Your Hangout, Your Retreat, Your Home: A Renovation Story featuring Whittington Creek
Wednesday, January 27th, 2016
I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “Home is where the heart is.” As a new home building and renovation company, we couldn’t agree more. However, what makes a house a true home is living life with the people dearest to your heart. I love doing what I do because by building and renovating homes, I get to work closely with families who want to make the most of their time together in a place where they can enjoy each other and make memories along the way. Our latest renovation is a great example of how we do this.
Earlier last year, a family from the Whittington Creek community contacted us about an opportunity for home improvement. They loved their home, but they saw it had the potential to be better and wanted to take advantage of underutilized spaces. Our clients have four active kids and wanted to give them a space of their own where they could go off and play with each other and with friends, allowing their parents adult time. Our clients also wanted an outdoor living space where they could have a glass of wine and relax after a long day at work or spend the weekend entertaining family and friends.
The pre-construction planning phase is one of the most important phases in the building and design process, so it is something we always strive to do well. Prior planning prevents delays and overages once the construction process starts and helps us deliver results well above our clients’ expectations every time. To turn their vision into a reality, we met multiple times with the homeowners to put their wish list into action. Once a firm plan was in place, we developed drawings in house for the upstairs attic turned rec room and the screened porch and patio living quarters. We were limited on porch ceiling height in an area due to existing windows on the second level of the home, but we overcame this challenge with creativity. After meeting with our construction team, we were able to develop a design that worked both aesthetically and functionally. The family then worked with our talented interior designer,
Ashley Jones, to choose a look they loved. After pricing and finalizing all the details, construction was underway!
A Hangout for Kids: Attic to Rec Room
When we started, the attic was completely unfinished. It had plywood flooring only and rafters and loose-fill blown insulation. Once the HVAC, electrical, and plumbing for the half-bath were roughed in and approved, we were able to work on the finishes.
We really thought hard about the placement of everything to be sure we made the most of the room. We got creative with the space by using built-ins (like the entertainment center) and extra closets. The entertainment center was custom-made with shelving units that allowed complete access behind to change equipment out if necessary. It also provided additional room for storing a sound system, movies, and games.
The rec room turned out perfectly. As parents, our clients were happy to have their house back. All of their kids’ stuff seemed to be taking over their living space. Now, their kids had a cool new hangout with tons of room for games and toys with plenty of open space to for gaming, movie nights, and sleepovers. It’s a win-win!
A Retreat for Adults: Outdoor Living Quarters
When our clients bought this home, there was an existing patio only. They wanted to transform this almost unusable space into a comfortable setting where friends and family could gather for a cookout, watch a ball game, and enjoy each other’s company.
We built the screen porch and fireplace from the ground up; pouring footings, solidifying the framed structure, and custom-built a fireplace. We also installed a grilling kitchen, complete with a fridge, hood, and bar sink. Ashley always does a wonderful job keeping McCamy on the cutting-edge of interior design. The white trim and dark stain contrast with the brick and stone really well to create a look that is sleek and modern, yet homey and traditional at the same time.
This kitchen area is one of our favorites. It has high-end custom look with a
very unique countertop: angola silver leathered granite. The appliances are built into the painted brick cabinetry and we installed a Coyote grill for the grill master.
The family loves the kitchen/living room atmosphere all rolled into one. Spending time together sitting in front of the fire watching a good show has never felt better.
Over the past few years, McCamy Construction has completed dozens of renovations similar to this one. Voted Knoxville’s best builder and renovator by Cityview Magazine and Knoxville Mercury, we take great pride in our reputation as a different kind of construction company. If you’re not enjoying your current living situation or if your house is just so frustrating you want to move, please contact us for a consult. We want you to feel at home again.
Tags: attic remodel, Exterior renovation, outdoor kitchen, screen porch, Whittington Creek
