with rooms where you could invite over every friend you have—and still have room for more. The most surprising thing in the new floorplan is that it somehow makes the home feel so much larger while still adding a sense of coziness to each individual room.
The Heart of the Home gets a Huge Makeover
The kitchen is the hardest working room in any home, but here at Corvus we understand that utility cannot override form. The original kitchen plan was disjointed and had two awkward partitions and walls that cut off parts of the kitchen and made entertaining difficult. And, as you can see from this before picture, there were 4 (yes FOUR) different cabinet colors and it’s clearly suffering from a bit of an identity crisis. Check out this image of the before kitchen:
But, after the Corvus crew worked our magic? Just look at this gorgeous kitchen that boasts not one but two islands, two sitting areas, and it still keeps sightlines open to the water while maximizing the flow of the kitchen space.
Now, there’s space for everyone to gather around the island(s), share stories, and pass around the wine—without feeling like you’re tripping over each other. The layout of this space isn’t just functional, it’s a party waiting to happen. Each inch of this kitchen was thoughtfully designed to make entertaining easy—because who wouldn’t want to show off their new space with some appetizers and drinks?
Corvus worked with the homeowners to make sure that every detail was accounted for, including making a custom range hood that was the perfect complement to the kitchen. The helped them select materials that paid homage to the home’s history while introducing modern touches that felt intentional, not forced. With sleek quartz countertops that lighten up the wood floors, custom cabinetry that reflects the period style but feels fresh and up-to-date, and fixtures that nod to the past while keeping the space current.
The end result is a what feels like a contradiction: A vintage home that feels timeless and yet updated at the same time—where the past and the present meet seamlessly. An entertaining haven as well as being a cozy place to grab a cup of coffee and read a favorite book. A home that honors its vintage roots with every space maximized with old world charm.
And the best part? No one will ever guess that it all started with a little leak from upstairs. Whether you’re dealing with water damage or just daydreaming about your own home makeover, Corvus Construction can help you update your home into a space you will love for generations.
